Shipyard: Serenity
Dinner
Posted by Captain Michael Stout (CO) in Dinner
Posted by Civilian Elizabeth Notta (Lounge Manager and Bartender) in Dinner
Posted by Captain Michael Stout (CO) in Dinner
Posted by… suppressed (33) by the Post Ghost! 👻
This would actually be the first time since she was a junior officer working under Stout that she had gotten an invite to dinner. She knew the difference. the first time she’d gotten a dinner invite he was chief and they were having a pickle of a time working through a challenge in the engineering bay. So rather than leave it for the next day they’d had dinner while working through the problem right there in the middle of the engineering bay.Elizabeth knew this wasn’t that kind of dinner. So she’d actually dressed for the occasion. It was a simple black dress with a halter top and chiffon overlay. It was comfortable enough that she could do warp core maintenance if she needed to in it and still not get it all over the place. Though the chiffon overlay would give one pause before doing work on the core. She smirked at the thought and stopped outside of the Captain’s quarters it was a minute past 8 when her fingers touched the chime to let him know she was there.
Elizabeth Notta, Bar and Lounge Owner.
The door slid open and the room inside was lit, but there was a noticeable dim to the overall effect. The sound of music played softly, and in the middle of the room sat a table and two chairs. The table was covered with a white cloth, and a bottle of something was chilling in a silver bucket. Next to that sat a bottle of scotch and two rocks glasses. A large silver dome sat in the center, and a pleasant aroma lingered in the air… something earthy, but with a sweetness as well.
Stout’s voice came from the other room. “Have a seat anywhere if you want. Be out in a second.” His voice was the same gruff and no-nonsense that it typically was, but there was a familiarity in it that only a very few people ever heard. Elizabeth was one of them. A few moments later, Mike appeared. He was dressed in blue jeans and had a on a loose fitting long sleeved pale blue and gray shirt that had a drawstring at the collar. Peasant’s shirt was the old term for it. His thick black with gray streaks hair was combed back and parted on the side, and his goatee was trimmed. Without really looking up, he walked over to his side table and picked up an old watch and put it on his wrist. “Hey. Glad you could make it. Hope I didn’t pull you away from…” and he looked up and saw her. A slight smile crossed his face. “Wow. You look great. I hope no one saw you coming here dressed like that. They may talk.” he said, knowing full well that she knew he never cared what people thought about him or what he did. “Drink?” he asked as he walked over to the table and picked up the scotch and poured two fingers in a glass.
Stout, CO
She smirked, she had seen him in jeans and an old ‘peasant’ shirt before. Though he’s never seen her in a dress before, not really. “You know very well you didn’t pull me away from anything Chief.” She said out of habit. She was leaning against the back of one of the chairs as she looked him in the eyes. “Did you think I’d ignore one of your invites?” She asked in a softer tone knowing fully well he didn’t care what anyone thought, and neither did she, which he also knew. “I’ll take a scotch on the rocks, It smells wonderful in there.” She added.
Elizabeth Notta, B&L Owner
“Mushrooms sauteed in port. Creamed spinach. Steak. Ribeye, medium rare.” he said as he poured the scotch over some ice. “Hand cooked by yours truly.” and he handed her the glass and raised his own to her in a toast. “To ya, Elizabeth.”
Stout, CO
Elizabeth actually blushed, “To me huh?” She asked even as she took a drink from the scotch at his toast. “Mmm my mouth is watering just thinking about that Ribeye.” She smiled softly.
Elizabeth Notta, B&L Owner.
“Then let’s dig in.” he said and moved around and pulled out the chair for her. As she sat, he pushed the chair in and put his hand on her back briefly as he walked around and sat down.
Stout, CO
“Thank you,” Elizabeth said softly as he pushed her chair in for her. She smiled softly as she felt his hand on her back and waited for him to sit as well. “So how is your head?” She asked softly unsure if she should serve herself or wait for him. she bit her lower lip slightly.
