Door Dash

Posted on Thu Mar 23rd, 2023 @ 8:12am by Commander Dean House & Patin

Mission: Planet of the Dinosaurs
Location: USS Sunfire
Timeline: Day 2 - Late Afternoon into Evening

Having checked in with the repair team, Patin and Dean set to work on getting shelters and such transported from the Sunfire to the camp site by way of the runabout transporter pad and the creative use of tags and transport enhancers. As the day progressed, they bantered back and forth here and there until one would get bored and shift subjects. Patin continued to tease Dean about Bonnie but kept her jabs mostly tame.

After one of the last transports, Dean finally stopped and turned directly to Patin. Granted it hadn't been constant about Bonnie, the rest of the banter was pretty pleasant, it was still there. "'What!? Just spit it out, Patin. Geez. She doesn't want to take it there, okay. It's been left at that. Are you that jealous about it, you have to keep teasing over it." Crossing his arms over his chest.

She stopped and dropped the tote of medicine at his feet. Her sass had been building. "Not jealous, but if as you say, there is nothing between you two, then why all the defenses? Personally I was just enjoying the rise I was getting from you, but now I'm truly interested. So, was it mutual, this thing between you, seems a bit one sided if you ask me. And I know you haven't." Her hand was firmly planted on her hip.

Dean glanced at the tote a moment and then back to her, "Not jealous? If you say so." Giving a sigh, "Just why do you think it's one sided? Is it? What in your theory then is what I haven't done. Seems you have an answer to the situation apparently."

Her eyes rolled so hard she felt it. "Look mate, I'm not saying your lady friend is not into you, but from what I've seen of her so far, I am saying she is a handful. Definitely a bit of a danger to herself and others. You sure you're ready to handle someone like that?" She was not avoiding the conversation of her own jealousy, she just didn't see anything to be jealous over, not yet anyway.

"I'm aware she calls her self a klutz, and she does it all the time. It's not like it's on purpose, but she's really good at what she does and I enjoy her company." Dean leaned to pick up the last pack. "I will admit at least, even if it's mostly mission based...I guess you can call it that. You've changed my opinion of you as well." Motioning to the Runabout, "Should we finish up this end, and talk more if you want."

Her eyes searched his face for whatever angle he was trying to pull, or the wool he may be prepping to cover her eyes with. People who suddenly change their opinion of another without just cause were a sketchy sort. She would normally ask out right what his game was, but they had a job to do and she knew it. "Sure, just a few more totes of medical supplies and we should be able to head back. You lot probably take turns doing everything. Probably be on latrine duty next." she scoffed.

They spent the next hour finishing the transports before the transporter on the runabout started giving them issues. Not being designed for heavy duty transports like the cargo transporters were meant it had a limited life span before needing maintenance. They climbed aboard the much larger craft, filled with food supplies they weren't able to send by ways of magic, and sat down for the ride back. Patin never let Dean out of her sight, letting her paranoia get the better of her.

Given that they were settled, of course there had to be that silence all of a sudden. It was mostly the computers job since the flight path was the same as the other dozen times, either way he'd rather stay at the controls. That or, Patin could. They'd been swapping in and out anyway. It also kept eyes there just in case they were attacked like the first shuttle was. There was just the nagging however, "I can feel those boring a hole in my head."

"What me? No, never. I am skeptical maybe, of every man or any man who shifts his opinion of another so easily. You don't know me or what I am capable of. And you would pay heed to remember that." She added as she slunkback in her seat. "I don't know you this way from Tuesday."

"Shouldn't that be geared at anyone, not just men?" Dean hadn't looked back at her yet. "Besides, not everyone has ulterior motives for changing their mind about someone. We've also been by ourselves for the most part together and talking for the better part of a day, and known each other for two weeks on and off. So who hurt you?"

She rolled her eyes and threw back her head. "Everyone has an ulterior motive. And before you ask, yes, that means me too. Men change who they are like a chameleonworm changes color. Women on the other hand, we hold grudges, and once we set our mind to something," she looked him in the eyes. "We rarely change it." She finished seriously.

"Didn't answer the question." Still leaning back in the chair, watching Patin.

The camp appeared on the horizon line. "Oh lookie there, we're back at camp. Looks like you may never get your answer." She wouldn't have told him anyway, but making him question was like making a pup beg for a treat. Telling Nozzie and her man meat was one thing. Telling this wishy-washy stranger was another. She unstrapped and began to stand, expecting him to swing the craft around and land so she could leave ASAP.

"You know I could always keep us high enough that even if you wanted to jump that would be a very bad idea." Dean shook his head with a sigh. Instead of what he just said, turning them for a landing vector.

He really didn't understand who he was dealing with if he was brave enough to test her. She took her flask out of her pocket, unscrewed the cap and took a swig. Before looking him dead in the eye, "Try me." She said with a stern look and a cockeyed grin. She really wasn't in the mood and truly would have jumped without a second thought. Act first, figure it out later.

She obviously didn't understand who she was dealing with either. While still going ahead and settling the shuttle down to land. "I can give just as much of a look as you can like that, as well as tell you to try me. You can always try me and see what happens, Patin."

Patin gave the hardest of eye rolls as the door opened. She didn't hesitate to step out of the runabout onto the grassy turf below. She wouldn't be volunteering again for a while and would be having a few choice words with Nozzie about her selected choice of paired partner.

Dean just shook his head a little bit as she headed out. Staying there to finish the cool down on the Runabout.