Dinner for Two
Posted on Mon Oct 18th, 2010 @ 10:54am by Lieutenant Alessandro Reynaldi & Lieutenant Commander Eliza McAdams
4,138 words; about a 21 minute read
Mission:
Stealth
Location: Holodeck, USS Ranger
Timeline: Current-ish
Alex walked down the corridor dressed in dark gray. Next to him walked a young lady who was significantly shorter than he was wearing civilian clothes. He'd been looking forward to this dinner all day and was very eager to get started. He knew they hadn't discussed a specific time so he hoped he wasn't too early or too late. He stopped in front of the door and pressed the chime, the young brunette next to him standing with her hands in her pockets.
"I'll get it!"
Even though the bulkheads were reinforced to contain a good 90% of the noise within rooms, there was possibly no substance in the known universe that could mask the excited squeal of a child in his element, having worked himself into such a state during the course of the day that it was surprising the walls were still upright. Though it was unlikely that it was obvious to those waiting on the doorstep, Toby's flight to the door was peppered with the occasional clatter of things being knocked from their temporary perches atop open crates onto the floor and as the door slid open to reveal the flushed cheeks of a somewhat deliriously hyperactive child, it was clear even from the doorway that Claudia's plans for the day hadn't quite eventuated.
The room was a catastrophe.
"Hi-hi! Hi-hi! Guess what! The transporter is fixed!"
"Tobias Jasper!"
Frazzled didn't even begin to describe the petite doctor's state as she stepped from the bedroom, where she'd been trying to snatch five minutes to actually hang some of her clothing, into the living room where her exhaustive nephew was showing signs of already introducing their guests to his dinosaur impression, one that she'd had more than enough of herself for the day. Claudia hadn't actually heard the doorchime and had been buried too far into her wardrobe to intercept Toby before he unleased his frenzied energy on whoever it was paying them a visit. It wasn't accurate to say that she'd forgotten about Alex's invitation to dinner, she'd thought about it several times throughout the day, but one thing after another had eaten up the hours, not to mention the fact that she partially expected the arrangement to fall through. From what she'd been able to tell, Engineering was facing a series of complications and so it had seemed likely that the Chief would be needed elsewhere, and yet here he was, standing in her doorway with another person whilst her life was spread around the floor and every available surface.
She blinked, startled.
"I'm sorry, it's been one of those days," she said as she crossed to steer Toby away from the door, the presence of two adults forcing her to visibly keep her composure in check as the dark-haired imp broke away from her grasp and ran, full pelt, into his bedroom to recommence jumping on the bed and shouting a Klingon chant he had picked up from somewhere over and over at the top of his lungs. The tension was etched into her face so much so that it was almost possible to see the throbbing headache pounding in her temples, but Claudia smiled wanely and took a deep breath to steady herself. "Come in, if you can find somewhere to stand."
Alex did the best he could, stepping over a box he was sure was a very serious fire violation. People weren't allowed to put objects like box in front of the door, like they couldn't put couches there.. it was just too dangerous. He nudged the box out of the way with his foot. He could hear Toby screaming in the other room. He looked at the woman standing next to him, then at Claudia. He motioned them both to follow him.
They walked further into her quarters and he stopped in front of Toby's room. The door was open and the boy could be heard full blast. "Toby!" Alex said over the racket, then he waited for the boy to stop.
At this point, though Claudia understood the intricacies of her nephew's emotional state, she was well past the point of being able to handle it rationally. Of all the struggles she'd been forced to take on perhaps the most difficult was the unexpected empathic backlash of being around a child with whom she shared a genetic bond whilst he struggled to deal with the psychological loss of his primary caregiver. People expected a certain level of suffering but only Betazoids understood the true nature of the physiological implications of loss at such a tender age to a partial telepath. Though his telepathic powers were muted much as his mother's had been, Toby had grown from conception connected to her and the repercussions of her sudden absence had been possibly hardest on the young child who didn't understand. Claudia knew that, no matter how many times her father felt the need to re-explain it. Toby's brain had changed chemically in a way that left him somewhat out of control through no fault of his own.
That didn't make it any easier.
And she was out of strength. It wasn't Alex's job to intercept at this point, she barely knew the man after all, but his willingness to divert Toby's attention for even a few mintues was so welcome that the slender brunette was overcome by the desire to sit down on the couch, regardless of all the junk spread across it, and just cry. She didn't, of course, instead following behind slowly in a mad attempt to move the worst of the obstacles out of the way, apologising as she went.
Toby, on the other hand, had at least responded to the resonating voice that easily lifted above his own, jumping in a circle until he was facing the engineer. It had to be said that there was a good-naturedness to the child's antics that didn't suggest he was being noisy out of a malicious or purposeful attempt to disobey. His grin was, as it always tended to be, infectious and his eyes were devoid of the deviousness that would have come with calculated intent. In all honesty, it hadn't sunk in yet that there was anything particularly wrong with what he was doing. "You're in the swamp, the crocodiles will eat you!" He pointed to the floor. "And there's quicksand everywhere!"
