How About Some Us Time?

Posted on Wed Dec 25th, 2019 @ 1:21pm by Lieutenant Commander Aurelia Taylor
Edited on on Wed Dec 25th, 2019 @ 9:51pm

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: 10 Forward
Timeline: Day of Lia and Gary's return, after Spanish Inquisition
2642 words - 5.3 OF Standard Post Measure

Anje had decided that after all of this she needed a for real, no bullshit vacation, more than that she needed to be in the company of women she enjoyed spending time with, and she had already decided where to start. When she saw Lia she moved to her side quickly, tucking herself under the much taller woman's arm and wrapping her other arm around her waist, "Hey, gorgeous, got a minute?" She asked with a slight giggle in her voice.

Lia looked at Anje, "Hello good lookin', what on earth are you after?" She felt Anje's arm around her waist, but it felt normal and somehow safe. "Let's find a quiet spot and you can tell me what you want, your place or mine?" She smiled at Anje and waited, her friend needed her and that felt good for Lia.

"Sure, anywhere you want is fine." Anje smiled, "It's nothing bad or all that serious, just an invitation."

"An invitation".......The words hung in the air for Lia, her friend didn't know if the treatment had worked or not. But here she was already at her side and inviting her out, "Lets go to 10 Forwards then, we can talk there". As the pair walked along Lia looked at Anje, "Don't you want to know? Did it work or am I still some pervert who'll let anyone treat her how they wish?"

Anje stopped right there, taking Lia's hands and sort of semi-turning her friend to her, "Lia, you are not a pervert, you're a victim, and I don't give a shit what anyone thinks." She began, pulling the Security Chief close and leaning all the way up to manage to kiss the much taller woman's cheek, near the bottom of her jaw as she didn't have much all the way up, "I love you, okay? Nothing will change that."

Anje's kiss took Lia by surprise, but she found herself now leaning down and returning the kiss. She took Anje's face gently in her hands, and kissed her fully on the lips. "I love you to, and I won't forget you ever. I promise, your special to me". She now took Anje's hand and continued to walk, she loved Gary and she was his girlfriend. But Anje was different, and her love for her was different also. But it was just as deep, and meant just as much to her.

"Come on, let's get to the lounge so we can discuss my totally awesome idea." Anje said, uncharacteristically bubbly. No, uncharacteristically was wrong, it was totally the old her, this was just the reversal of a bad trend. She hoped Lia would notice, the taller woman had become like her sister and she wanted to her to see good things happening to her so she could believe that they were coming for her.

As Anje now seemed to perk up, Lia watched as her friend glowed. *What has got into her?* She wondered, but whatever it was she liked it. "Yeah lets, oh and just so you know. You buying the first round, and mines a Sake". Lia giggled and followed on, somehow she thought this would be fun.

"That sounds nice, let's do it twice." Anje giggled, motioning for Charlie to come over, "Hey, beautiful, let us have a couple of your best sakes. Oh, and some of those to die for icoberry puffs!"

"Yes, ma'am." Charlie nodded, she liked this version of Cdr. Brett, the scared of her shadow version was annoying at best.

"These puff pastries are so good." Anje informed her friend, "I have to have at least one every day."

Lia picked up her Sake, "Kanpai!!" She drunk it in one, and then slammed the glass down on the counter. "Charlie is it? Can I please have another two of your finest Sake's please", Lia felt the alcohol warm her from the inside and now knew Anje was just what she needed.

Anje tried to emulate Lia's move with the Sake, cringing a little at the level of burn, "Oh, yeah, that's good." She said, gasping for breath.

Charlie giggled a little as she nodded her understanding, it seemed Cdr. Holmes was doing better, too, ~Or maybe everything just seems better because the Jemmies fucked off...~

Noticing Anje's slighty problem with the Sake, Lia turned to her friend. "Hey Twinkle, don't sweat it. If it's not your kind of poison, switch to what is. I drink it because of my Japanese thing, plus it's the only alcohol I can get along with". She picked up the second glass and sipped it, the Sake made her feel at home.

"It's not bad if you take it slowly." Anje smiled, sipping the second glass, "Trying to slam it is where I messed up. This is stronger than vodka, very good though."

"Rice wine, it's made all over Japan. But different areas make it stronger than others, plus they have their own spin on how they brew it". She sipped her Sake, and thought about how this could possibly end. "Right my friend, do you want to tell me your clever plan. Or do I have to tickle it out of you?"

