First Date Part III
Posted on Tue Aug 15th, 2023 @ 3:44pm by Ensign Connor Turner & 1st Lieutenant Marjani Smith
Edited on on Wed Aug 16th, 2023 @ 1:10am
0 words; about a 1 minute read
Mission:
Episode 14 - The Poseidon Adventure
Location: Marjani's Quarters - Deck 3 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD013 2230
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.
"OK. Let's do that." Without waiting for an answer, Connor took as many dishes as he possibly could and loaded them into the dishwasher.
Marjani then walked over to where Connor was working and wrapped her arms around him giving him a kiss. "Well perhaps you can make a holo-imager to do the work?"
The pressure of Marjani's body against Connor's made Connor his heart beat faster and his face flush. He kissed her back unreservedly. "I can do anything you want."
Marjani sighed in contentment, leaning her cheek against him. "Let's get something set up do some memory shots of us." Another kiss, then she reluctantly pulled away, to let Connor work his magic.
Connor started looking around the room and found an access panel. He then went over to the replicator and said, "Computer, please create a decoupler." The computer complied with Connor's request and then he walked to the access panel and started humming lightly as he worked. When he stopped humming, he closed the access panel and then said, "Computer, please take delayed holo images in two second increments from when Marjani and I are on the couch. End after thirty seconds."
He then took Marjani's hand and led her to the couch. "Are you ready?"
Marjani gave a nod and sat down with a smile, and when he sat next to her, she leaned her head against his shoulder her arm going about his waist. "This feels so lovely."
Connor put his arm closest to Marjani around her waist and agreed. "It does feel rather natural." He changed the subject and said, "You might want to look at that point," he pointed to an area opposite of them. "Holos should be starting just about now." With that, they saw a flash and he shook his head, "Well, that will not be our best shot. Fourteen more holos to go."
Marjani laughed. "Well we are trying to look natural right?" She up and kissed him, and sneakily tickled him, that moment being caught in a flash. She didn't' know if he was ticklish or not. What better way to find out than now?
Connor squirmed at being tickled. He gave her a serious look and asked, "Is that how it is, then?" He then brought his hands around Marjani and tried tickling her at her waist.
He hit the right spot causing Marjani to laugh and wriggle around trying escape his tickling. A couple of shots then Marjani stopped tickling him, her eyes soft, filled with warmth and tenderness. She leaned her forehead against his, "How could I have been so lucky in finding someone like you? One who makes me feel so wonderful?"
Connor put his hand on Marjani's face. "I am the lucky one." Before he could utter another word, he leaned in and tenderly snogged Marjani, right and properly.
Marjani returned Connor's kiss, however something about this kiss, her kiss seemed a lot different, as the niggling sensation she had previously in the back of her mind came to the forefront. It was her very own statement of not wanting to take advantage of Connor. With a sigh, Marjani pulled back, she cared about the man she was seated beside upon the sofa, just the uttered doubts and even a big slice of reality came swinging in and hit her right between the eyes.
She couldn't do this, Marjani knew herself way too well, and she was someone who also was rather honest with herself. She might have been way too caught up in the moment as Connor had opened things about her she'd not even thought about in years, feeling like she was someone who had value. However, she needed to process this. She even questioned her own decision to immediately say yes, she was his girlfriend. In her mind she was cursing up a storm, at herself. She was in fact getting mighty pissed off at herself, she reeled it in though.
"Connor, I need to put a pause on this for the moment." Marjani said softly, caressing his cheek, she rose from the sofa to go get a beer, popping the lid off of it.
Connor tilted his head, not understanding what was happening, but silently watched as his girlfriend got a beer. Was Marjani OK? He got up off the couch and wrapped his arms around her. "It is difficult to kiss you when you have a beer at your lips."
Marjani took another sip of her beer, placed it upon a nearby counter. "Yes it is difficult to kiss someone when they are drinking." Mustering up a smile, "Connor, we've been very open and honest with each other this whole time. And I have shared with you a little bit of my life. The time we've spent together has opened a lot of doors for me that have been closed for a long while. And I have certainly tossed you into things you are not used to doing." giving a little bit of a laugh.
The smile then faded away, her eyes growing misty as Marjani stated the next part, "Now that I've had a few moments from your potent kisses, I have had a little bit of a clarity of mind. I feel I was too hasty in accepting the honor of being your girlfriend." She drew in a shaky breath before she continued, "Call me whatever names you wish to do so; A tart, a twit, a bint. Put the blame on me, I am not going to take you beyond that curtain to where I sleep. Even though I am strongly desirous to do so, I have to put the brakes on somewhere."