Alex looked around as if he would actually see quicksand. He ignored the comment the boy had made after that and turned to the woman he'd brought with him. "Toby, this is Ensign Riyan...she's one of our best holo-technicians on the Ranger..."
It was a subtle tactic but a smart one, one that reduced the boy's jumping to little bounces as his eyes darted back and forth between the pair, gradually slowing until he was just standing on the bed. In the living room, Claudia pressed the heel of her palm to her forehead and massaged in a circular motion, her frantic mind trying to figure out how the hell she was going to get herself and Toby ready for an outing when she had no idea where the crate with his clothing was at this point, but Toby had forgotten his aunt for a moment, much as he had forgotten that strangers were to be distrusted until Claudia had deemed them safe.
"Holograms?" The boy's tone was tentative yet full of burgeoning hope. "Like the EMH?"
"Yes..the EMH and many many others." Ensign Riyan said with a smile.
Alex turned out of the room, speaking quietly to Claudia so that Toby didn't hear. "I hope you don't mind. I asked Ensign Riyan to keep him busy while we go to the holodeck."
The distracted look on Claudia's face as she looked up clearly indicated that she hadn't really been following the conversation, content to have her nephew occupied for a moment whilst she took the time to have a quiet, private panic session. Engulfed by the quiet kind of despair that comes with excess tension, her eyes had darkened somewhat to take on the rich, mossy green that was almost as unusual as their natural shade of olive and, for a moment, they simply locked gaze with the engineer as her mind tried to catch up with his meaning and the rest of her bathed in the calmness he was exuding. Just looking at him, immaculate and in control, was a boon and sensing his presence, for all she didn't know him well enough to get much more than a very basic glimpse, was even better. In that instant, that single looked, she conveyed the very desperate need for rescue but it vanished promptly behind her surprise as she realised what he meant.
"Oh." She hadn't expected that. Even when she'd been actively planning for their dinner arrangements, it had been natural to assume she would be taking Toby along because it had been months since she'd done anything that didn't involve his presence, mostly because it had never been easy to leave him with people given his inherent distrust. She hesitated, locked between her sudden desire to put some distance between her and the nightmare that she loved so dearly and her responsibility. This was their first night in a new place after all. Straightening, she moved towards Alex and fixed him with a confused yet grateful smile. "That was very thoughtful of you. I'm not sure though..." Her brow creased and, for a second time, the doctor seemed entirely lost. "He doesn't usually take to other people quickly and this place is such a disaster..."
Alex glanced back over his shoulder where Toby and the short Ensign stood in the doorway locked in deep conversation. He watched Toby stare at her as she talked about things Alex wasn't sure the boy understood, but he was sure he would by the end of the evening. Alex then turned back to Claudia with a charming smile. "It looks like they're getting along just fine to me. The Ensign has a child of her own onboard."
Normally, her instincts would have been screaming at her to put her own desires last, that was the sacrifice she had made when she had promised her badly injured sister that she would do everything in her power to make sure Toby grew up loved and loving. Not one to take committment lightly, Claudia had possibly gone too far in the opposite direction, something her mother was want to point out gently from time to time, but the guilt of failing plagued her even though it hadn't eventuated. Yet. Right now, however, no matter how selfish it seemed to be so .easily talked into something purely because she felt like she was going to fall to pieces, Claudia felt the overwhelming urge to flee almost consume her, so much so that she might almost have given in regardless of Toby's acceptance of the idea. She watched him for a moment though, concentrating in a way that he had refused to sustain all day, and was overwhelmed by both relief and a sense of inadequacy. Even on a good day, he didn't listen to her with such rapt attention.
She wilted. She didn't know this man, had only had one conversation with him, but he was there, he was reassuring and he seemed to understand, at least on some level, what was required. Though she strived to keep her personal life from interfering with her work and her social life, Claudia's utter exhaustion was suddenly entire apparent as she stopped trying to hide it and even felt the alarming prickle of tears welling against her eyelids as she shift her gaze back to Alex and just stared at him for a moment before nodding. "Let me just find something presentable."
And a tissue, she thought as she made her way towards her bedroom just as two droplets escaped her control and slid down her cheekbones. And the heavens help that child if I can't find my hairbrush.
Half hour later, Holodeck 1.
The restaurant was crowded. many people sat round tables in groups of two and four. Wine bottles sat on each pure white table cloth where salads and meats sat on plates and people laughed at each other's jokes while they ate garlic bread. The smell of garlic and other cooking foods filled the air. The fancy restaurant was open, having three of its sides without walls and windows. It was, for all purposes, an outdoor room.
