Man, Woman, Mindo, Fick

Posted on Mon Jun 22nd, 2020 @ 1:41am by Lieutenant Commander Mindo & Lieutenant JG Vecon Fick
Edited on on Tue Jul 7th, 2020 @ 2:14pm

Mission: Divided We Fall
Location: Pandora's Box
Timeline: Current

A Mission Post by Lieutenant Mindo & Ensign Vecon Fick
Mission: Divided We Fall
Location: Pandora's Box
Timeline: Current
Mon Mar 12th, 2018 @ 4:28am

ON:

Mindo yawned as he walked down the corridor to the turbolift that would take him to Pandora's Box, where he would eat a much-earned breakfast. He'd only slept a few hours, but he felt refreshed enough. He entered the lift and saw Ensign Vecon Fick already there.

"Hi Vecon," he said, rubbing his eyes.

Fick grinned and bounced a little on the balls of his feet. "Heya Mindo! Or uh... Lieutenant..." His grin turned into a smirk. "So how are you? How are things?"

"Repairs are beating me up," Mindo replied. He chuckled. "That sentence is a little ironic, isn't it?"

Fick chuckled as well and nodded. "Yeah... maybe just a little. At least K'Laus isn't still beating you up." He grinned widely. "Where are you going now? More repairs?" He pushed himself away from the wall of the turbolift. "I mean we can just sit here on the turbolift and talk if you want... but I'm kinda starving... and K'Laus is working third shift. So it's fend for myself night."

Mindo's eyes widened. "It's night? What... what time is it?"

"Uh... 1800 hours?" Fick held up three fingers. "How many fingers do you see? Do you know your name? What year is it?"

"Three. Mindo. African or European?" Mindo replied, wondering if Fick would catch the reference.

"Not swallows!" Fick laughed. "What is your quest? What is your favorite color? Wow... that's a pretty old film. Someone showed me at the Academy."

"Twentieth century Earth comedies are strange," said Mindo. "I didn't know you were a film buff." Realizing the turbolift was still waiting for his destination, he said, "Pandora's Box."

Fick nodded. "That's where I wanna go too... and yeah. It was more like my roommate at the Academy was a film buff. I watched so many films with him and his friends. Risa also has an impressive collection of film because of the tourist stuff..."

Mindo nodded. "I have an extensive library of thousands of films from various times and places. You're welcome to it if you want. I have them saved on a PaDD. Sometimes I hook it up to a projector and watch the films on the blank wall in my quarters."

"Man... that would be awesome! I wonder if I could get K'Laus into film. You know he's really been good to me. It's kinda funny how much like a Klingon he is, but he doesn't really even know it. It's sort of endearing." He shrugged. "I'm sure you don't want to hear about that though..."

"He did try to strangle me at one point," said Mindo. "I guess he has a softer side?"

Fick looked up at the ceiliing of the turbolift and sort of made this little 'weak in the knees' wiggle motion. "He's... he's sweet and adorable and he thinks about me." He shrugged a little. "I dunno. Sometimes he just says... all the right things."

"Isn't that what you do in a relationship?" said Mindo. "Just say all the right things?"

"Well, no. Gods no. I hope not. There's a lot more to it, it's just that part that I like a lot... among other things." He smirked at Mindo, sure that the smaller man would get his drift. "I mean don't get me wrong. We've argued about stuff too. It's not all perfect, but when we're done arguing we still care about each other... so there's that."

"I was in a relationship once," said Mindo. "We always said the right things to each other. And we meant them. She was... perfect. In every way. I miss her." Mindo looked down, remembering his one and only love. "It ended kinda quickly. I never got to say goodbye. Maybe that's why she hasn't been writing back to me."

Fick frowned. "Why did it end?" he asked. "Where is she now?"

Mindo sighed. "My last assignment, the Tornado. They're off on the opposite end of the galaxy preventing a Klingon civil war. The whole thing ended about a year ago when I was reassigned. She's probably mad at me for not saying goodbye. The last time we saw each other we had no idea I would be gone the next day. I've written to her many times, but she's never replied. Maybe she was reassigned too and I've been sending my messages to the wrong place."

