Dinner
Posted on Tue Oct 29th, 2024 @ 1:39pm by Ensign Connor Turner & Ensign Millicent Ambrose
Edited on on Tue Oct 29th, 2024 @ 10:28pm
0 words; about a 1 minute read
Mission:
Episode 16 - Silent Cries
Location: After 11 - Deck 11 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD001 0500 hrs
It had been a few days since the department heads came back, Millie had made herself scarce, sort of hiding in the jefferies tubes working on deck five and doing more repair work. It made her happy and was relaxing, helping her to cope with the attention that Lieutenant Valen had given her when they were trying to work out the situation with the Pioneer. Connor did especially well keeping things afloat.
Connor, Millie groaned, she had mentioned having dinner with him and the rest of engineering, she wasn't ready for that yet. Maybe just him? What was she thinking? Wouldn't it be too weird to do this? No, he is a friend and friends check up on each other. Drawing in a deep breath to steel her nerves, Millie tapped on her Com badge.
"Uh, Connor, I mean Ensign Turner, do you want to get some dinner?" feeling her face heat up, and her heart pounding with worry.
Connor was exhausted. If this was what being a chief was like, perhaps he should stay an ensign and just lead a small group, like gamma shift. After all, he was now the lead of that, and only that, now that Elen and the rest of the chiefs were back.
But Millie had been his rock throughout the disappearance. He was ever grateful that she had been there and had no idea how he would have handled it without her. Before all of the problems, she suggested dinner with him. She had been nervous about it. Perhaps that was why she switched from using his name to his professional title. Of course, she also asked for a dinner with the rest of engineering during the crisis. So, which was this?
Connor tried to do the social math and came up with an irrational number. Giving up, he realized that he might have delayed too long and hoped Millie thought nothing of it. He often got lost in his own thoughts or talked to computers. Of course, she talked to things too. =^=Oh! Uh, hi, Millie. Um, yes, we did talk about doing dinner, didn't we? Where do you want to go? I'll be happy to meet you.=^=
=^= After 11 might be a good place to go. I don't think you want to have dinner at either of our quarters since we have roommates. =^= Millie blurted this out. =^= Does this sound good? Find a private corner? =^= After 11 yes that would be a good place to go, it was where Vura had her meet and Millie started to come out of her shell. She gasped. Vura! She'd not gone to visit the counselor since she'd gotten back!
A private corner? She does know that I'm with Marjani, right? Of course she does.... She's just skittish. It means nothing...I think. =^= After 11 sounds fine. Um, do you, well, know, when you want to eat? =^=
=^=Maybe some fried chicken with coleslaw, and some fries. With lemon pie. =^= Millie responded. =^= I'll see you there, uh... civilian clothing no uniform?=^=
I said when, not what. Is she feeling alright? I'd better check when she meant to meet. And why would she insist on civilian clothing? Does she think this is a date? No.... She can't. She's just nervous to be in public. =^= Um, uh, Millie, meet now? Or, um, when? =^= Connor asked, his voice a bit more uncertain.
Wait, he meant when and not what? She groaned inwardly. =^=I will be there in fifteen minutes. I need to change. I'm a bit dirty. And I will be in civvies, nothing fancy. =^= Millie tapped her commbadge to close it up. She needed to get a shower, and also wanted some comfortable clothing. No hoodie, though Millie was sorely tempted. Fifteen minutes later she showed up, wearing a pair of runners, jeans that were black in color, white tee shirt and a sky blue long sleeve unbuttoned. Millie decided not to wear sweats. Now to find Connor.
Being on time meant being late, as far as Connor was concerned. So, nearly immediately after the comm call, Connor put a comb through his hair and walked off to After 11. He was in blue jeans and a button down shirt that hung out from his trousers. It was not neat, but it was not a date, so what was the difference?
From a corner of After 11's room, Connor peeked out and gave Millie a little wave. He kept his head out until he knew that Millie was heading his direction.
Spotting Connor, feeling rather relieved to see him, Millie took a seat across. "Hi, uh thanks for agreeing to do this." She had placed her hands in her lap, intertwining her fingers to keep them from fidgeting. "I am so glad to have the department heads back on the ship."
