Outpost 42
Bingo World - Jessica and Aedan's First date
Jessica pulled on her sneakers and walked to the mirror. If there was to be a fancy date, Jessica would have worn more than a pair of jeans, white tank top, and sneakers. While she looked good she also was comfortable. This would be important for what she had planned. Jessica opted for an outfit that would not trap her for a four-hour meal. She had no idea who Teller was. On the line scale of men, Teller could be a right winger. This would cause her to wonder how he sat upright all night with a pole coming out of his butt. Teller could also be a left winger who spent the night sobbing over the injustices of deforestation while he ate Tofu and salad. She doubted he was the latter but one could never tell. What she hoped was he fell out somewhere like Duncan Rhodes. Man enough to make her know he had a set but easy going enough they spent the night laughing.
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: : : : : : : : : : : After pulling her hair off her face with a pair of strategically placed sunglasses on her head, Jessica left her quarters heading for Ferengi Joe’s. Her message to him had been simple. FERENGI JOE’S....1900 hours....DRESS CASUAL.
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: : : : : : : : : : : If Teller had not pressed the point that he had friends and knew where he was going earlier at the docking ring, Jessica would have picked him up. Since he had little Miss Manage-my-life as his right-hand girl, Jessica knew he would get there somehow. Checking her time, she stepped out of the turbo. Her message to him was 1900 hours sharp. She wondered if he would be late.
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: : : : : : : : : : : Ensign Jessica Vaughn, security
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: : : : : : : : : : When Jessica entered she would find Aedan at the bar, wearing brown slacks with a red button down dress shirt untucked and a pair of sunglasses tucked between his shirt in the front. It gave him a dark look as he laughed with a few guests at the bar., most seemed to be highly attractive women at the Ferengi bar keep. “Never let a Telarite out stubborn you… they will never take you seriously if you can’t be as big of a dick as they are… worst Ranshad festival ever.” he said as he took a swig from his drink before he saw Jessica come in.
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: : : : : : : : : Oh god please don’t be the collapsing kickstand on the male scale, Jessica thought spying Teller at the bar. On her sliding bar scale of male types, the kickstand to the bar was the most important. When thought of as a “T” shape, the kickstand held the humor component of men. This easily balanced out the overly sexy confident male. The tenderhearted male that cried seeing a baby seal still didn’t stand a chance even with a comedian’s quick wit; however, it did allow for the occasional ‘shut the front door’ moment when Jessica saw moist eyes in a chick flick.
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: : : : : : : : : Although she would begrudgingly admit her eyes traveled from his broad shoulders to his trim waist to the area below the neutral zone, Jessica was concerned about the women lounging around him. The joke might have been humorous but not to the effect the brunette was guffawing like a hyena in heat next to him. The high pitched giggle and hand placed on his forearm to indicate she was completely enthralled at whatever was coming out of his mouth made Jessica want to say “who’s a good girl. Who’s a good girl. Now go get the bone you simpering little puppy.”
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: : : : : : : : : She hoped it was just the fact his dazzling smile, easy charm, and left front pocket bulge, due to the latinum of course, was attracting eager recipients for his attention. She would see in the next few moments.
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: : : : : : : : : “Mr. Teller,” Jessica called out from slightly behind him. “I stand corrected. You do either make friends easy or had far more acquaintances than I realized here. Seems you would not have been dining alone. Budwieser…bottle,” Jessica moved up next to him ordering her drink at the bar.
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: : : : : : : : : : “There you are.” he said getting off of his stool, he turned the the Ferengi throwing down some latnium before looking back at Jessica, the woman who had gathered seeming almost sullen he had to leave them.
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: : : : : : : : : : “You… look stunning. Much better than that horrid gold, though Starfleet uniforms don’t really flatter do they?” he said smiling widely at her.
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: : : : : : : : : : ~Aedan Teller
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: : : : : : : : : “Charmer,” Jessica said before reaching into her pocket for a few credits to leave on the bar for her drink. As she fished in her front pocket for the money it pulled down the waistband just enough to show a hint of her firm tummy. “And you clean up nice yourself.”
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: : : : : : : : : Jessica would not be human if she didn’t feel a bit of anxiety standing next to the gorgeous women lounging lazily about Teller. She had to remind herself that this wasn’t a true date. It was dinner and maybe not just exclusively him and her. At the moment she wasn’t sure if the idea of it being a dinner party bothered her or not. Taking a long draw on her beer, she gathered her thoughts. “So the deal was I pick the place and you pick the food. I got the place all set up. Are we all ready to order,” she asked taking another draw on her drink. The use of a plural pronoun was to subtly find out if they needed two chairs or eight. The drink covering part of her face would hide her disappointment if his response was for a setting of octuplets versus a duo.
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: : : : : : : : : Ensign Jessica Vaughn, security
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: : : : : : : : Aedan was surprised she went back to the bar after he paid. “No no sweetheart, not at the bar.” he said as he took her arm and guided her away.
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: : : : : : : : “I wasn’t planning on sharing my evening with anyone else but you. Come on lets go get a table okay?” he said, smiling and clearly showing he was given her more interest than anyone there right now.
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: : : : : : : : ~Aedan Teller
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: : : : : : : “Not so fast there charmer,” Jessica held onto his arm as the walked away from the bar. She liked the “If you remember our agreement it was that you picked the food but I picked the place. We are so not staying here.” Jessica looked at him with a raised eyebrow wondering if he had the balls to take a chance with her. He didn’t look like the outdoorsy type but for now, she would not hold it against him.
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: : : : : : “Oh? This place felt so quaint, I like it here.” he said looking around the place, it wasn’t what some people thought Aedan would go to but he wasn’t one for silver spoon type antics.
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: : : : : : : “Okay so I eat just about anything just don’t treat me like some anorexic swimsuit model that is scared to eat a sandwich. You order me whatever you were thinking of here but get it to go.” Jessica looked at her watch and then back to Teller.
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: : : : : : “Are we timing this adventure?” he said a smirk forming on his lips. “Fine, I will get the food… maybe the best way is to just have it sent to us.”
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: : : : : She let out a half laugh and shook her head with a good-natured grin. “Not if you can keep me amused but yes, we do only have the venue for a short period of time,” Jessica said with a smile.
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: : : : : : He stepped away from her and found a waiter, he whispered in the his ear for a moment, trying to keep it a surprise where they might be going.
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: : : : : Jessica watched Teller trying to make the evening nice and felt a pang at her cloak and dagger motif. She just wanted to read his expression on his face when they got there. While her interests were varied, the evening she had planned would give her far more insight about Aeden Teller than if she had let him plan it. It was also slightly about control. Jessica liked it and wanted to keep it. Not in a domineering, subversive, or mean way but more that she knew what was going to happen. While some surprises were good, first date surprises never, ever worked out in her favor. The memory of one Revery Lewin Ortell burst forth causing her to stifle a laugh with the back of her hand. That man had ruined the chances of all men after him for surprising Miss Jessica Elizabeth Vaughn.
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: : : : : : : A long time ago Jessica learned that “dating” was not all that it was cracked up to be. She rarely went to dinner on the first real date or anything that required more than an hour of her life. Meeting for coffee was prefect. It was fast, cheap, and had a natural end point not matter who long you sipped on the cup of Joe. Jessica was not sure how the night was going to go with Teller. Her big concern was that the date would flop, he would have tried to impress her with his money, and she would feel like crap ducking a kiss at the end of the night.
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: : : : : : : Ensign Jessica Vaughn, security
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: : : : : : “Alright, you ready?” he asked her offering his hand to her. “I don’t know the station at all, so you put me in a very tough spot. So the waiter gave me an idea.” he said smiling at her. He wondered if she would even like the plan, but she was intriguing him and he wanted to show her a different side of him than she might think he has.
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: : : : : : ~Aedan Teller
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: : : : : “Oh no Mr. Teller. I told you. I make the plans and you follow it. This is my home quarter advantage. I got this,” she smiled taking his hand in hers. Strangely the feeling of his hand in hers felt comfortable.
