Perfect Rhythm

Posted on 30 Aug 2023 @ 9:39pm by Commander Scarlet Blake
Edited on 30 Aug 2023 @ 9:41pm

1,197 words; about a 6 minute read

Regula I – Level 17, Bar
MD 17, 1805 hrs

Sitting at a small table towards the edge of the quieter than usual bar, Scarlet Blake watched the view with tired eyes. The nebula was beautiful enough, but Scarlet was a spacer through and through, and she knew she’d grow tired of it sooner rather than later. If felt strange when she wasn’t moving. Like she’d slow down and become rooted to the spot.

Sipping her very real brandy, Scarlet let out a breath of relief at the welcome warmth. She’d slipped her shoes off so she could rest her feet up on the chair next to her, her ankles crossed as she leant back languidly, her arm lifted to rest over her head. She looked at the view, but she wasn’t really *seeing* it. She wasn’t really *seeing* anything. After looking at screens for so many hours over the last however many days, it was sheer bliss not to look at anything in particular.

Her toes flicked in time with the music as she lazily sipped her drink. She let out a long, slow breath, willing the muscles in her shoulders to relax. As she closed her eyes, she started listening to the song without even realising it. She hummed absently along with the familiar melody, until her lips started to move with it.

“ ‘I know I laughed, when you left...but now I know, I only hurt myself…baby, bring it to me, bring your sweet loving, bring it on home to me...’ ”

~~~~~

Tyraellan – Starfall Lounge, 1km from the SFMC base
2384 – 8 years previous to current timeline

“Captain?”

Scarlet glanced up from her drink and to the hand that was offered out to her. She glanced around the group of friends who were gathered at the table with her, slapping the back of her hand against the arm of one who had started laughing into her glass.

Looking back to the proffered hand of Christopher Barton, Scarlet gave a small, almost playful smile...and made him wait just a moment longer. She finally relented, reaching out to take the hand, letting him pull her up. “Captain.”

Christopher grinned as he pulled her to the dance floor of the dimly lit bar. He pulled her close, wrapping an arm around her as his other hand held hers, leading her in time to the music. His blue eyes searched hers as they moved together, and his smile was warm with a touch of...something else. “Looks like you’ve been having a good time.”

“Why, have you been watching?” Scarlet teased back, knowing full well that he had. She smiled softly as the music changed, to a slower song. She took the opportunity to press in closer to him, her hand sliding up his back and into his dark blonde hair as she enjoyed the slower motion of their bodies moving against each other.

“You know I have,” he whispered to her ear, smiling as he felt the way she leant into it and laughed softly against his cheek. “It’s been a very long week, just watching, waiting...”

“It was worth it though,” Scarlet feigned seriousness, her gaze drifting to his lips as her arms draped around the back of his neck. “Seeing you trying so hard to catch my eye while training really is something special...”

Christopher laughed warmly at the words, but only pulled her tighter against him. “Aye, but you noticed,” he teased back, letting his fingers slide between hers. “But it still felt like a very long time.”

“Patience is a virtue,” she whispered back, her skin flushed at feeling his warm breath tease against it.

“Hm,” he shook his head lightly, but his eyes never left her face as his hand wandered lower over the curve of her hip to feel it move with the rhythm. “I don’t think you’d have me if I was completely virtuous.”

“You’ll never know,” Scarlet teased, searching his eyes with a smile as she nudged her face closer to his. Her open lips brushed against his in the barest of kisses, burning but so brief her lips had left his in the next heartbeat.

Christopher smiled warmly, pressing his face to her dark hair to breathe in the scent as they danced, his tingling lips moving with the words of the song. “ ‘You know I'll always be your slave...'til I'm buried, buried in my grave...oh honey, bring it to me, bring your sweet loving, bring it on home to me...' ”

~~~~~

Regula I – Level 17, Bar
MD 17, 1808 hrs

Scarlet opened her eyes as the last bars of the song played, just staring straight ahead with eyes that felt even more tired for a moment. She hummed the last notes, the bittersweet feeling flickering in her eyes before she knocked back the last of her drink.

“Mummy!” Lily waved to her from across the room, holding onto Verity’s hand and resisting the urge to charge across the room.

“Hey, sweetheart...” Scarlet brought a smile back to her features, sliding the glass onto the table as she made her way over, hugging her warmly before letting her hand rest tenderly on her dark hair. “Did you have a nice time?”

“Verity showed me all the plants and flowers,” she nodded enthusiastically, using a finger of one hand to tap against each one on the other hand. “Magnolia...willow...hawthorn...hazel...”

“And we had to name every single one,” Verity added with a small smile of amusement, but his eyes were good natured as he shook his head fondly.

“Well, we both appreciate it, thank you, Verity,” Scarlet said softly, watching him with genuine gratitude for a long moment before having to look away, not able to face it for long.

Verity nodded gently, able to recognise the look easily enough. “Not at all. I’ll be off, I need to find Oliver before he gets himself into trouble,” he teased, leaning to kiss Lily on the cheek. “Thank you for accompanying me on my walk,” he squeezed her hand before nodding to Scarlet and leaving them to it.

“Have you finished work, Mummy?” Lily looked up to her, the slightest of frowns creeping onto her features.

Scarlet swallowed hard at the look on her face. She crouched to see her better, touching her cheek with a gentle hand. She let the sight ground her from her memories, nodding softly before taking a brisk breath to chase the feeling away. “Yes, yes, I have,” she assured, kissing her forehead before taking her hand, leading her towards the door. “Come on, you can pick a recipe and we’ll have a go at getting flour everywhere...”

“That won’t be hard...” Lily grinned, walking with her for a few moments before suddenly laughing out loud, her eyes wide. “Mummy, your shoes!”

Scarlet bit back a word better left unsaid in front of little ears before sweeping Lily up off her feet, carrying the giggling bundle in her arms as she hurried to the table to step into her abandoned shoes. “Now what would I do without you, hm?”

[OFF]

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