Drinks, Dinner and Dancing. Oh my.

Posted on Tue Aug 31st, 2021 @ 3:50am by Lieutenant JG Jenna Jade & Ensign Rene Rouen

Mission: Lower Decks
Location: Ship's Lounge

They were well away from anyway Minerva could hear them, when Jenna suddenly couldn't stifle a giggle, suddenly squeezing his arm tightly, "Sorry, Ah think Ah've gone a bit overboard in gettin' ready and um... Well, Ah had the same problem you had in regards to available clothes, Minerva had me covered, but you do know that you've got a replicator in your quarters? If you were lookin' for somethin' else, you could have replicated somethin'." She flushed slightly as she looked over and slightly up at him with a smile.

Rene was smiling as Jenna and he entered the ship's lounge. Music was already playing over the sound system as they entered and there were about a dozen or so patrons in the lounge, mostly couples sharing tables on the periphery of the lounge. He glanced at Jenna. "Bar, table or I think I still see a booth over by the window?"

A bit of panic filled her mind, definitely not the bar? That was casual, but was this a casual date or was it a formal date? What was the protocol for something like this? If it were a date back in Columbia, this would no doubt be a formal date, which would absolutely require a table. A super-casual date, which would be just drinks, then the bar would be the proper location for it, after all, tables were for involving food. A moderately casual date would usually go for a booth, because then the two of them could watch each other over it, but that would be more for lovebirds, whiiiiich wouldn't be accurate at the moment, perhaps in the future, but not on the first date. As Minerva said, nor the second, nor likely the third, even if she, Jenna, got her nerve up. So she did what anyone in her position would do: She froze, unable to make any sort of decision.

Anara spotted the young couple as they entered she immediately nodded to assistant bartender to take over and came around to greet her newest patrons. "Greetings and welcome." Her astute powers of observation and Risian senses concluded the pair was on their first date. "Allow me to show you to a table." She turned and took them to a table with a good view of the dance floor and an equally good view of the panoramic window on the forward hull.

Rene nodded his appreciation as he pulled a chair and held it for Jenna. "Thank you ma'am."

Anara smiled. "It is Anara to all my patrons."

"Thank you Anara." Jenna said, some relief in her voice from the Risian making the decision for them on the where to sit, sliding in the perfect way for Rene to slide the chair underneath her, "Thanks Rene." She smiled up at him, "Ah do say, this is definitely one of the better seats in here, though Ah'm gonna have to report that hull plate out there on the dorsal hull, it needs to be checked out or it'll come off at some point." She tried to point out the offending bit of hull, some fifty meters out the window.

Rene chuckled as he took a seat. He instinctively reached across and took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Stop being an engineer and just be a lovely for one hour or two."

"Stop bein' an engineer?" Jenna asked, raising her free hand to her throat in a gesture she hoped he'd understand as shock but in jest, "But Rene, it's who Ah am! Well, besides my hobbies, but those are on the back burner anyways." She winked at him, "Ah suppose Ah can try."

Anara gave a slight throat clearing sound. "Can I get you two something to drink? Perhaps a Risan Mai Tai?"

Jenna thought for a couple seconds before nodding, "That sounds good, possibly settle my nerves a bit?" She smiled up at Anara, "Its got some alcohol Ah'm guessin'? Ah've got to say, Ah'm rather nervous right now, not because of Rene here." She squeezed the hand that was with hers, "Just, not used to this."

Anara smiled and gave the young woman a wink. "Not to worry. A Risan Mai Tai is just the thing to calm the nerves and help enjoy an evening." She turned to Rene. "And you good sir."

"Same for me I suppose." He smiled at Anara. "And it's Rene, not sir."

Anara nodded. "Be right back with your drink."

Rene turned back to Jenna, his smile growing. "Did I tell you? You really look beautiful tonight. I mean not too hard for you. You look great in a uniform too."

"Flattery will get you... Maybe somewhere." Jenna admitted, having wanted to get out the typical 'nowhere' bid, but she had a problem with being honest about things, always better that way than having to remember falsehoods, "Thank you, Rene, Ah've never been the best lookin' girl, but Minerva performed miracles tonight with me. Ah'll admit Ah'm in shape, but she's always been the looker of the two of us. Compared to her? I'm plain as a horse." It was truly the way she thought, "You, however, look positively fit for that holodeck program you were talkin' about."

