Well This Is New

Posted on Sun Mar 20th, 2022 @ 10:21am by Crewman Finn Jones & Petty Officer, 1st Class Christian Tremblay
Edited on on Sun Mar 20th, 2022 @ 2:49pm

Mission: Mission 5 - Babel
Location: Hydroponics Bay - E Deck
Timeline: Day 280 -09:00
1598 words - 3.2 OF Standard Post Measure

Christian entered the hydroponics bay and carried a mug of coffee in one hand and a PADD in the other. He always felt that the hydroponics bay was more humid than the rest of the ship, but he knew that wasn't the case. He surmised the psychologically his body reacted to the room out of habit. He spotted Finn amongst some of the roles of plants and made his way over to him. "Hey, I missed you at breakfast this morning," he said as he approached Finn and offered the mug to him, "Made just like you like it."

Finn looked up at the sound of the doors opening and did a double-take when he saw who it was standing there holding a mug of coffee claiming it was how he liked it. “I had a bit of a mess to clean up after last night.” He explained why he had not been at breakfast like he always was. It was almost like a tradition that he was there but that day he had wanted to get a head start on his routine despite the thumping head.

"I figured as much," Christian said as Finn took the mug. He then folded his arms over his chest. He smiled slightly with an upraised eyebrow as he waited for Finn to take a sip from the mug.

“How do you know how I like my coffee hmm?” He wondered taking a sip as he took it. It was perfect and exactly how he took it. He made a happy sound before nodding. “You pay far too much attention cause this is perfect. Thank you.” He had not grabbed anything yet so it was a welcomed surprise.

"Well I am glad I got it right, and sometimes I can't help my prying eyes," he said with a wink before looking back around at the rows of plants. "I guess that's why I'm so good at my work because I don't miss much," he said softly before looking back over to Finn. He had been debating on telling Finn about his true feelings for the man, but he hadn't gotten a chance the night before. In addition, he was worried that by coming clean, Finn would not reciprocate.

"I guess it would be why you are. I miss a lot being down here but I keep things going and I am luckier than most I get to see greenery every day without having to go out of my way." The man was a lot more observant than most people onboard he put most of them to shame without much more he saw of the universe. "Well, I really appreciate this." He held the cup up in a salute to the man.

Christian nodded in acknowledgment, "Well it was the least I could do since your keeping our food source alive." He winked at him before turning to look at all the plants under their artificial sunlight. "Well you should get out of here more so you don't miss out. I hear they are planning another movie night. Perhaps you could join me this time," he asked tentatively as he looked back over to Finn.

"I am trying to. Going to get to a stage soon where we will need more people." He admitted blushing again as he sipped on the coffee again. "Join you? I am needed here... you saw how I am with people." It was very well that he spoke to anyone other than O'Connery who came down to read her book in something more akin to natural lighting, Nascimento and occasionally some other crewmen who come to check that he was still hiding there.

Christian sighed before looking down at his boots. "I don't want to seem like I'm prying too much. I just thought it would be nice to spend some time with you, I mean I was hoping I'd get more of a chance to talk with you last night," he said nervously as the polish on his boots became quite fascinating. "Mec, c'est plus dur que je ne le pensais," he said in his native Canadian French before looking back up at Finn. "Sorry, sometimes I slip back into my native tongue," he said sheepishly.

"What is difficult?" The science crewman asked. He spoke basic french. He had not gotten it all but he had gotten enough to work out the man had wanted to discuss something. "I speak a little french. Scottish and French cross over goes way back." He commented not wanting to go into a history lesson but he could if he needed to.

Christian blushed slightly before looking down at his boots again. "I never realized you spoke it, though I don't normally revert back to my native tounge so often. I guess you could say that's the Canadian side of me coming out," he said before looking back at Finn. He set the PADD down since he needed to make his hands do something to staunch his nerves. "To answer your question, I thought it would be easier for me to tell you what I wanted to say. I guess I'm just worried that I'll screw it up like I sometimes do," he said before taking a breath and looking him in the eye. "What I wanted to tell you is lately I have found myself....thinking about you. I guess I've had a crush on you for awhile, and given our current situation I wanted to let you know how I feel," he said.

Finn looked at the PADD being put down and raised an eyebrow wondering what could be thinking that he needed to say to him of all people. "Me?" She squeaked out surprised to say the least.

"I know it's probably the last thing you expected to hear from me. I know how you are with others, but that doesn't bother me and it never has. And I understand if you don't feel the same way, I just felt you deserved to know," Christian said before looking back down at his boots. "I know I may seem brash and outgoing, especially given last night, but If I'm honest the only person I get nervous around is you."

Him? Christian Tremblay liked him of all people? Finn Jones who barely spoke to anyone and who stumbled through any conversation with just hoping that he was let out the of interaction soon. "Well yes, I did not expect to hear that when the people I like do not normally like me back." He finally murmured with an awkward shrug.

Christian looked up when Finn answered. He had not expected Finn to say he liked him back, but the surprise was a welcome one. He looked at him and raised an eyebrow, "Wait, your saying you like me too?" He wanted to be sure he had heard him correctly.

"Mmm hmm." The man answered easily seeing the shocked written all over the mans face.

"So, what do we do now? I don't want to do anything to mess things up here," Christian responded before looking back over to the plants and running his hands under the artificial sunlight. The sensation was close to a natural feeling, but the grey colors of the room brought him back to the present. To an outside observer, some would question why Christian had developed feelings for Finn, but Christian had seen rare glimpses of a different side of Finn. He admired Finn's dedication to his work, but he also knew that Finn was still mourning the loss of his roommates from the Vrav incident.

"Um... I do not know. Not exactly done anything like this before." Finn admitted with a burst of nervous laughter. It was not like he had dated any man or woman before but he was pretty sure they were meant to take things slow. "But I would like to take things slow." Slow and steady would only be the right thing to test the waters.

Christian joined in his laughter before looking back up at him. This was new territory for Christian as well. While there had been other men Christian had had feelings for, Finn was the first he had actually admitted it to. "I think I would like that too. I'm just glad that you like me back, otherwise this would've been pretty awkward," he said before offering another slight smile. "How's a date in the mess hall later sound then," he asked tentatively.

The man nodded. The mess hall was somewhere neutral where they could talk in semi-private if they chose the right time. "Okay... Um... say 16:00." He offered thinking they would both have had a few hours off shift before they met back up. Lots of time to think through what they needed to talk about and how they felt, Finn knew he would have lots to think about.

Christian nodded in return, "16:00 it is then. I'm sure we can find a quiet area where we can...talk about things." He then looked back at Finn and smiled before looking down at the PADD, "Oh I almost forgot, I had taken some samples from the local plant life that I figured you might find interesting." He offered it to Finn before giving him a wink, "At the very least, you could correct me on my sample gathering skills."

Finn grinned taking the PADD. “I am sure I can.” The man said not flinching or blushing at the wink he just smiled watched the man walk away amazed at him self and Christian.

Well… 16:00 would be interesting.