A Little Bite - Part II
Posted on Tue Apr 25th, 2023 @ 3:19pm by Commander Steven Greco & Lieutenant Evelyn Stewart & Char & Lieutenant Commander Keishara Davaris & Gunnery Sergeant Matewa Natana
Edited on on Mon Jul 3rd, 2023 @ 11:38pm
1,622 words; about a 8 minute read
Mission:
Prologue: Centre Predominate
Location: USS Moore - DMZ
Timeline: MD 001: 2145hrs
Stewart pointed at Chiharu with the hand lifting her glass to her mouth. “Smart. You are learning.” She said to the crewman before she took a long sip of her ale. “So this is what you all do for fun around here?”, she asked not complaining but trying to move the conversation along.
"What? Drink?" Matewa asked rhetorically. "That's what I do mostly. Not a lot for a marine to do when we're not on the ground popping shots at people."
Keishara raised both her eyebrows at him as she looked his way.
"Well, we train with security of course." he added justifying the marines place on board. "Kei is quite generous with her time and seeing as how we are without a CO she has kept us busy. Aside from that I hold boxing competitions every so often. I'm sure others do other things."
Steve looked up, confused. “Boxing?”
Stewart only smiled. “That sounds like a good time.” She understood during peace times the marines on starships had little to do and needed a release of some sort to blow off steam.
“I can’t believe the captain would allow that.”, Steve commented, not sure how he felt about the practice.
"Yeah, boxing. No bare knuckle or nothing like that but we have a program in the holodeck. Its all good fun and the Captain has only ever came to one match. I think he said it was for research but he's not been back again." Matewa shrugged. "If they allowed Parisses Squares... then this is just as 'safe'."
Greco just shrugged. It was a fair point of it being as physical and dangerous as Parisses Squares, but he made a point to ask the Captain about it. “Now there’s a real game.” He pointed to Matewa with a grin. “Played since I was eight. Took my share of beatings but still led the team to victory more times than not.” He took a big swig of his ale.
"Oh that sounds very impressive sir!" Chiharu exclaimed. "I'm sure in your younger days you were quite the player." she added not realising he was only 36 and in fact not old at all. She looked through life with very 20 year old eyes.
Kei could do nothing but inhale quietly but deeply at the comment and look away from the conversation.
Steve did his best not to be offended and gave a polite smile to the yeoman that clearly was meant to diffuse the awkwardness.
Stewart looked at her. “Remember what I said about being smart?” She asked, then shook her head in disappointment as she mouthed “no”, making it clear to the crewman to keep quiet and observe. She saw many an awkward ensign or crewman come through first the Academy proper, then Upsilon III as an Instructor, young faces who were over eager to please and instead made fools of themselves.
It may have been harsh, but this is how Hirano was going to learn.
"None of you beat me on age so we'll just leave that alone, will we?" Kei looked at Chiharu and gave a quick flash of a smile.
“Well, I’ll trust your wisdom and extensive experience.” Stewart teased Kei with a smirk before downing the last of her ale and ordering another shot and pint, starting to feel the relaxing warm glow of the alcohol. “By the way, what is your deal with the captain anyway? You don’t seem like the type to go along with their philosophies.” She said the word with such contempt and disdain as she let her mental control slip.
"The deal?" Kei asked and frowned as she thought of what she meant by that. Sometimes Human expressions still got the better of Keishara. "Ah, the deal." she nodded.
"The Captain and I have served together since the Moore's commission. We fought through the war together... I saved his life on an away mission, he then saved mine thereafter." Kei commented as she closed her eyes, reliving those moments. "We share a bond." she added vaguely. Stryvek had to do a mind meld with Kei, an unconsented mind mind but it saved Kei's life and she was grateful for it. They just didn't broadcast it. "He's as Vulcan as they come but I like to think I've been breaking him down over the years."
Stewart downed her shot and listened. She was curious what exactly the woman meant by a bond, but knew better than to pry. It was clear this was a special relationship to her. Evelyn knew Vulcans were more than capable of deep relationships without expressing their emotions and took the statement simply as that. Though she did doubt the empath was making the impact she thought she was.
She nodded before taking a long sip of her third ale and spoke up. “Well trust me, there is a huge difference between serving with one on a starship and living amongst them. Vulcans should be no more trusted than Romulans.”
Steve looked at her in his chair. “Stewart…”, he mildly scolded. He knew many officers who shared a lack of enthusiasm for Vulcans, but he was the captain and it wasn’t good for her to share such views openly.
"I don't doubt there is a difference." Keishara replied. "Thankfully I have my own quarters and there is no-one there, Vulcans included." she smiled softly. "As for trust, I trust the Captain otherwise I wouldn't still be on the Moore but I understand trust comes with time and experience. I've been here 13 years, you've just came on board. Stryvek can be 'difficult' but he's a good man."
Stewart found it an odd comment for Kei to mention her quarters. She wasn’t able to follow what the woman was implying in her slightly intoxicated state.
Instead, Evelyn shook her head and took another long drink. “I can’t imagine anyone wanting to sleep with a Vulcan.”, she commented crassly. She felt Greco’s foot subtly tap her leg as she took another drink and she got the subtle warning that she was going too far.
He didn’t need to say it but Stewart could tell Steve was telling her to cut herself off before she said or did something she’d regretted. “But speaking of quarters, I think it’s time to get into that supply of bloodwine.” She stood and finished her glass. Despite the two shots of whiskey, the one of bloodwine, and three pints of ale, she was no where near done for the evening and would instead return to her quarters to continue before she got properly drunk and made a serious error in judgement.
'Does she think I've slept with him?' Keishara thought with another frown on her face.
She noticed the tap from Greco on her leg and found it interesting he was trying to keep her in check. Did they have a previous relationship prior to serving here, or was he just being a good XO and telling her to shut up.
"Yeah, I've got to train in the morning." Matewa announced to the group and placed his empty pint glass down.
Stewart gave the marine a small smile, nodding and glanced down at Kei. “What about you, Commander? Going to talk shop with the XO or have a nightcap?”
"Well the Steve just got here, be rude to leave him after one drink. I want to see if he can hold his alcohol." Truth be told Kei did want that but more so she wanted to get to know the man a bit better. First impressions count and they both got off to a frosty start at Starfleet Command's grand meeting. She was adjusting to her Second Officer duties and she would be working with Steve closer than she'd like.
She was lying. Stewart didn’t need to be an empathy to see that it was more than her wanting to push the man’s limits, but she didn’t know why and frankly didn’t care.
Stewart nodded and turned to Chiharu and gestured for her to get out of her chair. “Come on, Hirano. I’m sure you got better things to do than bother them.”
Evelyn said goodbye to the group before heading to her own quarters while silently trying to calculate how much more bloodwine she can have without being hungover.
Kei watched as Evelyn left, she got a bit lost in her figure for a bit before snapping back to the XO. "Unless you are wanting to call it a night?" she asked.
Greco saw the way his tactical officer watched his helm officer leave the room and smirked into his glass as he finished his drink to hide his amused smile.
When he heard her question, Steve looked at her and took a moment. “You know what? I just finished my beer. If you want to stay and chat I can order another round, but I should also unpack.” He looked the El-Aurian in the eye to make it clear, abilities or not, he was being transparent with her and held no grudge. He was just a good guy.
Kei only half heard him as she rose to her feet, her eyes locked on the door. "Yeah..." she said patting his shoulder a little rougher than she thought. "Unpacking is important." she added before beginning to move. "I'll see you on the bridge, Steve." And with that she went to catch up with Evelyn.
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