Brief encounters.

Posted on Thu Jan 21st, 2021 @ 6:25pm by Captain George Charles [Reece] & Lieutenant JG Miraj Derani
Edited on on Mon Apr 3rd, 2023 @ 2:28pm

Mission: Season 4: Episode 3: Guided by Starlight
Location: Academy Fitness Centre, Deck 14
Timeline: MD12 0530
1966 words - 3.9 OF Standard Post Measure

[ON]

Miraj staggered into the gym at oh-my-god-o'clock, still half asleep but knowing her chances of getting this done after her shift was 0, and she had to keep her fitness up. So like much else, she got to the gym through sheer stubborness, even if her bunches hadn't been properly brushed and her lime green leggings with its violet trim had been paired with baggy shirt in orange that managed to be wrinkled despite being freshly replicated.

She could normally count on not having much company in the smaller gym on the Academy deck. There were only a handful of cadets on board, compared to graduates and enlisted who'd be more likely to use the large gym on deck 16, but today she realised she wasn't going to be alone. In one corner was a dark haired man, older than her by a good bit, so probably wasn't a cadet either, idly punching at a heavy bag.

Ignoring him, she went over to her treadmill, and put in her earbuds. If she had to run, she could at least use the time to listen to book. But as her pace picked up she realised that across the vivid flashback of Jebadiah Staines time as an able seaman in the royal navy was a heavy, regular, and very meaty smack. And the punching sounds were getting louder and faster.

Miraj stopped the treadmill to watch the man pounding at the heavy bag with some violence. "Are you waiting for it to beg for mercy?" She asked suddenly.

George had been at the bag for nearly ten minutes, getting warmed up with several light to medium strength hits. He was dressed in his Marine PT shorts, a green tank top, with a sleeveless black hoodie on, with the hood up, nearly covering his face. His back was to the room as he began to pummel the large sandbag, so, he didn't see that an attractive woman had entered. His whole focus was on the bag in front of him. He did, however, feel her thoughts about him.

As he continued to land punches, they started to make contact hard and louder. Finally, he was putting everything he had into the punches, causing the heavy bag to start swaying faster and faster.

Suddenly, he heard the woman ask something, which he couldn't make out over the abuse he was giving the bag. He stopped after a few more hits, then finally, looked over at the woman. "What's that?" He was panting heavily and sweating profusely, from the effort of his work out. That's when his eyes locked on hers, and he was briefly taken aback by her beauty.

Miraj gestured at the bag "I'm not sure it can say 'uncle'." she pointed out. "You seemed to be a bit...angry... with it. I could hear you trying to kill it even through my book" She held up her earpods to show what she was talking about.

George took a few beats, still calming down his breathing, then gave a good humored grin. "Heh, sorry, Miss. I was just venting some of my pent up...energy. better to so here, than out in my fighter."

"You fly?" Miraj perked up at the mention of that. "Are you one of Commander Vaii's?"

Nodding, George replied. Just reported for duty yesterday. Was working out so I could sleep tonight. My internal clock still thinks its twenty-two hundred hours." He suddenly looked like he remembered something important. "Oh! My manners!" Ripping off his right glove, he extended his hand. "First Lieutenant George Charles, callsign Demon."

Miraj looked at the hand, and the rather muscular arm it was attached to, and shook gingerly. It was a very firm hand with rather long, strong fingers. She could feel heat starting to creep up her neck, and she forced herself to make eye contact. Though that was a mistake too. Those eyes were very intense. Was it hot in here? She was definitely feeling hot. "Ensign Miraj Derani. I don't have a call sign."

George could feel the nervousness pour out of the young woman in front of him, possibly some attraction and arousal as well. Not that he minded. He was feeling a bit of the same as well. "Pleasure to meet you, Ensign Miraj Derani." He saw her eyes twinkle slightly as he said her name. "Please, while we are alone, feel free to call me George." He reluctantly released her soft, warm hand and reached up to cup his chin. "Hmmm...no callsign, huh? We will need to rectify that, in time." He gave her another charming grin.

He asked her, "Been on Elysium long?"

"Six months ish." It was a nice smile. "Since I graduated." He kind of reminded her of Mal, only with short hair. it was the eyes. You could fall in and drown. "Which feels like a lifetime ago." Why are you thinking about your brother? Get a grip! Its just eyes. "And I don't get a call sign. I fly proper ships." She realised that sounded awful. "I mean, big ships. Not fighters. Well I can fly those too, but I don't fight in them. I'm very bad at fighting." And talking, and being normal, apparently. Why is the deck not swallowing me up? , "But I fly everything. I fly this ship. Obviously." Her cheeks matched her hair, she was sure. She indicated the treadmills with her thumb. "I'll just go back to... Sorry I disturbed you."

