First Date Part II
Posted on Tue Aug 15th, 2023 @ 3:41pm by Ensign Connor Turner & 1st Lieutenant Marjani Smith
Edited on on Wed Aug 16th, 2023 @ 12:47am
0 words; about a 1 minute read
Mission:
Episode 14 - The Poseidon Adventure
Location: Marjani's Quarters - Deck 3 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD013 2130
"Do you need me to help you carry any of that to the table?" Connor offered.
"Yes please." Marjani simply stated with a smile. "Thank you for asking." She picked up the glasses and headed to the table, placing the glasses down.
Connor picked up the salad bowl and brought it to the table. He sat it between them and smiled at Marjani. So, what should I say? I was never good at small talk. "So, here we are.... With food...." He smiled at Marjani, hoping that she could find something for them to talk about while his brain was refusing to cooperate.
"Let's dish up the food and get to eating." She paused then looked at Connor after the carafe of water and the glasses were place upon the table. "First things first, do you like to talk and visit whilst eating or are you the sort who likes to eat then do talking afterwards. I am good with either one." She chuckled. "I know that is a weird question to ask but, sometimes there are people who like to just enjoy the food and have a quiet meal, then talk near the end of the meal like say during a dessert. Whichever would be more comfortable." Marjani said while pouring a glass of water for herself. She paused and then asked. "Would you like me to pour you some water as well?"
Connor held out his glass and said, "Please." He then thought for a moment, reflecting on what Marjani had said, "I don't know which I am. I have not eaten with anyone in at least a year, well, not in a setting like this, anyways. Most of the time, I've been alone."
Pouring the water, Marjani contemplated what Connor had said. Once filled she set the carafe back down upon the table.
"Most of the time I have mainly eaten in the mess hall with others. Or go to a cafe' depending on where I am at, or I eat alone in my fighter, if I am out traveling. Or, I eat with my squad, but still in the messhall or where we end up being at." She looked at the set up of the table then at Connor. "It's been a while since I've sat across the table from someone at a set table, like this. Actually have I done this before?" Marjani went through her mind seeking a memory of a romantic dinner by candlelight, in her own room or in a hotel room. There was a couple of memories there of having had that happening. Way back in the past.
"I have had a couple of meals like this, but its been a long while." Marjani answering honestly.
"You did mention that you have had a run of bad relationships and encounters," Connor reminded Marjani without saying anything about having had one night stands. "I just do not see how it is possible that you have not fared better. You're just, well, smashing." He smiled warmly at Marjani before looking at the salad. "I suppose I should serve us, shouldn't I?"
"If you would like to do so then yes please. As for relationships, some could say I was born under a wandering star. I couldn't seem to stay in one place. It's due to my loving to fly. And Connor, not finding someone who accepts me for who I am. And I do love the thrill of flying. And I think I did mention that I was a bit of a flirt early on. And it was either I wasn't the right person for said person, or they just weren't the one for me. Perhaps they felt I was just a bit too wild for them. "
Connor grabbed the serving utensils and served Marjani first as he listened. He then served himself. "You are rather spontaneous," Connor observed. "Probably good for me. I might stick with a computer all day, otherwise."
He then gasped, realizing he took Marjani away from her holoprogram. "I never apologized for taking you away from your holoprgram, did I? I probably owe you some holotime. I can give you from my share. I did take away yours...."
Marjani just waved that off. "Connor, I don't mind at all. Instead you provided me with something more. You, me on a date. And now having a romantic dinner together. That outweighs any missing holo time, this is real time. Nothing artificial, just us. I wouldn't have missed this for the universe." She reached out to touch his hand, one of the ones he was using to dish the salad with.
How is it that every time she talks, I feel better? Connor wondered. "If you say so, Marjani," he told her shyly. "You'll have to at least share some holo time with me," he decided affirmatively.
"Okay I will accept your invitation, when it happens," Marjani replied moving her hand to where she could pick up the salad dressing container to pour a little bit on her salad. She took a bite and smiled. "This is really good. Must be the company I am with which adds to the flavor." She then resumed eating. She tucked into her salad as she was very hungry, and when she ate, Marjani did go silent except for giving Connor affectionate glances and a closed mouthed smile.
