Now what?
Posted on Tue Mar 30th, 2021 @ 12:07pm by Lieutenant JG April Collins & Ensign Hunter Mitchell
Edited on on Tue Mar 30th, 2021 @ 12:08pm
Mission:
S1, E0: We need each other.
Location: Corridors
Timeline: MD001 1630 hrs
2139 words - 4.3 OF Standard Post Measure
April had a big grin on her face, as she said good night to Hunter. She had no intention of meeting a man on the ship, and jumping into a relationship. Yet that appeared to be the case. She could not help, but have a huge smile on her face. As she walked down the corridors. She was not ready to walk home. She just needed to process, what had transpired. However she was not alone. He was standing right next to her, as they both walked down the corridors.
April was still in shock. 'Did you really just kiss him?' April asked herself, with a big grin on her face. What was she thinking. Yes he was hot, and sweet and seemed to have a wonderful personality. But she did not know him. So why did she do this?
Was she desperate for affection? Was this a cry of help? A cry for attention? She was not sure, but she wanted to find out as soon as possible. There was not like her, and it sort of scared her.
She wondered what Hunter was thinking? She assumed, he was high fiving himself, and probably thinking he was the man. She did not want to be over judgemental. But it was hard for her to know for sure, what he was thinking. April continued to walk down the corridor with him, not saying a word. Just having a big smile on her face, as she kept thinking about that kiss. She hoped he would break the silence.
Hunter stared at April, a little shocked she had kissed him and caught up in the passion of it all. He blinked and then a smile crossed his face. She liked him! He ha been worried that she might not feel the same way he did. He wanted to break the silence but wasn’t quite sure what to say.
“You want to meet for breakfast?” Hunter asked her. Then winced as it was a lame thing to say.
"So breakfast and a dinner." April said, with a big teasing grin on her face. "What about poor lunch, I think lunch could become jealous." April said, in a teasing voice. Part of her realized, that she just sounded like a dork. But that did not matter.
Hunter grinned. “Then we better meet for lunch so it isn’t feeling sad and alone.” His eyes lit up. “Or jealous.”
"That could be arranged, but first you promised me a walk on the ship." April said, with a big grin on her face. Thinking to herself, this is crazy. Barely knows this guy, already kissed him. And now taking a stroll with him. Had she lost all common sense?
“You are right I did,” Hunter said with a smile. “Where would you like to head first.” He waited a moment and continued on. “How about my favorite place on the ship, engineering. There is a lot to see there.”
"What is it, with men and their engines?" April asked, with a teasing grin. She liked the engine. She was a pilot after all, but she wanted to see if he would catch on, that she was playfully teasing him.
“I think it’s a part of who we are,” Hunter grinned. “I can’t remember ever wanting to do anything else for my career.” His eyes lit up. “Just like I bet you get a thrill from flying.”
"Who we are?" April asked, with a confused look on her face. She was clearly missing part of the story. But what was it? What was she missing? She had bypassed the other half of the statement. She was fixated on the first half still.
“You said men and their engines,”. Hunter replied with a grin. “The ‘we’ was men in general. We like to build and fix things.”
"Nice save." April said, with a big grin on her face. Nicely played, she thought to herself. He did well handling that situation.
Hunter loved how her face lit up when she was happy. “What made you want to be a pilot.” He was interested in hearing her answer.
"The thrill of speed, what else?" April said with a big grin on her face. Speed was the main reason why most pilots become polite.
“I get that,” Hunter nodded. “Do you think it might also be a sense of control?” He smiled at her. “You are in charge of where we are headed.”
"Do I appear to be a lady that always needs to be in control?" April asked with a serious look on her face.
“Not always,,” Hunter replied with an easy smile. “But don’t you think we all need to be to a certain extent. I like knowing I have a hand in keeping the engines in top form.”
"I feel more at ease, knowing your going to be the one to keep my engines running smoothly." April said, with a big grin on her face.
Hunter grinned in return at her words. “You won’t have anything to be worried about with me around.”
"I hope so." April said, in a teasing and playful voice. She had a feeling, that he would not let her down.
“You can know so,” Hunter said with a bit of confidence in his grin. He loved her sense of humor.
"Time will tell bucko." April said, in a big teasing grin. She made sure the comment of bucko, was in a high pitch voice and playful in nature.
Hunter laughed. “Bucks?” He raised an eyebrow. “You have a way with words, I like it!”
"No Bucko." April said, correcting his grammical error. She did not call him Bucks, or Buckee or Buckaroo. She called him Bucko.
“Bucko is even better,” Hunter said with a grin. “Makes me think of a cowboy out on the range.”
"Hey whatever works for you." April said, with a playful teasing grin on her face. She was a little surprised, he was allowing her to pick on him. He must really find her attractive.
“Everyone loves a cowboy,” Hunter said with a grin. “Besides, I love your sense of humor.”
