<USS Avalon> "Dining Out"

"Dining Out"
By Second Lieutenant Elissabeth Marksbury and First Lieutenant James Maturin
 
 
"You're being too damn stubborn, you know," James said from the other room as 
Lissi was slipping into her gown.  She had found an antique style cream 
coloured dress that was very high waisted and fell in several sheer layers to 
the floor.  It wasn't poofy, frilly, or slinky - just very plain and elegant.
 
"I know," she sighed to herself.  Why am I being so stubborn? she wondered.  
Why can't I turn over any control to someone else?  And how did Maturin get to 
be so important to me?  What he said was true - I've told him pretty much 
everything.  How did that sneak up on me? 
 
She stepped out of the bedroom, ready for dinner.  James looked amazing in his 
mess dress uniform.  The cut was perfect for his physique and his thinning red 
hair was trimmed very short so as not to draw attention to the thinness.  He 
looked nicer than Lissi had seen him in quite some time.  It was enough to 
leave her speechless.
 
"What?  Something out of place?" he asked, looking to adjust his ribbons.
 
"No.  Just the opposite," she smiled.  Walking over, she tiptoed and gave him a 
soft kiss on the cheek.  "You look really, really good.  Very handsome. I'm 
jealous."
 
"Jealous?  That I look good?  Did you not look in the mirror, Lissi?  You look 
beautiful.  I especially like your hair pulled up like that."
 
"Jealous because I'm not the girl on your arm tonight. And thank you."
 
"You could've been."
 
"I know and I'm not complaining.  I wish for once I could get things right.  My 
emotional IQ must be near zero.  I just can't figure it out."
 
"When you see him tonight, ask him to dance."
 
"I will.  If he's there.  He's kind of shy about this sort of thing - we're a 
lot alike that way.  He didn't get a promotion recently, so he won't feel 
obligated to go like I do.  I doubt I'll see him at all."
 
"Chin up, ol' gal, things have a tendecy of working themselves out one way or 
another."
 
"How many times to I have to tell you to stop calling me that?  I am not old."
 
"It's just an expression.  Would you rather I called you 'Pickle'?
 
::V::
 
The dining out was exactly the same as any other dining out she remembered 
going to.  The funny thing was though, she had the memories of attending them, 
but knew in her heart she'd never been to one.  It was so disconcerting.  It 
was taking a great deal of concentration to forget her future self and only 
think about the things concerning Elissabeth Marksbury.
 
James made some discreet inquiries and managed to switch the seating 
arrangements so that Lissi could sit with him and Laura.  Lissi found Laura to 
be a lovely woman.  She wasn't just 'pretty' as James had said.  She was 
beautiful.  Laura was of Asian descent, but was tall and graceful.  She wore a 
long form fitting dress with a slit up to the thigh.  It came across as very 
dramatic. Lissi berated herself for the pangs of jealousy that slipped in.  
What, she chided, you don't want him, but no one else can have him either?
 
However, Laura and James hit it off so well that they hardly spent any time at 
the table.  They were dancing and socialising.  In fact, Lissi had never seen 
him so social.  Maybe Laura would be good for him.
 
Lissi accepted a couple invitations to dance, but her heart just wasn't in it.  
She kept watching the door and scanning the room for Monroe.  The social hour 
before dinner was almost up and she knew for certain now that he wouldn't show. 
 She sighed and picked up a glass of wine from a passing waiter.
 
She saw Admiral Pew making his rounds throughout the room, greeting and 
congratulating people.  He and his wife soon stepped up to Lissi's table and 
she stood, wishing that Maturin were there as well.
 
"Hello, Elissabeth," Pew smiled.  "I don't know if you've met my wife, Angela."
 
Lissi sifted through her "implanted" memories.  Sure enough...
 
"Yes, of course.  How do you do, ma'am?  It is a pleasure to see you again.  My 
father and I attended dinner at your home once." 
 
Angela's face registered confusion, but Pew quickly continued on to say,"I have 
heard the most wonderful things about you, Elissabeth.  The reports from the 
Avalon have said this was a well-deserved promotion.  Your father would be 
proud of you."
 
"Thank you.  And thank you for your personal interest in me, sir."
 
"Just a promise I made to an old friend," he winked.  "And very much a 
pleasure."  The couple turned and walked on to the next table.
 
Lissi pondered the encounter.  When her memories had been implanted, they must 
have designed a background that explained her connection with Admiral Pew - to 
explain why he had taken personal interest in her.  It was obvious that Angela 
had no idea what Lissi was speaking of when she mentioned the dinner - but it 
was in Lissi's memory.  How frustrating!  Her past was all make believe.  There 
was no one to confirm anything or share a single memory with!  She took another 
glass of wine.
 
The tables were set to hold eight people, so there was forced conversation 
during dinner.  The fellow to Lissi's left, in particular, kept trying to make 
small talk.  And Lissi drank more.  By the time the Admiral stood to make his 
speech and annouce all the promotions, Lissi was thoroughly drunk.  When it 
came her turn to stand, she even lost balance and stumbled a bit.  James put a 
hand on her arm to steady her.  
 
All the formal festivities were finished and dancing had begun again.  James 
offered to take her home, but Lissi refused. 
 
"Nope, nope, nope," she giggled.  "You have a date and should dance with her.  
I'm going to have fun.  Loosen up and all."  Only her words were starting to 
slur, so it came out more like 'looshenup'.
 
"You're drunk," he whispered into her ear.
 
"I know!  Can't be a control freak when your drunk," she sing-songed and 
stumbled to her feet, taking her drink with her.  Simon, the guy who had been 
trying to talk to her all night asked her to dance and she accepted.
 
James seethed watching her like that.  She could barely walk without help.  
Laura touched his arm, "You could take her home.  She hardly knows what she's 
doing."
 
"Thank you and I appreciate that you understand our friendship so well.  But 
this is something she's gonna have to work it out on her own."
 
James wanted his attention to be on Laura, but he couldn't help but watch out 
for Lissi.  She had never been one to adapt easily to changes and there had 
been so many changes...
 
He watched as Simon kept pulling her closer and closer, supporting her more and 
more.  When the young ensign whispered in Lissi's ear and they headed towards 
the door, he had to do something.  James saw exactly where that was going and 
knew that Lissi would hate herself in the morning.
 
"Laura, do you -"
 
"We need to stop her," Laura said with concern.  James was so relieved to hear 
that.
 
The couple made a bee-line for the door and intercepted Lissi and Simon before 
they could leave.
 
"How nice of you to walk Lissi back home," James told the ensign. "We were just 
leaving and will join you." 
 
Simon hesitated, "Well, um...Miss Marksbury and I were going to-"
 
"No, I'm sorry," James cut him off.  "Miss Marksbury is with us.  You're more 
than welcome to keep her company on the walk home."
 
James could tell that he didn't want to comply, but James' words hadn't left 
Simon much choice.  "Sure," he said glumly.  
 
Lissi hadn't been paying a bit of attention to the whole exchange as Laura was 
there distracting her. When she realised they weren't leaving, she slurred, 
"What's going on?" 
 
James turned around anger burning in his eyes, but he spoke softly, "Simon here 
is going to escort you home with us."  
 
 
 
 








                        
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