"Agreeing to do this?" Connor wondered. "Have dinner with you? Why would I not?" He then exhaled heavily and relieved. "You're glad? I'm glad! I was rather put out by the entire experience, but I could not have done it without you." His eyes beamed into Millie's and then looked downward at the table. "Really," he insisted.
"I really didn't do much, I knew you could be a leader and that you would do quite well. I just believed in you." She looked away from Connor towards the stars. "I felt that I left you in a lurch, when that uh... Lieutenant Valen had made his way to engineering." She met Connor's gaze then looked down at her lap, where she was gripping her fingers together rather hard. She released them noting that her knuckles were turning white. She shook her hands a little bit to loosen them up and allow blood to flow once more.
"You did a lot," Connor answered firmly but softly. "I never felt alone, and well, um, gosh, I don't really know how to say it without it sounding completely offensive and I don't want to do that."
"Connor just speak freely, you know that is the best thing to do, especially with me. We're friends so, just say what is on your mind." looking earnestly in his eyes. Millie leaned forward in order to give him her full attention.
He tried keeping his eyes on Millie's, but it was a struggle as he spoke. "Well, um, I just felt like, well, you were, well, like my security blanket. You know, like that first blanket or plush that you get as a child. When you were there, I could, well, focus, and didn't feel alone or like I was drowning so much." He paused and helplessly shrugged as he forced himself to focus on Millie. "Do you know what I mean?"
Millie slowly nodded, "Actually I do know what you mean." She moved back to make things more comfortable for Connor. She looked down at the tablecloth, running her finger along the grain. "I am glad I helped you through the events that were happening. It was a bit off setting." Her thoughts drifted towards Valen once more. Why did he seem to be interested in her?
"Shall we get something to eat while we talk?" For some reason Millie wasn't feeling uncomfortable with Connor. Then again, as she had said, they were friends, and she knew he wasn't going to do anything wrong to her.
"Oh! Right!" Connor exclaimed. "We did come for that, didn't we? Sorry."
Within a moment, a waiter familiar to Millie stopped by and gave Millie a small smile. "Welcome back to After 11. Can I get you anything to start or will it be another shake with fries?"
"Ah, er, hello." Millie gave the waiter a shy smile, fighting the urge to crawl under the table. "A shake would be lovely and fries. With that I, er, would like some fried chicken, coleslaw, and for dessert lemon pie." She kept her hand in her lap, holding onto her knee to keep it from bouncing up and down nervously. Millie, no running. You've got this. No sinking through the floor.
Connor wondered why Millie started to have halting speech. She had not done that for a while with him. The waiter obviously knew her. Were they interested in each other? Mentally Connor shrugged. It was none of his business. If she wanted to elaborate, she certainly would.
Feeling a bit ignored by the waiter, he cleared his throat slightly and spoke. "I'll have some curried chicken with rice. Also, a mango lassi, please."
The waiter confirmed his order and walked away. Connor then asked, "So, where were we?"
"We were er talking about me being the person you couid count on and help you focus." Millie's face went a little bit pink. "I am glad you thought of me that way. I, er, had been told by someone, that I wasn't anyone that could be counted on, and, a, er, fake." She had not realized that she had revealed a bit much to Connor. She hadn't intended on even speaking about that past part of her life.
Connor was completely gobsmacked at that comment and his eyes widened from the shock. "That's nutters! Who's the nutter that told you something as bizarre as that? And why would you believe it?"
"I-it was someone I, er, used, to er love," Millie answered gripping onto the bottom of her shirt. "I, uh, don't want to talk about it and I am sorry I even brought it up." Oh gosh I can't believe that slipped out. What do I do, what do I do? She got a frightened expression on her face.
"Well, I certainly would not want to talk about that person, either. Sounds like a wanker to me. Better off without whoever that wanker is," Connor replied definitively. He then shrank back in his seat. "Sorry. Really didn't mean to go off like that. None of my business."
"Someday I will tell you more about it. Just don't want to spoil our dinner. I do know that you care about me like a friend, so I get it, and since I know you from academy and you've never done anything wrong to anyone, I-I trust you." Millie gave Connor a tender smile. She did trust Connor, pure, plain and simple.
