A Little Tipple

Posted on 11/13/2023 @ 2:38am by Commander Aer Feshau-Patton & Lieutenant Jason Beauvoir & Civilian Michael Taggart

3,229 words; about a 16 minute read

Mission: Pages...
Location: White Stag Pub, Promenade

Call it pre-wedding jitters but the need to go out and have a drink on her own was calling her. Aer had always liked the White Stag, Mickey there was always friendly to her and gave sound advice even when you don't ask for it.

Aer was nursing her third drink. A strange thing Mickey had given her and she had a little bit of a buzz on, her cheeks a little rosy for good measure. As she slung it back she smiled at Mickey and shook the glass. "Can I get another please?" she asked.

"Lassie this will be yer final one. Ye have a big day on the morrow." Mickey said with his usual beaming smile. He poured her one more Starblaster and handed the fruity and colorful drink to her. "Ye know if I were not aware, I would never know ye were gettin married tomorrow." Mick chalked it up to pre wedding jitters and let her alone. However, he decided that at least for the rest of the night he would keep his eye on her.

Jason had stowed his gear and had decided to relax with a drink after his long journey from Earth. Having been a Academy lecturer for the last 3 years, he'd just been recalled to active service, and would have to get back into that routine.

Stepping into the White Stag, he appreciated the ambience of the place. There was a British style pub near the Academy that he had become a regular patron of.

Approaching the bar he noticed an attractive woman sitting alone.

"Pardonne-moi, Mademoiselle, may I join you?" He asked her.

Aer turned as she heard the masculine tones of someone asking to join her. She sensed a little flicker of emotion from him that made her think he was not fully Vulcan, although the ears would make you think so. "Yes, please. No-one likes sitting at Mickey's bar... they think its sticky." she teased the owner with a twinkle in her eye.

"Merci." Jason said. "Seems a pity, it is a fine bar." He added. "I'm Jason, by the way."

"Aer." she replied with a small nod of her head. "What are you having to drink? I am sure Mickey will have it. He's got a lot of stuff hidden down behind the bar he thinks no-one knows about." she left the comment hanging as she tucked a loose stray of blonde hair behind her ear.

Jason thought for a moment. "Jagermeister, neat." He said. "So, Aer, what's a gorgeous woman like yourself doing drinking all alone?" He asked.

Mickey raised a glass to the bar and slammed it down with a loud bang. In his other hand was a green glass bottle with a white label. Taggart blew the dust off the bottle that had very rarely been used and filled the glass. "Dere ye go lad." Was all Mickey said, but it was what he didn't say that mattered. Drink up and get out of me bar. Was what he didn't say.

Recognising Mickeys accent as Scottish, Jason said. "Tapadh leat." (Thank you, in Scots Gaelic) Then raising his glass, he said. "Slàinte mhath." as a toast before taking a sip of the drink. It warmed his mouth and then his body.

Being the genial host despite the internal monologue Mickey smiled and raised a glass of his own. The barkeep went about his business however, he kept a weather eye out on this newcomer.

Aer listened to Mickey and frowned at him with a heavy brow. Almost a scolding look as she knew he was over-protective of her for some reason and Jason was just being nice.

She was impressed by the exchange though, especially Jason's reply in a strange tongue she hadn't heard before. "Wow, what language was that?" she asked. "It sounded a little weird but still quite interesting."

"It's known as Scots Gaelic, its the native tongue of Mickey's people, the Scots." Jason said. "Its closely related to the native Irish language and the language of some of the people that live in my homeland, Brittany, France on Earth." He explained. "The language is called Breton and I learnt it as a child."

"Talented tongue." Aer said out loud. She had meant to say this in her head but she decided not to acknowledge it and take a sip of her drink. "So, what brings you to the station?" she asked.

"You don't know the half of it." Jason said. "I've been assigned to the Station as a Linguist." He replied.

"Oh, a permanent move then." Aer smiled. "The station is nice, quite friendly mostly. Even does some good Klingon food." she added as she played with her cocktail stick umbrella.

"Yes." Jason said. "Klingon food, I prefer my food cooked, besides I don't get on well with most Klingons." Sipping his drink, "When I was 13, a Klingon didn't like me dating his sister, I think that's when it started."

"You can cook some of them... the food, not the Klingons." Aer chuckled to herself. "And they can be slightly over-protective... and the few I've been in close quarters with have been surprised how well I can handle myself. They often mention my height, body and species." she shook her head and scoffed a little.

"I've fought a few Klingons, mostly when I was drunk." Jason admitted. "They do tend to underestimate the fighting prowess of non-Klingons." He added. "They are very amazed at my sister, Yvette's expertise with the Bat'Leth and Mek'Leth."

"Oh definitely." Aer agreed. "I was stranded with one many years ago and we had to fight off an indigenous animal. Klingon himself was injured so I had to do most of the work. That's how I got this." Aer pulled her top to the side to expose her left shoulder. A medium scar the size of a medium puncture hole showing. "Thing got me with one of his spikes..."

Jason looked concerned. "How long ago was it, because that tissue doesn't seem to be healing?" He asked. "Pardon, the intrusion into your health, I'm not a doctor of medicine, but I am trained as an EMT."

