Ever Dance Under The Stars? Part-I

Posted on 03 Apr 2012 @ 11:03pm by Command Master Chief Markum Quinn & Tarishiana Barel
Edited on on 04 Apr 2012 @ 3:23pm

2,690 words; about a 13 minute read

Mission: Episode 01 - Project Sienna
Location: USS Galileo's Arboretum
Timeline: Day 1: 2000

ON:

Markum was one nervous duck as he approached the quarters of his date. He stood outside of it for a moment, staring at the key pad that would announce his presence at her door when his concentration was disrupted by a yeoman. "Sir, is there something wrong with the door? Would you like me to call engineering?"

Quinn looked sideways at the very young yeoman. "There is nothing wrong with this door yeoman. And besides, I am an engineer for pete's sake."

The young lady, all of maybe eighteen smiled when she noticed the flower behind his back. "Flowers, sir? Isn't that a little old fashioned?" Markum's face turned red, but not from anger. "Yeoman, I haven't been on a date since before you were born. Leave me alone, or I'll have you cleaning the bussard collectors with a toothbrush." The young lady put her head down and departed, as Markum finally chimed the door.

Tarishiana was sitting almost posed on the edge of her couch as she awaited the arrival of Markum. She was dressed in a simple red dress that hung fluidly around her frame. Her hair was tousled and fell in dark chestnut curls around her shoulders as she rose to answer the door. Tapping the control the smile on her red lips widened as her eyes fell on the handsome Markum. "Right on time."

Markum's mouth noticeably fell open as he looked upon the beautiful woman that greeted him. "Wow." he said with a gasp, "You are stunningly beautiful tonight." He then remembered the flower. It was a simple sunflower, and about the circumference of his hand. "Here, for you."

Tarishiana's eyes twinkled as she reached out and took the flower. Raising it to her nose her eyes closed as she inhaled the scent of the flower. "Thank you." She said with a large grin both to the compliment and to the flower. She gave him a knowing grin as she looked over him, "So what do you have in store for me tonight? I have to admit...the suspense has been running though my head all afternoon."

Markum was all smiles as he offered his arm to her, "It's nothing special. Something very simple. I think you'll love it."

"By all means...the suspense is madening." Tarishiana gave him a light smile as she grabbed her shawl and closed up her quarters.

Markum lead her to the turbolift. Once inside he stated, "Deck-four." As the door closed Markum looked at his date and smiled again. "Do you like ducks?"

"Small birds that quack?" Tarishiana asked with a questioning glance. "I like stuffed ducks...and roasted ducks...can't say I have ever seen an actual duck." She laughed as she leaned against the back of the turbolift. She couldn't help but wonder what the ducks had to do with it but she wasn't about to ruin his surprise by finding it herself.

Markum kept his smile and replied. "You're about to." As the turbolift door opened he lead his date to a set of large double doors. As the doors opened a boutique of aromas exited and filled the corridor. The massive room was filled with several different flowers, plants, and trees. The celing was holographic, and was set as a clear night with several stars and a very full moon. In the center was a small pond with a small family of ducks swimming across.

"Wow..." Tarishiana said amazed by the what had been behind the door. Taking his hand she moved farther into the room looking around. "This is....is...amazing." She said with a bright smile and a twinkle in her eyes. "I mean...I had all sorts of ideas in my head." She looked over at Markum, "I have seen planned to the nines dates...but this is beautiful." She leaned in placing a kiss on Markum's cheek. Secretly she was hoping for another one of his adorable blushes.

Markum placed his free hand on top of his freshly shaven head and rubbed it, more out of a nervous twitch, then blushed loudly. "Ahh, thanks. It was nothing. Look, ducks." He lead Tarish down the path to the pond. Once he reached the edge of the pond, around to the left was a large bush of azalea's in full bloom of white and purple flowers. On the ground a blanket was spread out with a picnic basket in the center, and a small looking chest filled with ice, and a bottle of blush wine. Two wine glasses were already filled and sitting on a small tray that also included strawberries, and small chocolate squares." You table madame."

Tarishiana grinned as she easily took a seat on the blanket. She tucked her dress beneath her slightly. She couldn't resist as she reached out and plucked a strawberry from where it was sitting. She carefully pulled at the green leaves before placing the ruby red fruit between her lips. Her tongue slipped between her lips slightly as she pulled back the strawberry with a bite missing, to savor the juice that threatened to run down her lip. "I like the ducks." she said with a laugh.

