Lt. Nathan Richards - In a Rush
tas9303
((Terrible Targ, Merchant District))
The evening definitely was not going as planned. What started as Nathan simply wanting to talk to Robin about the vehicle replicator, and generally get some one on one time with her, had turned into a bit of a mess. The frustration was palpable, but it appeared Robin was at least attempting to make something out of it by engaging Ginnin in conversation and ultimately learning of his tattoo. Something he wanted to keep as somewhat of a surprise, only to be surprised himself to learn of her own tattoo.
Nathan shook his head, feeling his face become warm as he thought about he had just been sitting there, off to the side and staring at her.
Richards: I don’t actually think I saw it. I wasn’t really, um, looking at your back.
Hopper: Well, where were you looking?
Nathan felt his face become warmer. He couldn’t remember the last time he blushed this much. He felt embarrassed about it even now. He looked to Ginnin, then to Robin. If he couldn’t be honest now, when could he be?
Richards: ::Sighing:: I was…kind of busy…watching the way your hair moved when you talked. The way you smiled, the way your eyes shined. ::Clearing his throat:: Those kinds of things.
He looked anywhere but at Robin and Ginnin, feeling like he just dumped his heart out onto the table. Admitting that he still held onto those feelings after their very first date. It may have been well before he had learned to control the feelings and hold their friendship in more of a high esteem and push down the feelings, but he was still a little embarrassed about it.
T’Nik: So it seems that I interrupted something…important here.
Ginnin stood and tapped the table lightly.
T’Nik: I will take my leave. You two have a… ::Looking between the two:: …wonderful evening.
With that the Tellarite man walked away, leaving the two alone again. Nathan looked back to Robin, his face still warm.
Hopper: Nate… I… ::Her voice catching, unsure what to say:: I don’t. Um.
Richards: I…I’m sorry. ::Chuckling:: Back then, I still hadn’t gotten things straight about how I felt. I managed to tuck the feelings away after that.
She closed her eyes and shook her head, giving Nathan a bit of a sinking feeling. But he pushed that feeling aside. Surely if she was having some sort of second thoughts, she would have gotten up and left. But she was still there.
Hopper: No. No, it’s okay. ::Chewing her lip for a moment:: I was… confused too. For a long time. ::sight:: I thought I knew what was best for me. For us. Tried to stay disciplined.
She chuckled.
Hopper: But it was hard – and I think I’d be lying if i tried to say there weren’t moments where I almost gave in.
Nathan raised his eyebrows, feeling the warmth in his face begin to subside.
Richards: Really? ::Chuckling:: I had no idea. You did a better job at hiding it than I think I did.
Hopper: ::Shaking her head, a wry smile:: Or we’re both completely oblivious.
Nathan nodded, chuckling himself. It came as a relief that they had both struggled with it this entire time.
Richards: Is it just me, or did we torture ourselves for quite some time?
Hopper: Yeah… ::Beat:: …We’ve probably missed out on a lot of sex, haven’t we?
If Nathan would have had a drink, he would have spit it out. While she wasn’t wrong, she was very blunt about her delivery.
Richards: Uh… ::Chuckling:: Yeah.
Robin’s jaw dropped open, as if just realizing that she had said that aloud. After a moment, she closed her mouth, looking up and nodding.
Hopper: ::Nodding:: Yeah, no… I stand by that. ::Looking around the bar:: Do you, um, really want a drink?
After the night they had so far? Nathan felt a drink was certainly in order. But he looked at Robin quizzically.
Richards: You don’t?
She started slowly pushing her chair away from the table.
Hopper: …Because frankly, I’m sort of feeling like we could just ::tilting her head back and forth:: get out of here.
Nathan looked around and raised his eyebrow, curious if this had something to do with the sudden bombshell she had dropped only moments ago.
Richards: Uh, sure. Where did you have in mind?
Hopper: My place?
It appeared to have something to do with her bombshell.
Richards: ::Smirking:: Commander, I don’t–
Before Nathan could finish, Robin grabbed Nathan’s hand and pulled him quickly past the approaching server. The look on the Klingon’s face as they rushed past would have been something to enjoy were Nathan not being pulled away so quickly. Robin looked over her shoulder at him with a grin, which Nathan promptly returned as they made their way through the streets of the merchant district.
Sirn: Commander Hopper? Do you have a moment?
Hopper: Response
Sirn: I wished to go over some additional findings that I came across in our studies.
Hopper: Response
As they began to move again, Nathan looked back at the Vulcan man apologetically.
Richards: Sorry, I guess we are in a…bit of a hurry!
END SCENE…
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Lieutenant Nathan Richards
Engineering Officer
Amity Outpost
A239905NR1
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