JP – Lt. Robin Hopper & Ensign Nathan Richards: In Other Words (Part 2)
Robin Hopper
((Amity Outpost – Shuttlebay 4, “The Cellar”))
Richards: Well, at least you have Wong.
Hopper: Ikaia? ::Blinking in shock:: What? ::Baffled:: Wait… ::Realizing:: Oh! Oh my god!
The tension that had been building between the two officers had just shattered and Robin stood, the PADD falling off her lap to the floor as she walked around the cabin simultaneously giggling and trying to control herself. She wiped a tear from her eye as her laughter finally subsided.
Hopper: Oh, that – ::Chuckling:: – Was not what I was expecting you to say…
Nathan raised an eyebrow.
Richards: Wait, so you guys aren't together?
Hopper: No! ::Hand on forehead:: Oh my God, I can’t even– ::Hand on her mouth:: You don’t think everyone else also thinks– ::Both her hands in the air, seemingly grasping at nothing:: Wow. Oh wow. Yeah, no, Lieutenant Wong and I are just friends. Old close friends… Like siblings or something! But nothing else!
Richards: Oh! So you don't have…
He trailed off, but Robin wasn’t about to leave whatever stone that was unturned.
Hopper: I don’t have what…? ::It clicked:: Wait a second… ::Slyly:: Were you – are you – asking if I’m single?
Richards: Well…I…I mean…
She shushed him, then smiled mischievously, crossing her arms in front of her.
Hopper: Because… I am.
Nathan blinked a few times. The last couple of minutes had been a bit of a rollercoaster.
Richards: Okay, um… ::glancing left and right:: oO Ball is in your court, man. Oo Wh…Why, exactly? You seem like you could get any guy you want. I mean…oO You're beautiful, fun, smart… Oo
Robin took a second to absorb that comment then, half-chuckling, half-scoffing, she replied.
Hopper: Well… ::Pausing:: It’s not that simple. ::Hands on hips:: And, I take it you mean that as a compliment, but, you know, given that I am single it kinda sounds like you’re expecting there to be a ‘catch’. ::Eyebrows raised::
Nathan shook his head. He wasn't looking for a catch. It just surprised him.
Richards: ::Smiling:: No, I didn't mean it that way. It's just…surprising. I would have thought that you had someone…
Hopper: ::Taking a deep breath:: Like I said, it’s not that easy. A career in Starfleet makes things complicated…
Robin paced towards the front of the cabin and leaned against the inactive helm console. She was honest in saying that she tried to be an ‘open book’ – but this conversation wasn’t entirely expected. She didn’t want to give Richards the wrong impression. She turned around to face him again.
Hopper: One month ago I was on a deep space science vessel. Two years earlier and I was living in San Francisco, studying my butt off at the Academy. Before that, I was at UC Berkeley, and before that I was on Theta VII – ::A knowing look:: and I can assure you the prospects there are limited…
Nathan leaned back in his chair, nodding. He had been so wrapped up in his studies at the Academy that he hadn't even given a second thought to the prospect of a relationship.
Richards: I get it. Not being in one place long enough to make the connection with someone. ::Looking at Robin:: What if you stay aboard Amity? oOWhoa…What?Oo
There was a pause. It seemed like a reasonable enough question but, to Robin – who had only been on the station for a few weeks, it felt loaded with implications she wasn’t prepared to address. Finally, she spoke.
Hopper: ::Shrugging:: I don’t know… I mean, maybe I’ll be here a long time. Maybe I won’t. We don’t always get to choose these things for ourselves in Starfleet… ::Taking a seat:: I chose the career I did because I wanted to get out there and see the galaxy and not, I dunno, settle down and have a family like my parents did. It’s not really what I want, at least not now – and besides, there’s a lot of risks, like we just talked about…
She could see his face change as he tried to puzzle out what she was saying. She chose her next words carefully.
Hopper: I’m not looking to get ‘tied down’ to anything – but, you know, it’s not like I don’t still want to meet people, enjoy getting to know each other, ::slight raise of her brows:: maybe have a little fun together?
Nathan nodded. He wasn't sure what he expected from her answer, but felt satisfied with what she said.
