Afternoon Strolls (Back Post)

Posted on Thu Mar 16th, 2023 @ 4:13pm by Lieutenant JG Evelyn Stewart

1,373 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Good Will Tour: Mountain Home [Part Two]
Location: Golden Towers: North Beach
Timeline: MD9: 1130 hours

Max and the Spaniard shuffled off quickly to get changed out of their wetsuits, leaving Evelyn with the tall, dark, half naked stranger hovering over her side as she laid in her chair. When he flashed an awkward and uncomfortable grin she froze and took a moment to recover as she wrapped her sarong around her waist to not be quite so exposed as she stood to introduce herself. As she held out her hand she gave her own embarrassed laugh, feeling just as awkward. "I'm sorry, I'm Evelyn Stewart."

Ben nodded and took her hand and smiled. "Benjamin Woods." He said, sounding a bit more confident though they both lingered as they looked at one another for a moment too long. They exchanged a look of mutual embarrassment that seemed to make the situation less awkward for both of them. "I just met Max out on the waves during my lesson with Mister Martinez." He said as an explanation that she stumbled into. His British accent more prominent the more confident he spoke.

"I see. So, you're a surf instructor?" Stewart asked, she was being polite but was somewhat surprised and a little disappointed. She wasn't one to diminish a person's chosen lifestyle or profession outright, though it did dim her initial attraction to him somewhat.

Ben nodded and smiled. "For about three years now. Before that I was in the circuit for about two." He could see that Evelyn was humoring him and had little interest in surfing and so dropped the subject. He glanced up in the direction Max and Dani had gone. "They should be back by now. Mister Martinez was kind enough to offer to take us to lunch." He explained, quickly seizing the opportunity. "You are welcome to join us, of course. I doubt either of them would mind." he added smoothly.

Evelyn gave a small laugh, seeing his invitation for what it is. "A bit direct don't you think?" She asked looking up at him with her own flirtatious smile after she stole a glance at his physique.

Woods just returned her flirtatious smile with a smirk of his own. "It's only a problem if it doesn't work.", he said softly looking down into her eyes, silently challenging her next move.

Evelyn could feel her breath stuck in her chest as she looked up into his deep blue eyes, her face slightly warmer under his intense stare. A small smile creeped on her face and she forced herself to turn and look in the direction her commanding officer went to focus and breathe again. "Unfortunately you'd be wrong. The captain and I don't always agree." She said casually before turning back to Woods.

"Captain? So you are Starfleet?" he asked inquisitively.

"I'm a lieutenant and the chief helmsman." She explained plainly. "What, do you think I was here on some sort of tourist trip?" She asked playfully.

Ben gave a smile then looked her over again, more to scrutinize her. He continued to do so with almost an exaggerated attitude that it finally drew Stewart to ask, "What is it?"

Ben shook his head and smiled, as if surprised. "Nothing, I'm just trying to imagine you in a uniform. You don't come off as the Starfleet type, much less look tall enough to reach the controls." he teased with a grin.

Evelyn gave an incredulous laugh, but enjoyed his playful attitude. "Is that so? Well I'll have to make a point of showing you my piloting skills some time."

Ben just grinned more and gave her that same piercing look. "I'm going to hold you to that. Starfleet honor and all that..."

For the second time Evelyn was left speechless by this man. Even she would have to admit it was a rare accomplishment for anyone. She give him another glance before turning her attention back towards waiting for Max.

== Three Hours Later ==

Both Stewart and Woods realized that neither of the other men were coming back and must have headed for the restaurant. Instead of joining Max and Dani, they decided to take a stroll on the beach, away from the crowds to talk. "Well, then I graduated university with a degree in Bajorian literature and was all set to become an academic." Ben explained about his life and what his future was supposed to be.

Evelyn looked up at him, genuinely engrossed in the conversation. "What happened?" Ben was proving to be far more complex than she originally thought.

Ben just nodded and shrugged. "Well, I took a gap year. I decided to travel. I hadn't really had much of a chance to do so outside the solar system up to that point. So I went to Bajor. I went to Betazed. I went and saw some of the most beautiful worlds in the quadrant. I took up surfing on a trip to Risa and I...it was the most enthralling experience of my life until that point. I knew I couldn't go back to a university and just read about life from books anymore, I needed to live it! I surfed on some of the beautiful beaches you can imagine and eventually got to the point of surfing on the professional circuit. When I was done, I decided to continue to travel, and realized just about the only thing I could do for a living at this point was to be a surf instructor."

Evelyn couldn't help but smile at the enthusiasm in the man's face as well as his matter of fact attitude on how his life ended up. "But why here?", she asked. "Of all the places you could choose to settle, of all the beaches, you chose Ihhuein ei'krih." She said, referring to the planet by the Romulan designation.

Ben just shrugged self-assuredly. "Because I hadn't been. When the Federation announced they were attempting to mend relations with Romulans here, I knew that many Federation species would come to the beaches." He explained matter of factly. "When it became known Ihhuein ei'krih", he said slowly, still fumbling over the Romulan words, "was a paradise, I couldn't not come."

Evelyn couldn't help but shake her head and smile at his adventurous spirit. "Despite the risks..." She added, brushing a strand of her hair that had come loose thanks to the ocean breeze off of her face. "I suppose I can appreciate that." She teased him, though her genuinely meant it.

When another, larger, strand blew into her face, Ben pushed it back for her before she had a chance. His confident grin growing small and shy, like when they first met. "Listen, why don't we go get something to eat, maybe some drinks." He suggested, again looking for a date. "I know a great little spot not far from the northern beach ran by Bolian who makes the best shrimp remoulade you've ever tasted. He also has the most well-stocked bar in the sector." He added.

Stewart gave a breathless laugh and smiled, looking at the water to collect herself before looking up at Ben. "Thank you, but...I'm not really looking for anything serious right now." She explained, she had dated a few men since she broke off her engagement with Remy, but none ever worked out. They always wanted more of a commitment than she either could make, or was willing to.

Ben just smiled and laughed. "Honestly, I was hoping you'd say that." He joked, "But seriously, I get it. You are a Starfleet officer. You never know when or where your next assignment is. And truth be told, if things go sour with the Romulans, or if you Starfleet screw the lot up." He teased with a playful grin, ever so gently pulling her closer, "I might have to high-tail it out of here pretty quick." He grinned again when she didn't resist stepping closer towards him when he moved his hands to his sides. "But that doesn't mean we can't be friends. Just friends having some fun." He suggested, the implication clear.

Stewart couldn't help but grin, nodding in agreement to keep things casual between them. "So where is this bar at?" she asked as they turned back the direction they came from towards the settlement.

 

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