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: : : : : “Just tell the waiter to bring it to holodeck 2,” she held up her index and middle finger as if Teller needed a visual. Several seconds passed before she leaned forward, balanced herself on him using his hand to stabilize her, pressed her lips to his ear, and whispered. “Take a chance on me. The worst thing that can happen is you never see me again. The best thing is that you might have some low brow fun”
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: : : : : Ensign Jessica Vaughn, security
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: : : : Aedan eyed her carefully. “No, I don’t think so. You already picked the place now it’s on me. So we are going to have it my way. That or I can just go back to the bar and see if I can figure out those lovely ladies names.
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: : : : ~Aedan Teller
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: : : “Pick the place,” she looked at him like he was crazy. “I said we were meeting at Ferengi Jo’s. Meee tinnnnng,” she drew out the word. The whole reason she did it this way was to not make the date seem like a date date. Jessica signed heavily. This was the second time Aeden Teller had manipulated her words to clearly block Jessica’s attempt to control his actions. As annoyingly frustrating as he was, she found his confidence to be very enticing. For years men had simply been sheeple following her where she wanted to go. That was almost as annoying as Teller not following her. She debated about whether or not to follow his lead. Then his words of having it his way flooed her mind.
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: : : Jessica thought about his veiled threat at the end of his sentence to return to the flock of women praying for his return and made a decision. “You know what..go,” she said shaking her interlocked fingers from his. “You are hot but not that hot.”
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: : “Oh sweetheart you know that’s just not true” he said as he stood there very sure of himself.
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: : : “I am going to walk over to the bar and order a burger for myself. Go have fun with Hilda Hyena,” Jessica imitated the braying, twitter filled fake laugh the women was emitting when Teller told his joke before her arrival to punctuate the sentence.
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: : “Well she at least knows what she wants”
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: : : “Good night, Mr. Teller. Thank you for an eventful evening. You might have even topped Ortell on my memorable date list and THAT was a challenge,” she said walking up to the bar and getting a seat at the counter.
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: : : Ensign Jessica Vaughn, security
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: : “So that’s how you react if you can’t have it your way? I thought you would fight far harder than this. Guess Ms Adams was right to try and stop me from coming. I figured you would be far more willing to fight to have your way. I guess your giving up in the docking bay should have been a sign.” He said feeling disappointed in her willingness to give up so easily.
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: : Aedan looked over to where the three ladies were still at and figured he would have just a normal night rather than an adventurous one.
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: : ~Aedan Teller
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: “What did you just say,” Jessica turned on her stool to face him. Her voice was loud enough to stop the conversations around her. The people to the right and left of her separated enough to clear a path between Jessica and Teller. From the perspective of the bar, the scene might have resembled an old fashioned western standoff: Only words were being drawn not colt 45’s.
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: Ensign Jessica Vaughn, security
“You heard me, you had the courage to come to the docking bay, the courage to try and turn this around take control and I through in one little wrench and you back down. Doesn’t seem like you, granted I haven’t got to know maybe you back down from a challenge, I was hoping not. You seemed far more interesting than the average girl I meet.” he said, staring her down.
~Aedan Teller
“Courage? Courage,” she repeated the word glaring back at him. “You arse that was my job.” Jessica looked at the man next to her. “We were supposed to be going on a date. The agreement was he picked the food I picked the place. When I called him out he threw a tantrum and told me he was going to find someone less feisty. Guess he is looking for vanilla instead of fudge ripple.” As soon as the words left her mouth Jessica wanted to slap her forehead. Fudge Ripple? Really Jessica really. You could not come up with something better than vanilla with a stripe of chocolate, her inner voice ranted.
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: : : : : : : : : : : “Oh don’t bullcrap me, you know as well as I do protocol would have had more than you by yourself showing up. There wasn’t another crew member in site to help secure the ship or do any kind of other inspection, not a single ops member or engineer. Just cause I had made it so that the ship inspection was delayed didn’t mean there isn’t anything else done. This isn’t my first docking experience. My ship begs people to come to make sure we are who we say we are. You wanted to see for yourself, your own agenda which you have yet to tell me about.” he said as he watched her closely.
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: : : : : : : : : : “Well if it was going to be such an easy peasy docking experience why would you need a horde of officials checking you in,” she yelled back. If there had been a condiment container nearby, Jessica might have lobbed it at him.
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: : : : : : : : : : : Instead, trying to save face, Jessica signaled the bartender. “Drambuie,” she ordered a shot feeling her frustration build. While waiting for her drink, Jessica hurled one more threat his way only this one wasn’t veiled. “Oh and tell Ms. Adams to steer clear of me or I will report to medical she is exhibiting symptoms from the recent tribble outbreak.” The idea that the little twit, Teller called his assistant suggested he avoid Jessica really miffed her off.
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: : : : : : : : : : : : Ensign Jessica Vaughn, security
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: : : : : : : : : : : “Does she irritate you that much?” he said smiling, Jessica Adams did have her own fiery streak that caused some people to react this way. “She’s gonna be busy as it is.” he said as he sat down on the bar stool facing the entrance of the restaurant.
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: : : : : : : : : : “My granny told me once that if you aint got nuttin’ nice to say you’d best keep your trap shut,” Jessica’s thick Texas slang coated her words as it always did when she got fired up. “I think I’ll be fallin’ that add vice.” Downing the shot of Drambuie, Jessica worked hard not to let out a grunt as the fiery liquid burned going down her throat. Instead, she let little coughs puff out her cheeks as she fought to appear able to hold her liquor.
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: : : : : : : : : : : “You do know you broke your very own rules for the date, you said and I quote ‘I pick the place you pay the tab’. he said looking over at her. “If I was going to pay the tab, I would picked a place with far better burgers and fries… not this place… so you gotta decide what you want. Do you want me to bring the food and you pick the place to eat? That’s a different arrangement, and you know it. So… you want to cry foul you can, but I am exact in my dealings and I don’t forget anything.” he said as he got off the stool. “So how about you take me to that holodeck and you just let me come up with the food on my own, and not limit me to the grease stain?”
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: : : : : : : : : : : ~Aedan Teller
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: : : : : : : : : : Jessica opened her mouth to point out he was wrong, only she stopped realizing she wanted the first statement but asked for the second.
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: : : : : : : : : : “Yo buddy this place ain’t no grease stain. We use real meat,” the bartender shot back. He like everyone else in the bar was watching the verbal ping pong match between Vaughn and Teller like it was a sporting event.
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: : : : : : : : : : “Shut up Merle,” Jessica waved him off with a swipe of her hand. Taking a step forward, she looked at Teller raising her chin in a defiant manner. She also squared her shoulders and stood up straighter hoping to decrease their height difference if only visually.
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: : : : : : : : : : “I would have loved to take you to the holodeck but I only requested it for an hour. You have monkeyed around long enough that there is no point in going. Since we are not on an actual planet, we can’t walk outside so it is grease stain or slightly less grease stain,” she informed him with a slight edge to her voice.
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: : : : : : : : : : Ensign Jessica Vaughn, security
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: : : : : : : : : “Well then you just have to do my original plan then.” he said biting his lower lip. “If you had just asked my plan, it was to take you to my ship which does have it’s own holodeck. Surely you can recreate whatever you wanted there, and no time limits.” he said looking at her with his piercing blue eyes. It was a challenge, he wanted to see how she would take it.
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: : : : : : : : : ~Aedan Teller
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: : : : : : : : Jessica looked at Teller and held her own under his stare. She could see how this look would intimidate some. his gaze was unwavering and fixed solidly on her face. If she wasn’t used to six foot, imposing men trying to remind her was only 5‘4” Jessica might have backed down; however, she was used to holding her own. “”You made plans,” she looked at him skeptically, “or did the lesser Jessica come up with some sure fire way to promise you an easy score for the evening?”
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: : : : : : : : Ensign Jessica Vaughn, security
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: : : : : : : “Do you always over analyse everything? Plans as in where I told the waiter to take the food, as in what I thought of just moments before you tried to turn the tables on me… again.” he said, feeling a bit frustrated at her but clearly still amused. Which was good for her, if he was bored this would have been over very quickly. “So… what is it going to be? Do you want to spend an evening where we can actually talk like adults and maybe get to know each other better, or are we going to sit here screaming at each other all night? If it’s the later can we at least get more drinks in us?”
