A little wine makes kitty devine

Posted on 10 Sep 2018 @ 1:15pm by Ensign Mimi & Petty Officer 3rd Class John Hollenday

4,168 words; about a 21 minute read

Mission: Episode 15 - Emanation
Location: Avondale shipyard
Timeline: MD 145 2000 hours

ON:

Slipping through the door into her quarters Mimi threw her uniform jacket onto a chair then dropped down onto her bunk glad to take the weight off her feet for a while. She'd just got off duty and was tempted by a brief snooze before making some plans for the afternoon.

There was a chime at the terminal indicating a message.

Mimi's ears twitched when she heard the chime, she looked up at the terminal that flashed with 'incoming messsage' getting back up she walked over and tapped the terminal to open the channel.

John smiled as Mimi's face appeared on his end. "Good evening darlin' if you have a bit of time I have reservations at Tindo's seafood. Supposed to be real brought in fish and seafood not the replicated stuff."

"That does sound good to me." Mimi said smiling back at John.

"Great, swing by 1900 hours. Dress up a bit, the place is considered a bit fancy. I plan on suit not uniform. See you then darlin'"

Mimi smiled. "I'll be there." She said before closing the channel. Glancing at the clock she found she had several hours to kill before 1900 so she headed back to her bunk yielding to the temptation of the snooze.

--1840 hrs--

John had gotten showered, shaved and had gone back and forth if to use a bit of cologne or not. He knew Mimi's way more sensitive nose would pick it up and he did not want to make it seem he had drenched himself. Finally he decided on just the tiniest of touches hoping it would not be overwhelming.

One last check in the mirror and adjusting his tie he headed out. The shipyard while not quite like one of the docking stations none the less had a fair amount of places to shop and eat. It was not all industrial in the least.

He stopped by a stand that sold flowers and picked up half a dozen real roses and then made his way to her quarters. Checking on the time he was a bit early but better five minutes he thought than late. He pressed the chime and waited.

"It is unlocked." Mimi called out.

John entered but did not go further. He knew better than to disturb a lady getting ready.

"You are early, I am not ready yet." Came Mimi's voice from the direction of the bathroom.

"Mother always told me not to be tardy. Take your time, we have a bit." He waited and then put the bouquet behind his back. He still wanted to make a little surprise out of them. "Umm....," he finally said after a bit. "I put on the teeny tinyest of cologne but if it is too much I can wash it off."

"It smells nice." Mimi said, the cologne was slightly masking the scent of something else, she couldn't quite figure what though. After just a little longer she stepped out the bathroom. "How do I look."

John looked her over. He felt a little guilty doing so like he was shopping for something but it was something new to see her so dressed up. The dress was a simple sheath type dress, with a rather shallow neck cut, sleeveless and in a light marine blue. It was simple but the bottom hem had a ruffle to it almost an applique. It drew one's eyes down to the nice firm calves.

"Absolutely beautiful, beautiful..." he finally got out. Then he remembered the roses. "These are for you."

"I thought I could smell something else near you." Mimi said and took the flowers. "They smell so nice, thank you John." She leaned up and gave him a quick peck.

"You are most welcome. Somehow every time I think of you I think red, but you look stunning in blue. Personally I think you would look good in anything." He waited while she took care of the flowers and savouring the little kiss.

"Well shall we?" he held his arm out.

"Lets go." Mimi said, she took his arm and they quickly left her quarters.


--
The walk was nice, a bit over a slow stroll with a bit of chit chat about the shops, people, and just a little shop talk tossed in. The shops and eateries became nicer and finally they arrived at nautical themed shop which had just a simple wooden style sign saying Tindo's.

They entered and John gave his name to confirm the reservation and they were lead to their table. He had decided instead of one looking out at the stars to take one near one of the large aquariums. After being on a star ship for so long, the stars actually held less fascination then watching the multi coloured fish swim by. "Hope you like it," he said. "I like watching the fish, sort of relaxing and besides gets us away from the rest of the crowd."

Mimi followed John towards the table but when she saw the fish tanks she quickly made her way over. It had been a long time since she'd seen an actual fish (apart from those cooked and on her plate) "These are so beautiful."

John suppressed a chuckle watching her. She was almost like a kid in a candy shop. He waited a bit and then said, "Here let me get your chair." He pulled out the chair nearest the tank so she could watch the fish swim lazily by. He took the one opposite her but he was more focused on watching her then the fish. "Luckily I do not think you have to pick one from the tank for your dinner, just decoration. I don't think I could. Even back on the farm I had a hard time realizing the piglets I was raising and playing with would end up in the freezer eventually."

"I have been to a place that did that." Mimi said finally sitting down but her attention remained on the tank. "Choosing was very hard."