Rene gave her a serious look for a moment. "Never do that, never sell yourself short not in brains or beauty." He smiled warmly at her again. He looked down at his outfit and lifted his gaze back to her. "How did Minerva know the exact period and location of my outfit. She isn't telepathic is she?"

Jenna laughed, "No, she isn't, but she's always had a fascination for history and culture. She's actually a cadet in Science, where Ah'm in engineerin', and she can tell you basically the when and where of anythin' from Earth and now with the Academy, probably most places in the Federation." She smiled slightly, "And she was also the fashionista in Columbia, South Carolina, where we're both from. Rather quite popular with the boys. Hell, she stole my date from me once when we were sixteen, he came to pick me up but Ah wasn't ready yet, by the time Ah got downstairs, he and she were gone."

Rene shook his head. He realized he had been holding her hand the entire time. He gave it a gentle squeeze. "No worries about me. Blondes aren't my type."

Anara returned with their drinks, but paused before finishing her approach. She knew when young couples were having a moment.

She leaned back with some fair spot of relief, most of the men she'd known would have fallen for the soft features and outward expressiveness of Minerva and indeed had done so. That one had been the only one of her dates she'd done that with, but it was a fifty-fifty proposition in that regard, "So Ah'm guessin' that you like those with a darker frame of hair? But Ah bet you wish..." She blushed deeply as she cut off the thought in mid-word, especially since he'd already said she was beautiful, "Never you mind." She corrected herself, "Ah... Ah'm not used to this, really, Rene. Ah've always been way too busy to have much of a social life. When Ah was a girl, it was high society trainin', or schoolwork and studyin' to get into the Academy, or practice or tournaments or this little thing called sleep. Never had time for datin', and at the Academy Ah was takin' extra courses along with playin' for the Academy team so Ah could graduate as early as possible."

Rene sighed a slight smile on his face. "I am pretty lucky I guess. I have both a photographic and eidetic memory. Plus a love for reading. I had to study, but did great on exams even without all night cram sessions." He spotted Anara and gestured her forward.

Anara delivered the drinks. "Here you go. Fair warning they are strong, but they sip easily." She smiled at both of them. "Enjoy your drinks and I will put on some music for a festive evening. The two of you should avail yourselves of the dance floor shortly."

Jenna smiled at Anara and did indeed take a sip of it, "Thank you, Anara, Ah think we may indeed take advantage of the music." She was the hostess after all, politeness, grace and humility was her due, then she turned back to Rene, "And did you ever watch any of the Academy sports, sirrah? Ah think not, else you might have remembered me winnin' the Academy Tournament my freshman year three years ago with that perfect memory of yours. First in twenty years to win it as a freshman," She reached up and brushed one of her curls, "But tennis isn't one of the more popular sports Ah dare say."

Rene nodded. He had attended the event she spoke of. He remembered she had made it through the initial matches quite easily. Her final match was the only one that seemed to really challenge her. It was a close match throughout and Jenna's victory had come at the end of a ten minute back and forth round. "I did actually see your match. I thought both you and opponent were going to sweat so hard it was going to become a water polo match."

Jenna snorted as she she was taking a sip, somehow managing not to spray it across the table, but catching herself before making a mess, "It was nearly thirty-four degrees, of course we were sweatin'." She shook her head, this time getting a larger mouthful of the surprising sweet drink, "Alexandria was rather quite good, but she was graduatin' the week after so she was a bit off her game. But if you remember that, how didn't you remember my name earlier?" She asked, raising an eyebrow, then blushed again as she cursed under her breath, "Ah'm sorry, Ah'm not tryin' to interrogate you, it was almost three years ago and you've been on other stations, so of course you wouldn't remember that match off the top of your head. Ah do recall that day rather well, only time Ah won the tournament, got eliminated in the semi's the next year."

Rene's face took on a guilty expression. His cheeks took on a slight pink hue as he took a sip of his drink to buy a moment before answering her question. "Well one reason was back then you had your hair different, two I had only seen you the one time and three...Alexandria was my cadet squad leader...I was actually rooting for her to win that day. Please don't hold it against me now."

