The Fast Life
Posted on Mon Nov 9th, 2020 @ 9:03pm by High Commissioner Jasmine Haynes & Captain Ryan Walsh
Edited on on Mon Nov 9th, 2020 @ 9:08pm
2,014 words; about a 10 minute read
Mission:
Exodus
Location: Starfleet One, Haynes Quarters
Timeline: 2430-01-10, 17:30
Jasmine just grinned, as she invited Ryan into her quarters. "What did you think of those talks?" Jasmine asked, as she walked over to the sofa, she had already undid her uniform. She was really grateful it was not the admiral at her door again. That was annoying to say the least.
“I am hopeful,” Ryan said with a smile. “But at the same time optimistically cautious. I want peace but it won’t be an immediate blind trust for me.”
"You sound like an optimistic." Jasmine said, with a big grin. Deep down, she hoped to be like him. But in her line of work, she was conservative. And always on the lookout.
“It is a hard balance,” Ryan murmured. “I want to be that optimistic person but there is that part of me and thinks about the past and wants to be overly cautious.”
"Optimistic Ryan is more attractive." Jasmine said, with a big grin on her face. Hoping that would pursway him.
“I think so too,” Ryan nodded. “It is better to see the good in people than to always believe the worst.”
"I can see that you are good for me." Jasmine pointed out to him, with a big warm smile on her face.
“I think we are good for each other,” Ryan amended her words. “I am happiest when I am with you.”
"Sweet of you to say, but I hope your are happy even when I am not around, you can not love in others, if you dont love yourself." Jasmine pointed out to him.
“I am almost always happy,” Ryan assures her. “I just meant I like spending time with you.”
"I like spending time with you as well." Jasmine said, with a humbling smile on her face.
Ryan smiled back at her, he knew it took a lot for her to say those things. “I am so glad I took this assignment. Because I like the job but also I met you here.”
"I am glad too, that I took this assignment. Because you are here. I did not think I would care for another, not since John ended up in the hospital." Jasmine said, finding it strange, she could talk about it now.
“I felt that way as well for a long time,” Ryan admitted, speaking of his wife who had passed away. “I didn’t believe time would heal some wounds but it really does.”
"Healing is not as easy, as some want to believe it is. But I know, you know how I feel." Jasmine said, with a big grin on her face. She loved the fact, he knew how she felt.
“I do,” Ryan nodded. “I think that has helped us both heal and it helps that we have developed more as well.”
"So, what do you want to do today?" Jasmine asked, as she looked into the eyes of Ryan.
“Good question,” Ryan replied. “Are you hungry? What are you in the mood for? Want to burn some energy or feel like something easy?”
"I am starving." Jasmine said, as she wondered what Ryan had in mind. Where did he want to take them. The Holodeck, his place, the mess hall. There was a few choices.
“I could make us something to eat,” Ryan said. “Unless you would like to go out?”
"No preference." Jasmine said, seeing what option he would choose. She just wanted to have a nice quiet dinner.
“Then let’s eat in,” Ryan said with a smile. He was glad she let him choose he didn’t feel like being in a crowd.
A short time later, Jasmine and Ryan head into the holodeck. "How were you able to secure a reservation?" Jasmine asked, knowing that the holodecks were solid booked.
“I was hoping you would say yes to my idea,” Ryan confessed. “So I was able to get some time tonight.” He smiled at her. “At the same time I didn’t want to push it either.”
"So you planned this, hoping I would say yes?" Jasmine said, thinking that was very sweet of him. She really liked his sincerity. Very attractive trait.
“I did,” Ryan said with an easy smile. “I have made no secret of wanting to get to know more about you.”
"I have noticed." Jasmine said, as they walked into the holodeck. Wondering where they had just stepped into.
Ryan smiled as they walked into a restaurant which was located near the water on the coast of San Francisco. It was a small and family owned and had a warm atmosphere to it.
“I hope you don’t mind Italian,” Ryan said with a smile. “This is a favorite of mine.”
"I wont tell my irish ancestors, if you dont." Jasmine said, with a big warm smile on her face. It was her attempt at humor. She actually liked italian food.
“Please don’t,” Ryan said with a smile as he led her to a table and pulled a chair out for her. “I want them to think I am good enough to date you.”
"That might be hard to do, you see they are all dead. Hence the term ancestors." Jasmine softly teased him. She was not being serious, she was trying to be cute. She hoped he knew that.
“Maybe they are watching down on you,” Ryan said with a grin. “In the hereafter, as spirits. Some believe in that.”
"Perhaps, lets give them one hell of a show then." Jasmine said, as she started to walk around. "Where have you taken me Ryan?" Jasmine asked, hoping he would talk more about the location.
“We are in San Francisco,” Ryan explained. “I used to eat here when I was younger. I wanted somewhere we could get good food and yet not be filled with noise.”
