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Day 02 [1800 hrs.] Whose Coming to Dinner?

[ Lt. Cmdr. Natalie Stark | Transporter Room 5  | Deck 24 | Vector 03 | USS Theurgy ] Attn: @Jfiddle 
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Natalie Stark checked her padd for what had to be the 100th time as she stepped off of the transporter pad and walked out onto the halls of the Vector she'd beamed over to. Having spent most of the day up on Vector 01 (the Helmet) it was refreshing to step onto other Vector, and stretch her legs as she made her way down the hall to the nearest turbolift. With the ship still in MVAM configuration, transporting between Vectors was the mode of travel for anyone needing to get from one major ship component to the other. And unless it was an emergency, that meant using the Transporter rooms.

"its a very good thing I'm meeting up with another Transporter specialist," she said to herself, legs swishing under her skirt as she entered the lift. That position was in high demand with the amount of back and forth going on. Empty as the lift was, she simply called out to Thea, "Deck 20,  Arboretum Cafe," before returning to her files. She hoped this meeting would go a bit more smoothly than her encounter with Lt. Nator 159, another recently recovered Ops Officer and one that had a nasty habit of failing to following their doctors orders. I still can't believe I let hir get away with that so long, what was I thinking? In truth, she was blaming herself for not knowing. Ignorance is no excuse, especially after all that Carrigan said earlier today.

Banishing her lingering exasperation over an officer whom was...overly driven to help out in a crisis at their own expense, Natalie stepped back out of the lift -

[ Arboretum Cafe | Deck 25 | Vector 03 | USS Theurgy]

...and turned to the right. She had to move past one junction before she came upon the doors that slid aside and lead her into a whole new world. Why is it that I never come here? she asked herself as the warmth of the gardens flowed over the glass wall, following the long, lush vines that draped down from over head. Natalie closed her eyes and drew in a slow, deep breath. The scents of a multitude of flora filled her nose and left her invigorated.

Weaving her way around a few wooden columns, and letting her fingers brush against some of the vibrant flowers dangling off the vines, Natalie selected a table that was both easily within view of the main entrance to the Cafe (wreathed in what looked like flowering Risan Tealberry vines) and close to the glass wall that looked out into the  Arboretum proper. She tucked herself into the chair, pulling her skirt into place to make sure everything was proper - she was still adjusting to her recent wardrobe decisions - and then slid her hands up into her hair, settling it back behind her ears. With the padd now on the table, the holographic interface lit up, displaying a selection of items from her more regular selections.

"Something sweet to drink," she murmured to herself and began to flick though. She paused on the wine that Rory had introduced her to, in the springs on Theta Eridani IV, but quickly dashed the option aside. Between her poor choices last night in the Below Decks lounge, and the sharp, painful association that the memory of Mr. Callahan evoked, Natalie was sure that particular vintage was going to be off the table for a long time to come. Instead, she settled on a simple hot chocolate, and then straightened up in her seat, waiting for Ens. Vereyn Kiiz, Transporter Specialist, to arrive.

Re: Day 02 [1800 hrs.] Whose Coming to Dinner?

Reply #1 –
[ Ensign Vereyn Kiiz | Arboretum Cafe | Deck 25 | Vector 03 | USS Theurgy] Attn: @Brutus  

The young Trill walked into the cafe and looked around.  Commander Stark had asked him to come and have some food and catch up.  He held on the cane that he was using to balance as his leg was not quite healed and he had quite a limp for the time being.  The cafe was kind of crowded and he looked around looking for his Chief.  Seeing her from a distance sitting at a table he slowly limped his way over to her.

"Commander Stark."  Vereyn said with a smile as he approached the table.

Re: Day 02 [1800 hrs.] Whose Coming to Dinner?