Elizabeth Notta, B&L Owner
Mike lifted the cover and the two steaks sat on plates with accompanying sides. He set one in front of her and then one in front of himself. After that, he reached over and pulled the chilling bottle out of the bucket and opened it. “I was told that chilling red wine is some kind of sacrilege. But warm wine with hot steak is just obnoxious to me. Hope it doesn’t offend your professional standards.” he said with smile and offered the bottle to her as if to ask if she wanted a glass.
Stout, CO
Elizabeth actually smiled at that, “No, it does not, I prefer my wine chilled to warm.” She laughed softly holding her glass out to him for the offered wine. “Everything looks and smells delicious.” She grinned.
Elizabeth Notta, B&L Owner.
Stout smiled and poured her glass first. As he poured, he said “So you know why I asked you to dinner tonight?” and he set the bottle down and picked up his glass and took a drink.
Stout, CO
She took a sip of her wine and looked at him with innocent eyes. “Because I’m a good conversationalist?” She asked innocently after taking a sip of her wine and gave him a soft smile.
Elizabeth Notta, B&L Owner.
“I was wondering why you never came and saw me after I got back from the accident?” he asked plainly. But there was something that lay in his eyes… it was a vulnerability that was never there, like a window looking in on a small tear in the curtain behind it.
Stout, CO
Elizabeth looked at him in the eyes as she thought of how to answer this. “I was retired at this point so I was back on earth when I had learned that you were found.” She told him softly still looking into his eyes. “Everyone had just about given up on you, I knew you were still out there, actually went looking for you on my own shuttle, but I couldn’t find a trace of you.” She admitted she had quite a few resources at her disposal, unfortunately, when the powers that be give up on finding the lost it was hard to get someone out to help. “I had to pull out a few favors to keep them looking for you, by the time I learned that you had been found and came to see you, you were already moving from station to station I couldn’t get ahold of you.” She admitted to him, her eyes never leaving his.
Elizabeth Notta, B&L Owner.
Stout’s look didn’t change, and he held her gaze with his own. “You could have just called. I know you know how to work a subspace comm array. Hell.... we built one for that idiot McCann on that cruiser while were board and in dry dock…” he said, a slight chuckle at the end, but it sounded a bit forced. Mike was looking for something from her, but what wasn’t clear.
Stout, CO
Elizabeth actually frowned at this, “I did call, every time I called I was told you were busy and asked to leave a message, I did, though after the third message with no return calls I thought you were mad at me for not coming to see you sooner. I was surprised when you first called me to open a bar and lounge on your station.” Elizabeth explained to Mike.
Elizabeth Notta, B&L Owner.
Stout stared at her blankly for a few moments. “Messages? I never got any damn messages. Not one. I figured you either were too busy with someone or something, or that maybe my time on that rock made me remember things between… well, maybe the time and injuries made me remember things wrong. I dunno. I just wanted to know why my best friend never even said ‘Welcome Home’. Lot of others did, but every time… every crowd… every damn ceremony and speech… I looked out in the crowd to see if you were there.” And he shook his head and looked down at the table.
“You never were.”
Stout, CO
“Word of your return reached me, and I tried to find you, I tried to call, I had either just missed you or they told me you were busy and unable to see me or talk to me.” She told hom honestly. Elizabeth hated that she hadn’t been able to see him or talk to him. “I finally figured you were mad at me for not having gotten to you sooner.” She said sadly.
Elizabeth Notta, B&L Owner.
Stout looked up, obvious hurt in his eyes. “Not like you to quit on anything you set your mind to.” he said. It wasn’t a condemnation, more like a disappointment. “You know, at one point I refused to go to some sort of ceremony or whatever they were prepping for on the damn publicity tour. Told them if you weren’t there, I wouldn’t do it. So they showed me where they reached out to you but the calls had either been refused or the messages not returned. I knew that you had that one guy you were kind of ga-ga over… what was his name… Shaun? Sam? Whatever… you two were a thing when I got on the Thermopylae. I just kinda figured that had progressed and you just didn’t want to meet up with some old ship mate. So I let it drop, didn’t want to… I don’t know… ‘complicate’ things.” and he took a drink.
