Elf and John

Posted on Thu Dec 12th, 2024 @ 4:56pm by Lieutenant JG Elspeth McArthur & Captain Johnathan Reece

3,469 words; about a 17 minute read

Mission: The Campaign for Coridan
Location: Starbase 1

***Trigger Warning!!!--- There is mention of a family member committing suicide, in the past, located below***

IC

The bar on Starbase 1 was not new. It had been around for years. Elsepth had been to it many times, and now they were back, she went there to get a drink. Dressed down in jeans and a teeshirt that she had dug out of her closet, it read UA - Rule like KINGS.

When she stepped up to the bar, the Bolian behind it came over and asked, “What can I get you, young lady?”

“Andorian Ale” She said. It was one of the few imports that Andor had started with.

Nodding, the bartender stepped away briefly, before returning with an empty glass and a curved bottle filled with a blueish liquid. After placing the glass down onto a napkin infant of the young woman, the Bolian poured a few fingers of the ale into it. He then slid the glass over and smiled. “Enjoy. The name's Daro if you need anything else.”

“Elf.” She replied, shortening her name to it's easier form.

A few moments later, the doors to the bar dlid open, and the large frame of the Texan MACO SOCOM XO for NX Unicorn stepped inside. He was dressed in his usual off-duty attire of black leather cowboy boots, dark denim jeans, a white, button-up shirt, with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms, and his black stetson hat on his head. He had a cigar in the corner of his mouth, which was lit and smelled a bit like vanilla in the air.

Elf saw him enter. She recognised him, obviously and she waved towards him. “Captain!”

Hearing a familiar voice, Johnathan looked over and a soft smile crossed his face. Making his way over, he leaned against the bar next to Elspeth. “Well, hey, Elf, what brings you to a place like this?” He looked over to the bartender and made his request. “Scotch, neat, two fingers.”

“It was my local when I was a translator here” Elf replied. “It's a great place to chill.”

The bartender served him his drink.

Johnathan nodded, then thanked the Bolian for the drink. He then looked around the place a bit more. “Yeah, I think I can see the appeal.” He took a sip of his drink, then asked, “So, what made you choose communications as your field?”

“I grew up on the campus of University of Aberdeen, I learned a lot of different things there and knew that communication was key. So when I joined the fleet, I chose communications.”

Nodding as he listened, Johnathan responded. “You grew up on the campus itself? That must've been interesting. Were your parents professors?”

“My mother was. No father.” She said it so calmly. She was not one who got hung up on such things.

He nodded again as he listened. “I'm sorry, I didn't know.” While he couldn't fully understand her position, as both of his parents were alive, he could still empathise. “Do you have any siblings?”

Elf shook her head. “Nope. But I got to spend time watching lectures and such. It was great.”

This made him grin and chuckle. “You really enjoyed it, even as a kid?” He ordered another round for the two of them as he waited for her reply.

Elf nodded and sipped her drink. “Aberdeen has a massive library, with books from the 13th century.” She grinned. “It was a great place to grow up”

Not realizing that aspect of it, Johnathan made a slight face of understanding as he nodded. “Well, I grew up on my family's cattle ranch, so, didn't have much time for reading.”

“With Horses?” She asked curiously. “Or just Cattle?”

“Both,” he replied. “We also had some pigs, chickens, even a rabbit hutch. We grew and raised everything we ate. I didn't start using a replicator of any kind until I joined the fleet. And even that isn't much, as the cooks usually put on a good spread.”

“Must have been lovely to grow up in an actual house and that.”

He shrugged and grinned slightly. “I guess. I didn't know any different, so it's difficult to say. I do know that it was a lot of work, keeping the ranch running. I'm considering, once my career In Starfleet is over, heading back home to Texas and taking over the ranch from my father. Raise my own family there as well.”

“Sounds idyllic” She replied.

He nodded, then replied. “What about you? What do you have planned for after Starfleet?”

Elf shrugged. “I have been writing a book.”

“Oh?” He asked, honestly curious. “What's the subject?”

“A mix. Children’s, and fantasy” Elf replied. “Hoping to get published soon.”

“That's very cool!” He remarked with an honest grin. “I'd be very interested in reading it.”

A few tables suddenly opened up and Johnathan asked Elspeth if she'd like to take one.

