In Memorandum

Posted on 17 Jun 2016 @ 12:27am by Korre Barras (KIA) & Chief Warrant Officer 2 Anthony Duval

1,171 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Episode 11 - Divinum Mundi
Location: USS Galileo - The Callisto Lounge
Timeline: MD5 - 2030Hrs

WO2 Anthony Duval was heading to the lounge because he was after his supper break, he had thus far a quiet shift in Engineering and it wasn't shaping up to be much of an issue, considering the replicator problems three days ago. Those had been sorted out thanks to Eric Davis and his hard work with the replicator waveguides.

The doors parted like the red sea during the escape of the Israelites from Egypt, the scent of good food greeted Duval's nose like an old friend offering a gentle hug and kiss on the cheek. His thoughts turned briefly to the one woman who made him happy beyond measure and the Jem'Hadar's face who took her from him forever.

"Its not you.... I hate Jem'Hadar... I hate what I became because of you." he said softly to himself as he went over to the bar. "Barkeep??"
he inquired of the empty bar counter.

"I need to break you of that," Korre demurred as she made her way over to the Engineering officer. "I'm a Bar Manager, not a Barkeep. Barkeeps went out ... oh, late twentieth century Terran time. Maybe even a bit sooner than that. Who knows?" She flashed him a smile as she leaned against the bar in question. "So, how can I serve you?"

Duval regarded her. "A large double cheeseburger, no veg, extra large helping of fries with a side of Coke-Cola please?" he inquired. "I'll make sure I have dessert."

"You know, for a man who drinks no alcohol that I've seen, you spend a lot of your free time around the stuff." All the same, she put in his order. "So what's new in Engineering?"

"Well... apparently someone was drinking on duty and the Chief found a bottle of booze hidden behind a power conduit." he responded. "the hunt has begun.... and Coke Cola is not booze... its a soda." he rumbled. "Whats new in the lounge... other then the change of scenery."

"Karaoke Fridays ... or, at least it will be new if I can get Doyle on board. You'd think a Scotsman would love a chance to belt out some tunes now and then - though, maybe he's scared of hearing others ... or getting upstaged. Who knows?"

Duval shrugged. "Maybe he has no singing voice." he commented as he lifted his glass top his lips before he downed a mouthful. "Besides.. Why don't you try singing.?"

"I only preform for select audiences under the right levels of chemical inducement." Korre slid his order onto the bar top - complete with a large iced mug of the requested soda. "What about you? Any musical inclinations?"

Duval smiled as he picked up a french fry with his fingers before he popped it into his mouth. "Mmm... very nice." he responded. "But... no. I have no musical inclinations. Sorry.."

Her nose wrinkled - almost Bajoran style - as Korre just managed to keep from laughing. "Oh really. So the rumors I overheard the other day about some gravel-voiced Engineer with the personality of a sated doberman crooning dwarf tunes in the Jeffries tubes were not about you?"

Duval peered at her, while he raised an eyebrow as he fought not to smile. "A satiated doberman??. Is that what they call me now?" he inquired before he laughed softly about it. "Who is telling such lies about me?"

"Well how else would you describe yourself. You have this growly nature to you that seems as if you would willingly rip of someones head given the proper incentive, but underneath all that you're as chill as a cucumber. I say it's all an act just to make yourself seem unapproachable, though for the life of me I can't say why. To each his own, I guess."

Duval raised an eyebrow as a gentle smile appeared on his lips. "Not so loud, I mean why not share it with everyone.." he inquired. "Well... I have my reasons..." he commented. "I feel like butter scraped across too much bread.."

Korre made a show of looking around. "I don't think anyone picked up on your dread secret, so all's well. But I don't understand the analogy. Are you the butter or the bread?"

Duval regarded her as he ate a french fry, considering her question in silence. "I'm both, at times... I feel so exhausted..."

She watched him for a moment. He was certainly a puzzle to sort out in ones mind - somber to the point of foreboding, yet with chinks breaking through here and there to a warm humor somewhere deep within. The hints were fleeting at best, making her wonder if more could be discovered in time. Possibly; with patience, of which she had more than enough. "Well, that's because you need something more filling thrown in to tide you over."

Duval regarded her. "tide me over to what"? he inquired. "What I really needed was that last leave that they canceled on me... and the leave before that that also got canceled so I could serve on the Tempest."

Korre crinkled her nose at him. "So you make your own leave. Find time here on the Galileo for down time. Surely you have some activities you like to do - schedule time on the holo-deck during your off hours when you're not sleeping and just ... relax."

"Oh I already do." Duval answered evenly. "I have several combat programs, several more flight programs and I have several books I carry with me when I'm not on duty." Duval explained evenly before he ate a french fry. "What about you?"

"Nothing in particular - I just enjoy spending time alone ... unless I had someone who enjoyed nature as well, but most people here enjoy the wild black yonder."

Duval raised an eyebrow as he regarded what she was saying. "Sometimes I want more then the sun and stars for company... y'know?" he inquired of her.

Korre beamed. "Well, then; it looks like I've found a new Holodeck pal. So what time do you usually go rambling?"

"Sometime between 1pm to 3pm. Before my shift and after.." Duval explained. "Why.... what did you have in mind?" he inquired of her.

"You, Me, holodeck. Beyond that, I'm not really to a processing point." Korre tapped the side of her head. "I may be quick on my feet, but even this mind needs time to process."

"Well... It would depend on what you want from me... and the holosuite?" Duval inquired. "So... time on the beach..... time in the woods... What??"

What she wanted from him. IF she was of a mind, Korre could draw that particular line out taut and tease it for a good long time. She opted to give him a break, though. "The beach sounds nice. Peaceful, yet eventful at the same time."

Duval regarded her. "For my uses.. its peaceful... Just me and the ocean." he paused. "Sometime I'll take you flying."

[OFF]
WO2 Anthony Duval
Engineer
USS Galileo

Korre Barras
Lounge Manager
USS Galileo

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