Calling Bloodline

Posted on Thursday, 10 September 2020 - 12:02pm by Crewman Leopold Eberhardt & Lieutenant JG Adrianna Eberhardt

Mission: Operation: Dreamweaver
Location: Crew Quarters

Adrianna was in the kitchen cooking for both herself and Leopold. They'd been enjoying each other's company a lot more since getting back from Ba'Ku. In fact, she may have even started chastising herself for feeling like she was falling for him. It was far too soon for that. The woman was casually chatting away to Leopold as she chopped some vegetables up for a sauce when her computer went off saying there was an incoming call. "Sorry, Leo," she interrupted and walked over to the screen wiping her hands on a tea-towel.

Her eyes widened a little and she turned a little pale and a man's voice broke through, "Adie. Hey, don't look so worried."

"I, uhh," she stammered a little, taking a step back.

The man was around Adrianna's age, maybe a few years older. Ruggedly handsome, but had lines caused by stress, clearly. "Do you speak, or are you now a mute?" demanded the man, though it was unclear if it was in humour or not.

Adrianna looked to Leopold, suddenly coming to her senses about whether or not to end the call. She looked back to the screen, unable to speak. Her heart racing and her mind running at a million miles an hour. She ran a hand over her face, as if it would help her find actual audible sounds.

Leopold was not sure who Adrianna was talking to. He was slightly out of sight of whoever it was that had been on the open channel, though Leopold could see the expression on her face and hear what the male voice was saying. Adie? he thought to himself. Now, that sounded like a shortened form, something casual that someone she knew well would call her.

He did not like seeing Adrianna in awkward situations. She had an expression on her face that was similar to that of hos family's orange house cat who had plumped over the years, and who would make such a face when snoozing comfortably on the window sill only to be followed by a large thump after having fallen off from his sleeping spot. "Petty Officer Baciami," he called out to her. Leopold used her rank and surname. It was the easiest way he could think of to make his presence in her quarter seem less than what it was.

Adrianna snapped out of it grateful for the assistance. Her eyes went to Leopold and she smiled, taking a breath. "Who is there with you, Adie?" came the voice again.

Adrianna felt some courage and replied, "My boyfriend." She gulped and blushed a little, suddenly realising the term had not been discussed, rather assumed. She liked the term for Leo though.

Oh, we can be public about that now Leo thought as he blushed momentarily.

The man didn't look impressed, "you're in Starfleet for safety and escapism, not romance."

That hit a nerve and Adrianna had one hell of a temper when pushed. Her eyes seemed to darken and her expression turned serious, murder seemingly emulating from her being, "I am an adult. I am here alone. I am here because you tricked me. I am here because you said I'd be safe and guess what? You are calling me, ergo, jeopardising that."

There was silence. Tension may have needed a chainsaw not a knife. After a moment the man laughed,"Good to see you happy, Adie. Introduce me."

Adrianna looked to Leo with a little smile. "Leopold, this is Giovanni Baciami. My oldest brother."

"Oh, your brother Giovanni" Leo said as he approached and looked at Adrianna. "This is the homosexual one, right?" Leopold said looking at Adrianna. She had never said such a thing about her brother, but there was already tension and Leopold felt it was the perfect opportunity to get some revenge on the man, Adrianna's brother, who was tormenting her.

Giovanni smiled, chuckling, "nice try." His accent was less thick than Adrianna's and he most certainly had a better grip on language than her. He then offered to Leo, "it's nice to meet you. Hopefully in person one day. I'd give you the obligitory 'break her heart, I break your neck' but if I were you I'd be more scared of her than me. She never flinched any time our father would-"

Adrianna glared at her brother, "that's enough."

Giovanni simply smirked and looked back to Leopold, "see?"

"I am already afraid of your sister. So, you needn't be concerned with the forewarning" Leopold replied with a polite nod. "I do look forward to meeting you in person though. I have heard many stories about you and the family. Though I suspect that you may be a bit more forthcoming about some matters that your sister is not."

"You are more than welcome to contact me when she is not around," he replied then looked to Adrianna, "this channel, yes, it's open. We do not discuss politics. It seems safe enough to speak at the moment and with you in the black, I'm sure it won't hurt. That said, I know Starfleet may scream knowing we're talking, but I'm working with them. I promise. I came to warn you that our father's final trial is next week. Just brace yourself. Its not looking good. Also, brace yourself because our mother now knows how to contact you and she's demanding she speak with you. You might want to warn him about her though."

