Hello Holly Part II
Posted on Mon Jul 3rd, 2023 @ 8:41pm by Lieutenant Commander Alyssa Maren & Ensign Connor Turner
Edited on on Mon Jul 3rd, 2023 @ 9:18pm
1,837 words; about a 9 minute read
Mission:
Episode 14 - The Poseidon Adventure
Location: Connor's Quarters - Deck 3 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD013 1800 hrs
"No, I had not thought about anything like that," Connor replied honestly. "But a few days ago, someone kissed me," he confessed. "I did not know what to do." He panicked slightly, despite the fact that he now understood that Holly was not convinced that they should continue being a couple. "I did not kiss her back!" he professed. "And then she kissed me again, though, I think it was on the cheek. All I did was fix her ship. I mean, I did my job. She needed someone that knew computers and I was referred to her." He shook his head. "Of course, I told her I had a girlfriend, so I think the other kiss was more of a thank you, since it was not on the lips and respecting our relationship, but, well, it is confusing, Holly. She talked to me like you - explaining things and suggested our lack of contact was, well, a malfunction because we had not communicated. So, obviously, I had to fix it." He shrugged apologetically.
"You're talking about Ensign F'rar as the crazy person, right? Just checking. She's mad! I don't know how to get rid of her. I don't know, maybe I'll stay in ops. I've never seen anyone behave like that. Then again, I, well, you know...."
"Yes, I know." Holly smiled. He'd never been difficult to understand. "And yes, I was referring to Ensign F'rar. She sounds horrid. And since ops does a lot of work with computers, you might actually be happier there." She hesitated. "But what I would like to know is did you like it when the other woman kissed you?" She hoped she could lead him to see that he should give this other woman--the one that wasn't destined for a padded room--a chance.
"How did I like it?" Connor asked, as if trying to remember. "Which one? The first one where she kissed me on the lips or the other one when she kissed me on the cheek?" Without waiting for Holly, he continued. "The first one where she kissed me on the lips, I think I was too surprised and shocked to even register anything. The other one, well, I don't know. I don't think I minded, but well, I just don't know." He shrugged. "I guess it was a thank you for fixing her ship. Still, I told her I had a girlfriend and such, so, I think that makes sense."
"But do you want it to be more?" Holly asked, gently nudging him with her words. She wanted him to think about what he felt, and what he wanted. She didn't think that he loved her any more than she loved him, but he had to realize that for himself.
"I don't know. I had not considered it one way or the other, Holly. I had you." The fact that he used the past tense showed Connor that he finally understood that their relationship as a couple was over. "I came out here, well, to try to be nearer to you, to show you I could be more." He bowed his head. "Guess I made a right mess of that, huh?"
"No, you didn't make a mess of anything. I'm proud of you. You've changed since the Academy--we both have. That's a good thing." She paused, trying to decide the best way to say what she wanted to. "As I said, we've both changed, and we've both been involved in our work. I think that means we should still keep in touch--but just as friends." Then an impish smile spread across her face. "But I think I should send you something more official. What if I sent you an image of me in the lab with a note that says something about how I appreciated what a great boyfriend you were in the Academy, but now I have so much to do that it would be unfair of me to keep you tied to me and so I release you to find someone on your own ship? You could show it to Ensign Can't Mind Her Own Business." Connor had been a great boyfriend as they were both focused on learning as much as they could about their fields of study. She hoped this other woman--the one who kissed him--would turn into something more.
"I'm not certain it would mean anything to her," he replied with an exasperated sigh. "She'd probably think I computer generated it. Like I said, she's mental." He shook his head, "But I'm not going to refuse your image either," he told her with a genuine smile.
He leaned forward, putting his elbows on the console in front of him, interlocking his hands and putting his chin on top of his fists. "You know, Holly, I've missed you. I'm glad we can stay friends. I'm also glad that even though this stinks, things are clear." As an afterthought he added, "Probably should tell Marjani she did nothing wrong after all."
