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Second Date

Posted on Tue Feb 12th, 2019 @ 11:43pm by Lieutenant Commander Mnhei'sahe Dox & Lieutenant Mona Gonadie

Mission: Earthly Visitation
Location: Holodeck
Timeline: 2396

It had been a couple of days since Lieutenant Mnhei'sahe Dox had finally asked her co-worker and friend, Ensign Mona Gonadie to Ten-Forward for dinner. Just a couple of days since the perpetually anxious young pilot had finally confessed the feelings she had been harboring for her Miradonian friend. And much to Dox's surprise, the avian aviatrix felt much the same way. Warm words and tenderness were shared and dinner was taken back to Dox's quarters where a hesitant first kiss was exchanged. They ate and talked and decided to take things slowly to keep from rushing in and parted ways after a long, wonderful evening.

Now it was a couple of days later, and things had been good. The two share an office on the Flight Deck and there had been no problems maintaining a working relationship so far and no signs of any sense of awkwardness being together at work. But awkwardness and self-doubt were Mnhei'sahe Dox's most common companions in life and she needed to make sure that what they shared was real. So tonight, it was time to have a second date. She had asked Mona if she's like to spend some time on the holodeck that evening for dinner and Mona happily agreed. But this invitation was being planned a bit more thoroughly and Dox wasn't going to show up in her uniform again.

In her quarters, she had been scrolling through a catalog of dress designs on her PaDD and programming a locale for the holodeck that she hoped Mona would enjoy. Something that had personal meaning for the young half-Romulan pilot that had spent almost all of her life in space. She had considered dinner intently, preparing a menu for the Officer's mess to prepare and have beamed to the holodeck. Mona loved eggs and seafood based on the meals Dox had observed and hoped that her idea to plan out the entire meal in advance wasn't a massive mistake, but if so the ship's replicators would be ready to make a course correction with a few alternate menus she had prepared. On her nightstand was a long, thin wooden box not unlike the shape of a shoebox, though only half the width, wrapped in shimmering, Pearlescent paper with a golden bow around it.

Uploading the dimensions made during her full body scan for EVA armor a month ago now, Dox had decided on a dress and submitted the request. Moments later, a small box materialized in her replicator containing her selection. She had already gone to see the ships stylist, Sharonne Washington, to have her hair styled as it's thick, red curls sat pinned up slightly and she had spent considerably more time on her face than the two minutes she normally spends slapping on some light lipstick before work. Now all she had to do was head to the holodeck, activate the program, change and wait.
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Mona Gonadie had always been good at preening, but this time she had taken extra care in the grooming of her feathers. She made sure to clean and fluff every one and check for anything unusual twice after her sonic shower just to make sure everything was perfect. She then spent several minutes in front of her armoire trying to pick out a dress. Eventually, she settled on a nice purple and blue number that showed off her legs nicely but didn't ride up too far. It had some nice fluffy bits on the shoulders she liked, which is why she had gotten it. She just hoped Mnhei'sahe liked it as well.

With one more fluffing of her head and tail, she blew a kiss at the mirror and headed out to meet her for their date.

As Mona approached the doors to the Holodeck, they slid open with a gentle swoosh. Inside, was the projection of a wondrous sight. Before Mona, was the opalescent, black hull of the saucer of the Hera, herself, seeming to stretch out forever. In the void of simulated space spreading above the expanse of the surface of the magnificent Starship was the swirling colors of the nebula known as the pillars of creation. Thousands of stars seemed to twinkle unrealistically close, as the colors and lights reflected off of the hull.

And in the center, atop a flattened platform where the bridge dome would normally be, was a table set for two with the gift box in its center. Standing next to it, fidgeting slightly, stood Mnhei'sahe. She wore a shimmering, low hemmed gold princess cut dress that extended to mid-ankle. Atop, she wore a black mesh, three-quarter sleeve shawl. She smiled broadly as she looked at Mona.

The brightly plumed Miradonian grinned pleasantly as she stepped out onto the hull she'd never touched normally before. The view was breathtaking, but as seemingly amazing as it was it only held her attention for a moment before her eyes were drawn back to the only things in the room her eyes told her was real. The person at the center and the table with the box on it.

"Ah, the holodeck. It creates pretty images, doesn't it? I haven't been in one since the academy, myself." She reached out for Dox's hands with her own and went in for a kiss as she got close.

With her characteristic nervousness, Dox took Mona's hands and slowly returned the kiss. It was as electric as their first as, once again, she felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. After a moment, the two pulled apart.