Adrianna groaned playfully, but was actually excited. She loved her mother, though was a daddy's girl really." Not sure I'd do her justice."

Giovanni chuckled, "perhaps the same speach you gave to Constantine, hm?" Giovanni's attention was distracted by something out of view, "look, I have to go, but you know how to contact me now. Properly. And, Adie, you really look settled." At that the comm was cut off.

Adrianna looked to Leopold and let out a breath she'd felt she'd been holding for the entire call. She muttered something in Italian under her breath and gathered her thoughts.

"Are we sure he's not interested in guys?" Leopold asked making light of what was clearly a stressful situation. "I know that you do not typically talk about your family unless I bring up the topic. You've done a marvelous job at hiding me and shielding me from their faults, but trial?" Leo inquired. "A trial means an arrest was made at some point which means at least a accusation of some wrong doing" added her boyfriend.

He looked at Adrianna. "What is it? Are you family involved with the Orion syndicate or something?"

"I managed to get into Starfleet in exchange for intelligence in order for him and Earth's mafia ring to be shut down," she said, unable to look at him as she admitted it.

Leopold sighed. "I am not disappointed in you. Please, do not take my sighing that way" he said apologetically. "I am just at a loss for words. Earth still has a mafia? I thought my planet was bad, but I am beginning to learn that even the most evolved worlds have their underbellies still" he said looking at Adrianna. "So, you put your father in prison?"

Adrianna looked up and offered a timid smile at the comment, "it did. I've not returned since. Last time I did, I got that scar you've seen. I put him in prison because I had a conscience."

He winced a bit at the thought of the scar. Too many mental images now came to him as to how that particular scar came to fruition. "I cannot speak for everyone else, Adrianna, but I much rather be with someone who has a conscience than someone who would knowingly allow criminal activity and injustice to go unchecked" explained Leopold. "You did what was right and what had to be done."

Adrianna felt somewhat relieved at what Leopold had said, but since they were being honest, she needed him to know. "My hands are not the cleanest. I have a history, but I always had a conscience." She looked to his eyes, "always." Adrianna then looked to the pasta sauce and quickly ran round to stir it. Thankfully it hadn't caught. She grabbed two bowls and served up, handing a full bowl of a roman pasta dish.

"Nicely done," replied Leopold. "I once had a girlfriend in high school. She would cook for me and get so distracted she nearly burned a...I think the closest thing is chicken. That and she completely destroyed chocolate covered fruit."

Adrianna was glad of the change of topic, "I'm just grateful it didn't burn. Otherwise that would be up there on a list of bad dates. I -," she tried to find the words, trying not to blush, "sorry for calliiing you my boyfriend. I know we haven't discussed it."

"It is alright, you wouldn't make the list of bad dates" replied Leopold. "I was not expecting to be referred to as your boyfriend, but after Ba'ku, I would have been more startled if you had not. I feel it is more than fitting."

"Not sure how I feel about being on a list," Adrianna smiled to Leopold, thoughtful. A lot had happened in a small window of time. Ba'ku definitely had let Adrianna come out of her shell, and certainly helped her to feel a little more deserving of being happy. He'd now met a member of her family and knew of her origins and why she felt as she did. It was all quick, yet somehow, didn't feel that way. "I'm sorry if it seemed quick, I just became tongue-tied. I like it as a title for you though, if you'll have me."

"Well, I don't have any reason to object," replied Leopold teasingly. "So, we are officially a pairing, and I have already had the pleasure of your brother."

"Pleasure," she repeated back to him entertained by the word choice. Adrianna leant over and kissed his cheek, "I'm surprised at how understanding you are about all of this. It's a lot."

"You have not been to my planet yet nor met my family," he countered. "It helps soften the blows. I can assure you of that much."

He was right or at least held the potential to be. "I guess we both have darkened backgrounds. Doesn't scare me off."


Leopold smirked and looked quite content with this whole situation. "Darkened and moderately dangerous, but I have more or less escaped from mine and have retreated intima boring life aboard a starship" he teased. "You still seem in the thick of things. That's alright though. I am not going anywhere, Adrianna."

"You can run whenever," she replied before darky teasing, "I may hunt you down though."

He looked at her lustfully. "I hope that's a promise you keep" he replied. "I like to be hunted."

A smirk tugged at her lips and let the word fall in a flirtatious manner, "promise."

"Promises," he replied simply. "Always" he added.

 

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