No Means No

Posted on Thu Nov 13th, 2025 @ 4:12pm by Juliet Parrish & Lola ‘Myth’ McDowell

2,183 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Safe Harbour
Location: Pub and Lola's Porch
Timeline: 31.10.2012 / 2000 hours (8pm GMT)

Duncan stepped through the crowded pub, two steaming mugs of hard apple cider in his hands. It wasn't often the pub had alcoholic beverages, but a bountiful summer of apple picking had netted the community enough of a surplus for a holiday supply of hard cider for Halloween, albeit with a two drink limit.

He spotted Lola talking with Juliet, her friend and what passed as the community's doctor. He sidestepped around a couple of his shipmates and approached the two women. He handed Lola one of the mugs before holding his slightly aloft. "To Thistledrift's loveliest lass." He glanced briefly at Juliet. "Allow me to amend, to Thistledrift's two loveliest ladies."

Lola smiled at the man as he appeared. “Hello Leading Hand.” She greeted with a smile as he handed her one of the big mugs. “Happy Halloween.” She added as she noticed it was alcoholic and not the usual coffee or tea that they were getting in short supply of again.

Duncan raised his mug and tapped it lightly to Lola's before taking a sip. He glanced at his attire with a sigh. "I know, wearing my uniform as a costume isn't particularly original, but there's few chances to acquire costumes or materials to construct costumes at sea. Though you are absolutely lovely in your costume."

“It’s just a black dress with some make up on my face and a head band and with some ears stuck on.” Lola said grinning a little bit. “We make do with what we have in these times. Isn’t that right Doctor?” Lola said bringing in the older woman to the conversation.

Juliet held her mug of hard cider aloft before taking a quick sip. She was in surgical scrubs that she hadn’t really worn since performing clinicals in medical school. "True that." She downed her drink and spotted Travis, the stable master, at the bar. She glanced at Lola. "Well, if you'll excuse me. I'm going to go talk to a man about a horse." She twirled her mug in her hand as she turned and made her way to the bar.

Duncan chuckled as he watched Juliet saunter off to the bar. He slipped a hand around Lola, bringing it to rest lightly on the small of her back. "Americans can be...so entertaining sometimes. Don't you think?"

“She has no idea what that really means.” Lola laughed a little and shook her head at the woman trying to pass at British. She had to admit the older woman had the accent but not the phrasing at all. They would have to speak about that another time. “So now you have scared everyone off what did you want?” She asked looking up any the man.

Duncan smiled as he held his mug to hers. "I was thinking we finish our drinks, maybe have a dance or two." His smile grew wider just a bit. "Then perhaps you allow me to walk you home."

“You can walk me home sure. But just walk.” Lola said firmly as she took a sip of the drink. She was mindful that she had eaten dinner and eat quite a bit of cheese at the suggestion of Bartholomew so the alcohol did not affect her.

Duncan maintained his smile as he nodded. "Of course." He was confident that he would change Lola's mind. He had the looks and the charm that had never failed him in the past.

“Good. I want clear boundaries with you sailor boys.” The woman stated. She wanted clear boundaries so she was not messing him around that way. She could not be accused at a later date that she was. “Drink up if you want that dance.” She encouraged.

Duncan tapped his mug to hers and took a healthy gulp of his drink and finished his hard cider. He took her mug when they were both done and took them back to the bar. He returned to Lola and held out a hand. "Ready for that dance my dear?"

Lola nodded. She was more than ready to dance, she sometimes felt like she did nothing physical anymore thanks to just sitting there and listening to dead space for a lot of it. She glanced around and saw Nathan Crawford dancing with Cassandra. One day she might get what was going on there but for now she looked at the man who was very insistent on being in her life.

Duncan led Lola out to the dance floor and took her in his arms for a slow dance, his hands held in a respectful position in the middle of her back. There was even about four inches separating them from one another. He looked into Lola's eyes and smiled. "You're a beautiful woman Lola McDowell. I hope you know that."

“You keep telling me that Duncan.” She laughed a little as she looked up at him as the music that was being played by the band slowed to something slow and romantic. Not something she wanted to encourage but she was at a loss of how to stop it now without causing a scene.

Duncan shrugged, his smile turning to a mischievous grin. "Well, it's easy to say because it's true." He pulled Lola in closer. "I would even say you're easily the most beautiful woman in all of Thistledrift, probably all of England as well, add to that your extraordinary mind and knack for restoring and maintaining technology...," he leaned and gave Lola a brief kiss on the cheek. "I'm just saying that we could do remarkable things together if you would join the Europa crew."

Lola knew she could do remarkable things on the Europa but she also loved living there in Thristledrift. She had found a family and settled for the first time since she was born and spent the last 20 years as a military brat moving around. The only place she had ever felt like this was when her father had been the Constable of the Tower at the Tower of London for five years before she left for university. “Commander Crawford said the same but he does not want me in his bed.” Lola laughed. “I know you like me but let’s take it slow you do not need to pile on the compliments.”

