Location: Torpedo Tube Lounge

Tags: Lee, Qa'lira

::SNIP::

 

Lieutenant Elizabeth Riley was a woman of the moment--in truth, however, she desperately wished she was a woman of the moment. Rather, Elizabeth Riley was a woman planning for her future. Nearly every interaction in her thirty-four years was for the distinct purpose of forwarding her career. Riley didn't approach the issue from the avenue of the manipulative malcontent. Instead, each moment simply built, logically, onto the next. Elizabeth was a woman on a mission and that mission was to receive a transfer posting as XO (a post that would eventually become CO) on the USS Forward Move.

She understood the importance of the work that Lieutenant Cotier was doing, even managed (on many occasions) to be both astounded and humbled by his works; but, it wasn't her passion...it was his. Elizabeth believed in the ambassadorial mission of the Federation and the USS Forward Move happened to be one of the most prominent postings in the Delta Quadrant for that work. Cotier was certainly doing his part to perpetuate the science and engineering of the Federation and Starfleet, Riley simply wanted to do her part. Only, instead of bringing new technologies to the Federation, she hoped to bring new member worlds.

So while she would have loved to have found herself entering the torpedo tube lounge of her own accord, she wasn't. Captain Cotier thought it pertinent for Riley to get "off ship" for a "spell" and "stretch her legs." Over the past few months Riley had come to learn that was Cotier's not so subtle way of encouraging social interaction. Apparently being holed up in her bunk with the latest newsfeeds wasn't what Cotier had in mind when he'd told her to take some leave time. Although, Elizabeth had to admit that Cotier had a point. The Astir was a small ship with an even smaller crew compliment. The claustrophobia of social interaction was bound to lead to friction. It seemed prudent to postpone the inevitable explosion of tempers as long as possible.

She brushed a hand along her forehead, moving stray strands of blonde hair away from her eyes and tucking them behind her ear as she walked over to the bar. A woman of mixed heritage, Klingon and...Terran perhaps?...was operating the replicator behind the bar. She was momentarily surprised to see Commander Tora, until she remembered the woman had once served as CO of the Discovery. Riley herself would have welcomed any opportunity to catch up with former colleagues of either the Daybreak or the Ark.

While they were talking, the new arrival reached the bar. “What can I get for you tonight? Tie me to the Bedpost has been fairly popular. Do you like orange juice?”

She waited until she had the bartender's attention, "I would love a glass of red wine."

Enora had to calm herself, feeling huge sways of relief as she realized it was someone friendly to her and to whom she most likely was not going to come under fire. She didn’t realize it until the doors opened and had yet to reveal Lieutenant Riely, that she indeed did expect to see Will. And perhaps, she was wanting to talk to him rather than just be bombarded by his hateful words. 

Turning to Liam, Qa’lira said, “I haven’t forgotten about you. You wanted a different drink?”

Lira scrambled to fix the two drinks for the two different patrons, all the while sneaking glances back at Enora. What had passed between her and the latest arrival, she wondered.

"Thank you," Elizabeth offered a half smile as she accepted the glass.

“You’re welcome,” Qa’lira said as she set the glass down in front of the XO. “I think I recognize you from the Astir. My name’s Qa’lira, or Lira to my friends.”

“Yes, of course…” Enora confirmed. “I apologize…” she said offering an awkward hand shake. “I don’t think we ever were formally introduced. I was rather… rushed aboard with our orders and all.” She explained as clumsy as her hand shake. “Tora Enora.”

"Elizabeth Riley, but please call me Lee," she said by way of introduction.

“Well Lee,” Lira began, “we’ve been having a friendly discussion regarding the availability of real alcohol aboard ship. Where do you weigh in?”

“In terms of enjoyment, or command interest?” Enroa tried to clarify for point of conversation.

<<Lee>>

She took a sip of the wine, a shy smile playing on her lips. Elizabeth wasn't much for social gatherings, preferring to stick to the corner and people watch. In uniform she could command the attention of any bridge, out of uniform, however, was a completely different story.

“Well, while you make great points, it is the business of Starfleet to ensure the safety and functionality of the missions over that of morale. However, morale can contribute to the functionality both positively and negatively. So it would be difficult to determine a stance without determining the functionality of the alcohol intent and use.” Enora said as she took a sip of the wine, and decided silently to herself, real was her preferred just on taste alone.

“A very diplomatic answer,” Qa’lira said, “but I still maintain that it would be good for morale to have real alcohol available to those who were off-duty.” Lira was just making polite conversation; she was actually looking for reasons why Enora had reacted so strongly to the addition of the Astirs XO.

<<Lee>>

“Lira,” Enora said as she readjusted her glass in front of her. “If you ever do get to make the argument for alcohol procurement procedures, it could be said that ordering real would cut down on the amount of boot legged alcohol on board, and that it be better measured here in the bar with a trained bartender, rather than in the atmosphere of somewhere like, oh… the swamp.” Enora let a small snicker of a laugh out, just imagining the things that must have gone on in those quarters.

“So Lee,” Enora said somewhat changing the subject. “How do you like working with our favorite little Frenchie, Cotier?”  Enora smiled, as only Cotier could make her smile. She wasn’t one to gossip, but it was heart breaking what happened between he and Kosala. It was true love, for him. It was hard to hear his name, and not think of them as a couple.

Lieutenant Liam MacLaren