Jinxing Romance

Posted on Wed Feb 17th, 2021 @ 8:34am by Jinx Jorasco
Edited on on Wed Feb 17th, 2021 @ 5:14pm

Mission: Mission 12 - Railway
Location: Mary Rose/Science office
Timeline: MD 2/1300
Tags: Monthly Challenge
720 words - 1.4 OF Standard Post Measure

Jinx -- in Avalon’s body -- tried to sit at her desk. She barely squeezed her posterior into her chair, and her knees stuck up on either side of her, but she managed to get low enough to use the LCARS inputs on her computer as she entered some of the data they had found about whatever had happened to them. It honestly wasn’t a lot, and Jinx didn’t know what they could do with it to really find out what had happened to make them all wake up in different bodies.

Her office door swished open, and Jinx looked up in surprise, not expecting anyone. A young Human male walked in and looked around. Jinx tried to place him. He was maybe early thirties -- she wasn’t good with Human ages -- with short black hair, blue eyes, and he wore the typical black t-shirt of the ship’s security complement stretched over a lean, well-muscled frame, and black combat pants and boots. He had an armband that marked him as ship security, and a phaser at his hip. His sharp blue eyes darted around the room before settling on Avalon scrunched up behind the desk.

“What are you doing in here?” the man asked, looking Avalon over.

“What?”

“This is Ms. Jorasco’s office. I just saw her down the corridor heading to lunch, so I knew she wasn’t in here when I saw you enter.”

“Oh!” Jinx stood up quickly. Her chair stuck to her butt, making Avalon look ridiculous. She winced as she wriggled a bit, and the chair clattered to the floor. “I just--I was--my computer wasn’t working. I think I opened the wrong message or something, you know? So, ehm, Jinx said I could use hers…”

The man studied her intently with those blue eyes. Jinx swallowed, staring back with Avalon’s brown eyes, and a bit of her light brown hair fell in front of her face.

The man smiled at her, his posture relaxing slightly. “Great,” he said. “Need to be careful about those messages from people wanting to sell you thing,” he said with an easy smile. “I’m sure the techs will clear it up in no time.”

“Yes. Ehm, yes,” Jinx-Avalon said. “I...certainly hope so. You’re…”

“Rivera,” he said. “Angel Rivera.” He offered his hand to Avalon. Jinx found his grip firm, the palm rough from weapons work. Avalon’s eyes drifted to watch the way his defined bicep flexed. Jinx felt warm. Whoa.

“I work security,” he explained, indicating the arm band.

“Yes, I...noticed,” Jinx said, feeling the heat in Avalon’s cheeks. “I’m in...uh…” Why wasn’t she thinking straight?

“Hydroponics,” Angel said. “I’ve...noticed you.” He flashed a smile that made Jinx want to melt. “The mint you grow makes an amazing mojito, and the strawberries are to die for.”

“Oh...yes,” Jinx said.

Angel leaned in conspiratorially. “Hey, just between you and me, have you noticed anything...strange going on with the senior crew?” he asked her. “They’ve been acting...weird. Like...not themselves. I was in the men’s locker room this morning, and Eden -- you know, the helmswoman -- just walked right in like she did it every day. Even walked right up to the urinal and unzipped before she cursed and rushed out.”

Jinx blinked and swallowed. “Ah, well, it’s...Eden, you know? Head in the clouds and all that.” Jinx laughed nervously.

“Maybe. She’s pretty fine, though,” he said with a smile and absently reached up to brush back the bit of Avalon’s hair that had fallen in her face.

Jinx found herself taking a breath, her mouth suddenly dry.

“Anyway,” Angel said, “have you had lunch yet? I was about to go on mine. We could chat, get to know each other.” He flashed Avalon that smile again.

“Um...s-sure,” Jinx said. “I could eat…”

“Great! I’m starving. Let’s hope they have something good,” he said. “I’d whip you up one of my famous mojitos, but I’m on duty,” he said apologetically. “Maybe if lunch goes well, we could get a drink together.”

“I’d like that,” Jinx said, then mentally kicked herself.

This was such a bad idea.