A Close Encounter

Posted on Tue Oct 22nd, 2024 @ 11:37pm by Ensign Tyler Williams & Sub-Lieutenant Osirin Acainus

1,937 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Shore Leave & Ship Repairs
Location: Depot Bar
Timeline: MD 4 0130

Osirin had been careful not to overindulge while at the medical staff party, getting drunk would not have made a good impression and with all the people around it could have proved disastrous.

He should have just gone back to his temporary quarters, that would have been the smart thing to do. Usually, Osirin made the right decision. But he didn't have to officially report for another couple of days and he still hadn't gotten used to the time change on the space station so he decided to go out at least for an hour or so. What could it hurt?

Dressed in a pair of Terran jeans and a black tee shirt that hugged his lithe frame, he stepped through the doors of a quieter more subdued bar called the Depot, He was rather surprised at this time of the morning that it was half full.

He slid onto a stool at the end of the long bar that appeared to be made from some kind of dark wood.

Tyler was sitting at the bar nursing his drink and watching whatever was playing on one of the screens. What it was, he didn't know and didn't really care, he just knew that he was still feeling sore from where S'Niri had taken her frustrations out on him and continued to wince a little bit as he took another sip. He hadn't bothered with hanging out with everyone else in the main bar, especially S'Niri, and had opted for the quieter one instead.

Taking a sharp intake of air, he slid his hand up and under the loose-fitting dark green button-up shirt he had on and cradled the right-hand side of his ribcage. It didn't take a genius to realize he probably had bruised ribs, nor did it take one to see he failed to notice someone slide up into the seat next to him.

Turning slightly, Tyler gave the guy next to him a close-lipped smile and raised his glass in salute, "Hey, I'm Tyler."

Osirin had recently been told he had a good poker face. He'd had to look it up at the time. It meant that he didn't have a noticeable tell. As he turned his gaze to the rather attractive and definitely well-built man beside him he hoped he was wearing that face now.

He at least knew he didn't stare, or at least he assumed he didn't.

"Osirin," he replied, "did you hurt yourself? You look like you're in pain."

He could sense something off in the man's emotions, but he had no intention of digging any deeper or bringing it up to his new acquaintance.

"The pain of it isn't the issue, it's more the wounded pride that hurts," Tyler slowly laughed so it didn't hurt, then noted the look on Osirin's face so he elaborated a bit further, "I got into a sparring match with another Tactical Officer, S'Niri, who's half Caitian, half Ferasan, and I absolutely got obliterated by her. She took every single one of her frustrations out on me and effectively kicked my ass for it." He nodded in recognition of where he went wrong, "So now I'm here and feeling extremely sorry for myself."

"What about you, what are you doing here at this hour of the morning?" He asked as he signaled for the barman and held two fingers up for two of the same drink: scotch and coke, "Hope you don't mind me ordering a drink for you? It's scotch and coke."

"Oh, I never complain when a man, especially a good looking one, buys me a drink. I've never had scotch or coke, as you may have gathered, I'm not from around here."

"My name is Osirin and I'm on the station waiting to report to my first assignment on a Federation vessel. I haven't fully adjusted to the time aboard the station and am not sleepy. I left a staff party and didn't want to just go back to my place but wanted a bar that quieter.

As for your friend who kicked your ass, what were her frustrations?"

Tyler's brow raised slightly at the compliment he'd just received about being good looking and he couldn't tell if it was the alcohol or the compliment that made him feel warm inside. Osirin, as the guy's name was, wasn't too bad looking either. Wait, what. "Well, it's nice to meet you, Osirin. Let me just say that scotch is kind of an... acquired... taste and has historically been a favoured drink on Earth for a number of centuries now. I mean, it's okay if you don't like it, I'll just finish it off for you." He shrugged.

"So we'll be working together, huh? Let me guess," He fully turned in his seat to look at Osirin, appreciating the view. Yep, definitely the alcohol thinking, "You don't look like you're an engineer or security because your hands look too soft, so I'm guessing it's either medical or science?"

The Akadian returned Tyler's gesture and turned to face him fully. "Definitely not engineering or science. I struggled just to get through the basic courses if I'm being honest. When I entered the Academy, my world's not yours, I was planning to become an Intelligence officer, but that didn't work out."

"I guess you could say I am in a medically related field. I am a counselor."

"What about yourself? What position do you hold?"

"I'm in the Security and Tactical Department as a Tactical Officer. You may have met my boss if you've come from the other bar and met some other crew members? Her name is Eirly and I'm pretty sure she has a brother in the medical department, Kasper I think his name is?" Tyler didn't know exactly but he liked her, she was always good to him.