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: : : : : : : ~Aedan Teller
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: : : : : : Jessica thought about each statement independently. Of course she over analyzed. She was a woman. That is exactly what they did. She may not admit to him that she chose this outfit with him in mind but she did. Jessica knew it showed just a hint of her mid-drift each time she reached forward. She had planned this to be of great use in her holodeck program. The part that made Jessica on edge was spending the evening with him. She had no false delusions that one evening with Aeden Teller would alter her life. She had no proof however it wouldn’t. Looking at her watch and letting out a deep sigh.
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: : : : : : “I have to be home by 9....10....10:30,” she rapidly changed her statement as soon as it left her mouth. Jessica raked her bottom lip with her top teeth for a second frustraed with herself. What the heck Vaughn? Are you in middle school? 9pm? 9! Nice move there slick. Now he is going to think he makes you nervous. Focus. Say something intelligent to get the upper hand back, her mind reprimanded her silently in her head.
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: : : : : “Oh I don’t know if my ship has a internal clock, we will have to see.” he said teasingly but clearly enjoying her all the same.
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: : : : : : “We should go,” Jessica shoved her hands in her front pockets turning around towards the door. She had no idea if that was the direction they were heading. She just needed a moment to regain her composure.
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: : : : : : Ensign Jessica Vaughn, security
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: : : : : Aedan took her back to his docking bay entrance where his ship was docked. “Where we first meet, such wonderful memories.” he said as he turned around and began walking backwards. “You have got to be one of the most beautiful and stubborn women I have meet. Somehow I think you might be worth getting to know more…” he said stopping in front of her smiling softly. “I don’t say this often, but for what it’s worth… you have made the night so far beyond memorable… not sure if it’ll be a good memory or not yet… but you are supposed to wow me with your holoprogram yes? I have a feeling it’ll get much better in a moment.”
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: : : : : ~Aedan Teller
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: : : : Jessica stifled a grin remembering the encounter hours earlier. She would not show him how amused she was by his walking backward stunt. She knew it was a ploy to make him seem adorably sexy and more down to Earth. You are good Mr. Teller, she commented to herself watching him. If Jessica was as easily distracted, as he was assuming by her hair color, she would do the coy laugh and hair flip. Back in Texas, this was referred to the ‘lasso them in’ move. It rarely failed. Aeden Teller was a different type man. He had a backbone or maybe he really just thought of women as a plaything for the night. Either way it didn’t matter because Jessica would be gone in the next two hours.
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: : : : “Aedan,” Jessica used his given name in dropping her tone to almost a whisper. Her face took on a softer smile. “Are your legs tired,” she let her voice trail off for a brief second, “because you have been walking in and out of my dreams all night cowboy,” she fired back at him. Jessica’s expression broke from the love-struck teen to a humorous grin. “Now that is a pick up line. If you are gonna go for it, go big or go home,” she joked. Although she liked his pick up line, Aeden was right about what he said back at Ferengi Jo’s. They needed to cut the crap or this was going to be the longest night of their lives and the Outpost was too small to have an enemies on it.
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: : “That is cheesy as hell.” he retorted, but enjoying it all the same.
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: : : : “You don’t have to tell me I am beautiful to have dinner with you or give me false flattery. Heck, I pretty much didn’t like you six hours ago and still showed up. Only now I am debating about letting you choosing any facet of the evening,” Jessica instinctively rubbed a hand over her rumbling stomach to silence it. He was being so secretive about what he was planning to feed her. If he went to the trouble of providing a gourmet dinner with serving portions the size of quarters and dimes, Jessica would eat it politely and grab something back in her room. She would also make the mental note to eat before any date of his in the future. Concerned she could die of malnutrition, Jessica she looked at him. Maybe she could subtlely direct his choice of dinner selection by a little honesty. “I am just looking for an average Joe. Pretty boys are too much work. Can you go back to that time when you had nothing in your life and be an average joe for the night,” Jessica looked at Teller sincerely. He had no idea what she had planned. His answer, and if she believed it would dictate the program she would run for him
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: : : : Ensign Jessica Vaughn, security
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: : “Well I never once said you were beautiful to get you to go anywhere. You agreed to the date, and coming up here without me saying one nice thing about you I think, I figured it was simply time.” he said stopping abruptly so she would have to stop too. “Besides, nothing I have said is false whatsoever. You know damn well it’s all true, don’t act like you are oblivious to your own appeal, I like women who are confident in themselves… I mean come on, what you are wearing....” he paused as he looked her up and down before biting his lower lip. “Very confident indeed, without being slutty… tastefully alluring.”
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: “Huh,” Jessica nodded looking around with an expression of false shock. “Ya’ know this is the same place Ms. Personality called me a Rent-a-cop. You sir just insinuated with a different choice of attire I could be a prostitute. I am not sure I have ever ben insulted twice in the same spot. Tell me Mr. Teller,” she looked at him with an amused expression, “I simply must know where you two went to charm school. I mean my momma and daddy,” she let a thick Texas twang drip from her words, “should have picked better for me.” Jessica purposely took the comment in the direction Aeden did not intend. It was more to see how he would react than with annoyance with him. Jessica was finding him both annoying and intriguing, a complicated puzzle and a simple primer, a guy she could fall for and a guy she could hate. Right now she did not know which combination of words described Aeden Teller best.
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: : He opened the hatch and let her on the ship. There was a few people hanging about but most of the crew was getting in as many repairs and upgrades to the shop before Daria had to update the EPS. The ship had a small little dining area, cleared out at this time. One table was filled with good from Ferengi Jo’s. He had selected things he enjoyed as a kid, burgers, fries, onion rings, fried cheese jalapenos. These were luxuries to him growing up, and he missed them at times. There was even a few milkshakes of varying flavors all waiting for them.
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: : “So, you said you were hungry, and I have a habit of always trying things like this at any new place I go, if they can cook burgers and fries well then maybe they know how to cook other things too.” he said look at her, trying to gauge her response to his selection.
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: : ~Aedan Teller
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“Please god tell me that is real bacon and not that turkey bacon crap most places slap on to make this greasy hunk of heaven,” Jessica picked up a burger pulling the paper back. She sunk her teeth into the soft bun and let out a whimper followed by the complete relaxation of her shoulders savoring the large bite.
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: : : : : : : “There is other types of bacon?” he said as he arched his eyebrow at her.
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: : : : : : “If you ask the lovey dovey tree huggers there is but not in Texas,” she replied with a wink taking another large bite.
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: : : : : : : After chewing for several seconds, she put a hand over her mouth to speak. “Oh my Gawd is dis gooood,” she said still chewing and letting out a small laugh. She forced the large bite down a second later.
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: : : : : : : “Well I hope so, I threatened the cook to make how I like.” he said, smirking slightly. It was unsure if he was for real or not. With his past, he very well could be serious. He began to chow down some too, he closed his eyes savoring the bites as much as she did.
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: : : : : : : : “I skipped breakfast to check in this rich guy with a fancy dancy shuttle only he gave me a complete run around,” Jessica joked eyeing the milkshakes. She picked one that was tan colored hoping it was caramel or peanut butter. A long draw on the straw confirmed it was her favorite.
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: : : : : : : “Oh you think it’s fancy now do we?” he said as he grabbed one of the root beers he had.
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: : : : : : Jessica grinned at him. There was no denying his ship was beautiful. It fit him perfectly: Sleek clean lines, shiny exterior, and most probably armed to the teeth. “Well it is not a two toned garbage scowl but I don’t see you as the slumming type. There is no crime for liking nice things,” Jessica set her burger down and brushed some imaginary crumbs off her hand looking over the table for a side to her burger. “If there was Starfleet would have a rule for that. Anyway, that is not the topic of conversation, Mr. Teller. The topic is my malnutrition and your part in it.”
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: : : : : : : : “Because he did not let me inspect his ship as per regulation 42 paragraph 6 line B I had to file three times the paperwork missing lunch. It was staff meeting Wednesday as 1200 hours,” she sighed picking up a container of fries. Inspecting them she finally pulled the longest, limp one out of the box. She hated crispy fries. The soft ones were her favorite.
