STF

Captain's Ready Room - Dinner is served

Posted June 1, 2020, 1:24 p.m. by Captain Alexander Cochrane (Commanding Officer) (James Sinclair)

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Zef Rollo (Counselor) in Captain’s Ready Room - Dinner is served

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Zef Rollo (Counselor) in Captain’s Ready Room - Dinner is served

Posted by Civilian Vorraye Anders (Diplomatic Attache) in Captain’s Ready Room - Dinner is served
Posted by… suppressed (2) by the Post Ghost! 👻

<snip>

He popped the cork and poured three fingers in each glass. Setting the open bottle down, he raised his glass to her and said “To taking a break.” with a smile.

Cochrane, CO

She held her glass to his and touched them. “And hopefully many more.” Sheet taking a sip and humming in pleasure at the taste, smiled and leaned on the back of the couch, her arm bent and fist resting against her temple.

“So… you love Vulcan literature, you enjoy listening to swing,” she paused a second to be sure it was the right word, “music, and you like the cook’s veggie risotto.” She laughed. “And dessert is still up in the air. Have I remembered everything right, so far?” She took a sip and watched him, hoping he was relaxing.

Raye

He leaned back against the arm of the couch himself and looked at her. “Why the sudden and thorough interest in me and my likes and dislikes, Raye?” he said with an amused stress on her name. “Creating a dossier? Or something else?”

Cochrane

She laughed. “I guess this is why I’m not in Intel. It’s both, actually, Alex.” Using his first name for the first time since he’d given her permission upon her return to the ship. “Dossiers that I keep about certain people are because I interact with them a lot and want to keep things straight. But I’m not to shy to say that the something else is because I enjoy your company. And I’m hoping, in getting to know you better, and the things you like, that I can make our time together more enjoyable.”

It was the truth, more or less.

Raye

He smiled and took a drink. “That plan is a little one sided, dont you think? I mean, if you enjoy someone’s company and wish to spend time with them, one should give of themself as well. So if you were interested in getting to know them better… you would share the same of yourself so that they would know you in the same fashion.” and he took another drink and smiled slightly. “Unless one is simply selfish and looking out only for themselves, of course.”

Cochrane, CO

She laughed and nodded. “Touche, dear Capitan… But cannot selfishness be one sided? Perhaps I wish to know about you so you are the focus. Rather than forcing my own likes upon you?” She smiled and cocked her head slightly. “Besides, I thought men loved it when women doted and did nothing but want to talk about them.” She was teasing him, but the banter was part of the fun.

Her mind knew he was a good candidate for being a ship’s Captain. He was a diplomat, and a man, all rolled into one.

Raye

“Selfishness is, by definition I think, one sided… and as far as men who like being doted on wanting nothing more in conversation from a woman than to talk about themselves, well… I’ll just say that they overrate their importance in a such an exchange.” and he took a drink, his blue eyes locked onto her.

Cochrane

She smiled and took a sip of her drink. “Then I have been duly chastised and I apologize.” She inclined her head with a bit of over dramatic respect. “In compensation, I am an open book. Ask me anything. Anything you desire to know about me.” She winked as she glanced over the rim of her glass, “just remember ‘you asked’ if the answer shocks you.” She took a long drink and looked at him back.

Raye

He chuckled and smiled over his own glass and said “Let’s just start with what you have asked of me… so that we are on even ground should we want to continue getting to know each other.” <e>

“Fair enough… well,” she adjusted to get a bit more comfortable. “I love pasta, but a really good rare steak is my favorite. I like Vulcan poetry, though I rarely understand it. And honestly, I love all poetry. I love reading how other cultures interpret things like love, war and life in general. I prefer the sound of the ocean to the sound of music to relax. And chocolate cake,” she nodded to her plate, half forgotten on the table, “is my favorite dessert.”

She smiled and set her glass on the table and picked up her plate. “Speaking of which, your turn. Has a favorite dessert, or desserts, come to mind?” She took a bite of the cake and smiled.

Raye

He picked up the plate and took a bite, and then set it on his lap. After a moment, he swallowed and said “Bread Pudding with Whiskey Sauce. All time favorite. I made it for my mom just after she and my father married. One of her favorites now as well. I make it for them on their anniversary.”

