Movie Night

Posted on Wed Jan 26th, 2022 @ 7:55am by Ensign Alexandra 'Lexi' O'Connery & Lieutenant Samantha Leyton & Commander William Gerhard
Edited on on Wed Jan 26th, 2022 @ 7:56am

Mission: Mission 5 - Babel
Location: Deck C - Rec Room
Timeline: Day 274 20:00
1780 words - 3.6 OF Standard Post Measure

A movie night was just what the doctor or in this case the Communication Officer ordered. Lexi was fed up with hearing people moaning about the lack of entertainment onboard. She could argue they were old enough and ugly enough to make their own entertainment but it was getting to that stage it was affecting Lexi’s mental health to hear it. She had her own issues and did not want to listen to everyone as selfish as it sounded.

She wanted to help and that was why she was standing on the ladder from the storage closet trying to make the projector work. It was stubbornly refusing after weeks of being off to come on and connect to the film she wanted to play. Maybe it was picking up on her annoyance of being back on the ship after five days on the planet below.

William stood at the base of the ladder and looked up as Lexi worked to make the projector play. When she had told him she wanted to put together a movie night, he had offered to help her in any way she needed. He realized that it would be the first proper date the two would be on, but he hoped that this would help ease the stress he could tell she was undergoing. He held a few data modules that they had been trying to get the projector to play. He held another up to her, "Perhaps the file is corrupted in the film you're trying to play. Why don't you try this one?"

The woman sighed and leant down blinding clutching around until she got the data module in her hand. Putting it into the projector she let out a happy sound as the projector came to life and she pocketed the corrupt module to test another time. “Smart and brave.” She commented not concerned if people could hear her now.

William blushed slightly and smiled up at her. He stepped back while she descended the ladder before wrapping his hands around her waist and pulling her to him the few steps off the ladder, "Don't forget amazingly handsome, fit, good hair, you know the usual stuff." He gave her a wonky smile as he heard the hatch open to the room. He released his grip around her waist as he turned to see who had entered.

Although William had taken his hands off Lexi's waist after he heard the door slide open, he wasn't fast enough that Elegy Nascimento hadn't seen it. Standing awkwardly on threshold of the open doorway, Elegy's face went flush. He, perhaps, wouldn't have noticed that William had laid his hands on Lexi's body. Elegy had been raised in a culture that communicated through physical affection equally with friends and family and mutual acquaintances. What Elegy took notice of was how quickly William had moved his hands away from Lexi. All Elegy could vocalize was an "Oop!" It brought back all of Elegy's insecure feelings when he had been interrogating Lexi about her love life a few months back. Lexi had chosen to keep her romance private, and it had left Elegy feeling like she couldn't trust him with her secrets. "I can, uhm," Elegy said, raising an index finger and twirling it in a circle, "I can take a walk around the deck and come back... later."

“Usual stuff.” Lexi found herself chuckling as Elegy just stood there looking more awkward than she had ever seen him before. She offered a shy smile to him as it was obvious that the cat was out of the bag on who her secrete romance had been with. “No, you are not shirting out on helping set chairs up Elegy.” She declared.

William looked at both Elegy and Lexi before letting out a slight cough. He knew that Elegy and Lexi were close, but he wasn't sure how much she had told him about their relationship. He smiled awkwardly and motioned to the projector, "Lexi was able to get the projector running, though it looks like a few of the film data modules have been corrupted." He paused before looking at Lexi, "I forgot to see which film we got to work on. What's the title of the movie?"

Lexi looked up at the man he projector and blushed as she realised she had not gotten their title either. “Um… I should go look at that.” She laughed climbing back up the ladder to see what data module was in the device. “An absolute classic…. Notting Hill.” She declared.

William looked over at Elegy with an upraised eyebrow before looking back to Lexi as she descended the ladder. "Something tells me I should know that movie, but I'll be honest and say I have never heard of it," he said. He then held up a hand as he saw both of their reactions, "And before you can say anything I will also tell you I have not seen many films in my time."

