Interlude – Down Time
by Arrival Thomas Whitlock & Commander Karen Villiers
Post Details
Thomas stood in the turbolift and waited patiently for it to stop. He had no idea where it was going and he didn't mind. The base was huge and he still had a lot of exploring to do. When the lift stopped he'd get off and see what was there.
Karen held up a hand as she stepped into the lift on deck fifty-six. "What brings you up here, newshound?" she asked. "I'm heading down to the promenade. Off duty, finally." She paused a moment when he did not reply. "Do I need to change first?"
"Hello again, Commander," Thomas replied with a smile. "Change?" he asked, confused.
She raised her hands and swept them down over her uniform as she spoke, "You're happy being caught in the 'Box' chatting with the XO?"
"Oh, right," Thomas said with a nod. "Nothing wrong with being seen in public with the XO," he told her, "but if you'd be more comfortable I can wait while you change into something else."
"Then you'd know where I lived," Karen shrugged, "and I'm not sure the media lurking on the doorstep would be so good for me. Drink?" she suggested with a grin.
"I'm not some sleazy tabloid writer," Thomas said, pretending to be hurt. "I could use a drink though. If you don't mind being seen in public with a reporter," he added with a wink.
Karen sighed, "Well that's the rub!" she stated with a laugh. "... what does that mean anyway? I've never understood it," she said loudly before lowering her voice. "Drinks on the FNS, if what I have just read is anything to go by," she whispered before raising the register again. "So why would I mind being seen in public with reporter?" she asked quite blatently.
"Fraternizing with the enemy, selling out, trying to further your career by getting a favorable review by the press," Thomas said, trying to look serious. "Any number of rumors could come from it."
She threw up her hands, "Spare me the rumours! I am off duty. If I cannot eat it or drink it or taste it or feel it I do not want to know about it for the next eight hours, are you with me?"
"That's what I wanted to hear," Thomas replied with a nod. "Just two friends out having a good time."
"Promenade," Karen said with a smile of agreement, "I just need to relax, you with me?"
"Most definitely," Thomas said to her. "Rough day?"
"No worse than usual," Karen replied carefully, even if she got sloshed there were things she would not reveal in conversation. "Let's go," she continued as they stepped out of the turbolift.
"Still don't trust me?" Thomas asked as he followed her out of the lift. "And here I thought we'd hit it off so well."
"Trust?" Karen laughed, "It'll be a cold day on Breen when I lose my innate suspicion, but that's part of my job. Thomas, I trust you to be exactly what you are," she said with a grin.
"Charming and irresistible," Thomas said with a serious look as he walked beside her.
"The jury is out on that one, Whitlock," Karen said dangerously, "let's see if it holds up after a drink or two," she suggested.
"I'm hurt," Thomas replied, trying to make his face match his words.
"Then watching you hear a briefing must be like attending to the survivors of a massacre," Karen replied, "You're made of better stuff than that, I hope," Karen said patting his upper arm in what she hoped was a pally rather than an exploratory manner.
Thomas smiled at her and said, "I can take care of myself." He paused and looked around. "Where are we going?"
"There's a Klingon bar if you fancy it," Karen suggested. She also had a bone to pick with whoever had prepared the dodgy Bahgol she had eaten last time she was in.
"I haven't had Bloodwine in quite a while," Thomas said to her. "I could use a glass or two."
"You'll regret it in the morning," Karen grinned. "Here we are."
"We're going to be together in the morning?" Thomas asked with a wink as he followed her into the bar.
"Now that would be a story," Karen said with a roll of her eyes. The change in atmosphere was marked, a single step across the threshold shifted visitors from the airy well lit Federation promenade to a claustrophobic, dimly lit space remeniscent of a cavern. In the centre of the room stcked in a big crucible a fire burned - it was holographic, but it added to the atmosphere which was authentic right down to the sticky layer on the surface of the floor. "There's a table," Karen said making for a vacant space.
"Do they have decent gagh here?" he asked her as he walked to the table and sat down.
"Passable, but don't bother with anything more complex, the chef in this place could burn water," Karen said. she had been here several times before. "Blood wine!" Karen called to the bartender. "So how are you settling in?" she asked Thomas.
