BACKPOST -- Shot Down. Hard.

Posted on Mon Mar 21st, 2022 @ 9:17pm by Lieutenant JG Faith Vianelli & Ensign Rene Rouen

Mission: Lower Decks
Location: Rene's Quarters
Timeline: BACKPOST: The night prior to the series of Jenna/Rene posts

Rene was personally making a round of security checks throughout the ship. He was currently on Deck Seven near the Medical and Counseling offices when a door opened up and out walked Faith. "Hey there. How are you? Haven't had the opportunity to talk to you the last day or two. How is Briella doing?"

Lost deep in her own thoughts, the voice startled Faith, making her look up. She smiled as her eyes met with Rene's for a moment. "She's enjoying herself, today's been her first day in daycare, Nani brought her to have lunch with me," the happiness at the gesture was clearly evident in the counselor's voice. "How are you settling in to security?"

Rene sighed and then gave a week chuckle. "Busy. Still the only officer aboard and I have an enlisted staff of 8 spread through all four divisions. I will be happy when the transport arrives in the next few days with the additional crew." He looked at her curiously. "How about you? Have you figured out if we're going to be a sane crew or our we the inmates running the asylum?"

Faith laughed softly. "I'm not qualified to make that determination yet," she shook her head. "I'm still waiting for the Chief Counselor to arrive, I assume he's coming on the transport with the next round of crew. Until I have supervision I'm not allowed to see patients or do anything really, so all I'm doing is sitting around reading crew profiles and medical histories."

Rene nodded. "Well you can count on me to be the first one on your couch when you do get thoroughly certified. The schedule I've been keeping the last few days has been a killer."

"I can't hear you out professionally, but you know, as a friend I'm always willing to listen," she offered. "And I seem to have plenty of time on my hands."

Rene smiled. He was hoping she would have some free time. He took a deep breath as he worked up the courage for his next question. "Well, um, maybe you might like to spend some of that time...and have dinner with me...perhaps?"

Faith heard his question, but she hesitated before she responded, thoughts wavering rapidly. Finally, she offered a smile. "Sure, I'll see if Nani can stay and watch Briella. What did you have in mind?"

Rene beamed with barely contained delight. "We could grab dinner in the lounge or...I could make something. I have already programed all my family's recipes into the replicator. You pick."

His excitement was palpable, something that made Faith sigh inwardly. She held up a small hand, palm toward him as a gesture to stop. "Rene, I'll have dinner with you, but it's not a date," she said softly. "I'll have dinner with you as friends, but that's it."

Rene hid the disappointment he felt well. He smiled and nodded at Faith. "Of course mon amie. I wouldn't expect anything else. How about I fix my mother's famous Chicken Alfredo with a side of roasted garlic mashed potatoes and would you prefer corn or green beans?"

Faith offered a small smile. "Corn and green beans are definitely my style," she replied. "Would you like me to bring dessert? Or maybe a bottle of wine? I have a fantastic new recipe for a black forest brownie that is divine. And maybe we can talk through your concerns over dinner?"

"Desert or wine, hmmm?" He had a mock ponder expression on his face. "Well, I am French so...both!" He gave a light chuckle. "My only concern is to find out if you are doing well these days."

There was a pause, an almost torn expression on her face. Finally, she forced a smile. "Of course I'm well, why would I not be?"

Rene went quiet for a moment. He had not meant to imply anything. "I was just wanting to catch up. I didn't mean to imply you weren't doing well. If anything I figured you were doing great."

Faith smiled, reaching out, resting her hand on his forearm. "Rene, it's okay," she reassured softly. "So what time is dinner? I'll need to make sure Nani can stay."

Rene turned his eyes as if to look at an imaginary clock on the bulkhead. "I'm off watch in about half an hour, say...an hour from now? We will make it fairly quick. That way Nani can get on with her evening. Sound Good?"

"Can we make it an hour?" Faith asked. "Honestly, I'd love to get back to my quarters and take a shower before I come."

"Of course." Rene hiked a thumb over his shoulder. "Listen. I have to get back to work. See you soon."

Faith offered a small smile and a nod. "Sure, I'll see you later," she said quietly, watching as he walked away before she sighed and started walking back to her own office.


TWO HOURS LATER

Rene finished up the last touches for his dinner with Faith. He stepped back and looked at the table and nodded. Plates and silverware placed on each side of the table. Two candles burning on the other two sides. The food was in warmers in spots on the table that would allow for both of them to fill their plates easily.

Rene glanced about the room and frowned. Something was off. He realized it was too bright and too quiet. "Computer, reduce lighting by...30%." The lights dimmed immediately. 'Still too bright.' "Make it another 15%." The lights dimmed further. He saw that soft shadows danced on the walls from the candle flames.

