Posted by Lieutenant Cara Esmé O’Farrell (Counselor / Education Specialist) in Sometimes a Lunch Break Works Wonders

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Gravel Mardusk (Chief of Security) in Sometimes a Lunch Break Works Wonders

Posted by Lieutenant Cara Esmé O’Farrell (Counselor / Education Specialist) in Sometimes a Lunch Break Works Wonders
Posted by… suppressed (13) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)
Cara glanced up at him a blush racing across her features. “And ya said I was the queen of leadin’ statements. Tha’ would make ya the king, then.” When the lift arrived Cara stepped in moving all the way in giving him plenty of room. While he gave their destination she leaned back against the side of the lift and gazed at him. “I’m in trouble aren’t I?” She didn’t seem to care, in fact she was grinning at the idea.

O’Farrell

For a moment Gravel didn’t move. It was like his brain was reeling, processing something over and over and over again. Finally he looked at her with a look that was part deep affection and part determination. “Yeah… you are. We both are. And that’s a pretty good thing, I think.” and the doors slid open and he extended and arm to allow her to leave the lift first.

Mardusk

Cara watched his face as he thought and was grinning at him. “Oh yeah, it’s an amazin’ thing.” And just like the other night when they left his quarters, she grabbed his hand, tucking hers into his, stepped off the lift and waited for him. She had absolutely no doubt that after that little show in the counseling suite that the entire ship knew. She tugged his hand just a bit as they walked, “Come on, then. We need ta eat. I wanna know what ya consider magical.”

O’Farrell

He squeezed her hand and then said “Oh… you have no clue yet… but you will.” and he smiled as they walked into the Lounge. “You grab a table. What would you like? I’ll play waitress and you can try to pick me up.” and he chuckled and winked at her.

Mardusk

Cara looked looked him up and down, once, “Promises Promises, Grah-VEL,” and then, “Well then if you’re gonna be my waiter, I’ll have Fiesta lime chicken with rice pilaf with a Cidona to drink.” She laid her hand on his arm, “I’ll be over there,” and she waved toward a empty table at the far end of the windows. She smiled at him over her shoulder as she walked off, her fingers trailing slowly down the length of his arm as she stepped away.

Cara made her way over toward the table and sat taking one side of two sides of the table angled to face the windows.

O’Farrell

A few minutes later, Gravel approached the table with two large trays. “Welcome to the Atlantis Lounge, Miss. My name is Jacob, but I do prefer when beautiful women call me ‘Grah-VEL’, so feel free. You’ll be having the Fiesta Lime Chicken and Rice Pilaf, yes? Excellent choice. And a Cidona… you truly have exquisite taste.” and he set the tray in front of her with a flourish.

Facing the window at an angle Cara could still see part of the room if she turned slightly, and she was able to watch Gravel approach the table. She grinned, eyes dancing, laughter precariously held in check. “Why thank you, Jacob. This looks lovely,” Cara took the bottle of Cidona, twisted the cap and sipped from the frosted mouth of the bottle. “Well I can certainly call you Grah-VEL if ya prefer, but only if ya join me for lunch.”

“I have another order here as well. Are you expecting company?” and he glanced at the tray and scowled. “Perhaps several companies?” and he looked back at her and winked.

Mardusk

Cara looked at the other tray and then had to look away before she started laughing. “I always welcome company, but that’s all for me. If ya gonna join me you’ll have ta go get yerself somethin’.” She pushed the adjacent chair out with her foot. “But, Grah-VEL, for the right person, I’m pleased ta share.”

O’Farrell

Mardusk sat and smiled at her. “Why thank you. I hope I’m not intruding on anyone’s time with you. Are you waiting for someone?” and he leaned a bit closer, his eyes dancing with mischief. “Maybe… a boyfriend?”

Mardusk

Cara set the bottle on the table and leaned forward, right elbow on the table, chin on palm, fingers curled, and she stared at him. She was smiling, but gone was the ever present mischief, but her green eyes never left his, even as they widened slightly, and her breath caught…she was nervous. “I donna know, but cards on the table, Grah-VEL. I’d really like him ta be.” And there was something subtly different about the ring she wore on her right hand.

O’Farrell

Mardusk stared at her for a long moment and then said “Cards on the table? I know him… and he’d really like that.” His eyes danced over her face and then settled back on her eyes.

Cara stared at him for a long quiet moment, “If tha’s the case I was waitin’ for my boyfriend ta arrive, but he’s here now.”

“You turned your ring over.” he said and tilted his head slightly to the side.

Mardusk

Cara looked at her hand and nodded. Then with a mysterious smile, “Was there a question there?” She picked up her fork, pulled her plate over and took a bite.

O’Farrell

Mardusk smiled. “I looked it up, you know. The ring. I wanted to know what was important to you. I read what each way means… you think I’m that into you, do you?” and he reached out and took her hand and ran his thumb over the ring.

