A Baciami Proposal

Posted on Tue Nov 26th, 2024 @ 5:43pm by Lieutenant Adrianna Baciami & Lieutenant JG Zai

1,470 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Stars Around the Well
Location: Adrianna's Quarters

ON:

With the last of the civilians leaving the ship, the observation deck was quiet except for the low hum of the ship’s engines. In fact, it was just her. Adrianna leaned against the viewing window, her gaze lost among the stars as the ship stood idly, itching to be on the move again. The space around her felt still, but inside, her heart was a storm. She knew Vance wanted to propose before they headed into the dead zone and she knew that he had something planned for tonight, but whether he would do something like this so quickly, she didn't know.

The sound of footsteps drew her attention, and she turned to see him entering the deck. He looked calm, though there was a flicker of something unreadable in his expression. He held a small bag in his hand, and her pulse quickened.

“Deciding to actually finish on time,” he asked, stopping a few feet from her.

“Something like that,” she replied, offering a faint smile, “and you?”

He shrugged, stepping closer, “I had something I wanted to show you.”

Adrianna tilted her head, eyeing the bag, “what’s in the bag?”

Instead of answering, Vance gestured toward the floor by the window, “Sit with me?”

Her curiosity deepened, but she nodded, sliding down to sit cross-legged beside him.

“You know, before I met you, I was an angry man– something in me always felt incomplete. Then, I met you and I just knew that you were what I was missing. I didn't know why– certainly why I would feel that way so fast, but I knew,” he smiled, “I wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for you. But that aside, I still knew that you were my other half.”

“Then, fate had other ideas, and I was back to where I had started– angry, confused and feeling incomplete. One thing remained though: your surname– albeit your undercover one. I knew that Reggimi meant something and I had this feeling that I shouldn't have been alone. It was like a dream where I couldn't see the face of who I was with– that's what my head was like,” Vance tried to explain, but struggled.

“When we bumped into each other on Starbase 2, I didn't recognise you, but my soul seemed to. I may not have recognised it at the time, but there was a comforting familiarity to your eyes. I knew that I had to stick around to find out why,” he opened the bag, pulling out a familiar tattooing kit.

“Vance,” she began, her voice trembling.

He reached for her hand, his thumb brushing over the soft skin where a ring might sit. “You told me about your family’s tradition. How the Baciami don't just wear physical rings, they have something permanent in the form of ink. I think it's a perfect idea for us– more so than anyone else. No matter what happens, we'll always be tied to each other. Even if we don't know who we are, and who the other person is– we'll be tied to one another permanently, carrying the love with us wherever we go.”

He looked up, his dark eyes meeting hers, steady and full of emotion, “if you'll still have me, that is.”

Adrianna’s lips parted, but no words came out. She had known this was coming, and had even told him about the tradition herself, yet hearing the words from him now– the sincerity in his voice, caught her completely off guard. She instead simply smiled, and gazed into his eyes, "how could I ever say no, amore mio."

He smiled. "I just have one request."

Adrianna took a breath, her breath hitching a little as her emotions started to show a little, "name it."

"No pink tattoos...and no orange, any other colour is fair game."

She couldn't help but chuckle, happy tears finally falling, "how about the same as a soulmate tally-- red, or black."

He gave a nod. "I'm all yours love." He cupped her face using his thumbs to wipe the tears off her cheek.

Her cheeks blushed a little but she kissed him, pouring her emotion into the kiss. When she broke the kiss she sniffled and smiled, "I've never tattooed anyone before-- not even myself. You sure you want this?"

He snorted. "Let's get this done. BUT since I'm proposing may I go first?"

She nodded and held out her hand to him. She was trembling a little, but Adrianna managed to calm herself, "show me how it's done, amore mio-- ah-- marito mio."

He grinned. He worked delicately. Soon around her ring finger stood a swirl of script saying Love of my life in Italian, something he'd practiced for days and it was surrounded by leaves and vines and then at the very crown a tiny cupid with his bow drawn. "There...all done."

Adrianna looked it over. She was in awe by what he had done. A smile graced her lips, "Vance, it's beautiful. I won't compare-- thought in my head, I know what I'm drawing."

He grinned. "I had Zai help with the design. I wanted something special and I had it all in my head and he made me draw it till I thought my arm would fall off but...I'm so glad he did." He cleaned the area and wrapped it a bit to protect it. He handed her the instrument. "I'm all yours my love."

She took a breath. She'd watched and been tattooed, but it didn't mean that she could. Taking the stance that she should use it as she would write, Adrianna gentle took his hand and wrote in Italian: Loved in Every Lifetime. It was a message that had several meanings, of which all were applicable. She loved him when faking her life, she loved him as herself, she loved him when she thought he was dead, she loved him when he had no memories, she loved him now. In all forms of life, she loved him and would continue to do so. It was a simple tattoo, just her handwriting, nothing fancy, but the fact of the matter was that it was done.

"Mio Marito," she smiled, "you want me to translate your tattoo or your new pet name?"

He grinned. "The script. I learned enough from Zai to know Marito has something to do with Husband."

Adrianna nodded, "Mio Marito-- my husband. That's right. As for this: amato in ogni vita. It means 'loved in every lifetime'."

He rested his forehead against hers. "It's perfect."

Adrianna closed her eyes and took a breath, enjoying him being so close, "I may not have known the second that I saw you, but I fell quickly. I loved you, I love you now and I will love you--no matter the ship, the circumstance or lifetime. You're mine, Vance."

"Always." He laughed. "Can I call ya Wifey?"

She groaned a little at the colloquialism, "how about 'mia moglie', hm?" She paused before chuckling, "Madonna, your work colleagues are going to think that I threatened you into doing this, or something."

"Pfft. You can threaten me any time." He waggled his eyebrows wanting her to laugh. It was his favourite sound in the world. He remembered doing what he could to make her laugh.

She nudged him playfully and genuinely laughed. She kissed his cheek, "since you proposed-- and we're married according to family rules, I have a proposition for you."

His eyes widened. "Hot coco by the fire?"

"Move in with me," she simply replied.

He kissed her. "Are you sure? I want to take this at your pace, love."

"Between the unknowns of this mission and the fact that you a bound to me," she gestured to his ring finger, "I have never been so sure-- just do me a favour?"

"What's that?"

"I talk a good game," she blushed a little, "and there are assumptions that go along with that, but I am-- can you just be a gentleman at first. Please." Adrianna blushed a little more, hoping that she wouldn't have to spell it out for him.

He laughed. “I meant what I said about nothing till the wedding night.” He grinned. “I can stay on the sofa here too.”

She chuckled, relaxing at his response and not making it a big deal, "no, we just have the same rules as when I jumped into the ocean with that diamond deal with the Romulans. I can't have you aching on a sofa. We're adults. We will be fine. I can't miss what I haven't had."

He smiled. "Alright then. We're moving in....but you have to tell your family first...cause I don't want to be hunted through the vineyard."

Adrianna shook her head, rather amused, "deal, Marito Mio."

OFF:

 

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