Two Friends Catchng up...

Posted on Tuesday, 18 August 2020 - 5:12pm by Lieutenant JG Adrianna Eberhardt
Edited on on Tuesday, 18 August 2020 - 5:13pm

Mission: Operation: Overdrive
Location: USS Standing Bear
Timeline: 2393 Just before leaving station

{ON:}

Adrianna continued looking to the tortellini, thinking. Dammit, if she couldn't learn to cook for less than an army, then she needed to feed someone because what is an Italian that doesn't like to feed people in order to show them she loves them. The woman hit her command badge, "Eyelaya, have you eaten? I'm back on board and I can't cook for less than one hundred."

Eyelaya just finished the last decoupler patch. She wiped the sweat off her brow as the call from Adrianna came in. She tapped her badge. "Hi Adrianna. Sure. I just finished here. Let me go and change. Meet on the station in five minutes?"

"Can do," she smiled, "food will only take me a few minutes." Adrianna dusted off her floury hands and went to pop her shoes on, heading to the station straight away. She hadn't seen Eyelaya since getting back and this was a better excuse than drinks later.

Eyelaya finished putting away her tools and headed to her quarters. Mac was not there so she showered and changed and left a note saying that she'd be back later. She then bundled her hair in a ponytail and headed to meet Adrianna.

Adrianna was perched on a railing, waiting. She seemed well-rested and brighter, swinging her legs a little before noticing her jeans had flour handprints on them from where she'd tried to de-dust herself. The woman chastised herself in her mind.

Eyelaya saw her friend right away. She waved but less enthusiastically the before.

Adrianna hopped off the railing and beamed with a genuine smile but looked a touched concerned with Eyelaya's lack of... well... Eyelaya, "you ok?"

She gave a nod. "Sure. Tired I guess." She changed the subject. "So any particular place you'd like to eat?"

Adrianna smiled, "yes, I cooked. So mine."

"Sounds good." She followed Adrianna allowing he woman to lead her. The trip was quiet for the most part but it wasn't awkward. Eyelaya answered some questions about her day, when she got back, but she was not as chatty. She had so much running through her mind.

Adrianna went over to the kitchen finishing off the sauce and finishing cooking the pasta, "you seem too quiet." Adrianna gestured to a seat in the kitchen.

Eyelaya sat down. She shrugged. "I'm okay I guess." She looked down on the table. "I'm just trying to be what people want to see."

Adrianna looked to Eyelaya, "what?"

She sighed, "I keep thinking about what Emerick said. Others have found me annoying. They can't all be wrong. Maybe it's me, maybe I need to change."

"The ones that want you to change are not worth knowing," Adrianna commented as she served up, offering parmesan, "if you change, I for one will be upset."

That elicited a smile from Eyelaya. "You are a good friend Adrianna." She paused. "So how was your shore leave?"

Adrianna carried the two plates to the table where there was a jug of water and glasses already. The cutlery was laid out neatly. She sat down and looked to her food before looking to Eyelaya. Adrianna couldn't help but blush a little and beam with delight, "it was amazing."

Eyelaya caught the blush. "Oh? What has you so...glowing?"

Adrianna giggled a little, taking a bite of tortellini. Once she'd swallowed she replied, "I've been seeing someone. He's in engineering. We spent shore leave together. Got pretty close."

"Oh? Well, that's my department. Who is the lucky guy?"

"Crewman Leopold Eberhardt," she simply replied with a smile.

"Ahhh I know of him. Everyone speaks well of him." She paused a sedated but genuine smile on her face. "I am happy for you."

Adrianna sat back in her seat having had a sip of water, "is your mood because of what the EMH said?"

She shrugged. "It's a lot of things." She waved her hand. "My mood is not important. Tell me more about Leopold and you."

"I think I'd be a bad friend if I didn't hear you out," Adrianna commented, "conversation isn't as fun without your enthusiasm."

She smiled. "I am enthusiastic about it." She placed her hand on Adrianna's arm. "I'm really happy that is why I'd like to know more."

Adrianna looked a bit skeptical but reluctantly continued, "we met just before I joined the standing bear, on base. He was... Well... Intriguing. He's understanding of my past because we have a lot of similarities. I suppose the main difference is that he is more diplomatic and pushes me to just be happy. Technically, our shore leave was only our third date, but I genuinely feel like we have known each other for years. Gawd, he even saved my life!" Adrianna then went on to explain what happened with the terrorising Eagle thing and falling.

"He, sounds like a keeper." She grinned. "I'm so happy for you. Just take things slow. There is not point in rushing it. This guy sounds like he's in it for the long haul."

Adrianna considered the words spoken and nodded with a smile, "we'll see. He may push me out of an airlock before hand or vice versa."

Eyelaya laughed. "I doubt it." She looked at her friend. "Just don't forget you deserve love and you deserve the best. Don't settle for less."

Adrianna looked to her plate a moment then back to Eyelaya, "I'm getting there. I mean, I already seem to have the best of friendships with you in a long time."

She smiled. "Me too. I'm glad we met and I'm glad we're friends."

Adrianna chuckled, "that mean I have to go smack the person that made you question how amazing your personality is?"

"No it's alright. It's just that lots of people say I'm...tiring. Even my adoptive parents thought so. I'm just thinking maybe it's time to change. Look deeper."

Adrianna thought about it, "fine, but in my home and around me, be the person I met and found I liked. You have to be able to be yourself with someone, right?"

She smiled. "I do." She spontaneously hugged her friend.

Adrianna froze a moment, still new to the hugging this, but quickly relaxed and hugged her back, "I need your crazy."

She laughed. "Alright! Now lets eat and you can fill me in on date one and two now that know about three."

Adrianna beamed and went on to tell her ever detail. After she was done she asked, "I'm sorry, I never asked if you were ok with what I cooked. I'm Italian, I just like to feed people. Shows them I love them. That and I can't cook for less that a million."

She laughed. "I'm okay with it trust me." She was enjoying the food. "It's really good. What is it called?"

"It's a spinach and riccota stuffed tortellini with a sun-dried tomato pesto," she replied, "all hand made."

"It's very good!" She happily ate it. Despite that she wasn't big on trying new foods she really liked this meal. "After this we need chocolate. And then we plan."

"Chocolate, I can do," Adrianna agreed, "but what are we planning?"

"How much of it to eat." She said smiling.

Adrianna chuckled, "we don't plan, we just dive in and eat until our stomachs beg for mercy."

Eyelaya laughed. "Deal." She was quiet. "I met a friend on DS9...she saved my life."

Adrianna looked stunned, but concerned, "what happened?"

She sighed. "I'm not sure. There were cardassians...she said they were Obsidian Order. She laid them out like jelly beans. I've never seen anyone so....good at fighting."

Adrianna looked concerned, "at least you're safe and well."

"Yeah. Cassia and her husband were nice...there was something familiar about him though...as if I'd seen him before but I can't put my finger on it. It know it's weird but he looked human but...he had Cardassian eyes."

"You want me to see if I can find anything out for you?" Adrianna offered.

She was about to say no but..."Maybe." She shrugged. "Why would the obsidian order want anything with me?"

Adrianna had an idea as to the whys after how her friendship was forged. "I'll see what I can do," she smiled.

She nodded her thanks but then something shifted. "Adrianna...I shouldn't ask you for help." She paused. "Maybe it's not important."

"It'll keep me busy," Adrianna waved her off, "plus I enjoy doing stuff like this like you and your inventions."

She smiled a little. "Thanks."

{OFF:}