> I CARVED YOUR NAME ON A TREE, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME [JULIAN | GAILA]

[kukalaka_n_me]

[She'd been avoiding him. Which, of course, stood to reason. But Julian wasn't about to give up in trying to change Gaila's mind about him. His talks with Jimena had spurred him on to try different tactics to show his 'groveling

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[aeruginous]

[ she was reading a padd and enjoying bolian tomato soup. her body language neither invited nor warded anyone off - she wasn't really thinking of anything but this holoprogram guide, until she felt something... in her hair? absently, she swatted near her head, and a little white paper airplane fell into her bowl. there was just the hint of writing visible on the folded crease. exasperated, she dropped her spoon and looked up. no one there, supposedly. well to hell with that. he wasn't getting away with ruining her mood and her lunch.

quickly, gaila plucked the airplane out of her soup, shook it off, folded it in a napkin, and darted off to the stairs. she'd be back for the padd later. her feet hit the second level just as he was nearing the turbolift, though he wasn't far away. a short sprint later, she was grabbing his shoulder and turning him around, holding the tomato-coloured airplane up like evidence. ]

This has got to stop!

[kukalaka_n_me]

[Oh, bloody hell, she'd managed to catch up to him. Julian whirled around with feigned surprise. Then looking at her soggy looking prize he shrugged at her.]

I don't know what you're going on about, Gaila.

[aeruginous]

[ she leveled him with a gaze. she knew for a fact he didn't think she was stupid. he was just being a prat. ]

"I've got you under my skin," "the best is yet to come," "Laka misses Kuka?" Feeling enlightened yet?

[kukalaka_n_me]

Ah. Those. You've got me there. Guilty as charged.

[He gave her look which managed to be both sheepish and rather unrepentent at the same time and eyed the crumpled note in her hand.]

So, aren't you at least going to open it and read what it says?

[aeruginous]

No, I'm not going to read what it says!

[ she was curious the first couple of times it happened but now she was just annoyed. she was trying to figure things out on her own, damn it. he was not helping. gaila shoved the plane and napkin at him. ]

I didn't read what the last two ones said either!

[kukalaka_n_me]

[That was disappointing, but he attempted not to let it show. He opted for flippant.]

But I went to all that trouble getting behind the panel of the replicator.

[aeruginous]

I'm not the only one who goes into the replicators, you know. Someone else is going to find one and have you confined to sickbay. You're being crazy!

[kukalaka_n_me]

Am I? If so, I don't think I want to be cured.

[His tone was faintly sarcastic, but there was also truth behind it too.]

So how long are you going to make me suffer, Gaila? What more do I need to do to prove that I'm sorry for what happened? You could at least try to meet me half way on this.

[Julian, you're supposed to be groveling, not making her mad...]

[aeruginous]

How long am I going to make you suffer? I haven't done anything to you. How long are you going to keep sending me these stupid little notes?

[kukalaka_n_me]

As long as it takes to get you to change your mind.

[Try as he might, he couldn't seem to stop from digging his heels in.]

Do I not at least get points for creativity? For persistence?

[aeruginous]

They wouldn't do you much good if you did.

[ she made a noise between a sigh and a groan, running both hands back through her hair, trying to get a hold of herself. ]

I have to figure things out with myself before I start figuring them out with you, okay? You're not making it easy.

[kukalaka_n_me]

[She obviously wasn't going to unbend an inch. And the notes were clearly not working to soften her regard for him. He gave a despondent shrug.]

Sure, take all the time you need. Even though you obviously didn't want to offer me the same courtesy when I wanted us to wait a bit.

[Why did he always put his foot in his mouth? He gave an exasperated sigh, trying to keep his own composure.]

I know I'm not making it easy for you. But, I miss you, Gaila.

[aeruginous]

[ this was different... or maybe it wasn't, she didn't know. things were so confusing and complicated. but they didn't have to be. ]

Maybe you should get used to missing me.

[ she said it softly, not unkindly. increasingly, she was thinking it was best if she went back to the way she was before she met him. best for him and best for her. he'd really been the only one to truly witness her change - he'd be the only one to notice if she changed back. ]

[kukalaka_n_me]

[Gaila's words did a pretty good job of shattering his resolve. And the fact that she said it so softly, not with any kind of anger or resentment behind the tone which truly cut the wind from his sails.

He didn't want to get used to missing her. He wanted her to give him another chance. To take him back in whatever capacity she deemed fit.

He attempted to rally again, to offer a challenge instead of surrender.]

Why are you shutting me out? What are you afraid of?

[aeruginous]

[ she sighed. she really didn't want to fight with him, it wouldn't be conducive to her plan. the whole point of which was that they wouldn't have to fight or hurt anymore: they'd forget how they felt eventually, forget each other. ]

One of us has to do something about this. Everything was easier before I came here - for me and for the people around me. If I go back to the way I was, it'll be better for both of us, okay? I'll just be Ensign Gaila and you'll just be Doctor Bashir.

[kukalaka_n_me]

I disagree. It wouldn't be better. Easier maybe, but not better. You'd just be hiding.

Is that really want you want to do, Gaila? Just forget everything that's happened between us?