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: : : : : : : Aedan playfully took one of her fries as she ate. “Oh that sounds horrible, whatever will you do if you don’t fill out regulation 42 paragraph 6 line B.” he said, playfully tossing a napkin at her.
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: : : : : : “Lose my job, have to join a band of Orion pirates, orrrrr,” she drew the last word out with a fake smile crossing her face, “become a rent a cop.” Jessica put on an over to top expression of happiness. “I bet I could even score the intersection with the Andorian Andy’s ice cream cart and Starcredits coffee shop.” Jessica leaned in and looked around conspiratorially. “I heard they give out free coffee if you score the early shift,” she smiled leaning back in her chair. “Now stop interrupting and let me finish how you made me suffer all day,” she tossed back his balled up napkin.
: : : : :
: : : : : “Oh you could always join my crew.” he said smirking a bit as he ate some more fries.
: : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : “So by the time I got out of the meeting, it was 1400 hours. Since I did not want to ruin my dinner plans I held off snacking,” Jessica stated. “Now I am looking at close to 24 hours with nothing in my system but ten cups of coffee and one beer. That is why I am going to make my grandmother roll over in her grave as I inhale this burger in probably the most unladylike way possible. You should shield your eyes,” Jessica joked taking another large bite. Again she sighed eating it only this time she did not stop to talk as she chewed.
: : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : Ensign Jessica Vaughn, Security
: : : : : : :
: : : : : : : “I always love a girl who can handle a lot in her mouth at once.” Aedan said, as he nonchalantly sipped on his shake he had grabbed.
: : : : : : :
: : : : : : : ~Aedan Teller
: : : : : :
: : : : : : Jessica looked at him and picked up her sandwich. Slowly she shoved in the entire second half of her double pattyed bacon cheese burger until her cheeks puffed out like some deranaged hamster. She could barely close her lips around the bite let alone chew it. “Wike is,” she mumbled out. She knew what he had meant only as usualy, Jessica took it one step farther. She also had no idea what to do next. Her mouth was so full she could barely chew, yet she never backed down from a dare or a challenge.
: : : : : :
: : : : : : Ensign Jessica Vaughn, Security
: : : : :
: : : : : “So, do I get to find out know if you swallow or spit?” he said as he arched his eyebrow, thoroughly entertained by her actions.
: : : : :
: : : : : ~Aedan Teller
: : : :
: : : : Jessica put a napkin over her mouth as she worked the overly large mouthful. It took almost a minute for her to swallow the bite before she could reply. “Well I just did, didn’t I,” Jessica grabbed her milkshake and stood up. With her stomach finally filled, she cast a long look at Aeden Teller. This evening had been had not been what she had expected so far. Aedan was a man of 1000 faces. So far she had uncovered two. One she was highly attracted to. The other she could walk away from. If someone asked Jessica tomorrow if she was attracted to him she would not have a straight answer. A fast glance at the clock revealed Jessica had one hour and fifteen minutes left to figure it out.
: : : :
: : :
: : : “Good girl.” he said smirking. “So I hope you approve of my choices. I felt we could just relax, not try to be so serious and just enjoy an evening together… wasn’t so bad was it?” he said as he bit his lower lip.
: :
: : “I have spent worse,” she fought not to grin back. The truth was Morning Teller, Captian of the Sabre, and general all around pain in the butt, was far different than Evening Teller, charming, funny, and was making her enjoy the night more than she wanted to admit. Jessica did not know why she accepted the invitation in the first place; however, now she was glad she did.
: : :
: : : : The deal was he picked up the tab and she provided the entertainment for the evening. Three options immediately came to mind. Jessica immediately dismissed one and pondered the last two. The sound of air coming through her straw slurping the last bits of milkshake acted like a timer. “When you are finished eating we can go,” she said in a neutral tone. She hoped she hid some of the nervousness in her voice. The next hour would determine for her if she sought out Teller’s company again or if he would become one of the nameless faces passing her in the halls of the outpost.
: : : :
: : : : Ensign Jessica Vaughn, Security
: : :
: : : “Oh sweetheart I am very very ready. You have me all tingly inside on what you might have planed. You need the holodeck right? Come on.” he said as he stood up, offering his hand to help her out. “See I can be gentleman like.” he said teasing her clearly.
: : :
: : : ~Aedan Teller
: :
: : “I never doubted that side of you. I just was unsure I would see it. You have to admit this morning was a bit rough. Kinda like the civil war from ancient American history,” Jessica took his hand letting him lead her where they needed to go. “Only I would so have been the North even though I am from the South,” she let out a half laugh. She had planned for her analogy to show she had won the battle this morning; however, the hint of a soft southern twang every so often placed her on the losing team in that war. He way he was holding her hand added to the illusion of her losing a battle.
: :
:
: “Oh really? I’m the south, who has you on my ship?” he said with a smirk at her.
:
: : His grip was much firmer than she had expected. To her, Aeden’s grip was confident almost to the point of arrogance. His hand held her’s like it belonged to him and had always. Jessica was not sure how she felt about this in the long run but tonight she would allow it. It was only a dinner date.
: :
: : Exiting the turbo, Aeden led her to the ship’s holodeck. It was only then he released her hand as he gestured forward to the control panel. Jessica put in the code and then smiled at him. If he survived this, maybe they would have a second date.
: :
: : The holodeck doors opened to a large room filled with five rows of folding tables. Each row had four tables in it lined with black pleather chairs. The floor was covered in what could best be described as old-fashioned indoor/outdoor carpeting. The print was a dark navy with a mini daisy-like print. The air held the slight scent of mothballs and baby powder probably due to the occupants of the room. No one except for Teller and Jessica seemed to be under 90. On one wall was a large PaDD showing a five by five grid. Each of the 25 squares had a number in it with the top of the grid spelling out B. I. N. G.O.
: :
: : Jessica gave him a sly smile and took his hand leading Teller to the main table where an elderly woman with a huge ball of white hair shalacked into a stiff bun was passing out papers and bingo daubers. “Ready to take me home,” she challenged him. “This game is not for the weak-hearted or non-fleet footed scanner. I am not sure you will survive so stay close,” she teased easing him into the line filled with already grumpy senior citizens complaining of the free coffee and stale donuts.
: :
: : Ensign Jessica Vaughn, security
:
: “This is not what I expected.... but you did promise me a time of my life, so I will trust you.” he said as he looked at her, and with those words she would know he wasn’t just being flirty. He really was trusting her here and he was willing to give her some control.
:
: ~Aedan Teller “Good,” she smiled. Jessica waited for their turn eventually approaching the women passing out the bingo cards. “Okay need eightyyyyyy…um,” Jessica looked Teller up and down. She doubted he could keep up with twenty cards. Aeden might be a wiz at business but bingo was different. Bingo could eat you alive. : : : : : : “Come on honey you are holding up the line,” the woman snapped at Jessica. “How fast are you,” she looked at Teller unsure how many cards she should buy. : : : : : : Ensign Jessica Vaughn, security : : : : “That depends on what I am doing… I must admit I have never played BINGO, what is the objective?” he asked her, seemed perplexed but felt like a teenager with her. He felt this need to impress and do what she was doing right now. He shook his head slightly, that was an unhealthy thought. He didn’t like people getting close. : : : : ~Aedan Teller : : “Give me eighty cards,” Jessica said smiling at Teller. : : The woman gave Jessica a derisive little snort and handed over the cards. “Ignore her,” Jessica pulled Teller to a table and set the cards down. She arranged ten cards in front of Teller and ten in front of herself. Unscrewing the top of the bingo dauber she handed him the cylinder. “Okay, so it is simple. The caller is going to announce a series of numbers with a letter. You mark off the number on your card. Simple huh,” Jessica smiled at Teller uncapping her own daubers. : : “Okay people you know the rules,” a Ferengi stood up on a stool addressing the crowd. “I don’t slow down. I don’t repeat. You make a mistake and you are out of the game and no refunds.” : : “B 10” : : “G 64” : : “I 18” : : “B 6” : : “O 72” : : “N 32” : : “N 36” : : The Ferengi called out the numbers like he was reading off a set of coordinates. Jessica scanned her card rapidly blotting out numbers only mildly annoyed the Ferengi ball announcer did not activate the huge wall PaDD it remind the participants of the balls called. She cast a glance over at Teller to see how he was holding up. : : “N 44” : : “G 56” : : “B 1” : : The numbers were coming faster and faster. Jessica could not divert her attention of risk missing a number. “How you doing hero,” she asked Teller rapidly scanning each card and making the appropriate marks where necessary. : : Lt. Commander Jessica Vaughn XO Aedan was perplexed at first but smiled as he began to get what was going on. “Is this a Texas thing?” he asked, stamping the pages as he glanced over at her. He noticed as he did a strain of her hair was moving down her face, he let himself push it back for her so she could focus… loosing several calls in the process. ~Aedan Teller
“Please god tell me that is real bacon and not that turkey bacon crap most places slap on to make this greasy hunk of heaven,” Jessica picked up a burger pulling the paper back. She sunk her teeth into the soft bun and let out a whimper followed by the complete relaxation of her shoulders savoring the large bite.
