The 'Hale' Archives: "Recalibration."
Posted on Wed Apr 1st, 2026 @ 7:21am by Lieutenant JG Rowan Hale
Edited on on Wed Apr 1st, 2026 @ 10:53am
496 words; about a 2 minute read
Mission:
Character Development
Location: Observation Lounge
Timeline: 5 Years Ago
5 Years Ago
The Observation Lounge was nearly dark. Late enough that the rest of the ship had settled into its Night Cycle hum. It had been just over a month since Rowan and Elara had met and had spent practically every day together since, sharing meals, meeting for coffee between shifts.
Elara sat angled towards him, one leg tucked under her, her PADD a dark, forgotten rectangle on the table. She'd been watching him for five minutes before she spoke.
"You're distracted," she said.
"I'm listening," Rowan replied, his gaze fixed on the viewport.
"That's not the same."
Rowan finally turned his head. "...no."
She smiled, that faint knowing curve on her mouth. "What are you thinking about?"
He didn't answer straight away. He couldn't. He was currently trying to ignore the way the air in the room seemed to have gotten five degrees warmer.
"Rowan?"
"You." he replied, turning fully towards her.
Elara blinked, caught slightly off guard.
"Okay," she said, her voice dropping an octave. "You've used that line before."
"I know. This is not the same."
“How is it different?”
Rowan didn't answer. He couldn't define the difference, so didn't try, instead shifting in his seat and turning fully towards her without quite realizing he'd done it. It wasn't enough to trigger a warning, just... less distance than there was seconds ago. He dropped his gaze briefly to her mouth and then back to her eyes.
“You’re doing it again,” she said, her voice barely a whisper.
“Doing what.”
“Thinking too much.”
“…yes.” he whispered back.
“Maybe don’t.”
She didn’t push. Didn’t move. She just stayed.
Rowan held her gaze for a second longer and for once - didn't try to find the "optimal" path. He didn't check the chrono. He leaned in; it wasn't a sudden movement but a deliberate transition until their lips met. It was soft and careful. Elara shifted slightly forward closing the last bit of space between them.
"Well," Elara said quietly as they pulled back from each other. "That answers that."
“…yes.”
"There it is." She replied with a slight smile.
He blinked. “What.”
“You disappeared for a second.”
“I did not.”
She tilted her head. “You did. Right after.”
“…briefly.”
She laughed softly, her eyes briefly trailing down his torso for a split second.
"Yeah. Briefly."
Rowan exhaled, shifting the tension in his shoulders into something else.
"I was recalibrating."
“A kiss requires recalibration?” Elara replied with genuine amusement.
"I was not prepared for... the outcome," Rowan admitted sheepishly.
Elara's smile widened. The "outcome" was currently very much present between them. "The outcome?"
“Yes.”
“That’s what you’re calling it.”
“…yes.”
She shook her head and leaned back just enough to look over him, thoroughly amused.
“…I am open to alternative phrasing,” Rowan added, the corner of his mouth twitching.
She laughed under her breath. “Oh, I’m sure you are, Doctor. I’m sure you are.”
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