Wining, Dining and Talking - Part IV

Posted on Fri May 30th, 2025 @ 9:13pm by Captain Robert Burke & Lieutenant JG Gianna De Luca

984 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: EPISODE 1: SHAKEDOWN
Location: USS Hecate - Gia's Quarters
Timeline: MD032 1930hrs

::ON::

[And Now the Conclusion ...]

Gia blushed at his compliments and then smirked at his last remark about him cooking for her and having to up his game, "I'll have to pass on your compliments to my family because they're the ones who taught me. If you're lucky, you'll know what the secret ingredient is by the end of the night too." She nodded her appreciation for it. "Are you.. are you asking me out on a dinner date?" she asked with a brow raised.

Burke smiled nervously, 'well, if you want it to be ...' he said, letting the notion hang there for a second before rushing ahead. 'It's at least polite to return the favour. And I'd like to talk to you more.' Burke was unsure how far he should push for his unspoken desire, and didn't want to out Gia in an awkward place.

Gia leaned back and rested her head on the sofa and was smiling. Mostly because the wine was starting to go to her head, but he didn't need to know that, "I'd like that. I've been enjoying this, it's turned out to be better than I thought it would, if I'm being honest."

'The same for me,' Burke said, the wine having loosened his tongue, 'I thought this would be your typical getting to know your colleague type of thing. But this has been much more enjoyable. I - I'm glad you'd like to have a repeat.'

Colleague? She was just that? The professional side of her was content with that because it didn't create any conflicts of interest, but the human, emotional side of her was slightly disappointed, "Considering we've spent most of the evening talking about family, I'm pretty sure there's a lot more to talk about besides them. And I'm always up for a repeat, you already know I do love my food." She laughed at her own little joke.

He smiled happily, 'so long as your not allergic to garlic, it should be a good experience for you.'

"It would be a cardinal sin against my family if I was allergic, Robert." Gia laughed again, "I'd be cast out of the family and stripped of my Italian heritage for sure because we love our garlic and freshly made pasta." Her normally calm demeanor held some drama to it before she added in a softer tone, "But, I am looking forward to dinner and seeing what you cook for dinner one night."

'Well it'll contain garlic for sure,' Burke replied with a chuckle. 'But I won't dare to try my hand at Italian cooking for you the first time - I'm out to impress after all, and not be judged by someone so finely trained in her culture's cuisine.' He raised his glass, with what little remained of his wine and declared, 'to impressing you.'

She gave a small laugh and leaned forward slightly and raised her empty glass, clinking hers to his before leaning back again, "Not to impressing me, to first impressions in general."

'Very well, then,' Burke laughed, 'to first impressions.' He drained his drink. 'May they prove enduring.'

"Indeed." Gia said, letting the moment hang there between them. She didn't know where to go from here but things didn't feel awkward. "I think this has been a successful evening, don't you?"

Shifting in his seat, Burke grinned widely and nodded, 'I would say so! You're quite the hostess, and your conversation is never boring.' He felt quite content sat here on Gia's sofa, noticing the stars drift by the viewport. The possibilities were endless, if he only leaned - Burke abruptly cut off that line of thinking. He was her Commanding Officer after all. 'I'm looking forward to hearing more of it.'

"Thank you," Gia nodded her appreciation. "I look forward to it too. I think we should maybe leave it here for the night though, don't you?" She got up off the sofa as gracefully as possible and took the empty bottle and glasses over to the kitchenette to put with the remainder of dinner and its associated mess before walking back over to him with a smile.

'I suppose we should,' Burke said, reluctantly eyeing the chrono. The evening had moved faster than he had thought possible, and it was nearing midnight, ship-time. Good food and good company had a habit of making that happen. Getting to his feet, he stretched, 'is there anything I can do to help you clean up?'

Gia shook her head in reply, "Not really, I mostly cleaned as I cooked so there's not too much to do but thank you anyway." A pot, a pan and a couple of plates and cutlery, nothing that couldn't be cleaned in ten minutes before she went to bed. "It'll take me ten minutes, max."

'If you're sure then,' Burke said, and smiled again. 'Thanks for a wonderful night, Gia. Don't let me keep you up any longer - it'll be an early day tomorrow. Hopefully we'll have crossed the border by the end of the day. He made for the door, 'we should do this again ... soon.'

"We should," Gia agreed as she walked with him to the door, leaning on the edge of it, "I hope you get a good night's rest and I'll be seeing you on the Bridge at some stage tomorrow."

Burke smiled, idled a second, then nodded, 'goodnight Gia - sleep well.' He stepped out into the corridor and made his way home.

As soon as Burke had left and the doors to her quarters closed, Gia smiled to herself and walked back to start cleaning up before she could head off to bed.

::OFF::

Captain Robert Burke
Commanding Officer
USS Hecate

Lieutenant (JG) Gianna De Luca
Chief Counsellor
USS Hecate

 

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