"Well," John held up the menu so that his face was basically covered. "If I don't look..." He flipped the pages and few times and then said, "Oh they have fugu sashimi. Never had it but heard about it. Think that sounds good."

"Sounds good if you like maybe dying from it if it is not made properly." Mimi said.

"Then I can die lookin' at an angel," John said putting down the menu. He looked at her. "Besides if they messed up they would not be in business for long."

"True." Mimi picked up a menu of her own. "hhmmm, I may have to have lobster, I have not had that in a very long time."

"Anything, you wish but I won't be sharin' that with you. Me and shellfish do not get along well. Now then, wine or something more or less alcoholic?"

"I could try wine. I do not think one glass will affect me too much." Mimi replied.

"Then I know just what to get," John said and beckoned to a waiter.

The waiter came over and greeted them.

"Yes a bottle of Moscato d'Asti please, and the lady and I are ready to order."

"Ah very good, madam what may we prepare for you tonight?"

"I would like the lobster please." Mimi made her order.

"And for the sides? We have baked potato, red bliss potato drizzled in olive oil, glazed carrots, penne pasta with a light olive drizzle, risotto or a rice pilaf. Clam chowder, Caesar salad, or tomato and cucumber salad."

"A baked potato and the caesar salad will be fine, thank you." Mimi added.

"Very good and for the gentleman?"

"I would like to try the Fugu please." John winked at Mimi.

"I am sorry sir, the Fugu has been taken off the menu, Master Chef Suzuki has taken a new position and we have not had a chance to recruit new a one."

"Ah well in that case, the same as the lady," John replied handing over the menu.

"Very good, I will bring the wine."

The waiter returned shortly with a bucket and the bottle and deftly poured the wine letting John try a bit. He nodded and the waiter filled the glasses and departed.

"Well here's to you sweet lady. I think you will like this one. A sparkling white but sweet. Sweet for the sweet."

"Cheers." Mimi said and took a sip.

"So anything new and interesting since I last had a chance to spend time with you? They have me studying a bit about the specs on the new ship and right now it is all hush hush. Guess you been busy as well?"

"Pretty busy, similar things to you, looking at specs and stuff about the ship." Mimi replied.

"Boy we lead boring lives don't we?"

"Just wait till we are back out in space." Mimi said taking another sip of the wine, it certainly tasted sweet. "It will get better then.... hopefully."

"Hope so. I miss being with you. So..." John was reluctant to mention anything but it was burnin' in his craw. "That Caitian bothering you anymore?"

The smile that had stayed on Mimi's face for the entire date so far dropped fairly quickly when John mentioned M'rthyr. "A little.." she simply said.

John was about to say something more but the salad arrived and he waited. "Oh?" he finally said spearing a bit of salad. "Boastful fur ball and full of himself, I will give you that. Did he flex his muscles yet again to show off?"

"Not quite." Mimi replied. "You know before we met up for a drink after you got of duty a few days ago. M'rthyr was there waiting for me near my quarters."

"And?" John prompted. "He wanted to take you out as well?"

"He did, but I was not in a mood for dancing, I just wanted to go take a shower, maybe even a nap." She paused for a moment, she had a feeling what she was about to say might spoil all the good mood they had and maybe make him angry at M'rthyr. "He said he could smell you all over me and it kind of made him angry."

"Oh well that is something isn't it. I keep forgetting those more sensitive nostrils. But hey," John said with a bit of levity, "It is what a good man smells like."

"He kept saying that I should not see you, that you are an ape and not worth the feelings I have for you, things like that."

"Well, resorting to names is the last act of a desperate person. That is what I always learned. Besides, it is no one's business including my own, who you see or do not see. Maybe my culture, but a lady is to be treated as a lady with respect and dignity. Now how is that salad?" John wanted to turn the conversation. It was not that he did not feel a bit of anger toward the Caitian but why ruin the dinner.

"It is ok." Mimi said even though it was clear she'd only flicked the food around her plate and not even eaten a single peice yet.

John watched for a moment and then put his fork down. "Alright pretty lady what is it? There is something on your mind. I don't have to be a tele or empath to figure that much out."

"After that I tried to step past him but he stopped me, I walked away and he grabbed me by the arm and pinned me against the wall." Mimi told him.

"Did he hurt you?" John asked quietly but the smoldering and rising anger was just below the surface.

She shook her head "No but he made it feel like he would if he wanted to. He said he was 'trying to make the inevitable more enjoyable. For me'."

"More enjoyable by intimidation?" John shook his head in the negative. "Alright, maybe that might be something in the Caitian way and I do not pretend to understand that but in my culture such behaviour would get him put on his butt hard." John took a deep breath to get his own emotions under control.