George now felt the nervousness fall off of Miraj in buckets. He found it, and her, quite cute. He started to chuckle softly as she started to verbally spin. It wasn't a mean chuckle, but a good natured one. "Hey," he said softly, reaching for her hand again as she looked over at the treadmills. "It's okay. You don't need to be nervous. And you certainly didn't disturb me. Meeting you was the highlight of my day today."

"Well. Its still early. Don't give up hope." she said quickly

An appreciatively hopeful look crossed George's face. "Well," he paused, a flirtatious look in his eyes. "I certainly won't..." Suddenly, his comm badge beeped. Grimacing slightly, he excused himself while he went back to where his towel was. With his back to Miraj, he reached over the back of his head, grabbed the hoodie with his right hand, and pulled the sweaty garmet off. As he did so, his tank top stuck to the hoodie, exposing not only his well built physique, but the collection of round scars that covered his back.

Grabbing the towel and comm badge, he straightened back up, pulling the tank top down as he did so. "Charles here," he said after he activated the device and started to wipe the excess sweat off his face and neck with the towel.

"Sorry to disturb you, Sir," a male voice replied. "Maintenence needs your approval on a new work order that just came in."

Sighing, David replied. "Okay. Tell them I'll be there in a few minutes. Charles out."

When he turned away, Miraj's first feeling was relief. She was making an utter fool of herself. Then he started to take his top off ans she immediately dropped her eyes. Which gave her an eyeful of firm thighs and tight...glutes. Blood rushed to her face and she quickly looked up again and the rising giddiness was snuffed out.

His back was sculpted muscles, tanned, and gleaming slightly from the sweat, but its crisp lines had been... vandalized. Tiny round dark welts peppered his shoulders, with a few lower down his spine. they looked... angry. Feeling like a voyeur now, that she'd seen something forbiden and private, she turned away entirely, finding her water bottle intensley interesting.

As David closed the unit down, he felt a mix of powerful emotions from Miraj. First, was relief. Then, he thought he picked up an almost hungry admiration. Then shock, and embarrassment, finally confusion. *So,*he thought to himself. *She saw them.*. Them referring to the scars that marred his back, gifts from hothead man who once was his foster father. David started to see flashes of the past. Cinching his eyes tight, he willed the growing pain away. This woman didn’t deserve to see that side of him, that dark side of his anger.

Standing up straight, David took several deep breaths in through his nostrils, then released them slowly, fighting to calm his inner beast. Looking over to the lovely Miraj, who had turned away in, what seemed like, embarrassment, David spoke softly. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t help but feel everything you just felt. I didn’t mean to frighten you.” His face took on a very sad one, as if he had said or done the wrong thing.

"What? You felt?" Black eyes. Of course. Probably Betazoid. Oh no. Oh now she just wanted to die or embarrasment. "I'm not frightened. I'm just... surprised. You hardly ever see scars these days. Dermal generators, non invasive surgery. I think those ones are the first i've ever seen. Real ones that is, on an actual real person. I've seen them in holonovels all the time. i play this series set on a pirate ship, and everyone has them there, occupational hazard of sea battles, debris everywhere, wood splinters something chronic. Worse than helm stations blowing up and I'll stop talking now. Sorry."

Feeling her torrent of emotions cascade off of her like waves, David actually felt a little better. Sorting what he was feeling from her gave his mind something to do, instead of fester. Stepping closer, he responded. "Pirates, you say? I, uh, don't suppose you'd care to show me...some time?"

"Oh. Absolutely." Miraj knew where she was with pirates. "I've been playing a new one with Lieutenant S'hib actually. I tricked him in to dressing up as an 18th century noble woman. It was hilarious. And kind of gross, because he foams like he's been shampooed when he sweats and it was all over the corset and there's an awesome battle sequence coming up, and frankly the more the merrier for those. I've been trying to get him to play again, He's been a little down since the Mirror Universe, and this is the perfect excuse now. Thank you!"

Stepping closer, George again took Miraj's left hand. He loved how wonderfully warm and soft it felt in his. "Okay then. I have to go deal with something. But I'm looking forward to playing pirates with you." He brought her left hand up and, while gazing into her eyes, gently kissed the back of it and said, "Until then." He then gently released her, took a few steps backwards, gave her a wink and a smile, turned, then left.

The young pilot forgot how to breathe. People did that? People didn't do that. This was the 24th century. And he was Betazoid, they were all weird and touchy feely and got naked at weddings. Its nothing. It doesn't mean anything. Besides, no-one has ever looked twice at the weird little half thing you are, so calm down. "I'll-" The first word came out as a squeak, and she finally had to take a breath, "I'll call you when I book a slot."

The doors whispered shut behind him, and tension she didn't know she was holding flooded out of her and her shoulders dropped. Smooth, Mij, she chided her self. Real smooth. But he wanted to try her pirates games, so maybe there was hope. She needed to set up something real quick.

She picked up her pace as the narrator began again, but she didn't really hear the words. Her brain was already planning for another story.


[OFF]