Connor looked quizzically at Marjani, "I don't understand. Are you equating being my girlfriend with sleeping together? I do not know if I was inclined to do that on a first date."
"You probably weren't thinking that at all, of us sleeping together. However, me, my brain was going in that direction, and I am putting a stop there." Marjani went to have a seat back on the couch. "Connor, I want to set you free right now. I know you are willing to be my boyfriend, I wanted to be your girlfriend, but my brain is yelling at me to stop. And my conscience is as well. I don't know how soon I will be back this way after I leave. I had the romantic notion of doing a long distance relationship with you, I don't think it will work." Marjani's voice steadied, as she spoke then Marjani went quiet. Yup, heartbreak Marjani. I was seeing the signs already there. I wasn't going to stick around was I.
Connor blinked several times and let Marjani go reluctantly. He paced away from Marjani and then came back towards her. "You don't think..." he told her. "I disagree," he finally concluded. "All evidence points to the contrary. If you did not want a relationship with me, you would not have come running when I called. If you did not want a relationship with me, you would not have wanted to go down to Aquil with me or take all of these holos. You would not have been thrilled with a romantic dinner. You would not have started a tickle fight. Furthermore, you would not have been excited to spend more time with me since your ship was going to have to get towed along with Pioneer. No, Marjani, I don't think this is an issue of thinking that we should not date. I think it is something like fear. I do not know why, but maybe it would be a good idea to see counselor Zhana or Vura. I will tell you this, I know that both Zhana and Holly thought it was a good idea that we date. As you know, I do not do well talking to women, but I can talk to you. We fit, Marjani. It all makes logical sense."
"You make a logical argument there Connor." Marjani replied, giving a bit of a huff. "I don't know if I want to talk to a counselor though. And yes, I am afraid. Very much so. Perhaps what with all that has happened, with your day and our day. I maybe need to let my head clear and see what happens after I get some sleep, we get some sleep." Her shoulders drooped as she sat down upon the couch. "It is the last day of shore leave, and tomorrow we go to wherever the ship goes next. Or my next assignment comes. Also, you are very determined person, Connor and can be very persuasive."
"There's nothing to be afraid of," Connor replied, taking Marjani's hands in his own. "This has been a great date and we have had fun, right? So, everything fits." He leaned in and kissed Marjani's forehead. "We talked about this before. We balance each other. We have tomorrow. We have the trip on Pioneer.... We have time."
Marjani remembered a quote she had read somewhere, “Snatching happiness takes a lot more courage than enduring unhappiness.” the life of a pilot it all seems to be just accepting moments of happiness before the wind takes you away to another place. Her mind went to another place for a moment, remembering something, someone. She brought her mind back to focus on the moment.
"Well, it is getting late and I need some sleep. What would you like to do Connor?" Marjani asked. She was weary.
Connor was not certain that she was tired, but he could understand weary, since she seemed to be having some conflicting thoughts. "I would like to let my girlfriend get the rest she has requested after getting a proper goodnight snog."
Marjani gave a nod, "Sounds like a good plan." giving a slight smile. "A good snog and time for me to sleep." She stepped in close to give Connor a kiss.
Leaning in, Connor slowly let his lips touch Marjani's. His body pressed closely against Marjani's, and his arms encircled her, as he kissed her passionately.
Marjani felt herself melt against Connor as she savored his kiss, running her hands in his hair then along his back, pulling him close to her. After a few long minutes, Marjani reluctantly ended the kiss. Feeling her head spin once more. "It was a great day." she said softly, "And a great evening as well."
"It was," Connor agreed. "So, I will see you tomorrow, then?" he inquired, looking deeply into Marjani's eyes.
"Yes, as far as I know I will see you tomorrow when it is time to depart." Marjani gave him a nod, then she gave Connor one more kiss before walking him to the door of her temporary quarters of the station. "Sleep well, Connor, and hope you have good dreams." A playful smile danced upon her lips.
"How could they not be? You will be in them," he informed Marjani, practically glowing. "Tomorrow, then." He kissed Marjani quickly and walked far enough that the door opened.
Marjani watched as he stood just outside the door just enough to keep it open. She smiled towards Connor. "I shall sleep well tonight also. Goodnight Connor, and you best leave before I decide to pull you back in, to kiss you more." she informed him, giving a teasing and half serious smile.
Connor shrugged. "But I like kisses," he shyly responded. "Especially yours...." He paused, then took another step backwards towards the corridor, "But, um, yeah, I probably should, um, go, right?"