The sound of clinking glasses and talking filled the air as Alex and Claudia entered. The language they were speaking, was Italian.
A waitress walked over to then with a wide grin. "Ciao. Potrei mostrarla al suo posto?"
"Sì, la ringrazia. " Alex replied fluently.
The woman began to walk toward the only empty table in the restaurant, set for two.
It wasn't until the mixture of aromas filled Claudia's nostrils that the woman really started to relax. Throwing herself together in fifteen minutes hadn't really done much to ease her stress levels though it was refreshing, she supposed, to be worrying about something other than work or what was best for Toby for a change. By comparison, trying to apply makeup quickly without looking like a clown and having to slip on the first dress that didn't look like a herd of elephants had stamped on it regardless of whether it was potentially going to leave her overdressed were frivolous concerns but now that this dinner outing had begun to resemble more of a date, Claudia had been suffused with a nervousness she hadn't felt in a very long time.
Maybe she should have worn her hair up?
This was a room of adults, however, albeit holographic ones, adults who were talking about adult things and behaving in an adult way. The atmosphere was lively but it was an unpleasant noise and, since the only two actual presences in the room, telepathically speaking, were herself and Alex, it was easy to find this setting entirely relaxing. Glancing around as they were lead to their table, she murmured to her timely savior, "Your own design or a replica? It's lovely either way."
"My design." He said back to her as they reached their table. Holoprograming was one of his many hobbies. He loved creating scenes and even writing holonovels. Alex walked around the table and pulled her chair away from the table gently, offering the seat to her.
It was entirely possible, Claudia mused, that Alex's manners were going to be her undoing before the night was over. Though he hadn't really put her in a position to refuse anyway, accepting his proposal for tonight's date had been a definitely well-deserved act of self-preservation but she still felt fragile, her nerves taut and every small act of kindness overwhelming her with emotion. It wasn't exactly the best way to ingratiate yourself, however, and since new friendships were going to be a must if she was going to survive this assignment, Claudia pushed aside her slightly over-exaggerated gratitude and simply allowed him to push her in, steeling herself with a few deep breaths in through her nose as he moved to sit opposite, managing a warm smile as she remarked, "It's very good. Those smells are amazing."
Alex had spent over two days on the smell alone. Having grown up with it all around him, he knew better than many people just what it was supposed to smell like, so he'd worked very hard to get it that way or else it would never be real enough for him. "Thanks alot. It took quite a while."
The same waitress approached the table and began speaking in Italian again. Alex muttered to the computer quietly for English and her speech changed mediately. "What will you have? Do you need more time?" She said politely.
Though it wasn't an entirely conscious thing, Claudia's mind had drifted somewhat, tuning into the gentle ambience of the music that mingled with the conversation as an almost-perfect compliment. Having been born into a musical family and receiving a very well-rounded and enriching musical education from a young age, Claudia's entire stress-management system centred around either performance or composition though simply listening was often enough, so much so that her personal space, whenever she secured an actual office of her own, was always filled with gentle yet soothing strains because she couldn't stand operating in silence. Partway through identifying the myriad of instruments in the piece, the doctor looked up at the waitress in surprise and then realised she hadn't even picked up the menu. Doing so, she glanced at Alex and, though it was something of a social evasion strategy, asked with a smile, "What do you recommend?"
Since Alex had prepared everything on the menu when he designed the restaurant, he really would have recommended anything. He supposed he would have to narrow it down. "Bow tie cream pasta. That's what I'll have.." he said, looking at the waitress.
"Sounds lovely," Claudia replied, smiling up at the waitress to indicate she'd have the same. If she was honest, despite her thoroughly exhausting day, Claudia didn't really feel that she had much of an appetite, something of a rarity given that she had inherited her father's appreciation for fine cuisine. As the waitress left with their order, however, and the doctor gazed across at her companion for the first time with any sense of calmness about her, she realised that the evening wasn't really about the food. He'd saved her from a miserable night spent in tears, probably with Toby curled up beside her as the novelty of having his own room wore off the moment he realised it meant he had to sleep alone. He looked peaceful, Claudia realised, calm and in control and entirely relaxed despite being dressed for the occasion. Alex had a quiet charisma, a confidence that was appealing without straying into arrogance. Being so close to someone so contained after so long being cooped up with a child who was anything but was...
Amazing, actually.
The environment suited him too. She wasn't an expert on Terran accents but his was melodic, almost hynotising, though Claudia wasn't about to admit that she would already be quite happy to sit and listen to him talk for hours. His pronunciation was eloquent and she wondered, for a moment, if he had any specific training. It was whilst she was pondering that very point that the half-Betazoid suddenly realising that she'd be staring for far longer than was going to be easy to recover from without looking obvious. She didn't try, taken aback by her own preoccupation enough to lower her eyes demurely and then turn her head to take in the scene, a faint flush tainting her cheeks as she observed, "I'm not sure I recognise the language, though it's Terran, right?"
