Roses are Red, Henry is Blue

Posted on Sun Jul 19th, 2026 @ 12:48am by Ensign Henry Taylor & Michelle Erilin
Edited on on Sun Jul 19th, 2026 @ 12:49am

1,734 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Valentine's Day
Location: Hydra Lounge
Timeline: February 14th

Henry sat at the bar, arms folded in front of him, chin resting on them, staring at his empty glass. He glanced up as a shadow appeared over his glass and looked up, seeing Michelle smiling down at him. "Could I have another, please?" he said.

Michelle shook her head slightly in dismay, "Are you sure? You've had three already and I'm starting to get worried."

Henry glanced up at her. "Your concern would be more relevant if there was any alcohol involved," Henry said.

A slight chuckle came from her and she took the empty mug and refilled it from the refrigerator that she kept certain things in, "Here you go, Mister Taylor." She slid it back in front of him.

As she topped off his root beer, he let out a sigh and looked around the lounge. He'd hoped it would be fairly empty, but there were several couples there, being far too happy together for his taste. He sighed again, nodded a 'thank you,' and took a sip.

Rather than go off to check on the others at the bar, Michelle propped her elbows up and leaned her chin on the backs of her hands, "You really look miserable, you know, and that's a bad thing. Did you want to talk about it?"

Henry shrugged. "It's stupid, and it's childish, and I'm more upset at myself for feeling this way than anything else."

"Then it sounds like it would be best to talk about it and get it out of the way." Michelle smiled up at him, "Then you can still try to enjoy the day as best you can. In fact, if you needed a Valentine's Day Date, I'm not taken yet." She winked at him to let him know she was mostly kidding, definitely not trying to take Tessa's place.

Henry groaned and put his face down in his arms. She couldn't have hit the nail on the head more squarely if she'd had a laser sight to aim the hammer.

"I can't enjoy my day, and that's the problem," he said, then after a moment's silence, he exploded. "I finally have someone to spend Valentine's Day with. Like, finally. After years of spending it alone, watching everyone else have their romantic evenings and whatnot...I wasn't going to be alone. And now I'm giving up our first Valentine's Day to a kid who wants to have his first date with my girlfriend!"

"Oof." Michelle grimaced as she realized why Henry was trying to get drunk on the non-alcoholic drink, "I mean, that's really nice of you to do that for him, but I'm not sure I would have done the same. But you know he's not a threat for her, right? That girl loves you to death and beyond."

"I know, and that's why I'm pissed. I try to make every night special for her, because for me? Every night does feel like Valentine's Day with her. So why do I need this one day? What's so damn special that I need to be with her on this particular day? This one day that's supposed to be for couples." He let out a sigh. "I just hate that I'm this upset about this. I've been going nuts the last few weeks trying to come up with something that would make tonight special, and then that gets yanked out from under me and now I'm upset that I don't have to do anything and I'm just really ashamed of myself right now." He took a deep breath and put his head in his hands.

Michelle paused a moment, then reached out to take one hand away from him to capture in her own, "There's no need to be ashamed of yourself. You're doing great with her and I'm absolutely sure that she'd be thrilled with whatever you've got planned! Mind letting me in on what you've got planned? If not, that's all right as well."

He sighed. "That's what I'm saying...I don't have anything planned, because I stopped bothering when I realized I wasn't going to need it. She'll have already had dinner, and been out for the evening. And as for activity in our quarters, that's always been wonderful, but I don't know if I'm going to be able to be in that mood right now, and I wanted to do something romantic, something beyond just great sex."

"You think she's going to be out all night?" Michelle asked him, He's thirteen, Henry, he may think he'll be out all night, especially in the company of a pretty girl, but he'll wear out and I'd put money on him being wiped out by ten, ten thirty max." She put on the grin that made her look awfully cute, so said many people, "And when has she ever refused to eat, even if she's done so recently? I've seen her down seven desserts in a row at lunch when you're not around to see it."