Marjani almost missed the clues that Connor was giving out, her eyes widening. "Oh gosh..." finally catching on. She stepped out and took Connor by the hand and pulled him back into her quarters. "Oh dear I almost forgot." Pulling him close to her and giving him a rather passionate and fervent kiss, her hands running up his spine and to his hair. Marjani felt like the room was getting a little bit warm.
"Want to get yourself a pair of pajamas, keep me company overnight?" Marjani whispered.
"Well, um," he said breathlessly, recovering from the kiss. "You did ask me to stay at the beginning of our date and I said yes, so, um, yes.... Or, um, I could just replicate some here."
"That would be lovely. I'll leave you be so that you can do so," Marjani stated, giving Connor one more kiss, then releasing him. She stepped away and headed towards the sleeping area, she was going to get herself prepared for sleep. It was easy enough for her to do so as it would just consist of her just taking off the oversized tee shirt and that would be that. Tee shirt and shorts were her sleep wear. Nothing sexy, just something practical in case she had to jump out of bed.
Connor moved over to the replicator and asked it, "Computer, can you please make some pajamas for me, Connor Turner? A copy of the ones I wear on Fridays?" Within an instant, red and black trousers and a red long-sleeved shirt appeared. With Marjani in the sleeping area, and saying that she was going to let him be, he turned his back to sleeping area and stripped down before hastily putting on the pajamas. If Marjani had sneaked a peek, he did not know and did not care, but he moved quickly as possible, so as to attempt to avoid that possibility.
Once he finished, he turned around and called out, "Marjani, are you decent?"
"Yes, I am," she answered, Marjani having moved to the side of the queen-sized bed nearest the wall, that was in her temporary quarters. The left side of the bed. The sheet and blanket were pulled back to allow Connor to get in. There were two pillows as well. "Hope the pillows are comfortable enough." Marjani added, she was lying on her left side to wait for Connor to come in. The angle of the bed was where she'd not been able to peek at him when Connor was changing.
Connor strolled into bedroom gingerly. He took one look at Marjani and said, "You look comfortable." He stood at the side of the bed admiring her before noticing that the sheets were pulled back. "Oh! Thank you! Right considerate of you." He then slipped under and pulled the sheets over him and he rolled onto his side to look at Marjani. "Hi," he finally settled on saying.
Marjani smiled, and Marjani softly answered. "Hello, fancy meeting you here," she said slightly teasing him, before she moved in to give Connor a kiss, pulling him in with one arm.
Connor reciprocated the kiss happily and pressed in closer to Marjani, some of his initial awkwardness at first being in a bed with Marjani melting away. "Yes, fancy that. How did that happen?"
Marjani giggled with delight. "This is very lovely being here with you." She reached up to caress Connor's face and gave him another kiss. She could feel her body start to relax more; it wasn't bad having him here in her bed in her quarters. Tonight, she felt she'd be able to sleep fairly well.
"I agree," he told Marjani returning the kiss sweetly. "I would have never envisioned this a week ago." He hesitated as he considered the sleeping situation. "Um, how exactly do you sleep? Do you prefer to be spooned or something else?"
"I think that spooning can be done either you or me. How do you sleep when you were with someone?" She didn't want to bring up Holly's name, but Marjani was curious, it would give her a bit more insight into Connor. "Sometimes I spoon or am spooned, or I just lie on my side facing the one I am with. I am a side sleeper in truth."
"I sleep on my side, too. I guess that's why I always tended to spoon my partner. Besides, it is rather cuddly."
"Yes, it is very cuddly." Marjani gave out a quiet chuckle. She gave him one more kiss, caressed his cheek, turned her back to him, adjusted her hair away from her neck, draping it over her pillow. "Spoon away, Connor," she told him, quietly smiling.
Connor draped an arm around Marjani's midsection and tucked another under her neck. At first, there was a distance between his body; but, slowly and cautiously, he closed the gap. Marjani could feel his warm breath nuzzling along the back of her neck, as he molded softly against her.
The warmth of him against her, Marjani could feel herself relax even more. "Goodnight Connor, I'll see you in the morning," she sleepily said, feeling her eyelids droop downward and her hand reaching to give his hand a squeeze, before it settled to the bed. Soon the soft rhythmic breathing of Marjani, could be heard.
"Goodnight, Marji," Connor replied through a yawn. Something here just felt right, even if he was slightly nervous about being here at first. There was a comfort to holding Marjani. What a day! he thought to himself as sleep overtook him.
A Joint Post By
Ensign Connor Turner
Computer Systems Specialist, USS Pioneer
First Lieutenant Marjani Smith
Pilot
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