X Marks the spot

Posted on Tue Jul 7th, 2020 @ 12:20am by Commander Curtis Thibideaux & Lieutenant JG Rianna Repatha Thibideaux

1,869 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Aftermath and Downtime
Location: Star Base 80 Central Park
Timeline: 18:00 local

The sounds of nature hung in the air. Curtis could hear birds of various varieties flittering hither and yon at the tree line and squirrel like creatures flittered equally about the ground in their quest for…whatever squirrel like creatures quested for.

“Nuts,” Curtis mused to himself as he found the spot he’d selected for the picnic. Dressed in lightweight button down of Iridinian linen, over a golden tank top, sand colored shorts and old boat shoes, he sat the basket pack he’d brought against a tree root and, using the tree itself for a back rest, slid to a seat with good vantage points of the trail in either direction.

He really wasn’t sure if Rianna would show up, but he’d sent her a flimsy which held a small list for a mini-scavenger hunt to two shops on the Promenade and a ‘Pirate’s Map’ on how to get to the tree.

He wasn’t sure if she’d think he was much of a treasure, but there was no harm in implying it.

Rianna was smiling as she followed the instructions she had been given. Dressed casually, flowing blue pants with white trim, grass green blouse, loose with white braided trim. Her hair loose and long and the barest hint of makeup. Betazoid jewlery and sandles made up her dress for the adventure with Curtis. She could not help it but being drawn to Curtis in a way that would allow them to become good friends for now. What the future held....only time would tell. Following the flimsy, she walked down the path towards the rendezvous point, she smiled.

He caught site of her on the path and bit back a smile. His eyelids had been half shut as he enjoyed the artificial sun-light and he decided to pretend to be napping. He even went so far as to try a fake snore as she drew closer.

"Well fancy that.....sleeping on the job hm......", Rianna said chuckling. "What do I win?", she said chuckling, as she slowly knelt next to him.

Curtis opened one eye and peered up at the Betazoid. "Just studying the inside of my eyelids, Rianna," he told her. "As to your prize, well there is desert in one of the parcels you picked up. If you want desert first, that is. Otherwise, all I can offer for a prize is a walk in the park and a picnic."

Laughing, she dropped to the grass next to him and smoothed his hair. He had a beautiful head of hair and she loved ru ning her fingers through it. "Yes a stroll in the park then the picnic will do just fine my galant sir", she said kissing him on the cheek befote she got to her feet.

Climbing after her, Curtis dusted himself off and collected the picnic pack briefly and snorted. "Galant? I don't know that I've ever had that tag hooked to me before. His hand found hers as they started to walk and he grinned, "I suppose I could have booked a buzz ball court and we could have floated around in zero G kicking the snot out of one another for an hour or so, if you were looking for something more physical."

"Oh....really, I had something else in mind for zero-G but much later. Right now I will settle for a nice swim and lunch. After that we shall see", Rianna said evily smiling at him.

"Well that does sound promising," Curtis replied as he cast an eye over her and let his hand drift then catch hers as they started walking. "I might need help with the swimming part."

Looking at Curtis, "You mean you don't know how to swim??", Rianna said in shock. This almost made her trip but recovered quickly. "Curtis you have got to be kidding me. Everyone can swim at least do the doggie paddle or float at least." Rianna said chuckling.

"Officially, I can do the drown proofing as prescribed by regs. Anything beyond that," he shrugged. "I grew up in space, Rianna. On freighters water was a luxury, not to be squandered. At academy, I really wasn't interested in adding to the things I should know. There's too many of those still."

"Well I guess we can do the swimming part in a pool that only is about 4 feet deep, but enough to swim or fake it", Rianna said. Picking up on his last part of his sentence, "Still too many still of those to what? Learn or be interested in?" she asked tightening her grip on his hand feeling the warmth and strength of it. Made her feel very comfortable and secure as they walked.

Curtis half chuckled as their feet followed the path. The park's designers had put in many twists and turns in the trail they were on to give strollers the feeling that they were alone most of the time, with several walk outs where a being could almost get lost.

"Fake it? Well that's being brutally honest I suppose," he said dead pan. Keeping his head turned for a moment to avoid the mischief in his eyes. "But, I suppose that's good at this stage. Getting things like that right out in the open...keeping expectations low."

Looking at Curtis, "Expectations.......oh? And what expectations would those be?" Rianna said mischievously and let go of his hand putting it around his waist still walking.

