Klingon Birds?

Posted on 08/12/2020 @ 10:55am by Lieutenant JG Siobhan Richards PhD

Mission: S2E1: The Skunil Incident
Location: USS Crazy Horse, Mess Hall
Timeline: Day 39 at 1300

Siobhan put the steaming mug filled with white tea and a small plate with a banana muffin on the table, and slipped gracefully on the seat next to it. Second day, was not less busy than the previous one. She took the bite and looked around curious of the people from her new crew. Slowly chewing the tasty muffin, she was lazily rotating the rest of it on the plate.

As her eyes moved between people, she noticed a tall Bajoran woman heading toward her. Siobhan made sure to familiarize herself at least with the commanding officers aboard the Crazy Horse so she recognized her as the Chief of Security, Lieutenant Lae'Or. Siobhan swallowed the bite she was chewing, leaned back against the chair and put a friendly smile, waiting.

"Why do I do this, again..." Tahlin was frowning down at a PADD. "You'd think I'd be happy with having her back in my life romantically, but no, I have to try and compose love poetry in what amounts to Victorian-era Klingon... Now, what's the word for bird?"

Tahlin looked up momentarily, noticing the sight of the human woman giving her a smile. "That an invitation to sit down?" She held out a hand. "Lieutenant Lae'Or... You are?"

"Please, please." Siobhan invited the Bajoran with a gentle wave at the nearest chair. "Lieutenant Richards. The new counselor." She introduced herself. "Nice to meet you Lieutenant. And the word you are looking is bo'Degh." She offered. "Would you like something to eat? Drink?" She heard enough of Lae'or's mumbling to had some suspicion of what was going on.

"No, thanks --I'm due on the bridge in a few minutes. It is lovely to meet you, though, Counselor. And, thanks for the help... Although...." She frowned down at the PADD a moment, then tossed it on the table disgustedly. "I'll deal with it later; wrong dialect."

She smiled at the other woman. "Sorry --shouldn't be bothering you with my personal troubles when we haven't even officially met yet... You've just arrived, I take it?"

Siobhan wasn’t hiding the disappointment on her face.
“What a shame, Lieutenant. I was looking forward to know you more.” She said sincerely, and then leaning forward, putting elbows on the table and meshing her fingers above her mug of tea, she added. “And please, I am a counselor, I am here to be bothered with your personal troubles. Let me know if I can be of any help.”

Tahlin laughed. "Oh, very funny. ... I'd like nothing better to sit and chat for an hour..." She looked at her chrono. "Hmmm, little more time than I thought; I'm all yours... So, anyway, what brings you to Crazy Horse, apart from the Counselor's spot? And where's our good El-Orian, I wonder?"

Siobhan face brightened up when Lae'Or decided to stick around.
“I believe the answer to your both questions is… USS Fair Winds.” She replied. “That what brought me, unless you ask for something more specific, and I believe that’s where my predecessor is. Unfortunately, we missed each other.” Siobhan shrugged slightly. “What was he like?”

Tahlin mulled this over a little. "Well... Exuberant, might be an understatement. Nice enough, full of advice... Good listener, as the tendency is... What of you, Counselor Richards?"

Siobhan smiled playfully.
“Me? If you ask if I am a good listener, then that I’d rather you find out empirically.” She rested her hands on the table and took the mug in her perfectly polished fingers, gently turning it as she continued. “So what’s with those Klingon birds? You seemed to be frustrated with them and yet at the same time excited. Do you want to talk about it?” She inquired looking up at the Bajoran with her blue eyes.

"Ha!" Tahlin let out a snort. "You ever date a Klingon, Counselor? In my case, we're basically best friends, and we're trying dating again... Third time's the charm, I hope... Anyway, she suggested we start up this little game we did the last time we dated. We have a week to come up with a love poem for the other. Its my turn, and I have to write mine in a relatively obscure dialect of Klingon, usually used by House Mokai. She has to write hers in ancient Bajoran, which isn't nearly as easy as it sounds. We don't really win anything either way, although if the other one gives up... Well, not sure that's appropriate for the mess." The Bajoran gave her a grin that was practically lecherous, but more to communicate the consequences of failure at the game than anything.

