Cornering conversation.

Posted on Tue Jul 2nd, 2019 @ 8:26pm by

Mission: For Whom The Bell Tolls
Location: Lounge
Timeline: MD 03 18:30 Hours
3256 words - 6.5 OF Standard Post Measure

ON

Tadez had managed to be out of his uniform and into a casual attire of gray slacks, red cotton shirt with an open missionary collar, his glasses, and a rather thick volume that he seemed quite interested in. The plate of Chips and Salsa next to an Iced tea. He was in a spicy mood tonight despite his choice in reading. It was his time to unwind and a good book with the mix of people in the background relaxed him.

The very kind OPS person working the Lounge had taken his order; her suggestion that the Salsa and warm chips was not to be passed up as Tadez is new to the Lounge and she believed he would like it, so he had ordered it. It came as no surprise that the appetizer was what he could enjoy. The Table in the corner was out of the way; not that the Lounge is not a central hub of socializing, but Tadez being new had wanted to ease his way into the Social Arena. Sitting in a corner reading a good book might not make him a social butterfly but it allowed him to observe his fellow crew and hear what kinds of talk the crew favored. One can get a feel for a ship by just listening to what happens in social gatherings when people let down their guard and become more 'themselves.'

Tadez was content with being quietly on the outside right now, time is what friendships take and being new he found himself with time on his hands.

Razmi finally left her quarters. She was tired of sitting and staring at walls. Instead she'd move to a bigger room and stare at walls some more. She huffed out an amused sigh at this revelation. but at least in the lounge there was bound to be other people. She both craved companionship and was terrified of it. Stef had understood and befriended her on Marga III but Stef already had his other one, Beata. The woman he'd dreamed of for years before finally being reunited with her. Now Razmi was truly alone and afraid.

The double doors to the lounge swished open and she found herself looking about. She debated heading to the bar, but she had a favorite table she always liked to sit at, turning to make her way to it she noticed someone already sitting there. He looked no more comfortable than her and had brought something with him to read. She wondered if this was a technique to keep people away. No matter, she would bother him anyhow. What would it hurt?

"Hello." She said as she stood only a foot away from the edge of the table.

Tadez look up from his reading; closing he book partly using his thumb to mark the page; seeing it was a lady he quickly stood; nearly pushing the chair too far back, noticed and made sure to lean more forward and tried to salvage some good manners.

"Oh... hello." he gave a nod. "Terribly sorry for not noticing- i - was just at an interesting part of the... book." He caught himself. "I am Tadez." He offered. "How may I help you?"

"I don't know," Razmi sighed. She really had no idea what she was doing. "You're Bajoran?" She asked, she'd seen them before, but only from a distance. She'd never spoken to one before. "This is my favorite table," Razmi admitted. "But I don't want to kick you out, you can use it. Besides, if I use it too often the bartender might carve my initials in it. I don't think Starfleet would like that."

The book placed upon the table Tadez moved to pull a chair for her at the table. "I would suggest sharing the table?" He said with a grin. "That would honor me with some conversation and not require your initials to be carved as you will be sharing the table." He offered. "I only read books to pass idle time,would you please join me, I have chips and Salsa that are very good to share?"

"I guess I could do that," she gave a nod. "What are you reading? There aren't a lot of books where I come from. Don't be surprised if I'm not familiar with it." She passed on the chips and salsa though, her stomach, she'd found, wasn't always in agreement with the variety of foods the replicator or chef in the mess hall could make.

Returning to his chair after helping to seat the lady.

"It is a later work of Dumas; one of my favorites despite his earlier work the Three Musketeers being more well known, it is from a part Earth's French literature." Tadez said calmly. "Recommended to me by a French Diplomat from Earth actually; he said I would enjoy it."

"I . . . have never heard of him. Sorry," Razmi smiled. "I guess I have a lot of reading to do now that I'm on a starship. I always read a lot at home, what I could get my hands on but it was limited and there always seemed like something else to do. The fields needed tended to, or someone had a crisis and needed help. It's still busy here, but not for me. It's been hard, slowing down so much. I've found myself being still and thinking a lot." She realized she'd said all of this quickly and she hadn't even been looking at him, she'd been looking out the window as if looking for her home. She knew it was no longer there.

"Bajor is a largely farming community as well, I can understand the constant need to do things." Tadez hoped was his assuring tone "My life on the ship has it's moments of pulling me in varied directions. I just enjoy reading. "You know it is easier to Slow down if you have someone to talk to?" He nod. "You are the first person who I do not have to talk with as a part of my reporting in or duty." He tilt his head and glanced at her eyes. "As the Vedek of my Town once said 'it is better to find conversation as you touch two ..." He wanted to say 'Paghs' which was a Bajoran belief so had to think of a more common term in that second. " Lives. Yourself and the other person." He smiled. "I am what humans call a sucker for conversation."

