Poker and Plans

Posted on 27 Jul 2016 @ 9:10am by Senior Chief Petty Officer Mila Rasputin

3,877 words; about a 19 minute read

Mission: Risky Business
Location: Aidan's Quarters
Timeline: MD 4 || 1900 Hours

Mila came to Aidan's quarters after the poker game, her mind working the game over and over in her head. "He put in more than I was wishing to call this early and I am thinking he had good hand, so I am folding. Then he is folding one bet later. I should be mad at him." She turned and touched the sensor on his door panel to announce her presence.

Aidan had put what he had left on the top of his bedroom dresser and was sitting in his favorite chair. The game hadn't gone quite like he expected. He found himself wishing that he had practiced in the holodeck or something. Then there was the glare that Mila gave to him as she went to get a drink. He sighed, wondering what he could do...if there even was something he could do. He knew how serious she was about poker based on the trophy and her vest... His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the chime. Wondering why Quinn would be ringing instead of coming on in, he got up and went to open it. Maybe it was someone looking for his roommate instead.

Mila looked up at him and gave him a lopsided smile. "Hello, Aidan," she said. "Are you to be busy?"

Aidan was rather surprised and was sure that it showed on his face. He looked at her smiled. "No, I am not. Please, come in, Mila." He stepped aside to allow her entrance. Cadet Quinn Mackie and I share this room, but he is not here at the moment. Is there anything I can get you to drink?" he asked as he led to the small couch.

"Nyet," she said as she stepped past him and into his quarters, looking around. It was typical for cadet quarters, but not as cramped as basic enlisted quarters, but still smaller than her own quarters. "I am just thinking that I should be talking with you about game, if you are desiring such."

Aidan sat down on the couch and patted the other end of it. "Please, sit. And I am open to talking about the game," he said. He wasn't sure what to expect, but he was glad that they were talking about it. Or getting ready to.

Mila walked over and sat down, looking up at him. "Are you familiar with game of chance where credits are to be changing hands based on what you are holding?"

He sighed. "I am familiar with it, but apparently not as much as I thought. After tonight, I am not sure that I completely understand the strategy behind the game." It was difficult for him to admit ignorance, even partial, in something that he thought he understood.

"In game like Texas Hold 'Em, most people are not betting high until majority of cards are dealt," she started. "If you are betting high early, you are either bluffing or confident in what you are having and what you are seeing. If you are neither, you call and move on and not raise. You raised high earlier and folded next hand. What was strategy of this?"

"I was attempting a bluff," said Aidan. "And when the pilot put everything in at the next round, I wasn't sure that I would be able to continue the bluff. I decided to fold, believing that he actually had a good hand."

"You are knowing that I was believing you to be good hand, da?" Mila asked him. "I could not be bringing myself to be betting against you when I am seeing what you raised so early in game. Is why I folded...but when you folded against pilot, I am being angry. Especially when I am seeing last cards to be dealt. I folded ace and jack, Aidan."

"No, I did not," he said, lowering his gaze. Especially after hearing that she couldn't have brought herself to bet against him. A moment later, he brought his eyes back to hers. "I am sorry that I cost you that hand, Mila. I didn't know…”

"My hand?" She raised an eyebrow. "I could have won game." She sighed. "I am knowing that I should have left game when you joined. I am not wishing to compete against you because I am competitive when it is involving poker. From now on, we are not to be playing against each other when others are involved. Da?"

"Agreed," he said. "I do not wish to compete against you, either. And I remember how you said that you are competitive when it comes to poker. I should never have put you in that position to begin with. And no, I should have been the one to leave the game. It is something that you enjoy and it is something that I was trying my hand at. I appreciate the lessons, but should have let you have this. At any rate, we agree to not to play against each other with others."

"Let us not disagree on who should have left game," Mila said. "You are outranking me, but I am girlfriend so you are not to be disagreeing me with. Agreed?"

"Agreed. You are my girlfriend and I won't disagree with you." He smiled at her. "Still, I am sorry."

"Nyet," Mila said. "I am for as I am not teaching you every game and you were not knowing every rule. I am to blame for such, but I am wishing to spend time with you in much better ways than discussing game where you are to be losing all or winning all. I have best trophy of all and his name is being Aidan Crehan."