Mardusk

Startling electric shocks raced in waves up her arm from the movement of his thumb over her skin. Cara leaned toward him, her gaze softly traveling over his features. “Yeah I think ya are, but the ring isna ‘bout that. It’s about how in ta you I am.” Her fingers curled gently around two of his as his thumb continued its motion. Her eye and voice conveyed a deep feeling of passion, but not lust, affection, and something much much more. “I am deeply, seriously, that in ta you, Grah-VEL.”

O’Farrell

Mardusk looked at her for a long time and then said “Well you’re not wrong. And it’s a good thing you are that into me, otherwise we were going to have a huge problem.” and he chuckled. He then leaned in, and in front of the lunch masses in the Lounge, kissed her squarely on the lips. He held the kiss a moment and then leaned back.

“Foods getting cold, babe. Eat up.” and he began to eat with a smile on his face.

Mardusk

Cara was not shy about kissing him back, the lunch masses or not. She smiled at him and laughed softly. “No we donna have a problem, but we are trouble.” She began to eat and when most of the eyes were off of them she picked up the chilled botte and took a really long cold drink from it. Cara didn’t say much after that, the food was good, she was at ease for the first time in hours, and the company was even better.

She set her fork on the plate, placed it back on the tray and finished the last of her Cidona and set the empty bottle down. She watched him from across the table. Staring at Gravel was a new favorite hobby.

O’Farrell

Gravel smiled as he finished up his meal of three servings of meatloaf and mashed potatoes, four orders of spinach, and a gallon of some kind of blue milk. When he finished, he said “Wait here.” and he walked away and came back with a chocolate pan cake with gooey frosting. He set it between them and set two forks on top. “Can’t have a meal without splitting cake, right?”

Mardusk

Cara looked at it and just knew it was rich enough that one bite would make an energizer bunny out of a turtle. She chuckled softly, “No we can’t. Hang on,” she got up and quickly returned with another gallon of blue milk for him and a large glass of milk for herself. She sat down grabbed a fork and dug out a bite of the cake and ate it. It was rich, moist, and So. Much. Chocolate! She savoured every crumb of the bite. And chased with ice cold milk. “That is really good.”

O’Farrell

Mardusk grinned and said “Mmhmm…” and washed down the bite. He played with his fork in the cake for a moment and then took out a bite. Before putting it in his mouth, he said “Not the tastiest thing at this table, though.” and he grinned and popped it in his mouth.

Mardusk

Cara was in the midst of another bite, contemplating the fact she was tired from a lack of sleep and full enough to nap quite happily. She blushed rapidly and several shades of red, inhaled a surprised gasp around the mouthful of cake, and choked. She began to cough, forcefully, eyes watered, dropped the fork on the table and managed to grab her napkin before spewing bits of cake everywhere.

O’Farrell

Mardusk reached over and patted her back. “Cara?! ” he asked in a combination of concern and amusement. “Easy, babe… easy. Get it out and just breathe.” and he handed her her glass so she could drink.

Cara held up a hand, continuing to cough, she wasn’t okay but she was fine. Or would be. Good lord…

“You ok?” he asked as the coughing subsided.

Mardusk

As the coughing subsided, Cara took the glass and drank slowly, cleared her thought several times and then drank half the glass. “Um..” she cleared her throat again, “I’m fine. Karma decided ta bite me.”

O’Farrell

“Karma, you say?” he said with a grin. “Now, love… what would that fine lady have against such a soft, demure specimen such as yourself?” and he chuckled.

Mardusk

Cara laughed but it trailed off quickly. She looked everywhere but him. She ran a hand back through her hair knocking the bun out of her hair. “Umm..yeah…uhhh.” She picked at the cake, put the fork down, drank the milk for something to do.

O’Farrell

Mardusk laughed and said “Ohhhh noooo… you say karma bit you, you hafta say why. Thats the rules. So say it.” and he grinned at her. A large leg settled against the outside of hers and moved gently back and forth.

Mardusk

Cara looked down at his leg, did he think she was going to run? She might…but not the way he was thinking. She grinned slightly, “Ya inhaled a cheeseburger and choked ‘cause I shocked ya with one of my…what did ya call it?…leadin’ statements. Karma thought it’d be funny if I choked on cake ‘cause I got shocked by one a yers.” She was looking at him, and felt all kinds of…did she take her meds? Yes she did she was due tonight....but she felt…oh yeah, she was in trouble.

O’Farrell

Mardusk smiled at her.

“Let’s get outta here. I’ll show you the magic and then you can get some sleep. You’ll need it dealing with that issue and a 2300 appointment.” and he stood up. “Follow me… for your own sake.” and he smiled and winked at her.

He led her back to their quarters and said “If you want to change outta your uniform, it’s fine by me. I’ll be 8n my place getting things ready.” and he walked into his quarters.

Mardusk