"Oh well you can talk and I'll listen because I'm terrible at it, I don't have the practice. Never did a lot of sitting around talking where I'm from. Tell me about your town. What was it like to have Vedeks around? Do you believe in the prophets?"

Tadez laughed, he had a couple of seconds before he could bring himself to answer.

"Conversation is a two way sort of activity." Tadez answered with a bright smile. "we can take it slow; I am a bit of a bookworm and conversationalist." He told her. "It was a small provenance on Bajor; just like any other small town in the Galaxy where you know those that live in the community and they get to now you." He informed her. "Yes I believe in the Prophets as it gives me a belief that things are bigger than I can see and thus I have something to aspire towards." He looked at her and winked. "Now tell me a bit; as you have not mentioned your name I can only call you 'Milady' as in proper terms?"

"Oh no, I'm not of noble blood. I'm Razmi, it's all anyone has ever called me. Sorry, as I said, I'm not used to this. Last five years the only person I've had around much to talk to was Stef . . . sometimes his wife would come with him, after they got married. But that was less and less, especially after Alecx was born. Then I helped him with the baby and we were both so tired we didn't want to talk. For someone who doesn't get much chance at conversation, I sure talk a lot huh?"

Tadez grinned.

"See you do not need as much practice as you thought." He nod his head. "While not of noble blood you do have a pretty name." Grinning as he look at his book. "One worthy of being on carpet during the Arabian nights whisked off by some poor boy pretending to be a prince to impress the fair maiden." He shook his head and again caught himself and paused. "Perhaps I need to be less in a book?" He shrugged. "I am sorry for the interruption of my imagination, you were saying about your friend STef and his family, they sound delightful?"

"I've always hated my name." Razmi said honestly. But she let the subject go. "Yeah, Stef is on board," she sighed slightly. "He brought me back with him from the planet. He was a member of the crew who got trapped there for five years but he always wanted to come back. He had a love here, he said. Now he's found her again I guess. And I'm here because . . . because I didn't have a reason not to come. There was nothing keeping me there."

"I could just call you Milady? Or even Milady Razmi as that has a regal air to it." He nod almost playfully. "The thing we can do perhaps is find a reason for you to be here that you can feel inside yourself. Be able to know you are where you belong?" He nod. "I could offer you a person to talk with when you like, my duty allows me time to myself a lot so I could talk when you like..." He chuckled. "Unless the Captain bogs me down with work of course then I might issue some rainchecks if needed?" He was smiling as he spoke.

Razmi seemed to think on it a moment. "You can call me what you like." Thought she didn't feel very regal still, it had kind of an affectionate tone to it. Perhaps she should say yes, just to see what happened. "All right. After you get to know me a little better you think you will have some ideas on what I could do on a Starship to keep myself busy?"

"I am always willing to help; it is the best way to make a friend they say." He smiled and sat back to look at her. "I seem to be the only one here that is liking the Salsa and corn chips." He grinned. "Why don't you name your favorite and we start with that?" He shrugged. "I am willing to try anything... once."

"Oh I doubt they would have such a thing. I love taldori salad. It's made in layers of lettuce, seeds, dressing made from wuro berries and bits of antila meat jerky. It's so good." Razmi had a glazed look on her face as she remembered it.

"You might try Mr. Patrick, I am told he is willing to cook a lot of things, just need to let him know what it is?" Tadez replied. "But have you ever tried Earth's French Fries and a good hamburger." He looked to Razmi. "I tried it on Earth, it is good and get a sesame bun to really be brave?" His expression was one of ease and comfort. "It is a bit of an Earth delicacy from their Norther Hemisphere I think? I mention this because I am hungry; the chips are good but appetizers and the appetite wants to be fed and I would rather enjoy 'Dinner conversation if both sides eat? I was taught eating in front of another is considered .... rude?"

"Oh it doesn't bother me, please eat. And no, I haven't eaten much Earth food. I saw it from time to time at the resorts but I never got to try a bite."

"I will not push you; however, next time you need to order food so I do not have to eat alone... deal?" He excused himself long enough to go and make the order leaving his book 'The Count of Monte Cristo' on the table while he was away, then returned to his seat. Now where were we?" he thought for a second. "Right, most of your dish is a salad and if they could replicate something close to the other ingredients it does not sound like a hard dish to take a stab at making?"

"I'm sorry, if it bothers you I'll eat. And yes, I'm sure we could approximate it. I'll talk to someone about it." Razmi did not understand why he was uncomfortable eating in front of her. She was not starving.

