05-14-2024, 05:12 PM
When Xenara walked over and hugged Alex, he didn't know what to say at first. Cindy suppressed a giggle as he awkwardly accepted the hug and briefly returned it. He had apparently misunderstood and thought she had meant to hug Cindy. In that brief moment, two things happened. The first was that for all of his size and strength, Alex was quite gentle. There was no doubt of how solid he was, but he was aware of his strength and took care to control his movements.
The second thing that happened was that for just a second, she felt a wave of emotion wash over her, like a wave lapping at the shore. As it surged up, there was a voice, very distant. It was the voice of a woman and had a very soft and musical quality to it. ~ Alex? ~
Then, just as quickly, it was gone. It didn't feel like someone talking to her, but the emotion was strong. It felt like a memory, a very fond one and a little sad. Then it was gone entirely.
Alex recovered himself and tried his best to hide the fact that it was his turn to blush a little. She was tall, almost as tall as he was. It was an uncommon thing for him to see almost eye to eye with a woman, but it was a surprisingly comfortable experience. His thoughts on the matter were well guarded though and he managed to force his brain to stay on track. For just a second, his hands had fallen to the small of Xenara's back and a memory had surfaced. He had not meant for his hands to be that low, but he wasn't accustomed to a taller woman hugging him. Fortunately, his touch had not been inappropriate, but his blushing was because he had come dangerously close enough that he felt a need to put those memories and emotions in check.
After hearing Coppola, Cindy's expression softened a little, "Well, I didn't take you for a renaissance man. I'm impressed, Mister Coppola. Very few people pick up on the depth of that. We like deep thinkers in this family. Alex used to like asking a question of people to evaluate them, the first time he met them." She glanced at Alex and then returned her eyes to those of Mister Coppola. "The question was a bit of a test, but few caught on that it was about more than the obvious. It was less about the actual answer and more about how they answered, because it revealed how they think." Her devilish grin returned, "Now you want to know what the question is...right?" She paused, "Imagine it as an essay question, but technically it is a task. Define the universe and give three examples."
Alex cautioned in a soft but fatherly tone, "Cindy, be nice."
She replied playfully, "Oh, don't worry. He seems like a nice guy. Too bad he isn't one of yours. Most of your people still have that nervous kid vibe that comes right out of the academy. Mister Coppola doesn't give off that kind of vibe at all. Rather refreshing, in many ways." Cindy narrowed her eyes in a sort of mock interrogation, "Please tell me that you're at least a good pilot."
Suddenly turning back to Alex, Cindy excitedly began to ask, "Oh, thinking of piloting, did you..."
Alex interrupted her, "No...I didn't bring up the Iron Man thing, because that is not for deployment. That stays in the holodecks for entertainment purposes only. Can you imagine Star Fleet's reaction if...oh, why are we even discussing this."
Cindy chuckled, "Because Xenara grew up being able to fly!"
Alex seemed to think hard on this for a moment, then gave a little, "Perhaps another time. I'm not augmenting her suit that way, but we can discuss...entertainment...at another time."
Looking back at Coppola, Cindy continued, "For a really exciting piloting experience, you really have to try it. I know someone who really loves it, but you need to be a bit of an adrenaline junkie to do it in the first place."
Alex cautioned again, "Cindy?..."
Rolling her eyes, but surrendering with an amused look, she held up her hands and took a step back, "Just giving some input is all...but hint taken." She then got a little more serious and said to their guests, "It was really nice meeting you, but it is time for me to go. Maybe we'll talk again sometime."
The second thing that happened was that for just a second, she felt a wave of emotion wash over her, like a wave lapping at the shore. As it surged up, there was a voice, very distant. It was the voice of a woman and had a very soft and musical quality to it. ~ Alex? ~
Then, just as quickly, it was gone. It didn't feel like someone talking to her, but the emotion was strong. It felt like a memory, a very fond one and a little sad. Then it was gone entirely.
Alex recovered himself and tried his best to hide the fact that it was his turn to blush a little. She was tall, almost as tall as he was. It was an uncommon thing for him to see almost eye to eye with a woman, but it was a surprisingly comfortable experience. His thoughts on the matter were well guarded though and he managed to force his brain to stay on track. For just a second, his hands had fallen to the small of Xenara's back and a memory had surfaced. He had not meant for his hands to be that low, but he wasn't accustomed to a taller woman hugging him. Fortunately, his touch had not been inappropriate, but his blushing was because he had come dangerously close enough that he felt a need to put those memories and emotions in check.
After hearing Coppola, Cindy's expression softened a little, "Well, I didn't take you for a renaissance man. I'm impressed, Mister Coppola. Very few people pick up on the depth of that. We like deep thinkers in this family. Alex used to like asking a question of people to evaluate them, the first time he met them." She glanced at Alex and then returned her eyes to those of Mister Coppola. "The question was a bit of a test, but few caught on that it was about more than the obvious. It was less about the actual answer and more about how they answered, because it revealed how they think." Her devilish grin returned, "Now you want to know what the question is...right?" She paused, "Imagine it as an essay question, but technically it is a task. Define the universe and give three examples."
Alex cautioned in a soft but fatherly tone, "Cindy, be nice."
She replied playfully, "Oh, don't worry. He seems like a nice guy. Too bad he isn't one of yours. Most of your people still have that nervous kid vibe that comes right out of the academy. Mister Coppola doesn't give off that kind of vibe at all. Rather refreshing, in many ways." Cindy narrowed her eyes in a sort of mock interrogation, "Please tell me that you're at least a good pilot."
Suddenly turning back to Alex, Cindy excitedly began to ask, "Oh, thinking of piloting, did you..."
Alex interrupted her, "No...I didn't bring up the Iron Man thing, because that is not for deployment. That stays in the holodecks for entertainment purposes only. Can you imagine Star Fleet's reaction if...oh, why are we even discussing this."
Cindy chuckled, "Because Xenara grew up being able to fly!"
Alex seemed to think hard on this for a moment, then gave a little, "Perhaps another time. I'm not augmenting her suit that way, but we can discuss...entertainment...at another time."
Looking back at Coppola, Cindy continued, "For a really exciting piloting experience, you really have to try it. I know someone who really loves it, but you need to be a bit of an adrenaline junkie to do it in the first place."
Alex cautioned again, "Cindy?..."
Rolling her eyes, but surrendering with an amused look, she held up her hands and took a step back, "Just giving some input is all...but hint taken." She then got a little more serious and said to their guests, "It was really nice meeting you, but it is time for me to go. Maybe we'll talk again sometime."