“Anyway, why I asked you to come. Both to dinner and to the station.” and he stood up and walked past her and went to one of the tables beside the big couch in the seating area. Opening a drawer, he pulled out a dark brown wooden box. Coming back to the table, he sat it down next to her and sat back down. “Open it, take a look.”
Stout, CO
“You know we ended it a few years back, sad to say I don’t remember his name.” She almost smiled. “I’ve never known you to give up either. I guess neither of us could bear the thought of the other possibly not wanting anything to do with us.” She said softly blinking as he stood and walked over to the table beside the couch and pulled open the drawer. She watched him with wide surprised eyes as he set a wooden box on the table. She bit her lower lip but did not hesitate to reach for the little box and open it. Elizabeth took a breath as she opened the box to see what laid within…
Elizabeth Notta, B&L
Inside was an old and obviously defunct hydrospanner. It had obviously been repaired many, many times, and the care that went into those repairs was evident. But that was what was apparent to a good Engineer. To the naked eye, it was a broken and trashed tool. Stout looked at her and said “You left that sitting on your work bench when you transferred out of my department. I kept it. Used it, fixed it… it was with me on that god-forsaken planet. I never let anyone touch it. Had to dig through the wreckage to find it, but I did.” and he looked out the window, his eyes drifting back in time.
“It was the only thing I had that kept me going. Every time… every time… I’d start to lose it, I’d pick that up and just think about you. I knew that if I could just make it off that rock, I’d see you. That thought is what kept me going…” and he fell silent for a moment.
“And then, when I got back, I didn’t. It was…” and he turned his head and looked at her, “It was %$*&-ing terrible, is what it was.” and he chuckled and took a drink. Shaking his head, he said “Look. I know you. And I know you have your share of folks vying for your attention. I don’t want to add to that mess. But I wanted you out here so I could tell you one thing. And I’m gonna say it and then we can eat before this food gets cold.” and he took a deep breath.
“Elizabeth, I have been through hell and back, and that made me realize that no matter what happens, I will not go one more minute without telling you that you are the only woman I want to be with. If that is something you want too, great. If that is something you want to think about, go ahead. I’m not going anywhere. And if that isn’t something you want, then tell me I’m an idiot and I’ll agree and we’ll drop it there. Your call.”
Stout, CO
Elizabeth held the hydrospanner in one hand and listened to him as he talked. She didn’t dare make a sound fearing he’d stop talking. She had no idea he’d felt that way. Her eyes teared up slightly as she listened to him, but she never once interrupted him. When he finished, she didn’t speak at first. Elizabeth couldn’t think of anything to say. Instead, the young woman moved from her seat to his lap and touched her lips to his.
Elizabeth Notta, B&L Owner.
Mike wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close, and the kiss lasted more than a few moments. When their lips finally parted, he said “Ok, so you want to think about it, I guess?” and he smiled and ran his fingers down her cheek.
Stout
“Yeah, I do.” She grinned and kissed him again, “But I thought this was answer enough.” She said still smiling softly. Elizabeth looked him in the eyes, “There is something I need to tell you if we’re going to form a relationship.” The young woman told him softly still sitting on his lap. “My file says I’m El’Aurian and that I’m 38, well I’m not El’Aurian, and I’m not 38.” She paused looking him in the eyes, “I’m Atlantean, and I’m 130 years old.” She told him honestly. “Well 130 earth years. Atlanteans age differently there.” She said softly.
Elizabeth Notta, B&L Owner
Stout looked at her and blinked a couple of times, and then said “Are you mermaid?” with a completely straight face.
Stout, CO
Elizabeth laughed at that, “No, but no less a myth, my people come from your mythology the Lost city of Atlantis.” She explained how they didn’t die when their island was destroyed they just left the planet. “So technically we’re the first humanoids in space.” She smirked. “Though we hadn’t learned from our huberis, when I was 17 my planet was distroyed and I was put into a statis pod to escape. only my pod malfunctioned and I found myself on earth. I had to create an entire history to survive there.” She shrugged.
