JP - LtC DeVeau and FltCapt Taybrim - A Flower for the Captain Part 2

[Amanda Nordstrom]

For anyone interested, this is a picture of the violet:
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/d7/98/11/d7981157d5a77954743ba9af6a9086d4--african-violet-patio-plants.jpg

((Starbase 118 Ops - Captain’s Quarters))

Taybrim: ::His dark eyes sparkled a bit:: Well, that depends on how big
you are planning!

DeVeau: I don't’ know.  Masha’s involved.  How big does she often make
these sort of things?

For a moment he smirked and his dark eyes twinkled.

Taybrim: I hear she’s a bit of the troublemaker, so you might need to
rein her in.

Alora leaned in a little closer to the captain.

DeVeau: Maybe...trust me on this?  I’m new to you and all
but...this...this is going to be a blast.  And I promise not to make it
too much to handle.

Taybrim: My dear Alora, I give my trust freely and always will unless
someone gives me a reason not to trust.  ::he offered her a soft,
reassuring smile.  Betazoid openness generally saw doors opened and only
shut when the other person warranted the shutting.:: I give you my
blessings to work on this.

DeVeau: You’re going to come, right?

Taybrim: Of course I will!  ::he grinned.::

Sal Taybrim very much enjoyed a good positive party any time he wasn’t
on duty.  He loved meeting new people, he loved the energy of a
gathering and loved the aura of positive emotions such a gathering brought.

DeVeau: After all, I wouldn’t want to miss a chance to dance with the
Captain.

Taybrim: Well I’m sure we can make sure you get that chance!

The diplomat in the Betazoid had learned how to dance some years ago, it
was a skill he rather enjoyed.  While he’d never be a professional, he
was dexterous enough to spin a turn on the ballroom and be comfortable
with it.

DeVeau: I’m going to hold you to that.  And I guess I’ll start making plans!

Taybrim: When let me know if I can offer any assistance.  Otherwise I
look forward to whatever you come up with.

DeVeau: Whatever /Masha/ and I come up with.  This is a joint venture.

Alora wanted to make sure that her newfound friend wasn’t left out of
the equation - and the science officer suspected that Masha was going to
have some fabulous ideas.  It was exciting to contemplate.

He leaned back comfortably

Taybrim: Anything else on your mind?

Alora’s smile faded in surprise.  Anything on her mind?  She hadn’t
expected that query, just a gentlemanly chat, but then she realised, she
/had/ come to him with something on her mind.  At the same time, he
/was/ Betazoid.  While she knew he wouldn’t read her thoughts without
permission, she also knew there were other ways for them to get ideas
about certain things.  The smile returned and Alora shook her head.

DeVeau: Not really, unless you had something on yours?

It wasn’t /exactly/ a lie.

Taybrim: ::He smiled ever so slightly.  Sal was the sort of person to
notice something and remember, but not push.  If it was important, and
trust would be built, that information should be offered freely.:: No,
I’m just enjoying the company.  I trust you have enjoyed your inaugural
shore leave on Ops?

DeVeau: Yes, I have.  It’s been a great chance to meet people, and a
great chance to get settled in and learn the station.  How long have you
been Captain here?

Alora could have looked that info up, but she was enjoying the
conversation, and besides, nothing like asking to spur more conversation.

Taybrim: ::Sal leaned back thinking about it.:: Nearly five years now. 
And one year as First officer so over six years on StarBase 118 now.

DeVeau: Where else have you been? Starfleet sometimes moves people
around quite a bit.

They had certainly bounced her from place to place within the seven
years she had served.  Five ships, one research facility, now Ops. Seven
places in seven years - maybe she’d be fortunate to stay there for as
long as the captain.  That would be nice.

This was true, though Sal would be the first to admit that he had
started out rough and rocky and then once he served on the Columbia, he
had hit his stride.  He had even had the Columbia as his support vessel
for two years before launching Theo Whittaker with the ship.

Taybrim: The Excalibur-A, The Darwin, the Columbia and Ops.  And I
cheated and brought the Columbia to ops for a time ::he winked.::

DeVeau: Of all the places you’ve been, where has been the most interesting?

Alora wanted to get to know the captain.  He seemed like a nice guy,
though his rank certainly made him intimidating.  She hoped that by
conversing, she wouldn’t feel that way about him.  Besides, building a
good rapport with one’s superior officers was definitely beneficial -
she just wish she could find a way to do that with Commander Nijil.

Taybrim: Oh, that’s a good question.  ::He leaned back and thought.:: I
really enjoyed targ hunting on Tumar II, though I personally did not
hunt any targs, we had quite a few hunter groups.  I scaled a mountain
with an old friend.

DeVeau: Oh?  Do tell!

He thought back, this was a more-recent memory, and the start of their
interaction with the cult of Molor.

