New Welcoming Friend

Posted on Sat Apr 2nd, 2016 @ 8:27pm by Samanthia Akiashiro & Lieutenant JG Yalane

Mission: Brave New World
Location: Warp-12 Lounge

Samanthia sat at her booth/table where she could watch customers come and go. She was working on ledgers for the place as a group of the station's resident was on stage singing and playing instruments for the entertainment of the patrons that was patronizing the place to relax, eat, and/or business

As colorful and diverse as those patrons were, from all walks of life and all races in the federation - whether officially or not - one stood out a little bit more than the others. It wasn't often one came across a completely pristine white fur clad, 7+ foot tall feline with amazonian build and a forlorn expression on her features.

Carrying a plate filled with lots of bite-sized pieces of meat, the feline eventually broke her own dilemma - whether to sit by herself all boring like or bother someone else with a chance of some friendly conversation - and chose exactly Samanthia's table. "Excuse me miss, mind if I join you forrr a bit?"

Normally patrons of the place would see the ledgers stacked next to her and the open one before her. She looked up at seeing the Caitian as tall as her mate. "Please," in Caitian, understandable, yet crude. She made room for the Caitian queen a place for her plate and drink. Placing some of the ledgers on a chair next to her. "CAG?" Nodding towards the uniform colors.

Normally patrons also had a better grasp of social conventions than this particular feline. At the spoken Caitian though she flicked an ear and looked puzzled. "Sorrrrry, I don't speak Caitian." It was a common occurrence, being mistaken for a one, so she wasn't bothered by it. "I'm a Calidae. I know a few Caitians though." At Samanthia's question she shook her head. "Just a fighterrrr pilot. The CAG's my boss."

"Please sit," Samanthia motioned for her to have a place at her working table. "My mistake. I was practicing my Caitian." She reached out for her customary drink, orange juice. "You fitting in nicely here?"

"So farrr, I s'pose. Only arrrived earrrlierrr today." The feline flicked an ear, sitting down as bade, setting her plate on the table. "CAG's a Caitian. Big one, too."

Samanthia gave a laugh, "Definitely!" Settling her glass down after a quick laugh. "Where was your previous assignment? I'm Samanthia, and you're?" Remembering her manners.

"You've met him?" the feline smiled, a soft purrr underneath her breath. "Name's Yalane. Nice to met you, Samanthia." offering a hand in greet.

Samanthia gently took her hand in a way that wouldn't put undue pressure on it, yet protecting her hand from her claws. "Definitely. He's my mate. Husband." She smiled a bit dreamy. "It also a pleasure to meet you also. If you like to sing or perform, we're holding an open audition next week here at the lounge. 20 hundred hours station time. Winners get a free meal with 1 extra person and they can perform on stage for the patrons."

Samanthia gave a light shake and released Yalane hand.

The tips of the unretractable claws were filed down to blunt them and the feline had had enough practice shaking hands to know how not to hurt people. Still, Samanthia's careful gesture was noted. "Oh you wouldn't want me to sing. I've got the musical talent of tonedeaf Klingon." Yalane waved dismissively. "Would be the quickest way to empty this place."

"So, S'errr'in'e is yourrrr mate?" she added, her purrr deepening, as she popped a piece of meat into her mouth and swallowed it. "I can't tell who's luckierrr, you orrr him." she smiled. "Good on you both, I suppose!"

Samanthia gave a soft giggle at the tonedeaf Klingon comment, "I feel lucky and I hope he feels the same way. What about instruments? Drums? Those are easy if you have some sort of rhythm. Or there are Thespian groups to join that are always looking for new members. If you need the freedom to run in the fresh air, there trips to Archa IV. Catch a supply shuttle. Their schedule is on the bulletin board over near the door. That offers many thing to do on the station."

"Mrrrr. That frrrreedom to rrrun sounds good." the Calidae purred. "I've always found these starrrships and stations too crrramped, you know. Therrre's holodecks ofcourrrse, but those just don't feel rrright to me, somehow." she mused. "I don't play an instrrrument either. I can dance, though. But I'm not surrre if that's something otherrr people would want to see."