Markum watched eagerly Tarish taste her fruit. "Yeah. The ducks come free with the room. Just be sure you tip them." He handed a glass of wine to his date and took one himself. "I hope you like blush wine...well...synthahol anyway." He looked down for a brief moment, then back to Tarish. "Thank-you by the way."

"For what?" Tarishiana asked simply as she took the glass of wine. Raising it to her lips she sipped at the synthahol beverage. She never really minded the replicated stuff. She rested the glass on her thigh as she bit into the remainder of her strawberry.

"For taking the time, and interest to get to know me. I appreciate it. Not to mention I've been drooling about you since we first spoke at the party. I haven't had a woman catch my attention like that in a very long time." Markum blushed again, it was a very rare occasion that he expresses himself with such openness.

Tarishiana watched Markum as he explained. The corner of her mouth curled up into a grin. A slightly blush came to her cheeks as his genuine attraction to her came through not only with what he said. "I remember you promising me more service stories." She gave him a little wink as she took a sip of her wine. "You aren't as unapproachable as you might think...not all of us are deterred by birth order."

Markum brushed his hand on her blushing cheek, then kissed it. "You're beautiful when you blush Tarishiana." He remembered the promise. "I have been from one end of this galaxy, to the other, twice at least and have experienced many things and emotions. Never though, has one woman made me feel so damn nervous, and excited at the same time. I think I'm rambling again like an old coot."

Tarishiana bit her lower lip slightly as he rambled. She thought it was cute. "It is refreshing to meet someone who isn't interested in what I can do for them." She said with a grin as she reached out and touched his hand. "I am flattered that I make you nervous...and I am glad that you asked me to dinner."

He held her hand and replied. "So am I." He opened the basket and pulled out green grapes, Betazoid Oskoids, and fried chicken. "I wasn't sure what you wanted to eat, or what you even liked, so I made a variety. I added the Oskoids, to give you something from your home that would be familiar. If all else fails, we can eat the sunflower." then nodded his head towards the swimming fowl, "Or maybe fried duck." he added with a wink. Markum leaned back some and took in the moment. The moonlight on her skin seemed to illuminate her beauty even more. Markum wondered if she could hear the rambling on inside his head, then quickly decided he didn't care if she did. The most he truly wanted to come out of this date was to get to know her better. He was so sick of being alone all these years. Mostly out of his own choice, but not all of it. It was just nice to talk with someone....someone that seemed to take a genuine interest in him.

"Tell me something about yourself. Your favorite color, or type of music or art. Maybe your favorite food so I know for the next date."

"Um..." Tarishiana thought for a moment. "Favorite color is purple...pretty much any shade but I love the rich dark purple." She took another sip of her wine. "Favorite music would be anything that I can dance too. I appreciate art but I can't do it myself." She reached down a took a bite of one of the Oskoids, "I am extraordinarily not picky when it comes to food...I am easy to please."

Markum listened and sipped his wine. "Well, the food part is good to know. "Glad you like food. So do I. Music, well, I like music I can dance to too. I can still get down with the best of them." remarked Markum with a shimmy of his shoulders. "I also like riding."

Tarishiana let out a happy laugh at Markum's version of chair dancing. "You know you are going to have to take me dancing now right?" She said with a grin. She wasn't sure how she saw Markum yet but she knew she liked the idea of finding out.

Markum grinned and held out his hand as he stood up. "I thought you'd never ask." He looked down into her eyes. "Computer, play Quinn-Soundtrack-One." After a chirping noise a sound of a classical guitar, and a piano playing in tandem in a slow, soft beat and tempo filled the night air. Then, without breaking his gaze into Tarish's eyes he asked, "May I have this dance?"

Tarishiana took the offered hand and rose to her feet. She gracefully placed her free hand on Markum's shoulder and allowed him to begin to move them around their impromptu dance floor. She was kind of impressed. Which was becoming a standard state of being around him.

Markum held her tight, not too tight, and lead her across the ground. "I should warn you, I took dance classes a few years back. Everyday for two months almost. I had blisters the size of Vulcan."

