Shady Dealings

Posted on 14 Sep 2023 @ 7:04pm by Commander Scarlet Blake & Nesh Saalm

1,275 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Episode 18 - Cold Station 31
Location: Regula I - Level 10, Docking Bay
Timeline: MD-16, 1800hrs

ON:

Nesh Saalm whistled as she walked down the corridor, towards the docking bays. She was on a mission, from Blake, to get alcohol for this...banquet she had to do. A banquet. Because obviously that was like nice and easy! But being a resourceful Orion, Nesh had asked around on Regula I and found somewhere she might be able to get some.

Jessamine de Winter. Such a cool name! And hopefully, she'd not be too adverse to give Nesh some alcohol to get everyone nice and lubricated.

Jessamine was motionless within the whirl of activity around the bay. While the Liberty's crew lugged crates, fixed equipment and fine tuned the ship, Jessamine stood with one booted foot up on a box and one hand in the pocket of her velvet trousers. Her long, open waitcoast reached to her calves and was swept around her arm as she read from a list written on paper. She didn't look up as a whistle came from across the chamber. Instead, she whistled back in a distinct pattern.

Nesh spotted her, stopping to just watch her. She walked over, tilting her head to the side, taking her in before she smiled. "Captain de Winter?" she asked, even if she knew exactly who she was.

"Hm...?" Jess glanced across to her, lowering her notebook to watch her with sharp blue eyes. Another Orion. That was pretty interesting. "Depends who's asking," she replied bluntly, half turning to look her up and down fully, as if trying to decide who *was* asking.

Nesh smiled, raising an eyebrow as she moved closer. "Nesh Saalm. Here to purchase some...beverages. Or more the tools to make beverages..." she winked, the smile still there.

"Beverages?" Jessamine laughed softly at the way she put it, arching an eyebrow before motioning for her to walk with her away from the bustle. "Why do I think you're not speaking about orange juice?"

Nesh rocked on her feet for a moment before she moved to walk with her. "Because I mean alcohol," she said and raised an eyebrow. "I can pay. Good quality drink will be rewarded. And I mean good quality, not the cheap Ferengi swill."

"And what makes you think that I'd know how to get hold of that?" Jessamine asked, curiously, turning to face her properly as she tapped a fingertip against Nesh's midriff. "Licenced goods with a quarterly quota..."

"Doesn't have to be licenced," Nesh said and smiled, her hand going to touch Jessamine's hand. "I'm not stupid, I asked around and you are...well connected. Hopefully well connected enough to get me what I want, for some nice latinum..."

"Ah," Jessamine chuckled softly, nodding as she leant close to her to lower her voice. "You really have been asking. You found my weakness," she teased. "For the right amount of nice, shiny latinum, I may be able to find you some alcohol," she said softly, tilting her head. "But...I would need a few hours to make a round trip."

"A few hours is fine. I need a lot of it...for my crew," Nesh said almost innocently. "I know how this work. I'll...pick it up, a genuine salvage..."

"And which is your crew?" Jessamine asked lightly as she slid a hand into her pocket, watching her with appraising eyes. Because latinum wasn't the only thing she traded in. Out on the fringe, information was almost as valuable.

Nesh watched her before she flicked her hair, giving a sense of drama to the moment. "Well, the best little starship in the galaxy, of course," she said in a preppy voice. "The Galileo."

"Ahhh..." Jessamine nodded, chuckling softly as dribs and drabs started to add up. She looked around, as if considering her position as she delicately bit her bottom lip. "So you must be the baby sister."

"Not so baby," Nesh said before she ran her eyes over the other woman. "But yes, I am the sister. And artist...let's not forget that either."

"Oh agreed, not so baby," Jessamine assured with a chuckle, shaking her head lightly, tapping her paper notebook against Nesh' chest. "Well, if I do this for you, I want a Nesh Saalm original from you, as part of the payment."

Nesh looked at her, a small smile coming to her. "I don't usually do commissions," she said, but the smile grew. "But for you and the alcohol, I will. You've got a face that belongs on canvas."

"Oh, I didn't mean of me!" Jessamine laughed all the same, nudging Nesh's chin fondly with the edge of her finger. "No, I meant of you. But I'll leave it in the artist's hands...create what pleases you."

Nesh studied her, leaning into the touch with an almost sweet smile. Almost. "Something with the colour of your eyes," she said lightly. "A storm on the horizon."

"Now *that* I like," Jessamine grinned, hooking her hand back into her pocket, watching her with interest. "So what's your side deal?"

Nesh gave a small shrug, a smirk curling her lips before she flicked her hair. "No idea what you're talking about," she said instead.

"Like that is it," Jessamine sighed theatrically, shaking her head as she considered just how unlikely that was. An Orion, travelling on a ship, not tied down by the rank of Starfleet. There had to be something else...or at least...something brewing. "I suppose a woman needs to keep a sense of mystique..."

Nesh chuckled, nodding as she watched her. "Exactly," she said, if it was obvious. "Also, I like breaking the pirating Orion stereotype. It's so...old fashioned."

"But all too often true," Jessamine gave a slight click of her tongue before shaking her head with a sigh. "Still, keeps life interesting. And gives you the element of surprise," she winked to her.

"Well, Orion Pirates and Scientists are boring," Nesh said lightly, before she held her arms out. "An Orion artist though? We're a rare breed. Exotic. Like you are. Exotic. Dangerous. Mysterious."

"Me?" Jessamine watched her with wide eyes before laughing softly. She leant in close, to lower her voice to a whisper, a small smile pulling at her lips. "Well be sure to spread that around, hm? Reputation means a lot out here..."

"Oh with what you'll deliver to me...I'll spread the word," Nesh said before she winked. "In a positive way, of course! Not...in a weird way."

"Actually, I'm good with weird too," Jessamine assured, chuckling softly as she motioned to the other woman with an expressive hand. "Weird makes people think twice. And that can stop a lot of unpleasantness."

"So can a smile," Nesh said and smiled, holding her hands up. "In a disarming sort of way. Not in the sort of way that's leery."

"That involves being nice to people," Jessamine winked to her, waving a dismissive hand, but the playfulness was clear. In truth, she was pretty well practiced in the art of manipulation. She could play nice when she needed to. She just didn't always want to play the game.

"Not sure if I am meant to say it, but I appreciate the help and business transaction. Got a lot of cooking to do and the alcohol will help the food going down," Nesh said with a quick nod, her hands going behind her back.

"Not a problem, Athena," Jessamine wrapped an arm around Nesh's shoulders, leading her away at a slow stroll. "May this be the start of a beautiful and profitable relationship..."

OFF:

Nesh Saalm
Cook
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Rice]

Jessamine De Winter
Civilian Ship Captain
[NPC Blake]

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