"People here run the gauntlet of what they would like to see. If interested in dancing, there are dance groups and those that teaches various form of dance from all across the galaxy. Just ask around. Or access the social network for a listings." Samanthia spoke softly. "Holodecks are nice for those that have limited free time on their hands."

"Mmhm. I suppose they arrre. Therrre's just something about them that doesn't worrrk forrr me. Maybe I'm a bit morrre sensitive than otherrr people, but I just can't get prrroperrrly immerrrsed." The feline mused, working on her plate of food. "What do you do forrr fun, Samanthia?"

Samanthia looked thoughtful. "Study old texts and go visit the Archeological Sites on Arca IV. Read, listen to music. My Mate." Giving a soft warm smile. "When I want a quiet time, I embroider scenery onto cloth such as pillow cases, blouses or what ever I can get my hands on." Expression softens even more. "My mother taught me how to embroider and at times we would just sit and talk as we embroidered." She focus again, looking Yalane. "I don't get much time lately as I run two establishments. Here on the starbase. Then there is attending Archa University."

She looked at Yalane's hands, "I bet you would be good at embroidery." As she remade eye contact with her. "At least it will fill those idle hours when you can't sleep."

The feline laughed, shaking her head a bit. "My claws would just get in the way, I'm surrre. I keep myself busy enough, I suppose. Trrraining, excerrrcising, climbing, rrrunning, hunting, anything physical. Just give me a cliff, a trrree orrr some plains and I can keep myself enterrrtained forrr hourrrs. I'm not verrry crrreative. Most crreative thing I ever did was paint a scythe on top of my fighterrr. Just a little perrrsonalization I was allowed."

"Hey! Don't knock it till you've tried it!" Samanthia softly exclaimed. "You may find yourself more creative than you think. Unless you prefer chasing after spools of threads." She gave a soft humorous smile as she lightly teased Yalane.

The feline giggled, though it sounded almost like a cackle. "Actually, yes. Small, moving objects. Irrrresistable. I don't know why, but the sterrreotype is rrreal. Must be hunting instinct orrr something, the fact that I'm evolved frrrom prrredatorrrs instead of omnivorrres. Makes it verrry interrresting when therrre arrre pets arrround."

Samanthia smiled as she just made a new friend. "Well only pet I keep around is 7 feet plus..." Referring to S'er'in'e, "But I wonder some times...." Her eyes sparkled in the light. She glanced at stage as a new group of performers were taking the stage. The instruments shimmered morphing into instruments that suited the performers preferences. Her smile turned a bit prideful as the new upgraded holo-programming was talking effect. "You'll love it on Archa IV. They have a Federation Marine Base and certain times of the year, It's open to the public for recreational use. Fleet personnel has priority though."

"Mmhm. I'd love to see it some time. Rrrun arrround, do the obstacle courrrse, show those grrreenshirt marrrines how to do it prrroperrrly and set a new rrrecorrrd." she licked her lips with a wicked, toothy grin.

Samanthia laughed softly, "Maybe when I get my planetary student visa renewed. I could give you ride there. But then you'd have to wait for the supply shuttle get you back." She spoke softly. "Due to the Sojourners. Residence of the starbase and Federation Fleet are not to welcome on the planet of Archa. Best bet would be go with the supply shuttle. Direct flight to the Marine Base and back."

"I'll definitely keep it in mind." Yalane mused, finishing her food. Ears flicked towads the stage. "These guys arrren't bad."

"That why I hold Amateur Night here at the Lounge, I get free entertainment and if the attending patrons like the performers, they get a contract to perform fitting their work, school or their schedule. The really good ones, get to perform during Primetime. Before the Sojourners showed, several bands got their start right on that stage." Samanthia smiled softly. Giving to the community so that everyone had a chance at stardom. "Don't know if you heard of the Jeffery Tubers? Asteroid Supremes? Just to name a few."

