What Are You Waiting For

Posted on Fri Jul 3rd, 2015 @ 5:59pm by Vic & Janice Gree

Mission: Further Challenges
Location: The Nexus Club

* The Nexus Club *

Vic arrived at the Nexus and after a quick run through the kitchen to say hello to the chef and his staff, began making his list for restocking. He surveyed the smaller bars in the dining room and the balcony area that overlooked the dance floor, then hit the main bar. While his eyes and his hands took inventory, his mind was elsewhere - specifically Bubba’s barbecue.

He and Sam had popped in there the previous evening to eat before they went to work and had been enjoying dinner at a table in the back when Sam had pointed out Reva and Riley. That was no surprise but when the door had opened to admit Six and Suresh, he’d dropped the rib he held onto his plate. Six had definitely been out of uniform and in a dress that left Vic a little breathless. What had not thrilled him, however, was Suresh’s hand on her waist. The gesture was possessive and they both appeared a little too comfortable with it, in his opinion.

“Vic?” You’re staring,” Sam had said. He’d then turned to look. “Oh..ouch,” had been his reply. The two couples had left soon after and Vic had refused to discuss it further. Now, however, the moment replayed in his thoughts….until he realized someone was speaking to him.

“900 to Vic….I think we’ve lost transmission captain.”

Vic snapped out of his reverie to see Woody sitting on a barstool, calmly watching him. “Ahh, there you are. I was beginnin’ ta think we’d lost ya.”

“Very funny,” Vic grumbled, then softened. “Sorry Woody, it’s not you.”

“Of course it’s not me. I know that look. There’s a woman behind it. Every time I see a fella lost in space and frownin’, there’s a female in there messin’ up his -- oh...hello sugar.” Woody smiled as Jan stepped up beside him.

Eyeing him, Jan finished his thought: "...messin' up his juju? In this case... it's Vic, so we can't blame Oralia or any of her kin. Unless she has a sister?" She looked at Vic.

“Umm no,” Vic answered as he continued making notes in his padd. “It’s my own damned fault I suppose for moving too slow and missing the boat.”

Jan nearly made a joke about the little man in the boat scaring him off, but stopped herself. It was a herculean effort to do so. "It's not like you're afraid of the water, Vic. Just go swim after her!"

“I wanna know why he wasted time standin’ on shore ta begin with,” Woody asked. “Wait, who’re we talkin’ about here? And did ya dip yer toe in at all?”

Vic frowned as he entered one last note. “I met her here the first night she ever came in. I took her out to dinner after we closed and it was nice...good actually till something came up and I had to leave with Jackson.” He set the padd aside and reached for a towel. “For your information, Woody, it’s Six. She’s not been here long.”

Woody looked at Jan to see if she knew who Vic was talking about.

She saw his glance and answered, "Six, she's a former Borg. And I'll bet Jackson had a comment about her being young and innocent versus our beloved Vic's worldly ways." Vic's expression told her she'd hit home. "Woody, how old are you?"

“I’m 47,” he answered. “Why?”

"Vic," she motioned him over and leaned in. "He's 47." And for the first time ever, she gave him a clue about her age: To put that in terms we can understand, he's young enough that I could have babysat his great-grandaddy. "Don't let Jackson tell you she's young."

“It wasn’t just him, it was my own hangup,” Vic answered. “And now the situation is more complicated.”

“How’s that?” Woody asked.

“Well…” Vic looked from Woody to Jan. “She’s sort of involved, from what I’ve been hearing. With Suresh.”

"She seems to have... eclectic taste in men," Jan said. "Stuff him out an airlock. No one will miss him."

Vic glared at her a moment. “It’s not the same one, Jan, but still. Now you see why I say it’s complicated. If that’s who she wants, who am I to interfere?”

“Well, you are a man who’d like ta change her mind or yer not.” Woody shrugged. “All depends on whether yer interested. Take Jan here. I pestered her till I thought she’d scream before she ever agreed ta have dinner with me. An’ I didn’t give two shits how old or young she was, I just knew what I wanted.”

"Right, till she marries him, or makes a declaration, you can change her mind. Or circumstances could change."

Vic considered that as he poured himself some water. “He might not be so thrilled with that advice. I know, I know….it’s her decision. But should I get involved knowing it might pass me by anyway? That’s the problem. Dive in or wait it out?” He turned to Jan for an answer. He knew Woody would tell him to go ride off right now, sling Six over his shoulder and keep going.

"Better to regret an action than an inaction," Jan philosophized. "Do you really want to always wonder what if or be able to say you tried?"

“I suppose it can’t hurt to ask. The worst she can say is no and then I’m no worse off than I am now.”

“That’s the spirit, Vic.” Woody flashed him a bright smile. ‘Now….when? Ya keep waitin’ the boat’ll be farther an’ farther from shore.”

“Well it’ll be too late once I am off tonight so..tomorrow.” Vic shook his head. “Does that make you two happy?”

"Sure. The important thing is whether you'll be happy," Jan smiled at him.

“I guess we’ll just have to see won’t we?” Vic finally smiled and looked at Woody. “So since you’re here, make yourself useful and come help me get all this up front.” He picked up the padd and stepped out from behind the bar.

“Alrighty.” Woody slipped off his stool, patted Janice on the ass as he went by and followed Vic to the stockrooms.

****************
Vic
Testing The Waters

Janice Greer
Oracle

Woodford Banning
Pushing Vic Into The Pool