"I still have so much to see on the base," Thomas replied. "I went and visited the Romulan consulate recently."
"Talk about starting at the top," Karen remarked as the bartender slammed two heavy mugs down on the table. "Gagh," she requested, "and use the latinum we pay to buy your chef a cooking lesson," she added with a grin. "What did you make of her?" she asked. Karen had not met the ambassador but she knew of her by reputation.
"The Ambassador was pleasant enough....for a Romulan," Thomas said. "I'm sure her and I can become friends in time."
Karen laughed and reached for one of the mugs, "Friends?" she said taking a sip. That was a surprise.
"Is that so hard to believe?" Thomas asked, drinking some of the wine. "Have you forgotten who you're talking to? I'm surprised I haven't already been invited to dinner."
"You don't waste any time do you," she smiled. "Do you come with a warning?"
"Life's too short to waste time," Thomas replied. "I would think someone like you would understand that."
"Oh, I understand, alright," Karen said. "Where's that gagh?"
"Am I missing something?" Thomas asked, looking at her as he finished his wine.
"Missing?" Karen was surprised. "Not at all. Too many people spend their lives wondering what if, and too few take a leap and trust that things will work out."
"I couldn't agree more," Thomas replied with a wide smile. "More wine!" he yelled to the bartender.
"Good plan. carpe Diem," she said raising a mug. "Lets drink to that and those who don't think it means 'fish of the day'"
Thomas laughed and smiled at her as he drank from the full mug in front of him. "You're alright, Commander," he said to her.
"Yeah," she said, "I just got a bit shot a day or two back. Nothing happens slowly round here, you get hardly a minute to find your feet."
"Shot?" he asked, not sure if he'd heard correctly through the effects of the drink.
"Just a little bit," Karen joked, "It was during that last attack. I didn't even see it coming ... kind of puts things in perspective," she said.
"What was it like?" Thomas asked, raising his glass to signal he wanted a refill. "Getting shot, I mean," he said to her.
"Not an experience I'm keen to repeat, I'm a lawyer, not an action hero," Karen said before pausing to think of a reply. "It burned," she said eventually, "After the feeling like being whacked with a heavy, blunt object eased, anyway, then it was kind of tingly, and then ... then it burned."
"How did you feel after being shot?" he asked. "What went through your mind?"
"The words How could you be so bloody stupid!. Fear - I didn't know it was on stun until I was on the floor, and oddly a sense that there must be more to life than this," Karen said running a finger around the rim of her drinking vessel. "That's odd, isn't it?"
"I've never been shot but I can understand why you would feel that way," he said to her.
"I don't advise trying it," Karen said with a laugh. "I guess I haven't spent much time thinking about my own mortality," she continued, "I'm still not sure if I will now, life's too short."
"Live for the moment and take advantage of every opportunity," Thomas said, looking her over and giving her a wink.
"Quite," she replied.
"Drink up, Commander," Thomas said to her. "You're falling behind."
Karen grasped her mug and drained it before wiping her mouth on the back of her hand, "Yeah, neing maudlin is for later in the evening ... was that a challenge?"
"I'm not sure if it was or not," he said to her. "I'm not too familiar with the base yet. If I get too drunk I may need someone to help me back to my quarters," he added with a sly smile.
"Well, Thomas, you'd better warn someone where they are and they can pour you under the door," she suggested as she raised her hand to summon the barman, "He's more attentive once you've been in a few times," she said. "Unless you ordered Gach!" she added with a yell.
When the drinks came they were accompanied by the long delayed dish, and a scowl.
"All part of the service," Karen commented, "So where were we?"
"You were going to try to catch up then help me home," he said to her as he took a long swig of his wine.
"If I try to catch up too quickly it'll be me who needs helping home," Karen protested. "You got a good head start when I was droning on about life."
"Then do your best to get caught up," Thomas said with a smile. "I'm not going to slow down though."
"I'll have to reprimand myself if I'm caught drunk on the promenade," Karen reminded him before attacking her drink.
"I'll be sure to get you home without any problems," he said with a broad smile as he drank more of the wine.
"You might have to."
