#❝ verse. ⋮ space federation 01 ⋮ i do believe in fairies

[rosegoldandsequins]

@akiiyamashun​​  //  SENT :

∆ CATCH ∆  -  sender grabs receiver’s hand(s) to keep them from losing their balance/falling.

❛ ❤ ⋯      

Okamura’s cabin sparkled : everything was covered with a fine, glitter - like substance that made the entire room shine like the surface of a diamond. The lighting inside was soft and warm. It made the reflective stars and planets patterned across the walls appear to spin and glow. Bits of gold jewelry were laid out across one of the tables, atop which sat a large mirror. There were digital images set along the frame of the glass, many of which showed Okamura’s favorite places that the Tojo had visited. 

Akiyama stepped into the quiet sanctuary with a hum. He slipped off his shoes, scratched a hand through his shaggy locks, and swept his eyes around the dazzling space. It didn’t take long for him to find its sole occupant. Mindful of his beloved’s secret, the First Officer used the door’s controls to lock it behind him.

The Fae was asleep in her bed, long locks strewn across the covers. Due to the warmth of the room, she was dressed simply in a white nightgown with slim straps. Her garment exposed the light that shone from beneath her thin skin. It pulsed in time to the flutter of her heart. How fast the beat was would be alarming in another species, but the swift rhythm was normal for the Fae.

Smiling, Akiyama approached her. He leaned down toward Okamura and laid a hand gently on her hip. The Fae warbled and stirred. “Good morning, my star,” the First Officer whispered, kissing the side of her head.

Slowly, Okamura opened her eyes. She vocalized her protest with a series of slurred chirps that sounded like muffled song. Until, of course, she realized it was him. Irritation at being awoke turned to confusion ; her confusion at his presence quickly turned to delight.

Without a second thought, the Fae scrambled up out of her blankets. Akiyama took a half - step back, unable to help his laughter at her excitement. Okamura was still too groggy when she tried to get out of the bed itself, and her foot caught at the edge. The First Officer hurriedly grasped her hands and pulled Okamura against his chest to prevent her from falling onto the floor. ( with how fragile her bones were, any sort of spill could be treacherous ; it was best to avoid them altogether. )

A startling field of suspended glitter erupted from the pleased creature in his arms. Okamura righted herself and snuggled into him. Her mouth trailed along the side of his neck. When he turned his head, she was able to capture his lips and kiss him deeply. The Fae drew her arms up in order to entwine them behind his head.

Since the Tojo was docked for scheduled maintenance at one of the Federation’s key ports, the administrative officials had declared that all of her senior officers needed to show for review. They claimed it was to make up for the time missed while the Tojo was out, but Okamura knew better. This was all ‘ red tape, ’ as their grumbling captain said  ―  excuses to hold the ship and crew hostage for a brief spell. All it really did was infuriate Daigo, who reported to their summons first. As second - in - line, Akiyama was forced to do the same today.

“I missed you,” Okamura breathed, breaking their embrace to get a better look at Akiyama. “Even if you do look excellent in your dress uniform.” She slid her hands over his shoulders and down onto his breast as she slipped out of his hold gracefully.

“You think so?” Akiyama asked, raising an eyebrow. “I hate this thing ; it’s too tight.” For emphasis, he pulled at the collar of the shirt. By design, it hugged the lower half of his throat. Practically choked him, he moaned every time he was made to wear it.

Okamura laughed. The sound was high - pitched and uniquely melodic. “Are you saying that you need helping taking it off  .    .    .  ?” she teased, reaching for the intricate clasps on his side. 

Akiyama kissed her forehead. “I think I might,” he chuckled. His breath tickled her flesh, causing the Fae to squirm. Her laughter grew louder as the First Officer moved to capture her slender frame. He drew them down onto the bed, though he was mindful to keep her on top ( for her pleasure as much as her safety ). Okamura lifted her torso up, hands planted on either side of Akiyama.

“What is that look for?” he murmured, brushing a portion of her hair over her shoulders. The task of removing his pesky uniform was temporarily forgotten. When Okamura furrowed her brow, he brought up a hand to her face. A thumb grazed under her bottom lip, highlighting the sweet curve to it. “This.”

“  ―  an emotion, I think,” the Fae replied truthfully. “I’ve been reading and watching what’s available in the databases. This feeling is  .    .    .  I love you. What humans call it.”