"Not just like a friend. You are a friend. I'm glad, um, well, that, we, um, could talk to each other. You know?"
"Th-thank you Connor." Millie blushed at his compliment. "And yes, I do know. We are being able to talk to each other more and more but- sometimes I get scared at being able to do so."
"Why?" Connor asked earnestly.
"What if I do something wrong? What if I hurt you somehow? What if I get too attached to you?" Millie closed her eyes, she was starting to chat too much, opening up to Connor. "Uh.. wonder if the waiter is bringing our food. Oh, there he is," Millie said, abruptly changing the subject and opening her eyes.
Connor said nothing for a long moment, letting the waiter leave after he had delivered the food. "I'm not a counselor, Millie, but what if we were not there to take over in Engineering? Could someone else have done the job? Would the ship have remained intact? What if you had not come here for dinner? Perhaps you would have tripped and broke your leg." He shook his head. "I don't think it is a helpful question. You might want to check with a counselor, though."
Millie lifted her head, listening to Connor's words, her eyes rounding with wonder. His comment was, oh how can she describe it, calming. "Don't worry I will be seeing a counselor after this. I just. I just. Oh my gosh Connor those were rather wise words. And helpful, uh...I am feeling a bit calmer and more comfortable." Millie meant what she said, wholeheartedly.
The Gamma Shift Lead's face shifted from bewilderment to happy. He was not certain why Millie was not calm nor comfortable, but he was happy to have assisted her, regardless of whether the statements seemed straightforward to him. "I'm glad that I could be useful. Is that not all an engineer wants to be?" he asked with a very short chuckle.
"This is true." Millie chuckled softly. "Anyway, all is well that ends well, right?" Her stomach rumbled. Millie rubbed it to get it to quiet down. She looked over towards where the waiter should be arriving, her eyes drifting back to Connor. Part of her wished she had been able to get to know Connor more in the Academy. Still, though, she had the chance to do so now. The universe in some way had made it to where she can do so. Millie smiled softly at Connor.
Connor was happy to see Millie smile. She had a nice one when she allowed herself to do it. He found himself struggling for what to say next. Conversation and their cues were often a struggle for him. "Right. Though, I think I might sleep for two days straight after dinner," Connor admitted.
"That sounds like a plan." A few moments passed. Millie was feeling a bit awkward. "You know, maybe I should get my food to go. I'm feeling just a touch tired, and I thank you for accepting my invitation to dinner, just right now maybe this was too soon." Millie looked for the waiter, trying to catch his eye.
Connor blinked several times trying to understand why Millie wanted to leave. "Have I upset you?" he asked curiously, as his head craned towards Millie, trying to understand. "I know you're hungry." He decided that it would be rude to mention her stomach rumbling loud enough for him to hear. "Please tell me," he pleaded softly.
She took a breath in and let it out slowly as Millie realized that she was causing Connor a bit of concern. "No, no, uh you've not upset me at all. I was thinking of just going to eat in my quarters where it is a bit quieter." She swiftly tried to soothe Connor's worry. "There are times I just like to eat quietly and read a book. It has been a bit since I've done that." She smiled regretfully. "I didn't mean to make things so difficult."
"You're not making anything difficult," Connor answered, still confused. "You wanted to go out. Just the two of us and now, well, you want to go back to your room. I can't help but think that it has something to do with me. I mean, we can eat at your quarters, if you want, but, um, you said something about roommates and not disturbing them.... So, well, I'm confused."
The engineer gulped hard before saying, "I'm, well, not great at reading, well, social cues," he admitted, his eyes finding the top of the table. "I did not even understand that Holly broke up with me when we left the Academy. Or maybe that the lack of contact was a signal.... I mean, she should have said something. I had to call her to find out so I could, um, well, date, um, Marjani." Connor felt more like a heel after saying this. Did he really admit that he only called Holly to break up to date another woman? Was he so awful?