OFF
Commander Karen Villiers
Executive Officer
Trying to behave like a human being for a change
Thomas Whitlock
FNS Journalist
by Arrival Thomas Whitlock & Commander Karen Villiers
Post Details
| Title | Down Time | |
| Mission | Interlude | |
| Author(s) | Arrival Thomas Whitlock & Commander Karen Villiers | |
| Posted | Sat Jun 05, 2010 @ 4:44pm | |
| Location | A Klingon Bar | |
| Timeline | SD19 |
Karen held up a hand as she stepped into the lift on deck fifty-six. "What brings you up here, newshound?" she asked. "I'm heading down to the promenade. Off duty, finally." She paused a moment when he did not reply. "Do I need to change first?"
"Hello again, Commander," Thomas replied with a smile. "Change?" he asked, confused.
She raised her hands and swept them down over her uniform as she spoke, "You're happy being caught in the 'Box' chatting with the XO?"
"Oh, right," Thomas said with a nod. "Nothing wrong with being seen in public with the XO," he told her, "but if you'd be more comfortable I can wait while you change into something else."
"Then you'd know where I lived," Karen shrugged, "and I'm not sure the media lurking on the doorstep would be so good for me. Drink?" she suggested with a grin.
"I'm not some sleazy tabloid writer," Thomas said, pretending to be hurt. "I could use a drink though. If you don't mind being seen in public with a reporter," he added with a wink.
Karen sighed, "Well that's the rub!" she stated with a laugh. "... what does that mean anyway? I've never understood it," she said loudly before lowering her voice. "Drinks on the FNS, if what I have just read is anything to go by," she whispered before raising the register again. "So why would I mind being seen in public with reporter?" she asked quite blatently.
"Fraternizing with the enemy, selling out, trying to further your career by getting a favorable review by the press," Thomas said, trying to look serious. "Any number of rumors could come from it."
She threw up her hands, "Spare me the rumours! I am off duty. If I cannot eat it or drink it or taste it or feel it I do not want to know about it for the next eight hours, are you with me?"
"That's what I wanted to hear," Thomas replied with a nod. "Just two friends out having a good time."
"Promenade," Karen said with a smile of agreement, "I just need to relax, you with me?"
"Most definitely," Thomas said to her. "Rough day?"
"No worse than usual," Karen replied carefully, even if she got sloshed there were things she would not reveal in conversation. "Let's go," she continued as they stepped out of the turbolift.
"Still don't trust me?" Thomas asked as he followed her out of the lift. "And here I thought we'd hit it off so well."
"Trust?" Karen laughed, "It'll be a cold day on Breen when I lose my innate suspicion, but that's part of my job. Thomas, I trust you to be exactly what you are," she said with a grin.
"Charming and irresistible," Thomas said with a serious look as he walked beside her.
"The jury is out on that one, Whitlock," Karen said dangerously, "let's see if it holds up after a drink or two," she suggested.
"I'm hurt," Thomas replied, trying to make his face match his words.
"Then watching you hear a briefing must be like attending to the survivors of a massacre," Karen replied, "You're made of better stuff than that, I hope," Karen said patting his upper arm in what she hoped was a pally rather than an exploratory manner.
Thomas smiled at her and said, "I can take care of myself." He paused and looked around. "Where are we going?"
"There's a Klingon bar if you fancy it," Karen suggested. She also had a bone to pick with whoever had prepared the dodgy Bahgol she had eaten last time she was in.
"I haven't had Bloodwine in quite a while," Thomas said to her. "I could use a glass or two."
"You'll regret it in the morning," Karen grinned. "Here we are."
"We're going to be together in the morning?" Thomas asked with a wink as he followed her into the bar.
"Now that would be a story," Karen said with a roll of her eyes. The change in atmosphere was marked, a single step across the threshold shifted visitors from the airy well lit Federation promenade to a claustrophobic, dimly lit space remeniscent of a cavern. In the centre of the room stcked in a big crucible a fire burned - it was holographic, but it added to the atmosphere which was authentic right down to the sticky layer on the surface of the floor. "There's a table," Karen said making for a vacant space.
"Do they have decent gagh here?" he asked her as he walked to the table and sat down.
"Passable, but don't bother with anything more complex, the chef in this place could burn water," Karen said. she had been here several times before. "Blood wine!" Karen called to the bartender. "So how are you settling in?" she asked Thomas.