Duncan raised a hand and lightly brushed a stray lock of hair that had dislodged. "Perhaps, but with the nights getting colder...you might feel warmer with someone in that bed with you. I can do slow if you want though." He wasn't a person who liked to wait. The Europa was set to sail in the morning and he had spent the last two weeks during this most recent port call cultivating his relationship with Lola. He leaned down and gave Lola a brief kiss.

“I want slow or not at all.” Lola said firmly as she pulled back and the kiss. She knew this type of man well from growing up on bases, this was the type of man that her mother warned her about but if he was truly interested in her he would take slow.

Duncan exhaled sharply. This was their third date and she had rebuffed every single advance he had ever made. He took another breath and sighed. He finally nodded as he took a half step back. "My apologies. You're just so irresistible." He nodded to the empty mugs. "Your beauty is more intoxicating than the hard cider."

Lola laughed a little. “Laying it on thick there Duncan. Come on let’s dance to soemthing less slow and just enjoy things.” She encouraged as the music was more upbeat and they could dance properly without being close.

Duncan stepped back and smirked. "Okay. You want to dance. Let's dance." He listened to the band make it's intro for the next song, Footloose from the movie soundtrack. He listened to the song and let his body feel and react to the tempo. He watched Lola as she began to do the same.

Lola laughed as they danced. This was much nicer than whispered promises and what almost felt like overcompensating for some reason. She wanted a little bit of fun and no pressure. They danced like that until the music stopped and the fires were put out. “Looks like it’s time to go home.” She questioned seeing Nathan and Cassandra dancing still.

Duncan glanced at the Europa's first officer and Thistledrift's town leader and shrugged. "I say we dance until we are told to leave." He took Lola's hand and gave her a twirl until they were two arm lengths apart. "We're here to have fun until someone tells us to stop. Agreed?"

“For someone who has to be back to his ship in less than seven hours you are extremely alive.” Lola laughed as she was twirled away. The man behind the bar looked up.

“I wanna lock up you two.” He grumbled making Lola laugh a little more.

Duncan gave a hearty laugh as he twirled Lola back into an embrace. He held her body close to his, but only for a moment, before releasing her and stepping back. He glanced at the pub worker. He turned back to Lola and offered his hand. "We should probably go. May I still escort you home milady?" His smile seemed genuine and pleasant.

Lola nodded, he had been talking about it since she had gotten there. She had agreed but she had been firm about him only walking her home. “Yes you can walk me home.” She said turning to grab up her coat and offered a wave to Cassandra and Nathan.

Duncan grabbed his own coat and opened the door for Lola. Travis and Juliet were on the patio in the midst of a kiss as he and Lola stepped outside the door. Duncan chuckled "Get a room you two."

Travis rolled his eyes and carried on not caring as Lola waved to her friend and carried on down the path that led to her cottage in the middle of the area they had secure over the e last couple of years. “It was a nice evening.” She said quietly as she looked up at the stars and just took in how clear it was.

Duncan saw her looking up at the clear night sky. "You want to learn something useful for traveling at night?" He pointed to the Big Dipper. "Imagine a line extending from these two stars upward and outward, and continue that line for about five times the distance between the pointer stars. The bright star it points to is Polaris, the North Star."

Lola followed where he was pointing and nodded. That was pretty handy to know. “That is cool. Must be handy for night watched hmm?” She wondered shoving her hands in her long jacket.

The couple reached Lola's cottage. He looked down at Lola's face. "Well, we're here. I hope you found the evening pleasant. He smiled down at her.

Lola nodded, the evening had been nice once he relaxed and had not tried so hard. “It was nice. Thank you for inviting me.” She said stepping up onto her door step trying to find her key in her pocket. It was too large to lose often but her coat pockets were deep.

Duncan's smile grew, transforming into what could be described as a predatory grin. "Here, let me help you." Before she could react, he had one hand in her coat pocket, his other arm was around her back on her backside and he was pressing her against the door. His lips locked onto hers in a one sided passionate kiss. She might be surprised, but no woman had ever resisted his charm before. Except one silly French girl a few months before when the Europa had made port in a city along the Seine.

Lola’s eyes went wide as Duncan pressed her against the door before her instincts kicked in and she lifted her knee and hit him hard in his groin before lifting her hand to slap him.

“I do not want that. I said slowly.” She said firmly as she grabbed her key and put it in the lock opening it and flung herself inside closing it quickly and locking it completely. Several curtains twitched to see what the noise was.

Duncan waa on the ground moaning in pain from the groin kick. It was a minute or two before he could do anything other than whimpering and writhing in pain. He finally struggled to his feet and limped away. He got to the crossroad that led back to the Europa. He stopped and looked back at Lola's cottage. He could feel rage boiling up inside him and he half considered going back and breaking down the door. He glanced at the other houses on the street. It was too risky to seek revenge now. His voice barely registered as more than a whisper. "You've going to pay for that one bitch. Pay big too." He turned and disappeared down the crossroad.

 

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