He nodded. "Yes. It's Italian. We speak it where I'm from." Alex said, lacing his fingers on the white table cloth. He looked into her eyes, she was quite beautiful. He'd noticed her staring and he forced himself not to stare back. He'd also noticed how distraught she was earlier and felt that it was very likely he'd given her a needed and well deserved break. "From the look of things, well, knowing that you have Toby, it's been a long time since you've been out?"
"It's been a while," came the soft admittance and though Claudia continued, for a moment, to stare out at the scenery, her profile revealed traces of melancholy weariness until she roused herself from her thoughts and brought her attention back to bear on her dinner date with a smile. "The last eighteen months have been a bit of a blur. Part of that is work," she added, instinctively trying to cover for what were her own feelings of inadequacy in terms of the parental role she'd been flung into. Smiling ruefully, Claudia looked thoughtful for a moment and then sighed with a chuckle. "I guess a decent proportion of it is also lack of offers, so thank you." Again, her eyes met his and she repeated the expression of gratitude. "Really, thank you. It's probably not good form for a doctor to turn up in Sickbay on her first evening as a patient."
Alex wasn't sure he was just doing her a favor. He hadn't been thinking about her first duty being to Sickbay when he'd asked her out, and he wasn't trying to improve her performance in her job, but he supposed he understood what she was going through in some way. He'd always been free really. "Glad I could help." He said with a chuckle.
As the music changed, subtle as it was, Claudia lifted her eyes upwards to allow her gaze to wander as her ears tuned in to the new blend of ambient instrumentation. The selection seemed to be heavily strings-dominant, something that made it immediately more interesting despite the fact that she'd have enjoyed it anyway, and the doctor smiled faintly as she recognised the piece vaguely from her father's extensive and much-loved collection. Catching Alex's eye, she simply gazed at him for a moment in distracted reflection and then visibly roused as her smile strengthened and she observed, "You certainly have a knack for creating an atmosphere. The music selection is yours too?"
Alex nodded. "I have anouther program where I direct a holographiic orchestra....." he laughed gently. "Just another hobby of mine....all the musical selections are transfered over from concert histories."
"An orchestra?"
With the throbbing headache that had plagued her all day finally receding, Claudia looked at the man sitting opposite her in mild surprise and renewed interest, a faint smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "I can't say that I've ever tried my hand at conducting, a year as musical director to a children's choir when I was younger and sillier cured me of any desire to wield absolute authority." The half-Betazoid laughed softly. "The authority was fine, it was the responsibility that started to get a little daunting."
"Both of those things are fine with me.." He said with a grin. It was obvious she hadn't yet gotten wind of his reputation around here. "It's a wonderful program and the musician's skill levels are very realistic, although very good. Such hard work to make something so beautiful...is..very rewarding. You should try it sometime..." He said, his hands folded and rested unter his stubbled chin.
"Perhaps I will," Claudia replied wistfully, considering the notion whilst dismissing it almost in the same breath. A night out like this was a rare treat, it was difficult for her to get holodeck time now that didn't involve Toby and she couldn't imagine him being particularly impressed with her 'wasting' time on a musical program that held very little interest for him. To smother her disappointment, since it felt somehow selfish to mourn the loss of holodeck privileges when the boy had lost his parents, the doctor gazed a moment into the engineer's eyes and then changed the subject, her faint smile giving her a thoughtful air. "So you're a holographic artist and musician. An engineer. You have excellent taste in food from what I can tell." Her eyes sparkled. "Is there anything about you I wouldn't find impressive, Lieutenant?" It was an honest remark, perhaps more so than she'd have believed she had the nerve to voice, but something about him put her at ease. What's more, despite her humour, it was a question she wouldn't have minded an answer to. As far as first impressions went, Alex had piqued her interest more than Claudia would have expected. It was the sole cause, she was sure, of the fluttery nervousness in the pit of her stomach.
He gave a charming smile "I won't reveal everything to you...then you'd be bored of me and find someone else to talk to." He chuckled.
A slow smile spread across Claudia's face and, for the first time, she found herself making intentional eye contact with the intent of being playful, rusty flirtation skills that took their strength from the easy-going charm exuding from the engineer. The half-Betazoid had always been somewhat susceptible to the moods of those around her and there was certainly something of Alex's own expression in her dark eyes as she arched both eyebrows and remarked,
"Honestly, Alex, I don't think that's going to be an issue."
Engineers do it ergonomically! brought to you by:
Lt. Alessandro Reynaldi
Chief Engineering Officer
USS Ranger
and
Lt. JG Claudia Davis (PNPC McAdams)
Medical Officer
USS Ranger
and Toby, of course. And some other chick.
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