That made sense to her. Most of the stadium had been rooting for Alexandria that day, the final sendoff for the woman. Instead, what they'd gotten was a lucky freshman who'd been having possibly the best tournament of her life. Truth be told, Jenna had almost hoped to be beaten by her, but before the match had been told to go all out. So she had, "Ah can't hold that against you, Alexandria and I played in practice occasionally and Ah liked her." She took another drink, a big drink that was almost half the glass. Might help her not be an ass.

Rene took another long sip and blinked. It was definitely a strong drink and it gave him a tingling sensation, especially when he looked at Jenna. "Wow! Anara is right this is strong." A slow song started and he looked at her as he gently tugged on the hand he had never let go of. "Would you like to dance?"

Jenna swallowed hard at the question and nodded, but didn't resist, letting him tug her gently out of the chair, considering the song and how the slow beat was going. Not a formal dance, it was a casual one, no need for steps learned what felt like half a lifetime before. There had been a dance like this that one night, three years ago, before... No, Rene was not like that, "Enchantee." She murmured as she remained about a quarter step behind him until they reached the dance floor, then signaled him with the hand he held to raise it as she twirled underneath it and then into the proper position, one hand clasped inside his, the other gently draped on his shoulder. She had to look up at him slightly, him being still a bit taller than her even with the heels she was an expert with.

They held sole possession of the dance floor for a minute before two of the other couples in the lounge joined them. Rene felt a warm, fuzzy feeling as they danced. It felt good to hold her in his arms and just move to the soft, slow music. 'She is gorgeous', he thought. 'What would she do if I kissed her right now?' He didn't because he didn't know, but he was looking for some sign from her.

Something inside her felt... Funny. She didn't know what it was, a flutter in her stomach, a warmth in her head and face, but her eyes just watched his. It was partially protocol, especially since they were dancing a rather simple dance which didn't require any real thought and would be very difficult to trip with. She wanted to shake her head to clear it, or at least attempt to clear it, but that would be unforgivable, a sin of culture. But if she couldn't do that, perhaps she would... Her head tilted fractionally to the left, the index finger on his shoulder lifting briefly with a twirling motion twice before it settled back down.

Rene caught her slight gesture. He hoped his was interpretation was correct as he twirled her slowly to the music his hand catching her waist and pulling her just slightly closer than before his face hovering just above hers. The feeling of her in his arms, her lips barely 5 centimeters from his. He felt a powerful urge to kiss her there on the dance floor as the music went into its final stanza. He pulled her ever so slightly closer. He leaned down slightly, a single centimeter from her lips.

She met that final centimeter, using a fractional step for that final fraction of an inch, her lips pressed against his as his eyes drifted closed. It was still wooden at first, because she wasn't used to kissing anyone, but tried her best to soften it as she pressed herself into him gently.

The kiss lasted five seconds until the music ended. Rene could feel his heart beating against his chest and a desire to kiss her again. Now was not the time and a public lounge was not the place. He gestured back to the table. "Perhaps we should take a breather? Get something to eat."

She took a deep breath, then leaned against him in a less dignified manner than she was used to having. Her head was swimming whether it was from the kiss or from the drink she didn't know, but the kiss had happened right then. "Perhaps." She said in a whisper, "Ah'm... Ah'm not the girl to kiss and run, though, or even kiss on a first date. Or any date, because Ah've got bad luck with them." She confessed as he guided her back, "Ah seriously have had three dates in my life, Rene." She slid back into her chair and took another drink of her mai tai to get her mouth wet again, "That was a lovely dance." She finally said, to let courtesy take it's proper place.

Rene hadn't known about Jenna's past, that despite her beauty she had very little experience in romance. He was no stranger to romance. "I...apology for the kiss. It was way too soon. Please forgive me. Something came over me that moment. The music, the closeness of us dancing...your beauty, a combination of all three.” He lifted his glass to take a sip then thought better of it. He set the glass down and waved to a waiter, asking for two glasses of water and menus. "Perhaps no more alcohol until after we eat. Agreed?"

“Perhaps for the best.” Jenna agreed, “But Ah don’t want to hear any apologies, it’s not like Ah didn’t want it myself. Oh sure, maybe it’s a bit of this wonderful drink talkin’, but Ah did give you the proper cue.” She twirled the same finger with her hand on the table, “Don’t think Ah did that unintentionally, Rene, H’ve had it far too drilled into my by my mother. Besides…” She smiled fondly at him, perhaps a little too much so, “Ah liked it.”