Reply #2 –
[ Lt. Cmdr. Natalie Stark | Arboretum Cafe  | Deck 25 | Vector 03 | USS Theurgy ] Attn: @Jfiddle  
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Hearing her name, Natalie turned her head and found herself looking over at Ensign Vereyn Kiiz, the broad shouldered, tall Trill transporter specialist that was to be her companion for dinner, slowly weaving his way towards her. Though perhaps plowing might be a more apt description, as Ens. Kiiz wasn't really up to shifting from side to side. Or at least that was how it appeared to Natalie, who instantly felt a wave of guilt wash through her at making the injured junior officer come to her in such  crowded place. Yes, she had not realized that the Cafe would be quite as popular as it was at this hour by the sheer virtue of having not set foot in here for quite some time.

But she had been informed of the extent of his injuries, and the recommended treatment course the medical staff had assigned him. There were no real issues with having a cane in the transporter room. It could be left tucked in against the console in the alcove set aside for the operator on duty quite readily, and there was a chair tucked back there for whomever was assigned that shift to sit in so that they need not remain standing all day. No reason that Ens. Kiiz could not return to duty then. However, moving through a crowded eatery with said cane was another story.

Leaping to her feet and only just barely remembering to tuck her skirt into place, Natalie scampered around the table and drew out a chair for the towering trill. IT was likely a funny sight to see, as the junior officer was a full foot taller than his Chief.

"Ensign Kiiz - Vereyn. Its very good to see you up and about," she wouldn't look at his cane. "Thank you for coming out. I must apologize," she hastened to add, "I didn't realize it would be this crowded."

Re: Day 02 [1800 hrs.] Whose Coming to Dinner?

Reply #3 –
[ Ensign Vereyn Kiiz | Arboretum Cafe | Deck 25 | Vector 03 | USS Theurgy] Attn: @Brutus 

Vereyn stepped towards the Lieutenant Commander and stood at his best attention possible, "It's alright Natalie I will manage."  The young Trill said as he moved closer.  "You first."  He said politely.  It was polite for superiors and women to sit first.  After Commander Stark took her seat, Vereyn sat down in the chair and stretched out his injured leg.  He set his cane on the ground next to his hair, out of the way.  Picking up the menu, he touched what the drink that he wanted to order, a whiskey sour. 

“Thank you for inviting me.”  Vereyn said as he smiled and rubbed his leg gently.  This was the longest walk that he had done in days.  He still experienced some pain, which he would call sickbay about, but they would say the same things every time, that he would have to work through it.  He could only have so many pain meds. 

His previous hosts had gone through enormous pains before.  Having been a woman, he had experienced birthing pains before, and nothing really compared to that.  Though this was close.

A waitress brought him his drink and set it down in front of him.  He took a sip and smiled as the smooth amber liquid went down his throat.

Re: Day 02 [1800 hrs.] Whose Coming to Dinner?

Reply #4 –
[ Lt. Cmdr. Natalie Stark | Arboretum Cafe  | Deck 25 | Vector 03 | USS Theurgy ] Attn: @Jfiddle  
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Well, he seemed to take to using my name a tad easier than I did his, Natalie silently acknowledged. She was glad he did though - this was meant to be informal. And as she had no desire to push the junior officer to sit faster, or the like, she decided to acquiesce to his suggestion, and sat herself down first, pulling the chair back up under her, carefully keeping her skirt in place. She knew soon that habit would become second nature again - she had fallen out of it, given her previous uniform choices. Little steps, Natalie. Little steps for confidence.

She watched as he gingerly lowered himself into the chair and punched up an order. Almost instantaneously  the waitress arrived, with both Vereyn's drink, and Natalie's. And while he tipped his drink back to sip from it, Natalie satisfied herself with simply raising the warm mug up and drawing in a slow, steam filled breath through her nose, letting the delightful scent of a hot chocolate (with just a pinch of cinnamon!) waft over her.  It was soothing, which, after the long day she'd had, was what she needed. And best of all, non-alcoholic. Not repeating last nights mistake, no chance in hell. The prior nights excursions had the potential to but a damper on her social drinking endeavors for some time to come. Which is for the best she allowed. Staying out of the Bellow Decks lounge for a while would do her some good. Keep the nightmares at bay.