Cochrane

She smiled. “Another confession. I’m a lousy cook.” She laughed. “I mean, I could make something better than the replicators. But let’s just say your cook does far better.” She ate some more of her cake. “I haven’t had bread pudding since I was a kid. And I don’t think back then I got Whiskey Sauce. So…” she tilted her head and looked at him. “If you could take a vacation, anywhere, where would it be? I am not fond of Risa.” She laughed. “I would want to find the most exciting point in the universe and see it. White Dwarf cluster, exploding sun, black hole … They are the kind of things of things I like seeing on holodeck programs. Being right in the middle of something we can’t actually safely do.”

She wondered, as she spoke of it, if she sounded suddenly ridiculous.

Raye

He smiled and said “That sounds amazing. I think I’d like to go somewhere… quiet. Maybe just an island somewhere there are no other people. Just… solitude and serenity. Maybe a few good books. And a few bottles of good whiskey.” and he laughed.

Cochrane, CO

She smiled. “That sounds relaxing. I’ve actually gotten to sit back with a good book, not a padd mind you. And there is something soothing about actually turning a page and not just reading a monotonous streak of words. The pauses and waits in the turning add to the story.” She laughed. “My roommate in the Academy thought I was daft.”

She reached for the bottle and added a bit more to her glass. Looking at Cochrane, she raised a curious eyebrow and smiled. “More?”

Raye
Diplomat

He nodded and held out the glass to her. “Please. So how did you get into Diplomacy? What is the draw?” and he nodded his thanks after she poured.

Cochrane, CO

She gave him another half glass and set the bottle down. “I don’t know, honestly. I guess it’s the Betazoid half of me. I can’t read minds, but I can tell when someone’s lying if I am listening. I loved the idea of being part of First Contact, and helping others come to peaceful settlements over chaotic times. I like the idea of this,” she motioned to the ship. “Of being part of a crew that’s doing more than milk runs to Mars and back. I wanted a place I would be able to help people, regardless of their species. And actually make a difference.” She looked at him. “What made you want to Captain a star ship?” She sipped her scotch.

Raye
Diplomat

He smiled and relaxed back against the arm, nodding in thanks for the drink. “I didn’t actually set out for it. I mean, it wasn’t really a specific goal. My twin sister and I took my mother’s… events… probably more personally than we should have. But being raised on stories of all the great military and political figures in our family history, we both just felt we had the opportunity to maybe… oh, I don’t know… erase the blemish on name, I guess. And I guess having a lineage of strong leaders has helped, because here I am.” and he smiled and held his glass to her for a toast.

Cochrane, CO

She scooted a bit closer so he wouldn’t have to sit up. “Here’s to the future neither of us planned for. And both us are happy to be in.” She touched her glass to his and took a sip. “So, before joining Star Fleet, was there anything else you wanted to do?” Her knees had curled up under her, barely half an arm length from him.

Raye
CNS

He smiled and said “I wanted to be an actor, actually. What about you… Raye?”

Cochrane, CO

“Very nice… I would have watched all your vids,” In response she had to think. “I don’t know, actually. Mom and dad were so job driven in the Fleet, I don’t know if I actually thought I had a choice. I mean, I knew I’d have a career choice. But I don’t think I ever felt it would be right to stray from the Fleet as an ultimate career. I think I actually considered engineering or security because they are more ‘hands on’. But sadly, nomenclature and tools elude me. And I doubt, highly, I could have passed the physical requirement to be a good security officer.” She sipped her scotch. “Your turn to question.” She smiled.

Raye
Diplomat

He looked at her for a long moment, thinking. He then said “What is it you want out of your life?” and took a sip.

Cochrane, CO

She looked back at him wondering what he was asking for. It was a natural question. And one she probably would have asked. But for some reason, she wasn’t prepared for it to come him. “I guess happiness. Like everyone else. Someone to come back to after a shift who smiles at seeing me. Someone who seeks me out for a kiss or embrace either because they need it or just want it.” She smiled wistfully, “Someone to read with and even in silence, on difference sides of the couch, feel content to be with.” She took a deep breath and it shuddered a bit.

