"The Meeting in the Bar"

[Guest Laarell]

Laarell, fresh off duty, mulled her vodka dispassionately. The woman threw back an appreciative shot for the sheer joy of being in the seediest bar on Camelot. It was damned nice just being back out here, back where the patrons were more exotic, and the alcohol less synthetic. Secretly, she knew, she never could have stayed on Earth.

 

It was obvious a certain Trill felt the same way, as at that very moment Atticus Segami strolled into the place. He saw the green lady in the corner booth and smiled. He'd been so busy settling in and getting acquainted with the tactical systems onboard the new ship that he hadn't gotten a chance to see her since that first abrupt meeting on the Bridge. Casually, he strolled towards the booth.

 

"Laarell, I should have expected to find you here. May I join you?"

 

The Orion looked him over, trying not to grin. "Why, me in a bar? How uncommon," she teased. "Yes. You may join me." She narrowed teasing eyes on the Trill that turned more friendly, looked him over pointedly. "You've been keeping in shape. Stamina still good?" she asked, a wicked glint in her eyes. She scratched along the edge of the table with a nail, her smirk hinting at thoughts inappropriate for a public environnment.

 

He sat down and answered, "Better then ever Miss Teykier, I've been pretty...active on my leave. You yourself are looking far from bad. Been 'training'?"

 

"When I can. I got saddled with a desk job." That smirk managed to turn even less pure-natured. "As in...grading papers on a desk. Not physical activity on a desk."

 

"Cheeky as ever aren't you? After we left the old girl I couldn't go back to being grounded or take flight on another ship so I decided to have some me time. I'm surprised, I seemed to be the only one who did that. Everyone else got career minded. Means I come back and find myself giving salutes to JoN's."

 

He sighed heavily at that thought but with a smile he added. "But on the other hand I got the extra pip, so it ain't all bad," he said, gesturing at his collar.

 

Laarell's mind ran wild with the possibilities, and judging by his reputation and personality... " 'Me time'? Smuggling? Piracy?" Her eyes glinted. "Assassinations?"

 

The last word triggered a reaction in Atticus that could have been observed by a trained eye. "No. nothing like that"", He said, "Just some personal business. Loose ends that needed to be tied."

 

She doubted that. She doubted that very highly. And on some, dark level that she didn't even want to understand, she loved it. "Hmm. I suppose that I could be more disappointed." Laarell pushed her thoughts to one side to smile, genially. "But I won't pry. And oh yes, congratulations on that promotion. Must not have been in too much trouble..."

 

"I can''t understand why Corizon gave me the damn thing. He confuses the hell out of me. I think he finds it amusing to make me think he wants me out on my ass before giving me credit. I was surprised he took me on as the chief of security for the new Excalibur since last time we spoke he was practically barking."

 

Laarell grinned. "Dogs do that, you know. Barking is the native Dameon language, I'm told."

 

It was always fun to gripe about the boss, Atticus made his own addition. "And now we have a cat as his first officer. I know its wrong to say it... but the bridge is gonna be covered in fur."

 

"And a helm-cat, to boot. I'm already running out of lint rollers."

 

"I bet." There was a moment's silence, and Segami spoke again. "Laarell... I have to ask you something. Does anyone know about what happened? Between us, I mean? I know how women love to talk, I've been one."

 

The last bit made her chuckle. "The Horta in Science knows. But he and I go way back -- and I don't think he really cares anyway. Being a rock and such. Other than that? No. I tend to keep things like that... private."

 

He laughed himself, quietly. "I think a few of the bridge staff suspect, though. Especially since, when I saw you the other day, you made me lose my breath just by standing in front of me."

 

"Now, that's hardly my fault," Laarell teased. "I do take pheromone inhibitors -- I do my best to be plain and unappealing."

 

"Plain and unappealing have never been words that spring to mind in your presence and you damn well know it." She didn't reply, but a slow, guilty smile started to spread. "I've seen the way you move and it isn't the way an unsure girl does. So you can cut being innocent with me." He winked, and called to the laziest waitress in the world to get him a single malt.

 

"All right, all right. Innocent doesn't ever work for me anyway," she admitted. "I always just come off coy, or smug..."

 

"I also have to ask. Was part of that night we had a competition with our favourite vampire?"

 

Laarell knew it wasn't that long, but her silence stretched on uncomfortably -- at least in her own mind. Of course -- even though Victria had never actively done anything to her... yes, she liked reminding an attractive woman who was tough "competition" who reigned in more departments than just Science and Operations. "Oh, a little," she finally admitted, airily. "Much more than a pleasant side-effect, though." Laarell leered.

