A Much-Anticipated Dinner (Part III)

Posted on Wed Jun 30th, 2021 @ 8:08pm by Lieutenant JG Ronen Kym & Lieutenant Remy Boudreau
Edited on on Wed Jun 30th, 2021 @ 8:09pm

1,660 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Caverns of the mind
Location: Holodeck

[PREVIOUSLY]

'Old ruins can be some of the best attractions,' replied Boudreau, 'they can be a little melancholy, but there's something oddly comforting about them. The quiet I think. And I do enjoy the fact that holo technology has come along enough that we can recreate accurate representations of the ruins in their heyday. Brings a little something different.'

[CONTINUED]

"It does. Images alone don't give you the same feel that a holodeck can. I've even been in some historic recreations of what the culture would have been like in its prime. That is fascinating as well." She was enthusiastic about history, but she was also happy to be on safer ground. She knew she was strongly attracted to Remy--more so after their conversation--but she didn't want to jeopardize what they had by pushing. The comment about folktales before bed jumped into her mind and she pushed it back.

'I haven't been there in real life, yet, but one of my favourite is Hagia Sophia through the ages. Take you all the way from it's earliest existence to the present day. Gives you a potted history of the city as well,' Boudreau grinned, 'it's great for setting the imagination alight.'

"Really? I've never been there, in any age. It sounds amazing." There was a great deal she wanted to see.

'Maybe we could go through the program sometime. See if you enjoy it. Though you probably know a fair bit more about it than me,' replied Boudreau easily, enjoying making future plans, and sharing experiences with Kym. Rationally he knew that it was biochemistry, but there was something about the Bajoran officer that hit him right.

"Definitely." She smiled. "I'd like sharing that with you." She was still a bit hesitant, but the more time she spent with Remy, she more comfortable she felt around him. She was also looking forward to his comments on the program.

'That's fantastic,' Boudreau smiled widely again, 'maybe when we have some free holodeck time.' He glanced down at her plate, 'How's the food, actually, you enjoying it?'

She looked down. "I did." She looked ack at Remy. "But I admit, I liked the company more. I guess we should vacate the table and let someone else use it..."

Boudreau blushed lightly across the bridge of his nose and across his cheeks, 'same here, the food was excellent, the company even better.' His expression fell a little, they hadn't made plans for more than dinner and he didn't want to push his luck, 'yeah ... I guess we should make room for other people ...'

"We could take the long way," she suggested. "If...if you want to."

'Could we?' asked Boudreau a little sheepishly, 'I do enjoy the company. It's just a shame that we don't have an Observation Lounge aboard ship. Looking at the stars at the end of the night is always best with company you enjoy, you know.'

"Yes." She smiled, did know. "We do have a holodeck, though. We could look at the stars there."

'Shall we then?' he indicated the door, 'walking off our dinner and have a look at the stars sounds like a good way to finish up the evening.' Boudreau didn't want to repeat the joke about fairy tales before bed. Kym had steered clearly away from it and he didn't want to put her off.

She smiled. "It does." Although it was more the idea of spending a little more time with Remy. She walked with him to the door, trying to keep a happy dance out of her step.

As they stepped through the door, he held out his hand to take hers, 'do you mind?'

"No." She put her hand in his and squeezed it gently. "Not at all." In fact, holding his hand gave her a warm, tingly feeling.

Boudreau smiled as she slipped her hand into his and he led them on a walk around the ship, taking a deliberately circuitous route to the holodeck.

Something else she liked about Remy. The conversation was good, almost as much as the company. They paused in front of hte holodeck doors. "You can pick the program," she said, interested to see which program he chose.

'Alright. How about,' Boudreau went quiet as he scanned the programs, and found the one he wanted. 'A direct download from Copernicus VI.' He activated the program and stepped through.

Copernicus VI was a small planet, barely counting, at the edge of its system and not far from the spectacular Crab nebula. The horizon was close up, and a stream of stars floated across the inky black of space. 'You like it?' he asked, looking at Kym before looking up at the stars, 'I did an EVA here once. I think it's amazing.'

"Really?" She turned to him. "That sounds amazing. I've never seen this before."

