You lead I will follow

Posted on 30 Nov 2017 @ 4:03pm by Ensign Mimi & Petty Officer 3rd Class John Hollenday

2,590 words; about a 13 minute read

Mission: Episode 15 - Emanation
Location: Earth
Timeline: MD: 90 1300hrs

ON:

John got the orders to pick a ship from a roster of a few of them. He gave them a peruse but nothing jumped out to him. One ship was like another in his estimation. As a lowly third class officer he would be stuck most of the time in the tubes and from that perspective definitely one ship looked like another. That was one thing, and almost every ship always was looking for a wrench turner so he was pretty confident that he could get a berth on any of these barges.

No what he wanted to find out was where that little Nekomi girl was going. She was an officer and ops one at that. Berthings would be more limited for her and he was not going to try to keep a long distance relationship up. Being on the same ship would help even if he had to formally say yes ma'am while in public or on duty.

=^=Hollenday to Mimi. Say did you get that list of ships? Want to talk about which ones you might be goin' to try over some lunch?=^=

=/\=There is a list of ships? needing new crew?=/\= Mimi replied, she hadn't been at a console most of the day so must have missed something.

=^=Indeed, tell you what. I am going to download them and meet me at Brewski's on the Promenade in say twenty minutes?=^=

=/\=I will be there.=/\= Mimi said then closed the channel, quickly sonic showering and changing out of her excercise gear she headed for the door.

John snagged a table in a quieter spot though being a burger/pizza bar that was not exactly a quite place. He got a pitcher of beer and ordered up a couple of burgers with one near black and blue. Then he kept an eye out for the sweet thing. He finally spotted her and stood up shouting and waving though he was not sure she would hear a darn thing but her eyes were sharp he knew that.

"There you are." Mimi said when she approached John, sh was glad he'd already ordered for them as she was rather hungry.

John winked and helped her into the booth. He did not hug her though he wanted to. They were in uniform and in public and so far it was not a well known relationship yet, so he kept the distance and formality.

They chit chatted a little about nothing in general until the were served but John was not too ready to dive in. "I got yours black and blue. Just enough toasted on the outside and a bit more raw on the inside."

"Thank you John." Mimi said, the burger looked good and it he'd also ordered a small platter of sides, some she recognised some she didn't.

He took a bite or two of things and then put a PaDD on the table pushing the onion rings off to the side. "So here is the list of ships that have openings. Now me, I do not care, and being a lowly nut buster could get a berth on any of them. You are an operations officer so more than likely a bit more limited. Have you put in for any yet or still thinkin' on it? I want to go on the ship you get."

"Every ship needs operations people, biggest department on a ship most of the time." Mimi said as she took a bite of an onion ring then realised the rest of what John had said. "You are sure you want the same ship as me? you will have to call me Ma'am or Ensign." She said with a slight smirk.

"I will call you whatever you wish, but my wish is to be close enough I at least get to see you and maybe on the sly say darlin'. I do not want to try to carry out some long distance relationship and look here...." he pointed to the PaDD. "Some of these are multi year trips! This old ship of yours or now a new one is going to be out about three years! Three years of just longing through a comm link is not going to hack it little lady."

"A new one? you mean a new Galileo?" Mimi snatched up the Padd. "They are!" Her ears and tail twitched with excitment.

"I guess so," John replied. "But it is going off to the back ass end of nowhere for a bit. Pardon the expression. Now lookie here, Voyager, now that is name is over two and nearer to civilization."

"I want this new Galileo." Mimi said. "I think a lot of the old crew will apply there too."

"Alright, alright, well then let's apply and see what happens. Of course nearly three years...got to find some way to cozy up to a good lookin' girl." John leered just a little.

"Do you think you can manage three years with me?" Mimi chuckled, she picked up another onion ring off the platter and took a bite.

"How about the rest of my life?" John replied in a very serious tone.

Mimi practically choked on the onion ring. "Do you really mean that?"

"Indeed I do and if we go on the Galileo I am going to spend the next three years wooing you. Mama always said, 'John you will know it when you know it' and I know it. Now then..." he reached over and took her hand. "You going to allow this poor ol' Southern boy to come a courtin'?"

"I think I would like that." Mimi said after a moment.

"Well then, there you have it. Here," John took the PaDD and put his file and application in and then pressed send. "Now you, no backin' out now."

Mimi took the Padd and pulled a data chip from her uniform, plugging it into the Padd she attached her file to an application and sent it off. "It is done."

"Now here is hoping," John squeezed her hand. "Now how about a bit of something other than a beer to celebrate?"

Mimi cocked her head to the side a little. "What do you have in mind?"

"I know your not a big alcohol drinker but this calls for a bit of bubbly and shoot if I don't know a gal that likes to go shopping for something special to wear. Let's go get you something pretty, and then off to something better than a burger joint."

"Let me finish this first." Mimi said picking up the remainder of her burger. "I have not eaten since breakfast and I did a lot of excercise this morning."

"You know you need someone to make sure you are getting fed properly and tell you how beautiful you are every day. Well finish up and then off to the shops."

Rather quickly Mimi finished off the rest of her burger. "Ok, I am ready."

"Well then." John got up, and left a tip. "There are some nice shops along the promenade. Now mind you, nothing real fancy, a third class petty officer does not make a titanic amount. So no real fancy designer stuff."

"I have simple tastes." Mimi replied as they left the resturant.

"That may be so, but today is a day to be a bit extravagant." John picked out one boutique that the mannequins had some dressing that caught his eye. How about this place?" He nodded his chin toward one. "That two piece outfit looks pretty sexy."

"That is very.... shiny." Mimi remarked. "But I do not like the colour." The outfit was pale blue with a long skirt topped with flower patterns and a split halfway up the thigh.

