Coffee, Confessions and Curiousity

Posted on Sun Dec 29th, 2024 @ 10:57pm by Ensign Charlotte Dawes & Lieutenant JG Kasper Andersen M.D

2,247 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Happy Holidays
Location: Espresso Royale, Deck 15, USS Astrea
Timeline: MD Christmas Eve 1500 hours

Charlotte made a point to not be early for her coffee... well, just coffee. She made a point to not be early for coffee with Kasper, timing it so that she would walk up to the cafe right at 1500, if not a minute or so late. Which is why she was surprised that there wasn't a sign of him in the area when she got there. She'd assumed he'd be on time since he'd picked the time and the place - and that it was his idea to meet at all.

She decided to go ahead and order and watched with interest as the barista went through the steps to make her cappuccino. The replicator never could get the texture quite right. When her drink was ready, she took her cup and found a table in the back.

Kasper came sliding around the corner and into the coffee shop, almost running into an Ensign in red and shocking her enough that she spilled her coffee all over her. He apologized profusely and helped her get it cleaned up the best he could before she eventually waved him off and walked out of the shop, leaving Kasper to go and finally meet Charlotte. He was only ten minutes late.

Walking up to her, he was still wiping the coffee now staining his blue shirt. "I am so sorry for being late... I assume you just saw all of that?" he asked hesitantly as he took the seat across from her. "I realised I somehow got a massive hole in the side of the shirt I was going to wear, so that threw me off and I had to at least make some effort, but I'm here now."

"It's a good thing you bothered to change that shirt," Charlotte commented. She couldn't help but be slightly amused at the coffee stain he was now wearing.

He wasn't amused by the brown smudge that was becoming a stain and frowned at it as he got comfortable, "Well, what can I say? I like to try my best to look good wherever I go." To him, aside from his sister, he was the best dresser of the family. "Look, I know it's been really awkward on shift, and I just wanted us to be able to clear the air so that we can move on from the incident, okay?"

"Okay... So what do we need to clear the air about?" Charlotte asked. She wrapped her hands around the warm cup of coffee for comfort. "How do we make it not be awkward?" She was being cautious. She'd been a little hurt and embarrassed about what had happened before and it would take a lot before she put herself in a vulnerable position around Kasper again.

"I don't know how to do this," Kasper admitted, "I've never been in this kind of situation before. I guess just say whatever is on your mind and then we go from there?"

"Okay..." Charlotte repeated the phrase drawing the word out even longer. "Did you have something that you wanted to say?" She asked.

"I'm just going to put it all out on the table, right?" Kasper replied as he swallowed hard. This was going to be hard to do without a drink but he let the feeling go, "Okay. You know I like you, right? It's like you've put the colour into my life and made me see things I couldn't before. The truth is, you're an amazing person with the kindest, most caring soul and a smile that melts hearts."

Taking a deep breath in and out, he added, "And you're the reason i want to change everything about myself to become a better person for myself, for my family. But I know if you want me to let you go, I'd turn off the feelings and just go back to being coworkers or if that wasn't enough, I'd swap shifts around or even transfer. Whatever you wanted me to do, I'd do."

Charlotte was somewhat shy about accepting compliments, but what Kasper was saying was sweet. She glanced up at him, as she fidgeted with her coffee mug, spinning it slowly in quarter turns back and forth in her hands. She hadn't really gotten him out of her head since the night on Barisa Prime. And here he was telling her that he had feelings for her too, but something he had said made her frown.

"What do you mean change everything about yourself?" She asked cautiously. "That doesn't seem..." She trailed off not sure what word she was looking for. Doesn't seem... Right? Realistic?

"Well, I'm not exactly the most... responsible... person at the moment," he admitted, "I want to be seen as the trustworthy guy who can hold down a relationship for longer than a month, as someone who you'd look at and think he'd make a good husband eventually. I want to make myself the good guy in a way."

"Oh!" Charlotte said somewhat startled by the word husband.

"Well, um. Okay..." Charlotte took a deep breath. "I don't know how to respond to all of that." She smiled at him, "I was a little disappointed to find out that you had a girlfriend. I mean, the night we hung out - I thought there was something there, between us I mean." Charlotte felt her cheeks flush.

"The thing is, there is something between us. You feel it, I feel it too," Kasper replied with an enthusiastic nod, his eyes almost pleading. "With her and I, we were doomed from the start. You and I, we've got that spark that could turn into a flame."

He held out his hand across the table toward her, not expecting her to take it or anything, "How about this, tomorrow is Christmas and my sister and I usually try and spend it together but obviously Malcolm is going to be there as well, so I guess I'm asking if you're not doing anything tomorrow, would you like to spend Christmas with me? Us, I mean? As friends, if you want?"

"I wouldn't mind seeing you tomorrow. I don't want to crash your family thing on Christmas." She gave him a sheepish look and reached across the table and touched his hand. "Look, what was so fun with us is that it was... I dunno fun? Spontaneous, a little on the edge. I don't know what went wrong with you and your ex, but I don't want you to change any of that."