"So, Vereyn," Natalie began, addressing her subordinate, "Welcome back to the land of the living. I wanted to check in with you earlier, but the doctors suggested giving you a bit of time to ease back into things.

Re: Day 02 [1800 hrs.] Whose Coming to Dinner?

Reply #5 –
Setting the glass back down on the table he looked at his chief, "Yeah, it was quite a shock to wake up with a hole in my leg.  I was surprised to get out of sickbay when I did."  He heard his stomach growl.  Reaching for the PaDD again to order some food he looked up at his chief, "If you don't mind. I haven't had anything to eat all day.  Been at physical therapy."

The Trill looked over the list of options.  They were limitless, the combinations endless.  He could eat something from Earth, Trill, Vulcan, Romulus, anywhere from the galaxy.  He had even heard a rumor that the chef had a supply of live Gagh in the back.  One of his previous hosts loved those little live worms.  Vereyn wasn't a fan, but Kiiz had a craving every once in a while. 


Vereyn finally decided on Bajoran Hasperat.  He had enjoyed Bajoran food at the Academy with one of his friends.  It had just the right amount of spice that he could enjoy it without burning his throat.  “Did you want me to order you anything chief?”  He asked the woman sitting across from his as he looked up over the PaDD

Re: Day 02 [1800 hrs.] Whose Coming to Dinner?

Reply #6 –
[ Lt. Cmdr. Natalie Stark | Arboretum Cafe  | Deck 25 | Vector 03 | USS Theurgy ] Attn: @Jfiddle 
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Natalie had to admit that waking up to discover you had a hole in your leg that was repaired would be an experience harrowing for just about any Starfleet officer. She herself couldn't imagine how that would feel. Unbidden, darker memories of waking up in Sickbay, after the Relativity came to rescue the crew of the Theurgy on Niga came to mind. The cold terror, the heated desire from the assault, all memories that warred with the sudden, sterile environment she encountered upon waking. Perhaps not quite the same, she silently allowed, with a barely repressed shudder, hiding the gesture by sipping the sweet concoction in her mug, But perhaps enough to relate to the poor ensign.

"We live in an age of miracle medicine, Vereyn," the COps replied as she set her drink back down. "I am glad to see they were able to patch you up as fast as they did. I know there's going to be an adjustment and recovery period, but if you're like me, you hate just sitting around. I assume getting back to duty will be a bit of a relief. And by all means," she gesutred to the PADD he picked up, "Help yourself." She worried that her transporter officer - in high demand - hadn't eaten anything so far that day. Then again, he was only just going onto shift. She had no idea what his schedule entailed that day, other than a check up with medical.

"Go ahead and place an order for Plomeek soup for me, please," Natalie decided, as Vereyn placed his own order. "i've enough flavor in my drink,something a bit more subtle will be a nice counter point." It was healthy, and despite what some with ...how poor T'Less put it...less refined, yes, those were the words she used - despite what those with less refined pallets thought, there was a satisfying flavor to Plomeek soup done properly. And Natalie knew that - in the brief time she known her - T'Less had reprogrammed the computers to make Plomeek soup at 'satisfactory conditions.'

Shaken out of that memory, she smiled up at Ens. Kiiz. "I hope you're prepared for a busy shift. I know we're starting you off on one of the later day shifts," an understatement, as his shift would carry Ens. Kiiz past the ships midnight -"but i don't think it  will be any less hectic depsite the late hours."


From there the conversation flowed easily between the two officers, the Chief of Ops settling into her role as commander, checking up on her collegue, and the Ensign ever attentive, gaining as sense of support and comfort from a familiar face. eventually, the dinner ended, the shift for the Transporter Operator about to begin. Goodbyes were said, and the duo departed, Natalie cherishing  a moment to relax with a subordinate, and Vereyn bolstered for the duty shift to come.

FIN
 
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