Connor could not believe his fortune. Marjani just seemed to instinctively understand him and he would look up from his salad time to time to give Marjani a sly smile or wink. When he finished his salad, he washed it down with some water, stood up, and moved over to Marjani and gave her a small kiss on her forehead.
She had just placed her fork upon the table, looking up when Connor came to her side. The kiss on the forehead surprised Marjani but she loved it. It was so naturally occurring and her cheeks flushed, "Thank you," Marjani said softly, reaching up to touch his cheek. "You are amazing."
"Hardly," Connor returned. "You are astonishing. I'm trying to figure out what may not be good about you and I have not come up with anything."
"Oh I do have my faults, I am not perfect. I get irritable when I get hungry. I may even snore depending on how tired I am. I actually have moments when I can slip into a not so happy frame of mind, due to memories from my past. I can be pragmatic, and maybe overbearing. Well I think I am due to my becoming too enthusiastic or excited about something." Marjani uttered quietly.
"I don't see being pragmatic as a fault at all. And as to overbearing.... Well, I suppose that worked in your favor with me," he told her with a small chuckle.
Marjani smiled softly. "I really thought at that time I scared you off. Oh and just to warn you as well, I can be rather determined." She drew his head down to lightly brush his lips with her own. "Shall we get done eating, and get to dessert? I am looking forward to tasting the treacle treat. "
"Whatever you desire," Connor replied dreamily, his thoughts lost with Marjani's touch and kiss. Reluctantly, he pulled away, walked to his side of the table, poured some ale and served Marjani some of the pot pie before giving some to himself. He took a taste and said, "Replicated well."
Marjani chuckled. "It does taste good though," she remarked after she took a bite of it as well. "I've had some foul smelling food. I ate it anyways but it was sustenance and the person was very kind in sharing their food. It didn't taste too bad. This reminded me of a quote I had come across, it is from someone by the name of Cicero. He stated 'Socrates... says that the best sauce for food is hunger and the best flavoring for drink is thirst," Marjani commented. "It seemed to be an appropriate state of mind when eating something that is replicated."
Connor shrugged. "I suppose that is all true. Then again, I really only think of food, in general, as fuel for my body."
Marjani thought for a moment then gave a nod. "That makes sense in a practical manner. I was raised to where food is life, and nothing wrong in making it flavorful, tasty and something to be enjoyed. I watched my aunt make edible and beautiful works of art. Then there is the simple pleasures of picking a piece of fruit off of a vine, a tree, or a bush and biting into it, like for instance an apple or peeling a piece of fruit like an tangerine or even a pomegranate." She went back to eating her food, enjoying it, as her memory added to the chicken pot pie's flavor due to memories.
"The British diet is not generally thought of as extremely flavorful," Connor noted, continuing to eat. "We're fairly simple."
"I will have to investigate the British Cuisine then," Marjani commented. "Just to see for myself," she continued, flashing a smile. "I am not above learning about different foods." She went back to eating her chicken pot pie, stopping between bites to take a sip of her ale. When the last bit was finished, Marjani wiped off her mouth on the table napkin. "That was good." She gave Connor a smile. Then quickly muffled a burp.
Connor looked up at the muffled burp and looked at Marjani curiously. He then took a swig of ale, thought about this situation, and chose to ignore it. "Are you certain that you left room for dessert?"
"I need to slow down on the eating, makes for too much air to be swallowed," Marjani replied then added, "I do have room for dessert. One thing, I do like to eat. I am not a woman who just picks away at my food and worry about my diet or weight. I do eat in moderation, and I am active enough to keep my weight to where it should be."
Connor tilted his head to the other side. "Are you concerned that I will not like you if you don't look exactly like you do today?" He shook his head. "Marjani, you need not worry, if that's the case. I like you for who you are."
Marjani chuckled. "No, I am not worried about that Connor, my statement was more on being informative as to how I am. I actually had one guy get a little upset because I was eating more than what he thought I should. We were on our second date, he seemed nice enough but the second date having dinner, it was a buffet mind you, and he made the comment, if I eat that much he felt that I would blimp out."
Marjani gave a shake to her head, her curls moving about. "I exercised enough decorum to not dump my plate on his head, or even deck him. And I left. " She gave a bit of a shrug, then took another drink of her ale.
"I don't understand that," Connor replied perplexed. "Why would someone say such a thing?" He blinked not comprehending. "Please, just be you. I admit that I do not pick up on all or many social cues and I can be somewhat naive, so I am told. But, if you keep it simple, I think things will be fine."