Rene felt a heat rush to his face as he slid a hand across the table to hook her finger with one of his own. The slightest touch of her skin made him tingle and just looking at her made his head swim. "I enjoyed it very much too."

The waiter returned a moment later with their water and handed menus to both of them. "The special tonight is a Chicken Alfredo with a butter cream sauce and three warm dinner rolls."

Rene glanced at Jenna. "Sounds wonderful to me. Would you like a minute to look at the menu?"

“No need, Ah’ll go with that as well, if Ah may.” Jenna smiled up to Anara, then once she was gone, looked back to Rene and suddenly got serious without even meaning to, despite her smile, “Sorry to say, Rene, you ain’t gettin’ lucky tonight.” Her eyes opened wide as the words came out without her own knowledge and she looked away, “Oh my god.. Ah can’t believe Ah just said that, Ah’m sorry..” She cursed at herself, making sure she did so silently, “Fuck.. Ah don’t think Ab intended to be that direct, sirrah, Ah’m not quite feeling myself at the moment, especially with such a delicate matter.” Her head was spouting out words to say, few of which made sense as she tried to gracefully recover from a handful of words she’d not intended on.

Rene just smiled warmly. His hand wrapped around hers and he took a deep breath. "I wasn't expecting to...get lucky...tonight. Besides, I already am. I am sitting here with the most beautiful woman in the room, about to have a delicious dinner. What more could a man want?"

“Given that you are indeed a gentleman who has decided to forgive a lady of her faux pas, Ah’m not sure!” Jenna shook her head, still embarrassed, “Ah do believe that Ah can’t hold my alcohol very well, you see Ah don’t typically drink anythin’ like it, Ah was tryin’ to settle my nerves. But my other two experiences? One of them involved me requirin’ the use of a knee to some rather quite sensitive spot when Ah wasn’t quite receptive to the idea.”

Rene's face grew serious for a moment. "I would never try to push anything your not ready for. What will happen between us will happen when the time is right and no sooner. My promise as an officer and gentleman."

Jenna smiled and with her free hand made a brushing away gesture, “It never crossed my mind, despite what my tongue decided to spit out. Now you, my mother really would like, all gentlemenly like, hell Ah’m guess in’ that if we were back on planet, you’d have first gone to my father to ask if you could be takin’ me out on a date, now wouldn’t you?”

Rene pondered the question for a moment. "Being as we are both adults...probably not. However, had we met when we were teenagers. I most definitely would." He wasn't sure if that was the answer she had wanted to hear, but it was his honest answer. He had learned to always be honest no matter what.

“Oh yes, mama would have like you all right, so proper.” Jenna giggled melodically, “But then again, mama wanted me to stay at home rather than go to the Academy, worried about me finding a match and bein’ happy and all.” She shook her head, “Daddy knew what was in my heart and made sure Ah got the opportunity.”

Rene nodded appreciatively. "The upbringing of a lady of means and status with the heart of a adventurous explorer." He was becoming increasingly more impressed with who Jenna Jade was with each passing moment.

“We’ve been a South Carolina family since before the American Civil War, though none of the family distinguished themselves during that conflict.” It was a source of pride of the Jades, being THAT old, “But less an explorer than enjoyin’ tinkering’ with things and gettin’ the attention of someone who went out and recruited me to make power beyond my wildest dreams. A Lady, but less of one than you might think. Ah’m not as adventurous as Ah look, which is why Ah don’t date much.”

A server arrived with their food and placed both plates on the table. He looked at the near empty glasses. "Two more drinks?"

Rene looked to Jenna. The drinks were rather potent he didn't want her to believe he was going to get her drunk and take advantage. He had to admit they were good though.

“May Ah have a cola, please.” Jenna asked politely, “Ah do think this ones gone straight to my head, Ah’m a lightweight.” She grimaced slightly at the admission, “But Ah do say, they are absolutely amazing’!”

"Sweet peach tea, please." Rene was a bit relieved Jenna had opted for non alcoholic beverages. The one drink hadn't gotten him drunk, but it was certainly causing him a unique reaction. He gestured at the food. "Shall we?"