"I got that part, but I was hoping for more information on the restaurant." Jasmine said, with a big grin on her face, as she continued to look around.
“Oh,” Ryan smiled. “The owners are Gino and Lucia Russo. They are the third generation owners here.” He looked around at the tables. “As you can see it has a simple setting with an Italian look to it. There spaghetti is better than any I have ever tried.”
"How is there fettuccini?" Jasmine asked, she loved a good bowl of chicken fettuccini. She walked over to table, and wiated for Ryan to offer her a seat.
“Very good,” Ryan grinned. “Trust me your will love it.” He motioned to a table and as they walked over, he pulled out a chair for her.
Jasmine took the seat, she gave him a big smile. With her eyes, she watched him take a seat. "This place, looks very inviting, and smells incredible in here."
“Just wait until you try their bread,” Ryan said with a grin. “What would you like to drink?”
"Lemon water, would be great." Jasmine said, as she looked around the table. She loved the décor of the table, and of the restaurant.
Ryan looked up as the waiter stopped at their table and took their drink orders. “Please bring us a basket of bread as well.” He looked over at Jasmine. “This is nice.”
"It is, thank you for bringing me here." Jasmine said, as she reached over to grab his hand, to express her gratitude.
Ryan smiled as he took her hand in his. He had hoped she would like his choice of dinner plans. So far, things were going well. “I am happy you like it.”
"I do, its very charming." Jasmine said, with a big grin on her face. She was still trying to take it all in. The place was breathtaking.
“After dinner I thought we could go for a walk and see the Golden Gate Bridge at night,” Ryan said with a smile.
"If there is time, that would be nice." Jasmine said, with a humbling smile on her face. "I have always wanted to go." She pointed out to him.
“Surprisingly,” Ryan said. “I have never experienced it at night. I was too busy working to make a name for myself back then.”
"I am happy you choose to experience it with me." Jasmine said, with a big grin on her face. She could see the excitement in his eyes. "So you have been here during the day?" Jasmine asked.
“Yes,” Ryan nodded. “I had a two hour break between classes and I would head here, either eat lunch or grab it to go and find a park to relax in.”
"How did you find this place?" Jasmine asked, as she took a small sip from her drink.
“I was studying so much I felt like I was losing my mind,” Ryan explained. “My roommate invited me to lunch and we came here.” He grinned. “I was determined to study while I ate and Lydia, one of the owners informed me there is no working lunches here. I realized later in the day that I needed the break and started coming here a lot.”
"Your friend, you have never mentioned this friend before. Do you two still keep in touch?" Jasmine asked, as she took another drink.
“Jake and I send each other an occasional message,” Ryan said with a smile. “I saw him a few years back when we were both in the same place at the same time. He has twin boys and his wife is a force to reckon with.”
"Sounds like he is doing well for himself, is he still in starfleet?" Jasmine asked.
“Yes,” Ryan nodded. “He is a department chief. Jake is passing up promotions because he chooses to stay on a ship with his wife and she is about to get her own command.”
"Wow, that is a little unconventional. But good for him, good them." Jasmine said, wondering what she would do, if Ryan ever got offered his own command.
“I believe that when love is truly involved sacrifices are made,” Ryan murmured. “Jake loves his job but he was insistent that Carla take the move to command. He wanted to be there but he knew what it meant to her.”
"Sounds like he has it all figured out." Jasmine said, taking another sip of her drink. "What about you, do you have it all figured out?" She asked.
“I believe I do,” Ryan nodded. “I have no set course that I cannot make adjustments or changes to as my life changes with time.”
"I guess being asked to serve the president has a way of doing that to you, doesn't it." Jasmine asked, in a sincere voice. She knew how he felt.
“It does,” Ryan nodded. “I have also learned in life that there are things that are way more important than being number one.”
"Politics have their own version of a Number One." Jasmine pointed out to him. She was referring to the President.
“It was a metaphor,” Ryan explained. “I just understand that not everyone can be at the top.”
"Sorry, sometimes I take things to literally." Jasmine pointed out to Ryan, feeling a little dumb for miss understanding.
Ryan smiled at her. “I kind of said that randomly. I meant that I am not necessarily expecting a top position. I tend to live life where it takes me.”
"Yet you bare the rank of Captain, clearly you are doing something right." Jasmine pointed out to him.
“I am,” Ryan said with a smile. “And I have taken promotions that have been offered to me but one thing I have learned is life is short and what is important.”
"And what is important?" Jasmine asked. She was curious to hear from his own mouth, what he thought was important.
“Those I care about,” Ryan said without a thought. “This crew, happiness and doing the best job I can.”
"That's a worthy goal." Jasmine said, as the scene starts to fade away.
Ryan smiled at her. “I thought you might agree with me.”
A joint post by Captain Ryan Walsh and LCDR Jasmine Haynes
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