Millie listened to what Connor was saying, thought for a moment or two, and said, "You know, we can both get our meals to go, and I have a place I like to look out towards the stars, and eat a meal away from people, it's a place that gives me calmness. Want to do such, and we can talk a bit more?" Millie realized that she was concentrating more on herself than making more progress with the friendship she and Connor were embarking on.
"Take away, it is, then." Just as Connor said that, he waiter came back with their meals and placed them before the two of them. Connor continued to look at the table and said, "Um, I hate to ask this of you, but, can we pack these up?"
The waiter looked over at Millie, his eyes beseeching her to stay.
Apologetically, Millie shook her head. Millie mouthed "Sorry, not tonight," to the waiter. "If you would please, make this to go?" Right now, she wanted to focus on matters with Connor. Then another thought occurred to her. Millie needed to get to know the other engineers, make some friends.
Disappointed, the waiter answered, "As you wish. I will take these back and put them in 'to go' containers." He then gave Connor a sharp look before picking up all of the food and taking it away.
"I think he is sweet on you," Connor informed Millie. "That's from an old holo.... 'Princess Bride.'"
Tapping her index finger on her cheek, Millie thought for a moment then brightened up when she accessed the memories. "Oh yes, uh he maybe sweet on me, but at the moment I am not sweet on him or anyone else." Then something hit her, like a bolt of lightning, the one guy who kidnapped her to force her to marry him. She could actually name him -Humperdinck. The thought made her giggle.
Connor tilted his head, his eyes narrowing. Confusion was written all over his face. One minute Millie wanted to leave and was sad. The next, she was giggling. "Penny for your thoughts?" he finally asked.
"I will tell you once we head to the place I want to eat at. I am sorry for being confusing, just a thought happened to pop into my mind which caused me to giggle, and it has something to do with the movie and story of The Princess Bride." Millie looked for the waiter, being rather eager to talk more privately with Connor.
The waiter arrived, boxes contained with in a bag. He gave Connor a sharp look before turning towards Millie. "I packed you some utensils as well, in case you do not want to eat in your quarters."
Connor looked over at Millie and said, "Um, I guess I'll grab that and, um, you can lead." Awkwardly, he took the bag from the waiter and said, "Um, thank you. Uh, I guess we will be going now. Uh, Millie...."
"Thank you." Millie said to the waiter looking him straight in the eyes, with no stuttering involved, then she led the way to the spot she liked to eat at.
Near the shuttle craft area there was a small alcove with a window that looked out towards the stars. This is where Millie brought Connor to. A blanket was tucked away nearby where she retrieved it then spread it out almost like for a picnic.
"Here sit, hope you don't mind being on the floor." Millie taking a seat, crosslegged.
Connor did mind. However, he was polite and was not going to tell Millie that he was fastidious. He looked down at the ground and did a quick survey for the cleanest spot and placed himself on the ground delicately, and then crossed his legs. "It is alright. I want to dine with you."
Miliie noticed his slight hesitation, "I like sitting on a blanket, kind of like being on a picnic with a friend." She opened up the bag which held their food and drink. "So, about Princess Bride. I have seen that movie and have read the book as well. I take it you have seen it?"
"I have," Connor answered easily. "Easily a top ten holo."
"It certainly is a great one," she replied, handing Connor his to go box before she opened up her box. She also placed the utensils upon a napkin. "Your comment about Princess Bride had given me an epiphany of a sort in how to describe something that happened to me a year ago."
She paused, to pull up some courage in telling Connor this. Millie trusted him and decided to tell him. "In the movie, Buttercup was sort of taken away from her home and was going to be forced to marry Prince Humperdinck. Well, I had an experience like that. I was kidnapped and well... my ex wanted to force me to marry him." Millie gave a little bit of a shudder. "He was handsome, intelligent, and I thought he was everything: kind, loving, cared for others, and I was so wrong on so many levels. I broke up with him, and it was a very awful break up. Anyway, that experience with my ex, really caused me a lot of problems." She opened up her drink to take a sip, then continued. "As I said before I am talking with Vura in order to come out of my issues. I get nervous when I see a handsome man, one who shows interest in me. It makes me want to run to hide and I get so nervous. You though, just getting to know you more, is helping me to step out of my little self-made prison. I feel safe with you, I trust myself more with you. Anyone-else- I get scared."
