A Much-Anticipated Dinner (Part I)

Posted on Wed Jun 30th, 2021 @ 7:37pm by Lieutenant JG Ronen Kym & Lieutenant Remy Boudreau

1,539 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Caverns of the mind
Location: Lounge
Timeline: After returning from the planet

ON

It had been a long day with the fight in the lounge and the subsequent counseling. Kym was looking forward to her date with Remy.

She showered and dressed in a light-blue dress, hoping to find a balance between casual and formal. She added a light spritz of her favorite perfume and headed for the lounge.

Standing in front of his open closet, Boudreau ran a hand through his thick, dark hair as he struggled to think of what he could wear. He wanted to make a good impression, but he rarely did formal occasions. Dinner is pretty formal, though, he thought to himself.

In the end, he picked out his neatest button-down shirt in a soft purple colour, and a pair of dark chinos. Boudreau hoped he didn't look too much like a Bank of Bolia accountant in his get-up, but it would have to do. The shirt stretched a little tightly over his shoulders, it had been a long while since he'd worn it.

The Science Officer finally stopped fussing with his appearance after spraying himself with a low-key cologne and headed for the Lounge. Spotting Kym waiting for him with her back to him, he faltered in his step as she saw how beautiful she looked. Man you are in trouble he thought as he caught sight of her.

Making sure not to spook her he called out her name and waved as he made his way across the Lounge. 'Fancy meeting you here!' He grinned goofily a tight not of nervousness forming in his sternum.

She turned, her eyes meeting his as a smile spread across her face. The sight of him made her heart beat faster. She still wasn't quite sure how to act around him. It had been such a long time since she'd been on a date, and Remy was not like anyone she'd met before.

"Hi," she said softly when he drew close. Her instinct was to hug him, but she wasn't sure how he'd react. Her cheeks grew warm at the thought. "How was your day?"

'Lots of paperwork,' he replied, laughing, 'but one of the Warp physicists has a nice little hypothesis they're working on so we got to look at that this afternoon.' He touched her arm gently, 'how about your day? Those Counselling sessions go well?'

He looked up as they were called to their seats, and held out his hand to her, 'tell me as we go?'

The feel of his hand sent warm shivers up her arm. "Tessa went on a date with a male security officer. There was a fight between her and her girlfriend. She's under the doctor's care and I'm working with Kuroko." She shook her head. "I don't know yet how Tessa contracted the pathogen, but she's not going to be happy about her behavior when she's cured."

Boudreau looked at her sympathetically, 'that's a really heavy day,' he said gently as they were seated. 'I don't remember anything untoward happening to Tessa on the surface,' he frowned as he tried to recall, before shaking his head, 'hopefully Kuroko will understand once the treatment is effective.'

"I do, too. But either way, I'll do what I can to help her cope." She smiled at Remy. "Right now, I want to enjoy the evening with you."

'You're right. But honestly, you could be reading out the specifications for self-sealing stem bolts and I'd be enjoying myself,' he chuckled warmly. 'Would you like a drink?' He asked as he flagged a waiter down.

"I would," she said. "So, tell me what you did with your day. I'm sure it was more interesting than mine."

'Only if you think paperwork is interesting,' he replied with a wink, 'but there were some nice developments - one of the biologists is collaborating in developing new, more hardy strains of crops for the Denbobulans, and they've had some great success. And one of our warp physicists working on a subspace emissions project has had a minor breakthrough, but it should help clean up warp engine pollution in the near future.' He leaned in, 'that was quite exciting really.'

She'd leaned in, listening in interest, as he spoke. "It really is. Better than a lounge fight." But then, being with him made up for everything that happened that day.

Boudreau's eyes glazed over with embarrassment, 'yeah, it got a bit heated this morning,' he drawled. 'I'll admit that pride is one of my sins, and I can't seem to shake it,' he smiled uncertainly. He was glad that the waiter appeared at their side with the drinks they'd ordered. His iced tea was chilled to perfection. 'Arguments in the briefing room aside, the scientific work, and the company is thoroughly enjoyable.'

