Christmas Eve Daye

Posted on Wed Jan 13th, 2021 @ 10:07pm by Petty Officer, 3rd Class Lottie Daglish

Mission: Mission 4 - Eden
Location: Deck E - Sickbay
Timeline: Day 151 Year 0 Time 20:35
1843 words - 3.7 OF Standard Post Measure

Lottie looked up from the biobed she was relaxing on now that everyone was out of the medical bay for Christmas and smiled as someone came in making her put down her book. It would do her reputation no good to be lounging about but in the interest of Christmas spirit, she thought they might forgive her especially as she was holding the fort to allow everyone else to go party. “I thought everyone was at the party, Sir.” She called out rising and quickly looking the woman over to see if she was injured.

Ellie smiled as the woman gave her the once-over, reassuring her that she wasn't injured. In truth, Ellie simply wasn't in the mood for partying that night. Hiding in her quarters hadn't worked, so hiding in sickbay was the next idea on her list of how to avoid being dragged along to the party.

"I was planning to be this morning, but now I find I'm in one of those weird moods tonight. I was kind of hoping you'd give me an excuse I can use if anyone comes looking for me again, as I'm not sure 'I just wanted to stay in my quarters and read a good book' will wash with them" Ellie offered.

Lottie stood up and shook her head. She was not going to enable the woman hiding from having some fun. "So you thought to come and bother me then Sir?" The young petty officer grinned. "You know I am unable to lie." It was why she was such a good nurse sometimes she was frank and honest. The Andorian Doctor hopefully appreciated it.

Ellie grinned back at Lottie. "In my defence, I didn't know it was you who was on duty tonight. However, now I'm here you can surely admit you wouldn't mind the company for a while? I promise I won't get on your nerves...much"

Lottie shook her head. That had been the next question that was about to come out of her mouth but the woman had stopped herself. She did not want to encourage even if the hanging out had been fun. “I was about to ask if you had planned this but there was no way. This was the last moment impulse decision that I had made so that I could get some alone time.” She admitted before shrugging. “Not at all. But I hope you have an activity in mind as two people cannot read one book.” She joked showing the book she had been reading.

Ellie had a feeling that Lottie would see right through her excuse for avoiding the party, and the nurse had done so immediately. The MACO shrugged as well, and then raised the PADD which she was carrying in her right hand, on which were a large number of crossword puzzles. Ellie always made a point to do at least one per day, as she found they improved her vocabulary and were good for keeping her mind active.

Ellie smiled. "Rest assured, I've come prepared for such an occasion. I've brought some crossword puzzles along with me so you won't hear a peep out of me for the rest of the evening"

"Enjoy then First Lieutenant. I need to read one of the few books on board that I have yet to read." Lottie just grinned and returned to her own biobed sitting down to read her own book. She was an avid reader, not a crossworder and it showed in how thoroughly that the book she had in her hand fluttered through pages.

Ellie walked over to the biobeds a couple of seconds after Lottie returned to the one she'd been sat on. The Australian MACO liked reading as well, but Ellie had already read all of the books in her quarters, and she hadn't really given any thought to asking if anyone had any books she could lend. Once she was comfortable on the biobed, Ellie turned her PADD on and scrolled through the list of puzzles before selecting one. She had been tempted to continue the conversation, but Ellie didn't really know what else to say. Starting conversations with women she was attracted to had never been her strongest point.

"You know if you stare at someone Lieutenant the other person gets nervous and starts wondering what is up." Lottie wondered not even looking up from her book as she said it smiling. "What is up Marine?" She offered allowing the woman to speak if she needed.

"Oh, nothing. Sorry" Ellie said, slightly embarrassed Lottie had caught her looking.

In truth there were a lot of things on the MACO's mind, but somehow Ellie didn't really feel like she could talk about them, even if she wanted to. After she'd finished speaking, Ellie went back to her crossword puzzle, spending a few moments pondering the answer of the next clue on her list before typing in the answer.

The petty officer rolled her eyes and just stared for a while until the other woman notice. “What is going on Ellie?” She finally requested using her first name. “You have not been right since the chess challenge.”

Ellie sighed and turned to face Lottie. "If you really want to know Lottie, then I'm fed up of all these nightmares I'm having every single night. I'm also fed up of feeling too scared to just admit how I feel because the person these feelings are for makes me feel so happy, yet I'm scared if I tell them then I'll lose them forever"

As the woman turned to face her Lottie turned and looked at her properly as well. It seemed like the conversation was taking a serious turn and Lottie wanted to give it her fool attention. "Hmm well on the nightmare front have you spoken to Davies or the doctor?" Talking through nightmares and stuff always seemed to help her and allow her to move on. She was not a psychologist or counsellor by any means but it was maybe something she needed to look at to assist people. "And if they make you happy even if it goes wrong you have those happy feelings."

Ellie sighed. She wasn't very good at this. Acknowledging her feelings had always been something she felt that she could do, however Ellie felt expressing them, or at least the romantic feelings, was a completely different story. The last time Ellie admitted she had romantic feelings for someone, they made it clear in a somewhat abrupt manner that they were not interested, and it severely dented her confidence. However, Lottie seemed more understanding. Maybe she'd let Ellie down gently, and be more sensitive about the MACO's feelings.

"And what if it's you?" Ellie replied.

Lottie met her gaze, she would not feel shy or anxious, not tonight on Christmas Eve when someone had just admitted her feeling for her. "Well, that would be an interesting turn of events." She liked teasing her, she liked being able to match her like this, to not be nervous.

The regular teasing was one of the things which Ellie loved about Lottie. Another was those beautiful green eyes, which the Australian MACO had lost herself in several times since she first set eyes on Lottie shortly after arriving on Atlantis. At least this time, Ellie felt that she was going to be let down much more gently compared to last time. Last time hurt. A lot.

Ellie responded. "I mean it, Lottie. I really, really like you"

The nurse smiled a little before she shook her head. She was not sure how to talk suddenly and found herself frowning for a moment as she thought that she might have looked like a goldfish opening and closing her eyes. "You have perfect timing you know that right?" She mused softly. The MACO was someone she appreciated her presence but she had not realised at all that that woman was interested.

Ellie wasn't sure what to make of Lottie's reaction to the revelation that the MACO had romantic feelings for her. The shake of the head suggested it was going to be another 'I like you, but as a friend only' reaction, but a voice in the back of Ellie's mind told her to hear the nurse out before jumping to conclusions. After all, Lottie was different. She was a lot of fun to be around, but the conversation they were now having showed that Lottie could also be serious when she needed to be, too. Those were both features Ellie valued in a potential romantic partner.

"Do I?" Ellie asked.

"Yep. I have been feeling like I could potentially be ready for something a little more than a crush." Lottie admitted with a shrug. She knew she should use more words but MACO's were used to less is more and the nurse was slightly tired.

After hearing Lottie's response, Ellie wasn't quite sure what to think, or say. Although she knew how she felt, that was very certain. After a short pause, Ellie decided to ask Lottie out on a date.

"How about I take you out for dinner? I know the mess hall isn't the most romantic setting, but...it's the best I can do in the circumstances" Ellie replied.

“I would like that." The nurse assured before something occurred to her. "I’ve never felt like this before…” Was the words that came out of her mouth and she didn’t know if that was a good thing or a bad thing. David had been comfortable and familiar but the feelings that she was feeling for Ellie were something different, something new that bubbled up inside of her making her feel nervous and excited all at the same time, it might not know with how she teased but she was nervous about all of it. One minute she knew she liked men and now she thought she might like women but not just any old woman but this woman. She didn’t truly know if it was a good thing but it was a different thing.

Ellie's stomach began to fill with butterflies. This was real. She too had never felt like this before, as her previous crush had in hindsight just been that, a crush. But with Lottie, it felt completely and totally different. Ellie was completely and utterly convinced she was in love with Lottie, but it was way too early to say those three words. However, with the invite of a date accepted, Ellie then felt it would be prudent to agree a day and time.

"Then I consider myself to be a very, very lucky woman, Lottie. How about I come and pick you up at 18:00 hours tomorrow?" Eliie asked, feeling more and more excited by the second.

Lottie nodded. That sounded a good time for her when she should in theory get off at 16:00 hours. "Sounds perfect. A Christmas day date. Cannot say I have ever had one of them before." She assured quickly blushing at how things had turned out.