: : : : : : :
: : : : : : : “There is other types of bacon?” he said as he arched his eyebrow at her.
: : : : : :
: : : : : : “If you ask the lovey dovey tree huggers there is but not in Texas,” she replied with a wink taking another large bite.
: : : : : : :
: : : : : : : After chewing for several seconds, she put a hand over her mouth to speak. “Oh my Gawd is dis gooood,” she said still chewing and letting out a small laugh. She forced the large bite down a second later.
: : : : : : :
: : : : : : : “Well I hope so, I threatened the cook to make how I like.” he said, smirking slightly. It was unsure if he was for real or not. With his past, he very well could be serious. He began to chow down some too, he closed his eyes savoring the bites as much as she did.
: : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : “I skipped breakfast to check in this rich guy with a fancy dancy shuttle only he gave me a complete run around,” Jessica joked eyeing the milkshakes. She picked one that was tan colored hoping it was caramel or peanut butter. A long draw on the straw confirmed it was her favorite.
: : : : : : :
: : : : : : : “Oh you think it’s fancy now do we?” he said as he grabbed one of the root beers he had.
: : : : : : : :
: : : : : : Jessica grinned at him. There was no denying his ship was beautiful. It fit him perfectly: Sleek clean lines, shiny exterior, and most probably armed to the teeth. “Well it is not a two toned garbage scowl but I don’t see you as the slumming type. There is no crime for liking nice things,” Jessica set her burger down and brushed some imaginary crumbs off her hand looking over the table for a side to her burger. “If there was Starfleet would have a rule for that. Anyway, that is not the topic of conversation, Mr. Teller. The topic is my malnutrition and your part in it.”
: : : : : :
: : : : : : : : “Because he did not let me inspect his ship as per regulation 42 paragraph 6 line B I had to file three times the paperwork missing lunch. It was staff meeting Wednesday as 1200 hours,” she sighed picking up a container of fries. Inspecting them she finally pulled the longest, limp one out of the box. She hated crispy fries. The soft ones were her favorite.
: : : : : : : :
: : : : : : :
: : : : : : : Aedan playfully took one of her fries as she ate. “Oh that sounds horrible, whatever will you do if you don’t fill out regulation 42 paragraph 6 line B.” he said, playfully tossing a napkin at her.
: : : : : :
: : : : : : “Lose my job, have to join a band of Orion pirates, orrrrr,” she drew the last word out with a fake smile crossing her face, “become a rent a cop.” Jessica put on an over to top expression of happiness. “I bet I could even score the intersection with the Andorian Andy’s ice cream cart and Starcredits coffee shop.” Jessica leaned in and looked around conspiratorially. “I heard they give out free coffee if you score the early shift,” she smiled leaning back in her chair. “Now stop interrupting and let me finish how you made me suffer all day,” she tossed back his balled up napkin.
: : : : :
: : : : : “Oh you could always join my crew.” he said smirking a bit as he ate some more fries.
: : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : “So by the time I got out of the meeting, it was 1400 hours. Since I did not want to ruin my dinner plans I held off snacking,” Jessica stated. “Now I am looking at close to 24 hours with nothing in my system but ten cups of coffee and one beer. That is why I am going to make my grandmother roll over in her grave as I inhale this burger in probably the most unladylike way possible. You should shield your eyes,” Jessica joked taking another large bite. Again she sighed eating it only this time she did not stop to talk as she chewed.
: : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : Ensign Jessica Vaughn, Security
: : : : : : :
: : : : : : : “I always love a girl who can handle a lot in her mouth at once.” Aedan said, as he nonchalantly sipped on his shake he had grabbed.
: : : : : : :
: : : : : : : ~Aedan Teller
: : : : : :
: : : : : : Jessica looked at him and picked up her sandwich. Slowly she shoved in the entire second half of her double pattyed bacon cheese burger until her cheeks puffed out like some deranaged hamster. She could barely close her lips around the bite let alone chew it. “Wike is,” she mumbled out. She knew what he had meant only as usualy, Jessica took it one step farther. She also had no idea what to do next. Her mouth was so full she could barely chew, yet she never backed down from a dare or a challenge.
: : : : : :
: : : : : : Ensign Jessica Vaughn, Security
: : : : :
: : : : : “So, do I get to find out know if you swallow or spit?” he said as he arched his eyebrow, thoroughly entertained by her actions.
: : : : :
: : : : : ~Aedan Teller
: : : :
: : : : Jessica put a napkin over her mouth as she worked the overly large mouthful. It took almost a minute for her to swallow the bite before she could reply. “Well I just did, didn’t I,” Jessica grabbed her milkshake and stood up. With her stomach finally filled, she cast a long look at Aeden Teller. This evening had been had not been what she had expected so far. Aedan was a man of 1000 faces. So far she had uncovered two. One she was highly attracted to. The other she could walk away from. If someone asked Jessica tomorrow if she was attracted to him she would not have a straight answer. A fast glance at the clock revealed Jessica had one hour and fifteen minutes left to figure it out.
: : : :
: : :
: : : “Good girl.” he said smirking. “So I hope you approve of my choices. I felt we could just relax, not try to be so serious and just enjoy an evening together… wasn’t so bad was it?” he said as he bit his lower lip.
: :
: : “I have spent worse,” she fought not to grin back. The truth was Morning Teller, Captian of the Sabre, and general all around pain in the butt, was far different than Evening Teller, charming, funny, and was making her enjoy the night more than she wanted to admit. Jessica did not know why she accepted the invitation in the first place; however, now she was glad she did.
: : :
: : : : The deal was he picked up the tab and she provided the entertainment for the evening. Three options immediately came to mind. Jessica immediately dismissed one and pondered the last two. The sound of air coming through her straw slurping the last bits of milkshake acted like a timer. “When you are finished eating we can go,” she said in a neutral tone. She hoped she hid some of the nervousness in her voice. The next hour would determine for her if she sought out Teller’s company again or if he would become one of the nameless faces passing her in the halls of the outpost.
: : : :
: : : : Ensign Jessica Vaughn, Security
: : :
: : : “Oh sweetheart I am very very ready. You have me all tingly inside on what you might have planed. You need the holodeck right? Come on.” he said as he stood up, offering his hand to help her out. “See I can be gentleman like.” he said teasing her clearly.
: : :
: : : ~Aedan Teller
: :
: : “I never doubted that side of you. I just was unsure I would see it. You have to admit this morning was a bit rough. Kinda like the civil war from ancient American history,” Jessica took his hand letting him lead her where they needed to go. “Only I would so have been the North even though I am from the South,” she let out a half laugh. She had planned for her analogy to show she had won the battle this morning; however, the hint of a soft southern twang every so often placed her on the losing team in that war. He way he was holding her hand added to the illusion of her losing a battle.
: :
:
: “Oh really? I’m the south, who has you on my ship?” he said with a smirk at her.
:
: : His grip was much firmer than she had expected. To her, Aeden’s grip was confident almost to the point of arrogance. His hand held her’s like it belonged to him and had always. Jessica was not sure how she felt about this in the long run but tonight she would allow it. It was only a dinner date.
