[Backsim] Lt. Robin Hopper: It Started With A Kiss
Robin Hopper
((OOC – For context, this scene takes place several days before the mission that has just started. I am leaving it a bit long and leaving plenty of tags so we can wrap it up before it’s too deep into mission time.))
((Conversation Pit, Hopper’s Apartment, Habit Ring – Amity Outpost))
Robin sat beside Nathan on the sofa, a comfortingly-large glass of rosé in her hand, as she mulled over the situation in her head. There was little doubt in her mind that she’d interpreted Keehani’s words correctly – but then things had gotten so ‘swept up’ that nothing had been resolved.
Her lips tightened into a firm line, almost acting on their own to keep her from spilling her secrets. But ultimately her mind won out. She knew that she could trust Nathan, even if he could be a real dork sometimes. Staring at the fire across the pit, she sighed and laid it all out.
Hopper: Alright – look, I’m sure it goes without saying that this is all just between you and me… The friend I’m talking about is Keehani. Ukinix. ::Mildly exasperated:: Obviously… ::Looking back at Nathan:: We’ve been growing closer, having some fun. I thought, you know, like friends. I think I might have given her the wrong impression.
There was a palpable pause as he considered what she’d just said. In the moment of silence, she took another drink to steady herself.
Richards: Well, did you tell her? Did you get to say anything?
She wasn’t sure if things were any clearer between them now. It didn’t help that Keehani was an empath… The way she’d been speaking at the bar, it almost seemed like Keehani had read Robin’s mind before she was even aware of her interest. And then they’d been cut off.
Hopper: I didn’t really get a chance to clear things up. She had to leave. Something urgent with the noble houses of Betazed. ::Reaching for her wine:: I dunno, they always seem to be in crisis, don’t they?
Nathan chuckled slightly, taking a sip from his tea.
Richards: Yeah, something like that.
Robin took another gulp of wine and set the glass back down.
Hopper: I dunno, I guess I just needed to talk to somebody who would, you know, understand how weird and complicated this can all get. It feels completely unresolved, and we’re definitely going to need to talk about it properly… ::Resting her head on his shoulder:: I think I’m bad at this.
As she stared at the fire, leaning on his should, she felt his hand gently rest on her head. It was comforting, familiar. He stroked her hair and she shut her eyes for a moment, trying to ‘reset’ her mindset from confused and frustrated to… something resembling ‘normal’.
Richards: Bad at what, exactly?
Hopper: Dating… Relationships… ::Sarcastic chuckle, opening her eyes and looking up at him:: Managing my own personal affairs? I dunno, sometimes it feels like no matter how neat and tidy I try to keep things, it all just gets so messy and complicated. Is it just me?
Richards: No, It’s not just you.
She quirked an eyebrow.
Hopper: What do you mean?
Richards: I mean, lots of people have issues in that department… ::Sighing:: Including me.
She suddenly recalled that Nathan had mentioned this shore leave had been eventful for him as well. oO Right. We were both going to share! Oo She sat up, suddenly put at ease by the thought that she might not be the only one with a monkey on her back.
Hopper: Really? ::Turning to face him, bringing her legs up onto the sofa and sitting cross-legged:: Do tell.
Nathan sat up straighter, placing his hands in his lap.
Richards: Well, there was us, in the beginning. ::Half smile:: But I mean, that worked out. Cause here we are. ::Chuckling::
A small knowing look spread across her face. It was almost funny to think that, six months ago, the two of them had gone on a single, ill-fated date… Then again, perhaps not so ill-fated after all. She hadn’t realized it then, but there was so much more to Nathan Richards than the surface level charm and good looks she’d first found herself drawn to.
He was, truly, a good and decent person who threw himself into everything he cared about with equal amounts reckless passion and earnest reliability… Somehow in swerving a potential hook-up, Robin had found herself one of the most easy and natural friendships she’d ever made – and the thought of that warmed her more than the heat radiating from the fireplace.
Richards: But more recent events have become somewhat messy, I suppose.
Hopper: Oh…?
She leaned sideways, propping her elbow on the back of the conversation pit sofa, and absent-mindedly curled a loop of her hair around her finger as she listened.
Richards: Back before New Years, when I was in on Betazed… ::Gulping his tea, clearing his throat:: I almost had an…intimate encounter with a certain Betazoid Noble.
Her eyes went wide. oO “A certain Betazoid Noble…?” Oo She considered the group that had gone to Betazed. Ikaia, S’Raga, Bec, Nathan, Keehani and… that other woman whose name she couldn’t recall. Polgonz junior. But she was engaged, wasn’t she? Was he being coy because… No. It couldn’t be.
Hopper: ::Concerned:: Not… Keehani also?
Richards: No! No.
She breathed a sigh of relief and nodded, gratefully erasing that scenario from her imagination.
Richards: A different one. Kyri Taival. Well…things didn’t exactly end in the best way and I found myself…thrown out.
Hopper: “Thrown out?” ::Scoff:: Jeez, what did you do? ::Catching a look:: I’m kidding… Look, what sort of friend would be if I didn’t at least razz you a little bit? ::Grabbing her wine:: Okay, okay, sorry – you were saying? Kyri Taival. Betazoid noble. She threw you out of bed, and then…?
