Rose for a Spartan

Tom stepped into the section of the Infinity that the crew had already named "Spartan Town". Since the first five Spartan-IVs had come onto Infinity a year ago, there were now several classes of Spartans and the once empty deck finally seemed like it was really being used. Still, the five original Class-IVs seemed to be treated as though they were higher rank. It was these five Spartans that Tom was currently looking for. Since they were seen as leaders Tom had formed a good relationship with them, but he was always looking to try to keep in touch so their working relationship would remain good. He couldn't get to know every Spartan-IV, but he could still have the original five be his branch out to all the others.

After a bit of searching, Tom found all five of the Spartans gathered in the gym. There was an odd split, the four male Spartans sitting over by the sparring mats and the single female Spartan over by the free weights. Tom decided to go with the larger group and made his way to the sparing mats. "Good afternoon, Spartans."

The Spartans all stood and saluted. "Officer on deck," Scruggs announced, much to Tom's unease. He was used to that anywhere else, but something felt odd to him about it when he was on their deck; like he was walking into their home, and yet they were still saluting him.

"As you were, soldiers." The Spartans all sat down and Tom felt more at ease. "How are you all doing today?" He looked down and noticed the rose in Spartan Davis' hand. "You going to give that to someone?" he asked, motioning to the flower.

"He already tried," Spartan Thomas spoke up. "He asked Palmer to the Valentine's Day dance tonight, and she just glared at him. Guy had to walk away with his tail between his legs." Thomas chuckled at the embarrassment of his comrade.

"I did not," Spartan Davis snapped. He grumbled and slouched a bit. "She did turn me down when I asked though. But she's turned down every guy that's asked her, and in comparison at least she didn't insult me."

"Have a lot of people been asking her?" Tom frowned, a bit surprised that anyone other than a fellow Spartan-IV would have the courage to ask a Spartan to the dance. A part of him didn't like it, aware that some people would be asking just because she was beautiful, and others just because of her status as a leader among the Spartans.

"Like, twenty or so over the last couple days, at least that I know of. Guys from all the departments, and a few stupid new Spartans. Both Scruggs and Davis tried, but she turned them both down," Thomas answered. "I don't think she's going to go with anyone."

"I don't think even a sweet talker like you could get her to go," Scruggs spoke up. Scruggs had caught Tom flirting with Sarah a couple times and hadn't left them alone about it since. "But I'd love to see you try."

"There's a fun idea," Thomas spoke up. "Why don't you give it a shot?"

"I'd pay to see that," Davis said, grinning. "I'd love to see a Commander get shot down like the rest of us." The Spartan chuckled to himself.

"It's not exactly a level playing field," Holst complained. "I mean, he can just order her to go with him - which isn't really fair." The male Spartan glanced toward Palmer, checking to be sure she couldn't hear them.

"That would be an inappropriate use of my rank," Tom pointed out. "Not to mention I don't need to pull rank to get a date. I can rely on knowing how to talk to a woman."

"Then have at it, Commander. Though I don't think even pulling rank would help you. Seems like Palmer isn't the kind of woman to let herself be persuaded like that." Scruggs chuckled and smirked. "But she might be persuaded if you grab her ass again."

Tom wasn't about to rise to the bait, as he was sure he hadn't groped Palmer at all; as well as the fact that that would have been inappropriate, and he'd never found it an acceptable form of flirting - unless he was already in a relationship with the woman. Tom considered his plan of attack, knowing his task was not an easy one. "Mind if I take that?" he asked, pointing to the rose. Davis held it out and Tom took it, turning to face his challenge. As he made his way across the gym he grabbed a towel before approaching Palmer. "Spartan Palmer," Tom greeted, sitting on the bench beside her.

"Commander Sexy-I mean, Lasky" Palmer greeted, continuing her arm curls. Unlike the other Spartans she didn't salute, didn't make any other special recognition of his presence.

Tom sort of liked that she hadn't saluted him, it made him feel less official, which would make his task easier. Her greeting also hinted that she might be open to his question, maybe she had even been waiting for it. He held out the towel to her and Sarah took it, drying off her forehead. "How are you today?" Tom looked to the weight in her hand. "You usually use more than that."

"I'm going for lower weight and more reps. I don't want to bulk up." Sarah let the weight hang loosely in her hand. Tom was sure that to her it was nothing, but he would have had to set it to the side as it would be too heavy for him, and even more so in the increased-gravity of the Spartans' gym. Tom smiled and Palmer returned it when she knew he'd gotten the joke. Spartans didn't bulk up, their muscles were just denser. "So what do you want?"