Siobhan giggled and her eyes lit up. That was certainly her area of experience on so many levels. She nodded here and there as Lae'Or explained the rules of the game.
“Oh, that’s so awesome.” She commented. “I run into similar games, or even full on courting rituals in few less known cultures I studied for the doctoral studies.” Her smiled turned full on mischievous and she gave Lae'Or long glance from under her eyelashes. “As for dating a Klingon… well, I was married to one for a year and lived on Qo'noS." She giggled again amused and as she composed herself she continued. "So, tell me about her. And how long are you two dating?”

Tahlin grinned. "So, you get it... Hmmm, well, currently... Two and a half weeks, give or take? ... Fully... Four, five years. Its a little hard to pin down. We dated the summer after my parents' divorce, though took a bit to get there. Then we broke up after a nasty fight with her mother..." The Bajoran shuddered. "Never take a Bat'Leth flat to the stomach. Hurts like you wouldn't believe... We dated at the Academy, and a little bit after, but our postings took us different ways..."

Tahlin looked fondly off into the distance of memory. "As for what she's like... K'Taal... Well, strong would be the best descriptor... And I don't mean that just because she's Klingon. Her mother, even being of House Mokai, doesn't approve of her lifestyle, neither Starfleet, nor loving me. She was in the KDF for a little bit, but there was a really nasty incident, so she ran back to the Federation. She's had to put up with a lot, and honestly, sometimes, I think I'm the only one who really understands. That, and another mutual friend of ours... At the Academy, we were known as "the odd trio", and I was probably the most normal of the three of us."

Siobhan understood very well the situation K’Taal was in, going against parents wasn’t easy and she was glad to hear that Lae'Or was there for the Klingon. It seemed like they had so many in common and a bond that could only strengthen them and make it work.
“Klingons do have certain expectations to the outsiders trying to mix in. It is a thick and high wall to breech but when you do, they will accept you fully.” She commented. “I guess that is still in front of you, but I see that you care for K’Taal. Do you think this has a chance this third time? How do you feel about it?” She asked and took another bite of the banana muffin.

"Well..." Tahlin considered. "Honestly, I wanted to continue dating the second time; it was her that broke it off, and I told her she'd have to come back to me. So, pretty damned good. We haven't seen each other in over a year, so it'll be strange seeing her in-person with the change to our relationship, but I think we can make it work. I just hope she doesn't expect me to carry a child for us. That's not me." The Bajoran scrunched up her face in disgust.

Siobhan grinned chewing on the muffin.
“The moment it starts getting serious, that is one of the things you need to talk about. The family as you see it. Many relationships fell apart really nasty over that.” She prompted softly the Bajoran. “So far, though it seems that you are still a way from that. When do you plan to see each other?”

"Next time we have shoreleave... I thought we might run into each other at the starbase, but her ship was off on a first contact mission... Some vaguely insectoid race I can't pronounce the name of."

"That's great!" Siobhan exclaimed. "So... do you think she will join us? Or is it still too early to think about that?"

Tahlin giggled. "No, she won't be joining us. As lovely as that would be, she's doing exactly what I do, but on a Nebula-class... The Valladolid... Maybe, if one of us gets promoted to some position like XO of a starship, the other will put in for a transfer. Our friend, T'Rhe, is serving as second officer on Starbase 152, but neither of us fancy station duty."

Siobhan nodded energetically.
"Oh yes. The longer I was on the station, the more I wanted to just get away." She agreed. It looked like it was a relationship in building and a slow burner. Even barely knowing Lae'Or, she already was hoping it would work for her. "Have you served on space stations?"

"Not more than anyone else in the fleet... There's something to be said for being stationary--more interesting people coming through, you're able to build more relationships with your colleagues in a way. But, the stars and planets of the galaxy are where I'm happiest--starships are preferable."

Siobhan nodded.
"Can't agree more." She said and took another bite of the muffin.

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A Post by:
Lieutenant JG Siobhan Richards
Counselor
USS Crazy Horse
And
Lieutenant (J.G) Lae'Or Tahlin
Chief of Security/Tactical
USS Crazy Horse