: :
: : Exiting the turbo, Aeden led her to the ship’s holodeck. It was only then he released her hand as he gestured forward to the control panel. Jessica put in the code and then smiled at him. If he survived this, maybe they would have a second date.
: :
: : The holodeck doors opened to a large room filled with five rows of folding tables. Each row had four tables in it lined with black pleather chairs. The floor was covered in what could best be described as old-fashioned indoor/outdoor carpeting. The print was a dark navy with a mini daisy-like print. The air held the slight scent of mothballs and baby powder probably due to the occupants of the room. No one except for Teller and Jessica seemed to be under 90. On one wall was a large PaDD showing a five by five grid. Each of the 25 squares had a number in it with the top of the grid spelling out B. I. N. G.O.
: :
: : Jessica gave him a sly smile and took his hand leading Teller to the main table where an elderly woman with a huge ball of white hair shalacked into a stiff bun was passing out papers and bingo daubers. “Ready to take me home,” she challenged him. “This game is not for the weak-hearted or non-fleet footed scanner. I am not sure you will survive so stay close,” she teased easing him into the line filled with already grumpy senior citizens complaining of the free coffee and stale donuts.
: :
: : Ensign Jessica Vaughn, security
:
: “This is not what I expected.... but you did promise me a time of my life, so I will trust you.” he said as he looked at her, and with those words she would know he wasn’t just being flirty. He really was trusting her here and he was willing to give her some control.
:
: ~Aedan Teller “Good,” she smiled. Jessica waited for their turn eventually approaching the women passing out the bingo cards. “Okay need eightyyyyyy…um,” Jessica looked Teller up and down. She doubted he could keep up with twenty cards. Aeden might be a wiz at business but bingo was different. Bingo could eat you alive. : : : : : : “Come on honey you are holding up the line,” the woman snapped at Jessica. “How fast are you,” she looked at Teller unsure how many cards she should buy. : : : : : : Ensign Jessica Vaughn, security : : : : “That depends on what I am doing… I must admit I have never played BINGO, what is the objective?” he asked her, seemed perplexed but felt like a teenager with her. He felt this need to impress and do what she was doing right now. He shook his head slightly, that was an unhealthy thought. He didn’t like people getting close. : : : : ~Aedan Teller : : “Give me eighty cards,” Jessica said smiling at Teller. : : The woman gave Jessica a derisive little snort and handed over the cards. “Ignore her,” Jessica pulled Teller to a table and set the cards down. She arranged ten cards in front of Teller and ten in front of herself. Unscrewing the top of the bingo dauber she handed him the cylinder. “Okay, so it is simple. The caller is going to announce a series of numbers with a letter. You mark off the number on your card. Simple huh,” Jessica smiled at Teller uncapping her own daubers. : : “Okay people you know the rules,” a Ferengi stood up on a stool addressing the crowd. “I don’t slow down. I don’t repeat. You make a mistake and you are out of the game and no refunds.” : : “B 10” : : “G 64” : : “I 18” : : “B 6” : : “O 72” : : “N 32” : : “N 36” : : The Ferengi called out the numbers like he was reading off a set of coordinates. Jessica scanned her card rapidly blotting out numbers only mildly annoyed the Ferengi ball announcer did not activate the huge wall PaDD it remind the participants of the balls called. She cast a glance over at Teller to see how he was holding up. : : “N 44” : : “G 56” : : “B 1” : : The numbers were coming faster and faster. Jessica could not divert her attention of risk missing a number. “How you doing hero,” she asked Teller rapidly scanning each card and making the appropriate marks where necessary. : : Lt. Commander Jessica Vaughn XO Aedan was perplexed at first but smiled as he began to get what was going on. “Is this a Texas thing?” he asked, stamping the pages as he glanced over at her. He noticed as he did a strain of her hair was moving down her face, he let himself push it back for her so she could focus… loosing several calls in the process. ~Aedan Teller
“Heck yes. In Texas you are born and the next week you,” she stopped for the briefest second to scan his sheets and mark off several he missed, “learn to play bingo and cake walk.” Jessica went back to her sheets stealing a glance at the old lady next to her.
:
B 11..... O 70
The Ferengi caller was yelling out numbers almost faster than she could keep up. “Pwwwwwah… Pwwhaaaah,” Jessica blew puffs of air out of the corner of her mouth trying to clear her field of vision so she could play. She did not have time to stop to shove the lock of hair out of her face and keep up with the caller. “Pwhhhhhaaa,” she drew the sound out as she felt fingertips brush the side of her face moving the hair. The action made her stop playing. G30......I 22......O 69 The numbers kept coming but Jessica looked at Aeden not sure what to say. As his hand moved back he knocked several more loose. Jessica stared at Aeden with only one thought on her mind. Well, there were more but only one she would voice. “Um Aeden…you need to keep up,” she said in a low whisper. The room’s background noise seemed to dim as she looked at him.:
“I think I am doing exactly what you want right now.” he said as he looked back her, his voice low and sultry almost as he spoke.“Yes you do,”Ethel, an elder lady, yelled at Teller rapidly stamping not only her twenty sheets but Aeden’s ten.
:
“See Ethel loves me.” he said as he winked at the old lady.“These young kids can’t keep up Ethel,” Lucy, the elderly woman snapped taking over Jessica’s sheets as well.
I 24.......N30..... Lucy and Ethel taking over her and Teller’s cards annoyed Jessica more than their comments. “Hey it is just Bingo,” Jessica snapped loudly. her face went blank as she clapped a hand over her mouth. Her eyes got large as she looked at Aeden. “Mow mow mow,” she mumbled behind her hand, shaking her head. “And we have a winner. Let me see,” the Ferengi stormed up to the table amidst groans from the crowd. “Oh my God what are we going to do,” Jessica grabbed the front of Aeden’s shirt with both her hands. Her actions and expression showed she was close to panic. “I said Bingo,” her voice came out in a squeak. Lt. Commander Jessica Vaughn, XOAedan had a large smirk as she sat so flustered. “That would be us!” he said, knowing exactly what he was doing in that moment. “I am sure one of these won right?” he said as he looked over at her winking. “It’s my first time clearly so I may have shot my load too quick… I don’t often jump the gun like that.” he said, clearly taking the blame for her to shield her embarrassment.
