Interesting Salsa

Posted on Fri May 22nd, 2009 @ 8:35pm by Lieutenant JG Lucy Carter

1,286 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Wolves in Sheep's Clothing
Location: The Golden Crown
Timeline: 63993.92

ON:

Larkin attempted to stroll casually into the Arch's officers' lounge, The Golden Crown, but his concern with everything that had been happening was still quite visible in his demeanor. He needed to wait for some test results before he could proceed with anything and had decided to take the opportunity to attempt to spend an hour or so relaxing.

"Hi," he caught the attention of stout Bolian man behind the counter. "Can I get a soda, uh, Syntha-Coke, if you've got it?" Time had shown that 20th and 21st century Earth's soda, Coca-Cola, was a long-term cause of several diseases, most of which hadn't even been discovered at the time. Fortunately for Larkin, who absolutely loved the taste, modern technology had been able to reproduce the drink without any of the harmful side-effects.

Turning away from the counter, his drink in hand, Larkin noticed the ship's Chief Counselor sitting by herself; she was reading a PADD. He hesitated for a moment. While he was coming to enjoy Ensign Carter's company, the last time he'd spoken with her it had led to a major scrambling of his brain, one which he still hadn't completely worked out. His desire to continue forming a friendship eventually won out over his apprehension.

Ensign Carter didn't notice Larkin as he walked in. She was busy looking up her own history...

"Counselor?" Larkin caught her attention, after having walked up to her. "Hi. Mind if I join you?"

Lucy jumped slightly and looked up. Kevin Larkin. She smiled a genuine smile and said "Lieutenant. Always a pleasure to see you. Please, do sit down." She paused her readings on the PADD and put it next to her on the seat. A very comfortable seat, in fact. Not the usual Starfleet issue. She placed her elbows on the table in front and folded her hands together, still smiling at him. She enjoyed his company.

Larkin took a seat across from Carter, while taking a sip of his drink. "So, we haven't really had a chance to talk since you got back from the surface. I was glad to hear you made it back in one piece." He then added as an after thought, "all three of you."

"We certainly had some problems down there." Lucy almost laughed out that sentence but decided it was not appropriate.

She continued "The tortilla wraps here are really very good. Would you like me to get you one?"

Something in the back of Larkin's head told him that it would be a good idea to make a counter offer. "Last time we ate, you got the food. Why don't you let me get it this time? Uh, I'm assuming you wanted one as well?"

Lucy smiled at this obvious attempt to engage her. "Yes, please, that would be lovely." She watched as he got up. He was really rather sweet.

Larkin stood and walked to the counter. As he ordered the food, he replayed the last bit of their conversation in his head. He did this some times, especially when speaking socially. He had yet to really get casual social interaction down, so he tried to study his friends' responses to his actions. He hadn't quite figured out yet that less thinking might be what he needed in these situations, but it probably would have been difficult for him even if he knew.

He had noticed that Carter was smiling a lot, but he still wasn't quite sure what that meant. Just as he arrived back at the table with their food, he wondered if he'd already managed to make a friend, yet again, without even realizing that he was doing it.

Carter watched him put the food down on the table and resume his seated position. "Thank you, Kevin," she said, looking at him. Did she sense embarrassment? She dropped her gaze. Maybe it was she who was embarrassed. She picked up the wrap and took a bite. It was delicious. She noticed he had done the same but had managed to leave some salsa on his chin. She offered him a napkin.

Larkin stared at his companion for a moment; it took him a moment to process why she was handing him a napkin. After realizing her intent, he did what anyone would naturally do in that situation: he attempted, futilely to look down at his chin. A few moments later, he'd cleared the salsa from his face. "Thanks," he smiled, slightly more embarrassed than he'd been before.

"So," he struggled to think of something to talk about. "Now that we're this far into our first mission, what do you think of everything that's happened: the ship, crew, mission, etc? "

Lucy put down her wrap, looked at Kevin with a serious expression and said "I think this is a fine ship with a good Commander in charge. I am proud to be on board. But Let's dispense with work talk. How are you, Kevin? How have you been?" She looked about subtly to make sure they were not being overheard. "I was worried about you after our meeting."

Larkin let out a barely noticeable sigh; he'd been trying to avoid this subject. "To be quite honest, I'm not really sure. Maybe it's the stress of everything we've been dealing with lately, but I haven't felt myself since the hypnosis." He considered for a moment telling her about the incident in the Jeffries tube, his minor hallucination, but he decided against it. Forcing a smile on to his face, "I'm fine for now. When things quiet down, however, I think probably be spending quite a bit of time on your couch." The shear awkwardness of his last sentence occurred to Larkin only moments after he said it. "I, uh, I mean that is that I'll have a lot that I want to discuss with you...as ship's counselor."

Lucy laughed partly because he was funny but partly because she was embarrassed. "That's fine," she said, still smiling at him. "You can stop by my office for a chat at anytime. You know that."

She resumed eating her wrap for a moment then, sensing a lull in the conversation, spoke again. "You know we will get to the bottom of whatever is bothering you, Kevin. It's only a matter of time. You have to realise that it's nothing to be afraid of." She stretched out her hand and touched the back of his, in what she hoped would be seen as a comforting gesture.

Larkin smiled. "I'm beginning to figure that out. I have to admit, for a while I wasn't that anxious to figure this particular mystery out. I'd gotten to the point where it had caused me so much discomfort that I really just wanted to ignore it," he finished off what was left of his wrap. "But, I suppose that's not really a healthy way of looking at it, is it?"

"I think that you are coping as best you can, Kevin, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that." She smiled at him again. She had finished her wrap and downed what was left of her drink. She could see him watching her from the corner of her eye.

She put her empty glass back on the table and looked at him again. "Listen, why don't you stop by later on? I am pretty free this afternoon."

Larkin smiled, "I'd like that." He glanced at the ship's chronometer and stood. "And I'd probably better get back to work right now. Counselor, it's been a pleasure. I'll be in touch later."

Lucy smiled. "I'll look forward to it," she said.

:OFF

A joint post by Ensign Lucy Carter

and

Lieutenant JG Kevin Larkin

 

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