Lieutenant Commander Timothy Alentonis: The Engraved Conspiracy
Zeph
(( Brew Continuum - Port Observation Lounge, Deck 10, USS Chin’toka ))
{{Time stamp: 1850 Hours}}
He considered for a long moment, his mind quickly racing toward all the things that could go horribly wrong with engraving a latinum bar and the potential crime syndicates that could bear down on him should his work be discovered.
Alentonis: Hypothetically, yes. This won’t lead to anything illegal or anything, I hope…?
Lephi: It's nothing like that! I promise. No, I'm going to ::speaks softer:: propose to Elizabeth and I wonder if you might be able to engrave our names on the very first bar of latinum I ever earned?
Again, he seemed to be relieved to hear it. The thought of anything with his handiwork attached being used for such a romantic effort seemed to fill him with a sense of surprise and he replied in an equally hushed whisper.
Alentonis: Yes, I can. Did you want to see drafts of the font used and exact wording before I place it to the bar?
Lephi: Multiple drafts? I mean, don't get me wrong, that sounds good to me, but wouldn't that take a long time? I'm looking to propose in the next month after all.
Alentonis: Font drafts are the easy part. I can knock one of those out in five minutes. The engraving is the hard part. With latinum, I only get one shot to make it perfect.
Lephi: That sounds ideal to me! I'm trying to decide whether it should just say Lephi and Elizabeth, or maybe will you marry me and then I use that to ask the question. What do you think?
Tim paused for a moment and turned once again briefly to check that the table of refreshments was in order before he returned his gaze to the Ferengi. He had little experience in the arena of romance, after a few failed adventures in it himself, but all of his smarts in that area he attributed to “book smarts,” in that he’d read enough romance novels to understand the many different approaches.
Alentonis: Wording is a tricky thing. You could maybe include a brief speech about how you earned your first bar?
He seemed to have stumped Lephi, or at least gave her a moment’s pause before she continued. There was, perhaps a “Eureka” moment as she spoke.
Lephi: Okay, I like the way you think. I really do. ::suddenly, after a pause:: Oh! No wait, I've got it! I just want it to say Elizabeth. That bar of latinum was the most important thing in the world to me before I met her, and now her happiness is.
Alentonis: Continuing on that train of thought: with the story of its origin told, you might go with “Your happiness is as important to me as this bar. Will you marry me?”
Lephi: I appreciate the help and I respect the skill. I assume it doesn't come cheap?
Tim blinked in confusion. He hadn’t really priced out his services, since the last thing he used them for was dog tags made to help identify remains or effects in the light of the Arthur Evans disaster. He didn’t have any thought of what to use latinum for, so the idea of such a thing confused him. However, after his subspace correspondence with former cultural adaptation specialist Tobian Dalton while he was attending OCS, he had a decent enough understanding of the Ferengi and the Rules of Acquisition to make an effort at setting a price. Not wanting to stall for any longer than he had to, he settled on a number which he theorized he’d wind up paying back later for… something.
Alentonis: Five bars.
Lephi: Response
(( OOC: Happy to expand if you wish. ))
Alentonis: Agreed, then. I can get you some drafts together by tomorrow morning for your review.
Lephi: Response
He smiled and offered his hand to her for a handshake, a genuine smile crossing his lips at the second impression having gone so much better than his first. They concluded just as they heard the doors swoosh open behind them as the Caitian counselor made his way into the room.
Azorius: Response
Alentonis: Oh, nothing much. Just helping Dr. Skyfire set up the big surprise for our Caitian captain.
Azorius: Response
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Lieutenant Commander Timothy Alentonis
Science Officer
USS Chin’toka NCC-97187
O239002CS0