Lt. Cmdr Robin Hopper – Houseplants and Hunks
Robin Hopper
((Aitas’ Apartment, ShiKahr District – Amity Outpost))
Robin reached the door to what the map on her PADD told her was Aitas’ apartment, taking a brief moment to look around and appreciate the Vulcan-style neighborhood surrounding it. She wondered, for a moment, how much time Aitas had spent living on Vulcan, knowing of the woman’s dual heritage… Or perhaps she was more like Robin, growing up separate from both of her ‘mother worlds’, so to speak. oO Something I’ll need to ask at some point! Oo
After a quick check that her outfit still looked presentable after the brief-but-quick walk from the Sarek train station – – she reached up and gently pressed the door chime.
A moment later, the door slid open, revealing Aitas with a drink in her hands. Robin grinned and offered the First Secretary an enthusiastically friendly wave.
Hopper: Hiiiii!
Aitas: It’s good to see you. I promise I haven’t killed any of the plants, and Aurelio is already harboring ambitions of fitting more into his room.
Hopper: ::Chuckling:: His Strelitzia is doing well then, I take it? Great! And what about the half-dozen or so others you two took home? Everyone happy in their new homes?
Aitas turned, moving back into the apartment. Robin followed, taking a moment to look around the space and take it in, only realizing there was a man sitting on the sofa when Aitas passed him the drink she’d been holding. Robin’s eyes widened – were those live birds on his arms? oO Surely not. Oo
It took her a moment longer to realize that the man she was looking at was the famed Jakarn, and that these birds might, in fact, be bots not dissimilar from Fureri. One brow crooked slightly. oO How interesting! Oo
Aitas: Let me show you where I’ve put them. And can I make you a drink while you’re here? I did get in a few extra supplies recently.
Jakarn: Forgive the surprise! Aitas, you’ve failed to introduce me. ::He said it with good humor, and extended a hand to Robin.:: Jakarn, at your service. And you are…?
Moving further into the apartment, Robin offered Jakarn a friendly smile. Perhaps Aitas simply felt he required no introduction. After all, Robin had been passingly familiar with some of his work even before meeting Aitas – and, no stranger to the holonovel, she’d done her homework after learning of the First Secretary’s connection to the author. He looked exactly like his picture – an easy feat, she supposed, when you were an El Aurian.
He wasn’t hard to look at, either… oO I see the appeal, Aitas. Oo
Aitas: Response
Hopper: ::Extending a hand:: Lieutenant Commander Robin Hopper. Nice to meet you.
Jakarn: It’s an honor to meet you, Commander. Charmed.
He gently grasped Robin’s hand and raised it to his lips, planting a delicate kiss atop it, like a character out of some holo-romance. Robin’s cheeks reddened, and she felt unsure if she would laugh at the unexpected gesture, or if the sound that came out would be more of a startled squeal – so, instead, she held it in, biting her tongue.
Hopper: Oh! Well, aren’t you the charmer? *Ahem* On behalf of Amity’s Starfleet contingent, welcome to the Outpost, Jakarn. I hope you’re enjoying your time here so far… ::Turnign to Aitas, with a flushed smile:: I’m off duty – a drink would be great. Can I help?
Even if she was interested in learning more about Jakarn, she didn’t want to waltz in and ignore her host – or worse, treat Aitas like some sort of bartender. oO Then again, she is a trained bartender, isn’t she? Oo The thought flitted across her mind momentarily.
Aitas: Response
Jakarn: Response
Hopper: Well, what are we drinking?
Aitas/Jakarn: Response
Moving closer to Aitas, and continuing to peruse the apartment with her eyes – taking note of the various tropical houseplants around the space – she spoke casually.
Hopper: I like what you’ve done with the place, and it looks like all the plants are doing well so far. You’ve been keeping an eye on them with the subsoil moisture meters I gave you?
Stopping in front of a particularly verdant and healthy looking dracaena, she crouched, taking a look at the variegation patterns on its leaves.
Aitas/Jakarn: Response
Hopper: ::Standing up:: My background is in Advanced Physics – but, I guess even earlier than that, I was tending plants. My family manages a hydroponic farm on Theta VII… a little old colony out near the borderlands. You’ve probably never heard of it.
Aitas/Jakarn: Response
TBC
