Another Date

Posted on Wed Mar 24th, 2021 @ 2:06pm by Lieutenant Aurora Rogers & Lieutenant JG Malcolm Royce

831 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Mission 8 - A Blast from the Past
Location: Ship's Lounge
Timeline: 2296/4/24

Malcolm arrived at the lounge early. He looked around, didn't see Aurora.
The lounge was maybe half full, plenty of tables to choose from. He chose a secluded spot, where no one would easily see them.
He sat, ordered 2 drinks from the server, and after the drinks arrived, he waited.

Aurora was soon there, just a minute or two late. She'd been a little nervous about the date, but it was more in the realm of excitement. She slid in on the seat opposite him, "sorry I'm late." She wore her hair down for a change. As she sat down she brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

"I would have waited for you, no matter how late you were." He smiled at her, trying to break the tension. "I ordered you a drink."

Rory smiled and relaxed a little, "thank you." She took the offered drink and looked around, put of habit. If she was ever here, she'd be people watching.

"After dinner," he wanted to get her attention, "maybe we could return to my quarters for drinks...if you would like to."

Rory blushed, taking a. Moment before her blue eyes went back to his. She knew what that meant, or at the least, assumed its meaning. "I'm not the girl you only take out twice," she smiled, "but I feel complimented at the fact that you are in that mind set. Perhaps we'll just see where this takes us and then some."

"I thought this was our third date." He motioned to a server. "I'll have a steak, medium rare, and a baked potato." He looked at Rory. "What would you like?"

Rory ordered a salad before looking to Malcolm, "that's one hell of a traditional assumption."

"In what way?" He asked her.

"Just because it's a third date, doesn't mean I'll put out," she quietly defended, blushing. Damn it, she wanted to scream at him, but her need to be a people pleasure overtook. She didn't want to embarrass him.

He was surprised. "That has never entered my mind. I would never pressure you in any way. I'm sorry if you thought that." The server brought the food. "If you rather call it a night, I'll understand."

Rory was very unsure. Has she got the wrong impression? Her blue eyes fell to her food then back to him, "it would be rude to leave a full plate."

"That would be nice." He picked up his fork and knife and cut into his steak.

Rory watched him a moment before starting on her own. "So... How did you get into medicine."

"I've always been interested in helping people. My mother got sick when I was about 6. I watched as doctor after doctor tried to help her, with no success, so I made a vow to learn how to make people better." He cut some steak and used the fork to put it in his mouth. When he finished chewing, "How about you?"

"I got into communications because there were always languages in the house," she replied, "my father is a professor in communications at the academy. I feel it was predestined. I always found it easy to learn languages. I was a polyglot by age ten for three languages, starting on a fourth."

"I always had trouble picking up new languages. You have a gift I don't have."

"Thank you," she replied with a smile, "my dad says that if you have at least two languages taught in the house before you are five, you're on for a winner. So I blame him."

They made small talk for the rest of the evening, but, dinner waas over, the dishes cleared away, and they each held an after dinner drink in their hands.

Rory sipped her drink and smiled," I did enjoy this evening. The latter part anyway."

"May I escort you to your quarters?" He asked her.

Rory was silent a moment. It was an escort not a hint. She had made herself clear on that front. A few seconds passed, masked by her finishing her drink before she replied, "that sounds nice."

Malcolm stood up, and walked around the table, and placed his hands on her chair, so when she started to get up, he could pull the chair away.

Chivalry clearly wasn't dead here. Rory appreciated the gesture and stood up with a nod of thanks. They then walked down the corridors. Aurora's place wasn't far, she'd always felt like she was destined to be in her quarters as they were close to her people watching place. As they got to her door she smiled, "thanks for tonight."

"It was delightful. I hope we can do it again." He looked at her, then leaned forward, and kissed her....on the cheek.

Rory smiled and nodded, "maybe. I'm sure we'll cross paths again." She leant in and kissed his cheek, "good night."

He watched as she entered her quarters and the door closed behind her.

 

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