Posted Jan. 24, 2019, 9:23 p.m. by Lieutenant Gavin Ryan "Coop" Cooper (Chief Helmsman) (Jerome Davis)
<SNIP>
A broad smile crossed Gavin’s face as the couple that had, until their untimely interruption, been locked in a rather passion fueled embrace just moments ago… and he drew a slow, deep breath. He glided his thumb mindlessly across the top of Erin’s and looked once more deeply into those shining green eyes. He didn’t say a word… didn’t want to ruin the incredible moment they were sharing and a part of the man wished it would never end. How… how in the absolute frack had the dumb luck of the universe land him, of all people, into the arms of the veritable angel beside him now. One thing was for damn sure, he wasn’t going to complain and sure as hell would take and enjoy every moment he with the firebrand.
Once again, she found herself wondering where the future would take her, and as the food trays were finally placed in front of them, Erin asked casually.
“So Coop, any plans for the future? Or is piloting starships your life plan? Not that there’s anything wrong with that, mind you, but… what is there next for you?”
Erin
Cooper was taken aback by the question, not that it was a bad question… it was just the first time he could ever remember a woman actually asking him that. Well… at least one outside Recruitment & Retention! “Well…” Coop smiled slightly. “… I have…” He scratched his head for a moment and chuckled softly. “… I have eight courses left on my PhD in Engineering.” Gavin said matter of factly. “At two courses a year… that’s… four years of that…” And then he shrugged. “From what I hear… the Dissertation is a three to four year process to write and defend. So…” He paused. “… I should have my PhD by 35. That’ll get me a guaranteed promotion to Commander if I stay Ship-side and Captain if I take a post at Starfleet Academy.” Then Cooper laughed out loud. “I might do that just to see those smug bastards’ faces when the kid they wouldn’t let in to MSE is a damn Professor!”
“Noble.” Erin chuckled. She tilted her head slightly for a moment and her gaze fell on Gavin again as if she was trying to ascertain some sort of quality to the man. Finally, she took her first bite out of her pasta and continued. “I only know one other pilot besides you and he seemed way less interested in an academic career. I though you were all like him… took pleasure in flying around and that was it. Big free spirits.” She smiled. “It’s nice to know you’re different.”
“How about you Honey?” Coop asked with a warm smile. “What’s the future got in store for you?”
Coop
“Not sure.” Erin started. “My whole life I planed on finding something with the Federation Science Council after I graduated. Some research internship… I never saw myself pursuing a masters immediately after finishing… I was hoping to find something before that. I guess I did, just not exactly what I was expecting!” She chuckled once more before taking another bite of her food. “Ah, shuttle food… never gets better, does it?” She commented softly more to herself than to anybody else. Looking back at Cooper she continued. “Biology is a large field. My focus was on Botany. Especially how they interact with their environment, so Ecology mostly.” Suddenly Erin’s eyes widened as if a thought had just occurred to her. “Wait a second.” With that, she placed her cutlery down and left her seat.
He tried, he truly did but before Erin had even taken a full step… the control Gavin had snapped like a twig and his eyes playfully and hungrily watched Erin’s back side bounce towards the aft of the Shuttle. The moment she was out of sight, he returned his eyes forward and let out another content sigh.
Erin returned a few moments later, seemingly having left to get something out of her bag. Sitting back down, she placed on her lap what looked to be an old blue t-shirt wrapped around something. Expertly, she untangled the mass of cloth and produced a small round glass jar sealed with a cork stopper, the round part of the jar being no larger than a regular Christmas ornament. Inside it, a lush plant greenery rested atop a moist dirt floor. “It’s a self-sustaining terrarium.” Erin clarified. “I made it!” She seemed genuinely proud. “You don’t need to do anything really. The plants are in complete balance with their environment. It’s a tiny little ecosystem and as long as it is balance, it will sustain itself!”
“It’s beautiful Erin…” His tone a mix of sincerity and awe. “… really it is. I mean, I’ve seen these in books but never in person.” Coop then looked at Erin and smiled widely. “I’ve heard they’re insanely difficult to make. Did this one take long? I would assume these kind of projects are connected to your field of study?” Gavin asked, his tone interested and engaged.
“Making it doesn’t really take long, if you have the right plants and soil on hand.” Erin pondered for a second. “About thirty minutes to assemble it maybe… but I try to make different ones. It gives me something to research about.” She smiled.
Wrapping it back on the old shirt, Erin continued. “I specialized in Earth Botany since I never really wanted to leave… but I guess that changed now. I’m still hoping to go back eventually and still pursue something with the Science Council. Maybe take a masters after I’m done with the Asimov. I just don’t know when that’s going to be. The Chandley class has Biology dedicated labs and I can’t wait to see them!” Erin smiled. “Here.” She gave Cooper the shirt with the terrarium inside. “For you. I have more. Plus, you just won your first Bruins shirt! Too bad it’s a ladies fit.”
Erin
A warm smile broke across Gavin’s face, he looked genuinely touched as he very carefully took the small orb. “This is probably the most beautiful thing anyone has ever given to me.” He was breathless. “Thank you… very much much.” A pair of appreciative eyes turned back to Erin’s and added with a smile. “Even if it is a Bruins shirt.” He winked.
Coop
“I would argue that the Bruins shirt makes it better!” Erin said teasingly. Finishing her food, she pushed the tray away from her and waited for Gavin to finish his meal. “I’m glad you liked it. Although I’d say you have pretty crappy friends if that’s the most beautiful thing someone has ever given you.” She chuckled.
“Not… ‘crappy’ friends…” Cooper snickered. “… just friends that don’t find the same things I find to be beautiful. Shuttle Jockeys, Stick Yankers and Cap’ Flyers like me pretty much have the same drives in life. Booze, Balls and Babes… not in any particular order. And while I enjoy all three… love me some Jack & Coke… I’m a Broncos fan myself… and, ya know…” He winked at Erin. “… redheads.”
“But…” Coop continued. “… I also enjoy other things in life. Especially…” He raised the terrarium and smiled. “… sweet, thoughtful gifts like these.”
Snuggling slightly against his left arm, Erin sighed contentedly closing her eyes. Her hand went to his once more. “You’re a great shuttle companion Coop. I’m glad I bumped into you.”
Erin
Gavin gave a soft chuckled, absently rubbing the back of Erin’s hand with his thumb as he talked. “I could say the same about you hun…” He gently nuzzled that top of Erin’s head and sighed just as contently. “… I don’t think I could’ve asked for a better one.”
Coop
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