Old bones and a soft cushion.

[capt_will_riker]

::drifts between sleep and wake, reluctant to let go of pleasant dreams...lakeside at El-Nar, nothing for distraction but jumping fish and dee_troi's humming::

::groans when a decidedly non-naturalistic beep weighs the scale further toward 'wake', burrowing face further into subject of fantasy's shoulder::

Not answering. My day off.

Comments

[dee_troi]

Will.

::clears padd of own after hours research, sitting it on table beside bed::

::jostles other, slightly less mobile shoulder, putting reproof in voice despite threatening laugh::

It could be important.

[capt_will_riker]

Not important enough if it isn't preceded by a red alert.

::lifts face, met with an entirely disappointed look::

::groans again, a misery me one::

[dee_troi]

::clucks in mock pity...and then shoves him over side of bed::

::slides own feet to carpet after, reaching for comm panel::

Yes, Worf?

[worf_rozhenko]

It is about time.

::at erstwhile look from nearby crewman, clears throat, continuing with message::

We have received a priority communique from Starfleet Command.

[capt_will_riker]

::barely holds stance until screen blinks off again, letting pent up frustration loose with a gusty sigh and thigh slap::

Damn it, Deanna!

[dee_troi]

::borrows some of the thick, suffocating emotion, letting it back out through sharp speech::

Really, Will.

Perhaps it's time we sat down and had a professional discussion about your issues with Admiral Paris...any Paris, for that matter. It's one thing to hold certain personal prejudices...irrational as they may seem...in a private forum, but when it comes down to the wire I would at least hope you might be capable of dismissing them and focusing on truly important matters.

[capt_will_riker]

Irr...

::rubs chin, resisting urge to throw hands up and pace::

He's using this ship and crew for his own personal games. I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't have ulterior motives behind this whole mission.

He's planted two of his people smack in the middle of my senior staff...his daughter!...he has you wrapped around his pinky, for God's sake.

Did you hear what he said about medical limitations? Maybe you've been missing the fact that he's crazy.

[dee_troi]

::sighs at typical deflection::

Perhaps, but even if so, that wouldn't change the fact that at the moment there are more important issues at hand than a contest of egos. The Admiral hasn't asked us to do anything we wouldn't do of our own free will were we aware of the need.

It is, as he said, a humanitarian mission.