Fixing For A Date Part 1

Posted on Fri May 3rd, 2024 @ 9:41am by Lieutenant Commander Victoria Aries & Lieutenant Commander Ferrand Beaulieu
Edited on on Fri May 3rd, 2024 @ 9:42am

3,924 words; about a 20 minute read

Mission: Ethics, Morals & The Prime Directive.
Location: Ferrand's Quarters

This was the third evening in a row that they'd spent together and Victoria was really getting to enjoy spending this time with Ferrand. Once again she marveled at how they'd met, him being in the wrong place at the right time. All she had been wanting to do was rage at the universe over a mistake and he? He'd watched the monster and found something in there to admire. Then he'd shown her that bit of beauty that she'd been unable to fathom. So now she was curled up next to him on his couch as the comedy version of Top Gun, called Hot Shots, started rolling the credits and she rubbed his leg as she sat up a bit, the San Jose Sharks hockey sweater riding up and showing a bit of her stomach and the tight shorts she wore underneath them. "That one was funny, and I hear there was a sequel to it as well?

It was nice getting to spend all this time with Victoria, there was a comfort, a stability in her presence that he found reassuring and calming. He liked how she was one person in uniform and another out of it, something he'd seek now that he had someone to share in it with. The movie itself was amusing for multiple reasons and being a pilot it was hard at times not to comment or in his mind at least wonder how they engaged in ariel combat with such machines. It was however a different time, a different era entirely when thought about but it still was a good way to spend time together. "It was amusing, some scenes more than others especially." When Victoria sat up he stretched a little, unmoved joined protesting at the demand for activity.

She reached up and stretched like a cat, then leaned back in the couch once more, "All comedies are that way, but one that I definitely want to watch next is called 'Robin Hood: Men In Tights." Her eyes danced with amusement as she remembered some of the best lines just from rote, "If you've never seen it, make sure you use the bathroom first because otherwise you'd pee yourself, guaranteed!" Victoria giggled, "But not right now in any case, it's getting too close to dinner, isn't it?"

Ferrand saw the stretched and joined it, he also saw the curves Victoria had while stretching the way that she did. He doubted she'd mind but perhaps not as obvious as he did, which is why he did so while she was occupied. He could see the beauty she had, drew it even and handed it to her but wondered if she saw herself as he did. "I do believe so." It was always the case that while occupied much about anything else was ignored but when that one distracting factor was concluded, the rest because plain as day to see.

Victoria glanced at his bedroom door, where she did bring a couple sets of clothes. One was a uniform in case she was called there for some sort of emergency despite that she was officially off-duty, the other was in case they wanted to go out and she needed something a bit more presentable, "Order in again?" She suggested, "Maybe something simpleish, like Chinese? I don't think I really want to go out, it would involved getting dressed." She placed on hand on his leg without thinking, "Other options are good as well."

"Ohhh Chinese sounds good." Ferrand spoke secretly enjoying the touchy nature Victoria had, from laying against him with her back to him, a hand touch, a hug, anything. "Any particular cravings." He was partial to chicken but didn't mind trying new things when the itch arose. He could understand not wanting to go out, sometimes the notion of dressing to go out was offputting enough, casual and comfortable was far more pleasant for an evening in.

"Let's get a variety of things? Pot stickers, General Tso's Chicken, medium-hot of course, chow mein, shrimp fried rice, umm..." She pursed her lips as she thought for a few seconds, "Broccoli beef and um... Anything else you want?"

"That's a selection." Not one he expected from one person. Ferrand reached over for a Padd and started scrolling through the places that had the requested foods. A long list narrowed down to only 6. In the mood for something simple and straight forward he ordered himself a Chicken Curry and fried rice. Then the wait time showed. "About 25 minutes." Assuming they could get to his place promptly and drop it off.

"Which means more like forty minutes." Victoria had gotten used to the delays that the treks up to senior officers quarters took for the delivery people, "Which means we've got that long to occupy ourselves." She gave him a bright smile, because this was one of the benefits to the situation, being able to just... Learn more about him, what he liked and everything she could. "I know that you seem to like me wearing this," She teased him with a wink and a smile, "But you've barely seen me in anything other than this, my uniform and that one dress... So I'm just curious if there's anything else you'd like me to wear?"

While the question didn't catch him off guard per say, it was one he wasn't expecting. "Well, uhhhh. Are we talking about things to wear out, social or formal events? Or something casual, at home?" He asked hoping to narrow down her field of thought when it came to giving an answer.

