Comfort Food and Girl Chat Part I
Posted on Sat May 27th, 2023 @ 12:48pm by Lieutenant Vura
Edited on on Wed May 31st, 2023 @ 8:20pm
0 words; about a 1 minute read
Mission:
Episode 14 - The Poseidon Adventure
Location: Tasty Toppings - Deck 70 - Poseidon Station
Timeline: MD006 1900 hrs
Paisley sent a quick message to the new Counselor. She'd found herself thinking about the woman-not in a romantic way, because Paisley was attracted to Romulans and Vulcans, but in that way where you want to pick someone's brain apart. Interesting wasn't the word, but that was the best one she had across all the languages she knew.
Lt. Vura, if you're interested in a friendly dinner with an engineer, I have duty, but am free after 6. You pick the place, I'll treat. With that, she placed the PADD back down on the desk, and got herself ready to crawl into a Jeffries tube.
A few hours later, she darted from the Engineering office. She was absolutely COVERED in goo, grease, whatever critters lived in the tubes, and bugs. It was part of the job, but she hated it. A quick sonic shower, and a brush of inky black hair, and all was right with the world. She slipped on some flared leg jeans, a pink t-shirt, and a denim jacket. She wore no makeup but a little chap-stick, because it wasn't a date or even a meeting. She never dressed up for her friends unless they were specifically going out. She was just a more casual person. She put on her mother's earring, though, for once-just because Vura had asked and it had been bothering her. She looked fine overall, and no hints of her hard workday remained, minus the yellow-ish bruise forming near the crook of her left arm, but the jacket covered that.
Vura had been surprised to receive the message from Paisley, but pleasantly so. As intrigued as Vura had been by Paisley, it seemed that the feeling was mutual. Picking a place to dine, though, was never an easy task for a Deltan. After all, dining was a sensuous experience and whatever offered the most sensations, would be where she wanted to be. However, she had no idea where that would be on the station.
One restaurant on deck 70 of Poseidon Station did catch her attention. It was a newer restaurant called Tasty Toppings. Apparently it specialized in fondu. Slowly, Vura let her tongue trace her lips. The thought of some chocolate covered strawberries was too much to resist. She immediately sent a communication back to Paisley to meet her there at 1900 hours.
She changed out of her uniform and back into something much more presentable. This evening, she opted for a lavender dress made of crepe fabric with a sleeveless square neckline, spaghetti straps, and a ruched wrap silhouette that hugged Vura in all the right places. She opted for rhinestone earrings that dangled in a twisted pattern, to catch the light. In a dark place, like the Tasty Toppings, it would positively sparkle in candlelight. She opted for two bracelets on her left hand that were made of white gold and had diamond and amethyst stones throughout. To complete the look she wore stiletto sandals that were practically transparent and highlighted her feet. She decorated her toe and fingernails in the lavender color to coordinate, as well.
Strutting out to the promenade got her the usual amount of looks, which she ignored. Upon arrival at the Tasty Toppings, she craned her neck in one direction then the other to see if Paisley had arrived. Seeing that she had not, she found herself a seat and waited for Paisley to arrive.
Paisley found the Tasty Toppings restaurant without too much trouble. She was underdressed for the place. Damn it. She hated that. She had been taught that appearances were important. Oh, well, no time to change now. She walked in, confidently, and looked around for Vura. She wasn't hard to find; most of the eyes in the place were on her. Paisley smiled a little as she headed for the table where the Deltan woman was already waiting. "Sorry for my lateness, I got a bit turned around in the Turbolift." She slid into the seat, and opened the menu. "Ooh, fondue, haven't had that in AGES." She said. "How have you been? Met anyone interesting yet?"
"Don't worry about being late. We're not on duty or a clock," Vura responded with a small chuckle. Continuing, she said, "I have met a lot of interesting people," Vura answered simply. "Pioneer is full of them. But I was most pleased to receive your invitation. And look at you, Paisley, wearing your mother's earring and dressed up. You're darling!"
