Dinner Date?

Posted on Tue Mar 28th, 2017 @ 5:30am by Petty Officer 3rd Class Avery Stiles & Ensign Jonathan Forrest

Episode: Preparations
Location: Jonathan's Quarters
Timeline: MD-15, 1900

Avery felt nervous. More nervous than he had ever felt for anything in his entire life. More nervous than when he told Theo about Dorian. More nervous than when he was left alone at ops for the night shift. More nervous than the fist time he kissed a girl... and now a boy.

Avery tried to do what Theo had taught him. Take deep, calm, measured breaths. In through his nose and out through his mouth. After a few moments, he reached out and touched the door chime button. 

Jonathan, on the other hand, was much more relaxed and comfortable with the situation. He had grown up in a very accepting home with two mothers and a brother who had become his sister. He was very comfortable with his sexuality and had been for as long as he could remember. That was not to say he wasn't nervous at all, he was. Avery was a nice guy and he didn't want to blow a potential relationship.

He was dressed rather casually in a pair of black chinos and a gray vee-neck, long sleeved shirt. He'd brought out a bottle of Bajoran wine.

"Hey," Avery replied. "Hope the rest of your day went well."

"It was good, but kind of a headache going through the whole new transwarp drive. It's different than what I learned. How was your day?"

"I guess not too bad, um can I come in?" Avery asked.

"Of course you can," Jonathan said as he stepped aside so the other man could enter.

Once he was inside he took a good look around Jonathan's cabin. It was small but tastefully decorated. It already looked like home and Jonathan hadn't even been there that long. He took note of the small kitchenette in the corner, set up much like his own.

"So, do you like Italian? I should have asked, but I'm going to fix Chicken Marsala with a nice angel hair pasta with a pesto sauce instead of a tomato sauce."

"Um, yeah Italian's fine," Avery answered.

He started fidgeting with his hands, a trait always annoyed Theo to no end. Avery couldn't help it, it was one of those things he always did when he got nervous. In an effort to not look like a total spaz, he stuck them in his pockets as Jonathan started busying himself in the kitchen. 

"Hey," Jonathan called over his shoulder, "you said you were a chef too. Do you want to help me?"

"I wouldn't call myself a chef exactly," Avery replied. "More like dabbling in it. Unless I'm boasting to Theo then I'm a chef... but yeah, sure I can lend a hand."

"Perfect, I'm to go make the pasta, by hand, can you fix the chicken?"

"Yes, chicken I can totally handle chicken."

"Perfect, you'll find everything you need for the Marsal sauce in the cabinet."

"Who is that?" Avery asked, nodding towards a picture that sat on a shelf near the dining area. It was the only photo that Avery had seen in the whole room, unlike his own quarters which were filled with pictures of himself and Theo.

"That's Anjar, Sarish Anjar. He was my first boyfriend. I hope that doesn't bother you."

Avery felt his face turn red. "Um, why would that bother me?"

"I, well, maybe it doesn't, but some guys, that you know might want to pursue things  are kind of turned off by it."

Avery stopped what he was doing and stifled a yelp that almost escaped his throat. He wasn't sure exactly what it was that Jonathan was suggesting. Okay, that was a total lie. He knew what the other man was hinting at but now that he was face to face with such a situation again... he wasn't sure what he wanted.

"Oh, I mean... err... were you talking about me? I mean like in a boyfriend kinda sense?"

"The thought did cross my mind. It maybe a little too early to put a label on it, but I wouldn't be opposed to it. You're certainly cute when you blush like that."

Avery was sure that he blushed insta-red again. Probably more so than even when Theo walked in on him and Kelly Thomas that one time in high school. But he wanted this... right? Or maybe he didn't? Maybe he didn't want this... maybe he only wanted it with Dorian?

Avery took a deep breath. "Look, it's not that I'm not flattered because I am... I'm just... well... I don't know if that kind of relationship is something I want. You seem like a really nice guy and all."

"It's okay," Jonathan said, I understand. Sometimes I move too quickly or make wrong assumptions. We can still be friends, though, right?"

"Yes, totally, friends would be fine," Avery managed to get out.

He wasn't sure why he was chickening out of this experience, after all, he got upset when Dorian just up and left. Although maybe that was why he was chickening out. Maybe that was his new MO, push someone away before they had a chance to push him away.

"I'm really sorry Jonathan, I'm just... confused right now. I don't know what I want, let alone who I want. But yeah, friends I'd like that," Avery said, swallowing hard.

"Look, I have to admit, I'm a little disappointed my wit and charm did not win you over, but I'll get over it. I'm not going to push. Are you open to the possibility of being more than friends?"

"I don't know if I have an answer for that right now," Avery responded. "I'm sorry... I know that's not what you want to hear."

"I would have preferred a different answer, I'll admit that. But, it's honest, and I value honesty. A lot. But maybe we should focus on eating."

"Yes, always good to focus on using your mouth for something productive," Avery said, he then blushed red. "Oh god, sorry... that was. You know what let's just eat everything here looks totally delicious."

Unable to help himself at Avery's unintended, double entendre, Jonathan laughed. "It's okay," he said after he managed to stop, "I know what you meant. Thank you for the compliment, you're right, let's eat."

"Yeah," Avery said, nodding in agreement. "Let's eat."

OFF:

Ensign Jonathan Forrest
Chief Helm Officer

And

Petty Officier 3rd Class
Avery Stiles
(PNPC of Ryan North)