Home, that was a new word to her, especially if he was intending here to be like home to her. "I was thinking in general. I didn't even think about the difference between things... Let's take out the formalwear, we should have enough warning for something like that to pick something out." Victoria pondered the other choices, "We could start with something you'd like to see me wear with you out in public? Whether it's just out on a walk, or in a restaurant, something like that?"

"Well, uhh." Ok, so serious thinking cap on, needed to answer this. "Well, if its something like dinner at a restaurant I guess it would depend on the restaurant really, the style and setting. Don't want to be over dressed or underdressed and for a walk I guess something comfortable, breathable." It was a broad set of questions as he saw it but one he'd not had to think about before. "You look great in your uniform skirt so I wonder what you'd look like in a dress were it for a formal setting, could look at dresses for casual themes too." That way at least both avenues were covered. Part of him wanted to say other things, but felt shy in doing so, or didn't feel it was his place or he could, or perhaps too early in the relationship to.

"That we could." Victoria thought for a few seconds, what was the name of that store on the Promenade that she'd seen when she was exploring the ship that first day, "Computer... Can you bring up the holo-catalog for Diamond's Clothing Exchange?" She did finally remember the name of the place and in front of them, a holographic screen came up with several categories on it, "You're thinking dresses, so let's select... Semi-formal dresses, please, wide-screen, ten options on one screen." The last was directed at the computer and Victoria looked over at Ferrand to see if something looked interesting to him.

The assortment was indeed many, different designs and colours. As he scrolled he 'saved' a few that could view later but after scrolling for a minute or so without any additions he pulled up his saved options. "Something like these maybe for semi formal events, functions were more formal attire isn't needed." He wasn't sure what her reaction would be but he was about to find out.

Victoria looked over the options and nodded slowly, "You know, I really think those would look good, I like the teal one best myself. I think I look good in red," She remembered wearing red that first time out in public with him, "So... Computer, I'd like to request all of the saved options in a size 4, have them sent to Commander Beaulieu's quarters, but charge them to my account, standard returns options in case they don't look right, of course. Hold the order for the moment, we may add to them." She smiled at him, "What about for just 'out and about'?"

Wow, his surprise that she trusted his choices to go ahead and outright buy them was a bit of a shock but one he was able to hide. Filtering through the options he came across a few that did catch his eye, there was a trait with them all though. Skirted. "I hope these are ok." This was the first time he was shopping for someone other than himself, though part of him wondered what silent remarks Victoria was not saying to his choices. Did she like them really?

"Those look good to me, Computer, add those as well, please." Victoria took control of the visual and started paging through some blouses to go with the skirts and selected several of them, before looking over at Ferrand with an eyebrow raised, "What do you think of these? Or do you have some other preference?"

The select was plentiful, mostly tops that would suit the skirts in one colour or another, some were more accentuating than others in areas but honestly he was happy with the selections. "What about around home, like now, you're wearing a large top, is that a preference for you, something you find comfortable or just something you throw on when it's there?"

"Yes, yes and yes." Victoria said as she added those choices to her order, "You've never known comfort until you've worn a hockey sweater. Roomy, comfy and if you get cold?" She withdrew her arms into the sweater, "Easy to consolidate your body heat." She winked at him, "But I'm always open for other ideas, too."

Ferrand couldn't argue with her, she had solid points to play on. "You make fair points." Open to other ideas told him this was just as much about his choices as it was hers to wear them. "Honestly I'd not really thought it about, I mean, I've never had to think about my choices like that and someone else." A hint for Victoria, if she could pick up on it.

Victoria nodded knowingly, making a mental note to do some other shopping without him. SPECIFICALLY without him, so that she could surprise him some night. Worst-case scenario, he didn't like what she picked out, but some things a woman just knew would work. "I'll admit, loose and overlarge really just is comfortable. I didn't check, but do you have any hoodies?"

"Yeah, my pilot's one." Every pilot was given one when they got their wings, it had been a while since he last wore it but it was still there. "Might not be as loose as you are hoping though." He answered. He knew that he was a casual guy when not in his flight suit, honestly there were times when he was more comfortable in the flight suit over anything else but that was to be expected from a pilot who spent most of the day in one over anything else.

"Hmm... Something like that I might not be able to steal." Victoria pouted slightly, "You need to get some hoodies that I'm able to steal, it's sort of a tradition for girlfriends, mind you."

