Not As Awkward As Assumed

Posted on Tue Sep 22nd, 2026 @ 9:13pm by Lieutenant Commander Elyse White & Lieutenant Tholos Th'Keal & Lieutenant Commander Sabastian Walker

1,520 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Echoes in the Triangle
Location: Thol's Quarters
Timeline: Current

Having finally had Thol apologise, and an actual date arranged, Elyse found herself in the predicament of not quite knowing how she felt. Of course she'd enjoyed her time with Tholos and wanted to continue down that path, but his leaving and avoidance really had hurt. She did feel like his apology was sincere, but something just niggled in the back of her mind that said that if things got hard, he'd leave her... Again. Nonetheless though, even if this wasn't meant to last, she still wanted to explore this and begin moving on properly.

She sounded the chime for Tholos' quarters since he'd wanted a dinner date. She waited with a bottle of alcohol free wine. It was a subtle hint that they both needed a clear head.

Thol had fussed for two hours getting ready and his bedroom looked like a tornado had run through. Thankfully it had a door and they were going nowhere near that. He closed the bedroom door just as the chime sounded. He took a deep breath and walked over to the door pressing the open button. He smiled when he saw her. "Elyse...Hi." Suddenly he was tongue tied.

Elyse smiled, "Hi. I'm not that early. I mean, I'm ten minutes late by the type-A reasoning because I'm five minutes early by normal standards."

He grinned. "Yeah no sorry I was running late." He motioned to the inside. "Please come in."

Elyse smiled and stepped in. Since all quarters were more or less laid out the same, she started heading towards the kitchen, "I bought some wine-- the fake stuff. But I'm didn't think coming here empty handed didn't feel right."

He laughed. "I lined up two bottles of the non alcoholic stuff."

"Excellent," she chuckled, "seems we're on the same page about having a clear head."

"I think it best with all the happenings. And I have made an Andorian dessert. My sister used to make it a lot."

"I look forward to it," she smiled, leaning on the counter.

He motioned. "Do you mind opening the drinks and I'll start plating food. I hope you are hungry there is .... a lot."

"I'm always willing to take a doggy-bag," she quipped as she found some wine glasses and opened a bottle. It felt rather domestic being in the kitchen with Tholos. This is how it had started before though. She needed to focus.

He grinned. "I set aside some containers." He started plating the food and took over a few items to a set table. He did that a few times before everything was on the table. "Shall we eat?" He pulled out her chair for her.

Elyse smiled and nodded. She brought over the wine glasses and placed one where Tholos would sit and then sat down herself, offering a small nod of gratitude for the gentlemanly behaviour, "you know, this is the first time a man I'm interested in has ever cooked for me."

He laughed. "Well I love to cook so it won't be the last." He smiled. "I'm glad I could do that for you. You work too hard."

Elyse smiled at that and began to relax a little at the idea that this wouldn't be their only date. "Well, with Walker up and about, I'm sure I'll have a little less work to do soon."

"Well don't bank on it yet. He's not at a hundred percent so he may need you. He's just stubborn."

"XO was never my dream job, I've hated it from day one," Elyse shrugged, "I'll take whatever break I can from the role, even if it means going part time."

"You did an amazing job. So never let anyone tell you that. Even Del was impressed. Don't tell him I told you that."

Elyse smiled but it was clear that she was unsure of herself in the role of XO, "if you say so. I think I'll stick with Comms though. 'Stay in my label, you know?"

"Well you are a great coms officer too." He pointed to the table of food. "I believe the word is Bon Appetit."

Elyse smiled, "thank you, Thol." She reached out and began eating, "how's engineering now that Walker is back? The walking HR violation still being... Pleasant."

"Oh he is. He's shouldering most of the things but that's until Walker is back to top speed. Engineering is running more efficiently and Del has everyone scared to step out of line. He's even shut down the Engineering hooch fully and dismantled all of Zai's stores." He shrugged. "He's also... banned Poe from Engineering."

Elyse paused mid bite at the final comment. She had become close to Poe, but this seemed more personal that anything else. "I mean... He's not an engineer and he spends a lot of time there," Elyse commented, "I'll be sure to have dinner with him some time soon."

"Yes please. He is...going to need a friend. He walked in on a kiss between Del and Sab...I swear I saw Poe's heart break in real time."

Elyse nodded, "will do. At least he didn't witness what I did. I swear I'm going to need therapy. I saw the guy in just boxers."

Thol laughed. "Oh man. Thank the Gods we have a counselor."

Elyse nodded with a chuckle, "yes, I may make an appointment." She continued eating. It felt rather domestic and a lot less awkward than she'd anticipated. She was relieved. "I thought tonight was going to be..." She shrugged, not knowing the word, "I'm glad you asked me out though. Properly. I had missed you."

He smiled. "I'm glad you said yes. I...I'm sorry I know I've been an ass but it's been a long time since I dated anyone and honestly I feel like I'm brand new at this, hence the foot in mouth syndrome."

Elyse nodded, "I'm curious though. You said that you would ask out someone you liked, but you never asked me until I pressed you. Why? Did I do something?"

"No...I just find myself extra shy around you. I'm not sure why but it feels like...this is big. I'm not sure I'm making any sense." He shakes his head.

Elyse didn't quite understand but she nodded a little, at least understanding that he'd not had a reason because of something that she did. Elyse was silent for a moment and then asked, "any regrets?"

"Yeah being a nut job and ruining things the last time we tried this."

Elyse snorted in amusement, "yes, well, I more meant any regrets about trying this for a second time."

"That no. I'm trying to be less...nervous. I'm a bit scared I'll mess things ups."

Elyse nodded, "if you keep thinking like that, you know that you will inevitably screw up, or you'll be eternally miserable." She sipped her drink and thought for a moment, "take a breath, Thol. Either way, the fact you're that nervous-- it's stroking my ego a bit." She tried some lighthearted humour.

He laughed. "Meanwhile this fake wine you brought is delicious. Baciami?"

Elyse nodded, "it is, her family truly are amazing."

"It's tasty. Hopefully she and Vance will finally have their happily ever after."

"Well, now they've got twins and they're both settled into family life running a galaxy famous wine, I'm sure they already have. I'm visiting them when we next get shore leave if you wanted to join."

"That would be nice. It's been a while since I was on Earth as a tourist."

"I go back as often as I can," she smiled, "nowhere quite like home, you know?"

"I do not have that relationship with Andoria. I... could not wait to leave and have no intention of going back."

Elyse looked up curiously, "I'm sorry to hear that. What happened, if you don't mind me asking."

He shrugged. "I was never what my family wanted. I divorced a wife that my family picked out that I did fall for but hurt me. I have nothing there."

Elyse nodded slowly getting her head around the fact that his ex had actually been a wife not just an ex partner like hers. Did it make a difference? Not particularly, but she did know that if this was to go further, she may have to be the person to push for marriage if he had been left with a foul taste about the matter. Still, that was miles off. "That's-- that's a shame, I'm sorry," she replied, "I'm in a similar situation with my family. I cut contact after my ex. Sometimes you need to hit rock bottom before you actually see how toxic the situation is."

He smiled. "Indeed and for a while I vowed to remain single but there was a problem in that."

She blushed and chuckled softly, "sorry for being a bad influence."

Thol chuckled. "Well there is that too but I will forever be a hopeless romantic."

"You'll be the first guy I've dated who's a hopeless romantic, so I have to admit that I'm very curious," she smiled sweetly.

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