"My parents were in the occupation of Bajor, they had hard times and food was scarce so we ate in secret; then after the occupation we had food and could openly eat it and even enough to share as we could not before, we barely fed ourselves." He explained. "Our family saw it as a sign from the Prophets we would prosper and that meant we could share with others. So I am used to sharing my meals and it just is ... different not to be eating with someone."

"I see." Razmi got up suddenly and moved to the bar, she was there for a few moments then returned with a bowl of some stew. "The waiter said it would be bland on my stomach."

Tazde bow win respect. "I hope you can enjoy it?" His burger had arrived just before Razmi came back with a good portion of fries. "Back to more fond conversation, you were telling me of your friend and his family; the baby is how old now?"

"Two." Razmi replied. "Alecx is two. For that age, he's really rather a sweet child. He rarely looses his temper and has more patience than any other child his age I've met. Then again he is part Vulcan."

"That would explain a bit of it I think." Tadez agreed. "I can tell you are supportive of Stef and his family; admirable to say the least, I hope you might have some time to add another name to the potential friend bracket as I am the new man on the block one might say." He took a drink of his tea. "I find that the librarian of the ship; the computer and replicator, have been the extent of my friends thus far." He chuckled. "Though I do admit the Librarian does have fine tastes in books."

"Well I am not an expert at making friends but only the nosy people who accuse you of stealing their table will approach you when you have a book in your face. Maybe leave the books in your quarters and move around a bit, sit at other tables if you're trying to make friends? And stay away from bossy women who tell you what to do with your books." Razmi smiled.

"I do not mind the Nosy types as they make good conversation." He winked. "as for leaving the books behind..." He slid the book to Razmi. "Consider it a gift." He raised an eyebrow. "With that I am no longer able to be told what to do with my book?" He leaned a little closer. "Are you going to move around a bit and make some friends or can we keep our building friendship a bit longer?"

The smile faded from Razmi's lips when he passed the book to her. "I only came to sit at my favorite table and I guess since you're sitting here, you're stuck with me for a while longer. And it's your favorite," she said looking down at the book. "I can't take that away from you."

"It is a replicated book that I have read it several times." He smiled. "It is safer to have that book here in case I spill I do not ruin the book." He smiled. "I do recommend it as a good example of Earth historical based fiction. And as for being stuck with you it could be said that you are also stuck with me. A bookworm is not always the best conservationist unless talking books." He chuckled. "Not to worry though I am enjoying our conversation."

"Well thank you." Razmi replied, unsure of what else to say. "I will read it." She pulled it towards her and looked down at the cover.

"It is an encompassing novel and so take your time and we can discuss it along the way or when you finish it?" Tadez shrugged his shoulders. "I am one to think a Book can take you places your body cannot go, back in time and space to places that are as detailed and real as you imagine." He had that fond expression. "In the older times they said books were the great escape, before the advent of Television and computers that lead to Holo-Novels that you act a part within." Sitting back in his chair. "I still like to take journeys through books."

"Me too, I remember this one story. It was an Earth fairy tale my mother told me about three princess who discovered a door to the fairy world and would go dancing every night until their shoes were worn thin. I lived it in my head every day for months. I danced instead of walking. Looking back, my mother was a very patient woman." Razmi looked over and met his eyes. " It might take me a while to read it unless . . . You would be interested in reading it to me?" She blushed a little at the idea, but English was not her first language.

"It would be my honor." Tadez spoke and smiled. "Though I thik somewhere that has less noise and you might be able to hang upon the words." He chuckled. "And several sittings as to read it aloud would be close to fifty hours; my voice might get strained if I read that long?" He was joking of course.

" Oh a chapter at a time would be fine. Where? When?"

"I think somewhere you are comfortable." He suggested. "I would think a quiet place like the small garden we have on the ship, or an Observation deck or someplace you can relax and be able to listen and not be distracted?" He pointed out. "As for when; that I can leave to you as I have no idea what purpose you serve nor what shift you attend so I can make a guess that this time of day you are open and as to where ; There is a small gardens on the ship and it is open enough to be relaxing and the scents of the plants can help make a calm environment for reading?"

"The arboretum, sure. Stef has shown it to me. Actually I don't really have much of a job so when you have some time you can just call me.". Razmi went back to eating, pleased with how things were planning out. She would need to speak to Stef about it.

"What say we meet at the Arboretum at 1500 hours, I will bring the book you bring the imagination." He agreed.

Things were going along nicely; he had met a new person and gets to share his favorite novel; Tadez called that a good deal.

Razmi nodded enthusiastically. "Perfect."

---

Lt. Neenyo Tadez
Chief Diplomatic Officer

Razmi
Former Marga III Resident/Unofficial Navigator