A Purrrfect Pleasure

Posted on Sat Jan 2nd, 2010 @ 10:54pm by Lieutenant Commander Eliza McAdams & Lieutenant Jimmy Cooper

2,381 words; about a 12 minute read

Mission: Balowlli System
Location: Ten forward
Timeline: Current

Without even remembering how he got there, T'kaarch found himself in Ten Forward, sitting alone and drinking Caitian ale. He just ended his shift, and had seen enough polaron movement for one day. A faint smile appeared, and he started fluffing his tail, cleaning and scratching it with his paws.

"Not really the season for sitting alone in bars."

Christmas, Sehra had decided, was an utterly addictive concept. The more she found out, the more she realised the old Terran festival was riddles with traditions and symbols that were far too quaint for words and she had been completely suffused by the idea of bringing it on board the Archimedes, albeit with a little flare of her own. By far and away her favourite part of proceedings so far was having to speak to the crew individually, as many as possible, which gave her a perfectly reasonable and defensible reason for approaching senior officers in lounges. Currently leaning against the ensign's table with one hand, Sehra grinned down at the Caitian and added, "Then again, I don't think there's ever any good reason for it. Care for some company?"

T'kaarch looked up, disturbed from his tailgazing. "Oh hello miss..." He let his tail go which immediately retracted and rested partly on his chair, partly on his lap. "Well, it wasn't like I was exactly busy." He smirked as his tail flew through the air.

"Well, I didn't want to presume." Sehra grinned. "Cultural norms differ across the quadrant, after all, you might have been performing some dreadfully important ceremony for all I was aware." Good-natured teasing had set the Betazoid's eyes sparkling and she reached across the table with a hand extended as she took the seat immediately opposite the scientist. "Sehra. And before you write me off as being completely insane, my specific focus in morale so this forms part of my job description." The brunette winked. "What can I say, I love my job."

T'kaarch grabbed the hand and shook it. He never really understood that human tradition, but what can you do. "T'kaarch... Apparently the only cat on board. Hope you don't mind furrr..." he purred.

"Mind it? My family live in the alpine region of one of Betazed's northern-most provinces." Grinning as she settled into the chair, Sehra added, "As much as my home planet is somewhat better known for its temperate and tropical zones, don't let that fool you. We do winter as well as anyone and I grew up surrounded by snow seven months a year. Fur, as far as I'm concerned, is an absolute asset. Besides," the telepath observed with her chin angled jauntily, twin eyes sparkling with merriment, "I think it looks distinguished."

"Thank you..." T'kaarch said a little embarrassed. "All natural." he added as he scratched his manes. "Can I get you something... a drrrink?" Holly would've been shocked if she'd been here, T'kaarch usually wasn't this considerate. Still, there was something about the betazoid that brought out the best in T'kaarch, if nothing else she was... cute? With 20 years pretty much in solitude, T'kaarch didn't really know what to think of 'girls', but he did feel that being nice to this woman was the right thing to do.

"What are you having?"

It was an old trick of any seasoned socialite but, at the same time, it was something that Sehra just liked to do. Food and beverages were typically amongst her vices, in many various forms, and she revelled in new experiences despite the fact that they weren't always successful. The woman didn't have a prejudice bone in her body but it stood to reason that there was at least a chance that the Caitian was indulging in something she wasn't familiar with. When opportunity knocked, Sehra was usually the first to fling open the door.

"Caitian ale..." T'kaarch showed the cup with a dark red liquid. "Liquorrr with blood from Pirrrem hounds... Not exactly something the averrrage humanoid enjoys, I've noticed." T'kaarch grinned, he was enjoying himself. "Well, Klingons, maybe..."

Though the mention of blood would have left most people wearing a dubious expression at the very least, Sehra greeted the information with interest rather than disgust. It was true that she didn't tend to favour the more robust cuisine enjoyed by the likes of the Klingons but her adventurous spirit was ably complimented by a reasonably solid constitution and Sehra intrinsically felt that part of her role in life was to bridge distances between people, to act as a conduit between cultures and differing outlooks simply because she was so willing to embrace all the possibilities life could throw at her. If she didn't like something, she wanted to at least be able to say she'd tried it first. More than that, she wanted to be seen as someone who didn't dismiss things just because they seemed a little different. She grinned. "Well, I wouldn't want to be outdone by a bunch of Klingons. I'm game."