"Well, you know, been making some changes in my life, right?" Anje said, "And I was thinking it might be nice if we took like a girls weekend and went to the mountains of Bajor, the family has a place there we can use. We can invite anybody you want, or it can just be us and Milla or whatever."

Lia thought hard, "Liselle, sorry Commander Qwyyn. If anyone else needed a break from this place, it's her".

"Totally." Anje agreed, and she wanted to put their relationship right after the whole dating her twin thing anyway.

Lia smiled as she took another sip of Sake, "Hey Anje, can I ask you something personal?" She looked at her friend and swallowed hard, the next question might test their friendship to the limits.

"Of course, sweetie." Anje replied, "Anything." She and Lia had been through a lot together, there was nothing too personal anymore.

Lia looked at Anje, "Did you ever look at someone and wish, I want that person for myself? Even if that person is in a perfectly happy relationship, did you ever just want to take that person for yourself?" She now looked at the glass of Sake in her hand, "Sorry, I guess I just overstepped the line right?"

"Not at all." Anje shook her head, "I've found myself looking at people and wanting them, though I do wonder if what I want is them or what they have, you know?" ~I know she's not talking about me, she's never seen me in a perfectly happy relationship.~ That made Anje smile and laugh at herself a little, "I think everyone does. Perfectly natural. My mom actually did it at one point with one of her colleagues at Starfleet medical. Mom is, was, and always will be totally head over heels for Daddy, and this other doctor felt the same way about her husband, but they spent so much time together that, I dunno, sparks started to fly a little, I guess. Mom says nothing happened, but I'm not sure about that. Not about to ask her either."

Still looking at her glass, Lia smiled to herself. "I envy you, you know. You seem so sure of yourself, so certain you can work it out or fix the problem". She raised her glass to Anje, "Here's to happiness, yours and mine".

"Me, sure of myself? I'm panicking ninety percent of the time." Anje giggled, "Thank God for Vulcan blood. To happiness and good genetics!"

Lia shook her head, "Nope, not goin' fer that. You have that ice cold exterior that you present to the world, I just know that comes from somewhere deep within you. I ain't sayin' your cold, cause yer not. But that calm almost predator like aura you give off, must arrive from somewhere".

"Oh, that." Anje laughed, though she was secretly nervous that her friend had figured out more about her than she intended, "That's one of my auntie's projects, she taught me a lot about keeping my emotions kind of hidden when it was to my advantage. She wanted to toughen me up, afraid I was too soft."

Looking at her friend, Lia now shook her head again. "Now that I find hard to believe, you soft?" She moved to face Anje, "Your caring, understanding. And you can settle people when you want to, but you can make someone's life hell when you choose to do so". Lia reached out and touched Anje's cheek, "But in reality your just a normal person, who cares for people deeply. And I love you for that, just keep being you. Any way I have another question, have you changed something? Are you trying a new look or way of doing things? Cause you seem a little different, but I just can't put my finger on it". Lia now giggled a little bit, "I think this Sake is having an adverse effect, but hey we're friends right?"

Anje smiled softly, doing a full turn to let Lia see her newly short hair, asking sheepishly, "You like it?"

"Like it? Do I like it?" Lia placed her chin on her clasped hands, she looked at Anje and squinted. "I bloody love it, what made you get it cut Twinkle?"

"Just needed to make a change." Anje shrugged, "Finally accepted that Cheline is never coming back and decided I don't want her to. So, you know, just went ahead and erased the changes I made solely because she told me to. Even bought new clothes." She pointed down to her feet, clad in faux python skin heels, "And check these out, they make me a whole person."

Taking Anje's hands in her own, Lia looked Anje up and down then tilted her head to one side then the other. "Just don't loose yourself, I mean you look great and all. But don't stop being you, it's what I like about you". She pulled Anje towards her and planted a light kiss on her forehead, "I wish you all the luck in the world, and the happiness to go with it. Just don't forget us lesser mortals, ok beautiful?" Lia now let Anje's hands go and picked up her drink, "It's still in me you know, that little problem I had. It's still right here, but the difference is I control it. It doesn't control me, and friends like you make the hurt go away". She raised her glass in salute, "Here's to my beautiful Twinkle".