Aidan looked in her hazel eyes. He didn't deserve her, but he had her. "Then let us put the game behind us and move forward. Scoot over here, Printsessa, and allow me to simply hold you, the greatest of all winnings."

"I do not think so," she said with a gleam in her eyes as she met his. "I think you are to be coming to me, da? Allow me simple win for the night?"

He grinned widely and felt his eyes open a little further. "Da," he said. "I will come to you." Aidan quickly scooted close to Mila and put his arm around her.

Mila laid her against against his shoulder and sighed. "What am I to be doing with you, Aidan?" She asked. "You are having centuries for me to be fixing, but I am also liking you the way you are. You are not broken, but you are not girlfriend trained, either. I have not had many boyfriends in life, so I am not knowing how to train properly." By her light tone, she was joking

Aidan picked up on her tone and chuckled. "No, I am not girlfriend trained. I have a lot to learn in that regard. But I am glad that you like me the way I am, even untrained." He couldn't but smile as he said it. In fact he almost laughed. "So, let us learn together, shall we?" He ran his hands through her hair and inhaled deeply. He didn't care anymore if it was noticeable or not.

Mila laughed. "You are to be big pervert like Chow," she said. "I am never knowing some to to sniffing hair, but I am being okay with that. Would you like to be playing with my hair?"

Aidan laughed, too. "Well, it smells good. I cannot help myself, beautiful. And I am glad that it is okay with you. Especially since I would continue to do it anyway. But yes, I would like to play with your hair." He ran his through it again and wrapped his fingers around it. "Pervert, indeed," he said, leaning down to take another long whiff.

"I am to be calling you Sir Sniffer if you are to be keeping that up," she laughed. "I am thinking that you are with me to be smelling hair only."

"Oh no, there is so much more to you, Mila." He paused as the corners of his mouth turned up in a grin. "Let us stay with Sir Knight," he said, placing his hand on her knee. "Or Sir Rogue." He moved his hand to just above her knee and gave a little squeeze as he leaned down and longingly pressed a kiss to her ruby lips.

Mila wrapped her arms around him and returned the kiss until of them needed to come up for air. She looked at him with a smile playing at the corner of her lips. “So what are you to be thinking about now that we are no longer talking about poker?”

“I am thinking about you and spending time with you,” he said. “Though, I am also thinking that we should go somewhere else. Quinn could come back at any time now that the poker game is over. The poor kid might trip over his feet if he saw the Captain’s Yeoman on the couch in his quarters making out with his roommate.” Aidan chuckled as he pictured that incident.

She laughed and stretched out, laying her head against his chest and put an arm across him. “He is having girlfriend, is he not?” She asked him. “I am thinking that he would not be adverse to be leaving us alone for a while.”

“Yes, he has a girlfriend,” replied Aidan. Then he thought for a second and smiled. “And I am certain that you are right about him leaving us alone.” He liked having her near, her head laying on his chest. But even if it weren’t there, he was still near her, and that’s what mattered most. He reached down and rubbed her arm, grinning as he did, “What are you thinking about?”

“You,” Mila said. “You are all I think about when I am off duty now, Aidan. I am not to be ignoring Chow, but even when I am in my quarters, I am thinking about you and all the fun we are having. You are never far from thoughts even when I am on duty.”

Aidan smiled and breathed deeply. “You are more than I could have ever imagined, dearest Mila. I am certain that Chow understands, though. He is a smart little monkey. And we are having a lot of fun, aren’t we?” He continued rubbing her arm. “We have fun talking and getting to know one another. We have fun on shore leave. We have fun at dinners. We have fun when we go out and we have fun when we stay in. I am always having fun when I am with you. And I should add that you are never very far from my thoughts, either.”

“Da, we are,” she agreed. “I am thinking we are needing holodeck time when we are able. I am wishing to see places you have been and to show you places that I have been. You are to be loving view of Earth from Moon and I am showing you where I grew up and where I am having my best moments before I am meeting you.” Her voice and eyes were filled with excitement at the thought of doing so.