~Aedan Teller
Jessica watched Aeden carefully. She doubted he wanted her to see this side of him or maybe he did. Most people were pretty vanilla. You could see their motives 1000 yards away. Aeden was not so clear even at the two feet separating them. His arrest record showed anyone with a lick of sense the man was not the upstanding member of society the public relations pieces touted him as. No one got arrested and released that many times without some sliver of truth to the claims. Jessica’s issue was that she was no longer seeing him as a threat. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : “I will lodge a complaint against Starfleet the Ensign. I will press a civil action. Do not cross me Mr. Teller. I will recieve th profits I am due. You can check my logs and equpitment any time you like....with a warrant,” the Ferengi spat. While his words were fiery, he was glad there was a table separating them. Why the blonde was standing there stupified annoyed him. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Aedan wasn’t sure why he was letting this bother him, this was a hologram but he still couldn’t stand the Ferengi. “You couldn’t afford the legal charges to even see the inside of the court. Don’t test me lobes.” : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : The morning he arrived, she was hell fire and determined to rip his ship apart and find something to ban him from the station. Now Jessica only wanted to know more about who he really was. This date never started out as two people wanting to get to know the other on a personal level. It was simply knowing your enemy as Sun Tzu stated; however, somewhere the lines got blurred. Somewhere Jessica stopped seeing Aeden as a target but as a man. 90% of what he did tonight was to gain information about her and not really get to know her. She instinctively knew he would use this information against her at some point. It was the other 10%. The plain choices of milkshake and not the exotic ones to impress her. The fact they ate in his mess hall and not his quarters which would have been lavish and expensive. The fact he stated he loved the fried jalapenos and ate the entire box savoring each one. The way he touched her hair tucking a strand behind her ear. Jessica may be misreading the plethora of details in the 10% that she thought were the real Aeden but it was enough to make her want to discover more. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : “Do not threaten me Mr. Teller. And why do you care about her profits and losses? She paid for the cards. Shrewd and I can admire you for that but it is not like her losses are yours,” the Ferengi balked. Secretly he admired how Aeden had convinced the blonde female to not only be his date but pay. Maybe he might take a run at Jessica himself. If she was willing to be so free with her money on Teller then why not him. He could eat the $3.99 loss if more profits were around the corner. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : “That is none of your damn business, now you will come up with something now.” : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : “Miss Vaughn,” the Ferengi said softening his tone. “Maybe things have gotten out of hand. I propose we stop and discuss this at dinner. You can choose the venue. How about tomorrow at 7,” he suggested with a toothy smile. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : “Don’t you insult her.” he said angrily, he clinched his fist as he did but breathed in. He stood, looked at her and then back at the Ferengi. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Jessica listened to Teller and the Ferengi’s words escalating with her name tossed between them The Ferengi condemning her actions. Teller defending her. While she was not falling for the protect the girl image like many others in the room, she could not miss that every so often his body language spoke differently. Aeden liked to win and right now he was enjoying the verbal tango with the Ferengi probably more than anything else the entire night. Only why did he move in front of her as if to shield her in some way. Why did he just rest his hand on her leg instead of trying to take her hand or wrap an arm over her shoulder? So many things conflicted when she tried to stitch the puzzle together of Aeden Teller. Jessica needed a different approach. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : =/\= Computer run Vaughn South Forty 2000 hours =/\= she commanded. Instantly the room changed from a smelly crowded bingo hall to a large open prarie at sunset. A single tree dotted the landscape as the sky turned a soft pink`ish purple. “I told you the pumpkin patch closed for me at 10:30. The sunset will keep us honest,” she said sitting down on the soft green grass. “We have until the sun goes down. Ever play 20 questions,” she smiled up at him stretching her legs out and leaning back on propped up arms. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Ensign Jessica Vaughn, security : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Aedan looked around, he was glad she stopped, he felt unconformable for a moment though. He didn’t understand why he reacted that way. It wasn’t his style. He got into fights, but seldom over women. “I…” he looked back at her and shook his head, not to say no but to just clear his mind. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : “Please tell me one of them is when are you going to kiss me.” he said, smiling widely at her. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : ~Aedan Teller : : : : : : : : : : : : : : “That is question twenty hero,” she sat up pulling a long weed out of the ground. She slowly began to strip off the leaves idly playing while talking. She had to cool off the conversation. It was half the reason things went downhill so quickly at Bingo World, yet she was not the type to ask the silly girl things like what is favorite song was or what flavor ice cream he liked. Jessica got to the heart of the issues. “Okay, first question. If you could not walk any longer and had to pick one option for mobility what would it be: roller skates or skateboard and why,” She fired up the games immediately. Time was short. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Ensign Jessica Vaughn, security : : : : : : : : : : : : “Skateboard.” he said, as if it was the most obvious answer. He looked at her and smiled as he said it, sitting very close to her as he did so. “Next?” : : : : : : : : : : : : ~Aedan Teller : : : : : : : : : : His answer brought out a large laugh that shook her body. She put up a hand covering her mouth and worked to stifle her laughter. “I’m sorry I just hand a vision of asking your lovely assistant that question and realizing her answer was not in the choices. Okay,” Jessica gave him a mischievous grin. “Do you like Italian or Mexican,” she asked. : : : : : : : : : : Ensign Jessica Vaughn, security : : : : : : : : “That depends, what do you like most? Okay Mexican… no Italian… can we have Italian Mexican?” he said, clearly being playful with a tad bit of flirty. “And don’t worry about her… she isn’t the Jessica I am wanting to spend time with right now by a long shot.” he said as he decided to be somewhat bold, he took her hand in his as he turned her hand up so he could kiss it. : : : : : : : : “Next.” : : : : : : : : ~Aedan Teller : : : : : : “Charmer,” she teased with a big grin and a playful role of her eyes. Her statement was not false in the least. Aeden was charming and sophisticated. He could easily make any women believe she had hooked him for life by the first course of dinner. She had to remember that men like him could have anyone they desired by a snap of his fingers. Jessica had to keep her wits about her. “What color do you love and what color do you hate,” she asked. : : : : : : Ensign Jessica Vaughn, security : : : : “Purple is my favorite… and hate… mauve.” he said, very serious in his tone. As he said this he watched the sunset. “I don’t know if we will get to twenty in time gorgeous, sure you have to go to bed?” he asked her. : : : : ~Aedan Teller : : “Do you like summer, spring, winter, or fall,” she ignored everything but his answer to his question. The truth was she didn’t know if she wanted to go home or to stay. The only thing she knew was she needed more time. Her silly questions would give her time to decide. : : Ensign Jessica Vaughn, security “Winter, for the simple reason I can cuddle with someone I care for by a fireplace. Though bikini season is a second favorite in summer.” he said as he settled in. He didn’t want to leave either, and she was beginning to have more of an effect on him as the night went on. Aedan laid down on his back, he clearly didn’t care if his suit got dirty as he looked up at the sky, he looked over at her and tugged her down with him. He wasn’t trying to force her, but it was clear he wanted her to do as he did. ~Aedan Teller“Well I like faaaahhh,” she said feeling a hand on her shoulder pulling her backward to the ground. It was not hard or forceful but more purposeful in nature. Just like everything about Aeden. She was not put off by it. In fact, she rather liked it. Jessica preferred a man that knew what he wanted and was not scared to go for it.
“You know in some cultures lying on your back and looking at the sky means you are in love,” Jessica pulled Teller’s arm out and laid her head on it. “Lucky for you we are not part of those cultures,” she teased. “Since you finally got me on my back answer me this. What is your favorite constellation,” she asked staring at hers in the night sky. : : : : : : Ensign Jessica Vaughn, security : : : : “Which star system? I don’t stay in the often, if you mean Earth I didn’t live there long… I remember Hydra could be seen from my window at night in the oprhange I grew up in. I always liked it, so that would be my favorite.” he said, and with that he left himself a little vulnerable just then. Few knew of his orphan days in London. : : : : ~Aedan Teller : : “I’m sorry that happened to you,” Jessica said without thinking taking his hand in hers that she was laying on. The instant the words left her mouth she stiffened. Why did you say that? her mind screamed. Jessica felt her heartbeat quicken and she felt like she could not breathe. : : “I…what I meant was....You shouldn’t,” she stammered embarrassed. She bit her lip not sure where to go now. She wanted to explain her thoughts but worried she had offended him. The only thing she could do was ask him for a chance to correct her rude response. “Can I try that again,” she asked turning her head to look in his eyes. She held her breath praying he would give her a second chance. If he didn’t she had no one to blame but herself for not thinking before she spoke. : : Ensign Jessica Vaughn, security Aedan watched her, not showing much before his blue eyes sparked as he leaned in letting his lips lock onto hers. He savored the moment let it soak over him before he let himself slowly separate from her lips. “You were saying hon? Second chance? You haven’t blown your first even.” He said as he continued to dote on her as he took her hand kissing it again. