LT Tamio K'Wara - Win Some, Lose Some

[LT Tamio K'Wara]

(( The Shaded Roads - Central District Underground, Fereng- Ferenginar ))

Tamio took in the sights as they waited for Charlotte to back out of the shop where they’d just been engaged in some lovely negotiations with a Ferengi shopkeeper. They’d managed to find a brilliant new showpiece of their office, which was fabulous, and that meant they could now focus on the next must-dos on their Ferenginar itinerary. They had a few things they wanted to make sure they had the chance to do before the Artemis left the rainy planet behind and they prided themself on making the most out of every shore leave.

It was a streak they weren’t intending on breaking.

This was the moment that Charlotte exited the story, and after Tamio waved at her, she readily joined them at the small corner-eatery where Tamio was partaking in some chom. Not for everyone, but it definitely hit the spot right about now.

K’Wara: Did he cry?

Brexis: ::Chuckling:: Only a little. ::Reaching into her pocket:: He saw things my way and decided to throw in an extra set of batteries for my kindness. 

The first inclination that something was up - they’d never known a Ferengi to give something away for free - but they disregarded the notion.

K’Wara: ::smirks:: Methods aside, your effectiveness is impressive.

Not that Charlotte was the first Starfleet officer Tamio had seen lie blatantly to a Ferengi’s face, and she wouldn’t be the last one. Thankfully, the Ferengi were one of the very few species who considered manipulation of the truth a very valid diplomacy tactic, which was likely one of the reasons Ferenginar had such a storied history with junior Starfleet officers.

Brexis: ::Sitting down at the table:: What do you say we stick some of the batteries in and see what this thing does!

K’Wara: ::nods:: This’ll be exciting.

Charlotte set right to it, turning the glittering statue over to find the panel that would obscure the batteries once inserted. With the location of that panel, it became even more obvious that the glittery coating was a later addition - it was caked onto the panel, rather clumsily too.

Brexis: You do the honors. Turn it on!

K’Wara: Don’t mind if I do.

Tamio did so, and put the statuette back onto the table. They watched as the statuette turned on, moving its bulby limbs awkwardly, several flakes of caked-on glitter coating shedding like small pieces of stardust onto the table beneath it. The statuette’s eyes shone brightly through the glitter-coating, and Tamio presumed the effect would be quite magnificent in a darkened room, mere seconds before the statue made a rather uncouth sound and came to a janky halt, its light sputtering out in a grinding protest.

The two of them watched in shock for a few seconds, before they both started laughing.

K’Wara: ::laughs happily:: No wonder he was so happy to negotiate! Ah, we got had.

Brexis: Response

K’Wara: It’ll be beautiful once it gets fixed up. ::picks up the statue:: I have no doubt it’s fixable. Probably just some glitter stuck in a system somewhere.

Which, all things considering, wasn't the worst problem to have.

Brexis: Response

K’Wara: Not particularly. ::smiles:: Play the bartering game, you win some, you lose some. Especially once you’ve been here a couple of times. ::takes a sip of chom:: It’s part of the charm.

Brexis: Response TAG/TBC

LT Tamio K’Wara

Chief of Operations

USS Artemis-A

A240006GS1