"You arrre a... strrrange woman." T'kaarch commented bluntly, though no offence was intended. "Please, miss Sehrrra, I'll be rrright back." His content purring was so heavy, each of his r's were rolling. He stood up and walked to the replicator in the corner. "Caitian ale, Pirrrem." he requested. The replicator shone and within seconds another cup of dark red liquid appeared. He picked it up and walked back to the table. "Herrre you go, miss... Caitians arrre carrrnivores, you see, so most of ourrr foods and drrrinks arrre made of animals... If you don't like it, I won't be hurrrt..." he added, considerate.

'Strange' was one of the least offensive things she'd been called and Sehra rarely reacted to even the harsher criticisms flung in her direction. People were entitled to their opinions and it would be an odd universe indeed if everyone melded perfectly with everyone else. She found it difficult to respect people who felt the need to go out of their way to insult those they didn't get along with but she tended not to retaliate. The woman had a temper and it was as ferocious and alive as the rest of her, it just didn't put in an appearance very often. Now, rather than take offense, she had simply watched the Caitian with a grin and a sly upwards tilt to one of her eyebrows. Strange, was she?

The ale, once it had arrived and she'd taken a sip, was strong, just as she'd expected. Betazed, though home to many fine game animals, was perhaps best known for its array of fruits, which also meant that its wine trade was considerably prolific. As common as water, she'd been drinking the fruitier, weaker varieties since she was twelve years old during family meals and though she had extended her palatte's repertoire since leaving home, even Klingon cuisine hadn't produced anything quite so...tangy? She pulled the glass away and licked a droplet from her lip thoughtfully.

"It's interesting," she added truthfully, using the word sincerely rather than wielding it as a polite way of saying the beverage was awful. "Certainly a lot of body." Taking another sip, Sehra then nodded slowly. "It's actually not bad. An acquired taste, but not bad." She grinned. "We'll see what my stomach thinks in a few minutes."

"Thank you, I have not met many people apprrreciating Caitian cuisine." T'kaarch leaned forward, his tail now hypnotically waving from one side to the other. "I like you, miss Sehra."

Sehra was intrigued. Initially, her decision to approach had been a mixture of opportunity, having never met a Caitian before, and somewhat of an ulterior motive in that the idea that was festering in her mind required the participation of the crew. Now, all thoughts of festivities forgotten, she found herself regarding her feline companion with renewed interest. In as much as she knew about the species, she was under the impression that they tended to keep to themselves, very few branched out into StarFleet service and cross-species interaction was kept to a minimum. She had no idea how accurate that was, however, and typically preferred to form her own opinion. T'kaarch not only seemed quite personable, but he seemed to be intentionally conveying pleasure at her presence. This was new ground and, as with any situation that allowed her to experience something she hadn't before, Sehra grinned as a thrill of excitement lit up her eyes.

"A little less of the "Miss" and I'll be able to return that without any hesitation." The Betazoid winked and then laughed good-naturedly. "Honestly, I'm just Sehra. I don't even let them use my rank unless it's absolutely necessary."

"Ah! I am sorrry" the cat purred, looking down towards the table now. "It's just that... most people seem to value rrranks and stuff... Though everrryone's nice to me, mi... just Sehra." T'kaarch looked up, with a slight twinkle in his catlike eyes. "Let me rrreturn the favorrr, let me drrrink something you like."

"No harm done." The man was an interesting blend of cunning and demure coyness, Sehra decided, occasionally looking as if he was being particularly impish before that changed almost instantly into abashed uncertainty. It was endearing, seeing him shift from self-assured to bashful so quickly and the Betazoid was very glad she'd opted to take the time to approach him. On a ship the size of a Nova, the opportunities for truly fascinating personalities to appear weren't all that abundant but that simply made T'kaarch all the more remarkable. His offer was likewise cause for approval.