He laughed, 'yeah, really. It was part of one of my early assignments. We set up the live feed, and it's still here a couple of years later.' Boudreau looked around, 'the surface of the planetoid has barely changed in the last few years, so you're seeing pretty much what I was seeing.' He shrugged again, 'hard to being up EVAs in casual conversation without sounding like it's a brag.'

She looked up at the stars. "It's incredible. Especially as we don't have to wear EVA suits to appreciate it." A

n idea came to her. One she'd heard some cadets mention in the Academy. "Computer, blanket. six feet by six feet."

A soft, thick blanket in dark bllue materialized at their feet. "Help me spread it out," she said, picking it up. "Much easier on the neck if we can lay down and look up at the stars."

'Sure, sure,' he replied, quietly delighted at the idea. 'Should have thought about it myself, really,' he drawled with a smile. Boudreau picked up one side of the blanket and helped pull it out, shaking out any creases, and helping to lay it on the floor.

He parked his butt down. 'Hey, it is comfortable!' he exclaimed in delight, 'pull up a pew!'

She made herself comfortable a short distance away. It wouldn't do for her to snuggle up to him without an invitation. "They are. I love watching the sky at night."

Eyeing up her position he smiled, 'no come on, how am I going to point out the different stars from there? You'll never see what I'm pointing at properly.' Boudreau beckoned her over, 'scooch up here,' he drawled, 'so I can show you the prettiest star.'

She smiled and moved over so she was cuddled up next to him. "Close enough?" she asked.

Boudreau grinned, wrapping an arm around her shoulder, 'for now, Kym.' He turned his attention to the stars above them. Pointing out a large star, he turned to her a moment, 'do you see that one there, second to the left? Shifts between blue and green? Pretty unique, not many do that. Gorgeous main-sequence star.'

She looked where he pointed, enjoying the feel of his arm around her. "It's beautiful," she said, turning to look at him.

'Not as beautiful as the star I'm looking at right now,' he said cheesily and with a wink.

"Cheeky." She grinned and kissed him on the cheek. It was hyperbole, but his words made her feel warm and fuzzy.

He blushed, returned the kiss gently, 'it worked,' he finally drawled, a little bashful, and leaned back on his hand to better see her. ''You have beautiful eyes.'

It was Kym's turn to blush. "Thank you, but I do believe you're biased."

He shrugged, still smiling, 'probably.' Boudreau leaned in and gave her a soft kiss on the lips, 'but I'm willing to bet there's not another person on the ship who's eyes reflect starlight just like yours do.'

The brief kiss tingled across her lips. She sighed. It was nice. "I don't think I have a comeback for that."

'No?' His eyes twinkled with amusement, 'maybe there's no need,' he said with a smile, and ran the back of his hand down her cheek softly, 'you are smart, funny and beautiful though, and you should have someone who tells you that everyday.'

She caught his hand with hers and kissed the back of it. "You are a very special man, Mr. Boudreau. You are charming, handsome, witty, and unlike anyone I've met before."

Boudreau looked away for a moment as he went beet red, 'I thought I could charm, Kym,' he looked back with a laugh. 'I'm not sure that I am all that. But you make me want to try and be that guy.'

"Me, too. I much preferred a less-than-perfect man who is trying because I think I can live up to that myself."

'It's a deal, then, girlfriend,' said Boudreau with a smile.

She smiled. "Yes." She gently caressed his cheek. There was so much she wanted to share with Remy.

Boudreau blushed and smiled again, 'that's made me, uh, very happy.' He leaned closer and gave her another kiss, 'I'm looking forward to getting to know you properly.'

She sighed happily. "I look forward to getting to know you, too. You are a special man." She felt emboldened enough to kiss him.

He practically melted into her at the kiss. It seemed to go on forever. Finally coming up for air all he could manage was a quiet 'wow.'

She sighed. "Very definitely wow," she whispered. She cuddled up next to him and looked at the stars. She could almost believe they were smiling at them.

____
OFF

Lieutenant Remy Boudreau
Chief Science Officer
USS Aurora

Lieutenant JG Ronen Kym
Counselor

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