EXETERRPG: (1, 10:04) ACEO, Lt. JG Alistair Brightwood and Physio Lt(jg) Cerise Blake

[Will Banowsky]

Mission: Auld Lang Syne

Day:01

Stardate: 2445.12.28



(Risa– Temtibi Lagoon - ACEO, Lt. JG Alistair Brightwood and Physio Lt(jg)
Cerise Blake - 10:04)



 Alistair looked up from his book long enough to see that he was no longer
alone in his corner of the overlook. He wasn’t certain if she sat next to
him because she recognized him, or just because it was random. He hoped
that it was on purpose, because she found her gorgeous, not in a creepy
way, she just glowed.



But Alistair didn’t know how to to talk to girls. Machines, sure, but he
didn’t know how to say hello. Which was odd, because while he was gangly,
skinny, and weird looking as a kid, he grew into his body. A glow up as it
were.

~Well should I say something. I mean, whats the worse that happens. She
leaves I guess/.~ He thought to himself.



“Umm, hey, how’s it going?” He asked not knowing whether to look her in the
eyes or look in his book, and somehow without knowing it his eyes were
locked awkwardly to where it could be wrongly interpreted he was staring
where he shouldn;t be staring.



Cerise looked up, she hadn’t noticed the beach’s other occupant. She smiled
gently, “Hey there. I’m so sorry, I didn’t see you. Didn’t mean to
interrupt your quiet reading.”



“It’s ok. I just finished a chapter anyways. Good time for a break.”

“You’re on the Exeter aren’t you, Cerise Blake, I’m the Physio on board.”
She smiled, not minding the company



~She doesn’t even know who I am….great...Well par for the course
Brightwood, par for the course.~



“Yes, one of the Assistant Chief Engineers.Alistair Brightwood.” He smiled.
~Don’t tell her we’ve met. Even though we have. Guess, she doesnt remember
me. Ok, but at least she’s talking to you. Or you could read again. Fight
or flight Brightwood.~



“Welcome to paradise Cerise.”



“It’s amazing, I know that we haven’t been on board all that long,
comparatively, but it feels lovely to just switch off. Wait wait…I remember
you. I’m so rude, you were at Ash’s Halloween thing. You were dressed as…”
She looked strained… “remind me..?”





“As a musketeer, Athos to be precise. The leader. Many think it was
D'artagnan, but he was just a recruit, sure was a point of view character,
but Athos, he was the heart, the leader.”



~Great Brightwood. You sound Dull.~



“That was so cool. I remember.” Cerise said smiling.



“If I remember you were the only one there dressed as a witch...that wasn’t
dressed super provocatively.”



“I hate provocative…” She sighed, her heart sinking slightly “I...I’m far
from a prude, but...just not my style.” she looked at the bubbles float
over the lagoon. “I mean, arms and legs out here or on the beach is
okay...but skin on show at a party hosted by the bosses wife? Na-ah.” she
laughed gently.



“I wouldn’t know. While I’ve been told that I am considered good looking, I
grew up a nerd. Sweater vests and vintage bow ties. My roommate at the
academy was a fitness nut, and forced me to work out with him every day.
Then I became a creature of habit. Didn’t want to mess with what was making
my engine run. It’s hard to read on a treadmill, but I figured out. Do you
like reading?”



~Do you like reading? What’s next, are you gonna tell her you like her hair~



Her mood settled, it was nice just to be spoken to, about something, about
nothing. It was just nice to be spoken to rather than just hit with cheesy
chat up lines. “I try, but I always find other stuff to do. Back at school
I wasn’t the academic in the strict sense of the word. I learned Math and
science because of gym, but the rest sailed me by a bit. Since I graduated,
I read where I can, but I’m either running classes or treating sprains and
stuff to soft tissue.”



“As pretty as you are, you were probably a cheerleader. That’s an american
thing right? I mean I’m surprised you aren’t wearing a revealing bikini as
pretty as you are.” He paused. “I like your hair.”

~Brightwood, you idiot, what is wrong with you. What did you say? Uggh,
this is why I don’t talk to girls.~



Cerise looked at him puzzled. “Erm...Thank...you? It’s not something I
worry much about anymore. I appreciate the compliment though.”



“Sorry, I’m not good at conversation. Books, yes, engines, yes, a lecture
on quantum mechanics, I could get tenure at oxford with my lecture style.
But talking to sentient beings...it’s my kryptonite.”



“Superman! I got that one. Science was never my strongpoint, not physical
science anyway, I did units in natural sciences, Biology mostly, because of
the gymnastics. I never did cheer team.” Her face drifted away. “Long time
ago.” She smiled.



“Once, I thought if I thought of all people as robots, I might be able to
talk to them better. But my counselor advised me that I should think of
people as machines.”



“Not bad advice, I mean, it’s a biological machine right? Just that
everyone’s programming is different.



“So are you waiting for your boyfriend?”



She blushed, and her heart sank again. “Not my thing.” Cerise said simply,
trying not to be dismissive.



“Oh, sorry my bad, your girlfriend?



