Going on Vacation - Part Six

Posted on Tue Dec 31st, 2024 @ 4:20pm by Commander Xaelah Di'Tomasso

Mission: Mission 120: All Along the Watchtowers - Part Two
Location: Various Locations - USS Vanguard
Timeline: 1830Hrs - February 2nd, 2394

As promised Drevas waited for her outside the holodeck the next day; as always he'd gone for simple but smart, donning a navy blue button-up shirt with sleeves neatly rolled up to his biceps, jeans and hooved shoes to fit his feet as usual. The program was already loaded and running; all he needed was for Xaelah to show up.

The nearby turbolift doors opened and out came an Orion female, who was wearing a simple t-shirt and a pair of jean shorts. A pair of sneakers completed her look. She regarded the Kelpian standing before her. "Hey."

Simple but comfortable. He'd expected no less from a woman like her. "Hello." He said with a slight smile. "I trust your day went well, Xaelah? The program is ready, whenever you'd like to enter."

"I have no real concerns," Di'Tomasso answered with a nod of her head. "So, where are we off to?" she added.

"You'll see." Drevas tapped the holodeck control panel, opening the holodeck doors. Beyond the arch lay a nearly endless stretch of green, possibly grass, interspersed with the occasional colourful flower. "Shall we?" He offered her an arm.

Di'Tomasso smiled as she gently slipped her hand around his arm. Before the two went out onto the holodeck. She looked around. "Nothing but grass... As far as the eye can see... One doesn't normally see vistas like this on the settled colonies.."

Drevas smiled and walked on, taking her through the seemingly endless, idyllic meadow. About a minute of slow, peaceful walking later the two came upon a small picnic mat with a basket already sitting in the middle of it, sitting on a patch of flat ground. "Here. I thought something simple would suffice for a start - there is more to this program if you'd like to explore it further." He offered. "Go on, open it. I think you'll like what you'll find inside."

Di'Tomasso raised an eyebrow. "Okay. This sounds like a lovely place to relax and go to get away from it all," she commented, she slowly reached down before she opened it. "Obella Wine. I've not had that since grad night at the academy." she paused. "I wonder which vintage." she mused

"2256. It was the oldest I could get from the ship's bar." Drevas replied while removing some of the rest of the basket's contents: sandwiches, eclairs and what looked like some kind of chicken wing. Perfect food to share and talk about while doing so.

"Egg sandwiches." she paused. "There is a tuna sub in here too." she grinned. "Most people I know like fast food or heavy meals. For me, it's sandwiches," she added. "Anything with Tuna salad. Especially Tuna salad.."

"Which is also inside," Drevas replied. "I asked around some if you'll forgive me. I thought it would be only appropriate if I wanted to make a good impression." He sat down on the picnic mat, leaving space for her to sit next to him.

"Oh. I was not going to complain." Di'Tomasso commented. "I like it when people do their research." she picked up the bottle of wine. "I'm afraid flattery will win you much," she added as if confessing some deep, dark secret.

"It is the effort that truly makes the date or relationship work. I'm sure you know that." Drevas sat down next to her and offered her a box of sandwiches. "Flattery, you say?"

"Well. My last relationship went up in flames." Di'Tomasso smiled. "Most tend to see an Orion woman and see only someone who's easily seduced and lusts after sex. With nothing else." she then sighed. "I think I'm as much a slave to that stereotype as anyone else is."

"You'll have better relationships, I'm sure. Including something that might just start here, if you choose to take this outing of ours further." Drevas suggested with a kind smile. "I think you deserve that much. As to feeling like you need or should conform to whatever stereotype others may hold about you or your people, you don't have to - and I mean that sincerely." He scooted slightly closer to her and lightly curled an arm around her. Firm enough to show support, light enough for her to escape from easily if she wanted to.

Di'Tomasso had not been expecting his touch. She appreciated that he was leaving the choice to her. "Let's eat... and see where things take us."

"Indeed." Drevas ate quietly, simply enjoying her presence next to him. The point of this date was to enjoy each other's company, after all. His arm remained where it was, taking care not to make her feel like he was taking her freedom away.

Di'Tomasso slowly ate her food, while she took the time to enjoy the ambiance on the holoprogram.

"Well." Drevas smiled at her. "Have you considered trying any new hobbies of late? Something to fill your time other than your duties?"