He gave a small chuckle. "Yeah, she has an appetite," he said. Still...I don't know. I just wanted the night to be perfect...special. It's our first one together, and I'm blowing it."

"Then we had better start planning, shouldn't we?" Michelle stated, "Besides, having someone here that you can practice on wouldn't be a bad thing, would it? Besides," She gave a shrug, "I've never been on a Valentine's Day Date myself, I think it'd be fun."

Henry gave a small smile. "You're a great girl, and you deserve one, but I don't think I'm the right man for the job," Henry said. "Mood aside, I don't really want to add 'hypocrite' to my list of immature sins tonight. I suppose I should focus on what to do when she gets home, other than not be in a mood still."

"Then perhaps I've already done what I set out to do?" Michelle chuckled, "You know, if you wanted to bounce your ideas off one of the female persuasion, I'm available to plot and refine. I'm also here with supplies if needed, as well."

"Maybe," he said. "I suppose, in a way, I'm spoiled for choice. I can replicate her any dessert she wishes, we can go anywhere on the holodeck, and we're not lacking in the physical intimacy department. I just don't know how to make this stand out in the short time I might have."

“Then there’s a place that you can start with.” Michelle smiled, “Wait here for just a second.” She bustled out from the bar and into an adjacent room, returning with a decorative box that had a ribbon closing it, tied into the intricate shape of a heart on top, “I’ve been keeping my eye out for someone who deserves these, but so far no one has caught my eye and you look like you’re in need of some inspiration. Chocolate dipped strawberries, not replicated, grown in the hydroponics bay.” She slid the box over the counter to him.

"Good traditional gift," he said, looking at the box. He finally looked up at her and sighed. "Thank you," he said. "It's something, at least. I won't show up empty handed. Appreciate you saving me from that."

“You’ve got more time than that to plan something out.” Michelle’s eyes glittered at the thought of what she wouldn’t mind being given, not that anyone on board would do anything of the sort for her. “You know, she’s been coming to me for additional dancing lessons in some of her spare time, right? Despite her upbringing, she is a rather simple girl at heart, remember that.”

Henry blinked. He had no idea. They weren't apart very often, but she hadn't told him she was still learning to dance. He'd noticed that she'd gotten better, but attributed it to her natural talents. "She is pretty down-to-Earth," he said. "Or in her case, down-to-Tial. It's one of the many things I love about her."

He took a breath and sat up a bit straighter. "I don't know why I'm so hung up on this. I suppose because it's our first. I know we have our lives ahead of us, but I just fear I'll blink and miss something."

"I'd say more down-to-Chimera." Michelle adjudged, "She's caught between two worlds and really doesn't know what to make of anything, but she is determined to make you happy no matter what it takes. I think if you asked her to marry you, she'd agree to do it and then ask you what 'marriage' is. I've introduced her to the concept of Christmas, I think when we had our celebration, she was in her quarters and not feeling good. She's already looking forward to the next one and is plotting what sort of gift to give you. So far, she's changed her mind five times and that was within half an hour of learning about it."

"Well, you're wrong on the marriage front, but the rest of it sounds accurate," he said. "Glad to see I'm not the only one who has trouble deciding on a gift."

“She’ll come around, eventually.” Michelle murmured with a smile, “You’re going to be the one by her side as she experiences everything in the Federation for the first time, Henry Taylor, to see the wonder in her eyes. Treasure these moments, because you two are going to look back at them and be able to relive these memories in time for the rest of your lives.”

Henry nodded. "Yeah. Makes you wish you could save...." he paused and broke out into a grin, looking at the box of strawberries. "I've got it," he said. He stood up quickly, smiling at Michelle. "Thank you, again."

“You’re… welcome?” Michelle started to say, but ended up speaking to his back. She smiled and chuckled at his excitement, clearly something she’d said had brought his mood up, so that was one positive. On the other hand, struck out again for this day, “Oh well,” She whispered as she pulled his mug back across the bar to recycle it, “Always a bridesmaid, never a bride. Such is life.”

He hurried out of the lounge and back to his quarters to change and get ready.

 

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