 

"Pleasant? My dearest green lady, it was...amazing. But you do realise I'm now in a very interesting situation?" He said, taking the glass that had been deposited and having a sip of the warming liquor. "I haven't spoken to Victria since I've come back and I don't know if it would be best... seeing how the day she got captured I ended up on the bed, floor and bathroom counter of your quarters."He put the drink down looked the Orion straight in the eyes. "And you, Miss Teykier. What do I do about you? Forgetting about that night is going to be a very, very hard task for me."

 

Laarell leaned forward, considering. "Now, you can't just go and buy an Orion slave girl to take your mind off me, can you? Not in civilised space..."

 

"That would just be too cliche, a three-hundred and sixteen year old man picking one of those up? Besides…" He said with a glint in his eye. "I know for a fact it just wouldn't compare."

 

He leant back into his seat and held out his hands like a pair of invisible scales. Now... I have a choice. I can hopelessly chase after Vic, who'll probably bog off back to Al-Ucard the first chance she gets…or…I can chase after you, in which case I'll always be on my toes trying to figure out your game. Its quite the dillemma." He folded his arms in mock frustration.

 

"Game? Oh, but the rules are simple. I enjoy opportunities when I get them." She smirked. "Chase after me, and you'll likely get rewards. Chase the vampire and you'll get bitten."

 

"Heh, you know, sometimes I think if you two actually worked together the galaxy would be in big damn trouble. It's your world -- men like me are just living in it."

 

"She's more exotic. I have to distinguish myself somehow."

 

"Commander Laarell Teykier, there are forests on planets full of landscapes and animals that no being has ever laid eyes on in the history of existence. There are markets on some worlds where you can buy herbs that allow you to see into your very own soul, supposedly, and these places? Compared to you, they're about as exotic as this bar. And I think you know that too." He put his hand on hers, a bold gesture but hell, what did he have to lose? "Your drink's empty...want another?" he asked softly.

 

"But I'm not thirsty," she protested, gently, biting back a smirk. "I think I might be hungry, actually."

 

"Well I know a great little place. Good food, great company and plenty of... entertainment. Or we could go to a restaurant instead."

 

"No, your place sounds much better. My kind of spot," Laarell volunteered, the smirk widening to a lop-sided grin.

 

"This is going to become a bad habit you know." He said in the voice of a man who doesn't give a good Goddamn.

 

"There are worse habits. At least we're not in the same department."

 

"Yeah. And I'm not likely to run after Doug any time soon."

 

Laarell laughed, loud and long. "Make me a few promises, Trill, and we can share a bad habit for as long as it can last. Don't ever get jealous on me, don't suddenly turn into an emotional sap and decide we're the next set of Ziers, and please -- I'll return the favors." She grinned.

 

"Oh, God no! Those two got together a bit quick, didn't they? I mean, I don't know 'em that well but... damn. Talk about a whirlwind. Seriously Laarell, I'm not really looking for love in this life... maybe in the next. The last time I went down that path... well, let's just say I only just managed to close that book for good during this leave.

 

He moved closer to her.

 

"All I want is what you want, Laarell. I want to enjoy this life as best as I can till Corizon sends us on some suicide mission we don't come back from. I enjoyed life that night Laarell. Very much. And I think you did too. So you don't have to worry about me falling for you. I'm officially a bastard. Something I'm sure you and everyone else has gathered. And I intend to stay that way."

 

Her face twisted into a grin. "Love and leave? As a promise? After my own heart." It warmed to a genuine smile. "I'm glad we're on the same page. Besides... I don't think spots and green would go very well on potential offspring. With no offense intended -- I like the spots on you..."

 

"None taken. I hope you enjoy the privilege of seeing every last one." He stood up and downed the rest of his drink. "Now come with me Miss Teykier and I'll show you something that I learned in a smuggling den when I was a pirate with a fantastic pair and an amazing tush."

 

Laarell grinned. "You lucky sod. Got the experience of both worlds, eh?"

 

"I have my tricks, you have yours." He held out his hand to her..

 

"Fair enough." Happily she took the offered palm.

 

He lifted her out of the booth and looked her in the eye. "So it's a deal. No love?"

 

"No love," she agreed, readily. "Just occasional hate and mind-boggling lust."

 

"Excellent."

[LeftEar JoNs 0]

It was always fun to gripe about the boss, Atticus made his own addition. "And now we have a cat as his first officer. I know its wrong to say it... but the bridge is gonna be covered in fur."

 

"And a helm-cat, to boot. I'm already running out of lint rollers."

 

 

Masking tape works wonders with removing that pet hair.

 

w00t! Nice log Spots and Greenie!