Elf considered it. “Sure.” she said and turned to the barkeep “Just bring the bottle ok?” she said waving her glass.

Daro nodded, “And for you, sir?”

Johnathan replied. “I'll just drink what's she's having.” He then followed Elspeth to the table of her choice. He pulled out one of the seats and waited for her to sit.

With a small surprised smile, She took the seat. “Why thank you.” Elf said softly.

He dipped his head politely as he responded. “You're welcome, Darlin’.” He then moved to sit in the chair across from her. “If there's one thing I learned from my parents, it's how to treat a lady.”

“And is your father happy you are in the fleet?” Elf asked curious.

Nodding, he replied. “Yeah, he knows it's dangerous, but also know that it's something I've been wanting to do since I was a little boy. I grew up listening to stories of my ancestors, who served honourably in both the United States Marine Corps and the Australian Royal Marines.”

Elf smiled. “Thats great.” She said honestly. “It's a nice family tradition to serve.”

He nodded, then asked, “How does your mom feel about you being in Starfleet?”

“I think her feelings can be summarised in the following words - You are no child of mine so do not darken my door again.” The words were spoken so calmly because Elf didn't care about it, well not outwardly.

Johnathan actually froze, mid raise of his drink to his lips, when he heard Elspeth's reply. Lowering the drink back down to the table, he tried to compute how a parent could say that to their child. “Elf,” he voice a soft whisper of heartache, ‘I..I'm so sorry. No child should ever be treated that way, especially by their parent.” He was silent for a few beats, then took in a deep breath and released it, as if coming to an important decision.

“That's it. After this mission is over, I'm taking you to my family's home. You'll get all of the respect and affection that a family is supposed to share.”

Elf smiled at that. “Thank you, but really I am ok.The Fleet has become my family. I get to visit places, and it's her loss.” she added.

Johnathan nodded, though not completely satisfied. “Well, the offer still stands.” he poured them both fresh drinks. “So, if you don't mind my asking, aside from reading, what do you like to do for fun?”

“I run. When and where possible. I am hoping to get down to Earth and do a few trails.” She replied.

“Well, you can run for days on my family's ranch. We have nearly five hundred acres of land.”

Elf listened. “That's what they call a major spread right?” she asked. “I have heard that term, from school mates.”

Johnathan nodded as he finished his drink. “Yup, we have one of the largest operating ranches, on Earth. My father provides meat to both local businesses and is one of the suppliers to Starfleet. Next time you eat a steak, there's a good chance it came from my family.” He finished speaking with a proud smile.

Elspeth nodded. “I will keep that in mind.” She said as she sipped her drink. “So I guess you ride horses and all that? Motorbikes?”

He nodded as he replied. “Horses. Even won a few rodeos when I was younger. There are few things more peaceful, than being on horseback, out in the country.”

Elspeth listened as he spoke. “You really miss it don't you.” She said softly. “I can tell.”

He thought about it, then nodded. “I do. While I do not regret leaving to join Starfleet, when my service Is finished, I'm going right back there, with the hope to live the rest of my life in peace.”

It was nice to hear about the plans of others, when she didn't really have her own plans aside from her book writing. “I have seen images of Texas, lots of open space right?”

A huge grin spread across Johnathan's face. “Oh yeah! Beautiful rolling fields of grasslands as far as the eye can see! Then, there's the rivers and streams that cut through 'em. You could ride for a couple days and still not even get halfway through my family's land.”

“Sounds delightful, though that would mean camping right?” Elf asked curiously.

He grinned happily as he replied, “Well, yeah, but that's half the fun of ranch life.”

“Is it?” Elf had never really done camping. “I mean I have camped with the fleet in training but...” She shrugged. “It was not that fun,”

He gave her a handsome, lop-sided grin as he sat forward a little closer to her. “That's because you were not camping with the right company.”

“Oh?” Elf asked with a small smirk. “Really? And what is the right company?”

“Why, me of course, Darlin’.” He gave her a flirty wink as he finished speaking.

She gave him a smirk now. “Does it include a 5 star hotel experience?” she teased.

“5 stars? No.” He shook his head as he grinned. “More like a trillion. We'd be camping under the stars, in a tent, by a campfire, with nearly zero technology around us.”

Elf had to sip her drink. “I am not sure that sounds like fun” she admitted with a wry smile.

