Would you? Could you?

Posted on Fri 5th Apr, 2013 @ 2:09pm by

1,052 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: http://sb109.sim-station.net/index.php/sim/missions/id/3
Location: Operations Department
Timeline: MD 04, 1545

ON:

The lunch crowd had come and gone in Orchids & Jazz, and Jade was caught up on ordering, so she left her jazz club in the capable hands of her assistant, Serena Alia, and headed off to find another person for her Tivoli Gardens committee.

As she strolled along the promenade, in the direction of the closest turbolift, she did a little window shopping. As she turned away from the window of Basement Bargains, she caught sight of her reflection and paused. The El Aurian woman didn't often really look at herself. She made sure her hair was tidy and there were no smudges on her nose, but otherwise, she didn't think much about her looks.

The woman staring back at her from the window was attractive. Today, she wore a white suit with a V-neck and antique jet beads around her throat. From her ears dangled discreet black drops. Earrings were her one vice, and she fingered these a moment before she turned away and continued toward the lift. Her time was limited and she needed to get to the Operations department quickly.

===

"I don't want to hear it... all I want to know is which one of you dented the bloody runabout?" Winchester was talking to two Ensigns who were sitting in front of him, like little schoolboys.

"Well basically, Sir... " One of them started to reply.

"Which fucking one!" Winchester replied in his harsh, Northern Irish tone, but still with a calm voice. This was certainly not something to get excited about, he was merely toying with them.

After a few moments, the other officer replied. "It was me sir... I was distracted and... "

"Right, now, that wasn't so hard, was it?" Winchester was holding back his grin.

"Sir... am I going to lose my commission... ?"

"Lose your... Fucking Hell lad... just get the fucking dent out of the runabout and don't do it again. You're lucky the Colonel didn't find out!"

The two looked like they were frozen to the spot, their expressions ones of pure disbelief.

"Now go on... fuck off now... the pair of you," Winchester turned sharply, he couldn't keep the grin contained any longer. He let it spread across his face, a relief to be sure!

Jade walked in to the office on the tail end of the conversation. She wasn't sure what the young Ensigns had done, but suspected the man who was now grinning from ear to ear had just put the fear of authority in them. If this was the Sergeant Major, and she dearly hoped it was, he could be very handy on the committee!

"Good afternoon. I'm looking for Sergeant Major Winchester. Might that be you?" she asked him.

"I certainly am! And even if I wasn't, I'd lie just so that I could engage in conversation with such a pretty lady," Winchester carried on smiling.

"Well, now, Sergeant Major, flattery will get you in trouble," Jade smiled at the man. It was really impossible to take offense, he was so completely cheerful. "When you find out why I've come, you may feel differently, though!"

"Well, perhaps I like trouble! Please, no one calls me by rank! My name's Graham... ranks come and go but a name stays forever." He winked at Jade. "So, who do I have the pleasure of speaking to?"

"Jade Lantz, owner of Orchids & Jazz. I believe you might have been in a time or two," she answered and held her hand out to shake. "I'm also more or less in charge of the Tivoli Gardens project. Have you heard anything about that?"

"Ah Jade, of course you are! I have indeed been in - a fine establishment... and a fine selection of whiskey, I might add!" He chuckled to himself. He extended his hand to shake hers.

He gestured to Jade to sit down at a corner of station that weren't being used. "Regarding Tivoli Gardens, I have heard some rumours about it - sounds like quite the idea, Miss. Lantz!"

"It's why I'm here ... Graham. I'm forming a committee to make the essential decisions. I don't want it to be ALL my ideas," she explained. "I've commitments from a number of Promenade civilians, and two of the department heads, but I'd like someone ... hmm, how shall I say this?" Jade knew exactly how she was going to say it, but she wanted it to sound completely sincere, and not like flattery. "Someone more grounded, perhaps? I thought that you might help to keep hot heads cool, and keep us from straying too far from reality." Her smile invited him to conspire with her to keep meetings under control.

"Ah Jade, I tell you... back when I was a young lad in Starfleet there was no one more hot-headed than me! I'd quite happily go gallivanting off in search of an adventure wherever I could find one. But the... more mature years... have provided me with a certain balance on things now. I'd quite happily keep the kids on check for ya!" He chuckled once again.

Jade grinned, "I can imagine you are not always that far from it, still, from time to time. I am so pleased you will join us. I'm afraid I tend to get lost in who people are, under the surface, and sometimes miss the important details of a meeting. Things can get out of hand so quickly, you know. I will feel much more confident with you there. We'll get together for the first time in the next few days, and I'll let you know the details as soon as they're set. Think about ideas of your own to contribute, too," she encouraged him. "I'd like everyone to have a place they can enjoy, whether it's fishing by a quiet stream or shooting the rapids, as I believe it's called."

"Well, it'd be my pleasure, Miss. Lantz... that's for sure! I think it's a wonderful idea and I assure you that if any little scallywag starts misdirecting the meeting, they'll be getting a clip round the ear from me, rather sharpish, if ya know what I mean!" Once again, his bellowing chuckle filled that corner of Ops.

OFF:

A Post By:
Jade Lantz
Owner - Orchids & Jazz
Chair - Tivoli Gardens Committee
&
Sergeant Major Graham Winchester
Command Chief

 

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