The whole situation is strange. The more she feels that tug between the two of them, the more she wants to push back. Is she ready for that? Is he? Could he ever be ready for those feelings and what might come of them? Could he deal with her, the woman she is now, in that capacity? Too many questions swirl around whenever her mind lands on that, which is quite often given how her nightmares have centered around losing him lately. The oddest and most unsettling, perhaps, is the idea that has wormed its way into her mind.
What if she's stuck here? No, stuck isn't the right word. Stuck implies that she isn't happy. She is. A part of her is anyway. Being here is preferable to being in Zelien and despite everything her mind has conjured up due to Zelien and Q's influence, she doesn't fully mind it here. She gets to see people she didn't think she would be able to and while they aren't from her timeline, they are still those people. They are her friends, her crew, and she has missed them desperately.
Her lips tilt upwards into the smallest of amused smirks as she glances over at Jean-Luc. "That might be because you seem to be allergic to shore leave," she teases, resisting the urge to bump her shoulder into his. "I was hoping to, at least for a short time. I've... missed having botany projects. I have the ones here, certainly, but it's always nice to have a chance to see things off the ship as well."
Perhaps they could both have a little time away. Beverly watches him sideways for a few moments, wondering if his mind jumped to that same thing, if he would agree to take shore leave if she agreed to take on a botany project on the planet. And then take shore leave.
A laugh escapes her when her words finally sink into his mind, soft but bright and warm, a laugh that speaks of easier times, of a friendship so strong she had known he would react like that. This was partially why she had mentioned it. His reaction has helped more of the tension seep out of her, the laugh easing her mind and her soul.
"He turned me into a dog. It didn't last more than a second or two and it isn't an experience I would ever like to repeat, but it happened. He's gotten up to antics before, but never on this scale. I would prefer that he leaves us alone... even if that means being stranded here."
This is an admittance she wouldn't give just anyone. Deanna and Jean-Luc are most likely the only two left whom she would offer this to. No one else. Both of them would know what it means for her to come close to saying that she would not mind being left here for a while longer, perhaps even forever. At this point, she's beginning to wonder if she isn't stuck here forever anyway.
There are worse fates. At least here, she has her friends, her crew. Jean-Luc. People she loves. For Beverly, home isn't a where or even a when. It's a with whom. The people make a place a home to her and there are certainly the right people here.
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What if she's stuck here? No, stuck isn't the right word. Stuck implies that she isn't happy. She is. A part of her is anyway. Being here is preferable to being in Zelien and despite everything her mind has conjured up due to Zelien and Q's influence, she doesn't fully mind it here. She gets to see people she didn't think she would be able to and while they aren't from her timeline, they are still those people. They are her friends, her crew, and she has missed them desperately.
Her lips tilt upwards into the smallest of amused smirks as she glances over at Jean-Luc. "That might be because you seem to be allergic to shore leave," she teases, resisting the urge to bump her shoulder into his. "I was hoping to, at least for a short time. I've... missed having botany projects. I have the ones here, certainly, but it's always nice to have a chance to see things off the ship as well."
Perhaps they could both have a little time away. Beverly watches him sideways for a few moments, wondering if his mind jumped to that same thing, if he would agree to take shore leave if she agreed to take on a botany project on the planet. And then take shore leave.
A laugh escapes her when her words finally sink into his mind, soft but bright and warm, a laugh that speaks of easier times, of a friendship so strong she had known he would react like that. This was partially why she had mentioned it. His reaction has helped more of the tension seep out of her, the laugh easing her mind and her soul.
"He turned me into a dog. It didn't last more than a second or two and it isn't an experience I would ever like to repeat, but it happened. He's gotten up to antics before, but never on this scale. I would prefer that he leaves us alone... even if that means being stranded here."
This is an admittance she wouldn't give just anyone. Deanna and Jean-Luc are most likely the only two left whom she would offer this to. No one else. Both of them would know what it means for her to come close to saying that she would not mind being left here for a while longer, perhaps even forever. At this point, she's beginning to wonder if she isn't stuck here forever anyway.
There are worse fates. At least here, she has her friends, her crew. Jean-Luc. People she loves. For Beverly, home isn't a where or even a when. It's a with whom. The people make a place a home to her and there are certainly the right people here.