Lt. Cmdr Robin Hopper – From Paris to Oparis
Robin Hopper
((Outside Wil’s Apartment, Palais-Bourbon District, Habitat Ring - Amity Outpost))
Walking along the facsimile of a cobbled street towards the CO’s apartment, the low heel on her loafer-style flats (picked for, she felt, matching the whole “vintage European vibe” of the neighborhood) clicking pleasantly with each step, Robin could already smell lunch cooking.
oO Of course he’d be grilling… Oo she figured, mildly amused by Wil’s predictability. She had learned over the years that he was, quite charmingly, a man of simple pleasures. Whether it was mowing the simulated lawn, or drinking a cold “bevvie” in the “arvo”, or slapping his food on a hot flat surface.
Robin liked teasing him for it – because, let’s be honest, there’s few things more delightfully amusing than teasing an earnest man – but the truth was, it reminded her of home in a strange way. So much of the galaxy was fast-paced, high-octane, life-and-death. There was something reassuring about the man at the top being Wil Ukinix.
She stopped in front of his door and rang the chime.
Ukinix: Come in!
The door slid open, revealing Wil, still in his uniform. Thinking little of it, Robin offered him a friendly wave as she walked up the steps to the threshold, holding aloft her gift for the host of today’s luncheon.
Hopper: Hiya! I brought a baguette. Where do you want it?
Ukinix: Hey, how are ya? Come in, let’s head out on the balcony–
There was a flash of some realization on his face before he looked down, patting his own chest. Robin’s eyebrows slid gently up a milimeter or two, waiting to learn what it was that had cut him off.
Hopper: Having an out of body experience?
Evidently it wasn’t that, but his choice of attire that was the problem – which Robin appreciated. He had, after all, described the ‘meeting’ as entirely casual, which was why she had come dressed in her best approximation of a casual 2260s Parisian look; A black-and-white polka-dotted blouse tucked into a white midi skirt and the aforementioned loafers, accessorised with complimentary silver disc earrings and a couple of matching bangles… Nothing fancy.
Ukinix: ::Racing upstairs to mezzanine level:: I’ll be right back, just need to slip into something more comfortable.
Hopper: Alright, well, me and the baguette will wait over here by the other food… ::Shouting up:: Don’t take too long – I came hungry, as ordered, and I make no promises how much will be left.
She wandered towards the balcony door, following her nose like a cartoon skunk after a perfumed and painted cat. Just as she was reaching the lunch portal, he called back.
Ukinix: ::Yelling out, flatly:: Ha ha. I’m surprised you found the place okay. ::Cheerfully:: Hey, pour yourself a Riesling, it’s a genuine one from a region near where my grandparents live. I’ll be down in a tick.
Sticking her tongue in her cheek, she pushed the balcony door open and found the bottle chilling in an ice bucket beside the table. Picking it up in her free hand, she skimmed the label as she wandered back inside towards the kitchen and set the baguette on the counter. Opening the bottle, she let it breathe for as long as it took to walk back onto the balcony and pour a glass for herself and one for him. She resealed the bottle and stuck it back in the ice.
At that point, Wil’s steps on the stairs drew her attention back inside, where she found him wearing a blue zip-up shirt and navy shorts. One would hardly guess he was a Starfleet Officer now, were it not for his combadge.
Ukinix: Did you hear about the communique the FDC got from the Hovans?
Hopper: ::Rolling her eyes:: You know, it’s still a work meeting no matter what you’re wearing, if you jump straight into the business like that… ::Curiosity, nonetheless, piqued:: What communique?
Wil grabbed a PADD from his kitchenette bench on the way to the balcony, then joined Robin outside.
Ukinix: ::Looking at PADD:: Keehani sent it to me this morning. Apparently they’ve started proceedings against their Chancellor, and have invited Ambassador Turnbull to come speak at their People’s Assembly.
Hopper: That should be fun to untangle. I feel for them. Earth had its own fair share of political nightmares, didn’t they? ::Shaking her head:: Velestus too, for that matter. Remind me to tell you about the Plague Years sometime.
She picked up both glasses, holding one out to him then taking a second to cheers, before taking a sip. It was bright and fruity – a very forward wine, unlike the subtle and sensual rosé she tended to favour – but it was nice, and it suited the ‘weather’.
Hopper: Mmm. Nice pick.
Ukinix: Response
She settled into one of the deck chairs, while Wil attended to serving them lunch.
Hopper: We’ve had some interesting follow-up on Uwe as well… Now that they know we’re out here, and we have considerably more advanced warp technology, I’m sure you can guess where the conversations have been spinning.
Ukinix: Response
Robin nodded, setting the wine glass down on the table after a second furtive sip.
Hopper: I wonder if fledgling Captain Archer or Admiral Forrest ever considered that, some day, the Federation would share the unenviable position of the mean ol’ Vulcans, withholding technology from the ‘primitives’...
Ukinix: Response
Hopper: So – What’s for lunch? Should I have brought out the baguette?
Ukinix: Response
TBC