"Well, isn't skinny dipping the national sport on Betazoid?," Curtis asked, his arm sliding around her shoulders as she slid beside him. "Seems I've been told that...and by adding...what was the term. Adult conjoined aerobics?"

Rianna giggled, "Ooooo.......something like that but to some it can be done hidden should the other involved in the conjoined aerobatics so chooses", she said as she tightened her grip slightly around his waist.

"I always did wonder at that part of it," Curtis expounded as they wound deeper into the park then took a side branch based off of a trail marker. "The public part. I don't know if my ego could stand the critique." He eyed Rianna with another appraising glance. "I can only guess at how the judging goes. Is a national tally kept? Are there cheering sections?"

Smiling, "Well I guess you could say that the public side would be something akin to a love fest, not a cheering section. However the hidden aspect would not be included in a national tally", Rianna chuckled.

They took another few turns in the trail and then ducked down a path, Curtis taking her hand to lead until they reached the spot he'd been told about. It was out of the way and even aboard the station, very few people knew about it. Given the hours, he doubted anyone would wander along it.

They found a small pond fed by pipes set to allow a gentle gurgle to fill the air, combining with the bird song. Tree and grassed embankments ringed the pond with the lowest bit of the bank resting inches above the water nearest them.

Giving the engineer a pointed glance from crown to heel, Curtis said. "A love fest? How do you all get anything done?" Then he cast his glance around the space again and asked, "Like it?"

"Yes it is beautiful and peaceful. How did you ever find it. Oh my god the ground is so soft, and the gentle water and birds.....Curtis if I didn't know any better I would have to say that this is quite the romantic spot on the station," Rianna said smiling.

Sighing theatrically, Curtis nodded. "I know, awful, isn't it?" He kept his face deadpan. "I mean, you have the birds. Now the water is making noise and it feels all kinda hemmed in here. We kinda get enough of that on Val."

"Yes but here it is different, we are not on the Val. Here we are on the station and in their Central Park and you found this romantic spot. Come sit with me please, it is to nice to waste such a spot", Rianna said smirking, as she patted the grass next to her.

Curtis eased onto the grass beside Rianna and looked out onto the pond, watching what appeared to be bugs do touch and goes on the waters surface. Idly, he wondered if they'd included fish into the biome and was answered by a sudden ripple. One of the bugs days of care free flying was over. "Well, I'm never one to waste anything," he said, turning to Rianna. "They always say the journey is more important than the destination...but isn't the whole point to get where you're going?"

"Yes it is.....", leaning in and kissing him gently but firmly, she put her arms around his neck and held the kiss just long enough for the effect to be felt. Releasing Curtis, "That was wonderful and honest", Rianna said holding his hand. "Do you know how long I have waited to do that?"

Curtis grinned at her and nodded, "I think I do. Maybe a bit longer than I thought about it...I've been told I'm rather slow sometimes. "But that does lead the next question to why stop now?" He leaned toward her again and took another kiss, this one lingering longer before they both separated. "So, here we are," he said, glancing over the pond and surroundings. "Now what?"

"Let's make it a permanent thing. Curtis since we arrived on the Valiant, I have sensed that you are a true gentleman and a strong willed but soft kind hearted man. Not to mention handsome. You have shown me respect and kindness and everything a woman would want in her man. I.....damn it......Curtis I have fallen in love with you and I hope you share the same. I wish to make it permanent for all time" Rianna said quietly. Secretly hoping and praying he had the same feelings and would respond in kind.

Curtis was surprised.

Enough to be knocked over by a feather, really.

Or, apparently, a ten to ten and a half stone Betazoid.

Valiant's executive officer had caught her watching him on various occasions, of course.

He had that effect some times.

Now however, Curtis regarded Valiant's engineering officer for a few beats and realized that he did have feelings for her. Something more permanent hadn't crossed is mind, truthfully. His career had been his primary concern for most of his adult life and now his mind had to bounce through a new, suddenly plausible future.

Curtis also knew he couldn't wait overly long in answering. The Betazoid mind would be working on impulse and at least monitoring his surface emotions. He stopped himself there, took another look into her eyes and said, "Alright Rianna. Let's mate for life, like swans."

"Imzadi my love is eternal and only for you. There are no others that share my heart", Rianna breathed softly as she kissed him deeply and full of passion. Curtis had fulfilled what could only be called the 'mating of two souls' that were hopelessly intertwined in love.

 

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