Not a 'Date' Date

Posted on Wednesday, 8 July 2020 - 7:15pm by Crewman Leopold Eberhardt & Lieutenant JG Adrianna Eberhardt

Mission: Operation: Jabberwocky
Location: Starbase
Timeline: MD 1

Being unable to sleep was one thing, but to be consistently woken up with nightmares still was something else. The only time the woman had nightmares like this, was when she wasn't busy with work during non-sleeping hours. This was unprecedented. The dream had re-occurred in several forms forcing Adrianna to debate the pure and innocent concept of happiness. They were though, just that: dreams. She wasn't about to allow herself to listen to those demons.

The Petty Officer was well and truly awake. Sitting at the edge of her bed, she decided to do what she had done last time - send a message to Leopold. 'I know I said that you should plan date three, and this doesn't have to be a date, but I can't sleep and could use some company if you are awake. If not, that's fine. I'll see you as and when.' After sending it, she stood up and walked to the bathroom to splash her face with cold water in an attempt to wash her mind's eyes out from its visions. "They are just dreams," she muttered to herself.

The small chirping of the PaDD in the living area of his quarters was just distinct enough to disrupt Leopold's sleep. Of course, his mind interpreted the noise as something entirely different and amid his dream about putting around Engineering, a little bird landed on the console. It was as if his mind struggled to comprehend the image. He woke up groggishly from the dream and when he gained more sens of clarity, it all became more clear. Someone's messaging me directly he thought as he rolled out of bed and proceeded into the living area.

He picked up the PaDD and began to read through the messages with a smile on his face. He took a seat on the sofa and started to tap away composing a small message in response: 'I was asleep, but I would rather lose a few hours with you than be dreaming about being on duty' replied Leopold. 'Which side of the ship do your quarters look out?' he added as he had not been there yet himself. 'It looks like we've arrived at the starbase' he noted as he looked out and saw the construction of a station and pylons with starships.

'I didn't notice' she replied, 'I'm not far, they are looking out at space. A lot of black.' Adrianna then felt guilty. If it was her that woke him, it wasn't exactly a good thing. She sighed, adding to the message 'I can meet you somewhere if you want?'. She hit send then got changed rather sluggishly into something a little less pyjama like, so still massively comfy: leggins and an oversized hoody.

He chuckled as it was true there was normally nothing to look at. Just a black surface unless that were on a quarter impulse or so, or better yet stoped in orbit somewhere. 'I have an official date three planned. I made arrangements on a transport, but it will be a while until it reaches the starbase. We can try to see if we can get off the ship for a while and explore the starbase.'

She returned to he PaDD as it shipped. The message made her smile and relax a little. A few taps later and she sent another message 'We'll call this a date 2.5 then. Where shall I meet you?' She sent it and then tapped her fingers impatiently. It was a good form of impatience though, she was genuinely excited about seeing him. To distract her fingers, she replicated some ballet styled pumps and put them on, ready to venture out. As she leant over she saw her hair and sighed. It was an utter mess. Retying the curls back into a messy bun, Adrianna was somewhat more satisfied that she didn't look like a bird had taken residence in her hair.

Throwing a shirt on and sliding into a pair of jeans, getting himself ready was easy. He did not mind looking a bit unkempt. 'I'll meet you on the starbase, just hang around where we are docked and I'll walk with you to the promenade' he replied to her before tossing the PaDD aside and heading out of his quarters. Date 2.5 it was. He liked the way she worded that as it did not spoil his planned date number three yet still permitted him to see her before then.

Adrianna took the instructions and was soon on the base. Why were bases always so cold? To be fair it may have also been because she was overtired, though it was in her Italian nature to feel the cold a bit more easily. She waited close to the ship, tucking her hands into her hoody's pockets to attempt to not let her hands turn a royal shade of blue. She looked out for him but then got distracted, looking around the eerily quiet base. Apparently only idiots saw this ungodly hour.

Leopold approached the woman from behind, recognizing any side of her even with her back towards him. He placed a hand gently on her shoulder and greeted her as she turned. "You admiring something in particular, or just lost in thought?" he asked with a smile.

Adrianna jumped out of her skin and went to defend herself, but thankfully relaxed upon seeing it was him. She smiled feeling very stupid for being jumpy, "sorry. I was lost in thought." Adrianna had opted to wear a translator, just in case slumber caught up with her.


Leopold offered a comforting smile to Adriana and gave her a small hug. “That's alright,” he said as he looked at her, studying her for a moment longer. “A lot of people have seemed lost in thought these days, some even hauntingly distant as of late. I noticed it among the crew. I think it has something to do with our previous mission.” Leopold had no part in it himself, but he knew Adriana had gone aboard the luxury cruise ship and had likely been involved in the phaser fight. He made no further mention of it and didn’t want to bring it up unless she did.