"Well let's not let that put a damper on the evening. Just watch the fish for a bit, they are relaxing to watch." He turned his attention to the large aquarium but his thoughts hardly calmed but he had to show he meant it so Mimi would hopefully as well.

"I am really worried about him John." Mimi said, she turned to watch thee fish as well but kept talking, if she didnt get all her feelings out now she thought she never would. "I think he might try to...force things."

John nodded. "That is a reportable offense," he said flatly. John had learned enough to think about the system then impulse. He sat for a moment more while thoughts went through his head. "Still that takes time. You feel unsafe I will put the smack down on his ass."

"I do not want you to get hurt John." Mimi told him. "That is why I waited till we were not on the ship so you did not run off and fight with him as soon as I told you."

"Would not be the first time have taken some licks, but I know how to get some in as well." He said that flately. "Let's hope that it does not come to that though. How about some more bubbly and we just enjoy the evening?"

"I like the sound of that." Mimi said smiling, she turned back to the table and tore a chunk off of her lobster.

John nodded and attended to his own plate for a moment. He pointed to one large fish that seemed to glow with its own light. "Pretty neat trick. I have heard that some sea creatures communicate that way. In fact, if I remember correctly, Xelatians do the same. Met one once. Nice guy, or whatever they are. Told me that the communicator translated their light pulses. Never knew exactly what he, it, whatever meant but I think I get it now."

"There was a fish on Kemi that when it was dark you could see them from a long way away because of how bright they glowed." Mimi said. "They were very easy to catch and tasted very nice."

John nodded glad that Mimi's mind was now elsewhere. "Sounds interesting tell me more."

"We called them paike kala the..... sun fish." Mimi said, the translation took her a moment. "If enough of them were together in the same area it was bright enough that it looked like the sun was coming up."

"Darn, I would like to see that. I take it you have had not much luck in finding your home planet?" John inquired. He knew that she was looking but had come up with little information.

Mimi shook her head. "Not really, but the area that we appear to be going to in this new assignment is close to the area that may be controlled by the Bespiri." She couldn't remember ever mentioning them so she quickly added. "They are friends of the Nekomi."

"Bespiri, never head of them. So did you manage to track down some references or star charts then?" John asked. She and he had talked and last he knew there was basically not much clue even in hardly what direction her home world was.

"I found a Klingon log recording that talked about an area patrolled by 'a species of tall thin humanoids with pale skin like Terrans who wear limited clothing and have blue tribal like markings on their faces, necks and across the shoulders." Mimi paused to take another bite of her food. "They sound very like the Bespiri

"I see and this log gave coordinates then, lucky find." John was a bit surprised and he figured that some captured Klingon ship logs would be in an archive. "Must of taken quite a bit of searching to find that archive."

"I was lucky, I have always been lucky." Mimi replied putting her glass down on the table. "But getting there will be very hard."

"Well that luck is why you have me, but then again, maybe I should say I am just as lucky. You are as fresh as the dew on a daisy on a Georgia morning." John leaned forward and made a nod of the head. He figured she did not want to be pushed too much more on where her home world was. "May luck stay with us both. A fickle lady she is, so I always try to keep on her good side."

"ooh that reminds me, how is this for luck. They re did the quarters list a little. I do not have a roomie." Mimi smiled. "Means you can come around as much as you want."

"And stay overnight?" John leered a little. "That would suit me just fine!"

"I think that may be a little too...." Mimi spent a moment thinking about the right word, eventually she gave up. "You and me walking out of my quarters together for Alpha shift, people will start asking questions."

"Oh and sneaking out in the middle of the night won't?" John asked as innocently as possible. "Alright, alright," he sat back. "No late night calls and stays. Think though most people probably suspect something is going on other than Nekomi lessons or watching vids."

Mimi smirked. "They would and I do not think we are ready for that kind of.....exposure."

"As you wish," John replied with a bit of a nod. They had watched an old movie called the "Princess Bride" and he had picked up that phrase from there.

"We will work something out, I...." Mimi trailed off.

"Or just have to meet in the tubes," John winked again. "I will have to figure out some out of the way spots." His tone went darker though, "If I don't have to strangle a certain Caitian with his own tail."

"There are some out of the way spots," Mimi said trying to ingore John's mentioning of M'rthyr. "I spent most of the first day crawling around all of the ship."

"Oh do pray tell. I have not had much more than to make sure everything is working in Engineering before we fire the warp core up."

Mimi smiled. "There is a nice spot aft of deck 2, it is quiet apart from the gentle thrum of the impulse reactors."

"I will have to check it out. Maybe a get a nice tablecloth and all to have a little area for us to hang out."

