First Impressions

Posted on Mon Feb 17th, 2025 @ 12:25am by Petty Officer 3rd Class Dallas Reese & Chief Warrant Officer Aiden Mejia

3,022 words; about a 15 minute read

Mission: Character Backstories
Location: A bar off campus
Timeline: Academy Days

Continuing on from "Dallas and Aiden"


After his first drink, Aiden switched to beer. Not because he was cheap, though beers were less expensive, but because he was starting to tire. He was more a morning person than a night owl, but he didn't want to disappoint Maalan, or for that matter Dallas. It seemed like ages until he saw the brunette man headed his way with an apron draped around his shoulder.

"You still in the mood for Mexican food, or would you prefer burgers?"

"Hey," Dallas said with an apologetic tone, "Sorry to keep you waiting, you saw how it got busy for a bit there," he was still running on the high from being behind the bar, "I think Mexican food would be good, but I'm fine for whatever is on offer."

Aiden wasn't feeling his alcohol yet, if he had been he might have had the liquid courage to ask the other man for burgers because the place that served them was closer to his place.

"Mexican food will do. There's a food cart about a mile from here."

He turned the corner and started walking

Dallas tossed the apron behind the counter and started to follow Aiden, "You've had a few drinks tonight, are you alright to walk that far?" It was the duty of care required by all bartenders that Dallas asked the other man, even though he was only walking.

"I've mostly been drinking beer. I think I'll be okay." Then with a cheeky grin, he added, "I bet you say that to all the boys."

"Only the ones I'm looking to spend time with," Dallas said innocently.

Aiden's smile which had bordered on a smirk, shifted at Dallas' words. It didn't become as innocent as Dallas' but it did turn more genuine. "You're just full of surprises, aren't you? I like that."

"Trust me, you don't know the half of it," Dallas replied. It was true: Aiden didn't know about Tristan, didn't know about how he almost died, didn't know a thing. "In time, you may learn a bit more. But for now, tell me about you. You might say my interest was piqued back when we were talking on break."

"I'm glad I did, but I don't really know where to start."

"I have a really good memory which helped with school. I'm also fairly mechanically minded, but I didn't want to go into engineering. I'm a boatswain's mate, which is the military or Starfleet's way of saying I'm a Jack of All Trades."

"I never had a desire to command my own ship, so I went to Cal Berkley instead of the Academy."

"Interest-wise, I am something of an adrenaline. junkie."

"I've had one serious relationship in my life. I don't know if I'm looking for another one now, but I do know I'm looking for something more than a casual fling. Whatever that might be."

"Now, it's your turn."

"Well, I'm half Rigelian, which is similar to being half Vulcan, but we much prefer to show our emotions and express how we feel, and love it out before we fight it out," Dallas explained with tired enthusiasm. He was a night owl and it was clear Aiden was not, "I'm at the Academy as a Slipstream Specialist with the Engineering Corps. I originally thought about going for Transporter Specialist but then realised working with the Slipstream was more fun."

He massaged a spot just under his left collarbone where it ached, "Both paths are different to bartending, and I'll probably bounce around departments for a bit, but I think Engineering should be fun."

"Interesting. You'll have to tell me more about Rigelians. I have heard of your species, but know next to nothing about them.

By the way, do you know what your first assignment is going to be yet?"

Dallas shook his head, "Unfortunately, not yet. Hopefully something good though. I've heard the USS Astrea has a slipstream drive, so I might end up there. How about you?"

"I don't know for sure either, but that's one of the ships that has an opening for a boatswain. Who knows maybe we'll end up on the same ship together."

"I have to be one hundred per cent transparent with you right now about something, Aiden," Dallas stopped and looked at the other man, "As I mentioned, I come with baggage. Not just emotional, but physical too in the shape of my seven-year-old nephew who I've got guardianship of." He let the words hang in the air for a little bit before adding, "I hope that's not a deal breaker for you."

"I appreciate you telling me that. It goes back to our sitting ground rules and expectations I think it's too early to tell what will, or won't happen between us. But your baggage won't stop anything from happening. As far as your nephew is concerned, that's a plus not a negative."

Dallas felt a sense of relief. "He's a smart kid, very onto it. You'd like him, I think. I managed to convince my roommate to look after him while I'm out tonight." Aiden was right, though. It was too early to tell what would or wouldn't happen between them; it was just a matter of time.

"So, when did you tell him you'd be coming home?"

"I told him I was working late and not finishing until at least midnight so he'd see me in the morning, and I'd know I'd he wasn't being nice to my roommate too." Dallas admitted, "Why he wanted to stay with me after Dani, I still have no idea, but it's helping both of us."

