<SNIP>

Rowe was handling this better than he was… trying to give him a graceful way out of the situation. “No… I don’t think that will work. I’ll either be in medical dying from embarrassment, or transferred off the off the ship in shame.”

Talia laughed softly, “Please, don’t stress about it. It’s all good.” Something about the ensign seemed familiar, but she couldn’t put her finger on exactly what it was.

Rowe’s attention lingered on Talia as she addressed Donivas and in the moment her poise and kindness struck him. It was endearing to see he treat his friend with the same level of respect that he had, it was more endearing that he could see through her body language that it was genuine.

He turned to the Doctor. “Again, I’m so sorry. I’m leaving now… please enjoy your night and pretend this never happened.” He took the PADD from James and started walking away. A moment later he looked over his shoulder and said, “Nice dress by the way!”

“See you in the morning Khiryn.” Rowed called after the fleeing scientist.

“Thanks. Maybe we can all do dinner another time?” Always up for meeting new people, the invitation was genuine.

Ensign Khiryn Donivas - Science Officer - U.S.S. Athena

Lieutenant Junior Grade Talia Ren
Doctor USS Athena

The couple sat silently for a long moment as the excitement around their table eased back to the realm of intimate curiosity. James returned his glass to the uplifted toasting position and offered to close the toast Talia had begun… “Was it ‘chin chin’?” As he said the words he didn’t know what they meant but they brought a smile to his face nonetheless.

Her eyes twinkled as she looked across the table at James. “There are a few different beliefs about where the toast came from. Most believe it’s from Mandarin Chinese that was adopted by the British, Italians and French. Technically, it means ‘please, please’, but over the centuries, it has changed to mean ‘good luck’.” She gave him a wink and then sipped her martini.

“Yeah so you asked about work… and there it was.” He said with a sarcastic shrug. “Khiryn came in looking for the CSO, who was out of the office, so I asked him to look at some data that I was confounded by. We had several independent sensor systems all hinting that something might be happening in the same patch of space. It set us on a bit of a mystery chase.”

-Rowe

OOC: Oooo sorry, I thought I answered this.

IC:
“Well that explains his enthusiasm then. Make sure you tell him I meant it when I said the three of us should have dinner. I don’t want him to think he messed up anything tonight by showing up.” Talia looked casually around at others seated at tables. There really wasn’t any romance in 17 Forward, but she felt a definite connection with James, so she was hoping there might be just a little at their table.

Lieutenant Junior Grade Talia Ren
Doctor USS Athena

Again Rowe was struck by how genuinely gracious Talia handled what could have derailed an evening with someone more self-centered. “I’ll be sure to tell him. Poor guy will probably flog himself until the three of us are at the table together and he sees that he had no need for embarrassment. He’s a good one, but he does put a lot of stock into first impressions.” James took a sip of his drink as he watched his date look around the lounge. For just a moment he had the curious feeling that whatever had drawn her attention mattered to him as well, though he couldn’t have explained why.

“So I’m curious are there areas of medicine that you get caught up with excitement and lose yourself in?”

• Rowe

She thought about it for a moment. “I love finding out how a body works–it’s really amazing how without medical intervention, our bodies can heal most things. That doesn’t include a lot of diseases, but some of them don’t really need a doctor. I don’t think we’ll ever really know how it all works.” She gave James a cheeky smile. “Don’t tell my colleagues that. There are some who think they already know it all.”

She studied him across the table. What was it that made her feel so at ease when she was with him? Whatever it was, it also gave her a sense of familiarity–like they’d known each other before the Athena. Should she say something about it–see if he felt anything like it?

“I don’t know if this will sound as cheesy as it does in my head, but there’s something about you that seems very familiar, but still unknown. Like someone from my past standing behind an opaque curtain. Does that make any sense to you?” Talia bit the corner of her lip, waiting to see if he’d laugh at the notion.