This caused Johnathan to chuckle softly. “How would you know unless you try it?” When he looked at her, there was a growing interest in his eyes.

Sipping the ale Elf considered it. “I like my creature comforts..” She mused. “It's why I only just passed my survival tests... that said my teacher was an arse...” She was considering it. She let her gaze meet his. “You maybe right...”

He grinned as their eyes met. “I'd be honored to show you around Texas and the ranch.”

“Okay then. Next shore leave.” Elf agreed wondering what she would get herself into.

Johnathan extended his hand across The table. “Next shore leave,” he agreed.

Elf shook his hand. “Done. That means we have to get back alive of course.”

Johnathan nodded in agreement. “Well, I don't know about you, but I have a very good reason to do just that!”

Elf had to smile at that. “It will be interesting. I am sure you will regret it.”

Smiling softly, Johnathan shook his head. ‘How? I'd be spending more time with you.”

“As I said, you will probably regret it. No one has ever liked spending time with me.”

He shrugged as he sat back in his seat. “Well, i'm enjoying my time with you very much.” He gave her another grin. There was an unmistakable interest for her in his eyes as he spoke.

Elf was wary though. She was not going to jump in blind. “We shall see how that goes.”

He nodded as he replied. “Sounds good.” His mother had always taught him, a lady is to be woo'ed properly, not rushed to the finish line.

Elf poured them another drink. “So you happy on the Unicorn?”

Johnathan thought about it as she poured the next round. Nodding, he replied. “She's a good ship, with a good crew and an even better CO. I guess I would say yes. How about you?”

“Having seen the Vulcan ships, it can, at times feel a bit cramped, but we will get there I am sure.”

Johnathan nodded. “Why were you on the Vulcan ships?” He had only seen images of the vessels thus far.

“I was working as a translator, it was a brief visit with a captain and such a few months before I was assigned to the Unicorn.”

Johnathan nodded thoughtfully. “So…of all the languages that you know, aside from standard, which is your favourite to hear and speak in?”

“I like Vulcan, though Denobulan is fun. Klingon, well as you know it's new so we are still learning it but it's going well.”

“May I hear some?” He asked with a grin. “I've never heard Denobulan before. The other two I'm a little more familiar with.”

She said a few brief sentences. “They are a unique family as you would know.” Elf said as she finished.

“Yeah,” he replied thoughtfully. “They have multiple mates, right?”

“Each has three wives or three husbands. Talk about confusing” Elf smiled. “It must make family dinners chaotic.”

Chuckling softly, Johnathan shook his head as he replied. “While they make it work somehow. Me? I'm a one-woman man. I want to find that special lady to grow a family and help me to run my family's ranch.”

Elf smiled at that. “Do you have siblings?”

He nodded as he replied. “There's my twin sister, Rebecca, who's the Armory Chief over on the Endeavor.” His eyes took on a heavy note of sadness as he continued. “We did have a baby brother, Sam…but he died.”

Elf touched his hand gently and squeezed it. “I am sorry.”

Reaching over with his other hand to cover Elf’s, Johnathan gave her a sad grin. “Thank you. I still can't believe he's gone.” the frown grew even more sad, as he added, “Same with my mother. She took her own life, after Sam died.”

Elf squeezed his hand again. “I am sorry to hear that.”

Johnathan nodded, though he was unable to find his voice, due to his emotions building up inside of him.

Finally, he was able to get out, “Would you excuse me please?” The large Texan then stood, he was starting to vibrate from trying to keep his feelings inside, as he didn't want to make a public spectacle of himself.

Unfortunately, as he tried to reach the exit, he kept getting delayed, by one person after another, seemingly moving about aimlessly in front of him. Finally, a young ensign in operations gold, clearly drunk, turned from his seat at the bar and crashed into Johnathan. From Elsbeth’s vantage point, she could see Johnathan's fist balling up dangerously.

Elf was on her feet immediately and darted to Johnathan's side. She put herself between the drunk ensign and him. “Hey, walk me home?” she said wrapping her hands around his arm with a smile.

The ensign, completely oblivious to the danger he was in, reached out and tried to take Elf's hand. “I'll…(hic)...I'lltake you home, baby.”