"I can't just come over and talk to my friend?" Tom gave her a hurt look, but knew she'd be able to tell he wasn't really offended. "You know I love your company." Palmer rolled her eyes and Tom chuckled. "All right, I didn't come over here to just talk. I came to get some proper instruction on arm curls. I've been trying them, but I'm just not getting the definition that I want." Tom curled his left arm so she could see.

"It looks defined to me." Sarah swapped the weight she was holding to her other hand, and her right hand gripped his upper arm, squeezing lightly. "Any more and you'll have too much bulk, and no woman will want you. Or at least I wouldn't."

"So you don't like bulky men," Tom observed. She was responding well so far to his flirting, so maybe he stood a chance. He flexed his arm a bit under her hand and Sarah smirked suggestively. "What kind of guys do you like?"

"I like the kind of guys that don't ask me to stupid dances when I don't even know them, and when I don't even want to go to it," Palmer grumbled, letting her hand drop. "If you're at all smart you won't give me that rose." Tom glanced down to the flower and then back to the woman. "I'm not going with you."

"At least give me a chance to seduce you with promises of wild sexual favors before laughing in my face and shooting me down." Tom was a bit annoyed that she hadn't even let him ask. "I deserve just as much of a shot at failure as everyone else, Sarah."

"Tom, I'm saving you time, and annoyance for myself. You're going to flirt, I'm going to consider actually going with you, but in the end we can't." Sarah stood up and grabbed two weights, one smaller and one larger. She placed the smaller one in Tom's left hand and adjusted his arm to a better curling position.

"If you know you'll want to say yes, why not just say it?" Tom looked down to what she was doing as she moved his arm. Her touch was gentle and she was really only guiding his movements.

"Because it would look bad, Tom," Sarah explained. "You'd look like you used your rank to get me to go with you, and I'd look like I was just sucking up to get ahead. You and I don't want to be seen that way." He could tell from Sarah's tone that she really did regret that there wasn't another option.

Tom sighed, knowing that she was right, but that didn't stop it from hurting. Although a part of him was thrilled by the idea of getting to take her to the dance, spending the night having fun, and maybe taking a walk through the garden, he didn't want to hurt Sarah's reputation. He looked down to the rose and then set the weight to the side. "I have to admit, I was hoping to get you closer and once your senses were filled with my masculine sent, deep manly voice, and you were touching my peak physical form that you wouldn't be able to help but say yes."

Sarah burst out laughing and leaned a bit toward Tom. "That probably would have worked," she admitted. She smiled slightly and Tom returned it with his own soft smile. "How could any woman resist such a perfect body, perfectly timbered voice, and such an enticing scent?" Sarah's smiled fell just a little bit. "Why did you have to be an officer?"

Tom shrugged and leaned to the side enough for his shoulder to touch hers. "Someone has to make sure the grunts like you are getting good orders." Tom held the rose out to Sarah, hoping that she would take it. "Are Spartans officers or not? They don't seem like NCOs but your uniform is different."

"We're just 'Spartans', not sure where that falls in terms of being officers. Not many officers are as stupid as you though, and take part in ground engagements." Sarah took the rose and sighed. "Really, a hand-me-down rose from Davis? I'm actually really disappointed."

Tom smirked slightly before he chuckled. "I didn't come in here expecting to be asking anyone to a dance. If I was going to ask a woman to a dance I'd get her a lot more than one rose, and I certainly wouldn't have gotten her one that is as wilted as this one. I'd get her nice fresh flowers with a personalized card. Maybe even some candy to make my request just a bit more appealing."

"Sometimes I'm surprised by how romantic you are, Tom." Sarah looked down at the flower in her hand. "The woman you marry will be the luckiest woman alive. I envy her."

"I think I'm going to be the luckier one if anyone agrees to marry me. I'm an XO on a ship that will probably be away all the time." Tom looked down to the flower and then back up to Sarah's eyes. "Maybe it would be better for me to find someone on the Infinity to marry."

Sarah stood, surprising Tom with her sudden movement. "Well there's plenty of people on board, you have a wide selection. Maybe you could find another officer that would understand your worries, or maybe a maintenance worker who wouldn't have problems that would bog you down."

Tom stayed seated, ignoring the pain in his neck from having to crane his head up to look at her. "Well I have very particular tastes. I like strong women, who aren't afraid to challenge me and call me crazy, and I like them on the tall side."