Lieutenant Junior Grade Talia Ren
Doctor USS Athena

James was quiet for a long moment, turning her words over in his mind. His thoughts drifted to the time they’d spent together, a small smile settling onto his face. There had been an ease about it all. His pain seemed quieter in her presence, conversation came more naturally, and he found himself lowering walls he’d carried for years. He wasn’t ready to leap to supernatural conclusions, but “chemistry” felt like too simple an answer.

Reaching across the table, James gently took one of her hands in both of his. Meeting her eyes, he let the silence linger for another heartbeat before answering. “That makes more sense than you know.”

Letting out a breath he hadn’t meant to hold, “I’ve spent a long time keeping people at arm’s length.” A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “You once told me not to worry so much about what comes next… just to be here.” He gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “I’m trying.”
-Rowe

When he took her hand in his, Talia didn’t feel sparks, but it certainly felt intimate and she liked it. “It’s good to hear you say you understand. I thought I might be crazy or something. I mean, you don’t remind me of anyone I already know so I couldn’t fathom why you felt so familiar.” She sipped her drink with her free hand, not wanting to break the contact with James yet.

“So what should we make of this strange event?” Talia leaned in a bit. “Should we take it as ‘fate’ pushing us together? Or could it simply be serendipity?”

Lieutenant Junior Grade Talia Ren
Doctor USS Athena

James pondered Talia’s question earnestly for a moment as his eyes searched her face. “I’d hate to give ‘chance’ all of the credit when we’re so charming and clean up so very nicely in our dress whites.” He said with just the hint of humor in his voice.

Squeezing her hand playfully he said, “The scientist in me would love to analyze this down to the micron, but what I’ve found is some mysteries are more rewarding when you take your time.”

Rowe removed his left hand from hers, leaving his right, and reached for his glass.

-Rowe

OOC: They are not in dress whites in this thread. They are in civilian clothing. :)

IC:
She agreed with him. If they really didn’t know each other, why try to find a reason for the happy circumstance? “It’s just odd to me. But, I say if its just a wonderful coincidence maybe we shouldn’t look too hard for a reason. I’m totally fine seeing where this goes and curious as to what we might find as we get to know each other better.” Talia crossed her legs under the table and accidently kicked James. “Oh my god, I’m so sorry!”

Lieutenant Junior Grade Talia Ren
Doctor USS Athena

OOC: I knew that, just trying to imply that they clean up well ;)

IC:
A small chuckle escaped James’s lips at her reaction to kicking him. “No need to be sorry. I assure you that it will take considerably more effort to hurt me.” There was a playfulness to his tone that suggested more to his words. “Though I have always been taught to practice ‘proportional response’, so I supposed I’ll have to retaliate at some point.”

Rowe took a pull from his Old Fashioned, delighting in the alcoholic burn that ran down his spine as it momentarily quieted the constant hum of sensation. A waiter approaches during the playful interlude and Rowe indicates Talia, “Ladies first.” He wasn’t sure if they were going the appetizer or full meal route and figured it would do well to let Talia take the lead.

-Rowe

Hungry, but not wanting to eat anything that might land on the front of her dress, Talia ordered a chicken Caesar salad and then looked at James expectantly.

A single hunger pain pulled at James’s stomach before he ordered a grilled chicken breast over wild rice with a side of roasted vegetables.

After taking their order, the server walked away with a promise to return momentarily.

When it was just the two of them again, she smoothed her fingers across his hand, concentrating on the feel of his skin. Talia closed her eyes to soak up the experience and just like that, she flashed on that other presence that was always with her in some fashion. The presence that she wasn’t able to predict, but the one that always left her with a feeling of breathlessness. As if seeing through someone else’s eyes, Talia’s mind was suddenly inside someone’s quarters. She recognized the layout as it resembled her own, but she’d never actually been in the particular room she was seeing in her mind. As if being guided by some unseen presence, her gaze shifted until it landed on a small, highly polished surface that was 3 x 3 inches. Mounted on it was the likeness of a ship she was unfamiliar with and also a piece of metal that resembled the earring she wore in one ear. That earring had been made from the insignia of the man she’d allowed to copy her neural pattern when she was 16 years old. In all the years since that day, Talia had never experienced anything so specific that connected the two of them before. She couldn’t see any writing or anything else that might give her a clue.

