I should have been a Watchmaker

Posted on 02 Apr 2016 @ 2:29am by Chief Warrant Officer 2 Anthony Duval & Korre Barras (KIA)

1,415 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Episode 10 - Symposium
Location: USS Galileo - The Callisto Lounge
Timeline: MD93 - 1400Hrs

ON:

Warrant Officer Second Class Anthony Duval was walking down the hallway towards the lounge, he was looking for his dinner before he went back to work, sticking in extra hours to ensure the ship departed Jupiter Station on time. The trouble with that was that Duval did not know when 'on time' actually was.

He heard a soft meow, he looked down at what he assumed was a lost cat. "Mmm... Who owns you little guy?" Duval inquired of the small cat.

"Meow!" the cat protested as Duval raised an eyebrow. "Go on home little guy.." as he suddenly felt rather foolish before gently scooping up the cat with one hand. "Come on little one, I guess I'm taking you with me .." he paused a moment. "Until I find your owner that is..."

The cat protested loudly as Duval simply resumed his course towards the lounge, he quickly checked the cats collar. "Mmm... someone does own you. Okay." and with that he went into the lounge. "Barkeep?"

Korre Barras was having a moment. She'd arrived to Jupiter station just days before her new job departed to leave her waiting due to a crazy whim of waiting for her newest companion to properly wean before heading out. Had things gone as planned, she would have been here four weeks earlier, but she had fallen in love with a pint-sized bundle of fur and whiskers.

A bundle which was currently missing in action. "Xinye," she muttered, moving a few crates in the tiny storage area. She had brought her in with him, yet somehow the tiny kitten had managed to escape her notice - and the premises in the process. "Damn it." She stood up and rubbed at the small of her back. "Where did you go?

Her thoughts were interrupted as a voice sounded at the entrance to the bar. Resonated, actually, and Korre poked her head out in curiosity. "Doyle's not here just now." It was the middle of the afternoon and not much happening, allowing the regular tender to take a break and her a chance to survey her new realm in peace. "May I help you?"

Duval regarded the new woman behind the counter. "I'm just dropping by for dinner." he commented. "I found this little guy as the cat complained about his new perch. "I think he's lost."

Catching sight of the tawny kitten in his hand, Korre lit up. "You found her!" She made he way around the bar to reclaim her pet. "Xinye, you can't run off like that, silly!" Cradling the purring bundle close to her chin, Korre nuzzled her before glancing up. "Dinner ... you must have had a late shift, but no worries. I'm Korre Barras - new manager for the Callisto. Give me a moment and I can set you up." Perching the kitten on her shoulder, she made her way back behind the bar.

Duval raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised at what was going on. "Well.. In her defense, she found me down the hallway.." he explained.

Korre chuckled. "She's not used to ship life yet; I got her about a day before I headed out for the station as it is, so I'd say she's actually handing matters fairly well. We may have to discuss crating when we get back to our quarters, though."

"So she's not quite bonded to you yet then." Duval responded evenly. "Crating might not be a bad idea... but spending time with kitty will help too"

"Oh, I plan on spending time with her, but I have to get settled in here first. And she - as you can see - is the friendly adventurous sort which makes it even more interesting." She offered him a half-grin at that. "So, what does Superman eat for dinner?"

Duval blinked. "Superman?" he paused. "Whos that?" he inquired, looking and sounding completely confused.

He didn't know ... "Someone who leaps tall buildings and rescues cats from trees ... of course he also wears spandex and a red cape and I can't quite see you pulling off that look." Korre flashed the man ... he was either Security or Engineering going by collar and build, though something had her leaning to the latter ... a smile.

Duval blinked. "Why on Valhalla would one wear spandex?" he shook his head. "That does not compute.." he sighed before he sat down. "I guess down in Engineering there is not much call for me to leap tall buildings and the like." he paused. "My name is Anthony Duval. Savour of small animals."

Korre grinned. "I see you're not familiar with Terran cultural history. No matter. Good to meet you, Anthony Duval. Or should I just call you Tony?" She regarded his stern features. "Hmmm ... no, that doesn't work. Perhaps just Duval, then. What's your poison?" Setting Xinye down on one of the crates, she admonished the small creature to stay put - a feat which seemed attainable as the kitten chose that moment to groom herself.

Duval opened his mouth then he closed it again. "Why would I order poison in the lounge?" he inquired while keeping a straight face. "If I wanted poison, I'd go to sickbay.."

Korre snickered. "Oh honey, you need serious lessons in the fine arts of Sarcasm and Historic Culture. No worries, though. I have unofficial degrees in both. Pull up a seat and I'll get you started."

Duval sat down in one of the chairs in silence. "So... whats on the menu?" he inquired.

"Not a lot unfortunately. This isn't exactly the mess-hall, but I can make you up a sandwich from the replicator and we have a wide array of drink options."

Duval regarded her. "Alright. a Pint of coke-cola and two egg salad sandwiches please."

"A man of temperance; I can definitely appreciate that." Pouring out a fresh drink, she replicated a couple sandwiches and set the plate - and brimming glass, on the bar top before him. "So what does Anthony Duval do when he's not rescuing wayward kittens?"

Duval regarded her with a raised eyebrow. "Anthony Duval works in Engineering, making sure that the system we use does not explode."

"Comforting." Leaning on the counter top, she reached down to stroke Xinye's head. He wasn't bad looking, in that gruff sort of way some guys had. Shorter than her uncle a few inches and stockier too, he had his own sort of charm hidden under the rather deadpan facade.

"Well... It could be worse right?" Duval inquired in a dry tone. "Afterall.. There are a few things about Federation science that confound me. Like... why are we using plasma as an energy source... What's wrong with old fashioned electricity?... It doesn't explode when looked at funny.. Which plasma seems to do.. a lot."

"But this is the 24th century; old fashioned is for entertaining novelty purposes in antiquated holo-games. It would be a violation of some sort of fleet code to go with old-school energy sources, wouldn't it?" So there was a sense of humor hiding under the muscle!

Duval regarded her. "A violation of fleet code for... wait what?" he regarded her. "You didn't really just just say that... did you?"

Korre rolled her eyes. "Sarcasm classes. They start tomorrow at breakfast. Or, maybe the next day. You need some proper nourishment before we start or your brain will short out on you half-way through the first lesson."

"Oh yee hath little faith." Duval responded. "I find thy lack of faith so deeply disturbing."

"Faith in you or in my power of deduction - because I'm pretty damn confident on that front."

Duval regarded her. "Well... what can I say"? he inquired. "Well... I came here to eat before my brain shorts out from overwork.."

"Eat, eat ..." Korre smiled. "Don't let me hold you back from much-needed nourishment!!"

Duval lifted one of the two sandwiches before he took a bite from it that was about a third of the sandwich, within moments the food was gone. "Mm..." he then lifted the glass to his lips before he drained it in one smooth swig.

She watched him with a sense of bemusement. "You sure two sandwiches are going to do it for you?"

Duval regarded her with something of a wry grin. "y'know... you're right.. give me two more glasses of soda and four more egg salad sandwiches."

OFF:

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Korre Barras
Bar Manager
USS Galileo

Warrant Officer Second Class Anthony Duval
Engineer
USS Galileo

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