Connor accepted his take away box and started to eat. However, he found himself unable to chew as he listened to Millie's story. Connor was dumbfounded by Millie's answer. He had no response, but he tried to formulate one. Instead, he ended up choking on his food. Through coughs he tried to speak, as he put his hand to his throat, "Wa...wat...water...." He coughed hard again, the food dislodging slightly.
"Oh no!" Millie quickly handed Connor some water, also getting herself prepped in case she had to do an abdominal thrust maneuver. "I am so sorry if I said too much." Her eyes were wide with worry.
Connor drank the water, coughed a few more times and then grabbed a napkin and spat out the offending piece of food. He placed his hand on his neck, checking for any other pain and then meekly smiled. In his understated manner, he finally said, "Well, that's handled now, isn't it?"
He paused for another moment and said, "Serves me right trying to talk and eat at the same time, right?" He shrugged apologetically. "Sorry for worrying you." He shrugged once again before continuing. "I'm glad you can talk to her, but she gives me quite the fright."
"Is it because she is beautiful? And she is quite beautiful. Knowing your feelings where beautiful women are concerned I would think that would be the reason of you being frightened of her." Millie drew in a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "Now that we've spoken about uncomfortable subjects and my half killing you by my words. Want to talk about anything else while we eat or, we can sit here, eating in a comfortable silence." She smiled playfully.
"Counselor Vura?" Connor shook his head vehemently in the negative. "I'm sure that many consider her beautiful but I just find her frightening. I don't really know why. Maybe it is because just touching her, or is it the other way around, well.... You could lose your mind! Don't you find that scary?"
He paused and then continued, realizing that Millie suggested that she nearly killed him. "And you did not nearly kill me. A nebula and some random space monster, on the other hand...."
"Wait, space monsters? I know about the nebula being wierd but, Space monsters? Did we get invaded and i didn't know about it? Is that how the department heads disappeared? Space monsters?" Millie wasn't in the know, all she knew was that the department heads had disappeared. She had heard whispers that some of the command staff had been acting weirdly. Millie never pursued that line of information or rumors. It just bothered her to hear talk like that, about anyone.
"Yeah, from what I heard, took over the Captain and 2XO's minds. I was a bit hazy on it all. Sleep deprivation and all...."
"Uh.. oh boy." Milie giving a little bit of a shiver. "I am very glad I don't have to deal with that sort of thing directly. And I am not going to worry about it, especially since I do not think I will be running into either of them personally." She took another sip of her drink, then looked down at her meal it was half way gone already. "How are things between you and Marjani?"
"Oh, well, you may not have to handle the superiors directly. I will not either. Seems we have a new Assistant Chief Engineer coming on board, so it will just be you and me on Gamma Shift, as was originally intended." Connor exhaled gratefully and gave Millie a small smile of relief.
"As to Marjani," Connor sighed before continuing. "I haven't talked to her since everything went bonkers. I'll see her when we dock, most likely. I guess that makes me a bad boyfriend. Here I am, talking to you, and not her." He shrugged, his eyes screwing up, trying to make sense of that.
"Connor, you are not a bad boyfriend. Marjani should count herself as being lucky to have you. And just because you haven't spoken to her ever since things have settled down, I don't think that Marjani is going to hold it against you. She didn't seem to be that sort of person. I am sure you will be able to talk to her soon." Millie drew in a breeath and let it out slowly as she gazed at Connor. "I probably should finish my food and well, let you go relax in your quarters. And I'd like to thank you for helping me out. I'd give you a hug but... I don't think you'd want that." She laughed and then shrugged.
"Thank you for that. I just never know with these things. I mean, I had a misunderstanding with Holly and thought we were still together for another year. If I had contacted her sooner, I would either have known or maybe I would still be together. I assumed she was busy and well, that was wrong. So why not here?" he wondered aloud.
He faced Millie and asked, "Why wouldn't I want a hug?" His eyes screwed up. "And why do you want to leave so early? The company is good and the food, as well."