Taybrim: An old friend and ally, Councillor Dempok invited us to go targ
hunting.  IN the morning he and I scaled a mountain and at the top
overlooking the wild and beautiful planet of Tumar II, we spoke about
the Cult of Molor and it’s danger to the Klingon Empire, the Gorn
Hegemony and the Federation.

DeVeau: Yet you found that place interesting?

Taybrim: I’m not one for hunting, but I would love to be able to go back
to Tumar II with this whole crew and enjoy some Klingon hospitality
should we get to the point where the cult is fully under control.

DeVeau: That definitely sounds like it could be worthwhile.

It was always good to sustain positive relationships.

Taybrim: What about yourself?  I know you have served on some very
prestigious vessels.  What is your favorite memory from your years in
Starfleet?

DeVeau: Oh gosh.

She had so many.

DeVeau:  I have several.  In general, meeting the people I’ve met and
developing relationships that are deep and meaningful.

Taybrim: I can imagine ::He smiled easily and gently:: Every officer
builds those up.  Pick whatever comes to mind first!

That would take a bit more thought on Alora’s part.  She leaned back in
her chair, crossing one leg over the other as she mulled over the question.

DeVeau: I’ve participated in some very interesting missions.  Parts of
them were bad, but there were some that were either pleasant or just so
interesting and educational that they were a positive experience despite
the hardship.

That right there was the essence of Starfleet in Sal’s opinion.

Taybrim: Such as?  ::Now he was well and truly curious.::

DeVeau: Well, I have to admit, I have a soft spot for the cyborg spiders
on DSX.

Taybrim: Cyborg spiders?  ::The science background in him surged with
curiosity.:: Please tell me more!

Alora’s eyes lit up as he queried for more information.

DeVeau: Oh, they are fantastic!  They were there before it became a
Starfleet base.  They were...sort of like engineers, and they have a
queen, that’s Sheba, and she’s just so gorgeous.  They are frightening,
I mean, /really/ frightening, I thought I was going to die of fright the
first time we met, but they were just...fantastic, and I would visit
them from time to time after that.  I mean...that was the good part
among all the bombs that were planted by the Marquis Reborn.  I didn’t
care for that, obviously, but within the horrible things that happen,
there were good things too.

Sometimes it was hard to see that.  Hard to remember that.  Alora had
her good days and her bad days when it came to recent events in regards
to that sort of attitude.  Lately, especially, it could get really
difficult to see the sun when the clouds were so thick and dark and
blocked the light so utterly.  She was trying though.  She was trying.

Taybrim: I remember reading reports of the Maquis Reborn, I would love
to hear more about them as well, and get a really good ‘you were there’
point of view about them.  ::Sal was ever-curious. About people, about
stories, about listening to what others thought and had to say.::

Alora smiled, her verdant eyes twinkling.

DeVeau: Oh no, Captain, I think we should stop here.

Taybrim: Oh?  Why?

It was the Betazoid’s turn to have his dark eyes sparkle.

DeVeau: Because, first of all, if you let me, I’ll talk your ear off.

That was true.  Granted, no ear had actually fallen off, but while Alora
was still alive, it was always a possible side effect.

DeVeau: Second of all, if I don’t say another word about anything else,
then that gives me an excuse to come back and talk to you another day. 
Besides, I’ve probably taken up too much of your time as it is.  You’re
a busy man.

Taybrim: ::He chuckled gently:: Well then I hope that is a promise, you
have been a wonderful companion.

DeVeau: As have you.  I’ve enjoyed talking with you.

Alora pushed herself to her feet and smiled down at her Captain.

Taybrim: Next shore leave you will have to come again and check on the
plant and I will give you a tour of what I have growing here. Deal?

He smiled, enjoying any opportunity to get to know someone better

Alora’s expression brightened and she nodded in agreement.

DeVeau: I would love that.

Taybrim: Then until we get the chance to meet again, may the Rings
protect you and your loved ones ::He offered a traditional Betazoid
gesture of a fond farewell.::

DeVeau: My friend Kestra used to tell me that.

Taybrim: Kestra?  ::he queried curiously - there he went again!::

DeVeau: That, my dear Captain, you’ll have to find out another day. As
the Vulcans say, Dif tor heh smusma.

Alora offered him a ta’al, though unlike a Vulcan, she coupled it with a
grin.  Then, before he could attempt to pry any further information from
her, she left the room, the violet remaining behind.

Sal leaned back, gently picking the flower up as she left to contemplate
where it should live moving forward.

~*~

Fleet Captain Sal Taybrim
Commanding Officer
StarBase 118 ops
E239010ST0

&

Lt. Cmdr. Alora DeVeau
Science Officer
Starbase 118 Ops
M239008AD0