A Chance Meeting

Posted on Sun Mar 17th, 2019 @ 1:19pm by Ensign Corinne Wisemann & Chief Petty Officer Junior Santiago

Mission: Shore Leave
Location: Crews Mess
Timeline: Current

ON:

Junior walked into the crews mess for a late lunch. Engineering was for the moment slow and besides he was hungry. Getting what he wanted he looked for a spot only there wasn't a table empty so he chose a table. Walking up to the young Ensign sitting by herself, "Excuse me but may I sit here at your table and eat my dinner in your company?", he asked.

Corinne looked up, surprised at the intrusion. "Oh... uhmmm... Sure, I guess," she said quietly, reaching up to brush hair back from her face as she smiled slightly. "Sorry, do I know you? I don't mean to be rude, I've not met a lot of the crew and to be honest, I can't keep names in order."

"Oh, um.....I am Lt. Junior Santiago, Engineering officer", he said, as he set his food down and sliped into the seat.

With another smile, Corinne held out her hand and smiled. "Sorry, I'm Corinne, Corinne Wisemann, Security Officer." She stared back at her vaguely non enjoyable dry salad for a moment. "Sorry, I'm not used to sharing meals with anyone. Usually I'm one of the last in here well after everyone else has left. Isn't it late for Engineering to be on the go, especially when we're on shore leave?" she asked curiously.

"Well not really, see I happened to be working in engineering fixing a semi clogged power tap and I only just finished, so I came to get something to eat", Junior said. "Besides it is nice to be able to sit with a beautiful woman and share a meal", he added.

Corinne raised one eyebrow ever so slightly. "Flattery gets you everywhere," she said with a laugh, picking up her glass of soda and taking a sip. "So I heard that we got diverted from New Earth and we're heading to one of the Dalacar home worlds for shore leave," Corinne said, making conversation. "The homeworlds are supposed to be beautiful."

"We are? Holy padre, a Dalacari homeworlds? Wow!", Junior said, clearly excited. "I wonder if they have beaches? I really would like it if you would join me for a day on the beach", he added looking at her beautiful eyes.

"I am pretty sure they do, I just don't know if we can swim in them. Something about the different gravity or something? I don't know, I guess we'll find out more as we get closer. We'll likely get a brief from Commander Tang about the do's and dont's before we head down there." Corinne replied with a shrug. "It doesn't make a great deal of difference to me, being in Security we rarely get a lot of shore leave anyway, someone has to stay on duty and be responsible for you lot when you all get rowdy and in trouble!"

Feinging hurt, "You wound me dear lady. I do not get in trouble unless it is warranted", Junior said chuckling.

"And..." Corinne picked up a piece of lettuce from her plate and popped it in her mouth. "That's where we tend to have a difference of opinion, over exactly where it's 'warranted'." She said with a grin. "Seriously, you have no idea how many times I've had to negotiate for the release of fellow crew members from alien jail cells because they've had a few too many of the local brews and decided something was warranted when they should have just gone home and slept it off... Admittedly the Wellington hasn't been too bad so far, but the last ship I was on. I hated shore leave."

"My lady, I shall endeavour not to get drunk or make any trouble if you could see your way to spending a few days with me just enjoying our downtime", Junior chuckled. He basically just wanted the company of a pretty female to be with him during their shore leave. If anything came of it, great, if not well it was time well spent.

"If I have any time off, I'd love to go down and check out their culture, especially their military museums. It all seems so interesting, doesn't it?" Corinne asked with a genuine smie.

"Why yes it does sound interesting indeed. Maybe even see some of their engineering technology as well", Junior said hoping that they could also spend time just enjoying each others company. "There culture is so different and new where as ours must be just as new to them", he added.

"From what I've read they're rather closed off about stuff like technology," Corinne said quietly. "I did some light reading on it when I first came aboard, given that our XO was Dalacari and all."

"I heard something to that effect but I still have hopes that by the time we arrive, they might have eased up on their restrictions", Junior said. He put both elbows on the table and put his face in his hands. Something he thought about just then made him feel very alone. Family and friends and the lack there of, hit him hard. Since his transfer to the Wellington his family and friends had not communicated with him at all.

"It's going to be interesting, regardless. I mean, I don't imagine there will be much in the way of shopping for us single forms, but the planets themselves are supposed to be gorgeous. I really do hope I get time to go down and check it out, just to actually stand there and see it." Corinne said with a smile as she watched him.

Not lifting his head, "Yeah so do I", he said half heartedly. He was hurt by not hearing from his family inspite of repeated messages sent to them. "Corinne has your family spoken to you since you been onboard?", he added.

Corinne's smile faltered slightly at his question. She stared back down at her plate for a long moment before glancing around the almost empty mess hall, suddenly wishing that this were the lounge where she could get a drink on demand. Finally, looking back at him, she drew in a deep breath. "I don't have any family," she said quietly. "So no, I haven't heard from anyone."

"Oh, I'm sorry......I didn't mean to upset you Corinne. My family just like dumped me when I got my assignment. They suddenly just stopped calling me. I have tried to get in touch with them but to no avail. So basically I guess I have no family either", he said. Junior had watery eyes by now. Hiding his head not to show Corinne he had tear in his eyes, he hurt.

Picking up her glass of water, Corinne sipped it slowly, glancing around the mess hall, feeling somewhat awkward and uncomfortable. "I'm sure there's just a communications delay," she said quietly. "Perhaps check with Operations? The distortions from the shalti incident may have affected our long range communications."

"No it is not interference from the shalti incident. I have been trying for the longest to reach them but to no avail. They just dumped me after I got my assignment. Oh but I am so sorry Corinne. I unloaded this on you", he said getting up. "I made a mess of your evening and ......oh god I am so sorry", Junior offered again turning red in embarrassment.

"You don't need to apologize," Corinne said with a smile. "Honestly, it's fine. I don't know if there is a problem or not, but at the end of the day, if you're happy, is it worth leaving sleep over?" she asked simply.

"I guess your right Corinne but it hurts, especially when you are feeling lonely", he said. He started to leave, "Corinne, would you consider having dinner with me someday?", he added looking back at her.

"Sure," Corrine smiled warmly. "I'd like that."

"Great Corrine", he said, then had a thought. Turning around, he walked back towards where she was sitting. "How about tomorrow night say 2000 hrs?", he asked simply. Junior wasn't sure she would say yes or no, but he had to ask her.

She looked momentarily surprised by his request. "Uh... I probably won't get away from Security until about 2200, but I can meet you after that? Maybe a drink and a late snack?" she offered as a compromise.

"Great! Oh and casual dress please as it is very informal. Oh thankyou Corrine, you have no idea what this means to me", he said and in his excitement he gave her a quick kiss on her cheek.

Surprised by his action, Corinne watched him as he walked away then turned her attention back to her salad. He was a strange one, that much was for sure.


=/\=

Ensign Corinne Wisemann
Security NPC
USS Wellington

Chief Petty Officer Junior Santiago
Matter/Energy Systems Specialist
USS Wellington