"Oh you're talking decades ago." Aer shrugged not sensing the irony of a shrugging shoulder being the topic of conversation at the moment. "It doesn't hurt, not anymore. The creature punctured my skin and apparently its not for healing fully. I don't feel anything from it. Just a scar to add to my list." she smiled at him and his interest. It was nice to see someone actually want to listen.

"Do you have any scars?" she asked.

"Have a few physical scars, but most of mine are mental or emotional." Jason said.

Mickey placed the food and drinks on the bar in front of them. He could not believe his eyes. The woman soon to be married was flirting with this newcomer. He hoped for Aer's sake that he was wrong in belief of what went on here. "Here you go... Now I think ye should be enjoyin yer meals and gettin on yer way." It was not his standard welcome but it was his way of trying to get the man to leave, politely.

"Eh its still early Mickey." Aer frowned a bit. She felt his suspicion and didn't quite understand it. To her this was an innocent conversation and welcoming a new person on the station. "All we are doing is just swapping scar stories." she rolled her eyes as the man acted quite fatherly. What was it in her life that most men felt the need to coddle her?

Jason didn't need to be an empath to tell that Mickey, didn't like him. Addressing the man he asked. "Have I said or done something to offend you, sir?"

"No... not me... ye didn't" Was all Mickey would say before he made his way to help another customer. If Aer would not recognize that this man flirted with her then Mickey was not sure how he should tell her. He hoped that she would clear the air on her own. If she did not in this moment Mickey decided he would come back and do it for her.

Jason raised a puzzled eyebrow. He turned to Aer. "Is he offended on your behalf? He asked.

Aer had sensed the flirtation from Jason, but that had been all it was. In truth people flirted with her on a daily basis. Sometime when you look as she did it bore its own cross but often she just dismissed it kindly with other small talk and chatting. Why did most of the men in her life feel she needed to be protected? She was 74 for Goddesses sake!

"He's being grumpy!" she yelled loud enough for him to hear. "I am not offended but if I remember rightly I have a linguist transferring in soon..." Aer thought as she frowned a little. "What department are you joining?"

"Intelligence." Jason said. "Previously, I was in Sciences and Operations, why do you ask?"

Aer chuckled to herself. "To see what colours you will bare when you put a uniform on." she answered. "I have it on good authority your department head is amazing. Really looks after her people."

Jason finally caught on. "You're my new Boss, aren't you, Ma'am?" He felt embarrassed, his skin taking on a green hue. "I'm sorry I didn't recognise you, I hadn't got to your file yet, I didn't get much prep time for this assignment." He added.

Aer smiled. "What makes you think that? I could be just be really good friends with her..." she paused but knew the jig was already up. There was a soft chuckle and she look back at Jason from her drink. "You don't need to call me ma'am, not here. We are not on duty... and I always liked my name." she teased.

"Aer, it is then." Jason said. "I'm Jason, my mother named me for her favourite hero from Greek mythology."

"Do you own a golden fleece?" Aer asked hinting she knew of the myth.

"Unfortunately not, and I'm not married to Medea either." Jason said.

"That's a shame." Aer said with genuine disappointment. "I think you'd look good in a golden fleece." she smiled at him. "I've always found Greek mythology really interesting... is Jason your favourite fable or do you have your own? Or even not like Greek mythology at all??" she was now full of questions.

"I like Odysseus, he's a different kind of hero, he prefers brains over brawn." Jason said. "My mother was an Archaeology and Anthropology officer, before becoming a Command officer and she introduced me to Greek and Roman mythology."

"My mother used to be an educator before she chose the life of a farmer but she did teach us to be quite well read. Although she did push El Aurian myth and history over all else but I still read other things too as I am a child of both quadrants." Aer said as she looked around the bar. Someone dropped a tray that caught her attention before she turned it back to Jason. "Does your mum still command a ship?"

"Interesting, my father is a Literature Professor, and he has an extensive personal library of physical books, he's also a great cook." Jason said.

"Yes, my Mother commands the U.S.S. Canterbury, and has done for over a decade. its an updated Intrepid Class, currently docked here for repairs." Jason replied.

"Oh they are nice ships. I do have a soft spot for the original though. I sat in Admiral Janeway's chair once and it honestly gave me goosebumps." Aer shivered just talking about it.

"I can imagine, I've always been fond of the Akira Class, and I got to serve on one, U.S.S. Masamune, for five years."

Mickey continued to serve his patrons, his guests as he watched the two chat away. As a barkeep he was a good judge of body language. He could tell that the man was flirting and trying to get Aer to flirt back. However, Aer for her part was simply being friendly. The thing Taggart could not figure out is why she did not tell the other man that she was engaged. This was something that did not sit right with the barkeep. He decided to watch for a few more minutes before he said anything.

"Nah, never been a fan of Akira's, but you like what you like Jason." she smiled at him. "Were they not designed to be more like a warship than a ship of exploration?" she asked out loud but thinking to herself at the same time.