"Well that is only one come on let's take a look inside," John tugged her gently. As they entered a young human girl came over. "Can I help you?

"Yes indeed ma'am. My friend here needs an nice dress for a nice night out."

"Oh! Of course! I am Linda," she said and then nodded her head. "I think I might have some ideas but of course if you see anything that catches your eye let me know. Now then...." she paused a moment and looked at Mimi and nodded. "I think a nice cream colour would show you off in the best light. Here..." Linda wandered off a moment and then came back holding a dress.

"V necked to show off your lovely throat and face with just enough lace to keep focus on you. A full plain skirt that will be great for dancing and compliment the more detailed top. There is of course a slit to make it easier to move and flash a little leg." She held it up to Mimi. "See I think it blends well without taking away from your natural beauty."

The dress did look nice. "I like it but it does look too nice for a 'night out' it looks like a dress you would wear for a very special time." Mimi said trying not to sound ungrateful.

"Well this is a special time. Go on, go try it on and give an old engineer something to appreciate."

"Ok. I will try it." Mimi said. She walked off with Linda to the changing rooms. Five minutes later she emerged in the dress.

It was a little stiff in the lower section but mostly because it had remained unmodified to handle her tail but if you let that slid by it showed off her slim figure rather nicely.

"I know you are going to hate me..." John said frowning for a second then broke into big grin, "but perrrrrrfffecct!" He imitated her sometimes accent. "How do you like it sweet lady?"

"I like it." Mimi said, she gave John a slow twirl. "It will be better when I can put my tail through it, it is a bit tight."

John nodded and said to Linda, "We will take it. Can you get it suitably modified now?"

"Oh yes, of course, if the young lady would follow me, we can get that done and a few better measurements to make it fit even better." Linda said but before she got far John interrupted. "Is there a men's clothing shop nearby that you could recommend? I need a nice suit to compliment this sweet lady."

Linda thought for a moment. "Well Harold's is nice has a lot of latest fashion but tell you the truth I think Thorne's has better service."

"Thank you ma'am. Now Mimi, you go off with Linda here and let me pop down to get something nice to match and I will be back to gather you in all your splendor."

"See you soon John." Mimi said and watched John leave before following Linda back towards the changing rooms.

Linda waited and then indicated that Mimi should take the dress off. "Let's get some measurements so we can suitably get the dress altered. So..." Linda asked, "your husband? Seems like a very nice man."

"He is not my husband." Mimi said as she took the dress off. "For now we are very close friends."

"Oh for now? Do I detect a hint more of interest? Boyfriend material at least?" Linda asked and then got a scanner to take measurements.

Mimi sort of squirmed a little. "You could say that, I am still not 100% certain. But he is a very nice person."

Linda raised an eyebrow at that. "I see...any particular reason? I mean is he not good in bed, or snores, or picks his teeth or something?" She had the measurements and set the dress into a robotic chamber to be altered suitably so there was little to do while the alterations were made but talk.

"We have not got close enough to find out those kind of things yet." Mimi said unsure why Linda was asking rather personal questions to a person she didn't know and why she was answering.

"Oh, I see well not quite that far along. No matter, I do apologize, I just kind of assumed anyone putting that many credits down was a bit closer then a friend." Linda did say that with a true quality. "Well then..." she distracted as the tailor/seamstress finished up. "here we are, already for you try out again." She held the dress up.

"He did say before we came here that he would like to spend the rest of his life with me." Mimi said as she tried on the dress. "And we have just put in for a new ship together."

"Oh well sounds like someone is very serious. Well my mom always told me to be cautious in love as well. Should have heeded her advice three husbands ago." She chuckled as she helped Mimi into the dress and closed it up. "There take a look young lady...you look absolutely exotic and gorgeous."

"Thank you, this feels a lot better." Mimi said as she looked in the mirror, while she preferred a shorter dress this long dress did look beautiful and flowed wonderfully with her motions.

Linda nodded. "Perfect for a wonderful evening of celebrating. Well..." she turned and peaked out as the chime sounded from the door, "looks like your not quite a boyfriend is back. Stay here for a moment, nothing like a dramatic reveal."

"You do not have to do all this for me." Mimi said but Linda was already outside.

Linda went back out and talked to John. It was mostly to settle up and a little chit chat. He was wearing a nice new suit, nothing real fancy but not shabby either. "Well sir are you ready for the lovely lady to come out?"

"Yes indeed ma'am," John replied.

"Miss, come out and show off that lovely dress," Linda called.

Mimi stepped out from behind the curtain, she stepped close to John and gave him a twirl.

John felt a little weak kneed. He knew she was lovely but this dress just made her the next level. How could he even think to hope to compete with a little lady like that.

"Stunning, just stunning..." he finally got out.

"Thank you John, your....trajea is very nice too." Mimi said with a smile which quickly faded when she turned her thoughts to the right english word for his outfit rather than the Nekomi word. "Your...suite?

"Thank you, but nothing like you. Your a fairy princess and I feel like a frog. Well, come one suga' let this frog take you out and have a bit of pride having such a lovely on his arm."

He finished up the transaction with Linda and then put his arm out in a crook. "Now then, shall we go celebrate? Dinner and dancing perhaps? I know a place that has both."

"I would like that John." Mimi said and slipped her arm around his. "Thank you for your help Miss Linda."

"You are most welcome, now go enjoy," Linda said and nodded.

John lead Mimi along the promenade holding her arm. He would stop periodically and comment on something in a shop window but mostly it was to look at her on his arm. Lucky man he thought even if it might be just for now. He hoped it would be longer maybe forever but it was her choice to make not his.


OFF:

PO3 John Hollenday
Engineering Mate
NPC Allyndra illm Warraquim

Enisgn Mimi
Operations

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