"Oh, well now that's going to take some deciding." Social butterly that she was, Sehra actually didn't over-indulge on alcohol nearly as much as one might assume, but she certainly drank often, if only a drink or two. Her tendency to want to try new things meant that she had an extensive menu to choose from and picking favourites was never easy. "Perhaps we should narrow it down first, is there anything in particular that you just don't like?"

"Well... I am a carrrnivore..." T'kaarch thought about what he drank... and realised he usually ended up with Caitian Ale anyway. "But I guess I'm willing to take a... challenge... as you did." He smiled, as far as cat smiles go.

Sehra thought for a moment. There were so many drinks that complimented particular activities that it was difficult to settle on just one, at least when it came to considering her personal taste. It occured to her, however, as she took another slow sip of the ale she'd been nursing, that perhaps the best way to approach the situation was to choose a drink that best reflected a reciprocal gesture. In other words, something specific to her own upbringing.

Table service in the lounge wasn't unheard of but it also wasn't necessarily the norm, at least when there wasn't a function in progress. Nevertheless, Sehra managed to time her final decision with the movements of one of the bar staff exactly enough that a charming smile and a polite request saw the drink she'd chosen brought to the table without her having to leave to fetch it. It was a rather elegant affair, the tall, slender glass accentuating the slowly pulsating ebb of colours shifting from red to orange to yellow and back again. "Etnari juice. A glacial fruit, my grandparents have a small vineyard. Not usually fermented in the traditional sense, the juice is potent enough in its natural form. Somewhat sedative, it doesn't intoxicate so much as...relax." The Betazoid grinned. "It's spicier than most people expect, I should warn you, but the effect is like having sunshine poured directly into your veins. Or so the marketing slogans suggest."

"Sunshine?" T'kaarch looked at the Etnari juice, picked up the glass, smelt it. "Not something I would... Choose myself." he purred. He took a small sip, the drink burnt... no... sizzled pleasantly through his internals. Without hesitation, he took a bigger sip. "Mi... Sehra... This is..." T'kaarch, feeling the 'sunshine' through his veins, didn't really know what to say. "I could get used to this." It was as distinct a taste as Caitian ale, even though the two tastes could be considered about opposites of each other. "I wasn't awarrre... vegetarian drinks could taste so good..." He looked back up from the glass. "Thank you, Sehra."

"I'll make sure you get to taste the real article one day, my grandparents' produce has a decent reputation. The replicator doesn't do a bad job but each harvest has its own....personality."

The smiling Betazoid, looking both pleased and affectionately approving, was unique in many ways and one of those was the absolute sincerity with which she made offers like that. To some, it would just be a function of the conversation, a remark thrown in that was then promptly forgotten, but Sehra didn't operate like that. She was due home in the next few months, if only for a few days, and on her list of things to bring back was a bottle of homemade Etnari for the Caitian she'd only just met. Everyone was important as far as Sehra was concerned and she had seen the momentary wonder in his eyes. Helping to inspire that was the gift her job provided and she loved it.

"I'm sorrry, Sehra," T'kaarch said, leaning back, "but I should be going to my quarrrters now... Earrrly shift tomorrrow." As he stood up, he said something else 'out of character': "Can I... walk you somewherrre?"

The departure was abrupt enough for Sehra to wonder if she'd perhaps overstepped some invisible line but she didn't mention it, smiling up at the Caitian before slowly rising, not out of intention to move but simply observance of his decision to leave. "I think I'll stay a while, I have a few things to organise that might require a moment's peace. It was a pleasure meeting you though, T'kaarch." With a genuine sparkle dominating her eyes, the Betazoid reached a hand across the table and concluded, "I hope I see you again soon."

---

This furball free JP brought to you by:

Ensign T'kaarch
Assistant Chief Science Officer
USS Archimedes

and

Petty Officer Sehra Vahn
Morale Officer
USS Archimedes

 

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