Paisley smiled. "Thanks. You look great. Got a hot date after this?" She joked. "You had me thinking about wearing the earring more often; I'm still not doing it at work but I think sometimes off the clock is ok," she said. She still didn't know how to feel about it. Maybe, in time, it would make sense.
"Indeed, several interesting people. I met a few myself yesterday. Taught me how to play pool," she said. And more. "I heard about the Marines, too. They're having a BALLLL,' she said, drawling the word out like one might say "darling" in accented Standard. "A Romulan girl I met is going." She didn't say more, like the fact that Paisley was a bit sad she hadn't been the one able to escort her. "I had a couple of drinks with a Marine earlier in the week, too. Well. He was in a group of us; I tagged along with my boss to meet some people she already knew from the Station, but he's on the Ship with us, actually." She said. She decided on the traditional cheese fondue, with vegetables and bread instead of meat today. When the waitess came, she smiled. "Hello. Can I have a Springwine, please?" She asked.
Vura giggled at Paisley. The woman was like a babbling brook, always running at the mouth. With Paisley, Vura rarely had to ask many questions, Paisely just volunteered the information. It was infinitely refreshing and probably one of the major reasons that Vura had taken a liking to the young ensign.
The waitress, a thin haired blonde headed woman with her hair tied back in a ponytail said, "Of course, and you miss?" to Vura.
Vura considered for a moment, "I'll have a Diamondfire Rose, if you have one." The waitress indicated that the establishment did in fact have one and disappeared from the table, leaving Paisley and Vura alone with the glowing candle in a container between them. "Have you ever had a Diamondfire Rose? It is quite a unique wine. And tell me more about this ball and the Romulan woman. It sounds like quite the event that you have lined up."
Paisley shook her head. "I have not. Outside of Springwine and sometimes Kanar, I am not a really big drinker, and especially wine. It goes to my head," she said. "I don't like the feeling of being out of control of my faculties." She explained. "I got the Cardassian eidetic memory and alcohol dulls that." She paused for a moment. "It's not MY event. The Marines are hosting it. I don't interact with them much; it's too Cardassian to me. They seem to be a bit...war like and I don't do well with violence," she admitted. The waitress returned with their drinks. "But my new friend seems excited!! I just need to hear how it went," she laughed. "I am surprised no one dropped their date and asked YOU though I understand you couldn't." She said.
"Too much wine could dull your senses but not a glass. Of course, if you wanted the taste but not the effects, there's always synthohol, but where is the fun in that?" She clucked her tongue against the top of her mouth in a disappointed fashion. "And sadly, that's all that is permitted in the replicators. It just goes to show that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery but cannot surplant the original, which is why we still crave it."
That bit of philosophy completed, Vura continued, "Everyone has a role to fill. Marines are there for the fighting when it needs to be done. Certainly, I, like you, wish that it did not. But sometimes diplomacy fails. As to anyone taking me to the ball, well, I'm certain that I'm too new to have anyone invite me." Edmund certainly did not but hopefully he is asking out Miss Fabulous. "But, look at the company I do have. This is certainly most pleasant."
Paisley smiled lightly. "I do allow myself a glass occasionally. And I had some pink drink at the bar the other night. Kanar is a LOT for most people; I have a very high tolerance for alcohol, though, the MAIN reason I avoid it. Cardassians, as a whole, aren't any more or less prone to abusing it as any other race, but my family is," she explained. "And yes. I understand that logically. But being raised by my father, who thought that war was the answer FIRST and then you try diplomacy. And hearing stories from Bajorans about what my mother might've gone through....you can understand why it turns my stomach." She paused a moment. "Word gets around here FAST; I am sure you've already heard about the poor Bolian who vomited in the mess hall? See? Surely the arrival of a mysterious, and pretty, Deltan would've been noticed. And not just by me. I am not the most astute person in this place." She wasn't stupid, either, though. The waitress reappeared to take their food order. "I'll have the traditional fondue, please, but just with vegetables and bread. No meat today." She was feeling a little bloated from all the partying and needed to eat a bit lighter. It wouldn't do for her not be able to fit in her uniform anymore.
