Want some Coffee?

Posted on Sat Nov 5th, 2022 @ 9:55am by Lieutenant Commander Rin

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: Earth orbit, Spacedock, USS Elysium
Timeline: 26/08/2397 / 1734 hours
2170 words - 4.3 OF Standard Post Measure

Debra had finally recieved her new orders. She was heading out to Galaxy Station in a few days, to fill the role of Chief Strategic Operations. To say that she was nervous was putting it mildly. As she set about packing her few possessions for the trip, she suddenly realized that there was one person she wanted to see before she left. She stopped packing and moved over to her dest terminal and composed a message.

Rin,

Hi! I hope you're having a good day so far. I know it's been a few days since we last spoke. I'm sorry. I really wanted to make that dinner you invited me to! Unfortunately, you know how HQ laughs whenever we mere mortals try to make plans.

Speaking of, I just recieved my new orders. I am to leave for Galaxy Station in a few days, to assume my duties as their new Strat Ops Chief.

I gotta tell you, I'm very nervous to take such a senior position!

I was, wondering...hoping actually...that you would be available and desirous to spend my last few days here...together? We don't have to do anything or go anywhere if you don't feel like it.. I...um...I just would really like to spend what time I have left here, with you.

Of course, if you're busy with work or...whatever...and can't, I'll understand.

Talk to you soon! Hopefully?

As soon as Debra sent the video message, she felt like an idiot. Why would Rin want to spend time with her? She was a lovely, intelligent...beautiful....mesmerizing...

Debra snapped herself out of her daydream. When ever she had it, she never saw the two of them doing anything, she just saw Rin's face light up when she smiled. She had a great smile, and gorgeous eyes to boot!

Later....

Rin's eyes narrowed slightly as she reread the message, making sure she wasn't misunderstanding something. Then she read it again.

"Oh boy."

She wasn't sure where the miscommunication had happened, but the two of them were clearly not on the same page. And they needed to be. A friendship wasn't going to survive cross-purpose expectations.

"Computer, send a reply to Commander Villanova: I'm available for dinner at Arcadia Lounge tonight, 1900 hours, if that works with your schedule." It sounded terribly matter-of-fact in comparison to Debra's message. "Good to hear from you," she added awkwardly, as if that helped any.

===Arcadia Lounge, 1900 hours===

Rin showed up a few minutes early and snagged a table with a view of the door, which she tried not to stare at. She was dressed in a simple shirt and pants. Casual, definitely not date clothes.

About thirty seconds before time, the doors opened and Devra walked in. Like Rin, she was dressed casually. Though, her makeup was done a bit more than when she was on duty. She looked around the lounge, and spotted Rin, her face softening some. She walked over and smiled a bit brighter. "Hi, Rin. Thank you for agreeing to see me." She slid down into the chair opposite of Rin, but made no move to reach out to her. "How have you been?"

"Good. A little complicated. Saw my family after the wedding. That's always how it goes. Congratulations on the promotion being finalized. I know you've been waiting for this. How are you?"

Debra blinked a few times as she processed the info and Rin's question. "Oh, no! I hope it wasn't unpleasant!" She finally leaned forward some and put her hands on the table. She waited for a reply before answering Rin's question.

"Kind of was," Rin said, wincing at the memory. "Seeing them was fine but.... I've been remembering bits and pieces of late, very small bits, and my brain has difficulty processing it. It's fine, really. But how are you?"

Debra gave Rin a look of heart-felt concern. "While I am very happy for you that your memories are starting to come back, I am so sorry that the process is causing you grief." Her facial and body cues all indicated that she was being completely open and truthful with Rin. It was something that she was finding easier to do with her than with others. Even if their relationship never contained any romantic element to it, Debra cherished Rin and always looked forward to spending time with her.

The she sighed softly and replied. "Truthfully? I feel a bit apprehensive about the whole thing. I know I can do the work, that's not the issue. What will be daunting is leading a large team and being a member of the senior staff. That is much more responsibility than I have ever felt comfortable with."

Suddenly, one of the waitresses stopped by. "Good evening, ladies," The young Bolian woman smiled at them both. "Have you had a chance to look at the menu and decided on what you'd like to eat and drink?"

"Burger, no pickles, and a soda," Rin replied. Then looking at Debra, "Weirdest thing: I can eat just about anything, but pickles are gross. Apparently I've never liked them. Of all the things my brain held onto, it decided on 'aversion to pickles.'"

The waitress smiled and nodded, then looked over at Debra. "And for you?"

Debra smiled at Rin, a soft giggle coming from her as she covered her mouth with her right hand. "Well then, as I do like pickles, I'lljust have to ear any you may get by accident." She then looked up at the waitress and placed her order. "May I please have a grilled chicken ceaser salad and a Shirley Temple?"

The waitress nodded and smiled again, then turned and left their table to fill their orders.

After she left, Debra looked back at Rin and lowering her voice back down to their conversation level, she asked, "Is there anything you can do to access the memories without being overly taxed emotionally?"

"There's nothing I can really do to access them regardless," Rin explained.

Debra nodded slightly. "They are only brought forward when you are experiencing some stress, like speaking with your parents. Am I understanding properly?"

