Regulations Be Damned
Posted on Sat Aug 5th, 2023 @ 11:58pm by Captain Marc Kidd & Ensign Nala Rider
0 words; about a 1 minute read
Mission:
The Sins of History
Location: Captain's Quarters - Deck 4 - USS Artemis
Timeline: MD002 2000 hrs
Marc had been bustling about his quarters for hours. The nerves were killing him as it had been quite sometime since he had been on anything that resembled a date. He had his place clean and even had a special meal prepared. For clothing he opted for something casual but accented his looks. He wore jeans, a flannel shirt and some boots. He had always been told that with the beard he had a rugged look, so he ran with it. Some champagne was put on ice and red wine decanted. Now, his only fear was that she did not think him too forward. Well, that and regulations...
Nala was excited! It'd been a bit since she and the Captain...Marc had been together...
"Dang, Nala! What are you being silly like this for!? He likes you, you like him...get a clue! Wait...does he like me? Yesh! He wouldn't invite you back to his quarters if he didn't!" Nala fussed at herself.
Nala had picked a soft purple and pink short sleeved top with blue short pantaloons and short black boots.
When the door chime ran Marc hoped that everything was prepared. If it wasn't then it didn't matter as he ran out of time. "Hey, come on in..." When she walked in Marc smiled he was not prepared fully for her. She was stunning and she knew exactly what he thought would be casual. Nala had been dressed perfectly. "Welcome to my humble abode. It isn't much but it is mine. What can I get you?"
"Thank you. This is a nice place. I'll have a pineapple juice please. Wow, something smells good!" Nala blushed slightly at how Marc was looking at her.
"Um...I hope I dressed ok, I wasn't quite sure what'd be..." Nala stopped, swirling her foot in the carpet.
"Coming right up..." Marc ordered the juice and some seltzer for himself. When he came back into the living room he set the drinks down. "...Thanks I have British style beef and bacon pie with a nice salad. Some wine and just some good ole company and we can see where the night takes us."
Nala nodded as she sat on the couch, blushing at his suggestion.
"Sounds delicious!" Nala grinned happily, attempting to at least sortta act like an adult!
[This could go somewhere very quickly!] Nala thought, then shook her head.
[Girl! Get your head together!] Nala admonished herself roughly.
While the finishing touches were made on the food Marc took a seat next to Nala. "So, tell me about yourself." He smiled and took a sip of his drink. The move was more to cover up the embarrassment on his face. You can command a starship, you can get to know a beautiful woman you kissed. He thought. "You know the general get to know you stuff. Where you from, likes and dislikes that sort of thing."
"Well, I'm from Colorado, originally, got clawed by a black bear when I was six cause I decided to wander off, then..." Nala stopped as she ran out of breath and started panting.
"Opsi...I guess I still need to learn to breath between sentences," Nala laughed sheepishly, twirling her foot in the carpet.
Marc smiled there was something both endearing and innocent about Nala. Something that was quite refreshing. "Sometimes we all need to take a step back and breathe. Just be in the moment and enjoy it. We sort of have something in common. Both of us being country bumpkins as it were. I am from Warwick New York. Raised on a dairy farm. Go on tell me some more about growing up, what you like things like that." Marc knew that he was attracted to the woman now he needed to see if there was a relationship here.
"Giggle Well...I've always been interested in exploring new places, learning new things, and wanting to be out in nature as much as possible. I do my best thinking out in the open air...except when I'm in the lab of course. Because of that, I grew up a bit wild, more a Tomboy than tea parties...don't get me wrong, I DO love tea parties! Mom and Dad wanted me to be more girly as I grew up, but they finally realized that they still loved me despite getting my clothes filthy more often than they would have liked. Hm...what else? Oh! I was faster than most of my peers despite being an 'egg head' as most considered me," Nala grinned sheepishly.
"Well I think that the ability to be both delicate and a tomboy as you put it is a very admirable trait in a woman. Tea parties can certainly be fun but I am a coffee man. Nothing beats that first sip in the morning. Do you have a particular music that you like." The more Marc spoke to her the more he was fascinated by her. She had a certain innocence that one would associate with a young woman, and yet she seemed mature as well.
"Ththank you. I...I like a song by Crowder called Crushing Snakes, Toby Mac's Me Without You, For King And Country's God Only Knows, and...and I think I'm rambling," Nala blushed...again.
[Sheesh girl! Get a grip!] Nala mentally fussed at herself.
"You are never rambling. This is the point where we get to know each other so a little rambling on is acceptable. I for one like to take long strolls in the holodeck on horseback. There is nothing quite as freeing as being on the back of a horse." Marc paused to sip his drink as he pondered the proverbial elephant in the room. It was something that nagged at him since they kissed and he decided to see where this would go. "I have to ask if you are ready for what can happen if we continue with this. I am the Captain and you are someone under my command. There are a lot of regulations about this. Regulations that we would be breaking. So you have to be ready if this is something that you want." It was his turn to be a little uncertain, he wanted her to be ready, wanted her to continue. But was unsure if she wanted it, or was ready.
"[Welp...there it is] Honestly, I've had crazy emotional fluctuations since we kissed. 'Does he love me? Do I love him? Do I want this? Does he want this?' It's all so new to me. I've never been in love before...but I've seen real love when I've watched my parents interacting with each other. I...I get the same feeling looking at you that I see in my Mom's eyes when she looks at my Dad, and vis versa. I...I love you, Marc," Nala looked up at Marc, a small, slightly scared, smile on her face.
That was now tied for the best thing that Marc Kidd had ever heard, tied with when they told him he had a command of his own. He smiled softly and leaned over to kiss her. The kiss was soft and loving and when it was finished he kissed her on the forehead and whispered. "I love you too." Well now that was out the way there seemed to be a weight lifted from his shoulders. "Well shall we eat or would you rather damn the regulations."
Nala almost shot through the ceiling in exhilaration when Marc kissed her!
"Sssspppppttt...III..." Nala tried to make words...but she wasn't getting anywhere.
"Mmaybe some food aafterward? Oor, or are you hungry nnow? Yyou went to all this trouble to make this delicious smelling food..." Nala finally sputtered out.
Marc smiled broadly. There was something intoxicating about the naiveté of this woman. He embraced her again and whispered. "The food can wait... and he slid her down on to the couch."
Nala eeped in surprise, then snuggled in close, forgetting the food as a MORE intoxicating smell assailed her nose.
The next morning, Nala gave Marc a parting kiss, then tried to slip quietly out the door while walking on Cloud Nine...only to run smack into a wall and squawk rather loudly at her clumsiness!
As Nala got up, she caught sight of someone disappearing around the corner.
"Oh crud," Nala muttered as she headed back to her quarters, although, she was unable to keep the smile off her face at the night she'd just had.
Marc pretended to sleep as he felt her leave. He rather enjoyed Nala's company although he would have to teach her that there was no need to kiss and run.
A Joint Post By
Captain Marc Kidd
Commanding Officer, USS Artemis
Starfleet Criminal Investigations Unit
Ensign Nala Rider
Facial Reconstruction Specialist, USS Artemis
Starfleet Criminal Investigations Unit
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