EXETERRPG: (2 - 0840) - Lt(jg) Physiotherapist Cerise Blake and Lt(jg) Alastair Brightwood

[Mark Howard]

Mission: A new day dawns

Day: 2

Stardate: 2446.01.29



(Earth - SF, Beverly Hills - Lt(jg) Physiotherapist Cerise Blake and Lt(jg)
Alastair Brightwood - 0840)


Alistair walked up the walkway to the fancy home in one of what used to be
the wealthy neighboorhoods of San Francisco. It was the family home of
Cerise. While he was sure she probably didn’t want him to see this glimpse
into the life she left behind, Alistair was not the most socially aware. He
knew machines, philosophy, not social cues. All he knew was he wanted to
surprise the woman he had fallen for.

Ringing the bell to the door he waited.

“CeeCee! Who’s at the door?” A voice called upstairs from the large
conservatory where her parents habitually sat at this time of day.

Cerise sighed heavily, and looked down, her trousers round her ankles as
she sat on the toilet. ~How the blazes am I supposed to…~ But that was her
family all over, she loved them dearly, but since spending a year in
hospital and then leaving for the Academy, coming back home had been a
culture shock of epic proportions. She had never really noticed that they
could be hard work. They were good people, it was just that they didn’t
always do things the way that she would in any way call normal.

She finished off, and pulled her leggings up, and washed her hands, then
walked out the bathroom, descending the ornate staircase, holding the
bannister carefully as she stepped down, stairs still occasionally caused
her problems, and the fear of falling down them was always present.

“Who is it Cerise?”

“I don’t know Dad, I’m not much closer to the door than you are, if only
there was a way for you to find out who it is? By…you know…answering it?”
She said to herself as she reached the large front door, and pulled it open
to reveal…

“ALASTAIR!” she lunged forward and threw her arms around him. “You should
have said you were coming!” She kissed him warmly.

“And ruin the surprise.” He said with a smile. “So this is where you’re
from?”

“‘Fraid so.” Cerise smiled warmly, genuinely happy to see him. “Accident of
birth perhaps. Come in, please.” she slipped her arm round his waist.

“And people call me the posh one.”

“I’m sure you live in a palace and you’re just keeping it secret.” she
teased as she led him into the house. “My parents are through the back, you
may get hounded, don’t take it to heart. They’re sweet really.” She kissed
him warmly. “Your mustache is tickly. Still dashing though.”

"why thank you Rise."

“Can I get you a drink?” She motioned to the large, open plan kitchen.”

"actually I was wondering if I could whisk you away."

“Any time.” She glowed with a blush. “Where are you whisking me to?”

“That my dear, is a surprise.”

Cerise pouted, “You know I don’t like surprises.”

“Now do you want to say a proper goodbye or should I just carry you in my
arms and abscond with you.”

“Abscond with who now?” Cerise’s father appeared in the kitchen. “CeeCee
whose the Limey?”

“A Lime, where? I love limes, they are so citrusy.” Alistair said with a
smile.

“Daddy.” Cerise smiled happily. “This is Alastair, he’s a Lieutenant on the
Exeter, He’s my boyfriend Daddy.”

“You’re boyfriend?” Cerise could see her father try to fit that into his
headspace.

“Tell you what, I need to throw a few things in a bag, why don’t you boys
chat.” She kissed Alastair and then as she passed her father rolled her
eyes. “Be nice.”

“I’m always a proper sophisticated gentleman.” Alistair said with a
cautious smile.

“So…Alastair. Why don’t we talk.” He motioned toward the deck at the back
of the house.

Alistair followed his host, or at this point was it captor. “It’s a nice
house sir.”


“Thank you Lieutenant.” Cerise’s father said opening the door to the deck
overlooking the expansive back garden.

“So, what would you like to talk about?”

The older man sighed, and leant on the rail. “You know of her accident yes?”

"yes sir." Alistair nodded.

“She herself doesn’t know how close it came. The girl that left the table,
and left the hospital, I remembered as the tiny baby girl that I brought
home. I fell back in love with my daughter the day she was strong enough to
leave.”

"she is stronger than she realizes. That much is true sir."

“She’s come a long way, but the competitive gymnast, I think, died in that
crash. The girl that’s upstairs packing that bag for you is the adult
version of the baby I brought home. You take care of her.”

Alistair was taken aback for a moment. "yes sir, I umm will sir. "

He smiled. “I get that I’m being stupid, that she’s an officer and all.
Still my baby girl.” He nudged his head toward the door. “Get going son.
Go…abscond.” He winked.

“Yes sir, right away sir.” He said not really sure how to respond. As he
looked around looking for Cerise he was sort of taken aback. Based on what
he knew about who Cerise was before her accident, he kinda figured her
parents would be snobs or jerks, but Mr. Blake seemed to be friendly and
not at all jerk-like.

Cerise came downstairs with a midsized bag slung over her shoulder. "Al? We
good to go?" She kissed her parents warmly, her mother winking at her
theatrically.

“Yes we are.”

As they left the house Alistair took her hand. "So which is it? Hot so I'm
in a bikini, or cold so you have to snuggle up and keep warm?" She teased
him gently.

“Neither,” he said. He walked to the vehicle he had parked out. He opened
the door for her and there were bouquets of flowers in the back.

The sight of the flowers overwhelmed her, “Alastair…They’re so beautiful.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck in a deep kiss.

“Uh yes, they are.” He said nervously.

“You’re crazy. Sweet but crazy.” Cerise leant on his shoulder, allowing
herself to be pulled into a close hug. Only a couple of months ago she
would be having severe panic attacks at this level of closeness. Her own
family were only allowed to shake hands.

As he helped Cerise into the vehicle and walked around to the driver’s side
Alistair got in and smiled, “The flowers, umm, they aren’t for you.”

Cerise screwed her eyes up. “You can’t tell, but I am honestly praying that
the grounds swallow me up right now…”

Alistair nodded as he started the vehicle.”

“So where are we taking them? And yes, underneath the foundation, my face
is redder than Trips command tunic.”

“Well, please don't get mad but….”

(Reply none)

(Posted by Mark and Will)
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