"I think that you catch more social cues than you realize, Connor. As for what the person said, unfortunately there are people who think it is okay to speak unkindly to each other, to be bossy and rather overbearing. I don't understand why they do that. It boggles my mind." She was silent for a moment before Marjani looked down and played with the spoon on the table. She looked up and said. "How about that yummy sounding treacle treat?"
Connor wondered why Marjani was playing with the spoon, but said nothing about it for the moment. "Ah, yes! Let me replicate that right now." He got up from the table after taking another long gulp of his ale. Moving to the replicator, he asked the computer, "One treacle tart, please." It appeared in the receptacle, piping hot. He carried it over to the table and placed it between the two.
"Oh, bugger! Let me get something to cut it and serve it." Quickly, he moved to the kitchenette, got a pie knife, and a couple more plates and forks. He arrived back a the table and asked, "How big of a piece would you like?"
"How about the size of a regular piece of pie," Marjani replied, leaving off her playing with the spoon. Marjani at times did that to gather her thoughts.
Not certain what a "regular size piece was," Connor decided to do what Holly helped him learn: take an educated guess. He cut a small wedge, put it on a plate and placed it before Marjani. "Why are you playing with your spoon?" Connor finally asked.
Marjani took a look at the spoon she had been playing with then she answered Connor. "At times if I am gathering my thoughts, I will touch something to help me focus. It's not something I do all the time just, I guess like someone playing with a curly strand of their hair. The metal is something solid and is tangible. It can even be likened to pinching one's self to assure an event isn't just a dream," she said, lifting her dark brown eyes to his. "Is this truly happening, us sitting across from one another, gazing into each other's eyes? Or will I just be waking after having fallen asleep in my fighter and having a pleasant wonderful dream?"
"You fall asleep in your fighter?" Connor asked incredulously. "But, if this is not real, then we're both having an incredibly wonderful dream." He paused for a moment and moved to Marjani. "But I always thought that playing with a spoon like that showed concern. This is not a problem, is it?" He bent down and gave Marjani a soft, sweet kiss.
Once again that kiss which makes her heart race. Marjani closed her eyes as their lips met. When their lips parted, Marjani whispered. "I am concerned that I am taking advantage of you. That I might take advantage of you. Maybe I am just borrowing trouble, worried about something that needn't be worried about." She had forgotten about the treacle dessert for the moment.
"How could you be taking advantage of me?" Connor asked innocently.
"It's something I wouldn't do to you, but with your skills, your openness and honesty, and trusting nature someone may want to pull you into something that may not be the best for you," Marjani replied, working to answer to her best of her ability.
"Well, if you would not do it to me, then I do not understand your concern." Connor shrugged helplessly, gave Marjani another quick kiss and then headed back to the tart and cut a piece for himself, served it, and sat back down across from Marjani.
Just right there Connor blew through her worries and concerns, like a ray of sunshine dispersing the dark clouds that were gathering around. "You know something Connor, you are absolutely right," her smile going from ear to ear. She picked up her fork, cut off a piece of the treacle tart and placed it into her mouth. It was absolutely wonderful! "Oh, this is so good!" she exclaimed.
Connor beamed at Marjani and then looked down. "I'm glad that you like it." He then took a bite to eat for himself.
A few more bites and the slice of treacle was gone. "This hit the spot just perfectly," Marjani remarked. She looked at the rest of it. "This could be eaten for breakfast in the morning," she said before drinking down the last of her ale before having a drink of water. "This was a very good meal."
"The company is better," Connor told her, before finishing his last bite of the treacle tart and smiling genuinely at Marjani.
Marjani smiled back, then rose from her seat. Her first intention was to put the rest of the food into the small fridge to eat later. Then she shook her head. The treacle tart she'd save but the rest of the leftovers were going to go into the recycler. She paused and gave a small laugh. "Connor, I forgot to have us take some holos once again. Of our first official romantic dinner together."
Connor chuckled nervously. "Right. We did forget that, didn't we?"
"You know something? We can just clean up the table, go sit on the couch and take a couple of images of us, and that will be okay as well." Marjani looking over to where Connor was.
A Joint Post By
Ensign Connor Turner
Computer Systems Specialist, USS Pioneer
First Lieutenant Marjani Smith
Pilot
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