"I'm glad the two of you are good together. I think I know the answer to this, but I have to ask. Forgive me if I'm overstepping my bounds here. Are the two of you, you know together? More than roomies?"

Dallas raised an eyebrow and shook his head, "I assure you, we're not. He's got his own partner and she's lovely. We've even had her over for a cards night, Tristan was involved too and wiped us all clean. Probably because we let him win, but we all had a good night," he laughed at the thought of it, "How about you, are you rooming with anyone or are you just by yourself?"

"I guess that depends on your definition of roommate. Very clingy always making a mess I have to clean up. On the other hand very protective, almost territorial at times. She's a dog, a Shikoku, Her name is Meiyo,"

"I hope that's not a deal breaker either."

"Absolutely not! If anything, I love dogs, so it's perfect." Dallas replied as he took a quick look around to get his bearings, "Are you sure you wouldn't prefer to go back to your place? You look pretty tired and it is pretty late, or early, depending on who you ask."

"I am tired, I can't deny that. So, if you're okay with going back to my place, so am I. Let's go, it's about a mile from here."

Aiden's calculations were a little off, it was closer to a mile and a half. His apartment was on the second floor, about a store selling holonovels and a Korean restaurant. Both of which were closed. Aiden punched a code into the lock and a door slid open. "This way," he said as he started walking up the stairs.

Dallas followed Aiden and made a mental note of his surroundings, a habit he'd picked up after everything. After all, one could never be too careful nowadays. "I'm still here and following."

Aiden almost made a joke about luring Dallas to his lair but stopped himself before he could do something stupid.

When they reached the landing he inputted another" code into a panel and his apartment door swung open. A fawn-colored, Spitz-like dog was waiting for them. At first, her tail was wagging, but then she let out a low growl when she saw Dallas

'"He's a friend, girl."

The dog came toward him then sniffing the air and catching his scent.

Dallas crouched down and held out the back of his hand for her to sniff, letting her make all the moves first. Once she had a chance to sniff him, Dallas smiled at the sight of her tail wagging and then went in for a rough scratch behind the ears. "Hey, good girl, who's a good girl?"

After a few moments of playing with Meiyo, he stood up and looked around the apartment. It was nice and definitely better than his own, but then again, he was living at the Academy. "This is a nice place you've got."

"Thank you," Aiden replied, "I like it okay. Make yourself at home, I just have to go take her outside to do what a dog has gotta do. I should be back in ten and then I can fix something to eat."

"You're a guest so you can just sit back and relax. Or you can jump in and help if you prefer. No pressure either way."

"Show me the kitchen and where everything belongs, and I'll get started on something to eat if you want?" Dallas offered with a smile. He could've gone with Aiden but the poor guy was tired, so why not help out in a way he knew?

Aiden led the other man through a small living room into a small, but efficient kitchenette. "There is the cooler," he said pointing, and the stove is just on the other side."

He turned to leave and said, "Please don't burn the place down while I'm gone, I'd like to get my security deposit back."

"Go do your thing and I'll be fine, see you when you get back," Dallas waved Aiden off as he went to set about looking in the cooler for something to make. He'd already noted where the exits were and was happy to see there were multiple if needed. He was hoping not to have to use them though.

When Meiyo ran into the kitchen ten minutes later followed by Aiden, Dallas was almost finished with making them both some nachos and was just allowing the sauce to cook off first before he was right to serve it. "See? Nothing burnt down, and it'll be five minutes. It's nachos if that's okay?"

The dog sniffed the air and trotted into the kitchen wagging her tail as she came. She sat up then and begged.

"No chance," Aiden informed her. "You had your dinner, you don't get human food, and don't think Dallas is going to give you something because you try to mooch from him.

Then turning to his new friend he said, " Nachos sounds perfect. You mind if I go change?"

"Yeah, of course. It's your place, do what you want." Dallas watched as Aiden walked out again before he turned to the dog that was still wagging her tail for him. Bending down, he continued to give her pats, "Sorry girl, Aiden said no treats, so it's a no on that, as much as I'd love to give you some."

He set about starting to plate up the nachos, eventually finding the plates and arranging the chips onto each plate carefully before he added the mince mixture and sprinkled the cheese on top. Dallas only knew one way of how to make nachos and he wasn't sure how Aiden liked his, so it was a guessing game really. Turning to Meiyo who was still at his side, he gave her another scratch and said, "You know, Tristan would love you." Her tail wagged faster.

Seconds later, Aiden walked in pulling a faded and rather snug-fitting shirt over his head, briefly exposing his torso. He was wearing a pair of gym shorts underneath. "That smells really good. I didn't realize how hungry I was. You want something to drink?"