"Two months?" Tarishiana asked mockingly. "Wow...how will my sixteen years compete with two whole months?" She laughed happily at his response to her jibing and the little twirl he put her though. "You are very good...haven't stepped on my toes once."

"Just lucky, I guess." remarked Markum. "Sixteen years? Well, I'll try to make sure to not get too far ahead of you." He could smell Tarishiana, and it was remarkable. "You smell nice."

"Thanks." Tarishiana said with a little blush. "Shampoo, conditioner, and soap," she said almost proudly. "I am a low maintenance socialite." She said with a cheeky grin and a little wink. She moved easily with him. Impressed by his ability to lead the dance while keeping her comfortable in the movements. It was a welcomed surprise.

"You are an amazing woman Tarishiana. You like to eat, you are low maintenance, and you let me lead while dancing." He moved her in a little closer after another twirl. "You are full of surprises."

"I am only full of surprises if you judge me on my appearance and my upbringing." Tarishiana started seriously before all of a sudden breaking into a grin. "I don't strive to be full of surprises...but it is a nice trait to posses I think." she easily moved with Markum to the music, "I am not the only one full of surprises...Not many enlisted personnel that I have met know how to dance."

Markum blushed some, "My son wanted to learn,but some of is buddies made fun of him. So I took the classes with him. It was a lot of fun. Then at his school dance his buddies looked like idiots, and he got all the girls to dance with him. he was quite proud of himself."

"I would be too." Tarishiana said with a grin. "I have a feeling your son doesn't have much of a problem with the girls...Not with his father's gene." She couldn't help but enjoy his bit of blushing, "Glad to see I am not the only blushing tonight."

Markum laughed at both comments. "He does fine on his own, he has enough of my genes in him that his foot usually stays in his mouth. He's a fine young man. As for blushing, this is the most I've done in ten years. Besides," Markum moved his hand up to her face, and his thumb across her cheek, "when you blush, you just get prettier, and almost innocent looking."

Tarishiana laughed lightly though a grin as the song came to an end. With a little curtsy she sank back down into the blanket. She couldn't help but smile even as she took a sip of her wine. "Tell me more about your son...Marcus right?"

Markum sat down beside her and leaned on his elbow. "He's a great kid. Well, young man now. Twenty years old, in the Academy working on his Medical major, and the apple of his father's eye." Markum smiled some, "He's smart, like to play music. When ever we have time we'll jam together and sing while tossing back a few frosty brews." Markum looked to Tarishiana. "He is my kid....but he is also my best friend. You'd like him. He is a real ham."

"That's sweet." Tarishiana said before taking another bite of a piece of chocolate. "I don't really know my parents very well." She replied with an easy tone. "I was raised by tutors, dance instructors, and nannies." she said with a laugh. "Lestian is probably my best friend." It might have been bad form to bring up her fiance at that moment, but the statement was true none the less.

Markum listened to Tarishiana with interest. The comment about her arranged fiance didn't bother him. He was just happy to know that his wonderful person next to him had someone she could trust, and call a friend. "At least you have someone you can call a friend. People that genuinely care about you do not come very often. Trust me. Most are out for themselves, and how you can make them fell better about themselves, even at the expense of your pride...or worse. Greedy bastards." Markum instantly turned bright red, and his head felt hot from embarrassment. It even felt like his ears even were blushing. "Sorry. Sometimes my mouth goes before my brain can catch up. I hope I didn't offend you with my outburst Tarishiana."

He let out a chuckle then pointed to Tarish. "You seemed to have more chocolate on the side of your mouth, than what you put in."

Tarishiana shook her head, "I take no offense...I am not the one with greedy intentions." She said with a grin before laughed slightly as she darted her tongue out along the corner trying to remove the chocolate, but she wasn't sure where it was. She had no doubt that the look on her face was one of unsureness. She grinned, "Did I get it?" She asked as she tried to wipe to find it with her side of her finger.

Markum moved in close to her, then rubbed his thumb across her lips, then smiled, "There. I have to admit that I haven't done this for a long time, so I'm a little rusty but...may I kiss you?" Markum's hands were trembling from his nervousness. He hoped she couldn't tell.

OFF:

MWO Tarishiana Barel
Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo

and

CWO Markum Quinn
Chief Engineering Officer
USS Galileo

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