Vura looked interested at Paisley but rather than question her with the waitress present, Vura smiled at the waitress and ordered. "I'd like a sampler. Something of everything and please do bring me some extra strawberries for dipping in chocolate when you bring that out." She turned to Paisley and squinched up her nose and gave Paisley a wicked little grin. "I don't think that there's any more perfect food than a chocolate covered strawberry. How humans came up with it, I will never know."
Paisley laughed. "Well. They sure did know a few things. I mentioned before that I've taken apart their radios. Cool inventions, those. They can pick up wavelengths from any distance away and send them through speakers. If they could invent that, they could've been warp capable earlier. Too bad they were too busy arguing over dumb things," she said. "That sounds SO good, though. I wasn't going to have dessert but now I might have to!" She didn't usually eat sweet things, just because she didn't like the sensation on her Barjoran tongue.
"Not have dessert?!" Vura put her hand to her chest. "That's practically a crime, Paisley."
Paisley laughed. "The Cardassian palate isn't such to appreciate sweets," she said. "That's why Kanar tastes so bad to others. I've learned to appreciate some things, though." She said. "My Bajoran side is such that I favor it in nature but my Cardassian side is stronger genetically, I think, minus the missing spoon and tail. Thank Goddesses for that." She said.
"Well," Vura huffed audibly. "We're definitely going to have to re-train that Cardassian palate of yours. I will not have any person that I know committing crimes. I might get accused of aiding and abetting and I just can't stand for that."
Paisley laughed loudly at that. "Well, I guess I am bested, then. When she returns with our food, I will order some dessert. I do think the chocolate fondue will be good," she said. "And I like strawberries. I wonder what else comes with it? I've been eating too much junk this week; R&Rs are fun but damn, they're calorie laden." She said. "I've been subsisting on alcohol, coffee, and carbs. Real life is going to be a big wakeup call next week when we pull out," she said.
Waving her hand at Paisley to indicate that Paisley was being silly, Vura said, "How do you figure? If you have been eating a lot of junk this week, I see no ill effect of it on you." Her tone became more conspiratorial, "You're going to have to tell me your secret."
Paisley laughed. "Haul yourself through Jefferies' tubes and crawl through hull panels for eight hours per day," she said. "I do all the stuff that the senior Engineers don't want or have to do anymore. We've been assisting on updates to the Base, too, and it's HUGE. I nearly got lost yesterday, trying to repair a few Turbolift wiring systems. I was in the walls, and the map is wonky. Luckily, I was able to find my way back but I could still be stuck in there!" She said. "I don't worry about my figure that much, just my overall health. There's nothing worse than having an upset stomach while trying to repair things," she said. "But. It suits me. I'd be bored as heck sitting at a desk or something. I'm kinetic and I like to move."
"I suppose if I was wriggling through Jeffries tubes and panels all day, I would have little trouble with the amount of things that I ate," Vura replied with a melodious voice bordering on laughing. "You're just so precious, Paisley. I am just going to have to keep you to myself. Don't worry, I'll give you a very long leash to do whatever you desire. I couldn't have you all cooped up."
Paisley laughed. "Be careful; you'll awaken my daddy issues and you'll never be rid of me," she joked. "Tell me about who you've met the past few days. I am bisexual but lean towards women. However, I might've seen a cute new Engineer I need to get to know better. Or at least toy with for a while while I figure out where things are going with this Romulan girl I met..." She said, her blue eyes dancing as she spoke.
