Lt. JG Natasha Cole - A Little More Daring
Natasha Schell
(( Rooftop Gazebo - Ana Kersna, Rylor ))
Nat raised her glass to meet the others, clinking them together before taking a drink. Somewhere along the way, the nerves had eased into amusement.
Cole: ::swirling her drink, eyes flicking between them:: All right then… What's the wildest thing you’ve ever done that would sound deeply ill-advised in an official report, but makes for a great story over drinks?
Silveira: You have to narrow that down… Recently? At the Academy? In each rank? In each ship? I mean… ::he frowned and shrugged:: I can quickly think of two dozen of them… It’s better if any of you goes first…
K’Wara: I didn’t think Lt. Commanders were allowed to share misdeeds with junior deckers? ::glint in their eye:: Something about ‘leading by example’?
Cole: ::laughing softly:: Alright, fine. Since I asked. Second year at the Academy, I got into an argument with an instructor about a blind spot in one of the exterior security sweeps.
She let that sit for a beat, smile sharpening as she remembered it.
Cole: He was very sure no cadet could get from the roof access to the maintenance ledge outside Huxley Hall without tripping the sensors. I was very sure he was wrong.
She took another sip, clearly enjoying where this was going.
K’Wara: First mistake: never underestimate the gusto of a cadet who sees a ‘No’ as a dare.
Cole: So I borrowed climbing gear, waited until after curfew, crossed three stories of exterior plating in the rain, and tapped on his office window at oh-two-hundred just to prove the point.
Vitor slapped his forehead loudly with his hand. Tamio tried their best not to smile, but eventually cracked.
Cole: He gave me demerits. ::beat, then with a smug little smile:: But he also recalibrated the whole sweep grid the next morning, so I maintain that I was right.
She lifted one shoulder in a half-shrug, smiling just shy of innocence. Vitor narrowed his eyes to her and shook his head as he smiled.
Cole: In my defense, it was for security.
Silveira: Yeah… Very thoughtful of you…
K’Wara: Not the worst thing I’ve heard a cadet get up to, and at least you just interrupted a nightcap. Downright polite of you, from my perspective.
Vitor took another sip and leaned forward.
Silveira: I think I have a very good one… From when I was still an Ensign… The first time…
K’Wara: ::raised eyebrow:: First time?
Natasha tilted her head slightly at the phrase “the first time.” Vitor winked and finished his drink as he opened his arms.
Silveira: Check my record and you’ll see…But when I was a young Ensign in Ops we had, as always, a situation on the border. Klingons, Romulans were at each other's throats again and we were on alert. So when your friendly Tactical officer see’s one of his comrades, Ben Livingston, chatting with an unknown officer, a rather cute one I must add, I noticed something suspicious so I barged in and joined their conversation. ::he grinned mischievously:: In my very own indiscreet way.
K’Wara: As you do.
Cole: ::grinning into her glass:: So your opening move was suspicion, not charm. Good to know.
Vitor leaned back and smiled as if he was reclining into the memory.
Silveira: Well the… Ensign… or Officer wasn’t holding any clear rank pips. And due to the alertness of the situation… So I confronted her, much to Ben’s dismay… Obviously something was wrong… I mean, who could she be? A spy? An enemy? A friend? Someone with a crush on Ben? ::Vitor winked before adding another option:: All the above?
K’Wara: ::smirk:: I guess reading body language from a distance wasn’t one of your core competences in your young age? So, which was it?
Cole: ::leaning in a touch, thoroughly entertained now:: I’m starting to think the ‘Silveira maneuver’ is just barging in with maximum confidence and hoping reality catches up. So which was it?
Vitor opened his arms and shrugged. Nat was definitely calling that the Silveira maneuver.
Silveira: No… It was Fleet Captain Idril Mar. She was paying a discreet visit to the 118 and let's say she wasn't pleased with my welcoming.... Thankfully I hadn't put her under arrest or anything more serious... You have no idea what a dress down from a Fleet Captain feel's like. Not as bad as Captain MacKenzie, but let's say I almost felt the air of the airlock...
Cole: ::barking out a laugh before she could stop herself:: Oh, that is spectacular. Please tell me you tried to recover and only made it worse.
K’Wara: I’d need a few more drinks for that to happen.
Then, a familiar chime rang above their heads, and Tamio looked up.
K’Wara: Time for me to switch tables.
Cole: Oh, you’re leaving us?
Silveira: Response
K’Wara: The Soirrées are usually set up so that every new Flirter gets paired up with a more Veteran one, who’s attended these things a couple of times at least. ::winks at the both of them:: I was your Veteran. ::stands from their seat:: It was a pleasure talking with both of you, in a more informal setting.
Cole: A pair of familiar faces has made this… easier. ::genuine smile:: Thank you.
Silveira: Response
Tamio bowed to the two of them with a flourish and a coy smirk, before departing towards the next group of StarFlirters.
Cole: Oh, I almost forgot, ::beat:: with all the chaos of the Karnack and Callis I, I got you a gift during our last Shore Leave. I’ll drop it off at your office the next chance I get.
Silveira: Response
Cole: ::leaning towards Vitor:: If you wanted to make a break for it, I won’t tell anyone.
Silveira: Response
A femme-presenting Bolian approached the table, all polished poise and bright blue confidence, a glass balanced easily in one hand. Her smile had the practiced warmth of someone who either knew exactly how these evenings worked or had decided to enjoy finding out.
Natasha glanced from the newcomer to Vitor, then leaned back in her chair with a quiet, almost surprised ease. Somewhere over the course of the evening, the nerves had burned off and left curiosity in their place.
She lifted her glass slightly toward the Bolian, her smile turning a fraction more daring than polite.
Cole: Evening. Well… there goes my excuse to behave.
TAG/End Scene for Natasha Cole
----- ◌● -----Lt. JG Natasha Cole
Security Officer
USS Artemis-A
A240205NC4