Looking up, Dox scrunched her face slightly. "I... I wanted to show you something... some... place that meant something to me. But the more I thought about it, it wasn't anywhere on Earth. I only lived there a few years. And I've never set foot on Romulus."

Looking back at Mona, she smiled awkwardly. "I've lived in space most of my life. So... I wanted to share that idea... with you."

"It's very lovely. Thank you." Mona pulled her half Romulan love into a tender hug and worried over what this meant for their third date. Would she expect Mona to come up with something like this? Something from her homeworld or her childhood? The more she thought about it, the more nervous she was getting, so she decided to just brush it off for now and just enjoy this time for what it was. "So... We'll be eating here then?"

"Uh... I thought that might be different, but..." As she spoke, Dox felt a shift in Mona's tone. "We don't have to... I'm sorry... did I do something wrong?"

Mona smiled reassuringly. "No, it's just that the holodeck has never looked real to me. Miradonians can see a lot more of the spectrum than most races, remember? We evolved it as a sort of defensive measure against predators. It is lovely seeing the stars the same way you see them though." With what she hoped was reassurance, she looked out over the starfield that the holodeck was displaying. "This is meaningful to you, and I appreciate that you're sharing it with me."

Sighing, Dox slumped slightly. "I'm sorry. I over thought this so much that I forgot about... I'm sorry. We can... we don't have to do this." Her anxiety was beginning to spiral. "I can't believe I thought... the Holodeck... this dress... I ruined everything. I'm sorry."

Mona snuggled tighter with her little bundle of anxiety and looked deep into her eyes. "No, don't worry about it. We're here now. That's what's important. Not the room or where or how. Not even what we're wearing. Just you and me. That's what matters." She then pressed her forehead to Dox's tenderly. "That's what matters to me. That I have someone I care about with me. Ok?"

Taking a few calming breaths, Dox tried to smile awkwardly and instead just kept her forehead against Mona's. "Thank you. I'm... I just didn't want to disappoint you. Our first... our first date was Ten-Forward and my practically empty quarters with me in a uniform. I wanted to try and come up with something better."

"Anything... Anywhere... If you're there, it's better." Taking a deep breath, Mona's voice shook a bit as she spoke her next words, her eyes closed. "I grew up on the only colony world my people ever settled on. Do you want to know what happened there? Why we abandoned that colony and never settled another?"

Rapidly, Dox's anxiety shifted into an immediate concern. She had heard from the Captain that Mona was hesitant to talk about her past. She brought a hand up and began gently running it across the feathers on the back of her head, just barely caressing them as she spoke. "Only if you're okay talking about it. But I'm here. I'm here for everything."

Mona nodded and buried her face in Dox's shoulder for a moment before working up the courage to say anything else. "Compu..." For a moment, the words stuck in her throat. "Computer... Switch program to the Miradonian cages on colony world Etanus four Camp nine." With a shimmer, the holodeck changed from the hull of the USS Hera to steel cages in a lush jungle filled with Miradonians tended by Orion and Gorn. Mona buried her face back in Dox's shoulder, tears streaming down her face and her shoulders shaking. "In one year... They ate my whole family..."

Clutching Mona as tightly as she possibly could, Dox began to weep along with the shuddering woman in her arms. "Oh God, Mona..." Dox put her hand tightly on the back of Mona's head to keep her close to keep her from looking any more. But she looked. She took in every horrible detail and squeezed her tighter. "Computer, end program."

The images vanished and the pair was now standing in the yellow gridded black room. Just them and the box on the table. "Oh, Mona. I can't... I can't imagine... I'm so sorry."

The words came out in a whisper while Dox held Mona tight. It was all she could do in the moment.

Mona clung tighter as she continued to cry. After a little bit, she started to calm down and she rubbed her face against Dox's. "That's why anywhere with you is better. That's why I work so hard. When Starfleet rescued us... There were only a few dozen of us left... After I finished my schooling on the homeworld, I joined Starfleet. The teasing..."

Mona had to recompose herself again before she could continue. "I have no interest in rank or responsibility. Just in flying and research. This is why. I want to help make the hopes and dreams of everyone lost come true. Starfleet has helped me do that."

Putting a hand to Mona's cheek, Dox spoke softly. "That I understand. Starfleet got me away from the smuggling ship I grew up on. Starfleet brought me here..." Gently, she lifted Mona's face up so their eyes me. "Brought me to you."

With tears beading on her feathers, Mona looked deep into her love's eyes. "I think I've bonded to you, Mnhei'sahe Dox. I want to spend the rest of my life with you." Without hesitation, she went in for another kiss, this one deeper than the rest.

Her head felt like it was swimming through space as Dox embraced Mona, kissing her back as deeply. Overwhelmed, the young part-Romulan woman felt her knees go loose as she moved her lips from Mona's lips, to her cheeks and down to her neck, breathing heavily and feeling a warmth from inside her radiate outwards.

Pulling slightly back, Dox's voice was low and breathy. "I want you to tell me... everything that that means." Then she swallowed, her throat dry. "But not here."

The brightly plumed Miradonian nodded silently and just held on tightly. "When you're ready then."

Looking in Mona's deep, Amber eyes as tears still ran down her own cheeks, Dox nodded with a smile. "I... I am."

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The dresses the two women had worn were now strewn on the floor of Mona Gonadie's living quarters, leaving a trail to her bedroom. It has been hours since the Holodeck where the evening had begun.

Laying within the center of the large round pillow filled slightly concave nest-like bed, Mnhei'sahe was curled up against Mona, gently stroking the soft plumage on her chest. "So... you're bonded to me?" Her voice was deep and gentle.

The brightly plumed Miradonian was trilling softly as she nuzzled against the half Romulan she was sharing her nest with. "My people normally only mate for life. Do you know how most birds on most planets will bond to a mother figure upon hatching or decide on one mate for life? It's like that. I saw you and after a few days... Especially after your genetic repairs and your hormones kicked in... It was like a peace settled over me every time I saw you. Every time I went to bed and woke up, you were on my mind. Just thinking about you could bring a smile to my face. Before I lost my mother, she said that there were two magical moments in every Miradonian's life. When you found your mate and when you had your first hatchlings."

"So if I'm not bonded to you, then I don't know what this is."

In the moment, Mnhei'sahe's usual anxiety was gone. Instead, she only felt warmth and comfort and happiness as she could feel Mona's soft trilling through her skin where their bodies were pressed together. "I know the feeling. I've been... I haven't been able to stop thinking about you."

Then, she scooched up on the nest to roll up slightly over the top of Mona. "So, that means I'm yours... You're mine, huh? I can work with that. So, now what?" She asked, smiling, as she ran her fingers across Mona's cheeks.

"Now we take good care of each other, I suppose," Mona replied, reaching up to lightly trace one finger along the lines of Dox's face.

"Well, since you know the mess you're signing up for, I'm in. And I have it on good authority from multiple sources that I'm sticking around for a good while, you'll be stuck with me a long time." Dox chuckled as she reached across to the still wrapped gift box she placed next to the bed when they arrived and placed
it gently on Mona's middle.

Mona looked the box over, inspecting it carefully over her prodigious bosom and looking for a way to open it up carefully.

"When Starfleet brought me to Earth, they found my father's parents. I only lived with them for a few years, but when they passed away, they left their possessions to me. Commander Paris and I collected it when we were on shore leave." Dox patted the box slightly.

"These used to be theirs. I... I remembered them and they made me think of you, so I wanted you to have them." Dox had a slightly nervous smile

Carefully sliding the top off of the wooden box, Mona gasped slightly at the delicate contents.

In the box, on an ornate, gilded wire stand, were three polished crystals in the shape of eggs. Each one a different rainbow of colors. The one in the center closely resembling the pinks, yellows, purples and blues in Mona's own vivid plumage.

"They're absolutely gorgeous! Thank you so much! I adore them!" Without skipping a beat, Mona readjusted and lined them up on the upper level of her nightstand. "There. I can see them best when I'm thinking of you every morning and evening right there."

As Mona was on her side to place the gift on her nightstand, Dox wrapped her arm around the Miradonian's middle and spooned behind her, moaning slightly with a smile. "I'm glad you like them. I was a little worried... I mean... eggs are kind of suggestive, I suppose. But it felt right. I wanted you to have them."

"Are they? I do love eggs... And most birds do lay eggs..." Mona snuggled back lovingly, pulling Dox's arm around her a bit tighter and smiling up at the trio of crystal eggs. "But we evolved to live birth our hatchlings a few thousand years ago. A lot of our language still hasn't caught up, and we normally have two or three chicks at a time still... But it is what it is."

Dox smiled as she snuggled in tighter as she thought of how happy she was in that moment. Happy wasn't something she generally knew what to do with, but she was learning. And she liked it.

As she felt herself sink deeper into Mona's nest and drift off to what would be the first truly contented sleep in her life, she whispered softly and without hesitation, "I love you."

"I love you too," was the whispered reply.

 

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