"I'll grab a beer if you've got one, otherwise a water will be fine, thanks," Dallas replied, briefly glancing at Aiden when he was pulling his shirt on before he focused back on the food, "This isn't anything fancy, just something my brothers and I used to cook up when our parents weren't home. Quick, simple, homemade. Here ya go." He pushed the finished plate of food towards Aiden."

Aiden took the plate and pulled it the rest of the way to him. "I'll grab us a couple of beers. Meiyo likes you. That's a good sign. She didn't like the last guy I brought home. She was right though; he was an asshole."

"Oh yes, I remember," Dallas quipped as he headed toward the table nearby, not knowing if it was an eat-on-the-couch situation, "He was the one you found in bed with someone else, right?" He felt for Aiden but was also grateful he'd never had to experience something like that himself, "I'm sorry, but that's a really shitty thing to do to someone. Definitely an asshole, you're both right."

"That would be the one," Aiden admitted as he pulled out two bottles of beer. "It makes it hard to trust anyone, to let down my guard."

"I'm ranting now and not being a good host." He sat down and took a bite of the food. "This is really good. I might just keep you around."

Dallas grinned and opened both bottles, sliding one across the table, "So that's all you want me for then, is it?" He raised an eyebrow and continued to grin as he took a drink. It was decent beer, "Just to cook you some good food and serve you some decent drinks? Who's to say that's all I'm good at?"

Aiden couldn't help himself. He smirked. "So exactly what kind of services are you suggesting?"

Bait taken, Dallas sat back in his seat replied, "It depends. You need a friend and wanna talk, I'm there. Need a lift somewhere? I'm your guy. Need someone to be your date for the night? I'll be your date. You want someone to spend the night with, that's also... me." It made him sound like a whore, but it was just his nature, or used to be, to be that person. He was looking straight at Aiden as he mentioned the last part before he drank more of the beer.

Aiden met the other man's gaze without breaking eye contact and swallowed. "All of those things sound incredible and I'm willing to explore them all. Last year I would have jumped at the chance of taking you to bed. Hell a year ago, do you want another beer and what are you into was the extent of some of my conversations. It doesn't hurt that you're incredibly good-looking."

"But this isn't a year ago. It's today. Before we fuck around, could we have a proper date? And if that's what you meant already and I just made an ass out of myself, I apologize."

Now it was Dallas's turn to smirk, but it was more directed at the whole fucking around part, "A proper date sounds alright with me, Maalan will be happy about that. And you didn't just make an ass of yourself, I was talking about being a multi-purpose person and being available for what is needed at the time."

Aiden took another bite of his nachos and a sip of his beer before continuing. "Good. For a second I thought you meant tonight. What's your idea of a fun date?"

"I already told you I don't stay on the first night, and that includes tonight." Dallas took a moment to think, "I reckon something fun and physical, maybe on a holodeck. Something like old school go-carting, or I don't know, maybe even a night of video games and pizza." He shrugged as he felt a little out of his comfort zone suggesting anything.

"I'm not really into video games, but I like the idea of doing something physical and old school. What about a holodeck program in an old-fashioned amusement park, or maybe a fair with rides, carnival games, and food?"

"Sounds like a plan to me!" Dallas just kept grinning. He was enjoying this time spent getting to know Aiden. "For tonight though, what are you thinking?"

"Finish our food first, then say our good nights. Or another alternative. I know you said you didn't stay the night the first night and I respect that. But if you want to crash on my couch we could have breakfast tomorrow. I mean technically you wouldn't be sleeping over."

"This is true, I could do that," Dallas finished off his nachos with a crunch of the chip. "Then I would need to borrow your shower, in that case," he stood up and took his finished plate back to the sink to rinse it off, "because I'm still in my work gear,"

"I'm good with that," Aiden said as he finished his food. "I'll even fix breakfast for you tomorrow to return the favor I've got bacon or sausage or both. How do you like your eggs, or would you prefer waffles instead?"

"Surprise me," Dallas said as he leaned back on the counter next to Aiden, "if it's eggs, good old fashioned scrambled with salt and pepper." He was starting to feel more comfortable being around Aiden and he was happy to slowly let his guard down. For now.

"Oh, and the bathroom is down that hall. Sorry, my shower is the old-fashioned kind. Water not sonic. But you're welcome to it. I promise not to peek. I'll get out some sheets and a blanket while you're in there."

"You had me at water, Aiden, thank you." Dallas put a hand on Aiden's shoulder and proceeded to walk off towards the shower, unbuttoning his shirt as he went. It was only when he got to the sleeves that he got hesitant and not ready to show that part of himself to Aiden yet.


::OFF::


PO3 Dallas Reese
Slipstream Specialist
(NPC by Eirly)

&

CWO Aiden Mejia
Boatswain
(NPC by Osirin)

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