The gesture he made had only begun before Jenna had already dug in, never one to waste time, but she suddenly stopped and began to eat more delicately, “Woops, Ah forgot myself for a second,” she giggled again, knife and fork at work, “This is definitely a good place to come again Ah believe.”

Rene took a bite and chewed. "Mmmmmm. I hate to say it, but this is better than my mother's recipe." He gave a nod of his head. "I agree. Though next time we order food before those Mai Tais. Agreed."

“Or maybe Ah won’t have the same set of nerves?” Jenna asked, but most of the meal itself was eaten with some general small talk before Jenna finally put her fork back down on only a half plate left, then languidly let her hand prop up on the table, a simple gesture intended to let him know it was available to be held, “Perhaps you’d care to take me for another dance or two?”

Rene cued in and set aside his plate as he took her hand and stood, pulling her with him. They went to the dance floor. They danced, not one song or two, but for the next two hours. Rene was content holding her in his arms and talking about growing up Paris and listening about life in South Carolina. They finally returned to the table, the plates and glasses removed and a sign that read reserved for Jenna and Rene. He took the sign back to the bar, settled the bill and returned to Jenna by the table. "How about a stroll through the arboretum before I walk you back to quarters?"

“Ah think that would be lovely.” Jenna said, clinging onto his arm with both hands. She really did want to kiss him again, but that could wait until he walked her back to her quarters, maybe even… She did manage to shut that part out, though out of habit rather than desire. But a kiss? Harmless, not to mention a fitting reward for taking her out for such a wonderful time.

Rene still felt a strong desire for Jenna, but he kept his wits about him and his hands to himself. It took less than a minute to reach the Arboretum with it on the same deck as the lounge. The scent of flowering plants was pleasant as they slowly strolled around. He glanced sideways at her as they walked. "So...would you be up for a second date sometime? Maybe a holodeck adventure. We could save King Louis from the evil Cardinal Richleau or protect the good citizens of Pueblo de Los Angeles from the equally evil Alcade? Anything you want to do."

“There was only one Zorro and Ah’m not cut out to play a maiden in distress,” Jenna laughed, “Besides, masks just get in the way and no one is supposed to know the secret identity, but don’t count that one out yet, senor, however Monsieur, life as a Musketeer couldn’t be all that bad, could it?” She leaned into him, “So in case you couldn’t tell, that’s a yes from me.”

Rene grinned as he slid an arm around her waist. He realized he wasn't keeping his hands to himself, but he wasn't trying to grope her body either and...it felt good and right. He did give her waist a gentle squeeze. "And you said you didn't have an adventurous spirit. I get the feeling you get a sword in your hand and all of Europe would tremble at the new Warrior Queen showing up."

“Boudicca, sirrah, Ah am not. However, Ah will do my best to stay alive while you slay the dragons for me.” Jenna sighed lightly as they left the arboretum for the final handful of corridors to her quarters. When they got there, she came around to face him and looked up at him, “Ah had a wonderful time Rene, truly Ah did.”

Rene couldn't resist the temptation to kiss her this time. He leaned down slightly and kissed her. It was light for a moment, but grew deeper and more passionate with each passing second. Time ceased to have any meaning. He would never be sure if it lasted seconds or minutes. He only knew that it was one of the most incredible and intense kisses of his life.

Jenna melted into him, certain that at one point he was holding her up by sheer brute strength and there was a part of herself yelling, screaming, begging her to forget what she’d said and invite him in to kick Minerva out for the evening. But there was still a core of steel that made her resist, finally getting her feet back under her and breaking off from the kiss ever so reluctantly. “Ah’ve… Ah’ve got to go…” She said quietly, blushing a cherry red.

Rene nodded. It was nearing the start of midway. He had to be up in a little over four hours. He stepped back until the tips of their fingers were all that connected them. He wanted to invite her to his quarters or have her invite him in but he knew deep down he wasn't going to nor accept if she offered. There would be other nights. "See you in my dreams." He stepped back, continuing to do so as she all but stumbled back into her quarters. He only turned to walk to his own quarters when her door closed.

Jenna herself also backed into her quarters, “Et toi.” She murmured, and the doors slid shut in front of her.