"Computer, play music. Something...romantic."

=Please specify exact type or cultural origin."

Rene sighed. "Oh...just play some soft Latin guitar."

The music started and just in time as the door chime announced Faith's arrival. He moved to the door, a smile on his face as he opened the door and gestured for her to enter with a flourish. "Good evening Mademoiselle. Welcome to my humble home."

Faith was exhausted, there was no doubt about that. She very nearly cancelled the dinner, especially when she got back to her quarters to an already overtired and upset toddler who realised Momma was going out again. The resulting tantrum had left them both in tears before Claire had stepped in and ushered Faith out the door. Now, as she walked into Rene's quarters and took in the romantic setting in front of her, she froze momentarily, feeling like she'd made a mistake. "Thank you," she finally replied softly. "I apologise for being late, Briella didn't want to settle."

Rene shook his head as he ushered Faith in. A concerned look on his face. "No need to apologize. Your daughter comes first." He noticed the expression on her face and realized immediately that she was not in the mood for a romantic dinner. "Computer. Restore standard illumination and cease music."

"Sorry," she offered another apologetic smile. "I hope your evening has been more relaxing?" she asked, inhaling deeply. "Oh, it all smells so good! You didn't have to go to so much effort."

Rene smiled as he pulled out a chair for Faith. "I programmed the replicator with all my mother's best recipes the night we arrived. This was really not all that hard." He took a seat across from her. "Other than being a bit cranky tonight, how has Briella taken to her new home?"

"She's happier now that I've finished unpacking and she has most of her bedroom back together, her familiar things." She smiled slightly, exhaling softly as she felt herself relax into the seat. "She's keeping Nani on her toes, poor Claire..." she shook her head for a moment. "I think, honestly, Nani will be happy when Briella gets into daycare proper and she gets to leave."

Rene held up the serving bowl with the pasta. "Guests first." He was amazed at how far Faith had come in life. "You know that Claire might not have to leave. There is a billet for a Family Service Officer. Someone who assists the non Starfleet spouses and children of the officers and crew. Perhaps she could talk to the Captain about it."

Faith smiled. "I'll let her know, but at this rate, she may want to put a lot of distance between her and Briella," she replied with a soft laugh. "Though, at the same time, at this rate I might be shipped back to the Academy so it won't make much difference."

Rene’s eyes widened. "Why would Starfleet do that? You have the training and Starfleet Medical wouldn't send someone out unless they had passed all their clinicals."

"Because I haven't finished the Academy," Faith replied quietly. "I'm finishing my studies in the field, I'm supposed to be supervised by a lead Counselor but they didn't show up." She shrugged slightly. "I guess I just wait and see what happens next."

Rene shook his head. "What's one or two more classes at the Academy going to teach you that is going to be better training than real experience can't teach you just as quickly?"

Faith shrugged slightly. "I don't know, all I know is I don't want to go back to the Academy now and disrupt Briella again." She sighed. "Sorry, I'll stop complaining. How about a drink?" she asked, forcing a smile.

Rene pulled the bottle of French Wine from the bucket filled with ice and poured two glasses. He handed one to Faith before holding up his glass. "To Paris."

Faith smiled at the sentiment before she nodded slightly in agreement. "To Paris."

They ate for several minutes quietly, each one in their own thoughts. Rene finally broke the silence as he took a sip of wine. "How do you like serving on the Chimera? Make any new friends yet?"

Faith laughed softly. "I don't have time for a social life. When I'm not in my office I'm home with Briella. From what I've seen though the crew seem friendly enough. Everyone has been nice so far. No one has yelled at me for Little Miss getting into mischief."

"Well that's good." Rene wondered how she did it, serving in Starfleet and raising a two year old alone. It must be difficult, even with the help of an au pair. "If you ever want someone to watch Briella so you can at least try and have a social life, I do have a younger brother and sister I helped take care of."

Faith smiled. "Thanks, I appreciate the offer, but for now I have Nani to help out. Once she settles in and this becomes home I'm sure things will get better." She took a sip of her drink. "So where are your brother and sister now?"

Rene chewed his food before answering. "They're both back on Earth. Still at secondary school."

"Plans to follow in their big brothers footsteps?" Faith asked as she took a bite of her own food. "Or are they planning to go into civilian service?"

"Not sure. There's still a few years before they graduate secondary school," replied Rene.

Faith smiled wistfully. "Their whole lives ahead of them," she said with a shake of her head. "Remember what it was like to be that young and carefree? Not having to make decisions and be important?" She paused for a moment. "I mean, jeepers, I'd settle for not being held to ransom over the colour of a sippy cup!"