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : ~Aedan Teller : : : : : : : : : : : : She had no time to react as he touched her lips. The sensation was overwhelming as if every nerve was on overload. She had no power to stop it. She knew she should pull back or at least protest yet she did not. Something in her liked the way he took control of the moment and made the decision for her. Her breath caught in her chest under the night sky. A shiver ran down her spine as she let her mind slip to all the possibilities of them as a couple. It could have been 2200 hours or 0322 hours. Right now she didn’t care. Her world was focused on him. : : : : : : : : : : : : The kiss was over far quicker than she wanted. She smiled at him and averted her eyes some as she nestled back into his arm. “My favorite constellation is Orion,” she let out a small laugh as she bit her lip. “I know it sounds crazy but every time I look up I swear I find it in the night sky. It is almost as if he is watching over me, protecting me from things that go bump in the night. He makes me feel safe.” : : : : : : : : : : : : “I have to go,” she announced almost sadly. “Some of us are not independently wealthy but I will let you have the last question.” Jessica turned her head to look at him dead on. “Make it good,” she winked waiting for his reply. : : : : : : : : : : : : Ensign Jessica Vaugn, Security : : : : : : : : : : “Will you be my date to a party I am having?” he asked her, it was maybe not the question she expected, but he had plans to announce his opening… even if the office front couldn’t be accessed just yet. “I am thinking of just taking over the promenade for as long as security lets me… and I want the most beautiful girl there with me.” he said as he looked into her eyes. : : : : : : : : : : Aedan may not always have the most honest moment, but he hopped she would know his sincerity as he spoke just then. He really did want her and he didn’t want to wait any longer than another day to do so. : : : : : : : : : : ~Aedan Teller : : : : : : : : Jessica looked at him and nodded like she was mulling over a very important decision. On some level she was thrilled but his attention. Who wouldn’t be? Smart, charismatic, handsome and wealthy: These were the primal things all women sought in a man even if they were too shallow to admit it. No one ever said they hoped to marry the ugliest, tall as he is round, unemployed oaf that sat on a couch as they went off to work. The problem with a Prince Charming was that other Princess’ were always waiting to come to a ball. : : : : : : : : Jessica remembered seeing Teller at the bar when their date first began. Hillary Hyena and Wanda Water Buffalo had cozied up to the water hole waiting for their prey from the savannah to arrive. They second they had found him, the braying laugh and the swishing of tails signaled the attack would begin. Jessica watched the way they bared their neck eager for a kill with each growl and purr spoken from their prey’s lips. Thier coy act had disgusted her then and the way the prey had fallen for it. He might have thought he knew their end game. Heck maybe the prey had one of his own, but the approaching elephant was not the animal most took her for. Large, fat, slow and cumbersome might be the image the watering hole saw as she approached the cool oasis for a drink: The reality was far deadlier. : : : : : : : : She could and would crush all the animals around her with her massive weight if they got in her way. She could snap their necks with her trunk if they taunted her with petty words or facetious platitudes. While she did not have the speed to beat them to the end of the finish line, being able to sit back and take in the whole picture was an asset. If when she arrive at the watering hole the landscape was parched, the elephant would not sit and die of thirst. She was resourceful and clever. She would dig into the dry stream beds uncovering the water lurking below for those loyal to her sharing everything she had. She was far more powerful than anyone in the ecosystem than anyone gave her credit for. : : : : : : : : “Am I your only date or is there a scheduling system,” Jessica asked playfully yet her tone hinted a serious undertone. “If you are bringing anyone else just know ‘homey don’t play that game’. There will be consequences.” Part of her felt bad ending the date this way. She had a better time than expected, only she knew Teller as well as she knew the Captain of the freighter parked next to the Sabre. Men like Aeden acquired things and most often discarded them once they had finished giving him pleasure. Jessica just needed the rules to his game before she started playing it. : : : : : : : : Ensign Jessica Vaughn, Security : : : : : : “There will be others there, yes… but I am not asking them to join me as my date. It’s a party and lots of people come, and many try to get my attention. If you come…” he paused as he thought for a second. He bite his lower lip as he looked at her, it was clear he was contemplating his words. : : : : “If I come I can what? Fight for your attention like a groupie at a rock concert,” Jessica stood up not sure if she was annoyed or amused. “Oh Aeden,” she clasped her hands. Her voice took on a breathy, dream-like quality like a cheap romance Holodrama. “Can I please please be in the multitudes of adoring women swooning for a moment where our eyes lock making my knees go weak.” Jessica knew she was being a brat right now but it appeared sometimes Teller needed a reality check. She might not have the exquisite elegance some of the women displayed clinging to his side, but she was no country bumpkin in pigtails and plaid. : : : : : : “I want you to be mine, and mine alone at this party… no one else gets to be my date but you.” for a moment Aedan felt something he wasn’t expecting, he meant those words. I really wanted her and her alone for this briefest of moments he smiled to himself. : : : : : : He stopped as he looked at her, tilting his head he wondered what she was thinking, sometimes he felt he should have been born a Betazoid. “Say yes, I want you.” he said, ending it with a almost demanding, yet alluring tone as he said it. : : : : : : ~Aedan Teller : : : : Jessica contemplated his words. They sounded sincere. His expression was sincere. His eyes told Jessica he believed every word in that moment he was speaking to her. She just wondered what would happen ten moments from now. “Well, who wouldn’t. I mean I am all that AND a bag of chips,” she gave him a soft smile. One day they would have an honest conversation where she was not playing a baiting smart alleck and he the charismatic Romeo. Maybe a part of her wanted to take the second and third chance he mentioned earlier to find out who he really was. It was no more fair of her to summarily brand him a player as it was for him to think she was an easy blonde. : : : : “Who even says that?” he said, clearly entertained but almost seemingly perplexed too. : : : “Yes Aeden,” Jessica said in a softer tone. “I would love to be your date for the event. I also don’t expect you to be glued to my side. It is your event. You will need to mingle. I get that. Just don’t,” her voice caught in her throat for a second. Jessica became very uncomfortable standing before him. She would never air dirty laundry but this had to be said. She had let herself begin to fall a few weeks back for someone. The result was how it should have been but it still hurt. : : : : “Don’t lie to me. I can take that you don’t like me. I can take that I am not your type. Just don’t lie if and when you find I am not the one,” she looked at him sincerely, “because you will and that’s okay,” she began to ramble. “No one says you have to date for a purpose or end goal. You can date just for fun because you enjoy being with someone. So let’s have fun,” she tried not to fidget under his stare. It was not imposing but the measure look of someone who always knew exactly what they were doing. “The rest....will work itself out,” she began to blush. : : : : Ensign Jessica Vaughn, security : : Aedan moved forward, it seemed to have purpose as he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her in very close to him. “I don’t plan on lying to you.” he said, he felt the pit of his stomach sink as he said that. The very statement alone was a lie, but he lied all the time. He knew what he needed out of her, and it would most likely hurt her in the end. He didn’t get a luxory of often picking who he did and didn’t hurt. Though, for a fleeting moment he began to hope he didn’t have to hurt her. Jessica wanted to take a step back yet something glued her in place. It was more that she didn’t trust herself in this moment more than she didn’t trust Aeden. : : “Besides… what if I really… truly… want you.” he said, his words measured as he leaned in closer with each one before kissing her for a second time. This time there was more meaning behind the kiss, it was passionate and hungry. His meaning as he kissed her was clear, he didn’t want her to go. : : ~Aedan Teller Jessica did not fight the kiss but let it take her where it led for the first few moments. The first one came as a surprise in it’s gentle caress. The second was different. It was strong and powerful. It’s force leaned her backward. She would have stumbled if his hands were not holding her tightly and slightly off the ground. Their height difference forced her on her toes as Aeden did not lean down. He supported her in an elevated toe raise as their lips met. She let her mind go blank as her lips parted tasting just a hint of vanilla on his tongue and breath. After a few moments, she tempered the hungry pace of his kiss by keeping her response slower and more deliberate. She traced the back of his neck with the tips of her fingernails in soft slow circles. The kiss lingered several long seconds before she tilted her chin down breaking it. “Then you just told me your first lie or you are delusional. I don’t think you are either Aeden,” Jessica said looking down. “You are infatuated with me because I have not fallen at your feet and planned how and what you can give me,” Jessica told him what was on her mind. If he didn’t like it so be it. They would never make it if they could not be honest with each other. “You only want me because I am walking out that door,” she took a deep breath. “For the record, I don’t want to but we need to know each other longer than 24 hours before whatever between us happens. You rush into nothing. Why would you just rush into me unless I am just an itch to scratch.” Jessica held his gaze without blinking. “I am the best you will ever have and if I am not so be it. One day I will be someone daydream.” Ensign Jessica Vaughn, security.Aedan said nothing, she wasn’t completely wrong and the fact that she was leaving made him want her a bit more. “I will send you the time for the party.” he said smiling at her. She would be able to tell he wasn’t sad, but very intrigued as she walked away.
“And for the record, I wasn’t lying… I know what I want when I see it.” he said, biting his lower lip again as he couldn’t shake the smile from his face.
~Aedan Teller