Meanwhile, Back In Heart Attack Bay

Posted on Mon Sep 1st, 2025 @ 5:27am by Lieutenant JG Kally Kellerman & Cass'e'Indira & Tessa di'Orion

Mission: Lower Decks
Location: Sickbay
Timeline: Immediately after Playing Hookey

Tessa had given Henry one last lingering kiss after she had changed back into the medical uniform with two hours still remaining before she was due back in her quarters. She knew that Kally had given her the WHOLE day off, but if Cass came by medical early as she sometimes did, it would be best if she were there. While in the bathroom, she’d wiped off the rest of the lipstick and the makeup that Kally had put on her, so all she looked like was her own self once more, just in that Starfleet Medical outfit. One of the crew walked out of sickbay’s doors as she approached, flashing her a warm smile as he did, clearly relaxed from the healing visit. Tessa gave him a bright smile in return, slipping through the double doors before they managed to close.

Once inside, she glanced around, not seeing her mentor, which wasn’t unusual, and since she’d been the primary assistant that day, no one else was around. She keyed one console to life as she’d been taught, making sure that there were no outstanding messages before she half-pranced in giddiness to the office door and locked, “Lady Kellerman? I wanted to let you know I was back!” She said from around the corner.

Kally came rushing out of her office, her tshirt half tucked in and her jacket flap open. She looked around, seeing Tessa behind her and quickly straightened up her appearance. "Well, it's about time," she said, sounding stern as she resealed her jacket flap. She took the girl by the arm and steered her back to her office door. "If you want to take a longer break, that's fine, but you need to tell me first!" she said as she hit the panel and closed her office doors, the soundproof room cutting them off from the rest of Sickbay.

She let out a breath and lowered the air circulators from their over-powered duty of recycling her office air supply, then sat down on her loveseat. "Tessa," she said. "Rule one of sneaking off to see a boy: Don't announce that you snuck out! You never know who's listening."

“But I wasn’t sneaking off from you, you’re the one who said...” Tessa half complained, “But there was no one else out there, I checked, I was careful!”

"Never assume," Kally said, sagely. "There's always a possibility." She gave the girl a cheeky smile. "But I'm glad you had a nice day off." She went to the replicator and got them each a drink, handing Tessa hers and sitting down with her glass of ice water, needing to rapidly cool down. "Now," she said, grinning. "Tell me about your day."

“It was amazing! I mean, we talked a bit, got to know a bit more about each other, then we were reading a book that had the most amazing illustrations! The story was good too, something I need to find more of, and did you know his voice is so intoxicating? He tells the story like he’s the actual person who experienced it!” Tessa really did like it and she replicated a drink, fruit juice, taking a sip of it to keep her mouth moistened, “And then we slept together!”

The spray of water droplets that erupted from Kally's mouth fanned out and caught the overhead lights in a rainbow of shock and horror across her office floor. She looked back at Tessa with a shocked expression. "You...you slept together?"

“Yup!” Tessa said with a wide grin, “It was so comfortable and warm, I was all snuggled into him most of the time as if we fit together just right.” She glanced at the door, “I know Cass will kill me if she ever finds out, and him too, but I don’t regret it at all!”

The color was quickly draining from Kally's face. "Well, no regrets are always a plus," she said softly. Her mind raced as she tried to remember if Henry had gotten an injection that month. She somewhat insisted all the men be on a schedule for it, given half the crew's 'activities', but with Henry's social life, or lack thereof, she hadn't been pushing him. Now she was regretting that.

"Tessa," she said, slowly, "I am happy you're happy, I am. And, goodness knows, Henry must be deliriously happy...." She shook her head. "What led up to it, if I may ask?"

Tessa’s face turned slightly dreamy, “Well, he had his arm around me while he was reading to me and as I said, it was really nice and warm and he has a wonderful voice for narration.” She went on, “And then I must have just drifted off to sleep in his arms. When I woke up, we were laying on his bed where we’d been sitting, and he was watching me. I must have felt safe with him.”

Kally stared at her, then almost passed out with relief. "Oh....thank god....okay," she said, taking another sip. "Well...that's good then. Feeling safe is important in any relationship, it comes from a good place of trust." She took another sip. "Just so we're clear...everyone had clothes on, yes?"

“Yes.” Tessa’s face turned into sheer confusion, “I’d changed into pajamas, because this uniform isn’t all that comfortable, but we were dressed… Why wouldn’t we have been?”

"Well, most people remove their clothing when they plan to...um...bond..." Kally said.

Tessa’s eyes opened wide and horror showed on her face, “No! No, no, no, nothing like that happened, My Lady, I swear! Yes, we did do a fair bit of kissing, but we didn’t!” The look of horror turned into terror, “Gods, if we did that, Cass would outright MURDER me, and Henry especially for doing that! My father… I’d never be able to show my face on TIAL ever again for what they’d do, I’d be cast out for it, for the dishonour done to my family.. My mother would be investigated and Gods… l No, that didn’t happen, wouldn’t happen.” A thought crossed her mind, “He didn’t have that intent, did he?”

