<USS Avalon> "Man and Woman"

"Man and Woman"
By Senior Lieutenant Elissabeth Marksbury and Ensign Evan Benevente
 
Lissi received her food and looked about for a place to sit.  The dining area 
was rather crowded and there was a stir about the whole place, since they would 
be arriving at Earth soon.  She spotted Ensign Benevente sitting alone and she 
approached.  
 
"Hello, Ensign. Would you mind if I joined you?" 
 
Evan looked up from his vanilla shake.  It had too much milk, but the computer 
never seemed to get anything he liked right.  Sighing internally, he motioned 
to the chair, "No, of course not, please have a seat.  I'm sorry I haven't made 
the effort to introduce myself more fully since your arrival onboard.  I've 
been, uhm, distracted."  
 
"Understandable," she smiled.  "I've unfortunately not had the opportunity to 
meet everyone either.  Lying in sickbay will do that to you.  The only reason I 
know who everyone is is because I've read the manifest and profiles in my spare 
time.  I'm kinda one of those 'working lunch' sort of people."  She smiled 
warmly, hoping to disarm him.  He seemed annoyed.  
 
"That makes one of us," he said dryly and finished off the rest of his 
thickened milk product.  His eyes searched the lounge and then fell on her, 
"I'm sorry.  I'm not that great of company.  Well, you're a woman, can I get 
your insight on something?"  With brightened eyes, he sat up straight and 
clasped his hands across the table.   
 
She grinned.  "Absolutely." 
 
"Why is it that women fall for the ones that everyone else knows is completely 
wrong for them and in the relationship for the wrong reasons?  I just don't 
understand it," he sighed and ran a weary hand through his disheveled hair.  
"Kind of like why do girls date the bad boys?  It does not make any sense." 
 
"Oh boy," she sighed.  "I ...Hmm.  I can only give thoughts from what I've 
observed, not what I've really experienced.  I haven't exactly been Miss Social 
of the Year, preferring work instead.  Relationships are too complicated and 
distracting.  So, to attempt to answer your question...I think it's the thought 
of throwing caution to the wind, of being a little indulgent and 'bad' 
themselves.  And there is a certain rush that goes along with dating someone 
you know you shouldn't.  Even I fell prey to that once.  Without knowing 
anything more...specific, I can't really tell you much else.  This isn't my 
area of expertise," she slightly laughed.  "Ask me how to say 'son of a 
drooling whore and a monkey' in five languages and I'm your gal."  
 
He laughed for the first time in ages and, to his surprise, he liked it.  
"Linguist, huh?  That was something that I couldn't get into.  There was 
something about speaking another language that made me instantly think 'is 
Federation standard not good enough?'  But, more importantly, Savannah Eckstein 
is dating Garrett Stevens.  You know him, don't you, the counselor's bitch?"  
 
Though she tried not to, she couldn't help the smile that tugged at the corner 
of her mouth.  Hearing someone be so candid was rather refreshing. It kind of 
reminded her of when she first met Maturin.  "I learned the languages as a 
child.  My adoptive father was the linguist.  He was quite...persistent in my 
learning them.  In fact, he would speak to me in nothing but until I learned.  
Frustrating, but I'm glad of it now.  And I've only heard...things about the 
'counselor's bitch'," she winked at him, "but nothing concrete.  I suppose you 
could fill me in?"  She grinned, thinking of what an interesting conversation 
this had turned out to be. 
 
"Yeah," Evan cracked his knuckles and looked up as if the answers were 
plastered across the ceiling, "let's just say that he's sexy, borderline 
brilliant, drop-dead gorgeous, and amazingly intellectual.  Well, that's 
according to half the female population on the ship anyway.  He's the guy that 
every other guy despises with a passion more than the heat of a thousand suns." 
 
 
"And somewhere in there, I assume he actually has a few redeeming qualities.  
You a fan of Shakespeare?"  she asked, eyes sparkling, referring to his quote.  
 
"Only when the playwright makes astounding notions like that in which I can 
twist into a meaningful insult or appropriate slanderous remark," Evan smiled 
and handed his milkshake to a passing waitress, "He was brilliant though." His 
face then changed as he gave her 'that' look, "And Stevens redeeming?  He's a 
playboy."  
 
"I can see the...dilemma, Evan.  Is is okay that I call you Evan?"  She waited 
for him to shrug before continuing.  "I just know that 'playboy' facade wears 
away quickly.  If there's nothing of substance behind it, Savannah will figure 
it out quickly enough.  Not very good advice, eh?"  
 
"You don't understand, Savvy has been through some stuff.  Amazingly disastrous 
stuff.  I just don't want to see her get hurt again.  And, if that bastard 
hurts her, well, I'm going to hurt him," he threw a couple of fake punches and 
then calmed himself down.  "I'm sorry for dragging you into it, but thanks 
anyway for listening.  I've got to be on shift in about fifteen minutes so I 
better jet."  
 
"One thing I've learned, Evan, is that people are damned determined to make 
their own mistakes.  It doesn't matter how much advice we give or don't give.  
They will refuse to learn from other's wisdom because they think they are 
different, are better.  Sometimes that carries over into learning from their 
own mistakes.  They think they've grown, they've changed, that they're in 
control.  Most often it's not true and it's their friends who have to sit back 
and watch.  And hurt.  You obviously care about her and I commend you for that. 
 Just don't distance yourself from her by telling her how much she's fucking 
things up.  Or by being 'insane jealous man' and annoying her.  Just be there 
to catch her when and if she falls.  It's all you can do."  She sighed, feeling 
rather useless in advice giving.  "I've enjoyed talking to you, Ensign.  Don't 
be a stranger," she smiled.  
 
He nodded graciously and left.  She was beautiful and determined - he liked 
that.  Sometimes he wished that the barrier between women and men were 
invisible or non-existent, but it had to be.  Stepping into the turbo-lift he 
gazed back through the small window in the lounge's door and saw her sitting 
there.  With a smile, Evan let the lift doors close around him.  




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