"Maybe." Mimi said then took a sip of her wine. "I think we..... whoa."

John was startled by the sudden shift in what Mimi said. "What?"

"It is strange," Mimi replied flexing her fingers several times. "My fingers, ears and tail are....tingeling?"

John sat back and chuckled. "Well I was wondering what alcohol would do to a Nekomi!" He then topped her glass with some more. "Let's find out just how tingly you can get."

"I should not have too much," Mimi said. "Last time I... fell asleep very quickly."

"Not to worry, I will carry you home and I promise only to tuck you in. Now let's enjoy some dessert shall we? Can Nekomi have chocolate?"

Mimi nodded before sipping her wine. "I can have a bit, the chocolates you got for me on the Schofield were very nice."

"Well then, more bubbly and waiter!" He called and waved over the waiter who promptly came over. "We would like to share a dish of chocolate overload."

"Ah very good sir," he replied and hurried off. John watched the fish for a bit or pretended to, in reality he much preferred to look at the lovely Nekomi girl.

The waiter returned with a dish with two spoons. A large piece of chocolate cake with the same kind of icing and layers, was topped with a good dollop of chocolate ice cream and the whole thing had rivers of fudge going down the sides.

John lifted his glass. "To the girl who is sweetier than this conccotion!"

Mimi smiled at the compliment and raised her glass. "That is a lot of chocolate John, too much for me I think."

"Have what you wish, it does not matter, but let the various tastes just melt in your mouth."

"You do remember that my taste buds are not designed for a lot of these flavours." Mimi told him. "A lot of it will taste bland to me."

"I have not forgotten, but I also know what does taste good to you. Go ahead, I made certain that the chef made it up just right for you."

"You had him make it just for me?" Mimi asked, taking a fork she sliced off a chunk and popped it into her mouth. "That is... wow."

"Did the chef manage to get it right?" John inquired. As far as he was concerned the chocolate covered everything else that was in there. "I made an inquiry with the CMO regarding Nekomi taste buds."

"And Allyndra did not let you down." Mimi said after savouring the taste for a little. "This is so very good."

"Well she did say that basically she ran you through a bunch of stuff since you are the only Nekomi on record. So basically you are the proof of the pudding darlin'"

John could not quite taste some of the things in there and it had been designed that way. Nothing that would hurt either one of them but he was somewhat full and also still had a bit of loss of appetite hearing about the Caitian. They chatted some more about nothing much, a little here and there about what she remembered about home, and he told her some of the stuff he had done as a boy including working at an uncle's aligator wrestling palace. He paid up added a nice tip and was glad that he had saved his credits for quite awhile.

"Well sweetheart, think you are ready for a stroll back?"

"I am ready." Mimi said, she went to stand up but only got about half way before something didn't feel right and she sat back down quickly.

John only smiled holding back a snicker. He pretty much figured she the alcohol had gotten to her. The medical officer had said something about enzymes and metabolism which had gone over his head. The gist was as he could understand was it might hit harder and last longer. He got up and offered an arm. "Now just hand on tight, ol' John boy will make sure you get home just fine now."

"I told you I.." Mimi pulled herself to her feet using Johns arm. "..Should not have drank much."

"You will be alright, just sleep like a baby. Doc said as much, just lean on me." He pretty much held her tight but that was nice. He enjoyed that part and they headed back toward her quarters.

Mimi held onto John as they walked, gradually her balanced improved but only a little "This is more strange than the time I had catnip... by accident."

John only nodded at that. He remembered her telling him about the incident. "Maybe we will have catnip brownies for dessert sometime then. I love to see you a 'little wild', sweetheart." They got to the temporary quarters and he put the code in that she gave him and got her inside.

"Now then, think you are good to get ready for bed yourself or do you need help? Thankfully departure tomorrow is afternoon but still have to check in early enough."

"I can manage." Mimi said, she sat down on the bed and started to take her shoes off.

"I am sure you can," John replied and then got down on his knees. "Here let me get those for you at least. Lean over too far you are liable to fall off and while I don't mind catching you, let's avoid that for now."

He worked the shoes off gently and rubbed her feet a little before swinging her legs up onto the bed. "Now you rest until it wears off a bit then you can get all comfy alright? So with that," he leaned over and gave her a kiss on the forehead. "I will bid you adieu. Sweet dreams little lady."

"Sweet dreams John." Mimi said smiling up at him.

"Night," John said quietly, "and thank you for the wonderful date. See you tomorrow at departure." As he finished that he closed the door and headed off to his own quarters whistling a little happy tune.

---
PO3 John Hollenday
Engineering mate
USS Galileo-A
[NPC Allyndra]

Ensign Mimi
Asst chief ops
USS Galileo-A

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