The doors opened and they headed down the corridor to the doors of the restaurant.

"Maybe you should have someone else contact her..." Fick suggested. "I mean if she's mad at you she's probably not even looking at your messages... but if say, someone like me sends her a message... she'll be like "who's this?" and open it..."

"Hmmm," Mindo thought for a moment. "You might have a good idea there. Let me mull it over."

Fick chuckled. "Of course, if she does respond positively then you'll be faced with either one of you transferring assignments, if possible. Or a long distance relationship." Fick shrugged. "I mean that can sort of suck too. Maybe we should make sure she's still at her assignment before we message her though... although I don't know why she wouldn't get her messages no matter where she is." Fick rubbed his hands together and grinned as they reached the restaurant. "I'm starving, but I have no idea what I want. Maybe Targ steak... but do I want it raw or cooked..."

"I tried Labrador the other day," said Mindo. "Man, Huyo makes anything."

"What's that?" Fick asked curiously as they stepped through the doors of the restaurant. "I don't think I've ever had that and I've eaten a lot of things. They always had weird food everywhere on Risa. You know... gotta make everyone happy." He laughed a little and waited for Mindo to select a place to sit. "But yeah... this food here is the only food worth eating on this ship. I mean I'll do with rations, but here is the best."

"Labrador is a type of Earth dog," said Mindo. "People often keep them as pets, but some cultures on Earth also eat them."

"Oh! Like a Targ. The Klingons keep Targ's as pets too, but they also eat them. How was the Labrador? Targs are pretty tasty." Fick grinned. "Where do you want to sit?" he asked, since standing inside the restaurant didn't seem to be encouraging Mindo to pick a spot.

A waiter came up to them just then and said, "Ah! Mr. Mindo! Would you like your usual table?"

"Yes please, Mr. Waiter," said Mindo. As they followed him back to a booth on the end next to a window, Mindo said to Fick, "That's actually his name. Mr. Waiter."

Fick giggled. "That's... appropriate, considering. So how are the repairs coming?" Fick asked as he slid into the booth and bounced a little in his seat, seeming to enjoy the springy nature of the cushion.

"It's been a long few days," said Mindo as he climbed into his own seat. "But I think we've got the ship more or less back on track. How's she flying?"

"Seems good to me. There's a weird little humming noise whenever the comms come on... I dunno. Sometimes my ears are really sensitive. It's not really that I hear it... it's more like a feeling. Check the relay alignments... that's usually what it is. What are you going to order?"

"I'll get on that," said Mindo, adding it to a mental list of things to fix that written out would be a mile long. He noticed Mr. Waiter standing over them, PaDD in hand, waiting patiently for their order. "Oh, uh... how bout a macaroni and cheese sandwich, cheddar jack cheese and elbow macaroni on toasted wheat bread, no crusts."

"As you wish," said Mr. Waiter. "And for you young sir?" he said to Fick.

"I want a Targ steak with those crazy, cheesy mashed tuber things. Rare please. You don't have to cook it... just hold it over the grill for a moment." He grinned up at Mr. Waiter. "And a Bolian ale please."

"Cheesy mashed tuber things," repeated Mr. Waiter, writing exactly that with several question marks next to it (Huyo would know what that meant). "And a Bolian ale. Anything for you to drink, Mr. Mindo?"

"Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster," said Mindo.

Mr. Waiter nodded. "Excellent choices all around, sirs. I shall return."

Mindo turned back to Fick. "Bolian ale, eh? You must be going on duty."

"Nah... I just have stuff I want to work on and I don't want to get sleepy. Don't be judgy!" Fick teased. "Just cause you're immune to alcohol..." He leaned back and put one arm over the back of the seat. "So what are you doing in your free time, now?" There were several layers to that question and Fick intended each of them.

"What free time?" said Mindo. "Who has free time with first contacts, nebulas, dark matter, Ravagers, and battle repairs?" Mindo stopped and cleared his throat. "Sorry, I'm not trying to be rude. It's just I haven't had any free time lately, and it's either because I have all this work to do or it could be because I have no one to spend my free time with... which is a first for me in a long while."