Richards: ::nodding:: I understand that. ::Smiling:: There's nothing wrong with not wanting to be 'tied down'. I guess as an Engineer, I'm more in the mindset of staying in one place for a longer period of time. The thought of settling down isn't as foreign of an idea I suppose. And, I mean, there isn't anything wrong with having a little fun. oOUsually…Oo
Hopper: I’m just starting my career – and that’s my priority right now. I don’t want to give up my freedom to go where that takes me. ::A small smile:: Maybe someday – but I feel like there’s a lot I want to do before I get to that point… ::Tilting her head, looking away:: And there are also the inherent dangers that we accept when we become Starfleet Officers. ::Eyes back to Nathan:: That fear of losing someone isn’t unjustified. ::Shaking her head, brow furrowed:: I’m sorry if that’s not what you were hoping to hear.
Nathan leaned back in his chair, and chuckled. He shook his head as he thought about just how infatuated he was with her in such a short amount of time. What was going on with him?
Richards: I mean, I get it. It's not a bad idea to take time before… ::Shaking his head:: Well…I would… oO Here we go… Oo that is to say… oO Quit while you're ahead Oo ::sighing:: I…don't know what I'm trying to say I guess…
Robin nodded, took a breath in like she had something to say, then stopped herself and smiled half-heartedly instead.
Hopper: ::After a moment:: Yeah, well, now you see why I’m not ‘swimming in suitors’. A lot of guys want something more than what I want. And that’s fine – as long as everyone knows what they’re getting into. ::Shrugging:: You know, it’s not like you don’t meet a lot of people in Starfleet… but none of ‘em have stuck. And I’m good with that.
Nathan leaned forward in his chair and looked down at his hands. He wasn't sure what to say next. He felt like he should say something about how he felt towards her, but at the same time he was someone who wanted a commitment. And he barely even knew her!
Richards: I…Wh…::sighing:: I don't know what's going on with me. I'm sorry for diving down this rabbit hole. ::Laughing::
Robin joined him in laughing, happy that he was putting that out there.
Hopper: Umm, I think it was me who just laid it all out there and said I was single… Look, I don’t like overcomplicating things…
She decided to put her money where her mouth was and take a gamble.
Hopper: I think you’re hot… oO Like, stupid hot. Oo And you tolerated my music taste – which is huge points, in my book. ::Chuckling:: If you’re into me, I’d be happy to spend some time with you, not… ::looking around the cabin:: …in this shuttle. See where that takes us. But I don’t want us getting into anything on different terms. That’s a recipe for disaster.
Nathan had to take a moment to process what Robin had said.
Robin, meanwhile, bit her bottom lip subconsciously, in anticipation of his reply.
Hopper: I think we’re on the same page, right?
Richards: I..I won't lie. I think you're beautiful. You're fun to be around. And, come on. It's disco. ::Smiling:: I would like to spend some time with you outside of…::gesturing around them:: and get to know you better. See what happens. ::Shrugging:: Who knows.
Hopper: Okay!
She stood up from leaning against the Helm console and took a few steps closer to Nathan, clasping her hands in front of her.
Hopper: Then take me dancing. ::Grinning:: Tonight?
Nathan smiled and stood up.
Richards: It's a date. ::Winking, smiling:: I know a great place. Do you like karaoke?
Hopper: ::Smirking:: Yes. And I like to think I’m a decent singer. I’ll let you decide if you want to keep subjecting yourself to.. ::gesturing at herself:: ..this after you’ve heard my rendition of ::chuckling:: Lady Marmalade.
Her PADD emitted a sharp *ping* indicating that the SPOFs had been identified. She glanced at it, then up at Nathan with a little chuckle.
Hopper: Oh... Yeah. We’re both working aren’t we? Okay, uhh, well… ::Clearing her throat again:: Ahem. Thank you for the riveting conversation, Ensign. I look forward to our informal debriefing later this evening. I guess I’ll get back to the external sensor array… And you’ll be…?
Richards: ::smirking:: I shall be attending to the Biobed. And thank you, Lieutenant, for engaging in said conversation with me.
Nathan smiled as he turned to get back to actual work. Robin smirked, watching him for a second longer after he had turned, before glancing back down at her own work. It had certainly been an eventful few weeks since arriving on Amity – and there was no sign that things would be ‘slowing down’ any time soon.
TBC…
Lt. Robin Hopper
Chief Science Officer
Amity Outpost
V239806K11
&
Ensign Nathan Richards
Engineering Officer
Amity Outpost
A239905NR1