A Good Start

Posted on Mon Apr 29th, 2019 @ 4:16pm by Senior Chief Petty Officer Fernando De La Rosa [Taylor]

Mission: Episode 1: Hell is a four letter word
Location: Deep Space Nine
Timeline: immediately following "Getting to Know You"
1778 words - 3.6 OF Standard Post Measure

After dinner, and the wine, Mona stood, taking Fernando's hand. "This was a most excellent choice, Fernando. I'm duly impressed."

Fernando held her hand and squeezed it softly. "I hope I can always impress you Mona." He replied softly. "In the mean time, the night is still young. It is time to show off our dancing moves!"

"Oh, what we've practised are ballroom dances", Mona said. "They haven't got anything like that here on the station, do they?"

"I don't think so. Not for ballroom dances. I think it is more of a..... ummm." He searched for the word. "A disco! Where we can just free dance."

Mona made a face. "Such an ugly word. Can't we just call it a dance club?"

Fernando grinned at the face she made. "Of course we can." He started over, "They have a dance club here." He looked at her, "Better?"

"Yes, much", Mona affirmed. "Lead on."

He took her hand and together they made their way through the crowds until they reached the club. Its name in huge neon lights. 'The Starlight Room'. "We're here. Fernando announced.

The music that came from the club wasn't what Mona usually listened to, it had a rather simple rhythm. And true enough, most people who thought they were dancing looked more like they were having particularly violent seizures. Mona resisted the urge to call medical and instead said, "Oh, we're going to inspire so much awe in these people, they'll be talking about us into the next decade." Dancing without any competition made it easy.

"Let us show them what real dancing is." Fernando replied as they entered the club. "You will like this Mona, for they will be green with envy after watching us dance."

Mona snickered. "Oh yes! Come on!" And she started dancing away as only an Orion could, extrapolating on the monotonous rhythm of the song that was being played, adding playful little twists as she went.

Fernando got them out on the dance floor and he matched Mona, twist for twist, shake for shake. Soon they were the only ones on the floor as the other patrons stopped to watch them dance. He glanced at Mona and winked. He was having a blast! He hoped she was as they continued to put on a clinic for the other dancers.

Mona ignored their audience. She didn't mind having it, but she focused on matching her moves with Fernando and having fun together. It certainly helped metabolise the wine from earlier, and she was glad she'd dressed lightly.

They were a perfectly matched set. Two artists at the top of their craft. They twisted and twirled, shook and bounced all in perfect time with the other. It was a thing of beauty to watch as Mona and Fernando enjoyed the dance as well as each other.

When the song, and their dance, ended, Mona twirled into his arms and kissed him. "That was great, you've been holding out on me."

He smiled brilliantly at her, "Not really Mona. You dance much better than I do in ballroom dancing. "Free style is different. I can hold my own here. You were amazing!"

Mona launched into another one with the next song, though she was a bit perturbed to find that it had the exact same rhythm and speed as the one before. A dance club's music selection appeared not exactly varied.

Fernando moved close and took her hand and swung her in an arc as they continued to be in perfect sync with their moves. The crowd whistled and clapped their approval.

"I wonder, do they want to learn or just watch?" Mona grinned. She came closer to Fernando, why not turn up the heat a little?

Fernando whispered in her ear, "I believe they are enjoying the show we are providing Mona." Wondering what she was planning next.

"Then let's tease them just a little longer before we decamp to the arboretum", Mona grinned. She pushed her index finger against his chest and grabbed his butt.

A smile split his face, "Lead on my Orion beauty." He answered even as Mona pushed her finger against his chest and grabbed his butt. Unfortunately he couldn't do the same here in public to Mona. However his hands came up and landed lightly on her waist where they twisted and twirled, gyrated and jumped across the floor. He was having a blast and it seemed like Mona was also fully enjoying herself.

Mona whirled around him, her moves were taking up so much space that the other guests had to make more room for them, but nobody looked like complaining. Mona loved showing off while on leave. As much as she was on her best behaviour on the ship, she didn't feel like she had to anywhere else.

Fernando was in his element. He was completely uninhibited, dancing, having fun with Mona and he never wanted it to end. His eyes were fixed on Mona as she moved around him with liquid grace she was totally in time with the music's beat.