Akiyama blinked, stunned into silence. Of all of the phrases she could have said, that was certainly among those he hadn’t expected. Her unusual wording suggested that Okamura was unfamiliar with the phrase and perhaps even the verbalized sentiment ( while some of their peers were terribly fond of her, he couldn’t imagine any of them ever said they loved her even if they did platonically ). It saddened him to think she had never heard it before  ―  though what truly struck the First Officer dumb was how genuine her expression was. She may not have known how to share it exactly, but she did love him. With all of the weight those three little words carried.

“You don’t want  .    .    . ‘ I love you ’ ?” the Fae asked, beginning to draw back quizzically.

Akiyama cursed his silence. “No, no  ―  Azumi.” Tenderly, he grasped her arm to stop her from sitting up properly. “Your ‘ I love you ’ is something I do want, uh  ―  well, your love is something I want. Both.” The First Officer sighed, unable to hide his amusement at himself. “What I am trying to say is : I love you, too.”

( and he did, he realized, as he watched her features flood with relief and a sense of elation she didn’t quite understand. she was the most beautiful thing he ever laid eyes on, and this  .    .   .  this was far greater than two attractive crew members sharing their pleasure with one another anymore. it was real. )

“I hope I get to say it for a very long time,” he added affectionately, tucking strands of rose gold behind her ear.

#ooc. MEGA FLOOF #❝ verse. ⋮ space federation 01 ⋮ i do believe in fairies #akiiyamashun #❝ ic. ⋮ ask

[rosegoldandsequins]

@akiiyamashun​  //   SENT :

Getting acclimated with the Tojo was not something that its new First Officer had quite accomplished yet; the ship was much smaller than the ones he had served at previously, and as such the crew had tighter and closer bonds - Akiyama had suspicions of being considered some sort of invader or intruder, despite being a graduate of the same Academy as everyone else on board. And yet, for such a compact vessel, it had a curious number of unique officers that he couldn't remember seeing elsewhere: symbionts, a Tora (he had never met one before, let alone one boasting high officer rank), a captain with a certain reputation that was not entirely positive. His job there, on behalf of the higher councils of the Federation, was very clear: to keep an eye out and ensure that captain Dojima observed regulation rather than avoided it. But thus far, there was nothing wrong - if anything, the crew seemed to be fiercely protective of their commander, and he found himself struggling to establish rapport with his fellow subordinates (and peers at the the bridge, too). Sighing, the man decided to go for a drink after his work hours - it was also Haruka's shift, a sweet and nice girl who did not appear to share the same refusal in befriending the newcomer. Akiyama claimed a spot at the bar instead of picking a table, ordering whatever form of sake they had that didn't happen to be synthetized; while Haruka nodded and fetched his order, the First Officer turned in his seat to gaze at the room that seemed to fill in with the change of shifts... ...Only to almost fall from his chair. At that very moment, the sliding doors parted to admit a woman; granted, the Tojo's crew was mostly composed of men given its origins in deep space exploration, but there were females aboard of different species. But for some reason, Akiyama had never seen her until that moment, and the surprise was further boosted by how impossibly beautiful she looked in her eyes. It felt like being gifted a miracle by some ancient god from Earth - the blonde waves, the emerald-colored irises, the soft smile on perfect features, the way the uniform (a standard one) seemed to compliment her build so well - hell, even the way she walked inside was special, as if there was something different to how the blonde lady moved. Akiyama was so entranced that he failed to notice Haruka's amused smile, the drink ready and placed at his side and followed by a soft nudge from the bartender. "Who is she?" The First Officer's voice sounded vaguely dreamy and a bit higher than normal; the disbelief and surprise was clear from every form of reaction, and Haruka chuckled while folding arms over the counter and looking at the newcomer for a second. "That is Azumi Okamura, communications officer. She sometimes comes here for a drink - I have adapted a strawberry cocktail for her, it's Azumi's favorite," the girl said emphatically, waving at the blonde and beckoning her closer much to Akiyama's surprise, "Azumi, good to see you! Would you like the usual?" Haruka said cheerfully when the blonde was within range, and casually gestured to the (still immovable) man sharing the counter with her, "This is our new First Officer, Shun Akiyama. I'm not sure if you two have met before."

