Snow Queen Versus Dinosaurs

Posted on Tue May 11th, 2021 @ 12:01pm by Captain Nycolas Temple & Emilie Temple

Mission: The Gauntlet
Location: Deck 2 - Senior Crew Quarters

ON:

Nyx was reclined back in bed, leaning against the headrest with a PADD in his hand. After a late night gym session, he was still feeling warm so he was sitting above the sheets in just a singlet and shorts. He was going through the reports of the day, happily signing off for the safe return of Brennan and Griffin, and the new crew members who had boarded at Paradise Outpost. After weeks of damage reports and increasingly worrying intelligence, it was nice to read something positive for a change.

Emilie entered soon after, having just had a long bath after putting the kids to bed. She saw Nyx looking at this PADD and smiled a little; knowing how dedicated he was to the ship. Even when they were at home in their quarters, a part of him was still keeping his mind on the job. However, as she discarded her wet towel and slipped into her nightwear, she became keenly aware that there were two eyes on her. Looking over, Nyx had dropped his PADD and was giving her a long stare, gleaming eyes tracing up and down her body as a smirk formed on his lips.

"Well hello there." Nyx murmured, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh? Finish your reports?" Emilie replied, smiling. She smoothed out the creases in her silk top deliberately.

"Oddly enough, I just did." Nyx said, moving the PADD off the bed and onto the night stand. He gave a small nod of his head towards the empty space next to him. "And it's the darnedest thing, they actually didn't put me to sleep this time."

Emilie looked at his body as well. "I can tell." She slowly took steps towards him, feeling butterflies of excitement. As she reached the bed side and started to slide over to Nyx, she frowned a little. "It's been a while since we... you know."

Nyx opened his arms and allowed Emilie to snuggle into his chest, before wrapped them around her. There was nothing better than feeling her body close to him, he still felt warm inside when she was in his arms. She lifted up her head and they kissed softly.

"We don't have to." Nyx whispered. "I know we haven't since William was born, but that's okay, really."

"Not like you've been counting, eh?" Emilie laughed, as she moved to lie on top of him. She planted a kiss on his lips again, this time a little more firm. "I actually feel ready."

Nyx looked deep into her eyes, "Only if you're sure." He replied, before kissing her again. She kissed him back, grinning...

= Some Time Later =

Emilie and Nyx were lying together naked under the sheets, quietly as they recovered their breaths and basked in the afterglow. Emilie's head was nestled into the crook between Nyx's right arm and chest, his right hand was resting on her leg while his left hand was clasped in hers across his chest. They both laid there, nothing but the bright lights of Paradise shining into their darkened room.

She was first to break the silence of the blissful moment, "You seem... in higher spirits. I mean, like, all day you have been."

"I am." Nyx admitted, nodding gently. "We've got the whole family back together, Shae and Griffin rescued Eva, and the ship's finally in a safe place. It feels good."

"You guys deserve this time to relax," Emilie said, "It's been so stressful lately, I'm glad we're able to take a moment to breathe."

"And do other things." Nyx laughed cheekily, squeezing her thigh a little.

Emilie giggled, "That, too."

Nyx smiled, "I'm relieved also, to be able to relax. I'm not looking forward to the final leg of the journey, because that's going to be one hell of a tricky situation but for now, we can not think about it."

"Mmmhmm," Emilie murmured in response. After another short pause, she said, "Oh, I just remembered. I was thinking we could have a play date with Katy and Aoife - I mean, Eva tomorrow?"

Nyx nodded, though he frowned a little, "I wonder how she'll take it."

"We've been pretty honest with her throughout everything, I say we just do the same thing. Sit her down and try to explain it as much as we can." Emilie replied. She had been trying to figure out the best way to explain to her five year old that her friend that died was actually a clone, and now Shae and Cailus were back with an almost-identical friend with a new name. It was difficult enough to understand when she first heard it.

"True, we'll do that." Nyx said, "But I don't think she'll get it until she sees Eva for herself."

"Probably not," Emilie replied with a sigh. "I hope it's not too much for her."

"Or for Eva." Nyx said earnestly, "I can't imagine what that poor girl has been through already. If things don't go well with Katrine...." He shook his head, "We won't go until we're sure she can handle it."

Emilie looked up to Nyx and nodded, "Okay. Let's give her time to accept the news and we'll see if Shae and Cailus are ready to try a meeting."

Nyx leaned over and kissed his wife on the forehead. "Agreed. You know, we don't do too badly at this parenting thing sometimes." He smiled.

Emilie smiled too, "We do alright. If you discount the whole stuck on an isolated starship that's being chased by the entire Expanse thing."

"That's a complication." Nyx nodded, only half seriously. "But we're nothing thinking about that yet, remember?"

"No, no, of course not." Emilie replied. "One problem at a time."

"You know, I thought it would be fun if we could give Katrine a proper party for her birthday coming up." Nyx spoke, "Something in the holodeck or Rec Deck and invite all the kids from Day care, including Eva if that goes well."

"Ohh I like that." Emilie nodded enthusiastically, "We could invite some of her unofficial aunts and uncles, too, like Mindo and Nash. Kaleri and Smithy with their kids, too."

"Yeah, that would be fun." Nyx smiled, happy that she liked the idea. "We'll see what theme she wants and really decorate it, go all out."

Emilie laughed, "You know it's going to be the Snow Queen versus Dinosaurs, right? That's all she plays right now. Every day, she has these climactic battles between her toys."

"That's ridiculous." Nyx said with a sigh.

"She's really into it." Emilie shrugged.

"No, I know. It's just that clearly, the dinosaurs will absolutely win that." He stated.

She frowned, "What? Elsa has ice powers. She can make an army of snow guardians."

Nyx looked down at her, "A snow man versus a tyrannosaurus rex?! Are you kidding?"

Emilie looked back up at him, furrowing her brow, "She can just make a new ice age and freeze them all."

"Pssh. If dinosaurs were in that movie, she would have been dino food before she even gets to the first chorus of 'Let it go'!" Nyx remarked emphatically.

"May I remind you that the dinosaurs would be too busy eating each other to even mount a proper offensive strike." Emilie retorted. "They'd have no organisation in their ranks."

"That's it, first thing tomorrow morning I am dedicating all power resources to a full-scale simulation in the holodeck." Nyx laughed, pulling Emilie closer to him and kissing her forehead.

"Fine. Loser has to change diapers for the week." Emilie laughed too, lifting their joined hands and shaking them.

"Oh you've got a bet, my friend." Nyx smiled, as he reached down further and kissed her on the lips. "Now, how about round two?"

Emilie was already shifting on top of him. "Try to keep up this time, huh?" She smirked.

OFF