Opening
Posted on Fri Jan 31st, 2025 @ 10:40am by Commander Martin Sorenson
Mission:
Take My Hand
Location: Esquimalt Station, Promenade
1650 words - 3.3 OF Standard Post Measure
Safyrah strolled along the Promenade, watching as the blonde man a bit ahead of her turned into the cafe. Right on schedule. She'd been looking for a chance to speak with him but had hung back after he'd returned from the Nelson (her parents worked at Yoyodyne and the Harrell Hullworks, so she knew how busy everyone would be right after a shakedown). However, the last two days he'd jogged out of the arboretum trail, into the gym, and an hour later up to the cafe right on his previous schedule. Not that she was stalking him - she'd had stalkers and would never do that to anyone - it just happened that his morning run ended just as her Risan yoga class was setting up. But judging by comments from others in the class, she wasn't the only one to notice a runner in a sweat-soaked t-shirt that clung to a nicely toned chest, so best to make a move sooner rather than later.
By the time she'd collected tea and a pastry, he was seated, alone, and so absorbed in scribbling notes or signatures on whatever he was reading that it seemed unlikely he was waiting for anyone. Spending off-duty time alone doing paperwork... That nurse may have had her own problems with work/life balance, but she hadn't been completely wrong about him.
"Is this seat taken?"
"...hmm?" Martin looked up at the unexpected question, then smiled. And quickly looked aside to keep from staring. When they'd first met it had been evident that Safyrah had a nice figure, even in loose casual clothes for a day out with her daughter. But here, she was in the leotard he'd noticed from a distance while jogging by her workout class, and up close it was hard to miss how well it hugged every curve. "Not all," he gestured for her sit. "Please."
Catching that quick look-away, Safyrah smiled to herself. If he'd been little more than polite to her before, it wasn't because he wasn't interested in women. "Thank you," she said settling into the chair. "I hope I'm not interrupting."
"Just reports, forms to sign..." he glanced back at the padd, then moved it aside, "Nothing that can't wait."
She arched a perfectly shaped brow. "Let me guess, you were told to take time off, so you're sitting in a cafe to hide working."
"Um..." It had been said lightly, almost in jest, but given that they didn't know each other all that well, he had to wonder if even Tulilah had heard the comments about him never leaving medbay and repeated them around her mother. He ducked his head, glancing back with a sheepish grin, "...yeah, something like that."
She shook her head with a soft laugh. "You work too hard, Doctor."
"Martin, please," he corrected. "Especially since I am supposed to be off duty."
"Martin," she repeated, lips parting in a smile. "Maybe I can suggest a better way to spend your off duty time."
His brows rose. Some of their prior interactions had been a borderline flirtatious, but that had sounded almost like a proposition, which was... all most certainly wishful thinking on his part. "Oh?"
Her smile faltered, just slightly. That had not been quite as positive a reaction as she'd hoped for, especially given the way his eyes had lit initially. But his expression had shifted to hesitation, restraint... Fall out from a bad break-up maybe? That might explain not talking much about personal matters, but it might also be that he was involved with someone after all. Well, the phrasing had been a tease anyway - she hadn't been planning to ask him back to her place for a morning tryst (despite the depiction in that trashy novel, he didn't seem the type). Fortunately, the original plan also worked for sussing out his relationship status. She renewed her smile. "I have to confess. I came over to invite you to opening night at Club Indigo."
"Oh..." Yeah, a proposition had definitely been wishful thinking. But it was a nice offer, and he had wanted to see her perform. "Thank you, I'd meant to go actually, but when we got back I heard reservations were full."
"Not completely. I can put you on the list." She winked. "Perks of being the headliner."
"Thank you, I'd appreciate that," he replied sincerely. He was under no illusion it meant anything, in fact it occurred to him that the club might have asked her to personally invite senior officers, but 'guest of the star' was nothing to sneeze at. It was bound to be a good table at least.
She tapped a wristpadd, then paused, looking up inquiringly. "Is there a plus one?"
"No. Just me."