"You said your world? Where is that?" Tyler asked, nodding. He'd never seen someone with such an intense color green in their eyes before and tried not to stare as he picked up his drink.

"It's called Akadia, it's in the Gamma Quadrant. It's not quite as large as Earth, which I assume you're from, and it's more arid. At least that's why my research says. I've never actually been to Earth.'

"And yes, I did meet Eirly and her brother and a few others. I am glad I was given this assignment."

"I'm glad you've been given this assignment too," Tyler grinned and finished off the last of his drink. "You're a long way from home then, huh. I think you'd like Earth if you ever get to go, there's different climates depending on where you go, like Australia would be rather arid whereas Sweden would be extremely cold. Either way, it's still a beautiful planet with some amazing history."

Osirin had finished about half of his drink as Tyler finished his. He wasn't so rude as to intrude on the other man's emotions, that would have been highly unethical by both Akdadian and Federation standards, he was picking up on some social cues he thought the tactical officer was giving off. So, without moving into his personal space he leaned forward inching closer to him.

"I've never been someplace where it's cold. It would be a rather unique experience. Maybe you could show me someday, not on Earth of course, but maybe in one of your holodecks. I've never experienced one of those before either."

Why hadn't he thought of that?! "Of course!" Tyler said with a wide and slightly intoxicated smile, momentarily forgetting about the pain of his ribs, "That's the best way to show you until we actually get to go there, which most likely won't be for quite some time at this stage." He was oblivious to the fact that Osirin had moved slightly closer, "Why didn't I think of saying that in the first place? Oh, and by the way, how's the drink?"

"As you said, it's an acquired taste. I think I'd like something a little different. What do you think of a mojito?"

"I do appreciate a good mojito every so often," Tyler admitted, "It's the perfect drink for lounging around by the pool in the summer." He leaned in a little closer, "I get that most guys prefer the manlier drinks like this scotch, but I quite like a good cocktail every now and then."

Osirin took a chance and reached and touched Tyler on the ribs he seemed to be protecting. "I hope I'm not being too forward, but I do have some suave that might help."

Tyler tensed up slightly at the unexpected contact, "Uh... Suave? What do you mean by that?" He didn't pull away from the contact though.

"Oh, my apologies I may have used the wrong word. It's an ointment. It should help with the pain."

"And of course, my intentions are pure and without any ulterior motives."

The Akadian uttered the last phrase with a not-so-innocent smile. He did however pull his hand away from Tyler's torso.

"Ah, you mean a salve." Tyler replied with another raised eyebrow and a slight grin pulling up at the corner of his mouth, "And you just wanted an excuse to try and feel me up, didn't you? Totally not any ulterior motives at all."

"Ah yes, I did mean salve, My apologies."

His grin grew wider and even less innocent than before

"I won't deny that the thought of feeling you up crossed my mind. But I never touch anyone without their consent. It's not polite and it can have...consequences if I do."

I didn't lie though about the salve. It really should help with the pain, assuming your ribs are broken."

His smile turned to a smirk. "Of course, it does have other uses, as well."

"You sir, are just trying to take advantage of someone who is a bit under the influence," Tyler picked up almost finished second drink and tilted it towards Osirin, almost in a salute, with amusement in his eyes, "But. I must say, I'm not complaining. If anything, being picked up by someone like yourself who, if you don't mind me saying, has the most amazing eyes."

Osirn's smirk turned back into a smile, but this time it was warm and genuine. It still wasn't totally innocent though. "Thank you for the compliment, I guess the only remaining question is do you want to go to my place or yours?"

"Very presumptuous, aren't you?" Tyler said suggestively, "Mine are back on the Astrea and are currently shared with someone else who I don't know all that well, so unless you too are sharing with someone else, I'd say yours?" He slid off the stool and stretched just enough that it didn't hurt.

"I'm not sharing with anyone, and I will make a deal with you. I'll apply the salve where it will relieve the pain and do the most good. It will be up to you if you want to go further than that."

Not even an hour into meeting this guy and Tyler was willing to go back to his quarters? It could've been a trap for all sober him knew, but instead, he just shrugged, "Shall we just see where the night or morning takes us then? Maybe even get that mojito afterward too?"

"That is acceptable to me."

He finished his drink slid it forward on the bar and stood to his feet."

"This way," he said as he moved toward the exit.


=================

Ensign Tyler Williams
Tactical Officer
USS Astrea
(NPC - Eirly)

Sub-Lieutenant Osirin Acainus
Chief Counselor
USS Astrea

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