She calmly pushed the ensigns shoulder and sent him toppling to the floor. “Pass thank you. I like men who can hold their alcohol.” She looked up at Johnathan with a smile.

Johnathan was still barely holding it together. Without a word, he moved forward, actually stepping over the ensign, as he led Elsbeth out of the bar.

She kept her arm around his and led him down the halls to a small empty lounge.

As soon as they were alone, Johnathan sat down heavily in one of the chairs and started to weep openly.

Elf locked the door to the lounge then sat beside him to give wordless comfort.

For several moments, his emotions just poured out. Finally, he started to calm down. When he was able to speak, he looked at her. “I'm sorry for ruining our drinks.” He wiped the tears from his eyes as he spoke.

“All good. It was getting crowded there anyway.” Elf said, her Scottish accent even as she spoke.

He took her left hand into his large right hand and gently squeezed it. “Thank you.”

“You are welcome.” Elf said with a smile. “No charge for it. Just feel better.”

“Back when it happened, and we lost them both, people would practically fall over themselves, offering to do things. While it was kind at first, after a while, it started to get on our nerves. So, thank you, both for getting me out of there before I killed that ensign, and for just being here. I means a lot to me.”

“Well I doubt the Colonel would like his MACO E ecutive Officer in the brig “ she teased lightly. “Though the ensign is probably saying his prayers right now.”

Despite his pain, Johnathan actually grinned slightly at Elspeth's tenderness and humor. When he looked up into her eyes, he froze for a few beats, then broke the connection, apologising. “I'm…I'm sorry.”

She gave a smile. “Will you be ok to get back to your cabin?” She asked curiously.

He nodded, now knowing that, had there been any chance of getting to know Elspeth better, it was gone now. “Yeah, I'm sure you have better things to do. You don't have to stay with me.”

Elf took a breath. “Johnathan, look at me.”

Slowly, the big man looked back at her.

“I like you. I am being honest about it. But I need to take my time on it. I have seen my mother's relationships go badly and I need us to take time. Friends first okay?”

Silently, at first, he nodded. Then, he repeated. “Friends.”

She leaned closer “If it grows to something more, then we cross that bridge when we come to it ok?”

A spark of hope flickered in his eyes, though he was careful not to show it. Or at least, he thought he was. “Okay,” a little more strength returned to his voice.

Elf smiled at him warmly. “Good. Come on, let's get you back to the Unicorn.”

He hesitated for a beat, then finally relented and stood up. Looking down at Elspeth, he replied. “Okay.” He took a deep breath, to try and cleanse his mind.

She looped her arm around his. “Come on Captain. Show me the way.”

He felt a bit of a surge of energy, when she got that close to him. “It would be my honor to take you anywhere.” He then escorted her back to the ship. At one point, the drunk ensign stepped into their path, saw them, then quickly turned around and found somewhere else to be.

Elf laughed at that situation softly as they walked, thinking that it was extremely funny.

Soon enough, they had reboarded the ship. Johnathan then continued to escort Elspeth To where his private cabin was. While he had had a private cabin when he was the ship's CoB, his new accommodations were a bit larger and more comfortable, befitting his rank and position.

When they arrived there, Elf knew better than to enter. She opened the door and helped him into the room. “I should go.” She said somewhat regretfully.

“You don't have to,” he said quietly. “I give you my word, that I won't try anything.”

She touched his face gently. “I know you won’t but let's not tempt each other.” she said with a smile.

Johnathan closed his eyes and leaned Into her touch, finding it wonderfully tender and healing. A few beats later, he sighed softly and opened his eyes. “May I see you again?”

“Yes.” She said calmly. She knew he had, had a relationship with a now former crew member and she was not looking to get punched by a jealous female.

He smiled softly, as he seemed to become a gentle giant with her. “Thank you. I'm sorry that you saw me at my lowest point on the first day.”

“I've also seen you fight if you remember. I shall go now, you get some rest.”

He nodded silently. He entered his cabin and, before she walked away, allowing the door to slide shut, he dropped heavily into his bunk. In a few beats, he was already falling asleep, exhausted from the emotional outpouring from earlier.

Elf left him and headed back to her cabin a complete deck away. She was silent as she considered what had happened.

~OFF~

Lt(jg) Elspeth McArthur
Communications Officer

&

Captain Johnathan Reece
MACO SOCOM Raider / MACO XO

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