Lieutenant Zi Nijal: A Little Talk

[Tony Colella]

(( 8-Forward, USS Octavia E. Butler ))

As the I-Kiyo ring rose beyond the wide window before her, Zi sipped her gavaline tea. It was a Betazoid blend, made from three plants native to Betazed, but she'd discovered as an ensign that she particularly enjoyed it. It wasn't anything like the teas (or the closest approximations, thanks to different flora and linguistic best-fits) she knew from Cardassia Prime, but she'd discovered that the mix of sweetness and astringency scratched a flavor itch she hadn't known she'd had.

The tea had also become something of a support over her career, thanks to the fact that it was her go-to beverage both on- and off-duty. Gavaline tea had seen her through her normal duties as well as through crises both large and small, and it remained a steadfast comfort.

She wasn't particularly looking for support that morning, though realizing so was a certain kind of irony, given who she was hoping to meet. Understandably, a lot of the crew had already gone over to the ring, and Zi planned on it as well -- but first, she'd asked if the counselor would speak with her. Not officially, but -- well, not not officially, either. She figured they could see how it went.

Stendhal: Response

Nijal: It's beautiful, isn't it?

She indicated the titanic ring beyond the windows. Then, it occurred to Zi that Counselor Stendhal was majority Betazoid, and she thought Stendhal had even grown up on Betazed. Maybe she'd recognize one of the beverages of her home world.

Stendhal: Response

Nijal: Yes, it is. Do you like it?

Stendhal: Response

Despite the comfortable flow of the conversation, Zi hadn't asked the counselor to meet her just to shoot the wind, as many of the human engineers she'd worked with were fond of saying. Again, the unofficial-that-might-be-official...

Nijal: I was hoping that we could have (beat) a conversation.

Mother stars, she was certainly beating around the hedge.

Stendhal: Response

Tags! and TBC!

--

Lieutenant Zimedia Nijal

Mission Specialist

USS Octavia E. Butler

V238208LV0

she/her/hers (this character) & he/him/his (player)