"Are you trying to suggest, that I am a cowboy?" April asked, thinking of herself more as a racer, a pilot. A girl that likes to live on the wild side of things.
“I was thinking of me when you called me bucko actually.” Hunter grinned. “It just reminded me of western movies.”
"Are you a big fan of classic western movies?" April asked, curious where this conversation was going next.
“No,” Hunter shook his head. “I like action, comedy and some romance as well.”
"But clearly you like Westerns as well." April said, giving him a little bit of grief.
“Growing up there was no choice,” Hunter explained. “I don’t hate them but they aren’t my choice to watch.”
"Do you often do this, say one thing. Then change the narrative to fit the conversation we are having?" April asked. She had a hard time believing his nonsense. He clearly liked westerns. And there was nothing wrong with that.
“I like Westerns,” Hunter stressed. “They aren’t my favorite. I’d rather watch an action, comedy or romantic movie.”
"I knew you were going to say that." April said, with a big grin. Then she decided to give him a hint. "I really like romantic movies, the chance to sit and cry into my pillow. Nothing beats that feeling." She said, with a big grin on her face.
“See I always hear it isn’t manly to like romance movies but I think it’s a front,” Hunter said with a smile. “Men think it makes them weak but I say it makes us stronger.”
"I have never heard a man say that." April said teasingly. She knew what he was saying to be real. But she was having fun, playing this cat and mouse teasing like game.
“You have met some unusual men,” Hunter said with a frown. Did she really know a bunch of men who liked to watch romance?”
"Perhaps, or perhaps I am just busting your balls." She said, with a big grin on her face. April decided to let him in, on the fact she was teasing him.
Hunter laughed. “You really like to get me going don’t you? I guess I am easy to get to fall for a joke.”
"I would suggest teasing more than joking." April said, with a nervous smile. Now she was putting herself out on the line.
“I like that your comfortable enough to tease me,” Hunter said with a grin. “I’m an easy going guy.”
"Not sure if that is a compliment, or saying you are guilable." April said, not sure how to process what he just said.
“It’s a compliment,” Hunter said with a laugh. “You got it by me and usually I catch on real fast.”
April loved the fact, he was not taking her teasing personally. "In all fairness, I was trying to see if you would loose your cool. I am looking for a real man, you might be a real man." She said, with a teasing grin on her face.
“I can take it if someone teases me, Hunter said with a smile. “And I like a good sense of humor.”
"Don't get any ideas, just because I am teasing you, does not mean were going to get freaky or married or anything wild like that. Just my way, of seeing, if I want to see you. Assuming you are okay with that." April said, putting herself out there, and thinking to herself, what in the hell are you doing? Deep inside, she was screaming. 'You idiot.' Was the only thing, on her mind as she waited for his response.Now she felt vulenerable, and not safe. She might have scared him too. She was not sure.
Hunters eyes widened as she spoke and he took a deep breath. “I wasn’t expecting you to get freaky or anything. We are just getting to know each other.” Had he given her the impression he was going to make a move?
"Don't mince words, be honest. I am being honest with you." April suggested to him. She felt dumb for speaking up. Maybe he did not feel there was a connection, between them.
“I feel something for you,” Hunter said with honesty. “A connection, as in I knew we could be good friends, and yet I am attracted to you and I definitely want to see you as well.”
"Glad its not just me." April said, with a warm loving smile on her face. She felt the same attraction that he did. This was off to a good start.
“No it isn’t,” Hunter smiled in return. He was glad to see that this wasn’t one sided and they both wanted to see this through.
April just smiled, as she looked into his eyes. "We will have time to explore those feelings in time, right now. You promised me a walk." She said, noticing that they stopped to stare into each others eyes.
“I did indeed,” Hunter said with a nod and he took her arm and headed down the corridor. “Did we decide where to start?”
"This is all on you bucko." April said, with a big grin on her face. It was his choice, where they went too.
“Let’s start with science and make our way through then,” Hunter said with a smile.”
"Science lab?" April asked, she really had no interest in petri dishes. She wanted to see engineering. Or of the warp nacells, the closet she wanted to get to science was the arboretum.
“We can head on to somewhere else,” Hunter said with a smile. “I thought you wanted to see the whole ship.” He grinned then. “I could take you to my favorite area, which we both know is my department.”
"Will start in Science, you mentioned it for a reason. I would not mind stopping by the arboretum, since we will be in that area." April suggested to him. She had heard, how pretty it was.
“That sounds good,” Hunter nodded. He hasn’t thought of the Arboretum and could have kicked himself.
"Have you ever been to an arboretum before on a ship? I heard only cruisers are big enough to have them." April said, with a warm smile on her face.
“I haven’t,” Hunter admitted. “Only on the base I served on but its probably not that much different.”
"Me either, I am excited to see it." April said, as the scene starts to fade away.
“Then what are we waiting for,” Hunter said and they headed on their way.
