Visiting a Friend

Posted on Sunday, 17 May 2020 - 12:02pm by Commander Soral & Lieutenant T'Lanna Vali

Mission: Operation: Recall
Location: USS Fontana | XO's Quarters
Timeline: MD05 (Around Lunch)

{ON}

T’Lanna arrived outside Soral’s Quarters, she’d gotten bored of resting in her quarters alone so she was hoping Soral wouldn’t mind her dropping by. She pressed the chime and waited for an invite to enter.

Soral had just finished cleaning. He was waiting for Alex to return from duty for lunch. He had the morning off and had decided to clean and give Bones a bath. Once that was done he'd cleaned and now he was seated on the sofa reading. The chime alerted him to someone being there. He closed is book being careful to mark the page and stood. "Enter."

T’Lanna nodded politely as she walked inside. “Apologies for disturbing your off duty time Soral. I don’t do rest time alone without getting bored so I thought I’d drop by. I hope you don’t mind?”

He motioned, "Not at all. Please come in."

T’Lanna walked over to where Soral was sitting. “I hope I didn’t stop you reading? I’m completely hopeless at anything relaxing, I sit still for a few moments and get bored! Either that or I fall asleep.” She shrugged her shoulders. “Sounds hopeless for a Counsellor doesn’t it?”

"There are many who are like that. Can I get you something to drink?" He walked over to the replicator. "Would you like anything to eat?"

“A lemonade would be lovely thank you, and as for food I would kill for something chocolate please!” She grinned as she took a seat on the other end of the sofa.

He ordered a lemonade and a chocolate cake. He carried them and placed them on the coffee table by Vali. He then walked back to the replicator and ordered himself a green tea. He walked back and seated himself across from Vali. "You must have your hands full. Traveling through the neutral zone is disconcerting to a lot of crew."

T’Lanna nodded. “It is somewhat, I’m not overly happy about it myself. It’s strange how being told you’re carrying a tiny life inside you makes your inner demons seem more real. I don’t usually let my fears get to me but I have a little one to protect now and it’s completely changed my point of view.” She picked up the chocolate cake and politely used the fork that came with to eat some.

"I can understand the Romulans. Starfleet let them down." He shrugged. "So much has changed in Starfleet It is not what it once was. That is why men like Stillwater are vital."

T’Lanna nodded. “I totally understand, Starfleet has changed to the point where people like me...ex-b’s that is don’t seem to matter anymore. I’ve served aboard a few places but this is the first place where I’ve truly felt at home. I like Victrix, I’ll be sorry to see her go when she leaves us, I’m just hoping Stillwater will be the kind of man I’m hoping he is.”

"Indeed. It seems we have not yet met the captain but we have already pinned our hopes on him." He shrugged "He may have much to live up to."

T’Lanna nodded. “We need to try not to pin too much on him too soon, he may not even want to return. As a civilian at the moment he has the right to refuse because Starfleet wants him back.” She politely ate some more of her chocolate cake, savouring every little bit.

"Does he?" Soral mused. "Perhaps." He looked towards the little window at the stars.

“Is this going to be a case of him being forced back to duty?” T’Lanna looked at Soral with a frown. “I didn’t realise I was assisting with forcing Stillwater back onboard a ship.”

"No he's not going to be forced. Not as long as Victrix and I are in command. He will decide." He studied Vali. "Are you looking forward to comedy night?"

T’Lanna grinned “Very much so!”

"Indeed, I believe we will be doing a movie night every two weeks on the holodeck.”

“Really?” T’Lanna smiled. “I normally do my movie nights in my Quarters but it could be fun to share a movie with others. It’s always more fun especially when you’re watching a comedy. Saying that I prefer romantic nights in.”

"Odd. Alex and I have never watched an entire movie" He shrugged. "Perhaps a more open setting would help."

T’Lanna blushed. “So I’m not the only one who doesn’t get through the movie then!” She grinned. “That’s the problem with a home movie, it’s too easy to get distracted.”

"Indeed." He stood walking over to the replicator. He ordered a glass of water. "It is good that you and Raith have one another. It is good that it can have a chance." He walked over the window and looked out at the Stars. He and Alex were living on borrowed time and he was feeling it as of late.

“I take it Alex knows about your upcoming wedding?” T’Lanna looked at Soral studying his body language.

"She does." His shoulders seem to lower a little. "I believe we are both existing within denial."

T’Lanna nodded. “I haven’t raised it with Alex because I wasn’t sure if she knew or not. I’ll be here for both of you when you need me, no matter what.”

"Indeed. It is appreciated. I would prefer you would be there for her. I...will grieve in my own way." He said.

T’Lanna nodded. “Of course I will Soral, but that doesn’t mean I won’t be checking up on you.” She offered a warm smile.

"Indeed." He looked over at her. "May I ask you a favour?"

“Of course” T’Lanna nodded. “Ask away.”

"During these way missions, since you will be on ship for a while. Would you care for Bones?"

T’Lanna grinned. “I’d love to! I love animals, not that I’ve ever had chance to own one.” She offered a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry Bones will be well cared for.”

"Thank you."

“Is there anything in particular he likes to eat? Anything I should avoid and is it okay to let him stay in your office while I’m working on the bridge?” She could have asked a million more questions but she kept it brief.

"I will have a list drawn up for you before we leave. He likes to sit under my seat on the bridge. He is usually quiet but you may leave him in my office while on the bridge. I will pack a bag for him with items he prefers and leave a used jacket of mine and Alex's. He has taken to dragging them to his bed and sleeping under them."

T’Lanna nodded. “That’s fine. He’s an adorable bundle so I’ll look forward to looking after him. How long do you expect to be away?”

"I am not sure. Vashti is an interesting planet it will take some time to get information."

T’Lanna nodded. “Not to worry, I’ll take good care of Bones.” She paused. “What shuttle is Raith going on?”

"He will be on the Apollo with Lieutenant Kingsley."

T’Lanna nodded. “Then I guess we’ll both have our minds on our loved ones while we’re apart. I know I’m supposed to be professional on duty but I’ll be thinking about him while he’s off ship.”

"It is natural. They are going to a relatively safe planet. It should not be an issue."

T’Lanna nodded. “That’s good to know. Besides we’ll hopefully find Captain Stillwater, I just hope my being an ex-b will prove of some use.”

"It is hard to say. I am sure all will work out." He paused. "This will be a long search. Stillwater comes across as the type of person to hide well. If he wishes to be found he will be and if he has friends and he is told that people are looking for him he may hide better."

“That’s true” T’Lanna nodded. “I guess we’ll have to see what happens.”

"Indeed." "Another drink?" he noted that she'd emptied her glass.

“Oh, no thank you” T’Lanna smiled. “I’ve had plenty for now. I’d best be letting you have some peace and quiet.”

"You are always welcome. This has been... an interesting experience, meeting the crew I mean. Most unusual but fascinating. May I ask you something?"

“Always” T’Lanna nodded as she looked at Soral.

"Is it wrong of me not to want Stillwater to accept so that Victrix will stay on?"

T’Lanna didn’t say anything for a moment. “No it isn’t ... because if it’s wrong for you to want it then it’s also wrong of me to think the same thing.” She sighed. “I mentioned to her about staying on with us, but she didn’t want to. I’m going to miss her as much as you are.”

"Indeed."

{OFF:}