Clean the home and Soothe the Pagh (Part 5)

Posted on Sat Jul 1st, 2017 @ 10:41am by Captain Landon Mabrade & Commander Ashe Rii'Na MD
Edited on on Sun Jul 2nd, 2017 @ 2:44am

1,787 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Celebrate Culture
Location: Kindness Place
Timeline: Follow on from part 4

Old:

A bell sounded in the Bar end of the place, just audible in the restaurant. Lady Ebele turned a casual glance in that direction and held up a hand so the Hostess could see, with a subtle gesture that seemed like a wave she made a five finger wave exactly three times. The Orion nodded and looked in the direction of the Bar to relay the message.

New:

"Ah, your timing could not be better." She smiled to Rii'Na. "As this is your first time and as a gift for your running of the station I will offer you a complementary meal Miss Rii'Na. I thank you for coming to my establishment." With a slight flurry of her long skirt she started to move away. "Be well, Rii'na and If you should ever need anything..." She looked over her shoulder. "If there is any favor I can do for you please do not hesitate; I have connections that might surprise you and I 'Do Not' accept Latinum for favors." She smiled brightly. "There is more to profit than just Latinum, much more."

"Thankyou so much, Lady Ebele. if the need ever arises I will be sure to remember that. and may you be well too. May the Prophets shine on your fine work. It has been wonderful to meet you" Rii'Na replied with a warm smile.

With that Ebele moved to the next table in her rounds.

"Oh, a personal invitation to ask a favor of Lady Ebele." JC marveled. "H-her list of 'IOU's' is said to be the things Urban legends are made of." JC marveled. "That Bell in the bar means Drinks on the House. She is not a traditional Ferengi, she cannot have profits so she opens the bar to an Open bar for a time to cause more over head I think and keep the Ferengi auditors from catching her." He chuckled. "She boasts this is a 'non-profit' establishment and the auditors of the grand Nagus are said to have neer caught her with a strip of profit on the books." He looked into Rii'Na's eyes. "But enough about her, you are a far more desired subject of conversation." He nodded. "We have some time while they cook and as a free meal I would take advantage of it."

"One of the 'perks of command' I suppose, not that I have really used that many. Lady Ebele seems very sweet. I'm sure I'll be back. Being a woman is not always easy, particularly in Ferengi society; I'm glad she is happy." Rii'Na said, taking a sip of her drink. "I'm not sure how good a topic of conversation I would be, Bajorans are fairly...... conservative by nature."

"Grandmaw always said never delve into a lady's secrets." Conroy chuckled. "But there has to be a declassified version that would be good dinner conversation?" He smiled. Like what brought you into Starfleet in the first place?"

"After Fleet pulled me out of a situation I'd care not to mention; I met nurses that were some of the nicest people I had ever met, even a Bajoran doctor. I prayed to the Prophets that night in the infirmary. I was so grateful and in awe of what they could do; it didn't take long before I was a cadet. Sure, for a while I was out of my depth and wondering what I had gotten myself into but I had been shown something to strive for. I have been very grateful and happy in my work ever since. How about you?"

"I was a bit harder to handle my parents suggested I get somehing that will challenge me so I went to Starfleet and get to play on really big toys." He chuckled. "My background is really simple, Ineeded something with a direction or I get squirrely and a bit harder to deal with. Would not say wild but not as 'Tame' as I look. Fleet gives the structure and some rules so I do not go out of line... too far." He winked. "Plus you meet the most interesting people." He was sure to make eye contact with her.

"No kidding." Rii'Na smiled. "That much certainly does happen in this sort of life. I didn't move around anywhere near as much on Bajor. Fleet really does get you out and about."

JC chuckled. "I have a type of fast paced desk job." He told her. "Quick thinking but no strains on the body."

The waitress brought the food; wished them a good meal and left them to their obvious deep conversation.

"That also means your 'No Court Martial' is still in effect." He joked.

"Do I look like I was about ready to do that?! JC, I'm not that type of Commander." Rii'Na giggled. She fluffed the rice over, combined it with some of the Pork and vegetables and took in a small mouthful. "Well, that chef certainly earns her pay. This is just delightful, dessert will probably be amazing."

"You can bank on that fact." JC said with a smile. "Especially if you have a sweet tooth."