"No. The stress was the effect, not the cause. I saw something which triggered a memory. But I've been shown tons of things from my past that haven't triggered anything. I have an implant breaking down in my brain. It might allow me to remember more." Rin shrugged. "Please drop it."

Debra's checked reddened noticeably from embarrassment. "I...I'm sorry, Rin....I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable." She looked away and shook her head slightly. "I tend to lose focus on the bigger picture when I encounter a puzzle of some kind, tend to speak and act before thinking. I'm sorry," she said again.

"I understand. I'm the same. But I'm not a puzzle to be solved." Rin folded her hands in front of her, staring at them a long moment before speaking. "Debra...I see you as a friend. You appear to want something more. Maybe even see us as something more. Am I correct?"

Hearing Rin speak so bluntly, Debra blushed even darker. "I.." she tried to find the words to help her salvage what little self-respect she still had. "I'd be lying if I denied the fact that I found you attractive, mentally, emotionally and physically. Also, I'd be lying if I hadn't been hoping that you might feel the same way about me, even a little. But, the last thing I want, is to ruin our friendship, Rin. As I'm sure you have noticed, I don't have very many, and, next to 2 and 4, I consider you one of my closest friends." He eyes started to mist over, as in her heart, she feared that in the next few moments, Rin would laugh at her, stand up and leave, never to want to have anything to do with her again.

Mentally, Rin could see the draw. Physically? To each their own, she supposed. Emotionally? That was a new one.

"I appreciate the sentiment. And I appreciate the friendship. I just, as a friend, don't want to see you hurt. If it makes you feel any better, I'm not really romantically attracted to anyone. It's just not how my brain works."

Which wasn't quite true, but she pushed the thought away.

"Debra, if you're willing to share, why do you gravitate toward xBs?"

Though she felt like a fool for putting herself out there, or at least making Rin think that she was, Debra was glad that she still considered them friends. When she asked her question, Debra lifted her eyes up to look at Rin. "Honestly?" She asked quietly. "I feel more comfortable with you, 2 and 4. I...I never feel judged or looked down on for being awkward from any of you. You just take me as I am, allowing me to be able to actually breath and feel comfortable in my own skin."

Rin put forth a slight smile. "I'm glad we make you feel that way. It's unfortunate others don't. But I do feel you're kind of fixated on me, and that's uncomfortable too. I know you're trying to be supportive, and I appreciate that, but... most of tonight's conversation has been about how to "fix" me. And you've said you're attracted to what I've been through as an xB. There's more to me than that. I've come to measure people up by how long it takes them to comment on this..." she points to her ocular implants. Then she rattled off the name of a dozen officers and their scores.

"And I get it: I'm a reminder of something scary, something that has taken away loved ones. You've never treated me like that, and I thank you for it. I'm not saying never mention it - it is a part of who I am - but you're attracted to it and that's uncomfortable. I need us to just be friends."

Though she didn't show it, Debra felt as if she had just been slapped. She had never meant to make Rin uncomfortable, and she told her as much. "I'm...I'm sorry, Rin. It was never my intention to make you uncomfortable. Nor was I implying that you need fixing either." She wasn't sure what else to say. Clearly, she ruined things, yet again. "M-maybe...maybe I should go?" Her voice was soft and full of growing emotion.

"There's no reason for you to go. Of course you didn't mean it. I just needed to say something about it. Why don't you tell me something of yourself?" Rin asked.

Looking up into Rin eyes, Debra was still feeling very self-conscious. "W-what would you like to know?"

"I don't know. How have you been since we last talked? What's your plans for Galaxy station? What are you looking forward to?"

Reaching out, Debra picked up her drink and took a sip. She then took a deep breath, to calm herself, and replied. "Well, I got real busy with the various fleet movements reports from around the quadrant, which Headquarters sent for me to go through. As for Galaxy Station? I...I'm not sure. I mean, I've been on a space station before, so, that part won't be anything new. What will be new..is that I won't know anyone there. It'll be my first assignment since leaving the academy that I don't know anyone at the new location." She sighed softly before answering the third question.

"What am I looking forward to?" She shook her head slightly as she looked down at the table. "I just don't want to make a fool of myself, like I seem to do everywhere I go." Her voice ended in a whisper.

It wasn't often Rin was being asked for suggestions on social graces, so she took a long moment to think of an answer. "Well, when I'm assigned somewhere new, I first throw myself into my work. I will meet people in the process of doing that. Some people will catch my interest, an I catch theirs. Some people don't, and that's OK. In the case of the Elysium, my first friend was Lt. Redal, even though we had an absolute disastrous introduction. And I can't tell you why we work. We just do. I don't press myself to be friends with everyone. Does that help?"

Looking up slowly, Debra nodded. "Yes, actually. Thank you." She got quiet for a beat, then asked, "After Elysium leaves, would it be alright if I..wrote to you? Nothing romantic!" She added in a nervous rush. "Just..two friends staying in contact with one another?"

"Of course. Two friends staying in contact. I'd like that."

This actually made Debra smile softly. For the rest of the meal, their discussion grew calmer, and at the end, Debra felt much better about things. When they parted for the evening, she felt that a big piece of calm settled over her mind and soul.