"A tradition...." Ferrand mused. "Are there any other traditions I should be aware of?" He asked. He really didn't have much though that in itself reminded him that perhaps he needed something more than the scant few things he had with Victoria on the scene....not like he could go out to dinner in a flight suit.

"Ooo, a handy new victim to indoctrinate!" Victoria giggled at the thought, "Don't worry, I won't abuse things. Flowers, chocolates, usually randomly for those sorts of things, though Valentine's Day is a must. I know it's going to sound odd, but I've got a preference for lilies and amaryllis over traditional roses or carnations."

Valentines Day was something he'd not really had to consider before, the single life did come free of such social expectations but things were different now. "I'll try not disappoint then." It meant now that Ferrand had to think in ways he was not used to. "Well I think some of my things might not fit you to steal, others might smell of fighter libricant, paint or some such." Ferrand couldn't wait for her to find the top he frequently wore when doing service and maintenance on his fighter in years past.

Victoria carefully leaned over and tipped past her balance of gravity, which just so happened to make her end up leaning against him and she batted her eyelashes at him from the vantage point of 'below' him, "Ferrand, sweetheart? I'm an engineer, not just that, but I LIKE getting my hands dirty and physical with things. Who knows, fighter lubricant might turn me on more?" She winked at him, "Worst case scenario, I'll get you some stuff specifically for me to steal!"

Ferrand took a moment for that to register in his mind what she had just said, though the smile on his face when it did register was plain to see. "Just, don't blame me when you go to work smelling like a pilot and not an engineer, which causes a riot in engineering."

“Blame you? Ha!” Victoria scrunched her nose at him, “A victory like that will be celebrated, or at least should be. And what are they going to do if they don’t like it? Ship me off to do something I don’t want to? Jokes on them if they try!”

"Is the Captain aware of the type of person he has maintaining his ship?" Ferrand joked. Then he thought back to the shopping for clothing the pair did earlier. "Are you, ok with the clothing selection, honestly? You're not just going along with it because of what's going on between us but because you really do like me choices?"

“Would you rather I wear a uniform whenever we go out?” Victoria asked solemnly, shaking her own head, “I do like the choices visually at the least, I’ll have to try them on and see if I still like them, but…” She sighed, “It’s been basically forever since I got to dress up for anyone. Oh sure, I had that red outfit, but aside from that and one or two others, I’ve got uniforms and hockey stuff, that’s about it!”

It was a first for Ferrand to shop for someone else beyond something of a working relationship, now that he was in a personal one things were taking turns that were firsts for him. "Not sure if those would suit the nose art of the new fighter, unless you were going for a classic vintage look like planes of old then we'd need to buy more things at least." Then another idea came to mind. "Have you um, ever thought about changing the colour of your hair?"

"From blonde?" She reached up to run some fingers through her hair, "Not really... But what do you have in mind?" Her tone of voice told him that she was at least willing to consider it if he asked.

"I don't know, honestly I didn't really consider much beyond the question." He chuckled, not expecting her to be open to the idea. "What about something like a rainbow style, a vibrant red, or multi-tone purple?"

That was a bit beyond what she herself had been considering when he asked the question, but she closed her eyes for a few seconds to visualize herself first with a rainbow set of hair and shook her head on that one, but the multi-toned purple? That could be interesting... Victoria opened her eyes, smiling up at him, "Purple could be interesting and what's the worst that happens? I don't like it and change it again, right?"

"True, it was just something I'd thought about since we were on the topic of changes, new clothing choices and such." He kept his options light considering her role, she had a job and reputation, had to keep the respect of those she worked with and had under her. He didn't want his option of hair colour to effect the way people perceive her as a leader or a skilled engineer.

"You know, changing a few things up might give me a bit of an advantage with my people." Victoria mused quietly, "So long as I keep my focus on the ship and functionality, it would show them that I'm not stuck on one aspect only, that I can be fun and approachable. And if one of them thinks that I'm less than I am because of it? Let them! I'll challenge them to something in THEIR speciality and beat them at it!" She grinned widely at that thought.

"Might have to see how the clothes go before the hair, otherwise we may have to buy more clothing to suit the look." It was not to say he didn't like the blonde, he did, a lot but he wanted to be sure the outfit suited the hair otherwise she'd look out of place or mismatched.