Rene smiled. He missed his carefree days of youth as well when his biggest concern was getting enough practice in for the next fencing tournament. "Not sure what my younger siblings want to pursue." He held up the wine bottle and gestured at her nearly empty glass. "Would you like some more?"

Faith offered another smile and a nod. "Sure," she replied, pushing the glass across the table toward him, fingers remaining on the stem. "I'm sure what ever they choose they'll find something they love. They have a good influence in you to look up to."

Rene gave a slight chuckle. "My parents and grandparents are probably more of an influence than I am. Probably my older brother and sister too."

Taking a sip of her drink, Faith watched him. "But they still look up to you too I'm sure," she said softly.

Rene gave a half nod. He hoped so. "I am kind of the black sheep of the family. My parents and grandparents thought I should have stayed on Earth and helped run the fencing academy. I joined Starfleet though."

Faith remained silent for a long moment, taking a sip of her drink and contemplating. If he were ostracized just for joining Starfleet, well... she drew in a deep breath. "I'm sure your family love you regardless and I'm sure they're proud of you," she said softly. "You should give yourself more credit."

Rene did not appear to out of sorts. "Don't get me wrong. I love fencing. I just had no desire to stay in Paris for thirty years giving lessons. I wanted to see the galaxy."

"There's nothing wrong with wanting something new," Faith said softly. "Something different from what you've always known. Change is a good thing."

Rene handed the wine bottle to Faith as he got to his feet. He then started picking up dinner plates and serving bowls to place in the replicator for recycling. He gave a nod in the direction of the sitting area. "Make yourself comfortable. I will join you in a moment."

Taking the wine bottle and the glasses, Faith carried them across to the sitting area, refilling both glasses before setting everything on the coffee table and sitting down on the comfortable couch.

"Do you ever regret joining Starfleet?" she asked as she sipped her wine and watched him moving around, recycling the plates and bowls.

Rene joined Faith on the couch after recycling all the dinner dishes in the replicator. He picked up his glass and took a sip as he pondered her question for a moment. "Joining Starfleet, no. Flirting with an admiral's niece, maybe." He gave a light hearted chuckle. "But, if I hadn't, we would not be here enjoying a fine Bordeaux and reacquainting with one another."

"That's true I guess," Faith said with a smile, holding her glass toward him. "Here's to Starfleet and reuniting old friends," she said with a smile.

Rene tapped his glass to hers and took a sip. He picked up the bottle and nodded at her glass. "Would you like a little more? It would be a shame not to finish what little bits left."

"You're right, it would be a shame to see it go to waste, share it with me?" She asked. "And while you do you can tell me about this Admiral's daughter."

Rene poured the last of the wine into their glasses. He took a very deep breath and sat back holding his wine glass close to his chest. "Admiral's niece, her father was an Ambassador on the Federation Council. She was an intern on a delegation the USS Ganymede was ferrying to a diplomatic conference prior to my assignment to Chimera. We ah, spent a little time together on the trip to the conference. The Ambassador probably thought that a young junior officer was trying to seduce his daughter." He chuckled. "Especially when it was the other way around."

She smiled faintly, taking a sip of her wine, unable to help the pang she felt as he talked about it. "I'm sure you were not complaining," she finally added with a hint of a smile. "Some things never change clearly, you were a rake when we first met. Grandmother told me all about boys like you before she shipped me off to boarding school."

Rene chuckled as he waggled a finger at Faith. "I may have become a man with a weakness for beautiful women since then, but I was not a rake when we first met. I hadn't even kissed a girl prior to our first kiss in the Garden." He sighed slightly. So much had changed, for both of them, in the almost decade it had been since meeting again on the shuttle flight to Chimera a few days ago.

Shifting slightly, Faith leaned toward him, resting her head on his shoulder for a moment before sitting upright again. "It really is good to see you again," she finally said.

"Likewise for me as well." Rene had momentarily enjoyed Faith snuggling, but her almost immediate change in demeanor signaled a distinct reluctance. He sat and took a couple of sips of wine in pace with her. "I can understand you have different priorities in life these days. I just want you to know that you will always have a friend here for you if you need one."

She smiled, finishing her wine. "Thank you," she said, standing up to recycle the glass. "Be a gentleman and walk me back to my quarters?"

===

The walk back to her quarters didn't take long and passed in comfortable small talk between friends. Pausing at her door, she turned, rose up on her hugged him tightly, leaving a soft kiss on his cheek. "Thank you," she said with a warm smile before she pulled away and disappeared into her quarters, ready to embrace the craziness of the over tired toddler she knew would be waiting for her.