Unbeknownst to her, she’d tightened up during the echo and when she came back to herself, she was gripping James’ hand with a fair amount of strength.

Lieutenant Junior Grade Talia Ren
Doctor USS Athena

As Talia’s fingers traced the skin of his hand, Rowe felt the creep of nerve sensation play up his arm as the hairs stood slightly but he gave it no mind as his attention was on the young woman across the table from him. .As she closed her eyes she seemed to drift away for a moment before both her body and grip noticeably tensed, unconsciously he squeezed her hand back just enough to answer the increased pressure. When she finally opened her eyes again James looked at her earnestly. “Are you ok? You were a little distant there for a moment.”

• Rowe

It was the first time someone witnessed her succumbing to an ‘echo’. In the past, she’d been able to divert any interest someone might have exhibited in her odd behavior when one of the spells hit. With the afterimage of the small display still in her mind, Talia looked at James and saw the concern on his face. “I’m…I’m fine. I just had a twinge of…” Pain wasn’t the right word, but pleasure was far from the truth also. “Like a memory that I can’t fully recall, but I don’t think it’s a good one. It’s like I want to know what it is, but I also don’t want to know because I think it will be life changing.”

She took a deep breath and tried to make her body relax. “I really am alright. It was just a blip on the radar.” Before James could respond, the server was back with their food giving them both a minute to adjust napkins and silverware in preparation to eating.

Lieutenant Junior Grade Talia Ren
Doctor USS Athena

James wasn’t fully convinced that Talia was ‘alright’… he got the distinct impression that she was trying to convince herself as much if not more than she was trying to convince him, but he was content not to push her on the subject at this moment… as they grew closer, there would be a more appropriate time for that conversation.

The waiter’s arrival offered a welcome transition as it allowed the moment to breath. Once the food was delivered, James told the waiter “Thanks so much.”

When he spoke next it was to change the direction of the conversation some. “Ok, I realize this may not sound super romantic… but it’s time for the ‘getting to know you’ part of the date… what would you like me to know about your family or childhood?” A cheesy smile crossed his face knowing that the transition might feel ‘silly’ but that understanding background was imperative if they were going to grow closer.

• Rowe

She was grateful how quickly he moved past her momentary slip and aimed the conversation somewhere else. “Hmmm, well, let’s see. I’m an only child and I’ve been on my own since I was about 15. My parents were stationed on Tavar II at a post warp trauma colony. They died in a transporter accident. I stayed there until I was able to join Star Fleet and now I’m here.”

She never went into detail about her time on Tavar II because opening that door could ruin her career. Instead, she just brushed off her time there and moved on. “I love ice cream and chocolate and swimming when I get the chance. I love the rain and the sound of thunder and long bubble baths…” She ate a bite or two and looked across the table at James. “Okay, you’re turn. I want to know about you too.”

Lieutenant Junior Grade Talia Ren
Doctor USS Athena

A shiver ran down Rowe’s spine at the mention of the post warp trauma center on Tavar II… that just happened to be where… He shut down that train of thought lest it bleed out into something perceptible. It had to be a coincidence… though an oddly specific one.

A grin returned to his face as he spoke, “Ice cream, chocolate, swimming, thunder, rain, and bubble baths. That’s valuable intel.” He offered a playful wink acknowledging her transition from something clearly painful back into more mundane ‘fun’ information.

“I’m an only child whose parents have passed as well, though it sounds like I was fortunate enough to get more time with mine.” He said empathetically.

“I’ve heard of Tavar II, they’re supposed to do miraculous work there.” He said to demonstrate he’d heard her, but also that he was willing to let it remain at that.

“Let’s see… I like strawberry ice cream, exotic or flavorful teas, staying in bed while listening to storms outside, and good company.” The last one added with a warm smile.

• Rowe