“I would like that. I would like to show you all of the places I have been,” he said. “But most of all, I would like to see where you grew up.” He looked down and saw her eyes twinkling as she talked about taking him to all of those places. “Perhaps you can take me there one day without the help of a holodeck. I would love to see the real things in person. And maybe even meet some of your old friends. But until then, the holodeck will be perfect. But before then, I would love to hear you describe the view of Earth from the Moon.” He smiled at her as he caressed her cheek.

Mila leaned into his caress as her eyes went distant while she conjured old memories of what he had asked her. “Is it beautiful,” she murmured. “Is like big blue ball with intricate pattern of greens and browns which are being caressed by soft, white clouds which circle it like comforting blanket. Is truly a gem in the sky when seen from the moon.”

Aidan tried his best to picture it, but he was certain that what was in his mind would not compare to the real thing. Or the holodeck version, for that matter. “It sounds beautiful,” he said. “You described it very well; I am looking forward to seeing it.” He found himself holding her head as she had leaned in to his hand...and he smiled. “We would need many months, and maybe even one year, for me to show you all of the places I have been. In reality, I mean. I’m sure that we could use the holodeck.” He paused for a second considering what she had said about where she grew up. “I could also show you the place where I lived on Earth after arrived. But it is not really the place that I grew up. That is what I would truly like to share with you, El Auria.” His mind drifted for a few moments before it came back. “However, Earth will have to suffice.”

She shook her head. “Nyet,” she said. “I am doing very poor job of describing it. A verbal description of a gem in heavens is not to be doing justice of it.” She paused and looked at him. “You were to be living on Earth?” she asked him. “I am now curious. What inspired you to go?”

Aidan couldn’t remember if he had ever told Mila the specifics of his being in the Alpha Quadrant or not. And now was just as good a time as any. “It wasn’t inspiration, dear one,” he said. “We were forced.” Taking a deep breath, he continued. “I was on El-Auria during the Borg invasion. My family were among the refugees from 2293 that was rescued from the Nexus. We settled in a suburb of San Francisco with some other El-Aurians from the ship.” It wasn’t as difficult as he thought it was going to be, but nonetheless…

Mila reached to take the hand which had been caressing her cheek and gently pressed her lips to the back of it. “I cannot imagine what that was being like,” she said softly. “To lose so much and be forced to go elsewhere.” She gave her head a shake. “But you are now having home to live and you are having someone who is loving you very much, Aidan. I am to be home wherever you are and you are always having home in my heart.”

The thoughts quickly vanished and were replaced by a smile when she kissed the back of his hand. “I do have a home now,” he said. “Here, with you. Or, as you said, wherever you are. Thank you, Mila, for loving me as you do. And thank you for carrying me in your heart. You mean so much to me that the only words that I can find to express it are, I love you. Those are the only words that seem fitting. And they will always be fitting. Know that not a day goes by that you are not on my mind, for you are always in my heart.”

She released his hand and leaned in to kiss him. “And I am loving you, now and always,” she said. “You are bringing new light to my life and you are only one that I am wanting for rest of it. I was never knowing truth of love until you are coming to me, Aidan and I am hoping that I am never failing you.”

He enjoyed her kiss. He enjoyed all of her kisses. “Then you shall have me for the rest of your life, Mila. But never failing me, that is an impossibility. In my years, I have learned that people, no matter the situation or relationship, will fail each other. The key is realizing that, talking about it, forgiving one another, and pressing forward having learned from the failure.” He paused and looked down at her. “Our relationship will grow stronger and we’ll grow closer together. That is what I want, Mila, to grow closer to you, to be with you.”

“I am saying that I am hoping I do not fail you,” Mila said. “I am knowing that failing is possibility and am willing to work through such times, but I would not wish to look in your eyes and see hurt caused my me. Would be too painful and would be breaking my heart to know that I am reason for your hurt. We are to be growing closer and building more towards future. This, I vow.”

Aidan smiled and nodded. “I understand better. When you put it in those words, I wouldn’t want to see hurt in your eyes, either. Especially if I caused it.” He hugged her as much as possible. “I look forward to our future too, Mila. Our future together.” He sat there for a few moments, just holding her. She was the best thing that ever happened to him. “I am glad that I met you that day, Printsessa.”

