Mess around and find out what happens - Part 1

Posted on Fri Oct 25th, 2024 @ 2:10am by Lieutenant Eirly Andersen & Lieutenant JG Kasper Andersen M.D
Edited on on Sat Oct 26th, 2024 @ 3:50am

1,498 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Shore Leave & Ship Repairs
Location: Kasper's Quarters
Timeline: MD4 - Afternoon

Following on from "Kasper & Charlie - The walk home"


Once Kasper got back to his own quarters, he kicked off his shoes, removed his jacket and threw it onto the chair nearest him before he went to flop down onto his bed. His mind was playing back the entire night from the bar to the club to the carousel, and eventually to watching his first sunset in who knows how long. He'd just kissed her and watched her face light up at it. Her smile was beautiful, and it almost took his breath away at the sight of it. Rolling over onto his back, he closed his eyes and eventually drifted off to sleep with a smile on his face.

Later on, when he woke up, Kasper noticed a blinking red light on the screen in the corner of his quarters and walked toward it. Rubbing a hand over his face to wake up a bit, he turned the screen on and saw who it was from: Lieutenant JG Kaia Embrys. "Ah shit" he said out loud. His girlfriend.

=======

Grabbing a replicated breakfast of bacon, eggs and toast with a strong black coffee to try and get rid of the hangover he'd undoubtedly have later on in the day when reality kicked back in, Kasper took a seat back on his bed and realised what had happened last night: he'd kissed Charlotte when he was already in a relationship with Kaia. He was instantly filled with a mixture of feelings that ranged from anxiety to regret to sadness, and none of them were happy.

Once he got himself situated with his food and had drunk most of the coffee his hand, Kasper sucked in a deep breath and let it out before he turned on the screen and asked for the computer to call Kaia. He sat there and watched his tired reflection in it for a few moments before the screen came to life with the vision of the beauty that was Kaia.

Kaia was a thin set young woman who had long layered brunette hair that was currently in a plait to the side, deep brown eyes that were framed by long lashes and thick manicured eyebrows, and full pouty lips that were (in his opinion) soft and she was smiling the smile that made Kasper melt like he did when they first met. Her mixed Mediterranean and Vulcan heritage were evident through the way she spoke and acted. "Hi Kasper," she said softly.

"Hey babe," Kasper replied in a rather tired voice that even to him sounded full of regret, "I've missed you. How's everything going on the Cassiopeia? How's the Science department treating you, still enjoying being a Xenobotanist?" He finished off the coffee and watched as she replied, committing her features to memory because he doubted she'd want anything to do with him after this call was finished.

Her smiled faultered and she tilted her head in confusion at why he would be looking so tired when he was meant to be on shoreleave, "I'm clearly a lot better than you're looking at the moment," She slumped back into her seat and brought her knees up and put her arms around them casually, "Is everything okay with you? You look really tired, like you haven't been getting enough sleep for some reason. Work is going alright from my end, just really busy with this mission we're on and I'm now helping out with some new project Kuvoa has started," Kuvoa was the Chief Science Officer that she absolutely adored, and Kasper barely tolerated, "So I barely have any time for anything anymore." She paused for a moment and bit her bottom lip, clearly wanting to say something else but option instead for, "What about you?"

Kasper picked up on the hesitation and raised an eyebrow, "The whole ship has been on shoreleave and there hasn't been much work going on yet and I'm pretty sure I arrived at just the right time. I did find out, however, that one of the guys I went to medical school with, Malcolm Beckett, he's also here as a Medical Officer and he's dating my sister, so that's something." As long as he treated Eirly right, Kasper had no issues with Malcolm at all. "We all went out as a team for drinks last night though, so that's probably why I'm looking like absolute garbage right now." He gave her an apologetic look.

Kaia nodded and didn't say anything for a long moment before her brows furrowed together and she said, "What happened last night?" It was common knowledge on the Cassiopeia that he had a propensity to play up if too much alcohol was involved, but she had still taken a chance on him even though people had warned her not to.

He moved to sit on the edge of the bed and put his elbows on his knees, running his hands down his face, "We all did some shots, had some drinks, got drunk and played some Dabo and Dom-Jot, and then I ended up hanging out with one of the nurses for the rest of the night until about 0430 this morning." When he looked at Kaia, he could see the hurt in her eyes already forming there, "I didn't sleep with her, if that's waht you're wondering." He didn't know what else to say aside from just coming straight out with it.

She was silent for a few more moments before asking in a quiet voice that was laced with emotion, "Did you kiss her?"

"I'm sorry, Kaia, I really am." He replied as he hung his head in shame before looking back up at her, his heart wrenching at the sight of her tears, "I'm not making excuses, but the night got the best of me and one thing led to another while we were out having fun, she kissed me and I returned it." He was careful not to mention Charlotte's name even though it would have been easy for Kaia to just look it up.

Kaia was quiet for a long time while she processed the betrayal and the emotions she was feeling from her human side before she spoke again. Wiping the tears from her eyes, "The human side of me is hurt, betrayed and upset that you've done this to me, and I was warned against dating you by numerous people, but I ignored them and I'm not shocked that this has happened. The Vulcan side of me, however, is relieved because... because I was going to end things with you anyway."

Now it was his turn to sit in silence and feel the hurt, "Really?"

She nodded in reply, "Yes, Kasper. I've gotten so much busier with work that I was going to end things with you so that I can focus on that instead, and not having someone in my life that's known to cause issues, like yourself, is required for me to achieve my goals. I'm sorry, Kasper, I really am." Her words mirrored his own and it hurt him just as much as his did her.

Now he understood how she felt and if it was possible to feel any more shame, he was feeling it now, "So what now? Do we end things and never talk again, or do we end it and remain friends? I don't know how to do this."

"I think it's best we end things and go our separate ways." Kaia admitted with tears shining in her eyes and a nod, "In a different life and a different time, things would've been different, and we would've worked out. Please don't contact me again unless I reach out to you, I need some time to process this. Goodbye, Kasper." With that, Kaia ended the call and the screen went back to blank.

Now that he was alone, Kasper fell back onto his bed and put his pillow over his face and made a frustrated noise. He'd royally messed up with Kaia, but then there was Charlotte to consider and she was super cute and oh so sweet and she didn't want to break her heart like he did Kaia's. But he was going to have to tell her regardless, right?

"Computer, locate Lieutenant Andersen, please."

"Lieutenant Andersen is located in the Chief Security Officer's office on Deck 8." Came the automated reply.

Kasper tapped his commbadge, =^= Eirly, can you please meet me at the Astrea Cafe on Deck 7 in ten minutes? I have some things I need to talk to you about =^=

A few moments later, Eirly's reply came through the commbadge, =^= Sure thing Kas, is everything okay? =^=

=^= I'll discuss it with you when we meet up =^=. Ten minutes would give him enough time to shower and make himself more presentable to meet up with his sister.


OFF

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Lieutenant JG Kasper Andersen
Medical Officer
USS Astrea
(NPC - Eirly)

Lieutenant Eirly Andersen
Chief Security/Tactical Officer
USS Astrea

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