Blind Tasting

Posted on 08 Jun 2013 @ 2:10pm by Petty Officer 2nd Class Jeroen Adlar & Petty Officer 1st Class Gabriel Stark

1,186 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Episode 03 - Frontier
Location: USS Galileo: Deck 2 - Mess Hall
Timeline: MD 04 - 18:00

ON:

Gabriel picked over his food, sighing as he shook his head with a frown. He wasn't hungry. He tried for another mouthful before pushing the plate away. No. He was bored of it. His drink on the other hand. He smiled, reaching out for the purple coloured drink, moaning as he tasted it. "Oh, I miss the bars," he sighed, closing his eyes.

"Makes two of us," the man at the next table said as he watched him. He smiled as he arched an eyebrow, leaning closer. "Thing is, anything this small never thinks about its crew."

Gabriel looked across to him before smiling warmly. "A bar, with real alcohol, and music, and a dancefloor," he laughed.

He nodded as he watched him, looking down at his own near empty plate. "Unfortunately, there is no room here. But shoreleave will make up for it..." he looked at him and smiled. "I'm Jeroen."

"Let's hope so," he laughed softly, reaching across to shake his hand. "Gabriel. I've never heard of your name before," he said with curiosity, taking in the other man. Firm jaw, intense blue eyes. He had a nobility and beauty about him. But human?

Jeroen smiled gently as he watched him, chuckling softly. "My parents were dutch and the name reflects it. I am lucky I am not a Willem like my brother..." he winked as he took the hand, firmly.

Gabriel laughed at that, unable to stop himself, but he guessed that was alright as he joked about it first. "I bet people call you Jerome."

"A lot of times," he said and chuckled softly. "Same origin I think. So I don't mind, I understand who they mean...Gabriel is a beautiful name though. Archangel."

He gave a weak smile at that, shaking his head with a sigh. "My brother got Michael. I never thought it was fair."

"I think Gabriel is far more beautiful than Michael...Michael is a boring name," he said as he watched him, his eyes warm. He got up, taking his drink and joining his table instead.

Gabriel watched him with surprise at the words, but smiled with gratitude. Michael might be more boring, but it was nice and safe for a boy. "Want to try some?" he offered his glass over. "It's a Midnight Passion."

Jeroen smiled as he watched him, his eyes warm. "I'd love to..." he took it and sipped it, meeting his eyes. "Mm...strong and fruity..." he lowered the glass. "Want to try mine?"

"What have you got?" he leant forward with an eager grin. Trying new things was the spice of his life.

"Single malt scotch," he whispered and took the glass, offering it to his lips as he smiled. "Small sip, let it roll over your tongue."

Gabriel took some, smiling as he sighed softly at the comforting burn. "Isle of Islay," he said softly.

He watched him with awe at his knowing just by taste, nodding. "Yes...yes, that was what they gave me."

Gabriel laughed softly, sliding it back to him. "You have good taste," he said softly.

Jeroen smiled as he nodded, taking it. "I like to taste the finer things in life," he admitted, studying Gabriel's face.

Gabriel smiled to him, searching his eyes for a long moment. They had so much in them. Jeroen had clearly seen a lot in life. "I can imagine that," he said softly. "They're intense," he motioned to his own eyes to indicate Jeroen's.

He watched him for a long moment, studying the brown eyes. "I was thinking windows to the soul..."

Gabriel watched with surprise, holding his breath for a moment. No one had ever said something like that to him before. He'd heard cruder things, but not something like that. He smiled softly, shaking his head. "I was talking about yours. I was trying to work out what you might do."

"Ah...well, you can spend the meal guessing...or I can tell you," he said and winked, sipping his drink.

"It's something civilised," Gabriel laughed warmly, resting his chin in his hand. "It has to be."

Jeroen chuckled and leant closer, holding his eyes. "I create new worlds..." he said playfully.

Gabriel arched an eyebrow as he laughed softly, shaking his head. "Zeus, are you?"

"Hardly..." he said and smiled warmly, sipping his drink. "I'm a scientist. Geoengineer to be precise."

Gabriel watched him with surprise, leaning closer. "Seriously? You must be some kind of genius!"

"Hardly that...just got a talent for science," he said and smiled gently to him. "Some people do. Bet you can do things I can't."

"I doubt that," Gabriel shook his head with a sigh, smiling gently. "I'm in Security."

He watched him before touching his arm. "Keeping us all safe," he said with understanding. "You have kind eyes. You must be good at it."

Gabriel met his eyes with surprise at the words, letting out a long breath, shaking his head with a smile. "I'm not always gentle."

"Perhaps not. But no one is," he winked, watching him closely. "Why Security?"

"It's something I thought I could do," he admitted with a small smile. "I liked the physicalness."

"You look like you keep fit," Jeroen said and sipped his drink, smiling gently. "So you enjoy it?"

"Love it," he admitted with a soft laugh, holding his eyes as he sighed. "I needed something to focus down on. So I box."

He watched him with interest at the words. "That is quite a skill for a man to have...boxing."

"Not exactly practical," Gabriel laughed warmly, his eyes shining. "But I like it. You get to swing a good punch, as many times as you like. Work a good sweat up."

Jeroen nodded at the words, giving him a smile. "And you get to be light on your feet."

"That's something I can do," he laughed warmly at that, his eyes shining as he watched him with warmth.

"You struck me more like a fencer, Gabriel," he admitted with a warm smile and a shake of the head.

"Done that too," he whispered with a grin, searching his eyes, impressed he'd guessed it. "I was on the fencing team," he whispered, looking down.

"So was I..." Jeroen grinned as he watched him. "During my stay in England anyway."

"We should have a go one day," Gabriel perked up at that, smiling brightly. "I never get to do it anymore, only with holograms, and it's not the same."

"Well, we should," he said and shook his head. "I am a bit rusty, sure...but I used to be good."

"Oh I could teach you a lesson or two," he teased lightly, grinning to him with shining eyes.

"I'd look forward to that," Jeroen leant closer, holding Gabriel's eyes with good humour. "A bit more...fun..."

"It's what I live for," Gabriel grinned to him, leaning comfortably to him, holding his eyes with near challenge.

OFF:

PO2 Jeroen Adlar
Geoengineer
USS Galileo
(PNPC: Lt. JG Aria Rice)

PO2 Gabriel Stark
Security/Tactical
USS Galileo
(PNPC: Lt. JG Scarlet Blake)

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