Fick frowned. "Really? I'm sorry. You need to take a breather. You're not the only one in your department. I mean jeeze. Can't someone take over for a day? And you can't tell me that a guy like you can't find someone to hang out with! There's at least 350 crew on this ship... not to mention civilians... of course you have to have free time to meet people... so there's that. I can sort of see your point." He sighed and then seemed to get an idea. "Hey! I should set you up with someone!"

"Will it be someone without a psychotic Klingon boyfriend or an ex-Popsicle husband?" said Mindo. "I kind of have a reputation I'm trying to shake."

Fick laughed. "Yeah no more Klingon's for you. I promise I will find you someone with no extra baggage. Do you have a preference? I mean I know you don't really care in the bedroom... but do you have a preference for dating? And who has an ex-popsicle husband?" He looked at Mindo incredulously.

"Dating?" said Mindo. "I don't really... date. I mean, you and I... y'know I was just... I... I don't really date."

Fick laughed again. "Well... what would it hurt. I mean, maybe you should give it a try if it's something you haven't done before. At least then you'd be guaranteed someone to hang out with and someone to have sleepovers with. It's not that much different then being casual... just more consistent. Some people even like being in open relationships so you can still be with other people too." He shrugged. "That's pretty common on my planet. I'm just not really like that. Once it's agreed that I'm dating someone I sort of like being exclusive."

"My people don't think of sex as an exclusive or even private thing," said Mindo. "It's more recreational where we're from. Also, relationships can lead to marriage and marriage can lead to children... except Fesarians can only breed with other Fesarians, so then there's disappointment in that... On my planet, keeping it simple has an entirely different definition than most other planets. There's no jealousy, and there's no corruption or greed on my planet either. Once you do away with relationships, things get so much easier. That's how I like it."

"So... a guy then. They don't usually expect marriage and children from other guys." He chuckled. "One that won't get too attached..."

"You'd be surprised," said Mindo. "I've been with several men who wanted to be exclusive, and their hearts break just as easily as the women's. There's a term some people have called 'friends with benefits,' but even those lead to relationship troubles of some sort. Most people expect exclusivity. I don't know, maybe I should try it."

Fick shrugged. "I don't hate it. It might be something different and entertaining at least for awhile. When it's not you can break up." He shrugs. "I mean... if I were you I might want to warn someone before you start something like that... liiike... tell them it's a trial thing and it might not work out."

Mindo laughed. "You want me to say, 'Hey, I really like you! We might not work out. Let's screw to celebrate!"

Fick grinned. "Yup! Just like that! So... what kind of things do you find attractive? I mean aside from me... I'm adorable and irresistible. Do you like adorable and irresistible? Or do you prefer the strong, silent type?"

Mindo tried to think. "It... depends. Can they be strong and adorable? I'm not one for silent types. I think of myself as a pretty outgoing person. I like you because of your enthusiasm and wit. You're also dead gorgeous, but that's beside the point. If I had to pick a type to have a relationship with... well, the last, and only, real relationship I had was with a Changeling. She took a woman's form. She was beautiful, vibrant, and... original. I'd never seen anyone like her before. Changelings are beautiful creatures. That's what interests me. A beautiful creature. Something original. But I realize lightning can't strike twice. The chances of having someone as different as a Changeling are practically null. I'd be happy with any woman or man who just wants to fool around."

"You're right," Fick nodded. "A Changeling is pretty exotic and thanks!" He smirked, feeling pretty good about being dead gorgeous. "Hey, I like strong and adorable as well... so at least we have similar tastes and unique is also good. I think I get what you're getting at. How about this... I'll ask around and see who's single and then I can point them out to you and you can have a look before we start talking blind dates. I hate to sound vain or anything like that, but I can't date people I'm not physically attracted to. It just doesn't work for me. Maybe I'm shallow, but it's how I am."

"I'm the same way, Fick," said Mindo. "I just have a broader taste. But I don't think you're shallow."