❛ ❤ ⋯      

Okamura slipped her palm - sized respirator into her pocket, smoothed the front of her uniform, and tossed her hair over her shoulder. She could somewhat see herself in the reflection cast on the door. Thanks to a long nap in her quarters, her appearance wasn’t quite as perfect as she would like, but it would do. A faint dusting of glitter ( picked up from her cabin ) sparkled in her locks and on her fair flesh, which made Okamura smile. Thankfully, in this shape, it appeared to be a cosmetic choice as opposed to an uncontrollable shed. 

The Fae wasn’t meeting anyone or bound to observe a deadline ; it was merely that she held herself to a strict social schedule. Humans loved to flock together. Because of this, they often took notice of individuals who didn’t come into the fold. It was an intriguing give - and - take : in order to preserve her level of privacy outside of shifts with the crew, Okamura needed to join in their merrymaking twice per week at minimum ( or, at the very least, make an appearance ). Luckily, the Tojo possessed enough recreational spaces to make this self - imposed demand fairly enjoyable  ―  though the Fae’s favorite, by far, was the bar area.  

She nodded to the few crew members who noticed her entry immediately. Okamura inhaled deeply as she walked, steadying herself against the air tinged with alcohol and made stale by the sheer amount of bodies that constantly passed through. Suddenly, she caught the barmaid’s wave. The Fae’s carefully - controlled expression was morphed by a dazzling and excited smile. Her steps toward the bar quickened.

Okamura ignored Haruka’s words at first. With all of the grace and quick, darting movements of a hummingbird, she slid between the stools. The Fae mirrored Haruka’s body language and leaned in to greet the younger woman by bumping their noses together. There was an obvious degree of affection there : the blonde was fond of every woman onboard the Tojo, but sweet Haruka was easily one of her favorites.

The barmaid couldn’t help but laugh as Okamura found her seat a moment later. Her features sobered, however, at the narrowed eyes and frown on the Fae’s face. “What?” Haruka asked quizzically.

“Your hair is a mess,” Okamura complained. “To me, momo. Now. Let me fix it for you. If it stays that way, you’ll get a headache.”

Haruka sighed. “I have work to do, Azumi-chan,” she answered with truly little fight. Clearly amused, the barmaid untied her apron and started to walk around the counter.

“It is not my fault that you have to come out here,” Okamura reminded Haruka with a teasing grin. “You banned me from going behind there, momo.” The Fae spun elegantly on her stool once the barmaid arrived. Her thin fingers, tipped with pink almond - shaped nails, pulled out the flimsy hair tie from Haruka’s sloppy ponytail. Humming softly, she combed through the dark tresses first. 

“The last time I let you back there, you ate half of my strawberries,” Haruka reminded the blonde. 

Ah. Okamura parted the barmaid’s hair more comfortably for her. With expert skill, she wove a loose braid through the black locks and tied it off. “There,” she cooed with a sense of triumph, reaching around to tap Haruka’s cheek. Pointedly, the Fae said nothing about her fruit theft in the past. “You must stop pulling it up, momo ; the breakage will be devastating if you keep that high ponytail.  ―  and, yes, I would like my usual.” Okamura removed her hands then, allowing Haruka to break free.

The Fae moved again on her stool. She did not return to facing the bar ; instead, she stopped facing Akiyama’s direction. Okamura canted her head, which sent her golden waves spilling to the side. They were long and seemed to shine in the bar’s moody lighting. Those thick strands were as immaculately cared for as her pristine skin and well - laundered uniform. It was evident that the woman took immense pride in her appearance. 

“We haven’t met,” she ventured, raising an eyebrow. The answer was to a question asked long ago, but the point still stood. Her shimmering lips pressed together thoughtfully. Okamura did not address him with the same warmth as she did Haruka  .    .    .  but she didn’t seem interested in dismissing him as easily as perhaps some others onboard already had. This ( handsome ) stranger’s eyes were far too intelligent for that. She wanted to find out more before she passed judgment ( even if her natural inclination would always be to defend their renegade captain ).

The Fae continued to speak, emerald gaze seeming to appraise the man in front of her with no shame for how it wandered. “I am Azumi Okamura  ―  linguist. You need no introduction, sir ; I’ve heard quite a bit about you. I hoped to meet you sooner, but I’ve been too engrossed in my research lately.”