She shook her head. “I don’t mean this the way it will come out, but I
didn’t mean I wasn’t straight, I meant that the whole dating thing isn’t
me.”



“Oh…” he said, wheels turning. “Well I guess its not for everyone. I’m a
rookie at it myself. I dated a girl for two years in the academy, but it
was….awkward to say the least. So I get it. Bad breakup?”



She half nodded, her walls coming up again. “Bad break...you might say that
yeah.” she smiled slightly awkwardly. “So you mentioned awkward? At the
academy I mean?”



“Oh yeah, I met her in an elective on warp theory. She was out of my
league. Vulcan. She was writing her graduation thesis on logic and the
human romantic drive. Counseling major. I didn’t know the whole time that
she was only dating me as an experiment. I dressed in pink shorts because
she asked politely. Needless to say, her excuse for lying to me for two
years was that it was, ‘most logical’. Funny thing is, I probably would
have stayed with her even after all that. Self esteem wasn’t that great.”



“Yeah that would have knocked you down. How horrible for you.”



“But my counselor said, use it as fuel to be happy with who you are and own
who you are. So I’ve been on a period of discovery ever since. It’s why I
grew a mustache.”



“And very decadent it is too.” She smiled, looking out across the lagoon
again, briefly, then back toward him. There was a gentle, shy innocent
quality about him that she liked in a person. “So you’ve shared your story,
Only fair that I do too right?”



“I’ve learned that while fair is fair, sometimes its ok for people not to
share, especially if sharing would cause the person pain. Kind of like an
energy transfer, just because I transferred energy from node A to B,
doesn’t mean node B has the ability or the capacity to transfer energy back
or elsewhere.”



She nodded. “I see the logic.” giggling gently, she carried on. “Poor
choice of words all things considered.”



“I guess, what I mean is it’s your call.”



“I see your point. “In that case I’ll give you a date…” she blushed. “Not
that kind, sorry.”



~Damnit!~ Brightwood thought to himself. He was excited for a brief moment.
“Would be too awkward anyways, you with your not wanting to date, and me
being the poster boy for illogical human romance.”



“Riker High School, graduating class of ‘37. What you do with that
information is...up to you.” She sighed. “Sometimes pain is what we need to
move forward.” She smiled warmly.



“I’ll file it for a rainy day. If you want me to know what happened you’ll
tell me. While I love to read, and may get lost people watching, I try my
best to pry. I mean my thesis was on Engineering Systems and the Protection
of Personal Data.”



She nodded, interested. “Well out of my depth, but there’s crossover with
quantum? Like...digital safely and locks and stuff.” She laughed. “Look at
this airhead trying to sound like she knows what’s going on.”



“Airheads are one of my favorite earth candies.” He replied then mentally
facepalmed.



She laughed. “You are such a goof, you’re cute when you’re embarrassed. I
think your moustache blushes.” She winked at him.



“Yes, she thinks I’m cute.” He paused…. “Umm did I just say the inside
thought outloud?”



“Yeah totes. Your brain/mouth filter needs an engineer.” She smiled.



“Umm excuse me,” He said awkwardly grabbing his things, “I think I need to
go.”



“Hey...there’s really…” she watched as he stood up.



“I...just..ummm.” He tried to grab his personal computer device and
accidentally dropped it on her chest. “Umm just keep it.”



Cerise was puzzled, to say the least. Sure, she had a lot of issues, but
could speak to and be around people, but she’d never seen anyone quite as…

She picked up his computer off herself, and standing up, with a stretch,
passed it back to him, with a puzzled look. “It’s okay, no harm done.”



He took the phone back and awkwardly smiled. “No, no, I acted like a fool.
Embarrassed myself. I’m sorry.” His face was beet red.



Cerise was confused by the sudden awkwardness. It was obvious by the
occasional glances, that he’d eyed her up, and she actually didn’t mind
that, he’d even understood when she’d said that a date was a no go.



“I would say I’m not always this awkward, but its because I normally, umm,
keep to myself and don’t talk to….well...yeah.”



“I understand.” she said.



“Would it be more awkward if I left, or more awkward if I sat back down?”



“Tell you what. Secret third option. I’m starting to get cold, and hungry.”
she pulled her dress back on, “I’ll leave you to your peace; it was me who
disturbed you.”



“No, I’m the weirdo…”



Shaking her head, she cut him off. “It’s fine.” she pointed to the hammock.
“Sit. relax. I need food anyway. Honestly.” She shrugged and smiled gently.



“Oh. ok.” ~You fool. You ran her off. Well, I guess, it was just a little
crush. No biggie. You’ll survive.~



Cerise reached behind her neck, and pushing her chest forward slightly
tightened the knot at the halter neck of her dress. “Hopefully I’ll see you
round.” She smiled. ~why did I just do that? I totally just shoved
my...toward… I need beer.~



“Yes. Well I’ll be around. Staying at the Red Tiki Resort. If you’re headed
that way, give me a heads up.” He said with a confidence of which the
origins he was unsure. He smiled and then sat back down on his hammock.

Cerise slipped on her sandals, and then walked slowly away, utterly ashamed
at herself.



(Reply none)

(posted by Will and Mark)
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