Fick grinned. "Thanks Mindo! I worry about it sometimes. I mean honestly, K'Laus is hot. Argurably, he might be the hottest guy on this ship, but I am horribly biased when it comes to Klingons. There's a couple of cute Ensigns in medical... and some really hot guys in Astrometrics... unless you're more of a Security type. Those guys are stacked." He pretended to flex his muscles. "Although, I'm not super fond of the 'so big they have no neck' look." Fick chuckled.

"A neck should be a requirement," Mindo agreed. "Have you met our new doctor? He's pretty good looking, though I suspect he's unavailable to us male types. Crewman Zo is also quite striking, but he's also into the ladies. Men make great company, but I'm sort of in the market for something feminine... with feminine parts, if you know what I mean. A man's touch is strong and bold. I'm looking for something softer these days."

Fick made a face like that thought was icky or something. "I mean... don't get me wrong. No judgement. Just not for me, but I'll see what I can do. What kind of pretty do you like? I mean... classically pretty? Beautiful? Mysterious? Oh wait... you said you were looking for something... unique. Hum..." If the gears in Fick's brain made smoke when they were working hard they'd be doing it now in great billowing plumes.

Mindo smiled a little. "Not for you? Then more for me, my friend."

"Yeah... I'm not really into girls. I mean don't get me wrong, it's not like I've never been with a girl. It's just all that stuff you said you like about men, I like too. There just isn't a trade off for me. I like girls as friends just fine..." He shrugged.

"I just love..." Mindo struggled to find a word. "People. I suppose you could say Fesarians are a bisexual society. Appearances aren't always everything with us. We value personality and character more than most. Age, height, weight... not as important. Don't get me wrong, we enjoy physical beauty as well. Who doesn't? But my kind are more interested in the social part of relations, and sex is a social thing for us. We aren't monogamous and we aren't polygamous either. We simply are."

"I think it would be a lot more uncomplicated to live like that, but unfortunately not all of us get that experience. So you'll have to forgive us as the rest of us muddle through... Mr. Perfect," Fick joked. "I find honestly though, that no one really knows what they're doing, regardless of how right they think their way is." He shrugged again. "And I think all of us simply are. There's no other choice. We just like to pretend it's complicated."

"That's why I like you, Fick," Mindo said. "Underneath all the bubbly exterior and carefree attitude there's a deep thinker running it all."

Fick laughed. "Hey! I'm not without my merits! And not just the surface merits! I'm the whole package, cute, funny and smart." He looked around, hoping that it wouldn't take much longer to warm a raw steak. "So yeah... do you still want me to try and contact the other girl?" He turned his attention back to Mindo.

Mindo shook his head. "I'll manage it. But thanks for the offer."

Just then their food arrived, and they started eating.

"K'Laus isn't going to kill me for having an honest dinner with you is he?" Mindo asked, suddenly feeling a tiny bit worried.

"Nah... I think he knows I'm his now. Such a dingy. If he'd just said something we could have avoided all that mess, but you know that Talarians do all sorts of crazy things for love and so do Klingons. I mean both of those cultures have traditions that have to do with bringing dead animals and people's heads to the ones they love. So let's just be happy that he didn't do any of that. I told him that his proposal was more than adequate and that I required no death... He's just not a people person and I am... so he's going to have to deal with me having friends." He chuckled and took a bite of his steak. "Mmmmm!"

"He came close," said Mindo. "If I hadn't been wearing my LEGs I'd be a trophy on his wall."

"Well yeah... but he didn't and he hasn't attacked you since. So... can we forgive that? Please?" Fick ate a big bite of potatoes. "Besides... you were at his Birthday thing and he didn't try to kill you then. I think he's over it," he said around his mouthful. "So I'm looking for a girl..."

Mindo took a sip of his drink, which was very strong, and said, "You don't have to find me someone, Fick. I'm sure it'll be just as easy as turning around. Watch..." Mindo turned around in his chair and saw... "Mr. Waiter! Hi."

"Is everything satisfactory, sir?" asked Mr. Waiter.

"Sure," said Mindo.

"Excellent," Waiter replied, and moved on to the next table.

Mindo turned back around. "OK, so it's not going to be that easy."

Fick laughed.

OFF