A Drink Between...Friends

Posted on Tue Oct 26th, 2021 @ 10:43am by Commander Grace Vetur & Lieutenant Commander Yivliph Ra-Gruvloveii

1,360 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Out of Time
Location: IRW Relentless
Timeline: During "Building Bridges"

ON

She led the intel officer through several corridors until she stopped in front of a door. "A small reception room for official social gatherings. As you have come to our assistance, it is appropriate."

The room contained several comfortable chairs and a rather ornate sofa. A young Romulan came in carrying a tray with two glasses, a bottle of Romulan ale, and a bowl of bite-sized biscuits. "Please, have a seat."

Assuming his seat, Yiv suddenly realised he at least hadn't taken any precautions against being drugged through any ingestion of food or drink. He eyed the drink and biscuits with trepidation for a moment, before meeting the eyes of his host once more and unleashing his most dazzling smile, 'I hadn't realised what a beautiful colour Romulan Ale is. It's really quite the shade of blue.'

She smiled, wondering what game he was playing, but willing to play along. "I have always found its color and flavor...captivating." At this, her eyes met his for a long moment.

She poured the ale into two glasses and handed one to him. "Shall we toast to...a closer relationship?"

He met her eyes, gaze flicking to the glass briefly as he hesitatingly accepted it. 'To a closer, friendlier relationship,' Yiv smiled as he moved to clink the glasses together, an Earther habit he had picked up in his years in Starfleet.

She touched her glass to his. "Ah, yes. A Terran tradition, I believe." She smiled and took a sip. "Tell me, Starfleet, what brings you to help an enemy? You could have taken us prisoner, but you are here, having a drink with me." She took another sip. She didn't indulge much, or often, but this was an exception. "Or should I take this as a...personal gesture...and ask you to call me Romana?"

He smiled, 'and you should call me Yiv,' seeing the Romulan take a sip of his own drink, he took a swallow of his own. Yiv savoured the taste and the burn down his throat before answering. 'Romana ... Starfleet doesn't go around imprisoning those in need. We're much more for the personal touch and extending a hand.'

That was not the Starfleet she knew. But for now, she would not argue. "Indeed? You have been most helpful with repairs." She took another sip of her drink. "Tell me, what is your job on your ship?"

'Second Officer,' replied Yiv smoothly, with a wider smile. 'When the Captain or First Officer are unable to step in on a problem, that's where I'm sent.' He was careful not to let his usual sense of humour runaway with him lest he say something that would offend his Romulan host. 'It's not a glamourous position, but it means I can often be at the scene of important interactions. And some pleasant ones like this.'

"Fascinating." She smiled. "What sort of problems do you deal with?" Not as interesting as she hoped, but he could still be of value to her.

'Well, mostly issues like this - the Captain and Executive Officers dearly wanted to be able to pay proper respect, but duties have kept them away from the ship. Protocol then demands my presence so that we don't offend people such as yourself by appearing to treat you with less respect than you deserve,' replied Yiv smoothly.

She almost preened at the praise. True or not, she liked his glib tongue. She refilled their glasses. "What else does someone as...important as you do on the starship?"

Yiv laughed easily, 'reports. Reams and reams of maintenance and requisition reports.' He tried to make his job sound as boring as possible so as to not attract to much attention to it. Taking another sip of the Romulan Ale he smiled widely once more, 'nothing as interesting as this current meeting, I have to say.'

She took another sip of her ale and smiled. "You can learn a lot from filing reports. That's the heart of Starfleet, is it not?"

He smiled, and took a sip, 'thankfully Starfleet is more than just paperwork. There's exploration and new and quite fascinating people to meet,' he eyed her over the top of his glass. 'Some more fascinating than others, of course.'

She smiled, a bit coy and a bit flirtatious. "Yes. Some are definitely more interesting than others." She smiled at him, keeping eye contact. "I find you quite...interesting. I would like to get to know you...better."

Hiding his nervousness with another swallow of Romulan Ale, Yiv began to feel the prickling of a rising uncomfortable heat below the collar. Thankfully we don't sweat. Flashing another smile, hoping to press his advantage in this game, he leaned forward, 'and I would enjoy getting to know you better ... Romana.'

The Romulan commander smiled at the use of her given name. She topped off both their glasses. He would take a little finessing, but she looked forward to this intriguing challenge. "As do I. You are not at all what I expected from a Starfleet officer. You might even convince me that I've misjudged your Federation." Or at least that there were some worth her time.

'I'm just glad your first ... encounter with a Starfleet officer wasn't with a Chelonian or Rigelian. Wonderful people, but not much to look at,' Yiv wink, warming to his subject, 'not that I am compared to you, of course.' He raised his refilled glass with a grin and a 'chin-chin as the humans say,' before taking another swallow.

"Looks aren't everything," Romana replied, smirking a bit. "They do help, but they do not take the place of...other attributes." She filled both their glasses. "Tell me something about you. What interests you?"

'Horticulture. Desert plants, specifically,' Yiv decided to admit honestly. 'I find great satisfaction in helping something grow and flower and survive. The more challenging the plant, the greater the pleasure.' He flashed another smile. 'A more indelicate man may mention the same about challenging women.'

Her eyes sparkled. "Yes. A good challenge makes the conquest sweeter." She leaned closer to Yiv. "And are you?" she whispered, the look in her eyes meeting his boldly. "A challenge?"

Guffawing he shook his head, 'no, I'm afraid not. I suppose you haven't met an Efrosian?' He met her gaze and purred, 'we're notoriously free with our affection,' A small voice at the back of his head told him this was a dangerous game you’re playing. But he paid it little notice. The thrill of the hunt, the chase, was filling him now. He was living as an Efrosian should.

Romana's smile changed, the expression in her eyes turned intense. "Perhaps we should retire to some place more...private. I would like to learn more about Efrosians."

His eyes narrowed slightly, and Yiv smirked. Alarm klaxons were playing at the back of his brain, but the ale seemed to be fogging things. 'Alright ... I'm always interested in cultural exchanges, Romana.'

"My rooms are not far." She stood, her smile now seductive. "We can...get to know each other there."

'It sounds like the opportunity we joined Starfleet for,' replied Yiv with a wicked smile. 'Why don't you lead on, Romana?' He got to his own feet, a little unsteady due to the alcohol consumed, then smiled again.

Once they slipped out a back door, Romana took his arm and led him to her private room. She had not anticipated meeting someone like Yiv, but she was definitely going to make the most of the opportunity.

"Computer," she said when they entered. "Turn lights down fifty percent and lock the door." Her crew knew better than to disturb her for anything short of an emergency. And here, with two Starfleet vessels in close proximity, she had no doubt the two of them would have plenty of time to...get to know each other.

____
OFF

Commander Romana
Commander
IRW Relentless

Lieutenant Commander Yivliph Ra-Gruvloveii
Chief Intelligence Officer
USS Ontario

 

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