Piña colada

Posted on Sun Mar 31st, 2024 @ 3:24pm by Captain Taliserra Tigran & Lieutenant JG Rafe Hunnicutt

Mission: Shoreleave
Location: Risa
Timeline: Shoreleave week 1

Rafe Hunnicutt smiled as he lay by the pool on one of those funny beds, wearing an open short sleeved Hawaiian shirt and black shorts. The shirt itself was dark red with white flowers. To make things even easier, he had a straw hat to protect against the sun. There was just enough of red in his hair to make him burn his hairline if he wasn't careful. In his hand was a brilliant large glass of Piña colada, with a wedge of pineapple and a little umbrella. He sighed, wriggling his bare toes as he took a sip...enjoying every second. He was working his way through the cocktail menu. But randomly, like roulette, asking for a cocktail and getting whatever they gave him.

And it was perfect.

"You must be from the Starfleet ship in orbit." A feminine voice called out close to him. "I can spot a fleeter from miles away, even when they're on shoreleave."

Rafe lifted the hat a little and turned his head to the voice, smiling easily. "Is it the relaxed demeanour? Or the slight fear of the sunlight after months of artificial light?" he asked.

"Usually the latter coupled with pale skin for much the same reason." The voice replied, it's owner took several steps forward out of the glare that somewhat disguised her and into the shadow of a nearby parasol. Her nearly bare slim spotted body slowly came into view, only a red swimsuit that hugged her curves hid some of her well tanned skin. "Care for some company?"

He watched her before motioned to the free sunlounger next to him. "Won't say no to it," he said with a smile, welcoming as he watched the Trill. "I'm Rafe. USS Wolff."

The Trill clambered onto the sunlounger before slowly rolling over onto her back. "I'm Maris, your ship here long?"

"Two weeks...I'm only here for this one though. Split shifts and all that," Rafe said and took a sip of his drink. "So I got...five days left and cramming as much relaxation in as I can. Got a massage booked and everything."

"I only got here a few days ago myself, best vacation spot in the quadrant." Maris shuffled up the lounger slightly. "the masseuse's here are very good at their jobs, never felt so relaxed and supple."

"What do you do then, Maris?" he asked with interest, watching her with a small smile. It was good to know that the booked massage wasn't going to be a waste, he usually never really bothered.

"I work for FNN," Maris replied. "I'm not on a job right now though, this is purely a holiday for me." She chuckled. "Unless some really crazy story suddenly comes up."

"The crew of the Wolff let their hair down and wreck Risa?" he smiled as he put on his best newsreader voice, dark and gravelly, but perfect diction. "I think you must deserve a holiday, Maris. Get some rest, try new things..."

"The crew of the Wolff get themselves banned from Risa just for having a little fun." Maris chuckled as she rolled onto her side to face Rafe. "Would make for an interesting story."

"Oh, best we wait for a week until I am back on the ship...I want to enjoy my shoreleave," he said playfully as he leant closer to her. "We're not that bad...not banned bad. Possibly just a slap on the wrist bad."

"I bet there are a few bad boys on the ship though." Maris gave him a smirk. "Some looking for a little fun in the sun."

"I bet there is," he agreed with a small smile. "I try not to be bad. It'll ruin the cocktails and the sunshine if I get into trouble and make things difficult. No, this is a lot better, Maris. Sunshine, cocktails, a pool I don't have to swim in..."

"A pool you don't have to swim in," Maris repeated. "Can you not swim?"

He met her eyes before he smiled, looking down. "I can, but badly," he finally admitted. "It was never something I put my focus into. It's not like we have to swim in space."

"I absolutely love swimming, it's great exercise and it's a perfect excuse to walk around almost naked." Maris ran a hand down her side, her swimsuit covered some skin but left plenty still on show.

He ran his eyes over her for a moment, following her hand before he smiled. "I can see that," he said with a charming smile. "Suits you, Maris. Suits you a lot."

Maris smiled. "Thank you, I like to keep in shape. For the camera and for anyone else that may be watching."

He chuckled, giving her a small nod. He could tell she took pride in her own appearance, and liked showing off. He didn't mind looking to be honest, and her attention was flattering. "I don't have that excuse...I'm just a glorified mechanic."

"Nothing wrong with that." Maris said with a lightly chuckle. "Someone has to keep the ships running so everyone else can do all the sciency stuff, plus engineers are always good with their hands."

"I knit for dexterity," he said before he grinned, his eyes practically sparkling with humour. "Bet I could make you a bikini."

Maris laughed. "Now that sounds totally impractical but something I'd like to see."

He laughed as well, nodding. "Oh incredibly impractical. But as my family always said, need teaches naked people to spin wool. Which...I apply to my work as well. Amazing how you can repair things if you are desperate." And as a passionate Engineer, his love for it was easily heard in his voice.

"A good saying." Maris remarked. "Did you bring your knitting with you here?"

"Too hot," he said with a smile as he leant closer to her. "And I didn't want to get sand in it. Bad enough sand goes everywhere."

"That it does, the last thing anyone wants is sand anywhere vital and Risa has a lot of sand." Maris said with a chuckle.

Rafe laughed as he raised an eyebrow, nodding. "I heard that most people spend about an hour in the sonic shower, afterwards, getting sand out." He took a deeper breath before he shifted to be a little closer to her, holding her eyes. "So Maris...who likes walking around almost naked by the pool...got any plans for later?"

"Some more walking around the pool almost naked maybe," Maris chuckled again. "I could be tempted by a stiff drink or two, then a bit of exploring."

"Doesn't sound like half a bad idea," he said with a quick smile. "Let me know if you want any company for either of those things."

Maris smirked. "I'm not going to say no to some company to explore things with."

Rafe smiled, nodding at that, his eyes playful. "Then like they used to say...that's a date."

OFF:

Ltjg Rafe Hunnicutt
Engineer

Maris Evans
Federation news network reporter
[Written by Taliserra]