"Not many women are like that. Best of luck finding one that's all those things and willing to marry you, with a career like yours." Sarah smiled as she put her weights away. "See you later, Commander."

Tom watched as she walked out of the gym and toward the showers. "So did she turn you down?" Scruggs asked as he and the other Spartans approached. "Or you are you going to be the man with the prize tonight."

"She's a woman, not a prize," Tom corrected. "She didn't let me ask her," he answered honestly. "She was right not to let me; it would have looked bad if I had asked her to come with me. We're both just too high-profile and I wouldn't want her to look like she was trying to appease me for some unprofessional reason."

"Sure thing, Commander," Holts said, but Tom knew he didn't believe him. "I guess Palmer won't be coming to the party. A shame, I was hoping to get a dance with her."

"Like she'd ever dance with you," Davis remarked. "I'm sure she'd rather dance with Scruggs, and he's uncoordinated enough that he'd probably only walk on his partner's feet."

Scruggs was about to retort, but Tom stood up, not wanting to be around if the Spartans started fighting. "I'll see you gentlemen tonight. For now I need to get ready for the dance." Tom excused himself and left Scruggs to his insult match with Davis.

Tom went back to his room and changed into his uniform, having no other dress clothing on board. He was sure everyone else would be in uniform too though, so he wouldn't look out of place at least. He waited for a while after the actual event had started before he made his way to the atrium. The party was in full swing and he was impressed with how much they'd done. There were red hearts in the trees, and strings of lights hung between them so it was a bit dark, setting a more intimate mood. There was a long table of food and drink, and smaller tables set up with pink and white tablecloths. And a band was playing beside the open area where people were dancing.

Tom soon found the male Spartans, all in their uniforms, gathered near the food and snacking on various appetizers. "None of you could get a date?" he asked as he approached the men.

"Didn't really have the time," Davis explained. "I was hoping Palmer would go with me, but she was sort of a last resort because there was no one else."

"Great to know I'm a last resort," Sarah commented, causing Davis to turn around. "I'm damn glad I turned you down. I deserve a date that actually wants me with him, not one that just doesn't want to go alone." Sarah moved over to join them and Tom couldn't help but let his eyes roam her over. Unlike all the men, Sarah was wearing a skirt with her uniform - one that seemed quite a bit shorter than was regulation. She also seemed to have skipped over putting her campaign ribbons on her jacket, so she seemed more casual without them. Her gaze turned to Tom and she smiled. "You wear that uniform well," she commented.

"Why thank you, Sarah," Tom said with a friendly smile. "I have to say your comrades could learn a thing or two about how to properly wear that uniform." Sarah smiled and Tom grinned in triumph to her reaction. "I didn't think you were going to be coming tonight, you seemed so against it."

"Well I wasn't going to come, but a secret admirer sent me a dozen roses with a personal card promising some of the most exciting sexual favors if I'd be at the dance. So I figured I'd come to the party and see if he'd pay up." Sarah smirked and looked around the crowd. "I'm going to get a drink and see if I can find my man."

Sarah moved away and Tom watched her go. "Didn't know that dirty favors was all it took to get Sarah to come to the party. Next time I'll keep that in mind when asking her out." Holts chuckled and the others joined in.

Tom smiled, but he wasn't really amused by the man's comment so he didn't laugh. Although it was just a joke, he respected Sarah too much to talk about her like that. "I'm going to walk around, do some socializing, maybe help Palmer find her mystery date." Tom left the male Spartans and grabbed a drink before setting out to find Sarah.

She was stading a bit away from the party, leaning against a tree and watching the people. She spotted Tom long before he reached her and smiled. "You know I expect you to pay up on all of your offered favors," she said as he got into ear-shot.

"I assure you I intend to pay up on every single one," Tom assured her. "I'm glad you came, Sarah, I was afraid you wouldn't."

"Well we didn't come together, so it's fine," Sarah reasoned, sipping at the drink in her hand. "I don't like that they took our spot," she muttered, annoyed.

"We can't call the atrium, Sarah, it's a public space. Not to mention it's just one night, we have all the rest of the year to have it ourselves." Tom leaned his shoulder against the tree next to Sarah, as close as he could get. "I know you don't like dances like this, but we're both here, so..." He stood away from the tree and held out his free hand to her. "How about a dance?" He smiled and bowed a bit, the way a Prince Charming would for his Princess. Sarah looked at his hand for a moment, smiling slightly at his posture and action. She took his hand and he led her to the dance floor.