Richards: The messy part…is that after the ‘encounter’, there was some kind of telepathic shenanigans going on. I was doing fairly well at just ignoring it, until she showed up on Amity earlier this week.
It was Robin’s turn to practically choke on her drink as he mentioned her arrival on Amity. She felt the burn of rosé in the back of her nose and raised her hand, glass and all, to cover her mouth as she sputtered.
Hopper: Oh @#$%. ::Wide-eyed, excited:: That is juicy. So, wait, she’s here? NOW?
She shook her head and, for a moment, tried to figure out just how many Betazoid Nobles were on the station all at once – or at least during the course of this shore leave. oO Rivi, of course. Keehani. Wil? Does he count? Daughter Lohani and her… niece? The other Polgonz. Her father? He was on Idrustix… Wait, was Tani Lekasa a noble? No, she was an abolitionist? Is that right? Oo She shook her head, having already lost count.
Hopper: So I take it you… ran into her, or something? What did you say?
Richards: ::Sighing:: Well, We talked about what happened, and how I was being affected by it. So we came to the conclusion that maybe we needed to…finish what we started…
Robin blinked. oO Did he just say what I think he just said? Oo
Hopper: ::Sticking her tongue out at him teasingly:: Ewww…
Richards: Response?
Hopper: ::Chuckling:: Well, hey, good for you. You’re a proper noble boy toy now. ::Snickering:: I can’t wait for the arranged wedding. I know a great caterer.
Richards: Response
She gave him another playful whack on the chest, then held up a finger to get him to wait. She stood up, placing her wine down on the table, and made her way to the record player in the corner of the pit.
Hopper: Hey – come on. It’s a little funny…
She flicked through her vinyl collection looking for the album she had in mind, slid it out of its sleeve and placed it on the turntable with practiced ease. A moment later, and the music began to play softly in the background.
She turned back to him and winked. Perhaps the large glass of wine – coupled with the numerous drinks she’d already enjoyed at the karaoke bar with Keehani – had made her a little tipsy.
Richards: Response?
Hopper: ::Singing along:: I believe in miracles. Where you from, you sexy thing (you sexy thing you)? ::Holding out a hand:: Come on, lighten up, dance with me.
There wasn’t that much room in the center of the conversation pit for dancing, with the round coffee table, but the corner was spacious enough. She took his hands and, grinning, eased into a light swing-style dance, taking tiny steps to avoid bumping the table or falling over one of the sofas.
Richards: Response
Hopper: ::Snickering:: Look, all I can say is I am sooooo glad that I am not the only one finding myself all tied up in this Betazoid noble crap… Turns out we’re both suckers for a pair of black irises…
Richards: Response
Yes, she was definitely tipsy. The rosé had evidently reignited the synthehol still in her system from the bar, and she was feeling loose and free now that Nathan had shared his dirty little secret with her. She figured it was only fair to let him in on hers.
Hopper: ::Shaking her head:: No… Not Keehani. ::Rolling her eyes:: This is going to start sounding like an absolute cliché at this point. I swear, I’m not just ripping pages out of your playbook, but… ::Biting her lower lip subconsciously:: I may have… also, um… engaged in some ‘horizontal diplomacy’ with the Betazoid nobility.
Richards: Response
She raised a hand in her own defense, though she recognized the entire situation was pretty absurd.
Hopper: ::Grimacing playfully:: Not knowingly. Even he didn’t know. It’s complicated. Actually, it got pretty weird… ::Chuckling, trailing off:: You see what I mean? We’re a couple of hot messes, aren’t we?
Richards: Response
She gazed up at him, letting the song play out before it moved on into another of Hot Chocolate’s R&B grooves. She took a series of shallow breaths, trying to work out just where to go now, what to say next.
Hopper: Well… At least we’ve got each other – no judgments here, right? ::Picking up her glass of wine and his mug of tea, passing him his drink:: Cheers to us?
Richards: Response
As they clinked their drinks together, each taking a sip, Robin felt a strange tightness in her chest. Something she hadn’t felt since… oO Don’t be stupid. Oo It was time to turn down the heat before something regrettable happened.
Hopper: I think that you and I could both benefit from a little ‘quiet time’ – away from the bars, and the beautiful people of Betazed, and… ::shrugging:: I don’t know what else.
She moved to the sound system, turning the music off.
Hopper: Thank you for talking to me. I don’t know about you, but I feel better. oO Is that what I’m feeling? Oo I think I’m just going to read my book… Do you want to stay? ::Gesturing to his guitar:: I don’t mind if you want to keep playing. ::Smiling:: Actually, I’d like it. If you want.
Richards: Response
She nodded, re-took her seat on the sofa, sitting at the opposite end from him – figuring that, perhaps, a little space was a good idea. She sat sideways, her legs laying crossed along the cushions, as she took her book from the table and began to read. As Nathan took a seat and began strumming his guitar, she peered up over the pages of Princess of Mars and gazed at him for a lingering moment.
oO No… Oo she finally surmised. oO Not ill-fated at all. Oo
END