"What girl doesn't. Most that I know of have a sweet tooth." She smiled as she went for another mouthful and then offered a mouthful off to JC.

"Present company accepted as well." Conroy smiled. "Well I am learning something new everyday." He gave her the warm expression. "This will be devilishly good then as I know she uses Andorian Chocolate; it has slightly different properties."

"Well, this is one time I don't mind skipping evening prayers. Still, will have to make it up to the Vedeks in the morning. Trouble of being in my position when there is a shrine on the station."

Conroy could not help but all but burst out laughing; nearly spitting out the liquid he had started to drink. "Well that is a new one." He put a napkin to his face. "I have not had a curfew with a girl since.... middle school I think?" He started to calm down. "Is this a Bajoran thing; I mean not wanting to stay out late and miss prayers. "I know of a 20th century song about only the good die young." He referred. "I know something about a Catholic girl; a strong religion of the time, and the man was not so. Something about saying a 'prayer for me...' was mentioned in the lyrics I do believe?"* Conroy made eye contact. "If I had known I would have ordered sooner and see if your position gets a speed card?"

"Being XO, the Vedeks see me as a kind of 'beacon to the people' one who sets a good example. prayers are a good part of it all, but not the be all and end all. It's just a 'good way' of keeping the communication lines open." She snuck a mouthful. "They do give me some leeway, so long as we pray when we feel it best and keep the Prophets in our hearts, life is good. Not everything revolves around the temple. I would barely get anything done around here if it was the reverse." She leant in a little closer. "The only curfew is what I set myself." she replied with a wink.

Conroy was a gentleman for the rest of dinner; light conversation as the whole missing prayers had caught him off guard. He did not like coming between a lady and her Gods or whatever.

"I promise to be more mindful of your prayer time on the next time we go out." Conroy assured her. "I might get it right by then?"

"I tend to work my prayers around my meetings and not the other way around. The Prophets will always be there in the morning." Ashe said with a smile. "Then again, so will the reports."

"Off shift Rii'Na." JC said with a smile. "Kindness Place is not a place for work talk unless you want to be of the commercial type business.?" He shook his head. "I certainly doubt we are conducting Commercial business and Personal business ... " He gave a sly grin. "What better place to conduct that kind of exchange."

Rii'Na nicely finished the main course and sat patiently waiting for the dessert. "The meal was exquisite, dessert is probably going to blow me away. So, what did you want to do afterwards, stroll along the promenade? I do enjoy a good walk and company makes it all the better."

"Well there goes my next line." Conroy chuckled. "I think a stroll would be something Ito look forward to." He winked. "If you are nice I might try the hold hands?"

Ashe could not help but giggle. "And wouldn't I be the lucky one?" she replied with a smile. "The prophets can wait for one night. I am sure they would understand, we must live our lives after all."

"I promise to be a gentleman... mostly." He smiled. "Cannot be too nice a guy or I might be boring?"

Rii'Na beamed, she barely noticed the desserts getting laid in front of them as she took in her company for the night. He didn't seem to care that she was Bajoran, somewhat religious, had such responsibility on her or that they barely knew each other. It was like some new adventure lay ahead and he was ready to dive on in. he actually made it feel like a good idea to follow him, head first and not look back. Ashe sampled the dessert and was overjoyed at how it tasted.

"That chef truly earns all her praise. This is heavenly. I'm glad we bumped into each other tonight" Another mouthful vanished and was savoured. "I doubt anyone is ever meant to be alone for too long."

"I have heard there is someone for everyone... somewhere." JC said between his own bites. "I am willing to give you some company if you like?" He stumbled a bit with his words. "Or should I say I want to be there for you."

He seemed about as nervous as she was inside, it seemed like she could live in the moment; reach out and touch a star, feel the touch of the Prophets brush by them. He was making just having dinner turn into an experience to remember. "Thanks, JC." She touched his hand gently, feeling a subtle warmth. She looked into his eyes as their fingers laced together. There was a depth to her eyes, almost like she had been yearning for this without really knowing it.

"My pleasure..." He replied while scaling the depths of those eyes.



OFF

Cmdr Rii'Na Ashe
Executive Officer

&
James (JC) Conroy
Flight Operations


*Song 'Only the good die young' by Billy Joel

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