Celebrating Birthdays

[no_ordinarylife]

It seems like yesterday they were just celebrating his birthday. It's been months since the crew assembled in the lounge and the newest ship to bear the name Enterprise is almost ready for her initial test flights. The deep seated anticipation has driven him back to work. It's the only way to keep himself sane. There are people he wants to see before his time at Yorktown is over. Amara is at the top of his list. He secretly hopes he can convince her the next five years would be worth her while.

He arrives with not just one, but two, bottles of tequila. One in each hand.

Comments

[cadet_amara]

"You have a pilot." She pointed out, though she was leaning forward a little bit, indicating her interest in what he had to say. "And a good one at that. I doubt you'd have much use for me."

[no_ordinarylife]

"I do have a pilot. And Sulu's the best at what he does. But every man has to sleep."

[cadet_amara]

"That's true." She admitted. "But surely you can do better than me. I hardly have the most stellar of records. Hence why I'm here."

[no_ordinarylife]

A wave of frustration washes over him. Has he always believed in her more than she believes in herself? "Maybe you haven't been given the best of opportunities," he counters.

[cadet_amara]

Probably. Amara always tended to focus on the negative, and failed to hear the positive. It was true, the reports all said she was reckless, she tended to disregard the rules, and her grades at the Academy had always been just above the minimum requirement. But the also said that when it came to flying she had a remarkable natural ability, and good instincts. Those were things that could not be taught.

"Maybe so." She agreed. Her posting had been limited to cargo runs, mostly under stuffy old captains who really were just waiting out the clock until retirement. Not exactly the best fit for her.

"But I don't want opportunities just because I'm your friend either."

[no_ordinarylife]

He wants immediately to jump on her last statement but he forces himself to pause and see it from her point of view. How would he feel if something was handed to him seemingly without merit?

"You beat my record at The Rings by four seconds," he reminds her out of the blue. "I was there for that. I've seen you fly."

Jim doesn't give a shit about her other captains or her academy grades. He never has.

[cadet_amara]

For a minute she sat quietly, considering that unspoken offer. It was tempting, she'd be an idiot not to admit that, and an opportunity that would likely not come again. Still... she couldn't help but question his motives. She was not the type who accepted things easily. She was the kid who used to sit up waiting for Santa with a bat because she thought for sure someone who was bringing gifts was actually there to rob her blind. Pessimistic didn't even begin to cover her personality.

"It was five, actually." She finally said, reaching over to pour herself another drink. "But who's counting?"

[no_ordinarylife]

If they weren't having this exact conversation, he'd probably smile at the comment. "Yeah, I am your friend," he pushes through. "But I'm also a starship captain responsible for lives of his crew. I wouldn't ask if I didn't think you were capable."

He looks her square in the eye. "Maybe you're not as good as Sulu. But most people aren't."

[cadet_amara]

She met his eyes for a moment, still frowning just a little as she considered it in all seriousness. She could tell he meant it. It was the way he met her eyes. And while she still had her doubts, she somehow knew he was asking because of her skills as a pilot, and not because of their old friendship.

Leaning back in her chair, she broke his gaze, considering the glass in her head. "Well..." She said slowly, still thinking of a response. "Who am I to refuse the Captain of the Enterprise?"

She looked up to meet his eyes again, a slight smile playing at the corners of her mouth. At least she wouldn't be stuck here anymore!

[no_ordinarylife]

Her acceptance elicits a truly happy smile, one that reaches his eyes. He feels like he should say something more but is content to leave it be.

"It was four seconds," he refutes mischievously, reaching for his own glass.

[cadet_amara]

"Bullshit." She returned that smile with a grin of her own. It was an old argument, but one that she enjoyed having. "It was five, and you know it."

[no_ordinarylife]

"Four and a half," he insists, just for fun.

[cadet_amara]

"Five." She crossed her arms, giving him a challenging look, not budging an inch. "They only added a second to my time because I did half the course upside down and they said that wasn't the "regulation course"."

[no_ordinarylife]

"Yeah, you keep tellin' yourself that," he teases.

[cadet_amara]

"I will, thanks." She replied, raising an eyebrow in response. "And see if I ever make you dessert again."

An empty threat. She liked cooking, especially baking, and she had a talent for sweet talking her way into the ship's galley when the mood struck her to cook, which was quite often. There would likely be many, many cakes, cookies, and creative meals in the future of the Enterprise.

[no_ordinarylife]

He throws his hands up in mock surrender. He loves her baking. "You're right. It was totally five."

[cadet_amara]

She laughed at that response. "Miss my double chocolate chip cookies that much, huh?"

[no_ordinarylife]

He has a mouth full of her cheesecake now but he nods vigorously. When he's done, he adds, "And you make the best pumpkin pies."

[cadet_amara]

She grinned, remembering that pie. "I'll keep that in mind when Thanksgiving rolls around. As long as you stay away from the jello molds."

[no_ordinarylife]

"Hey. That was an ingenious use of a jello mold." He's obviously still proud of himself. Stupid academy pranks.

[cadet_amara]

"I don't even want to think about what disgusting things you could probably find out here to put in a jello mold."

Oops. That sounded like a bit of a challenge.

"And that was not a suggestion." she quickly added.

[no_ordinarylife]

"Tell me about your 'black market dealings involving an illegal poker game' and I won't take it as a challenge," he smirks.

[cadet_amara]

"Is that because you want to hear the story, or because you want in?" She teased right back, raising an eyebrow again.

[no_ordinarylife]

"Yes."

Damn, that was good cheesecake.

[cadet_amara]

"Long story short? I might have convinced this guy in security who has a thing for me to let me in on his poker game, which includes a guy in aeroponics. Then I may have pretended I'd never played before, and batted my eyelashes a bit more than I should have to convince them I was completely innocent and sweet, and then had a lucky hand."

In other words she suckered some poor guy into a date to get in on a game and then hustled them.