Mila returned the hug as she pressed her body against his and looked at him with adoration. “As I am, Sir Knight,” she said. “Never in a million years would I have been thinking that I would meet someone so wonderful when all I had planned was to pick up few things and return to ship. You are changing my life and I am loving every moment of it. I am looking forward to many great things to come.”

“As am I, my love, as am I,” he said. “I am glad that you allowed me to share my room with you during that shore leave. I am also glad that you want me to share your room with you here.” He smiled at her. “I cannot wait to learn if it is allowable. Oh, I just remembered, I have another picture for you. However, it is in my bedroom and I do not want you to move just yet. I love holding you. But if you will help me to remember, I will get it before you leave.”

“I have not asked yet because we have been very busy, but I am to be doing that next chance I am getting,” Mila promised him. “If you are having something, I am willing to wait while you are getting it now. You have provoked curiosity and unlike felines, monkeys do not wait for satisfaction.”

Aidan started laughing. “I never thought of you as a monkey, though, you do keep climbing around inside my head and swinging on my heartstrings.” He smiled and got up. “I will be right back,” he said. Aidan walked into his bedroom and retrieved the latest picture he had drawn of his Printsessa. He looked at and nodded. It looked perfect. He came back out and sat down next to her before handing her the pencil drawing. “For you.”

She smiled and melted a little when he told her that she was climbing in his head and swinging on his heartstrings. When he returned with the picture, she melted even more as she accepted and looked at it. She looked up at him with tears making her eyes shiny and it took her a minute to find her voice. “I am thinking,” she said, her accent getting even thicker. “Nyet, I am knowing that I am never having to look anywhere else ever again to find what I have looked for entire life and his name is Aidan Crehan. It is very beautiful and you are incredible man.”

Aidan smiled and when he saw her eyes glistening a bit and heard what she said, he almost had shiny eyes, too. He dipped his head slightly and then looked back to her. “It is my pleasure. I find it very easy to draw pictures of that which I love. But I am glad that you like it.” He leaned in and kissed her forehead, then he moved down to her lips and lingered. “I do not know what I would do without you, Mila Rasputin,” he said, after he pulled away. “Nothing will ever change my love for you.”

Mila kissed her back and when he pulled away, she nearly pouted but didn’t. Instead, she came to her feet and reached for one of his hands with her free one while holding the picture in the other. “Come,” she said. “Tonight, you will be spending night in my quarters and seeing where you are to be living soon. Not that you have not been there, but we will talk and make plans, da?”

Aidan stood when she took his hand. “Yes, we will talk and make plans. Because as you said, I have been there, but not for planning to live there.” As they started walking towards the door, he continued, “I look forward to more time with you. Oh, I should grab a clean uniform before we leave.”

“Are you to be needing PADDs to study or anything other than uniform?” She asked him. “I am having very few replicator credits left after pulling prank on Captain.”

“I will take a couple of the ones that I have been working on lately,” he said. Then he thought for a second, “And, yes, let me get the uniform. I will be right back.” He went into his room and got a small bag into which he placed a clean uniform and undergarments. He tossed the strap of the bag over his shoulder and picked up a pair of black boots. He grabbed two PADD’s that were laying on his dresser and headed back out to Mila. “If you need anything from the replicator, you can use my credits. Now, after you,” he said gesturing towards the door. There was no way he could hide the grin on his face as said that.

Mila gave him a searching look, but the corners of her mouth turned up before she turned and headed out the door with a switch of her hips. She looked over her shoulder and gave him a knowing smile. “Is that what you are to be looking for, Sir Rogue?” she asked him.

Aidan took a deep breath and smiled as he watched her hips. He never looked up when she spoke...he just couldn’t take his eyes off.... “Oh, yes that is exactly what I was looking for.” He followed her out the door and slightly tempted to gently swat it. But decided to hold that little surprise for a later time. Instead, he walked up beside her and took her free hand in his, giving a little squeeze. “Shall we?”

“We shall,” she agreed and together, the two of them headed back to her quarters.

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