So, the woman's name was Marjani. Holly would have to look her up--in her new role as big sister. "I'm glad we can stay friends, too." She hated to hurt Connor and this was so much better than she feared. "Let me know how things go with both Marjani and the lady jackal."
Connor screwed his eyes up, trying to make sense of lady jackal. He was not certain what that meant but he was certain based on this conversation that it must relate to Ensign F'rar. His face relaxed when he figured that much out. "Um, Holly..." he started. "Um, you know how I am at talking to women.... I mean, you hunted me down when I was hiding from you because I did not know how to talk to you and well, you know, could not see how someone like you would want me. Of course when you snogged me, it cleared matters up substantially.... I mean, I can probably tell her she did nothing wrong but I don't know, well.... How do things work or how do I do things from there? You know? I mean, how did you know with me? Am I making sense?"
"Yes, Connor, you're making sense. I think you could start by telling her you and I talked and decided we were just going to be friends and you'd like to ask her out. Maybe dinner or a walk in the arboretum. You said you're on shore leave, right? That's a great time to invite her to do something."
"Well, um, shoreleave ends tomorrow, so, um, I really only have tonight and maybe the morning. Even so, I mean, what if she says 'no'? I've never asked anyone on a date, Holly. I get tongue twisted. I don't know how to talk. I mean, well, how long did it take until I could talk to you?"
"True. But you did well enough if she kissed you," Holly countered. "Maybe just ask her if she wants to go with you to visit wherever you are right now. If you're at a station, ask her if she wants to go to the promenade for dinner, or if you're at a planet, find somewhere to go for a walk. Start with something simple. And if she's busy, ask her to go to the lounge later for a drink."
Connor started getting wound up. "I don't know what I did that she kissed me! I wasn't even flirting with her! I froze like a statue...." He then tilted his head and asked, "I didn't do that with you, did I?"
"Freeze up?" She had to think to remember. "Yes, you did. The first time. But we had classes together and we'd talked in the library, so it wasn't like I walked up to you and kissed you or anything." She could tell that he liked her by the look in his eye when they were in the library, too, but she wasn't going to mention that as it wasn't pertinent to the current conversation.
“I’m just…. I don’t know…. I mean…. I don’t know that I can just hit my commbadge and talk to her. And I think she goes back to Empok Nor tomorrow when Pioneer leaves…. Maybe this is just a bad idea….” He bent his head low with a huff, almost admitting defeat.
"You can go to where you saw her last. Or send her a text message. Then you don't have to actually talk to her until you see her face-to-face." She didn't want to bully him into this. He needed to learn to do this on his own. "If you want to see her, you'll find a way."
Connor sighed, his head still down. "It should be easier. It would be easier if she contacted me."
"It would, but since you told her you had a girlfriend, you should be the one to contact her now and tell her that the situation has changed. She won't try if she thinks you're still in a relationship. And if she did ask you out before you talk to her, she's not the right girl for you."
One reason that Connor had enjoyed dating Holly is that she could speak logically to him. He checked her logic and found that it was sound. He sighed harder. "I guess I have to try and contact her and after I'm off with you, huh?"
"Yes. I think that would be best. It'll get harder the longer you put it off." She almost wished she could be with him to encourage him--almost. "But think of it this way: once you ask the first time, it gets easier."
Connor was not certain what Holly meant by the last sentence, but she certainly knew she was right about doing it now. If he did not, he would think too much and he would talk himself out of it. He had never asked a woman on a date before and he began to wonder again, why he came out in space. There was so much unfamiliar to him, leaving him completely out of his element. "Right. So, I should go now, then. Thanks, Holly."
"You're welcome, Connor." He'd changed a little since the Academy, and Holly hoped that the Toxic Ensign wouldn't ruin everything he'd worked for. Maybe she could request a couple of weeks off to pay him a visit? It was something to consider. "I'll talk to you soon. And, Connor? Good luck. Moore out."
A Joint Post By
Ensign Connor Turner
Computer Systems Specialist, USS Pioneer
Lieutenant JG Holly Moore
Science Officer, USS Southerland
NPC by Alyssa Maren
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