No One Gets to Poison My Man and Live

Posted on Saturday, 16 January 2021 - 8:44pm by Captain Barret Stillwater & Lieutenant Talarn Zilth
Edited on on Saturday, 16 January 2021 - 9:41pm

Mission: Operation: Trail of Tears
Location: Quarters

ON:

Talarn had spent the morning taking the replicator in their quarters apart. He insistent that he do it himself, even though there are plenty of people that could have made sure the replicator was safe. Most would have just scanned it and called it good, but Talarn was not making any changes. Regardless, he scrubs the replicator to it's parts and then put it back together. He was worried that if they tried poison that espionage was next. He didn't know who had done the poisoning, or what their end game was. He had never better good for not knowing. He put the last part back into the replicator, knowing that at least now that was safe too.

Stillwater still dressed in his dress uniform, now with a fourth rank pip on his uniform walked into his shared quarters and found Talarn busy with tidying up. "Tal, what are you doing? Stress cleaning?" asked Stillwater with a smirk. "If this is what you do when I'm poisoned, I'd hate to see what you do grieving my passing "

He smirks, which was something he almost couldn't refuse when he saw Barret. He shrugs a little. "Just... making sure everything is... safe." He reminded himself to check the shower. So many things could go wrong with a shower.

"Oh excellent," teased Stillwater. "So, every time I order ice cream from the replicator you are going to lick my spoon and have a few bites if my French vanilla with rainbow sprinkles and make sure it isn't going to kill me?" Stillwater shook his head. "Tal, you can't protect me from everything. That bottle of wine came with us to Prairie. It was going to happen at some point."

Talarn growls. "I can... and the replicator is fine. I checked it myself. You can still have sprinkles without making me eat them." He chuckled. "But I am going to check the shower..." He rubbed his hands together, looking about their quarters. "Are you sure about the wine? It is a cork..."

"They couldn't find any tampering and it appeared to be there for a while. This was not anything recent, Tal. It was like playing Russian Roulette with out wine rack."

"Are we sure about that?" Talarn asked. "I mean... are we really sure?" He rubbed his face, obviously stressed. "Bear... I... I just want to do something. I feel like I'm..." He sighed. "I'm not helping..."

"We have a lot more going on right now, Tal," replied Stillwater. "My being poisoned and the Admiral...it was unfortunate and I understand your concern, but I am safe. You are safe, and I feel as helpless as you are feeling. However, we will do our part."

Talarn stepped across the room and set his forehead against Barret's shoulder. "I can't lose you..." he said, his words almost a whisper. "The thought of someone hurting you... even if it wasn't... just... make me crazy."

Stillwater kisses Talarn's head. "You aren't going to lose me. Not like this, not now. We have too much to do, Tal." The Commanding Officer smiled. "Hey, you aren't crazy. Don't worry. I am the Captain now in position and in rank," he added touching his rank pips.

Talarn turned his head, his gaze on the rank pips. "Yes, you are. I'm proud of you, Captain." He smiled a little and reached to touch the pips on Barret's collar. He chuckled in a sort of sarcastic way, "More for me to worry."

"We will get through this," Stillwater replied. "I promise. We have been through way too much to give up. One day, we will return to Prairie. I'm going to need your support, Tal."

The Cardassian snorted. "Like I'm going anywhere. You and me, right? You think I wouldn't be?" He leaned a little so he could see Barret in the eyes. "Unless you were wrong..." he was joking. "I mean... I'm just staying that sometimes you're wrong..."

"I know that before anyone takes my life, I am going to see to it that those responsible for what is happening to the Federation are brought to justice swiftly." Stillwater shook his head. "We have a lot of work to do... together."

Talarn frown, disappointed that he hadn't been funny. He shook his head as well. "I'm in it for the long haul... you know that. If I wouldn't, I'd still be on Prairie. Why are you asking me things?" Talarn was starting to suspect that Barret wasn't telling me everything, but he had been mostly paranoid all morning.

"The Federation President and Vice President were killed today," Stillwater said. "The former Chief Councillor of the Federation Council has been sworn in as President" explained Stillwater. "We are leaving the sol system soon. They are putting us back to patrolling around old Romulan space."

Talarn made a face. "Okay... that's not my favorite, but what does any of this have anything to do with us? Tell me what's going on, Bear... now. You know I'm not good with all that subtle crap. Have I not supported you?"

"You always support me and I know you always will," replied Stillwater. "There's a lot going on, but it isn't anything with us, Tal. I am just troubled by what is going on in the Federation right now. The Federation was built around unity, uniting hundreds of worlds under one banner, one collective where our individualities are not what divides us, but brings us together. What has been happening deeply hurts me."

"That's been the problem with the Federation for a while, Bear. I know you're hurt. You know how I feel about all of that, but I wasn't talking about the Federation... and I know there's a lot going on. I'm not immune. What I want to know is if my husband is alright. I know you want to go and fix everything that's going on... and you know I will be right to your side, doing whatever I can to help you do whatever you need to fix... but Federation be damn, all that really matters to me... whatever that really matters to me... is you... and me. You and I, Bear. The whole thing can burn... as long as you and I are alright... together. Are we alright? Will we be alright?" Talarn wasn't very passionate about words, but obviously, he felt a little more about his current point.

Barret took the Cardassian's hand and squeezed it, looking into his eyes. "Nothing is going to burn until we decide to set fire to it all," he said teasingly to his spouse. "There is nothing that means more to a Cardassian than his family. Our family is fine, Tal. You and I are fine, more than fine. Some asshole from my past may have tried to kill me, but in the end? I'm still standing and I would very much like to find the scumbag responsible for that and have you use some of those old Cardassian interrogation techniques you've taught me in the bedroom, but uh forgo the safety words."

Talarn relaxed a little. He had been tense for hours now and almost all of that melted out of him. He snorted in humor. "I'm positive that when I put hands on whoever tried to kill you...are not going to like what they do to them... unlike what we do in the bedroom." He smirked and squeezed Barret's hand back. Of course, now that the immediate issue was closed, his Cardassian mind went back to work. "Do you really think that it was someone you know?"

"Very likely," Stillwater replied. "Captain Banteen had given me the bottle as a gift, and I had testified against her for her involvement in Admiral Leyton's attempted coup back before the Dominion War came to a close," added Stillwater. "Both of them could be suspects. I have let that be known, but honestly, I made my fair share of enemies. Some of whom you know having served under me."

"Well, yes... but everyone isn't going to like you. Doesn't mean they get to try and kill you. Are we going to find them?" Talarn asked simply.

"Oh you bet your spoonheaded Cardassian ass we are going to find them," replied Stillwater. "And when we do... they will pay dearly for what they have done, for the pain they caused, and for the innocent life lost. I will see to it that the Admiral's death does not go unpunished. I do not care if I have to go to the ends of this galaxy to make good on that promise."

Talan stepped close to Barret again and gently pressed his forehead against Stillwater's forehead. "I will find them... and make them dead," he said softly. "Small pieces preferably."

"Alright you," said Stillwater. "Talk like that is going to get you sent to the bedroom... Captain's orders," added Stillwater sharply.

Talarn grinned wickedly, even showing teeth. “Little... bitty... pieces... Captain. Minced... diced... puuulveerrrized...” He pulverized with a way that suggests the Captain’s room was exactly where he was trying to go.

:OFF