=/\= USS Charon, Deck Ten =/\=
"No apologies." She briefly rested her face against the tender hand toying with the soft strand of hair. Find who did this… play their game, lurking in shadows, …
No. Not then, not now, not ever.
"Ashal-veh." A determined gleam was in her eyes, gentle though they were when she looked at her Companion. "Was it not you who always insisted my caution in keeping this relationship from becoming public knowledge was … excessive? Perhaps you were correct after all."
There was only one way she knew how to respond to things such as this, the only way she would always respond to any attempt to injure those who were a part of her.
"I would suggest an offensive. If you have no other plans, would you accompany me to dinner in Eris deck? After I have delivered these files to the Captain myself."
"I do not. Save for finding this man and having some quality alone time with him for around five minutes before we hand him over to the Captain and Commander Marcus," Brent said unamused at the prospect of dealing with this man or perhaps even a woman. He looked at her and smiled slightly. "Dinner? Really?" he thought about that for a few moments. "I don't even know why I'm thinking it over here," Brent said softly. "Of course I will accompany you to dinner my beloved," he said as he brought his arms around her and gave her a kiss, his mood improving dramatically.
"Are we going to behave like a couple then and let everyone know in no uncertain terms that we are together before things get out of control?"
"It would seem the logical course of action, no?" she blinked, slightly breathless after the unexpectedly fervent kiss. Obviously, she had underestimated Brent's desire to make their relationship known, judging from the enthusiasm with which he had accepted her proposal.
"Will nineteen hundred suffice? It should give me time to speak with the Captain, assuming she is not otherwise engaged, and Miss Betty will appreciate any custom order being sent in advance."
Strange, how easily she was already getting used to the idea she had shied away from for so long. But Sakarra strongly suspected the smile on his face had much to do with that.
"Yes. Quite logical actually," Brent said with a smile. He actually didn't care too much for just how logically it really was but the fact that she wanted to stop being so secretive. "Nineteen hundred will be perfect," he said. "What will your friends in the kitchen have to say about that? Will they give you a bit of praise?" he asked her teasing ever so slightly. "Custom orders eh?" he said and began to think up of something delicious he had not tasted in some time. "I'll phone it in myself. I have to think about that for a bit...".
"A bit of praise will likely be understating the matter." An eloquently quirked brow related silent amusement as clearly as if Sakarra's melodious laugh had echoed through the office.
"I shall see you then, Brent Warren." She leaned forward, placing another light kiss on his brow, and picked up the PADD with the downloaded message.
As lightly and quietly as she had arrived, the young Vulcan left the marine barracks, nothing but self contained dignity in her measured stride. But one who knew her might have seen a slightly worrying glint in the calm black eyes.
=/\= Later … =/\=
Brent had barely been able to control his excitement for the rest of the day. His men had noticed with some degree of hesitation that their CO didn't yell at them as much and didn't assign them extra PT for annoying him later on in the evening. A few of the Marines got together and pondered if it would be wise to somehow bring the Chief Helm Officer down to their Commander at least once every couple of days to give them a little bit of relief. They were pondering the intelligence of such matters when they were called out and dismissed for the night. Posts were given for night duty and Brent took off around 1600. Just enough time to grab a shower and put on some nice clothing for his date tonight.
He arrived looking quite good in a pair of dark slacks and a well fitting shirt. He made his way up to the lounge area of Eris Deck and smiled as he saw her sitting in their usual spot.
Sakarra had for the first time since she could remember actually found herself pondering her choice of attire longer than three point two minutes. At first, a simple elegant robe had seemed the logical approach, but then she had remembered Brent's face and … reconsidered.
Somehow she had gotten the impression he might consider this simple dinner a special occasion and subsequently ended up with a heap of never worn dresses neatly laid out on her bed and draped over the desk. A quiet little voice at the back of her head insisted this was rather silly, and how did non-Vulcans ever get anything done like this. But at the forefront of her mind was grandmother Lhorexa who would unfailingly point out that any woman who did not get dressed 'up' as it were just because it seemed a good idea at the time needed her head examined.
At long last, or at least after a whole eight point three minutes, she settled for a somewhat chilly but quite attractive dress in an elegant deep maroon. Another of Olixinna's choices, it displayed female attributes quite favorably without being forward and should do rather nicely when combined with a shawl of Efrosian cashmere. The shoes however would take some getting used to.
Almost as an afterthought, Sakarra went hunting for her jewelry box and accented the outfit with a pair of garnet earrings. Looking into the mirror, the young Vulcan could not help but quirk a brow at her reflection – Lexie would most certainly approve. One could hope that Brent would as well.
=/\= Eris Deck, Main Lounge =/\=
Hardly surprising, Mr Tisdale had reserved the table where his 'pet project' (and one of these days she would have to look up the meaning of this phrase) had first dined with the Marine and proceeded to make a bit of a fuss. Outfitted with an aperitif of unknown and unidentifiable ingredients, the young Vulcan had just so managed to ward off a plate with more exotic looking objects, when a familiar sensation made her turn her head and she saw her Companion enter the lounge.
"Wow," Brent said as a smile slowly grew broader as he looked at Sakarra. "You look fantastic," he said softly. "I'm glad I went back to my quarters and grabbed a shower before coming here. I'd look rather poor compared to you in such a beautiful dress," he sat down opposite of her in their booth. "You know it's amazing, even though when I first talked to you today things were looking quite down. I found myself happy when you had come around and here we are," he said with a smile. As Brent sat down he offered her the two fingers that was the custom amongst her people and rapidly becoming one for the two of them together.
She acknowledged the compliment with a tip of the head that lasted just a few heartbeats longer than would have been necessary and then quirked a velvety brow at Brent. "As do you, I must say. Look … exceedingly handsome."
Their hands brushed against each other in the gesture even outworlders recognized as more than a casual greeting and Sakarra was fully aware of the curious gazes fixed on them. With the perfect, precise elegance of her heritage she arched her slender neck, left bare by the warm shawl, and let her fingertips linger for another second while the warmth and affection surrounded her like evening winds.
"Here we are, displayed to the scrutiny of our crewmates." But there was a good measure of dry humor echoing in her low, melodious voice. She had resolved to overrule her innate desire for privacy, and she would go through with it. Gazing at Brent's face in the brightly lit lounge, she felt the small measure of discomfort was bearable, especially when weighed against his smile.
"Scrutiny? You make it sound like we're going in front of the Spanish Inquisition beloved. We are out on a date," he said before chuckling. "I know that things aren't going so well for us in other matters. But right now we have to learn to accept the good with the bad. If we live our lives based on what this fool has done then we will essentially be giving up our freedoms to what he wants. I don't know about you but I rather don't like that idea," he said before Brent smirked. "Actually... I know you well enough to say that you would hate the idea just as much if not more than I do," he said softly and offered her his hand from across the table.
=/\= To be continued ... =/\=
Brevet 1st Lieutenant Brent Warren
Marine Commander
Lt Cmdr Sakarra Tyrax
Chief Helm
USS Charon