Saying she'd come sent a jolt down Kasper's spine as he realised he would need to get something for her, but that was no big deal. Instinctively wrapping his hand in hers, he gave her a warm smile, "I promise you won't be crashing anything. If anything, it'll mean I'm not the third wheel to Eirly and Malcolm with their little love thing they've got going on." He then added, "We can still be spontaneous, a little on edge, whatever you wish. No point in changing something good, right?"

"This thing with your sister, is it all day? Some of the junior officers were getting together a little later. Basically the same people we shared the trauma bond with at the Halloween thing," Charlotte asked. "If you wanted to come, if we were still getting along I mean. Alcohol and karaoke."

"It usually only goes on for a couple of hours at most, and I'm pretty sure she'll be too wrapped up with him to really care if we leave," Kasper laughed, knowing exactly what would happen tomorrow, "I think karaoke would be fun, but maybe we don't let you have an entire bottle of alcohol to yourself this time?" He grinned at her as he ran his thumb over the back of her hand.

"Hey, I handled myself just fine. I think you're the one we need to worry about," she giggled. "You're wearing coffee, and I don't think there was any alcohol involved today."

His expression deadpanned in response to her remark, "Hey, that's not fair. This was my favourite shirt, but I'm sure I can get it fixed. And, I haven't drunk alcohol since that night, so neh." He poked out his tongue.

"Wow, not at all? Did you really forget you had a girlfriend?" She asked.

He shook his head in reply, "Nope, not a drop. But yes, I completely forgot. We started dating just before I left the ship, against all better judgement, and we hadn't really spoken since then and she got pushed to the depths of my mind when you and I were drinking." He still felt guilty over the whole ordeal.

"Is that why you haven't drank again? Or is like an issue for you?" Charlotte shifting to a more serious tone. There was a reason Starfleet discouraged actual alcohol at official functions. Addiction and abuse were no laughing matter, and she wouldn't judge him if he were abstaining.

Kas knew where this was heading so he shook his head again, "I reserve going out drinking for special occasions only, and that's when I tend to go a little overboard," he admitted. He knew the risks and complications that drinking brought with it, "But I promise I don't have an issue with alcohol."

"Okay," Charlotte didn't make a big deal, but she raised her fingers a bit in sort of a half gesture like one might throw theirs hands up in peace. "There's no shame at all in it or anything. I didn't mean to imply a problem or anything. But like if you're coming out and aren't drinking - I would you know offer you a soda or an energy drink instead of a glass of wine or something."

She really was kind and thoughtful, "Thank you, I'll have a couple just to get the buzz on and then switch back to non-alcoholic. Someone has to be designated walker, right?" He laughed at his own joke but ignored the foreshadowing that came with it.

"So, um. What am I supposed to wear or bring to this thing with your sister?" Charlotte asked. It was kind of last minute, but that's what replicators are for.

"Just be casual, bring yourself and whatever you want," he thought back to previous years with his sister, "I've called my sister crazy in the past for wanting to keep up these traditions, but lately I've come to realise just how special our bond is and much she's like our mother. I bet there'll be decorations and food and everything."

"Anything else I should know..." She asked. He still hadn't mentioned a time, or really a place, though she could guess. She was wondering how someone could be such an accomplished doctor could be so scattered with everything else.

"Oh yeah, I forgot. Her quarters, Deck 6, at like 1000 hrs," he said quickly in reply, forgetting that Charlotte had probably never been there. "If you want, I can come and get you so you don't feel awkward?"

"Yeah, that would probably be good," she said giving him a slight grin. "I'd feel weird if I showed up before you."

"Then that's what I'll do," Kasper gave her a smile and a nod. "Trust me, the whole morning will be worth it."

"So... see you then?" Charlotte asked. She was a little unsure of what to expect in the morning. She didn't really know Dr. Beckett outside of work, or Eirly much as all, except for her coming into Sickbay occasionally on downtimes. She was glad her own friends were getting together later. It would be nice to have somewhere to go to unwind after in case it was weird.

He could still see the apprehensive look in her eyes, "I promise it won't be weird, It's really just a get together to swap stories, have a laugh, have some food and drink, and just relax. I reckon you and Eirly would actually really get along."

"I'm sure it'll be fine. It's just that I don't really know any of you all that well. But hey, Christmas brunch with strangers. It's the Starfleet way, right?" Charlotte offered good naturedly.

Kasper realised his coffee had arrived a while back and he hadn't drunk any so it was starting to go cold, so he grabbed the cup and down it in one go causing his mouth to turn up in distaste, "Oh wow, lukewarm coffee is terrible.. Aren't we all strangers at one point or another though?"

"I said I'd go, didn't I?" Charlotte said. "So, um. See you in the morning I guess? Or was there more?"

"I don't think there's any thing more, I'll see you tomorrow morning then," Kasper replied as he sat back in the chair.

"Don't forget to set out cookies and milk for Santa tonight," Charlotte teased as she stood up. "Have a good evening." She scurried off her mind fluttering with ideas for something to bring that would be thoughtful, but not too much like a gift - she didn't really know them like that.

"Good night, Charlie," Kasper said in a quiet reply as he watched her walk away. There was already a present idea forming in his mind and he just hoped she'd like it but not think he was trying too hard to win her over. He continued sitting at the table for a while longer before heading up to Sickbay to do a few last minute things.



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