Midnight Conversation

Posted on Sunday, 25 July 2021 - 1:13pm by Captain Barret Stillwater & Ensign Oriana Skye Sety

Mission: Operation: Lazarus
Location: CO's Quarters | USS Standing Bear
Timeline: 2394 MD 05-06

ON:

Hamura had been asleep for hours; Oriana, on the other hand, had not been able to sleep a wink. She had paced her little bedroom and in the end, she could only think of one person she wanted to talk to. Like the wind, she breezed towards the CO's quarters hitting the call button repeatedly.

The groaning noise of annoyance next to Captain Stillwater was that of his Cardassian husband who was probably contemplating reaching for the phaser on the end table. "Tal," Stillwater said giving his husband a look.

"We don't shoot the crew," he said teasingly as he leaned over and kissed the restless Cardassian on the dipped impression on his forehead. "I'll be back shortly. It is probably something important, just go back to sleep."

The Cardassian had rolled back over and placed a pillow over his head as Stillwater left the room and put on a robe, tying the strap around his waist "Almost there," he called out as he reached the doorway. It parted and his aide-de-camp was there.

"Oh good, you're awake! I need your help." The desperate look in her eyes told him she wasn't kidding.

"It's like zero hundred hours and some change," he said. "I would hope you needed help with something unless you're coming to say the Borg have returned."

"Huh? Oh no, no Borg yet." She plopped down on the sofa. "I can't sleep, I really did try to not think about things but...well I can't help it! I don't know why I agreed and I have no idea what to do now!"

"What did you agree to?" Captain Stillwater asked. "Were you on subspace Dabo? Ferengi are shrewd, Ensign"

She looked at him. "No...I can handle Ferengi...I agreed to a double date."

"Exciting," replied Stillwater. "Who are you going with?"

"Well, Mackenzie and Haru are the couple...I'm...going as Hayashi...Ensign Hamura's date." She sighed. "I don't even know what a date is! What am I supposed to say... what if I embarrass Hayashi or....what if I don't do things right? What's the protocol?"

"It's a date," Stillwater replied. "You just go with it. You take time to get to know one another. If it doesn't work, then it doesn't work. Don't put too much pressure on yourself. "

"But is there a script I have to follow? How does a date work? I mean I've never really had one... a long story there, but what if I hate it? What if I like it? What does the other couple do? Are there rules for eating as a couple? If it's a double date who orders first? What's the logic in the events?"

"There's no script," replied Stillwater. "Just good old fashion winging it, adapting as you go, and ultimately figuring out if you like the person that way or not. If not, you make that clear. If you do, also make that clear."

"I don't do well without scripts." Suddenly her eyes lit up. "You could come with me! Be my date coach!"

"I'm retired," Captain Stillwater replied. "Seriously. I am. That Cardassian in the bedroom? That was my retirement. It has been a very long time since I've had a date that wasn't married to me. You would probably benefit from someone like nope, don't say Baciami. someone younger like Kingsley or Rose."

She wrinkled her nose. "Baciami...no... Kingsley...not so sure." She looked at him. "I'm a mess," She finally said as she dropped her head in her hands.

Stillwater nodded in agreement. "Yes, you are. That doesn't make you any less normal. It's the 24th century, almost the 25th, but these are problems centuries old."

She smiled up at him. "You know, I see it now."

"See what, Ensign?" asked Stillwater. He was suspicious as to where this was going. He could hear the faint sounds of a Cardassian Ex-Borg sound asleep or as Tal still liked to say 'regenerating.'

"Papa Smurf." She stood and walked over kissing him on the cheek. "Thank you, I should go. I'm sorry to bug you so late."

He gave the woman a stern look. "I do not envy the next Commanding Officer as to what nickname the crew decides to give him or her," replied Stillwater shaking his head. "You will be perfectly fine, Ensign. Dating is easier than it seems. What you are doing now is just overthinking things and getting yourself worked up. Believe me, you just need to focus on getting to know your date and make your determination afterward."

She grinned. “Understood sir.”

"Dismissed, Ensign, and have a good double date," Stillwater replied. "Goodnight," he added as he retreated back into his quarters and watched the door shut as the woman left. Finally, he thought to himself. I can finally get some rest.

She headed out after another goodbye letting the captain return to his slumber. She felt better and she couldn’t help but wish that Stillwater was staying. She was surprised at how much she had grown accustomed to him. She was used to walls. She had built her walls up and now she was slowly seeing them coming down. This was a scary place to be in.

OFF: