> life is just one thing after another ( julian | gaila | closed )

[aeruginous]

[ gaila, who had not wanted to fuss with anything even remotely holosuite-related since the incident, had instead been studying twenty-fourth century technology and putting her new knowledge to practical use. so far everything had been going rather well, but on a station as mishmash in design as shtel nor, she was bound to run into a few snags

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[kukalaka_n_me]

[Julian had thought it would be fun to revisit the place where they'd first had a proper date, so he'd asked Gaila to meet him for lunch in the arboretum, at the same spot where they'd eaten fried chicken and cheesecake. Initially it had just been a way to enjoy spending time with her during the day (and not in a holosuite since they were probably going to be avoided for at least a week) despite their work schedules.

It wasn't as if they were exceptionally stressed on Shtel Nor, but both Julian and Gaila preferred to keep themselves busy with work of their own devising. Just because they were stuck there, didn't mean they couldn't be productive. His research into a pheromone inhibitor had gone well and he was close to synthesizing the first batch for her. It was cause enough to celebrate even if he didn't think it would make one jot of difference in how he felt about her. He knew that Gaila had wanted it, and therefore project had been worth pursuing.

So that was some good news which he was looking forward to telling her about. There there was also another reason he was excited to see her. It had only come to him that morning, but why he'd never contemplated it before...

Perhaps because of their recent brush with death.

A fanciful notion. But now, he couldn't get it out of his head as being the right thing to do. Hopefully Gaila would feel the same way.

He had already laid out the blanket and cushions and was just starting to unpack the hamper of food he'd replicated when he heard her approach.]

You have the most impeccable timing. I hope you're rather hungry. Don't worry, I didn't replicate an entire cheesecake this time.

[aeruginous]

[ gaila frowned initially, seeing how far he'd already come in setting up their picnic, but masked it before he could see. it did look lovely, but due to the mood she was in, it also looked tiresome. she wasn't fit to be around anyone when she was annoyed, much less him; his obvious alacrity wasn't helping. ]

This looks great, Julian. Really.

[ damn this whole caring about other people thing. she'd have to indulge him a little. ]

But I don't think I'll eat that much. Maybe we can keep it short today?

[kukalaka_n_me]

[He smiled and set what he had in his hands down for a moment, standing up to greet her properly with a quick welcoming kiss.]

Well, I don't think the food is as important as the company. However, it is important that you eat something.

[His brow creased slightly, though, when he got a closer look at her expression.]

Is something up with work? You look a bit stressed.

[He rubbed her upper arm with what he hoped was a soothing gesture.]

[aeruginous]

[ she took a breath, expecting to find the touch patronising, but she didn't mind it as much as she thought she would. ]

Just been having a frustrating day. Holly complicates things. She's too sophisticated. It's like I have to pick parts of her off from all the technology I actually need to learn about.

[ she moved out of his hold and sat down. the curl came loose and she tucked it back again. ]

I don't want to talk about it. I don't even want to think about it. Let's just eat.

[kukalaka_n_me]

[He could tell that Gaila's frustration levels were higher than usual, but hopefully he could help her to get her mind off of it and relax. After all, he had good reason to try and get her in a good mood. He sat down next to her and grabbed the bottle of champagne, opening it quickly and without too much fanfare. Perhaps some wine would help.]

I'm sorry to hear that.

[He poured a glass for her.]

Well, I do have something which might cheer you up a little. I should have a working batch of the inhibitor synthesized within the next twelve hours.

[aeruginous]

[ for some reason, she hadn't anticipated him sitting next to her. she thought he might sit across from her like last time, and forced herself not to give into the reflexive agitation when he didn't. she could usually find somewhere to be alone when she was in a mood. no such luck right now. gaila concentrated on the glass he handed to her, taking a polite sip at first, and then throwing caution to the wind and drinking more deeply. his news did qualify as good, though perhaps not a relief. ]

That's great. So we can try it out tomorrow?

[kukalaka_n_me]

Of course. As soon as it's ready I'll page you.

[He took a sip of the bubbly wine and smiled at her.]

It's just a prototype, though, so we can't know if it's going to take effect immediately or be something which requires a regular dosage to work.

[He went back to setting out the food. It was pretty much what they'd had that last time, but in smaller quantities since they hadn't exactly eaten it all before.

He was starting to get a touch nervous, but surely that was a natural feeling to have in the situation he was finding himself in.]

[aeruginous]

[ gaila didn't quite know what she wanted, or if she wanted anything - which, considering her rampant love of food, was never a feeling she enjoyed. she reached for some grapes, because he wanted her to eat something, because reasonably she knew she was hungry, and because they were the most within reach while requiring the least effort to eat. ]

How are we going to test it? Walk into a room and ask if anyone doesn't want to have sex with me?

[ she probably ought to have bitten her tongue on that abrasive bit of humour, she realised after she said it. ]

[kukalaka_n_me]

Well you could, but I wouldn't recommend it.

[He gave her a wry look. Then took a sip of the wine, pondering it further.]

Perhaps we could ask friends to give their impressions? Lieutenant Uhura or Jimena could let you know if the headache symptoms had lessened. I could get Miles or someone else we trust to test the...uh...male attraction side of things.

[aeruginous]

I don't think I want my first conversation with Miles to start that way.

[ there was some joke in there along the lines of "hi, i'm gaila, your best friend's girlfriend. on a scale of one to ten, how badly do you want to screw me?" but she wisely kept it to herself that time. ]

How about the McCoys? They're neutral. Actually I think I intimidate them.

[kukalaka_n_me]

You do have a point.

[He smiled and tore off a chunk of bread to eat with his wine.]

The McCoys? Why didn't I think of that. They'd be perfect test subjects. Plus, they also appear to be perfect gentlemen.

You intimidate them? How so? They tend to intimidate me. Probably because I know how influential their careers are on the advancement of space medicine.

[aeruginous]

We just have very different personalities. Considering they're perfect gentlemen, I think the way I tend to do things turns them off.

[ she had another grape, and was starting to relax marginally. she didn't want this lunch to feel like something she had to get through, but she was much too wound up from the day to uncoil instantly, as much as she'd love to. ]

They should be happy to hear about the inhibitor at least.

[kukalaka_n_me]

I'm presuming so. I probably ought to have told them, actually. But with being at the other infirmary these days, I don't see them as often as I did before.

[Julian mused, drinking some more wine. Hopefully once Gaila was relaxed and in a more cheerful mood he'd work up the courage to...

He didn't like it when he got nervous. He tended to talk even more than usual.]

Music. I should have brought some. Oh well, it's still a very pretty spot to have lunch.

I replicated some more pecan and maple fudge for a treat. Where did I put it?

[He rummaged around in the hamper.]

[aeruginous]

[ he seemed slightly agitated too. probably by her. not necessarily that she annoyed him, but he was sensitive to her moods, and she to his, and she didn't mean to spread any of her frustration around. she had a healthy drink of her wine and set it carefully aside, then reached for his hands. ]

Hey, we can get to it later. Let's forget about food for a little while. Can we just lie down?

[kukalaka_n_me]

Of course.

[Something had to be off if Gaila didn't want to eat anything (especially sweets). It was rather like him not wanting to have a coffee. Julian stopped looking for the fudge and set his wine glass down carefully since she wanted to hold hands, he gave her his left while using his right to set the cushions in a better pile for them to lie on. Then he positioned himself in such a way that she could lie back against his shoulder and they could look up at the fake sky together. He pulled her closer, a sympathetic expression on his face.]

Come here.

[Julian wanted to help her to feel better. He'd had days like that before, where nothing seemed to go right and you just wanted to break something or get the day over quickly so that a better one could come around.]

[aeruginous]

[ she lay down beside him, resting her head on his shoulder and wrapping an arm around his middle, grateful that he'd complied. ]

Thanks.

[ gaila closed her eyes. she wasn't tired, but she wanted a moment of respite, where she could see and feel none of the cardassian-built station, with its too-advanced computer that had its circuits in everything. it was more contenting to fill her head with the sound of his heartbeat, and draw from his warmth; easier to ignore that ever present subtle nagging insistence of her mind that she wanted something natural, to lie on real grass under a real sky, together with him on some planet in either of their centuries. ]