An Intern-vention (Mabel/Elwin)

[Judith Eastman]

[Promenade]

Mabel walked along the promenade without a care in the world. She had in her hand a leash, attached to a three-month-old, floofy Pyrenean Mountain Dog puppy. She'd adopted the dog recently, and named him Bernie - definitely not after Judy's unruly uncle.

Bernie walked happily alongside his new owner, very much enjoying her day off (Judy was overseeing the furnishing of the SOO office, so Mabel was free).

On the walk, Mabel happened to eye an Ensign Elwin Maryllis.
Maybe Judy did have a point, she did maybe like him a little.

She approached him, with Bernie coming along happily.

"Hi, Elwin."

[T'Prina]

[Promenade]

Elwin had been lost in thought, inwardly debating the merits of a spicy hasperat over the more traditional burrito. As far as he was concerned, both had their merits. He'd gotten used to the Bajoran food over the course of his thankfully temporary assignment to Sec/Tac. However, today he'd have to pay for his own hasperat, since Lynch wasn't around to get him the special "discount" from the stand. It was nice to have a day off though. Ever since the fire spider got his leash lifted, Elwin had been busy with more and more varied tasks. He'd just about decided on a burrito from Puzzles when he heard his name being spoken by his favorite person on the station.

"Hi, Elwin."

Inwardly, he panicked. Was his shirt buttoned right? Fly zipped? There wasn't anything on his face was there? He resisted an urge to give himself a quick pat down to make sure everything was in place, but he did run a hand through his perpetually messy brown hair.

"Oh! Hi Mabel! I didn't expect to run into you here. Although the Promenade is a pretty popular place so I suppose statistically speaking, it's more likely I'd see you here than the science labs or hydroponics." He rambled on nervously. He realized he was rambling, and looked down trying to slow his thoughts. That's when he spotted the absolute cutest puppy he'd ever seen.

"PUPPY!" His joy was absolutely childlike and he immediately dropped to his knees so the little guy could sniff his hand. As he spoke to the dog, his voice raised a bit in a baby-talk tone. "Aren't you just the sweetest? Oh yes, you are. And sooo much floof!"

He did look back up to Mabel, and addressed her normally, eyes still glinting with excitement. "Is this little guy yours, or did Cmdr. Eastman add another charge to your Pooper-scooper caste duties?"

[Judith Eastman]

[Promenade]

Mabel smiled a little at Elwin's awkward rambling. She found it cute, in its own way.

His reaction to Bernie was entirely understandable, of course.

"This guy's mine," she said proudly. "His name's Bernie. I got him a few days ago."

Mabel kneeled over to pat the pupper. She had to be very affectionate with him so long as he was young, so he'd grow up to be sociable.

"Why don't we sit down somewhere? I'd normally have lunch with Judy, but she's busy moving into her new office."

[T'Prina]

[Promenade]

Elwin reached over and ruffled Bernie's floofy ears. "Yeah, that's a solid name for such a sweetie." He finally looked up from the dog and noticed Mabel was much closer to him than he'd realized, seeing she'd knelt down as well. His mouth went dry and his ears started to turn red.

"Ah, yes. Lunch together. I was thinking about that myself. I mean, I was thinking about going to Puzzles for lunch when you spotted me. We could probably sit at one of their cafe tables, since we'll have a party of three?" He swallowed nervously. Mabel was so pretty and sweet, and she wanted to have lunch with him? Of all people!

Don't muck it up, don't muck it up, don't muck it up... ran like a litany in the back of his mind. Bernie took that opportunity to turn his snoot around and lick him right in the face. Elwin cracked up, and wiped at his face and a bit at the corner of his eye.

"Oh buddy, you can't just kiss on the first date, I think you got my eye!" His laugh wasn't quite a giggle, but it was infectious, and he quietly snorted. 

[Judith Eastman]

[Promenade]

"Actually, I have access to Judy's private booth," Mabel told Elwin. She could tell he was excited, but she supposed it might well be just about Bernie. He was so adorable, after all, and she was... herself.

"I sure think he likes you back," she pointed out. "He isn't like that with everyone. He tried to kill Dr. Lunn."

She remained kneeled over by the puppy for the moment, he was so cute. And Elwin was too, in her opinion.

[T'Prina]

[Promenade]

Elwin stood up, and lightly brushed at the bright white dog hairs now covering him, in an effort to look a bit more presentable. He hadn't really been expecting to see anyone, much less the girl he'd been crushing on, and his hoodie and jeans reflected that.

"I wouldn't be too worried. From what I hear, most everyone has that reaction to meeting Dr. Lunn." He held his hand out to Mabel, offering to help her stand.

"Shall we get going then? Maybe we can even beat the lunch rush? Not that I'm in a hurry." He quickly added. "Getting to spend more time with you, and Bernie, would be a great way to spend the afternoon."

[Judith Eastman]

[Promenade]

Mabel took Elwin's hand in one of hers, while scooping Bernie up in the other.

"I'm going to keep doing this while I can, before he gets too big," she answered as they walked on to the booth. It was perpetually reserved, as a gift, near the back, and Judy often used it for business.

"I think we'll get priority service, since they might think Judy is here," she told Elwin. "But surprise - Judy is a little shorter and a lot heavier!"

[T'Prina]

[Promenade ~> Puzzles]

Elwin tried to play it cool when Mabel took him by the hand, but inwardly his heart was racing and would be surprised if she didn't notice. Her hand was so soft. Were all girls this soft, or was it just her?

Focus man, focus, he thought to himself as she was talking again. He found himself nodding along.

"She's also way younger and a lot cuter, since she's you." The words were out of his mouth before he realized it, and he bit his tongue, worried that he'd made it weird. He looked around for something to save himself, and realized they were at the booth.

"Oh hey, uhm, I can hold onto Bernie while you sit and get settled. If you want." It was gentlemanly to let the lady sit first, right? Elwin hoped she'd notice he was trying to be polite and courteous, but not trying too hard? It was difficult not to overthink everything.

[Judith Eastman]

[Puzzles]

Mabel could feel Elwin's racing pulse, as well as Bernie's panting. It prevented her from focusing too much on either.

Then, he called her cute. Mabel had been called cute before, but more in the sense of a cute, chubby kid, not in that other sense. She flushed a little red.

"Bernie is the cute one," she brushed it off, as they entered the booth.

"Here, you can hold him, if he lets you."

Mabel tried to hand Bernie over, but the puppy decided to leap onto the booth, taking a seat like a human.

"Aww. I really shouldn't let him eat at my table at home. He thinks he's a person. Don't you, Bernie? Yeah, you're a little person. You're a very fluffy little person."

Mabel sat down next to her dog.