“On a starbase such as this, I highly suspect there is not an actual closing time. Maybe a few places open, but still something. I suspect bars and whatnot are open later and cafes and such back right up against them by opening sooner, practically twenty-four-hour service” he commented. “I’m not sure I’m up for shooting a few fireballs with you at this hour, but I’ll certainly take a brisk promenade walk for leisure and venture into a café for some Raktajino” he added warmly. “How does that sound to you, Adrianna?” he asked, seeking her approval.

Adrianna couldn't help but just relax at the options given and his sensitivity. She was certainly grateful he didn't tease her for being jumpy, "alcohol may help me sleep. I'm open to drinking until the metaphoric sunrise or we sleep." She kissed him softly, "to the bar."

Leopold laughed "Are you sure that you are Italian and not Russian or Irish?" he teased her. He may not have been from Earth, but he knew enough about stereotypes. "We can go to the bar, and you can have anything you want, but I think I'll be on my best behavior and take something less potent" he added with a smile. "I appreciate the shore leave and all, but I volunteered myself to pick up a few shifts to help some of the engineers with repairs. Warp physics and such may not be my thing, but I can still weld better than most of them."

She chuckled, "the Irish do it for the fun of being drunk, the Russians do it for sport. The Italians? The Italians do it because we make some of the finest wines money can buy." She paused and then said, "I've opted for shore-leave, though have no plans. I will, however, tonight, introduce you to grappa. We can't have you too conservative." She put a hand in his and walked with him to find a bar.

"Oh anything but conservative," he replied. "So, what sort of drinks do you like?" asked Leopold.

Before answering, they found a bar and Adrianna ordered a bottle of grappa with two glasses. The bottle arrived having her surname on it. She picked them up and nodded to a table still silent. After pouring the clear liquid she nudged one glass over to him, "I like wine, but this is my favourite. It's a drink that cures a lot: heartbreak to indigestion, stress to hiccups." She picked up her glass, toasting, "cento di questi giorni." The Italian drank it, putting the glass down, accustomed to its burn.

Hesitant at first to do so, Leopold did comply, and though he did not immediately regret to decision, the liquid on the way down left one hell of a burn that he was not accustomed to. "Shit," he said coughing and clearing his throat a bit. "Either that stuff has quite the burning sensation to it or the years of the synthetic stuff has really taken the piss out of my tolerance for the real stuff" he commented poking a bit of dun at his own expense. "How often to you drink something like that?"

It was fun watching people taste grappa for the first time. She remembered her first with it. She drank a pint of milk thinking it would be like trying to rid chilli peppers. "Depends," she chuckled, "at home, it would be one shot a night, after food. It helps digestion. If you celebrate, you just drink."

"Is tonight a one shot night or a celebratory night?" asked Leopold. He smiled at her. "That transport will be coming soon enough to whisk us off to a planet that I chose from their destinations" he added. "It's not Earth, but I do think you will like it."

"Perhaps celebratory, if we are going to finally be able to relax," she replied then curiously said, "I must say, date three: I was expecting dinner and maybe an escort home. I wasn't expecting a weekend away. Where are we going?"

"Oh, by the look the repairs need on Standing Bear and scuttlebutt about new crew...I'm thinking it's going to be longer than a weekend getaway," he said teasingly. "Ever hear of Ba'ku?" he asked.

The fact they were three dates in and already going away together made her stomach become electrified with butterflies. She poured them both another drink, knocked hers back in the hopes of drowning the winged beasts and listened to his second question. "I've not been. It rings a bell, but I cannot place it. What is it like?"

"Peaceful," he replied. "Well, usually. They are farmers and such. They have rejected technology and live a pretty simple life, but they aren't pre-warp. They have the knowledge and past technical prowess, but have chosen a different path for themselves, so their world is open to visitors" he stated. "The Federation had a duck blind there decade or two ago I think. Didn't go well, but they are peaceful and I hear the sunsets are beautiful."

Adrianna looked to his eyes. Peace and tranquility. It may be what she needed. Similarly, how did he know she needed it? Who cared. She looked down to her glass, twirling it a little between her finger and thumb. Her eyes looked back to his, "I think that sounds exactly like what I need. I'll bring a book or two."


He chuckled and smiled. "You go right ahead and do that. I'll bring the rock climbing gear if you feel adventurous, but I am perfectly fine just being in nature with you and reading" he added. "So, date three on Ba'Ku it is." he added.

Adrianna's eyes lit up a little more. How was it possible? These feelings were growing far too quick because he just knew exactly what to say. After silence she finally let her mouth form a coherent sentence, "sounds perfect."

"Perfect," he replied "Close to it, though I do not know if anything is ever truly perfect, but I am unable to see imperfections right now" he added.

"Perhaps you need to learn about the art of Kintsugi," she replied, putting her hand on his, "it's the imperfections that make perfection." She smiled, "I for one, am only seeing perfection."

He took another sip of the alcohol. It burned less as he got used to it. "I could get used to that outlook" he commented.

Adrianna smiled, "completely numb after your third." She topped off his drink, "to brighter futures." She toasted.

"To a brighter future".