“We need to approve your repertory of films Sir.” The communication officer said shaking her head at Gerhard as she moved off to set up the screen.

"Well, I suppose I can find the time in my busy schedule," William said as he moved and helped Elegy arrange the seating for the film. He looked back at Lexi, "So, how many people are we expecting this evening?"

Lexi smiled as she watched the pair putting out chairs and shrugged. She had not a clue. There was only a Skelton crew onboard but who knew how many that was. “No idea. Come as you are. I do not care if it's just us three watching it.” She admitted as someone else come into the room...

"Oh get a room you two," Leyton replied with a one-sided grin, as she approached William and Lexi. "So what's the movie?" she asked, placing her hands on her hips.

“Notting Hill,” Lexi said simply. “I do not know what you mean by get a room, we are in a room.” She commented with a smile as Elegy and William started to put out the chairs. “Are you here to watch or watch and help set up Sir?”

"Sure, I can help set up. Notting Hill? I'm not that familiar with it. What is it about?" she asked as she moved to grab a chair and set it up with the rest.

William looked over at Lexi sheepishly before looking back at the XO, "It's nice to know I'm not the only one who doesn't know what Notting Hill is." He then set out the last chair and spread his arms wide. "Looks like you get first pick for your seat," he said with a slight grin and sarcastic tone.

Maybe what Lexi had thought had been a worldwide phenomenon had been completely cantered on the United Kingdom after all. “It’s basically a bookshop owner's life is turned upside down when he meets the most famous film star in the world.” She explained moving the subject on quickly as she bent to pick up the data modules she had dropped to the floor.

"Hmmm, interesting," Samantha commented as she moved to help Lexi pick up the data modules. "Never was much of a movie person. I spent most of my free time flying or at my grandfather's hangar when I was younger."

William made his way over to his colleagues. "Well, should we call up to the bridge and get them to make an announcement about the showing," he asked before glancing over at Samantha, "Perhaps our XO here could order all off duty personnel to attend the film? That way we get a full house." He smiled as he said the last bit as he tried to reinject a little humor.

Lexi smiled fondly at the man-loving him for even suggesting that. If only it could be an order but she would not do that to people. It was not what she wanted. She wanted people to come to the movie night because they wanted to not because they felt they needed to because they had been ordered. She shook herself together and quickly set about putting the data modules away. “They will come eventually. Maybe not tonight but I am patient.” Lexi said simply. She was taking on the extra duties easily it was making her heart a little lighter to know that she would be leaving something positive behind.

Samantha grinned. "Can't make it an order but I will make the announcement," she stated before making her way over to a nearby bulkhead and pressing the intercom. "Attention crew of the NX Atlantis, this is Lieutenant Leyton. If you're not on duty, you're invited to the cargo bay for movie night. The movie is titled Notting Hill. Enjoy. Lieutenant Leyton, out." She turned back to Lexi and Gerhard. "There you go. If you play it, they will come," she teased, adapting a line from a movie she had seen once about baseball.

William nodded approvingly at the XO. "That's true. In that case, I suggest we get some popcorn going. While I may not be well versed in films, I do know that popcorn is a movie tradition," he said before looking at them both, "Did we tell the chef about a movie night?"

The Communication Officer shrugged a little. She hoped so but you never knew how people felt on the day. "I told him and I pinned the poster I made to his quarter's door and galley." The woman said taking a sit finally now that everything was set up. She could actually do with some food now she thought about it. She had skipped dinner to set about organising everything and was now starting to feel just how tired she was feeling now that she had sat down.

"Well, I can go grab him if you want," Leyton suggested, knowing the two officers probably wanted to be alone.

William looked over at Lexi since it was her event to organize. At that moment he heard the hatch open and several crew members enter. One of the younger men in the group looked around before looking at the group of officers, "Is this where the movie is being shown sirs?"

Lexi rose from her seat instantly a smile breaking out across her features as she nodded. “Very much so. Take a seat where ever you want it starts soon.”
She assured moving to sit at the back so people would fill in the seats in front.

It was going to be perfect she just knew it now as the hatch opened again.