From Dinner to Date

Posted on Thu Jul 8th, 2010 @ 11:59am by Lieutenant JG Kalyka Meral & Lieutenant Commander Karma Sinclair

1,147 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Transitions
Location: Lounge
Timeline: 1700 hours

Kalyka walked into the lounge wearing a nice, white blouse, a pair of jeans that made her look very leggy and flats. She searched the room and smiled when she found him. She walked over to him and sat down opposite him. She hadn't dressed up or down...it was just how she dressed. "Hey, Karma. How are you?"

"Hi, Meral," he said, standing and giving her a broad smile. He was wearing a blue polo shirt and khaki pants. "You look great," he said.

"Thanks." Jemma came over and Meral ordered ratamba stew and mapa bread with moba fruit jam and a darjeeling tea.

"Fettuccine Alfredo and a glass of wine," he said to Jemma. "How was the rest of your day?" he asked her.

"It was good. Nothing was wrong that didn't get fixed by the end of the day." She took a bite of her stew. "Not bad."

"You know," Karma said after eating some of his food, "you never really realize how big this ship is until you try to visit all of the department heads in one day. Next time I'll have to call them to my office rather than going to theirs."

Kalyka shook her head as she swallowed her food. "Would never work with me. You'd never get me out of engineering." She took a bite of her bread and followed it up with a sip of tea.

"I got you here didn't I?" he asked with a wink.

She gave him an expression that was halfway between a smile and a smirk. "Yes, you did." She moved her foot and it brushed up against something, so she moved it slightly away.

Karma felt her foot brush against his and smiled. He felt disappointed when she moved it away, so he moved his to her side of the table, looking for hers as he ate more of his food. "What else do you have planned for tonight?"

Her grey eyes met his and held them. "I...didn't have anything planned for tonight. Why?" Where was he going with this?

"I was just curious," he said to her. "You know, trying to make conversation."

She arched her thin brows at that. "Really?"

"Is that so hard to believe?" Karma asked.

"From a man, yes."

"I'm hurt," he said to her. "Would you prefer it if I did have an ulterior motive?"

She leaned forward, smiling but her eyes narrowed. "Then why is your foot over on my side of the table?"

"I was just stretching," he said, although he didn't move his foot.

She shrugged an eyebrow. "Mmhmm." She moved back in her chair and felt his foot next to hers but she didn't move it away.

Karma smiled and ate more of the food. "It may be some time before we find a replacement for me in Intelligence," he said to her, "Which means I'll be pulling double duty for a while."

Finishing her stew, she ate more of her bread and jam. She loved moba fruit jam, although it wasn't as good as she made. "Pulling double duty, huh? Well, congrats on making first officer. You deserve it."

"You really think so?" Karma asked. "I'm hoping everyone will stop seeing me as a spook and start seeing me as someone that can be trusted."

She moved in her seat, her foot rubbing against his. "Well, it would be bad for the ship if they don't. If they can't trust the first officer, it's detrimental to the ship."

"I couldn't agree more," Karma said as he finished his food. "Is there anything else you'd like to do?" he asked her.

Kalyka's grey eyes locked with his. "I don't know. What did you have in mind."

"I don't know," he said to her. "I'm just not in the mood to sit in my quarters by myself."

"Alright. What do you want to do?" She said with a smile. "Maybe go to a carnival program on the holodeck?"

"I just did that recently," Karma replied. "What else would you like to do?"

She thought for a minute. "Maybe go back to your place and talk?"

Karma nodded and stood up, extending his hand to her to help her stand.

Taking his hand, she stood up and let him lead her to his quarters. Once there, his quarters were arranged in typical Starfleet fashion. The only form of personalization was a replica of Salvador Dali's Persistence of Memory hanging on the wall separating the living area from the sleeping area.

"You have a nice place here."

"I really do need to do a little more decorating," Karma said as he walked to the replicator. "Make yourself comfortable," he said to her. "Would you like something to drink?"

She sat on the couch, her back straight. "Just ice water, thanks." She took the water and took a sip. "I'm sure with the right eye, you could find some good decorations."

"I'd like to find some other works of art," he said, glancing at the sole painting. "I've always been fascinated by M. C. Escher."

She looked at the painting too. "Have you heard of Maro Reyal? He's a Bajoran artist who paints areas of Bajor like the Kendra Province...Dakhur Province...the Celestial Temple...just idyllic scenes"

"I've never heard of him," Karma admitted. "I'll have to take a look at his work."

"I think you'd like it," she said, smiling. How was she going to say this... She set her glass down. "Karma...I've been getting some weird vibes from you....is that just in my head or..."

"What kind of vibes?" he asked her.

She looked away, slightly uncomfortable. "I get the feeling...that you like me." She didn't have to say it; they both knew what she meant.

Karma looked at her for a moment and nodded. "You're very perceptive."

She fidgeted with her nails and pressed her lips together, not saying anything. She didn't know what to say. She knew he liked her, but really had had no idea of what to do.

Karma moved to sit beside her and said, "If I'm making you uncomfortable I want to apologize."

She looked into his eyes; they were a beautiful shade of blue. He did have nice eyes and he was a good guy...what was the harm. She forced a smile. "I'm sorry. It's just...I've never had to deal with this before. It's always been straightforward." She took his hand. "I don't know what might happen...but I'd be willing to find out."

Karma looked at her and nodded. "There's no need to rush into anything."

Kalyka's smile turned into a genuine one. "Alright. We'll take it slow and see how it goes." And they talked for the rest of the night.

OFF:

LCdr Karma Sinclair
Executive Officer
USS Calypso

LtJG Kalyka Meral
Chief Engineer
USS Calypso

 

RSS Feed