Her smile widened slightly, but there were other boxes to check. "If there's someone elsewhere, the club can do holopresence," she offered. "I arranged one for Chief Corrino's wife - I wanted to do something for them. Their son has been such a good friend to Tulilah."
"That's kind of you," Martin said, appreciating the thoughtfulness, even if he suspected the Corrinos were happy enough just having Aaron hang out with Tulilah rather than Jack and Nolan. "But there's no one remote either." Which was enough of a reminder of his lack of a personal life, that he took a consoling drink of coffee.
Safyrah could feel her smile growing and compressed her lips into something more like a playful grin. "Hard to believe. Unless there are so many women that you're playing the field and don't want to choose."
He nearly choked on not-quite-swallowed coffee. Smooth, Martin... "Sorry. I am so far from playing any field..." He shook his head. "If you had an extra space held so I could bring someone, I can ask around and see if anyone else missed out on reservations."
"A handsome doctor completely available..." Safyrah mused, nearly purring the words. "I can only imagine that's because you hide away behind all that work." Her head tipped briefly toward the padd, then she leaned closer offering a warmly inviting smile. "I hope you'll let me coax you out sometime."
Suddenly hit by the possibility that his earlier wishful thinking might not have been complete fantasy, his brows lifted, as did the corners of his mouth. "Yes. Absolutely. ...um, to both points," he amended, lest there be any ambiguity. "But especially to the coaxing out part. It won't take that much."
"I have an idea for that," she replied, the heat in that warm smile edging up a notch. "Do you dance, Martin?"
"I do," he asnswered eagerly, matching her smile. "But it might be a little crowded here with the tables and all."
Now where had that been when she'd suggested there were better things to do off duty? "Not here," she laughed. "I was hoping I could count on you for a dance at the opening. You see, I'm supposed to hang around after my set, and while I appreciate fans, they can sometimes get ...a bit much. But, if a tall handsome Commander were to ask me to dance, well, no one could object if I stepped out for a dance... or two... or if by the end of the evening..." she traced a finger down his forearm, "...I was on his arm when we left."
"That..." Martin swallowed, cleared his throat slightly. "...sounds like exceptional incentive to put work aside for a night."
"Handsome and charming," she said with an almost-coy smile. "If I didn't have to pick Tulilah up soon..."
Tulilah. "Of course." He'd unconsciously leaned into her attention and sat back a little, the reminder of her daughter having tossed a dose of reality on where he'd been imagining the evening might go. Seen more clearly, it wasn't a date so much as providing a diversion to avoid however many other men might be jockeying to take her home. He didn't necessarily object; it could still be the start of something and, either way, it would be a better evening out than he'd had in quite some time. "I understand. And it's fine if the evening ends at your door, I know she -"
"Tulilah will staying with her father that night," Safyrah cut in. "You're kind to think of her," she reached across to put a hand on his cheek, "...but I'll be very disappointed if you don't come in for a nightcap."
So not just a diversion after all - a smile grew of his face. "I will do my best not to disappoint."
"I may have to thank whoever convinced you to be so busy you stayed single," she said, returning the smile. "But I do need to go now." Getting out of her seat, she paused, remembering something. "Can I ask you a favor?"
"Anything." It was the kind of answer he had once learned not give, especially to a beautiful woman. But that had been another place and time, in a refugee center inundated with Orions.
"I'd run into someone in your department recently who seemed like they needed a break. Since I have an extra place I can give away," she winked, "maybe you could let her know? It's Nurse Loreth, Calley."
Uh...
"Oh, I know, you're her CO, but it's not like you'd be ordering her to go," she said, catching his expression. "Just encourage her to take it. I hate seeing someone so closed off. Thanks," she added brightly, with a smile and wave over her shoulder as she walked away.
Martin managed a small smile but otherwise watched her go with a stunned look that anyone around them probably took as natural on a man who'd just been asked out by a gorgeous woman. Internally though... could you get whiplash from your own reactions? Because his had rapidly gone from elation to 'Oh god...'