#❝ verse. ⋮ space federation 01 ⋮ i do believe in fairies #❝ ic. ⋮ ask #akiiyamashun #alcohol tw

[rosegoldandsequins]

Though his first officer had tried to warn him, Daigo still wasn’t wholly prepared for the sight that greeted him when he stepped into his cabin. Huddled up in the corner of the room was the figure of a woman ( it was the closest shape he could relate her to, at least ) with lengthy waves of hair the shade of rose gold. Her flesh was lighter but shared a similar pink hue. There were rows of markings across her face : a series of pink dots curved like crescent moons beneath her lower lashes ; a streak of stark white ran in a solid line from the side of her head, across her nose, to the other side ; and hollow white triangles were patterned onto her cheeks. Daigo noticed these appeared elsewhere on her body ( two bands of solid white on her upper arms, a string of dots around each wrist and ankle, etc. ). He didn’t spend a good deal of time looking for more. 

She was a Fae. All of the distinctive characteristics were there, from the markings to the subtle illumination her body seemed to emit to the sparkling particles that now laid over every surface she explored after being placed here. It looked like a child poured glitter all over the captain’s quarters.

Daigo gestured for his first mate to as the door hissed shut behind them. He raised his hands to show they were empty and crept forward. The Fae didn’t seem to be afraid ; she shuffled forward to meet him. Emerald irises stared unblinking at the head of the ship. Luckily, her tresses covered what her thin dress didn’t.

Once he was close enough, Daigo kneeled in front of her. She was a Fae  ―  of course she was  ―  but he had always been told that their species ( the dominant one of the fantastic planet they recently left ) could not produce females. They also only possessed gold eyes  .    .    .  not green.

“Daigo,” Junichiro said softly, who often abandoned the proper honorifics in the hallways. They were old friends, having been previously bunkmates in every level of schooling.

“I see,” the captain replied evenly. The Fae’s trembling fingers brushed over his bare palm, and she murmured something to herself. Their native language sounded strangely like birdsong. Daigo allowed her to take his hand into her own. She was fascinated by the lines carved into his coarse skin.

“Who found her?” Daigo asked next.

“Sasaki, sir,” Junichiro answered swiftly. “I asked him to check the cargo we brought back and account for it as quartermaster. She was inside one of the bins. Fortunately, Sasaki likes to work alone. He called for me, and I raced down to fetch her. I thought it best this situation be kept  .    .    .  private. Finding her  ―  “

“Changes everything we know about her species,” Daigo interrupted. He pulled away slightly when she reached out toward his face, evidently curious. The Fae frowned.

“I was under the impression that Fae were shy,” Junichiro remarked dryly.

Daigo chuckled. “Evidently, a lot of what the Federation knows about them is wrong. In its defense, however, there used to be exactly three individuals in the whole of the Federation who can say they have met a Fae. No one could even confirm which planet was their home until we stumbled into it. My question is  .    .    .  ” The captain removed his hand from her grasp and waved it to get the Fae’s attention. She tilted her head at him quizzically. “Have we spoken enough for you to understand me?”

The Fae appeared to think about something  ―  but then her lips peeled back into a grin that was accompanied by a giggle.

There it was. Daigo sighed. Perhaps the most strange aspects of the Fae had little to do with their appearance. There were two abilities marked in the Federation’s limited records of the species : the Shimmer and the Gift. The Shimmer, from what Daigo was shown on their homeworld, was merely a camouflage of sorts that a Fae could use to hide in plain sight if it chose ; they were able to mimic the physical appearance of another living orgasm almost perfectly. It wasn’t quite shapeshifting as humans knew it, but that was the sole word Daigo knew to explain it. Being pacifistic, rather fragile creatures ( or so it was said of them ), the Shimmer helped the Fae survive the trials of their harsh planet.

The Gift, though  .    .    .  that was the ability that the Federation wanted to delve into. Provided a Fae heard enough of a language, they would be suddenly be able to communicate in it fluently ( and would never lose that understanding ). Daigo had experienced this firsthand when the leader of the Fae greeted the Tojo after it landed. Like the creature in front of him now, the leader knew perfect English within minutes of listening to Daigo introduce himself and his senior officers. It was an unsettling power that the captain couldn’t begin to fathom, and the Fae were too elusive to ask detailed inquiries to.