“What about you?”

Raye
Diplomat
(or not)

He nodded at her response and said “To be completely honest…” and his eyes locked with hers for a moment and he said…

“I have no idea. Really. Happiness, yes. But what form that takes? I truly couldn’t say. Someone to share that happiness would be good, I think. But I’m just not certain my life at this point is conducive to that. It would have to be a woman of inordinate patience and will to put up with the likes of me.” and he laughed and took a drink.

Cochrane, CO

She smiled. “I can respect that. I think some of us have an idea of what ‘happiness is’ and we voice it often enough that it becomes the goal. It’s why I can say I see the things that would bring me joy. But maybe you are right. We don’t know. We didn’t grow up being who we thought we’d be. We didn’t do what we thought we’d do. So why, even now, when we can reason logically, do we think we have an inkling of what ‘happiness’ would be for us in any moment other than now?” She took a sip of her drink and watched him. The fact he had actually made her rethink her ‘happiness’ was a bit unsettling. But at the same time, thrilled her to her core. He made her realize she could start her future today on page one and no one would be the wiser. She didn’t have to work towards some ultimate goal, merely be content with each goal she reached.

She held her glass out and smiled. “Then to happiness, in the form of patience, poetry and a the inhales that make every held breath, and eventual exhale, worth it.”

Raye
Diplomat

“Now that is a toast worth drinking to.” and he tapped his glass to hers. “You should think about speech writing. Might be a good fit for you.” and he winked at her and chuckled.

Cochrane, CO

She laughed and took a sip. “Well, only if I am lucky enough to remain here so you can be my inspiration. Deal?” Raye smiled and leaned on the back of the couch relaxing. The scotch bottle was more than half empty and she was glad it had been longer than five minutes. “I hope I am not keeping you from anything. I find myself very much at ease with you and glad of your company.” She grinned slightly pulling the glass to her lips. “One might say… happy…”

Raye
Diplomat

An arched eyebrow was the only indication that Cochrane caught the word play. “Well… as much as I wish I could stay and enjoy the conversation… I do need to be going. I have, well… the same things I always have. But they do require my attention.” and he finished his drink and set it on the table. “I very much enjoyed this, Raye. I hope we can do it again at some point.”

Cochrane, CO

She set her glass down and rose, picking up the bottle and stoppering it. Handing it to him as they moved to the door, she smiled. “A gift. And a reminder to take those ‘5 minutes’… with or without me. Though I certainly hope the former.” She held the bottle, almost two thirds down and nodded. “And I look forward to next time, very much.”

Raye
Diplomat

Cochrane took the bottle gently and said “As do I. This was… unexpected. But certainly pleasant.” and he stepped forward slightly and held out his hand. “Thank you, Raye.”

Cochrane, CO

She didn’t close the gap but offered her hand in return. “For me as well. Thank you. And I look forward to next time.”

Raye
Diplomat

He nodded once and then walked out, heading to his quarters. As he walked he whistled softly in the nearly deserted corridors.

Cochrane, CO

Rollo had been called to NEnsign Smith’s quarters. The woman was in hysterics about a break up with her significant other on the ship and had put out a call so the counselor could talk her out of doing anything stupid. That was the only reason she was in the same corridor, standing outside Smith’s door when she heard whistling and Cochrane appeared around a bend not far away. She noted a bottle in one of his hands and the smile on his face. It was a smile inspired by something private he was thinking about.

Zef raised her brows just as her distraught patient opened the door to her room. “OH COUNSELOR!!! ” Just as her and the Captain’s eyes met, Zef stepped into Smith’s quarters and let the doors close behind her. Perhaps she should rethink her own situation once she was through with the Ensign.

—Rollo, CNS

She smiled as the door closed and whispered, “Perhaps tomorrow for dinner.” And went to finish cleaning up from dessert.

Raye
Diplomat

OOC: Hope you don’t mind, but I’m building towards something in the future. Also, fixing a typo.

OOC: I’m okay with it, but I wont speak for everyone! Lol

James


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