"Y-you would accept a hug from me? Even though you have a girlfriend? Uh.. Uh... I don't know what to say." Her eyes widened in surprise. "Uh, when you were in academy and in a relationship, you.. well uh... never really were someone to partake in that sort of, er, action. Giving someone an embrace not wanting to uh look like you were cheating. Uh..." Millie's voice fading away as she looked at Connor.
Millie couldn't remember the last time she had been embraced by someone who was male, outside of her family. She hadn't even let her male friends give her an embrace after she had been kidnapped. Millie just wasn't ready for one at that time.
"Um, well, uh," Connor started, not knowing how to respond. "I, well, you're not wrong, Millie." He turned away slightly. "But, well, you're my friend, and well, I know you would never do anything to hurt me." He turned back to Millie and cleared his throat. "So, yeah, I think it is alright, don't you?"
Millie was slightly shocked and also touched, by the fact he was willing to give her an embrace. "You really mean that don't you." She moved closer to Connor. "O-okay. Then, I will give you an embrace." She gave him a shy smile and mentally told her heart to quit pounding so rapidly. She didn't know why she was feeling this way, but hey she trusted Connor and so Millie wrapped one arm around Connor, in a one arm embrace.
Awkwardly, Connor moved closer to Millie and took her in his other arm. "Of course I mean it," he told her softly. "I always mean what I say." He hesitated before he asked her, "Don't I?"
"Yes, you do, as I've never known you to be a liar nor someone who leads anyone along." She let the embrace linger for a moment more, before she broke the embrace. "You do give nice hugs. They are comforting." Happiness radiated from her. "It didn't hurt not one bit," she told him, giggling.
"Why would a hug hurt?" Connor asked, confused. Did this have something to do with her past or was she making fun of him? No, Millie would never make fun of him. Still, it was confusing.
"Well, I've been worried about embracing someone, ever since. well, my experience with my own Prince Humperdinck. Y-y-you are the first one I have dared to accept an embrace from." She drew in a breath, letting it out slowly. "So anyone who tried to give me an embrace it was to me in some aspect, a physical pain. Then again his embraces ended up being um.. painful." Millie quietly responded.
"That should never be the case," Connor said firmly. "I am sorry that you had to experience such things, Millie."
"I am coping and, making adjustments. That one embrace may have opened things up for me, but enough about that. When will you be seeing Marjani next?" Millie did not want to talk anymore about her quirks.
Did Millie not remember that they had not yet talked? This hug must have really caused her distress. How do I fix this? "Um, well, I don't know. I assume when we dock. Why do you ask?"
"Actually well, okay...." Millie hmmnned for a moment. "Okay, so, I had forgotten that you said you've not spoken to Marjani yet. I think that I was expecting an answer of, when I call her or she calls me." She gave an embarrassed smile and a slight shrug. "I wanted to end dinner before I mess things up." She grimaced.
"I don't understand," Connor responded, his eyes screwing up. "Mess things how? Did I miss something?" He shuffled uncomfortably. "I often can."
"You've not missed anything." Millie drew in a breath and let it out slowly. "I have to relearn my social skills. Something that I used to have. I just... I just need to go talk with Vura, give her an update as to what is happening. And Connor, you've not done anything wrong at all. You have been a good friend to me and good for me."
Connor smiled and then looked back down at the ground. "OK," Connor started before clearing his throat. "Right, uh, well, uh.... Yeah, um...." He shrugged, not knowing what to say, and then gave Millie a helpless smile.
"Why don't we call things off for the night, and I really want to get some sleep. We had a short shift and a winding down before we reached the station, matter of fact I think we've arrived" Millie looked out the port, seeing indeed that they had. Turning her attention back to Connor, "I think that this is a good time to say good night or good morning. Have fun on the station and I hope that you and Marjani can spend sometime together." Millie finished gathering up what was left of her dinner. "This was fun and I enjoyed it."
"Me too," Connor answered honestly. "I think we should do it again sometime, once we get back in space. Got to spend my time with Marjani when I can, right? So, see you when shoreleave is done!"
A Joint Post By
Ensign Millicent Ambrose
Engineering Officer, USS Pioneer
Ensign Connor Turner
Computer Systems Specialist, USS Pioneer
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