“I will not go,” said the female loudly, drawing the captain out of his thoughts.

“You stowed away,” Daigo replied flatly. “Why?”

She scrunched up her nose at the captain and scooched away, unsure if he would make an attempt to grab her. The Fae’s fingers soon tangled in her hair. “Because  .    .    .  ” Her voice softened. “You do not know my kind. We do not have females  ―  creatures like me are rare. When I emerged from the flowers, like all who came before me, I was given to our king. So that, when I was of the right age, I would be sacrificed to the earth in exchange for good rains and prosperity. That is what all females are for.”

Daigo clicked his tongue thoughtfully. “You’re that age, aren’t you?” he ventured, beginning to place the pieces together.

The Fae nodded, unable to help how her shoulders shook. “They spoke of locking me away while they assumed I was asleep several periods of darkness ago. Your ship coming the next period of light saved me ; they lost track of me in their fear and excitement about you and your brethren. I hid among the tributes. If I am going to die, I would rather  .    .    .  do it up here.”

“Up here?” Junichiro echoed, folding his arms.

“I like the lights in the darkness,” the Fae murmured. “Up here. Your stars. I have always wanted to see them ; I prefer you kill me among them than be buried in the ground.”

“We’re not going to kill you,” Daigo said firmly, scratching at his chin. “You have put me in a fucking bind, however.”

“Captain?” came Junichiro’s concerned venture. He knew that look : Daigo was about to defy whatever regulations would normally apply to a situation of this sort.

“Think about, aniki,” Daigo said gruffly, raising a brow. “We have four choices. One : we take her back to her home, and they sacrifice her. Two : we try to return her, like the first option, but the Fae try to kill us under the assumption that we stole her. Three : we arrive at the next stop for supplies, turn her over to the Federation, and the power - hungry minds of the Federation carve her apart in an effort to understand the Gift. You know how badly they want to weaponize that ; it was all the classified reports my credentials could reach about the Fae talked about.”

By the time Daigo was finished speaking, the Fae’s digits were clutching her locks. Unshed tears formed a film over her eyes, which darted between the captain and his first officer fearfully. What a fool she was for thinking that there was any hope of a good life for her.

“Four?” Junichiro prompted.

“Four  ―  ” Daigo smiled at the Fae. “She stays with us and uses the Shimmer to blend in. There are less than ten women onboard, so she will stand out  ―  but it won’t be as noticeable. All of our reports about the Fae and their home are already wired in, including that their species cannot produce a female. Since the leader  ―  king  ―  neglected to correct us, that information will stay fact for a long time.”

With a sigh, Junichiro sat in the nearest chair and crossed his legs. “It’s tricky,” he agreed. “What would you have her do?”

“Linguist,” the captain countered, turning his attention to his sullen first officer. “Think about it, Junichiro. The Federation database has samples of languages from every species that humans have made contact with. If she can hide in here until we dock, she would have time to hear them all. With the Gift, she would learn to be fluent in thousands of peoples’ native tongues and not forget a single one. We forge the papers, fabricate a few uniforms, and pretend she joined up while we stocked. Put in the records that she’s the best damn student the academy has ever seen, that will cover her skills.”

“What if she needs medical care, Daigo?” Junichiro argued, meeting his captain’s gaze.

“Kashiwagi,” Daigo said after a moment. “He is Chief Medical Officer. We place a marker in her file that she can only receive treatment from him ; I can explain the situation later. Provided the secret stays between the five of us  .    .    .  I don’t see why it wouldn’t work.”

The first officer sighed, stare shifting back to the Fae. He blinked several times, startled. “I think,” Junichiro replied in shock, “someone agrees.”

Daigo looked back and let out a bark of laughter. There was no Fae in his quarters any longer. Instead, a human woman of breathtaking beauty sat in front of him. Her long golden waves were unusually shiny and her green eyes too bright  ―  but it was almost flawless. A bit of a shimmer still stuck to her skin ; however, Daigo was confident that could be dismissed as cosmetic.

“Welcome to the crew,” he muttered.

#DRABBLING IDEAS #❝ verse. ⋮ space federation 01 ⋮ i do believe in fairies