Elizabeth Notta, B&L Owner.
Stout looked at her for another few moments and said “Ok. So, I was concerned that the age difference would be a concern for you.” and then he simply shrugged. “Elizabeth, I don’t care what you are. As long as I can call you mine… finally. That’s all. The rest is just stuff.”
Stout, CO
Elizabeth smiled softly and kissed him again, honestly she hadn’t thought she’d be this happy, or this accepted really. “We should eat before the food gets cold.” She said against his kiss.
Elizabeth Notta, B&L Owner.
“Leave it to you to ruin a perfectly good come-on with suggestions of food.” and he kissed her deeply once more and said “Ok. Let’s get to it.” and let her slide off his lap. As she sat back down, he said “You know, I’ve wanted to tell you that for years. Even before I left. But you and your damn boy toys…” with a wry grin.
Stout, CO
“Mmm Honey, I would have dropped him in a heartbeat if I’d known you were interested,” Elizabeth said honestly. After all, she wasn’t dead she’d had a crush on Mike Stout since the day she’d met him as her Chief and had figured he’d never look at her twice so she continued on with her life all the while wishing he’d show an interest in her.
Elizabeth Notta, B&L Owner.
“Damn straight you would. I’m guessing none of them could cook like this.” he said with a sweeping indication of the plates. “Oh, and before you ask… yes, there is dessert.” and he smiled at her and his tone grew slightly serious. “Now before we get all carried away, I want to make one thing clear. I’m not looking for anything outside of this here.” and he pointed back and forth between the two of them. “And you know how I get with people using my tools. Imagine how I’d get with someone using my… um… you.” and he stammered slightly, not really knowing what to call her. He knew what he wanted to, but Mike was in unfamiliar terrain. Sure, he’d had relationships before. But not any since he had met Elizabeth.
Stout
Elizabeth looked at him and blinked once, “Do you not know how I hate sharing my tools? you’re the only one I’ve ever let touch my tools and if you think I’m willing to share you, you can think again mister. I don’t share what is mine, and you, baby, as of this moment are mine so you can forget about either of us sharing.” She smiled sweetly.
Elizabeth Notta, B&L Owner.
Stout smiled broadly and said “I think I can handle that.” and he took a bite of the steak. He nodded slightly. He had outdone himself. Slightly salty, balanced by the port in the mushrooms. The grill marks were diamond pattern perfection, and the meat itself was still warm. “What do you think?” and he looked at her and winked.
Stout, CO
She smiled around the steak in her mouth, “I love it, it’s savory and succulent. The steak is just right, and I’ve never tasted anything like it before. Though I hate to say this I think you cook better than I do,” Elizabeth admitted as she continued to enjoy his cooking.
Elizabeth Notta, B&L Owner.
“Wait till you try my lasagna. No joke, it stopped a war once.” he replied with a grin. “And don’t worry. I don’t mind cooking, as long as it’s for two.” he added with a wink.
Stout, CO
She smiled softly, “Gotta love a man who can cook this good.” She grinned enjoying the food savoring the flavors. She actually blushed at that comment because it gave her such pleasure.
Elizabeth Notta, B&L Owner.
Mike smiled at the comment and said “What can I say? I’m a man of many talents.” and took another sip of wine. Growing slightly more serious, he said “You know you really did save my life. If I hadn’t had the thought of you to keep me going…” and his voice trailed off. Shaking his head, he smiled a bit and said “But I did. And that’s what mattered. But I gotta say, the thought that you would actually be sitting here, with me, eating steak and looking as gorgeous as any thought I had of you… it’s pretty shocking, actually. And you know me. I don’t do ‘shocked’.”
Stout, CO
“No,” Elizabeth said taking a sip of her own wine, “Shocked is not something you do.” She smiled softly at him. “Survive, and fight, yes,” Elizabeth told him, as she looked into his eyes. It hurt her that she hadn’t been able to be there for him. She slipped her hand into his and gave it a slight squeeze to show her support.
Elizabeth Notta, B&L Owner