"Yes, a lot like the aircraft carriers used by the navies of Earth, but beside the fighter compliment, the Masamune also possessed several modified Venture Class scout vessels to undertake suborbital and atmospheric scans. This allowed it to perform both functions." Jason explained.

"Sounds cool. I'm glad I've missed the Dominion War, I mean I was here in the quadrant but still on Kaitos at the time so we weren't involved directly involved in the fighting." Aer frowned for a moment. "Although High General Ageas did get himself involved a few times with the Lucani..." she shook her head. That man was always looking for something exciting to do and she remembered her father complaining about Ageas' need to fight Jem'Hadar.

"I was at the Academy during the War, but I was in France when the Breen attacked." Jason said. "I volunteered, along with some of the other students, to help with the rebuild." He added. "Some people, just have a desire to fight, I once served with a SerNumi, who fought along side the Klingon and Federation Marines during the Dominion War, I almost felt sorry for the Jem'Hadar after I saw him in action."

"I prefer the quiet life." Aer admitted. "I mean I won't shy away from a fight but I try to avoid them. That's why I work in intelligence. Yes, you can get your hands dirty but usually collecting information is painless, and if done efficiently, quietly."

"Prefer to use my words, but I can handle myself in a fight, if words fail." Jason said. "My younger sister, Yvette is former Intel, with a major in Security, she's a natural when it comes to combat. She's even fought the Borg on two occasions."

Aer shuddered at the mention of the Borg. Whereas she hadn't encountered them herself it seemed they'd left a mark on the species as a whole given what they'd done them over 100 years ago now. "She sounds like an impressive woman." Aer replied. "Although you can keep the fighting of the Borg." the word came out like a dirty word. Hard to say and ugly to pronounce.

"Yes, she puts me to shame." Jason replied. "As for the Borg, they are the antithesis of all life, and must be fought." He added. "Enough about them for now, so have you ever visited France, I'm from a place called Brittany."

Quite right, enough of the Borg. Forever should be gone. This all ran through Aer's mind rather quickly before she went back to the question Jason had asked.

"No, never Brittany. I've been to the more, what's the word, common area? Like Paris. I visited there once or twice and some of the other former Terran capitals when I did a paper in history class. What's Brittany like?" she asked.

"Rennes is the Capital city which is a cultural and educational centre. Its smaller and far less cosmopolitan than Paris, and both the urban and rural areas surround it are quite tranquil. The climate is temperate. My parent's house is 21km from the city centre and has been in my father's family for centuries. It was originally a small Roman farming estate and now only has a small staff to attend to the limited crops that it grows. My father also has a personal vegetable herb garden, he prefers to prepare his own food, relying only on the food replicator for things he can't otherwise acquire." Jason added. "My siblings and I spent our summers running around in the nearby forests and swimming in the local creek."

"Sounds beautiful." Aer said finishing her drink off. "I'll need to make an effort to visit it next time I am on Earth." Mickey came over but she waved her hand over her glass to indicate she was finished for the night and he nodded and walked back off. "I was born on the new El Aurian home world called Kaitos. I've been told it's not as beautiful as El Auria, but it is all I've known and love it as much as anyone does love home."

"I'm glad your people have found a new home." Jason said. "I've visited Vulcan, my mother's homeworld, the ancient ruins are beautiful, but the environment is rather severe, I would not recommend it." He added.

"Oh too dusty." Aer giggled. "Does nothing for the skin either with all that heat, and those suns... no thank you. Risa is the place to be if you avoid the higher crime areas."

"The lack of crime is one thing Vulcan has going for it, but the dust gets everywhere." Jason said. "Risa is pleasant, if you keep your wits about you and avoid the honey traps." Jason said. "Two male crewman on my ship learnt that the hard way when we stopped there for shoreleave."

Aer nodded in agreement about the sand and dust. It made her itch just thinking about it and she felt her shoulders rotating as if trying to scratch that very irritation she was thinking of. As Jason spoke more of Risa she did also agree. There had been a few honey traps she'd set in the past when chasing people down.

As she placed a glass down she felt a little vibration and a light chime sounded from her wrist. It indicated that she had something that needed her attention. She had been waiting on a file being sent her way and now it had arrived. "Sorry Jason, I need to go. Duty calls, and I feel like I'm never off duty." she sighed. "But its been nice meeting you. Definitely be seeing each other in the intel suite." she placed a hand on his shoulder.

"I understand, I felt the same way as a Academy Lecturer." Jason said. "Of course, good night, Commander."

Mickey watched as the two finished their conversation. He began to process the two things that he did not like about what went on. The first was Aer neglected to say anything about her impending nuptials. The other was the way that this Jason came on to her. Mickey decided that he would not say anything to Jack, however, he would keep a close eye on this newcomer.

"Oidhche mhath, Michael." (Good night, Michael) Jason said putting his empty glass on the bar. He then rose from his seat, left the bar and headed for his quarters. Coming on to your new boss, good job, Jason, He said to himself with great sarcasm.

---

Michael 'Mickey' Taggart
Owner, White Stag Pub
Poseidon Station

Lieutenant Jason Beauvoir
Linguist
Poseidon Station

Commander Aer Feshau-Patton
Chief Intelligence Officer
Poseidon Station

 

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