"I still have so much to see on the base," Thomas replied. "I went and visited the Romulan consulate recently."
"Talk about starting at the top," Karen remarked as the bartender slammed two heavy mugs down on the table. "Gagh," she requested, "and use the latinum we pay to buy your chef a cooking lesson," she added with a grin. "What did you make of her?" she asked. Karen had not met the ambassador but she knew of her by reputation.
"The Ambassador was pleasant enough....for a Romulan," Thomas said. "I'm sure her and I can become friends in time."
Karen laughed and reached for one of the mugs, "Friends?" she said taking a sip. That was a surprise.
"Is that so hard to believe?" Thomas asked, drinking some of the wine. "Have you forgotten who you're talking to? I'm surprised I haven't already been invited to dinner."
"You don't waste any time do you," she smiled. "Do you come with a warning?"
"Life's too short to waste time," Thomas replied. "I would think someone like you would understand that."
"Oh, I understand, alright," Karen said. "Where's that gagh?"
"Am I missing something?" Thomas asked, looking at her as he finished his wine.
"Missing?" Karen was surprised. "Not at all. Too many people spend their lives wondering what if, and too few take a leap and trust that things will work out."
"I couldn't agree more," Thomas replied with a wide smile. "More wine!" he yelled to the bartender.
"Good plan. carpe Diem," she said raising a mug. "Lets drink to that and those who don't think it means 'fish of the day'"
Thomas laughed and smiled at her as he drank from the full mug in front of him. "You're alright, Commander," he said to her.
"Yeah," she said, "I just got a bit shot a day or two back. Nothing happens slowly round here, you get hardly a minute to find your feet."
"Shot?" he asked, not sure if he'd heard correctly through the effects of the drink.
"Just a little bit," Karen joked, "It was during that last attack. I didn't even see it coming ... kind of puts things in perspective," she said.
"What was it like?" Thomas asked, raising his glass to signal he wanted a refill. "Getting shot, I mean," he said to her.
"Not an experience I'm keen to repeat, I'm a lawyer, not an action hero," Karen said before pausing to think of a reply. "It burned," she said eventually, "After the feeling like being whacked with a heavy, blunt object eased, anyway, then it was kind of tingly, and then ... then it burned."
"How did you feel after being shot?" he asked. "What went through your mind?"
"The words How could you be so bloody stupid!. Fear - I didn't know it was on stun until I was on the floor, and oddly a sense that there must be more to life than this," Karen said running a finger around the rim of her drinking vessel. "That's odd, isn't it?"
"I've never been shot but I can understand why you would feel that way," he said to her.
"I don't advise trying it," Karen said with a laugh. "I guess I haven't spent much time thinking about my own mortality," she continued, "I'm still not sure if I will now, life's too short."
"Live for the moment and take advantage of every opportunity," Thomas said, looking her over and giving her a wink.
"Quite," she replied.
"Drink up, Commander," Thomas said to her. "You're falling behind."
Karen grasped her mug and drained it before wiping her mouth on the back of her hand, "Yeah, neing maudlin is for later in the evening ... was that a challenge?"
"I'm not sure if it was or not," he said to her. "I'm not too familiar with the base yet. If I get too drunk I may need someone to help me back to my quarters," he added with a sly smile.
"Well, Thomas, you'd better warn someone where they are and they can pour you under the door," she suggested as she raised her hand to summon the barman, "He's more attentive once you've been in a few times," she said. "Unless you ordered Gach!" she added with a yell.
When the drinks came they were accompanied by the long delayed dish, and a scowl.
"All part of the service," Karen commented, "So where were we?"
"You were going to try to catch up then help me home," he said to her as he took a long swig of his wine.
"If I try to catch up too quickly it'll be me who needs helping home," Karen protested. "You got a good head start when I was droning on about life."
"Then do your best to get caught up," Thomas said with a smile. "I'm not going to slow down though."
"I'll have to reprimand myself if I'm caught drunk on the promenade," Karen reminded him before attacking her drink.
"I'll be sure to get you home without any problems," he said with a broad smile as he drank more of the wine.
"You might have to."
OFF
Commander Karen Villiers
Executive Officer
Trying to behave like a human being for a change
Thomas Whitlock
FNS Journalist