[S-CRR/A1] Cmdr Rahman: Quid Pro Quo

[Rich Yulin]

((Captain's Quarters, USS Syracuse))

::She stood in front of him, naked.::

Rahman: Or do you just want to keep fiddling with your equations?

::It was amusing to see him now trying so intensely to keep his gaze locked onto her face. Rodulans had a tendency to adopt poses and stances that were a bit unsettling to others, but she'd say the one in front of her was actually squirming.::

Core: Wasn't an equation.

::She smiled again and stepped forward.::

Rahman: Oh. My mistake.

::She leaned forward and planted a kiss on his lips. He looked back at her for a moment, his fingers playing with the pendant around his neck. She wondered what was going on in that head of his--and how exhilarating it was for her not to have the faintest idea! Not even the slightest hint of an emotion or a desire radiated from him. His was a void as black as his eyes.::

::He finally stood up with the red dress, and she put on a pair of undergarments before slipping the dress over herself. She turned around to let him help close it.::

::He spoke up as he worked diligently on the fastenings::

Core: Did you know a Rodulan's feet is quite possibly the most important part of their body?

Rahman: Oh, really? And here I thought that was just your thing.

::She couldn't resist playfully lifting one of those feet that fascinated him so much and letting the bottom of it run up gently across his shin.::

Core: It's an old Attraxan belief that's since been updated, because space equals movement without true gravity, but the jist of it is that your feet ground you to life. Only rarely do you not "stand on your own two feet" - obviously when learning to walk, you rely on others, similar to as you would in illness or injury, celebration or mourning. ::He paused.:: It's personal thing, displays ones confidence and trust in those around them.

Rahman: Hmmm, so should I be worried that you don't walk around barefoot around me?

::He kissed the nape of her neck, the hairs of his beard tickling her skin.::

Core: No. Just that your feet are spectacular in keeping you grounded. Revealing them is intimate. 

::He stepped around to face her.::

Core: You're a beauty in nothing and everything, ervami.

Rahman: Hmmph, you really know how to lather the butter, don't you?

Core: Actually I have all the mush stockpiled just waiting for our free time. I figured you needed something to look forward to when you come off duty.

Rahman: I always look forward to spending time with my mushy, feet-obsessed Rodulan.

::Somewhere, Lidia Ivanova was rolling her eyes.::

Core: I'm just glad you *are* off duty. That *I'm* off duty. Last few days have been exhausting. From drones trying to kill me for being telepathic to individual members of the crew blowing the senior staff's mind identity-wise.

::She frowned.::

Rahman: Come again?

Core: Honestly, I don't want to talk about it. 

::He grabbed his PADD, turning it off before throwing it back over his shoulder. It landed with a satisfying crash that elicited a chuckle from his companion.::

Core: There. No more overly complex work problems. Just . . . simple. And speaking of simple, we had plans?

Rahman: Well…

::She looked out the cabin porthole to see the sight of Astrofori One coming into view.::

Rahman: I figure we might as well go and stretch our legs. A night on the station. Sound good?

Core: RESPONSE

::He started to move, but she pressed her palm against his chest, halting him in his tracks.::

Rahman: Wait, aren't you forgetting something.

Core: RESPONSE

::She looked down at his uniform.::

Rahman: You didn't really think I'd let you go out in that, did you? Off-duty, remember?

Core: RESPONSE

::She gently began opening the top of his tunic.::

Rahman: It's okay. ::She leaned forward and whispered in his ear.:: We don't have to be anywhere on time.

((Later in the evening, Astrofori One))

::Roshanara and Tristam had enjoyed dinner at the Jalanda Palace Bajoran restaurant and were now walking, arm in arm, along the massive windows that gazed out to the stars around them. The Invicta was in view to the left, with the Syracuse barely visible behind. Over to the right was the Prometheus USS Tiger.::

Rahman: Hmmm, I guess that means Captain Vetri is in town.

Core: RESPONSE

Rahman: Well, I'm sure Commander T'Lea is happy.

Core: RESPONSE

::Perhaps so.::

Rahman: Speaking of family reunions… Rodul. Our trip. How goes the plans?

Core: RESPONSE

TAG!

Cmdr. Roshanara Rahman

CO, USS Syracuse

Writer ID I238705TZ0