But after the song ended, Mona said, "Let's find the trees." Not that she wasn't enjoying herself, but they had taken over the entire 'dance' floor and the other guests wanted to have some fun, too. She figured it would be unfair for them to take over the entire space to themselves for the rest of the evening.

"Indeed." Fernando replied. He had a good time dancing with Mona but now it was time to enjoy and a different type of good time, one found among the trees. One found in the peace of nature.

"Take me there?" Mona asked. She didn't know where it was. She could have asked the computer, but since Fernando knew the way, that was good enough for her.

He took her hand in hers, "Certainly." He whispered as they headed towards the arboretum and the solace of the trees. They passed an ice cream shop, "Would you like an ice cream Mona?"

"Is that a trick question?" Mona wondered. After the dance, ice cream would be perfect. "Let's take some into the 'forest' with us."

The evening was going so great, Fernando didn't want it to end. "As you wish." He replied as they found a vender. "What would you like Mona?"

"The green stuff", Mona grinned. It was sweet woodruff, something she'd never tried. But it was green, it had to be good.

"Of course it had to be green." Fernando chuckled, "One cone of green stuff and I'll have a vanilla cone dipped in chocolate if you please." When the cones were fixed he took Mona's and handed it to her while he took his in hand and the other searched for Mona's free hand.

Mona took his hand and licked the cone. "This tastes really exotic. I like it. Fernando, you've got great ideas."

He blushed at the compliment. "It is easy to have great ideas when one is in the company of such an exquisite lady as yourself Mona." He replied as the reached the arboretum. Then licked his cone to keep it from dripping on his hand.

Mona took the lead once inside the arboretum, to find a place that was both out of the way and comfortable, smooth grass with a tree to lean back against, and no ants. Ants were annoying when sitting down. "I'll just have to keep you on your toes at all times and it'll be shiny", Mona concluded.

"I shall endeavor to be up to the challenge." Fernando quipped as they found a place to sit and enjoy the beauty of nature and the pleasure of each other's company.

Mona waited for Fernando to take a seat, then sat down herself in such a way that she could lean back against him, her hair spreading out on his chest. "Good."

He smiled as Mona leaned back against him. This was nice! Mona seemed to be enjoying herself and he certainly was. He leaned forward and whispered in her ear. "I thought you might like someone up to the task."

"I shall let you know if I don't think you are", Mona said. "Right now, you make for a comfortable backrest, so I'm not complaining."

Fernando chuckled softly. "Ah, my calling in life has been revealed."

"Are you sure you shouldn't have moved to Risa then?" Mona teased. She finished her green ice cream.

He finished his cone, adjusted his position slightly, then leaning forward he brought his hands up to gently massage Mona's shoulders. "Hmmm. That isn't a bad idea. I will have to give the subject more thought."

"Lots of people work as backrests and massagers there", Mona grinned. "Though, they don't usually have the precise movements of a trained sharpshooter. Which is a pity."

"No, I don't think being a sharpshooter is in high demand on Risa." Fernando admitted.

"Let's hope it'll stay that way", Mona said. "They're not prepared. I know I wasn't when I left there."

He pulled her back gently so Mona was once again resting on his chest. "I hope so as well. I hope they never get prepared."

"Just scared a little, every now and then", Mona smirked. "It was fun when the weather grid failed. I remember distinctly, I was three and I had never seen a storm before."

"You aren't three now and you don't ever have to be scared again." Fernando answered softly.

"It's not too bad getting scared, now and then", Mona said. "Besides, I like surprises."

"A surprise yes, I agree but not to being scared." Fernando answered. "I will see what I can do to keep you surprised."

"And I'll make sure any of those I've got planned won't scare you", Mona promised.

"Fair enough." Fernando agreed, then turned Mona's head and kissed her softly on the lips. "How was that for a surprise?" He asked.

"A good start", Mona replied, returning the kiss.

Fernando kissed her again. "Most excellent. I hope you never get tired of my surprises."

"I'm most surprised by the fact it took you so long", Mona grinned.

He stared at her in open mouth surprise. "Whaaat? I was being a gentleman who wanted to impress his lady and not some hormonal teenage boy."

"Yes", Mona agreed. "But that's still a surprise. Not what I usually get." She took his hands and placed them on her belly, leaning back against him. "Which is why I've been enjoying myself so much."

Her words pleased him to no end. "Me too." He agreed happily as he was perfectly content to lie here with Mona and bask in her company.