"Look at you, Miss Popular! You have all the suitors coming out of the woodwork, don't you? Must be the ridges on the nose," Vura teased playfully. "We Deltans do not classify our tastes. We just savor what we savor. There's no thought or judgment regarding those pleasures. We live for the sensations, so why limit them by such categorization? But, I suppose that it is convenient when you cannot telepathically share your interests to categorize by things such as heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, pansexual, or whatever." She shrugged lightly. "Your races are much younger. I'm sure that you will all get there to understand more what I'm talking about."
Before Vura could continue talking a male human sommelier appeared with two wine glasses and small vials containing both of the women's drinks. After identifying who had which drink, he poured them and then left, disappearing as he had quickly appeared. Vura lazily took her glass containing the Diamondfire Rose and lazily swirled it while she tried to remember who she met. "Let's see...." She thought as she slowed the swirling. "There's Commodore Malbrooke, Lieutenant Thex, Lieutenant Commander Hermia O'Rourke MD, Lieutenant Commander Alyssa Maren, Ensign Mignon Mejia, Lieutenant Commander Rowena McGowen, and Captain Edmund Merrick." There was something of a nostalgic sigh when she mentioned Edmund's name. "I think that's it," she quickly recovered. "I may remember another name or two yet. Give me a few more of these and who knows?"
With that statement, Vura took a small sip of the Diamondfire Rose. She closed her eyes as the liquid passed her lips. She kept a hold of her glass by the stem and just sat there, relishing the tastes as the liquid passed over every taste bud.
Paisley watched her carefully. You could learn a lot about a person just by how they spoke-sometimes more than what they said. She smiled, sipping her Kanar, her eyes briefly closing at the burn at the back of her throat. "I don't know how many suitors there are. Just friends. We WILL leave soon, and that's a mess I don't want," she said. "I tend to think like you-labels are stupid. BUT they do help explain things I don't have words for," she said. Did she see something when Vura mentioned Merrick? Wait, wasn't that who Jaylara was meeting, too?! Should she say something? No, better not. It's not her business. "Have you met my boss yet? Elen Diari? She'll uh...be an interesting case. I know Merrick. Kind of. He was in the group the first night. I got distracted by some Romulans who I thought were twins but aren't. They aren't even related, just look alike!!" She laughed. "I find their ability to have logic about everything EXCEPT sex interesting. I like to think I am logical, but I did cry at a movie the other day, so. Guess not." She shrugged. "You seem to be enjoying your drink! Have you tried Kanar?" She asked.
"I've not met Elen Diari yet," Vura replied, coming out of her "trance," and putting the wine glass back on the table. "Not a bad vintage," Vura said to nobody in particular before turning the subject back to Elen Diari, "Why do you say that Elen Diari will be an interesting case? And," then she started giggling, "what it is it about you and Romulans and Vulcans? You might find that Vulcans are quite logical about sex except during their pon farr. They find a way to rationalize everything at the end of the day. And yes, I'm enjoying the wine. We Deltans tend to eat and drink very slowly. We savor everything. We live for our inner space, so trying something new like Kanar would be a delightful experience. I hope that my slow eating and drinking will not be a problem for you," Vura replied apologetically.
Paisley shook her head. "It's fine. I tend to eat too fast, so it will be good for me to slow down," she said. "I don't have anywhere else to be, anyway," she said. "As for Elen, well...she seems...lost. I haven't quite figured out why, but it doesn't take a counselor to recognize it." She shrugged. "As for Romulans and Vulcans, well....my whole life, I was taught to be a certain way, a certain THING. The daughter of a well-connected Cardassian General, and advisor. I had to be a lot of things I wasn't. I value logic and the stoicism they show," she said. Finally, their food appeared, the waiter quick and silent. "Oooh, that looks SO good." She said. CHEESE. Cheese made her happy.
A Joint Post By:
Lieutenant Vura
Chief Counselor, USS Pioneer
Ensign Paisley F'rar
Damage Control Specialist, USS Pioneer
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