Anje, still having a hard time with compliments, especially from women she considered stronger, more attractive, more complete, or just better at being a woman than she was, blushed ferociously, turning a shade of red fire trucks would kill for, before raising her glass, "To the woman who's inspired so much in me."

"Well that can't be me, I don't inspire anyone". But she took a sip of her drink, then looked at Anje. "You don't need inspiration, you got the looks and when you try. You have more than enough personality to take on the universe, but I will say this. You have a problem with trust, just like I use to have. Now how you solve that problem, is up to you. Find yourself another partner, find love and happiness. You deserve that much, just stay away from men their trouble".

"My Auntie says you got one of the last dozen or so good ones in the galaxy." Anje laughed, "Though she also lists Taam Sor'el in that category, so..." She sipped her drink and sighed, "Yeah, still a little salty about that. Damn Magnum P.U. needs to stop stealing my girlfriends."

"Hot and fresh." Charlie announced as she placed a tray of icoberry tarts onto their table, taking one for herself as she sat down with them, "So, did I hear right? Did Cdr. Holmes just call you 'Twinkle?' There's got to be a story there. Oh, yeah, tarts are on the house, by the way." She took a bite, turning to Holmes, "Think I'd rather hear your version of it, though. Either way it'll be better than hearing about that overgrown juvenile delinquent..." ~Who doesn't even call anybody after. Dickhead.~

Lia glanced at the two other girls, "How did Twinkle get her name?" She smiled at Anje, "Lets just say, a Geisha once found a scared young girl. And decided to take her under her wing, to show she was a friend she gave the girl a name. Twinkle, because as far as the Geisha was concerned. That's what the girl did, she Twinkled in the lights of the party". Lia now looked at Charlie, "And the two of them have been friends ever since, close friends".

"Okay, that is too freakin' cute." Charlie smiled, her Boston accent growing thicker, or maybe the word is 'thickah', as she spoke, "Who wants anotha round? On Charlie."

"Sounds like a winner." Anje smiled, "And Twinkle wasn't the only name she picked up that night, another set of friends named her the Tsarina."

"Tsarina Twinkle." Charlie laughed, standing alongside Anje as she spoke mainly to Lia, "That screams fah some new ink, doesn't it? Like right heyah on heh neck. Get a Tsarina's crown, Twinkle undahneath, whaddaya think?"

"Not so sure about a neck tattoo, Charlie." Anje laughed and shook her head, enjoying Charlie's enthusiasm even if she didn't plan to go along with it.

Looking at the Charlie, Lia could tell she was someone who got to know her customers. "There will be no tattoo's on this ship, I think you'll find the Captain doesn't allow them. Well the ones which would be on permanent display, I believe she finds them against good order and discipline". She gave a little giggle, "But I might be persuaded to change her mind, if I found another more HIDDEN location". Unable to keep a straight face, Lia crumpled into laughter".

"I can think of one." Charlie giggled naughtily.

"You two." Anje rolled her eyes, she was glad Charlie and Lia were there, no way could she get bored now.

Lia looked at Charlie, "Oh do tell, is it the same one I'm thinking of?" She fell in to laughter again, happiness filled her whole being.

"Be lying if I said it hadn't crossed my mind." Charlie prodded.

Anje blushed a little and smiled, "Well, least I know where to go when I need attention."

Lia again looked at Charlie, "I was thinking of a small private place, where only friends would see it". She again fell into laughter, as Anje seemed to get redder as she spoke.

"Right, right." Charlie nodded, "We can rename it the war for the crown."

At this point Anje really missed her long hair, she could've hidden behind it then...

Standing up, Lia moved to Anje's side and placed her arm around her waist. "You do a really good impression of a tomato, bright red and shiny". Then she hugged Anje, "But just remember, I love you a lot and this is the kindest thing anyone could have done for me. You never questioned, you just accepted me. Thanks Anje". She went back to her seat and picked up her glass, "Charlie, three Sake's. Lets enjoy our night, with true friends".

"Three sakes, you got it." Charlie replied, filling the glasses and taking a seat alongside the other two.

For her part, Anje simply laid her head on Lia's shoulder and whispered nonchalantly, "You'd have done it for me."

Stroking Anje's hair, Lia simply nodded. She looked at Charlie and smiled, "This is what friends do, no explanation required".

OFF