"I highly doubt it," Kally said. "He l--respects you too much." She took a breath and put her hand on Tessa's. "Henry's as honorable a man as they come, and he genuinely cares for you," she said, trying to find a polite way to say 'goody-two-shoes.' "He would never try to bond with you if you weren't ready and willing, don't worry."

“Good, there are more preferable ways to go.” Relief showed on Tessa’s face, “And it’s not like I have the choice in the matter in any case, my pairings will be chosen by my father or mother, for what is best for Lights End and the Eastern Watch.” The luster of her voice faded noticeably, resignation in it, but to a degree disinterest in it because there was little she could do, “But no, he was very kind and gentle and warm. He’s going to teach me chess!”

"He plays chess?" Kally said, thoughtfully. She was silent a moment, then shrugged. "Well, it's not my game, but I know many who enjoy it. I think you'll like it." She gave a snort. "You might find it child's play, to be honest. But be careful. He'll be craftier than he appears." She gave a grin and leaned over, giving Tessa a hug. "Well, whatever you two do, just make sure both your duties are complete on shift. So long as that happens, I don't mind a little buffer time."

“Childs play? I doubt it.” The younger woman shook her head, “I’m of Urd, not Bey, I’m barely even combat trained.” A giggle, “Of course, if you go down to the surface, you are going to have to wear a sword. No, I mean, it will be expected, because you are blonde. If you don’t, it could be seen by the Sentar as a sign of vulnerability, also by the Korashe.”

"Darn, and I'm fresh out of swords...." Kally said. Maybe Cally could lend her one.

“I have my very own armory back at home, I can outfit you and several others from that alone, much less Light’s End’s stores of weapons.” Tessa grinned, “And Cass can teach you in basic use, should you desire, in fact, she’d be happy to! She always does so love to beat up on the helpless.”

"As I'm sure anyone can tell you," Kally said, "I am what we call 'a lover, not a fighter.'" She smiled at Tessa, seeing the light glint off her cheeks. "Damnit," she said. "Bathroom. Now." She grabbed Tessa by the arm and pulled her to the bathroom to remove a missed spot of glitter, grabbing her makeup bag on the way. "Rule 2: Always double check your makeup."

A movement out of the corner of her eye greeted Tessa as she vanished into the bathroom and apparently she’d returned none too soon as Cass’s familiar face was revealed, but all she would have seen was the rear end of Tessa as she did, if anything, “She’s here,” she whispered to Kally, “How do I look?”

Kally looked her over from every angle. "Safe," she said, smiling. She picked up her makeup kit and pulled out some lipstick with a muted color, facing Tessa and applying it. "Rule 3: Always have a reason for what you're doing when you're caught," she whispered.

A moment later, the door to her bathroom opened showing Cass staring at them.

"Hey," Kally said, smiling at her. "Almost done." She turned back to Tessa. "Okay now, you apply it gently along each lip. You're carefully brushing, not smearing like paint." She finished doing her lips and pressed them together, then smiled. "The paradox of makeup is you don't want it to look like you're wearing it. If you do it right, it highlights your features and adds strength to your image. Just remember, less is more."

She turned back to Cass and smiled. "I hope you don't mind. We were having some girl talk and she was curious about my routine and wanted to see how I made myself up." She batted her eyes at Cass. "If you'd like some pointers, I'd be happy to have you over to my quarters to discuss it in depth."

"Hmph." Cass grunted as she gave a very judgmental look over Tessa and then Kally herself, comparing the two, then gave a slight nod of approval back over to Tessa, "I think it looks good on you, Your Grace and your mother would approve of what Lady Kellerman has picked out for color matching. As for me," She turned her look back to Kally, "I'll pass. I've got no need for... Painting myself up."

"Thanks, Cass, and Doctor, if time permits, maybe you can help me when we get closer to home so I'm more presentable when we arrive?" Tessa gave her a tentative smile, feeling the way the lipstick felt again, remembering how it felt when... "Mother hasn't seen me in nearly a year and I'd like to make an impression when I see her again."

"I would be honored," Kally said, inclining her head. She looked at Cass and gave a smile. "And don't discount how fierce a little eyeshadow can make you seem. I bet we could have people begging to be conquered by you once I was done with you."

There was a cut off giggle from Tessa as Cass gave her a side-eye look, "No, Lady Kellerman, but thank you for the offer."

"Well, the offer stands if you change your mind," Kally said as Tessa stepped out and by Cass's side.

"As always, My Lady, thank you for today's lessons and practice sessions." Tessa stated as formally as she usually did, because being polite was important as was protocol, "I look forward to tomorrow's lessons." She gave a small curtsey and finally was shepherded away by Cass out the door.

As they left Kally watched until the door closed behind them. "Rule four," she said with a sigh of relief. "Learn to flag the bull."