"I think we can handle that." Victoria agreed, her stomach finally sounding loud enough to be heard by the both of them, "Of course, when does the food get here is a more pressing question right now?"

Ferrand was just about to check when just as his hand touched the tabletop computer to rotate it the door chime sounded. "I'd say about now." Which was good, because his own stomach growl wasn't far off.

Victoria sat up to let him get up to get it. It was the only PROPER thing for a gentleman to do, but she cleared off the table in front of them so he'd have somewhere to put their dinner.

Two containers and a smaller one all neatly stacked, even magnetically locked too so they didn't slide all over the place when handled. "This is nice." Even if they were to be disposed of in the replicator later, it was still a creative idea. Walking to the table and opening the containers. "Oh, they even come with small plates and cutlery."

Rubbing her hands together, Victoria reached out for the one that held the selections she'd made, along with a pair of chopsticks and made poking motions towards him before picking up a piece of one of the chickens and popping it in her mouth, "Mmm.... This is definitely good!"

It did smell good, really good and if that was anything to go by he could only hope that taste equaled. With the selections all laid out it was time to tuck in, and so he did. "Good, but I'm pretty sure too much of a good thing will result in the Doctor putting us on a food monitoring program."

"You maybe." Victoria nudged him with a gentle elbow before reaching out with her chopsticks to steal a piece of what he was holding before eating it quickly lest he try to steal it back, "Me? I'm running around enough all day that it won't go to my hips or stomach, no sitting around on the job for me!"

"Me!" Ferrand spoke. "Vous m'avez blessé madame." You wound me lady Ferrand spoke, his accent thick but playful at the same time. "Et c'était le mien." And that was mine. Watching her eat what he was about it.

Even if she didn't understand the words, the sentiment got across to her. The last comment was rather obvious and she used her own chopsticks to fend off the counterattack on her own food, "Not my fault if you're too slow!" She picked up a piece of hers and offered it to him.

"Slow..." Ferrand smirked. "Cheek." With a more guarded approach Ferrand started to eat some more, poised ready to leap into defense of a rather tasty meal, more so then he expected. "Would you like to design the nose art for the fighter, or keep to something old earth traditional?" He asked. "Or would you rather it just be you?"

"Maybe you're going about this all wrong?" Victoria paused for a moment in her eating to muse about it, "Oh sure, definitely use me as inspiration, but perhaps you should talk to your crew chief? I would, of course, be perfectly willing to pose for pictures to base your nose art on." Her eyes glittered brightly, "Would just depend on hat you want me wearing in those pictures."

Ferrand smirked, considering some of the art he'd seen, some of it was rather mouthwatering. "We can find something." Ferrand continued to eat and eventually finish his meal. "How was your meal?" He asked.

"I've got a bit of shrimp-fried rice left if you want it." She held out the container, of which everything except said rice was already gone, "And just remember, this is the art for your fighter, so the sky is the limit on hat you want on it. I remember what went on some of those old birds and I'm up for any of it."

Ferrand passed on the offered meal portion, he was himself nearing his limits for food as it was. Portion control was something that this establishment didn't seem to have an issue with which was a good thing, left overs. Ferrand also had to consider that he was asking his Girlfriend to pose, in an undecided outfit, for some nose art....when he struggled to even mention something like that for himself.

"I may have arranged for something a bit more appropriate for said options to come in when the rest of those clothes arrive too." Victoria said with some mischief in her voice, "If you feel up to an impromptu fashion show."

"Sure." He knew that seeing an image was one thing when picking clothing but the risk of any kind of shopping is that in terms of clothing the size one store had may not be identical to what another store did. What looked in a picture on that particular model might look different now due to body shape, skin colour, hair colour and length. "I'll clean up." It wouldn't take long anyway to do with containers and such.

Victoria hauled herself out of the couch and smoothed down the hockey jersey over her stomach, which she thought was bulging a bit over how much she'd just eaten, but it was more likely her imagination. Besides, she'd work off the calories soon enough. "I can help, I think more than half of this is mine!"

"That's ok, its not much to clean." It really wasn't but the offer to help was appreciated. "Most of it is waste anyway, the rest can stay in containers for later." Ferrand answered with a smile looking at her.

"I'll put them in the kitchen ar-ea.." She trailed off as she realized that there really wasn't one in these quarters, then laughed, "On the other hand, maybe I'll just find a counter over here to put them on."

(To Be Continued)

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