First Of Many

Posted on Fri Apr 1st, 2022 @ 9:53am by Crewman Finn Jones & Petty Officer, 1st Class Christian Tremblay

Mission: Mission 5 - Babel
Location: Mess Hall
Timeline: Day 280 16:00
1787 words - 3.6 OF Standard Post Measure

Normally Finn finished a lot later but with the ship planning to leave he had started earlier with the intention of watching them leave another place they would never see again but the offer he had now was so much better. Darru was not worried about his coming and going as long as he did the work and it was not like he did it often he had not turned off in months so the Vulcan for all the contempt he showed most of the time would be relieved that he was doing something different.

He knew Christian Tremblay would be a few moments late with the shift not ending until 16:00 but he would wait he knew the man would eventually turn up.

Christian entered the mess hall in a bit of a flourish nearly taking out Crewman DeSoto in the process. After apologizing, he spotted Finn and acknowledged him with a nod as he grabbed a plate of food, drink, and made his way over to join him. "Sorry I'm late, Ensign Lepine dumped a lot of samples on me in the astrophysics lab to catalogue from the planet. It looks like she gathered everything except the air particles from down there," he whispered as he took a breath and loosened the collar of his undershirt. He looked back up at Finn and smiled slightly. "So, how long have you been waiting on me," he asked.

"Twenty minutes or so." The young man answered with a shrug. It had not been a bother to him as he had been fully aware of the shift pattern and the tendencies for Christian to be held up. He was pretty sure if this went somewhere there were going to be many times he was late or he would have to be tracked down after missing something. "Well, Lieutenant Darru did want to check the planet. I am surprised she did not get the air particles to be fair." Finn commented with a teasing grin. They were both aware of that person's enthusiasm over certain subjects.

"Indeed, I think Lieutenant Darru had one hell of a time trying to keep her focus. Then again, He himself has spent most of his time cooped up in his lab," Christian replied reciprocating the grin. He looked down at his dinner and took a few bites before looking back up at Finn. "How was your shift," he asked figuring small talk was a good icebreaker. He still felt nervous because he wanted it to work out between them, but he was also worried that if he said the wrong thing Finn would pull back.

"Yeah, I wonder what pairings he is thinking on now?" Finn wondered aloud still cringing inwardly at the pairing he had, had before he politely told Darru his preference. The Vulcan had nodded and wandered off with very limited comment. "It was the same as usual. Check this, check that... water this water that.... make sure that had light and food. Not very different from any other day." He said with a shrug relieved that he had systems in place now to make it all a little easier on him. He was not falling into his cot completely exhausted each night now from all the watering and fertilizing of the plants.

Christian recalled his own conversation with Darru about his genetic matching. It had been slightly awkward telling him his own preferences and the Vulcan had acknowledged it. He nodded listening to Finn talk about his day. He felt Finn had relaxed some in their conversation. "How soon before we can expect some fresh vegetables with chef's meals," he asked

It was the million credit question at the moment. He was asked it three to four times a day if not more. People were eager to know about it as much as he was eager to provide it but it took time. Some vegetables took longer than others if they wanted variety. “A few weeks but some of it is already due this week on the menu. I will be starting second-generation vegetables after some soil checks and nutrition.” Finn had not made a thing about it but he had dug up some carrots and potatoes in the last few days for Cranston.

"Well looks like I win the bet then," Christian said as he looked up at Finn and winked. "There was a pool going on how soon until they were ready between some of us in sciences. I knew your skills were unmatched and it would be soon," he continued. He took a few more bites of his food before looking back at Finn. "So, I guess I'll ask first, but how long have you liked me," he asked.

"Well um..." Finn started before pursing his lips together to try and get past his shyness and the way he froze at the direct questions. Finn had liked him awhile but it had only gotten through his gloom in the last few months when he had started to get past his grief and issues around connections. It had started when he had finally started to reach out for connections and Christian had reached back. "A couple of months since we started to hang out." Finn finally said with a grin. "What about you? And what did the winner of the bet get?" He wondered what the prize would be for all his work.

Christian grinned back at him. In all fairness, he had felt drawn to Finn for some time, but he knew that the man was shy and he had not rushed anything. "Well, as the winner of the bet, I get two extra hours off duty," he said winking at Finn before shrugging, "Not much else we can bet with really. And If I'm honest I was interested in you before we started hanging out, but I didn't really...fall for you...until we started spending more time together," he said as he looked at Finn expectantly.

“I don’t know still some booze hanging around,” Finn said grinning as he realised that the man really felt something for him. It was unnerving slightly to know that someone found him attractive where he always thought himself the weird one. The one that was always going to be on the sideline whilst more outgoing people got picked it had always been the story of his life if he was honest. “I have never had someone fall for me before. I have been really enjoying us hanging out though.” He said hoping that he was getting his point across that he liked the man back.

Christian smiled back at Finn as he felt his heart leap in his chest. He understood that Finn felt the same way about him. "Well, I have fallen for you Finn, I'm just glad that you've fallen for me," he said with a wink. Having finished his meal, he slid the tray off to one side and leaned forward folding his arms on the table between them. "So, does this mean I can ask you to be my boyfriend, or do we still need to keep things quiet," he asked softly. He knew that no matter what Finn's decision, Christian would go along with it. While he was comfortable in their crewmates know the two were an item, he knew that Finn would not necessarily feel the same way.

Finn was not sure what he preferred he had never been open about his sexuality but it was not something he had ever hidden either. He was about to say something when the ship shook and everything felt like it was happening in slow motion as he leant out to grip the other man’s hand to stop either of them from falling to the floor like others. “What… happened?” He asked but it came out in French much to Finn’s alarm.

Christian steadied himself as their plates and cups flew off the table. Around him, he heard his shipmates falling as he felt Finn grab his arm. The excitement that Finn had touched him quickly gave way to alarm as he heard Finn speak to him in French. He looked back at him with a quizzical look. "Why did you start speaking French," Christian said in standard before he realized it had come out as French. His confusion abounded as he heard a mixture of other languages in the mess hall as well as what he would describe as gibberish. He pointed to the windows along the wall which now had a purplish hue to them. "What is that," he asked Finn as the two made their way over to look out the windows as the deck plates shook under their feet.

”I do not know.” The gardener commented with a small shrug as he took in the purple hue of the walls. He did. It know what was going on at all but the window revealed that there was something holding them in place from the planet.

At that moment the tactical alert tone sounded. The voice of Lieutenant Gerhard, or at least that's who Christian assumed it was, called out something in a different language Christian had never heard of before. He looked over to Finn and pointed to the flashing red lights around them, "I guess we should get to our stations," he said in French before he smiled and winked at Finn, "I'd say this has been an interesting first date. Wouldn't you agree?"

The voice changed to that of the Captain speaking very quickly in lots of different languages as she tried to get the point across of the tactical alert despite the confusion. Finn let out and gripped the man's hand hard in a squeeze. "I think it is most likely the best I have had." He admitted as people started to brush past them as they understood more and more of what was happening with the Captain and Gerhard's announcements.

Christian smiled and squeezed Finn's hand in return, "My sentiment's exactly." He then heard the Captain call in French for all crew to report to their emergency stations. He looked back over at Finn before motioning to the door, "Come on, we don't want to be the last to report to our stations."

Finn nodded especially as he had to change at some point in the emergency. The one time he changed out of uniform into uniform or pyjamas and something like that happened. If Finn was a superstitious man he would have taken it as a sign but as he said his final goodbye to Christian he was relieved that he did not believe in anything like that.

What an end to a date!