She smiled at Remy. "I'm glad you're not perfect. I'd never measure up to that. Not many will admit their imperfections."

'You measure up just fine from where I'm sat,' replied Boudreau with a grin, going slightly red around his cheeks and the nape of his neck. Kym made him nervous and flustered, almost to the point his knees were knocking together. 'I'm ... just glad it's not a deal-breaker.'

"No," she said softly, feeling her cheeks grow warm. "Nothing about you is a deal-breaker."

He went beet red, 'I, uh, ... yeah. I'm glad,' he managed to stammer out. Boudreau took a sip of his drink to calm his nerves. He met her eyes again, 'I'm not sure what to say, I'm not often talked about like that.'

"I don't know why not. You're one of the nicest men I've met." She paused, afraid she'd said too much.

'Thank you,' replied Boudreau as he looked into her brown, incredibly pretty eyes. 'I've not met anyone before who gives me quite so many butterflies in the stomach as you do - you're, uh, incredible.' Was that too much? Oh. Was it enough. What does incredible even mean to her?

Butterflies. Were they the same butterflies he gave her, or was it nervousness? No, she wasn't going to let herself get caught up in that. "I..." She wasn't sure what to say. "Butterflies and daydreams. I catch myself staring into space and smiling because of you."

'I'm the same,' admitted Boudreau with a smile of relief. 'I think what we're both circling is that we're both pretty definitely wanting something more than friendship. At least, that's what I'm trying to say when I'm not tongue-tied.'

"I'm good at counseling others," Kym admitted ruefully, "But this is new territory for me, and I'm not doing so well, either." Her eyes met his for a long moment. "For the other..yes."

He felt a shiver run up and down his spine, and his face lit up with a boyish light, 'well I'm glad we're agreed. And you seem to be doing very well at this, but I'm looking forward to puzzling out the way forward together.'

"I may talk well, but that's my job." She chuckled softly. "For the rest, I look forward to puzzling this out together as well."

'I'm glad,' replied Boudreau honestly. 'Maybe, if we both agree we can just be ourselves, come what may, we can enjoy the puzzling and the eventual destination?'

"Yes. That is a very good suggestion." She grinned. "In fact, I think it's perfect."

He grinned response to her dazzling smile, 'then it's a plan - would you like something to eat?' He indicated the menu that sat between them, ignored til now.

She blushed. She'd totally forgotten about food. "That's generally what people do here, isn't it? At least, that's what I'm told." She smiled again. "What do you recommend?"

'Uh, well, you know since coming aboard I've only eaten replicated food,' Boudreau admitted, thinking that Kym looked cute when she blushed. 'So ... I guess we could try a little of this and that? What food do you like?'

"I like a variety, actually. Salad, pasta, chicken." She shrugged. "What do you like?"

He patted his belly with a laugh, 'all food is good, but I do particularly enjoy steaks, ribs and the like.' He pulled a face, 'food that's easy to cook on camping trips, it seems.' He looked at the menu, 'they do some tapas?'

"Steak cooked over a fire is nice," she said. Or shiskebob." She raised an eyebrow. "I'm not sure about tapas."

'Not sure about tapas, huh? No problem,' smiled Remy as he scanned the menu further, 'perhaps the Mediterranean chicken salad? I do like bit of avocado ...'

"That sounds good." She smiled. "I like the Mediterranean, chicken and salad."

'It's a really good combination - best consumed on a pristine Greek beach, with a nice cool drink,' Boudreau chuckled as he politely waved a waiter over and asked for a pair of salads to start, thanking them as they took the order.

(To be continued...)

Lieutenant Remy Boudreau
Chief Science Officer
USS Aurora

Lieutenant JG Ronen Kym
Counselor
USS Aurora

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