Getting to Know Each Other...

Posted on Fri Mar 19th, 2021 @ 2:53am by Lieutenant JG Miraj Derani & Captain George Charles [Reece]

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: USS Elysium, Deck 10, Paddy's Loft Irish Pub
Timeline: Day before Away team departure for Quellish 1935 hours
2018 words - 4 OF Standard Post Measure

George had gone back and forth about where to meet Miraj, and what to wear. Finally, he thought that the Irish pub on deck ten could cover all different food choices, and his outfit ended up being a comfortable pair of dark jeans, with a pressed, sage green, button up shirt. He finished the look with a pair of black leather boots and a belt to match.

Feeling very nervous, he had arrived early and found them a nice table, near the back. That way, they could talk with more privacy and he could ensure that no one was behind him.

As he sat, he worried about few things. One, would she show? After telling her and S'hib a brief description of his past back on the holodeck, he was later surprised that she would have dinner with him. Two, how exactly he would go about telling her about himself, and about how he was starting to feel for her. And three, what her reactions to it all would be.

She arrived a few minutes after the agreed time, and she wasn't hard to spot. The dress was... awful. To start with, it was in the most horrendous turquoise tartan to star with, the pattern far too large. It clashed with her hair, which was still in bunches. It was a pinafore style, and underneath the eyeball-meltingly loud tartan was a purple t-shirt with yellow and green flowers. Her feet and legs were bare.

She looked around and saw him waiting in his corner and trotted over with a smile. "Hey. I didn't keep you waiting long did I?"

George, of course, spotted Miraj as soon as she entered the small pub. At first he started to quirk an eyebrow at her choice in attire, but then stopped himself. While it was an interesting mix of colors and patterns, he thought that, somehow, she made it all work.

As she approached their table, he rose and smiled, he could easily feel the happiness coming from her. Taking a refreshing breath, he finally started to feel as if his tense muscles were starting to loosen. Moving over to pull out her chair, he replied. "No, I only got her a few minutes ago myself."

"Oh, that's great. I knew I was running a bit behind, but I'm glad its not too much." She blushed a little as he pulled the chair out, and then sat down. "Have you been busy today?"

After gently pushing Miraj back to the table, George moved back to his chair and sat down. Shrugging, he replied. "A little, I guess. Did a few hours on the holodeck, doing combat drills. Then, spent another two going over some engine mods on my starfighter. The rest was all boring admin stuff." He gave her a warm grin. "Of course, the best part of my day today was getting ready to he dinner with you, and now we're here! What about you? How was your day?"

"Pretty normal." she told him. "Mostly plotting navigation paths to a border world. I'm taking some people on an away mission tomorrow. I need to go fast after our last jaunt, and apparently I'm not allowed to hog the QSD, so I'm going to pilot the runabout. After three weeks at sublight, even warp 6 will be fun."

George chuckled. "Imagine if they could shrink the QSD down enough to put it in shuttle's and starfighters?" He chuckled again. "Would put a new level of force response into the mix." His features turned a bit sad then. "That sucks. I just met you and you're off on a mission already. Consider me jealous." His slight frown turned into a playful pout.

Miraj let out a little chuckle at his face. " I wouldn't feel too jealous. it's 7 an empty planet. it's mostly scientists taking soil samples. it will be very very boring. Plus, smelly. There will be 10 of us in one runabout and one of us is S'hib." She wrinkled her nose. "it's going to be cozy."

George thought about it for a few beats. "Okay, you win," he said with a charming grin. "I was in my starfighter for the entire three day flight here. I can understand that kind of 'cozy'." He thought some more and added, "How about this, if you're up for it after dinner tonight, I'd like to ask you out again, after you get back?"

"Oh." That was a surprise, she hadn't even thought that far ahead, and she hadn't made it through tonight yet. It didn't really make sense to her, but. "Yes, okay, I mean, if you want. Don't feel you have to. I won't be offended." she realised she was babbling again. "Yes. Please."

George beamed a radiant smile when Miraj accepted his request. Before he could say anything, however, the water came over to their table.

"Good evening, folks." The young female Bolian stated with a friendly grin on her face. "Welcome to Paddy's Loft! Do you know what you would like to have tonight?"

George looked to Miraj, indicating she should order first.

She looked over to the menu board, fingers twisting the end of one of her bunches without thinking. "Spicy chicken wings with the sour cream dip. And a chocolate milk shake, please." She looked over to George to see what he'd order.

"Excellent choice," the Bolian stated cheerfully. She then looked over to George. "And for you, Sir?"

George finished scanning the menu and replied. "May I please have the bowl of chili, mini reubens and a seltzer with lemon and lime?"

Nodding with a smile, the Bolian turned and headed to the kitchen.

"So," Miraj began as the waitress went off to get their order. "Did you enjoy being a pirate?"

George gave Miraj an embarrassed smile. "I really did! Thank you again for inviting me to join. I, uh, I still feel a bit embarrassed about loosing control like I did. I hope that you don't think any less about me."

She looked down for a moment. "Why would I think that? what happened to you was...terrible. And not your fault. I can't imagine how you an even talk about it, its so..." She didn't have words. Her father loved her. Her brother adored her and she him, it was. It was unthinkable. Who could do that to any child, blood or not.

"Hey," George said softly as he reached across the table and gently took Miraj's right hand into his left. "I'm sorry. This is still a new experience for me. Aside from the courts and counselors, you were the first person I ever told my past too." He shrugged and rubbed his eyes slightly. "Well, you and S'hib. But, it's important to me that you know, because, well..look, I know it's only been a few days since we met, but, and I hope you don't laugh at me, but, as soon as I saw you, I felt an instant attraction to you. And, if there is even a chance that we...." he started to blush as he tried to find the right words.

"Oh." The young woman's pulse jumped in under his fingers.  No-one had said that to her before.  She looked around the bar, at the other people there, not sure what to say. Part of her was blushing and giddy, and part of her was surprised, and even a little scared that he was dissembling.  No-one had looked twice at the academy, or anywhere else for that matter. "Are you sure?"

The smile that crossed George's face now was so warm and gentle, it could stop a raging Klingon. He felt all of the emotions that were practically screaming out of Miraj. It was quite powerful, yet, perfect at the same time. "Miraj," he replied. "I'm as sure as I'm sitting here...with you. I don't know what will happen tomorrow, next week, next month even next year. What I do know, is that right now, I am where I want to be, with whom I want to be with."

Without sitting back, he took a deep breath and continued. "Now, while I certainly hope you feel the same way. However," his voice cracked slightly. "If you don't, if you don't want a relationship like that with me...then I will respect your wishes and hope that we can still be friends."

"I..." Miraj bit her lip. "I..." oh Damn it all to Davy Jones. How did she tell him? He was so much older than her, she'd look like a child to him for sure now. "I don't know. I've never had...been...there wasn't really any opportunity before." She looked away, too embarrassed by her inexperience to hold his eye.

"Hey, hey," he cooed softly. "There is nothing to be embarrassed about. All that means is, you haven't found the person that feels right, to you, to be with." He paused, then continued. "Would it help you to know that, uh, I haven't either." He hoped that by revealing that he was a virgin, Miraj wouldn't laugh at him. From what he has learned about his people, Betazoids are quite a passionate people.

She didn't quite over her surprise "But you're..." she caught herself from her first reaction. "My brother's age."

Shrugging, he replied. "That may be the case. However, I have had a very difficult time opening up to people, as you can imagine." He chuckled. "Heh. The sad part? I had given up hope on ever finding someone. When I came to this ship, it was under the new mindset that, that I'd simply exist in that cockpit, until the day I died."

He gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "And then you, sweet Miraj, had to go and walk into my life. Do you know what makes you so different, so special? I have never felt pity from you regarding my past. Pain, yes. Heartbreak, yes. But never pity. That is a gift that, that I can only hope to repay you for." Another squeeze. "You. Miraj Derani. You are more special than you can even fathom. I only ask that you allow me to be with you, until you no longer wish it."

SHe pulled her hand away. This was getting weird, fast. "You don't even know me. We played one game on the holodeck."

He realized that he was making her uncomfortable. Sitting back, he turned very red, blushing in extreme embarrassment. "I..I.." he stumbled over his words. "I didn't..I didn't mean to make you...make you uncomfortable. I'm sorry...just..just forget I said anything." If he could sink any further into himself, he would. He was completely lost for what to do. He thought that he was speaking from his heart, but, she was right. They had just met. How could he have feelings for her? And yet...he did.

"If...if you want to go," he said at just above a whisper, afraid to look up into her eyes. "I..I'll understand."

Miraj wondered for a moment what he'd do if he didn't understand. And that made up her mind. "Yes, I'm going. Tell the waitress sorry." She pushed back her seat and after an awkward beat, walked away.

George started to say something, anything, to get Miraj to stay. Unfortunately, he was too late. All he could do was watch the only woman, except his sister, he had ever met, that he felt comfortable with, walk away from him. A few moments later, the waitress returned to the table and deposited the food.

"Will your lady friend be returning?"

After a beat, still staring at the door that Miraj had just left through, George shook his head. "No." He then stood and looked at the waitress. "I'm sorry we wasted your time. Please charge everything to my account, Fisrt Lieutenant George Charles. Add a twenty percent tip onto the bill for yourself. Thank you." He then excused himself and made his way to the exit, leaving the waitress standing there, a look of surprise on her face.

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