Starter for Ten: Part 2

Posted on 11 Jul 2012 @ 9:32am by Verity Thorne & Chief Warrant Officer 2 Oliver Sylver
Edited on on 11 Jul 2012 @ 9:36am

1,214 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Episode 01 - Project Sienna
Location: USS Galileo - Mess Hall
Timeline: MD 07: 17:20

Previously:

"Thank you...I suppose it is what I always wanted. Honour..and physical strength. It is a balance," Olly whispered and held his eyes for a long moment.

"A difficult one sometimes," Verity agreed, nodding as he watched him in return.

Continued:

[ON]

Olly nodded, watching him got a long moment before taking a breath, looking away. "So...you owe me a story."

"I do?" Verity asked casually, finishing his drink up as he sat back, taking a breath.

"You do," he said and held his eyes, giving him a small smile. "Why did you leave the Priesthood?"

Verity just watched him for a long moment before letting out a long breath. "I loved someone."

He frowned at that, letting out a breath. He moved closer and took his hand, but rather than a flirtatious touch this was firm, reassuring. "Who?" he asked, his voice soft.

"A young man," he said softly, watching their hands with a slight frown. "A beautiful young man, a prostitute I had tried to help through one of the groups I ran."

He frowned as he reached to touch his shoulder. "What happened to him?" he asked gently. He knew the Church wasn't too keen on desires to start with...this was more complicated.

"I don't know," Verity replied gently. "He could be as cruel as he was beautiful. I...think I was something of a game to him."

"He just...left you once you had left the Priesthood?" he frowned as he shook his head with a sigh.

"No," he admitted quietly with a frown. "I left the Priesthood after he had led me a merry dance," he said with a sigh.

"I'm sorry," he said and frowned, shaking his head. "You know...not *all* guys are like that..."

"I know," Verity smiled softly to him, holding his eyes firmly. "I know that. I just, I just couldn't stay after that."

He watched him for a long moment, holding his eyes. "You started questioning too much...didn't you?"

"Yes," Verity admitted quietly, holding his eyes. "And I would have been a hypocrite if I stayed. Besides, I'd poured my every waking moment into that place and those people, and it just..." he shrugged.

Olly frowned as he watched him, seeing the pain. He touched his arm, gently gripping it. "You did what was right for you."

Verity smiled softly, letting out a breath as he met his eyes. "Thank you," he said softly, and it was clear he meant it.

Olly smiled gently and squeezed his arm before pulling back, slowly. "And never doubt that."

"You are a strange one, for a marine," he said with a warm smile, his eyes shining.

He chuckled as he shrugged. "Not a Marine anymore," he said quietly. "I'm just me. Good and bad, all wrapped into one and so bloody human it hurts."

"But it is what makes you so good," he said softly, watching him with shining eyes.

Olly smiled as he watched him, chuckling as he sipped his drink. "You don't know if I am good yet."

"The things you have said are," he said firmly, holding his eyes with a warm smile.

He chuckled as he met his eyes, taking a deeper breath. "I like you, Verity."

He grinned, leaning back as he laughed with genuine warmth. "Just as well, there's no getting away on a ship," he teased.

"Especially this size..." he smiled and watched him, his own eyes shining.

"Then you should come to my place," he said lightly. "For another drink I mean," he added quickly.

He smiled as he nodded, taking a breath. "I would love that," he said softly, studying him closely.

"I have a bottle of scotch too. From Scotland," he grinned, watching him with tempting eyes as he jumped up.

"As if your company wasn't enticing enough..." he laughed and got up, stretching out.

*****

Verity opened the door up to let them in, smiling as he looked around. He'd managed to unpack his things and get the place comfortable. The collection of things showed he had spent time travelling, but the biggest influence was still a London culture and a lot of books. The main display shelf was covered in candles and a rosary was hanging off the corner of it. Next to one candle was a small, metal Saint token, but that was the only indication. "I'm supposed to be sharing, but I haven't been allocated a room mate yet," he gave a half smile. "I doubt they'd appreciate my style."

"I like it," Olly smiled gently as he looked around, taking it all in. He moved to the display, looking at the rosary and the looked at the saint token, touching it as he picked it up...to see which Saint it was.

"Sebastian," Verity answered the unasked question, smiling as he moved to get the drink and a couple of glasses. "The Saint who was martyred twice," he glanced to him. "I really shouldn't put it all up. It seems strange on a modern ship."

"No..." he smiled gently as he looked at him. "Saint Sebastian...I take it you have gone to San Sebastiano Catacombs then?" he smiled and placed it down, moving over to him.

"Yes, I found it incredibly peaceful," Verity smiled warmly to him, sitting close and offering one of the glasses over. "Perhaps it will bring us luck here? He's a Saint to soldiers afterall."

"Maybe," he said and took the glass, his eyes warm as he sipped it. "Not that men as skilled as us need luck..." he winked playfully.

"Oh of course not," he teased back with a small smile. "We can go somewhere else if it makes you uncomfortable?"

"No, I like it here," he said and smiled as he held his eyes. "I am not uncomfortable around religion...or you."

"Good," he said with a grin, clinking their glasses together before taking a deep mouthful. "Do you have a room mate?"

"No," he said and held his eyes, giving a small smile. "But I suspect I will be assigned to one at some point. I have barely been in my quarters."

Verity watched him with surprise before shaking his head with a smile. "You need to make it a home," he said softly.

"I don't want to settle in yet...just in case I get moved," he whispered and looked down with a weak smile. "Besides, I have all I need from the Fleet."

"People need other things too," Verity said softly, shaking his head. "And if you move? You just make a new home."

"I don't have much," he admitted as he held his eyes. "The clothes in my bag, a small box with some...personal things. That is it."

"Well that can be changed," he grinned at that, watching him with warmth. "You wait and see, things get collected without you even intending it to be that way."

Olly chuckled softly, holding his eyes for a long moment. "You're such a happy person," he said with awe.

Verity laughed softly at that, his eyes shining as he shook his head. "I try to be," he admitted. "After all, we're in the stars."

OFF:

WO Oliver Sylver
Flight Control
USS Galileo

Crewman Verity Thorne
Chaplain
USS Galileo

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