"I don't keep up with bands and music and that kind of stuff." Yalane shrugged and shook her head a bit. "I don't know if it's a species thing orrr not, but -" Whiskers twitched a bit, ears lay back. "I don't rrrememberrr much frrrom home, but I don't rrrememberr music being as big a thing therre as it is herre."

"Music... life without music is.. well not life at all. It can be soothing, to inspire. Incite feelings and enhance the moment. Something to shared with others." Samanthia looked a bit distance remembering her youthful days. Soft smile graced her expression. Music was a big part of her life. "Helps with coordination to become graceful.." Focusing on Yalane, "..to become deadly in one endeavors as it allows relaxation to focus better. Even in meditation."

"Mmmhm. Perrrhaps." The Calidae could easily tell how much passion Samanthia had for music, but she just didn't feel it like that. Music was frivolous to her, it was nice enough in the background when doing something more important or more fun, but that was it as far as the feline was concerned. "For me, frrreedom to move is the grrreatest good, and I don't need music to feel at my best. I need space. Life on a starrrship was parrticularrrly crrramped, forrtunately this station is a lot rrroomierrr."

"Definitely is. You usually part of away teams when you did serve aboard a starship?" Samanthia eyes roved about the room, watching the patrons and few waitresses moving about. She looked back at Yalane. She signaled the bartender for a refill for her self. "Care for a drink? Milkshake?"

"I wasn't on away teams nearrrly as much as I would've liked. They don't norrrmally need fighterrrpilots on away missions and when they do, it's usually in theirrr fighterrr." Yalane mused, shoulders slumping a bit. At the offer of a milkshake though her ears perked. "Ooo. Mmm. As long as it's chocolate. I love chocolate milkshakes." she purred.

Samanthia gave the order to the waitress that brought over her drink of orange juice. "One chocolate milkshake," The waitress took off as she turned her attention to Yalane. "There is another Caitian assigned here, but she's either flying the shuttle runs to Arca or flies the station garrison ship, USS Jackal. Ever think of dueling your specialty?"

"I have qualifications on basically everrrything shorrrt of an actual starrrship, but I am at my best and happiest piloting a Rrrazorrr. Kinda surrrprrrised the chief of operrrations when I drrropped that bombshell on him. My Rrrazorrr is extensively modified, otherrrwise I wouldn't even fit inside." the feline smiled. Her purrr deepened when the waitress brought the chocolate milkshake around, which Yalane accepted firmly with both claws hands. "Thank you." she told Samanthia before having a taste, eyes closed.

Samanthia nodded, letting Yalane savor the milkshake as every ingredient was shipped in from various parts of the galaxy. "you're welcome." going through a few more figures and comparing them with the other ledgers and inventory.

The feline just sat in silence, enjoying the milkshake. Savoring the taste, a steady purrr sounding from the pilot. With eyes closed she just sat, enjoying the moment. "Mmmm. This is good. Farrr betterrr than any rrreplicated one I've everrr had. All naturrral ingrrredients, I guess?

"Yup," Samanthia responded as she continued her accounting. Occasionally she would look around the club to keep an eye on the place. "All imported."

"I can tell." the feline responded, just finishing her drink in peace. After a little while she stood up again. "Thanks forrr the company and the drrrink. I should be heading back now. Was verrry nice meeting you, Samanthia."

"Nice meeting you too, Yalane," She stood up also with a smile. "Be safe as much as possible." Looking thoughtful, "May you rise to the challenges that the future may bring you with a stout heart and friends at your side."

Yalane chuckled at the farewell. "Fighterrrjocks don't go for 'safe'. Live fast, die harrrd, leave a goodlooking corrrpse. But, thanks. May you walk on warrrm sands." she said before leaving. "Such a nice perrrson." the Calidae mused quietly to herseld.

"I'd rather have you live and enjoy life," Samanthia spoke softly as she return to her books and ledgers. A waitress came by and took the dirty dishes away to be cleaned.
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