Equal Footing

Posted on Wed Apr 19th, 2017 @ 9:19am by

2,297 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Unknown Life, Unknown Dangers
Location: The Pink Kitty
Timeline: MD2: 19:00hrs

William had gone to Sickbay and spoken with Dr Armada about the shot, she was happy to give it to him and a supply for him to take daily making sure to inform him of potential side effects and should anything happen, to come to Sickbay right away.

He didn't feel any different but then again Doctor Armada said as much. Will found Dr Armada to be a competent and friendly individual, didn't seem judgemental of his choices, was professional and respectful.

Before the time to meet William showered, and changed into a blue long sleeved shirt and pants. He'd done alot of work today, felt like he accomplished alot but now was the biggest moment. Still affected by the shot he had to see if she was right...or wrong.

***

Vash waited by the bar area of The Pink Kitty as she looked over the inventory and made sure the hard ales were stocked out of site and everything was where it was supposed to be. The crowd coming back from Earth would probably be sated on many things, but she knew they would start to come in anyway.

She wore the same loose red dress she had worn earlier that day and nursed a small glass of something purple before she glanced at the time. She set the glass on the bar where it was whisked away by one of the bartenders and waited for William.

William walked in with a smile on his face, it didn't take long to pick out the red dress wearing tease from this morning. He walked to the bar and sat on a stool. "I'm here to meet someone, I was wondering if you knew her. Works her apparently." William smiled at the play. "Green skin, red hair." He leaned over slightly. "I think she has a thing for the Captain."

"I wouldn't know such a person," Vash quipped without looking up to where he was. "Besides, Captain's are a dime a dozen. I see her going for a Commodore at the very least."

"Oh." William smirked. "Allow me to introduce myself. Commodore William Hood. Master of this fine vessel." He chuckled. "As promised, I went to Sickbay and took my shot. I have a supply in my quarters I have to take daily."

Now she looked over at him and stood up straight with a smile. "Why, Commodore Hood," she said. "I never would have expected a officer and gentleman of your standing to be in such a place. What is the special occasion?"

"Hmmm." William smiled. "You." He replied.

"Is that so?" Vash asked as she reached down to the hem of her red dress and pulled it over her head to reveal a matching red two piece bikini with the letters TPK on the right breast. "Now why would you do a thing like that?" she asked as she handed the dress over to one of the bartenders.

"Because, someone wanted to know if I could make up my mind without you effecting me. I admit to be more cleared headed but my choice remains the same." William answered as he watched her pull off her dress. "More than what you were wearing this morning....ohh yes, don't think I forgot about that little act."

She gave a sultry laugh and winked at him as she turned around to reveal the same TPK on her backside before she turned around again. "I didn't hear any complaints. Was it hard going on duty after that?" she asked with a lift of one eyebrow.

"Actually it was, but I suspect you planned that from the start by turning up to my quarters without underwear on." William spoke to her, his eyes never leaving her. "Now.....about making it up to me, which I think now is two fold for your little tease before you left."

"Would you care for a drink, William?" Vash asked him. "I received fresh shipments just this morning and I'm certain I can find something that you'll like."

"Actually I would, surprise me." William replied as he continued to look at her scantily clad frame. "So, how does it feel to be on an equal footing with me?" Wondering if it bothered her, new for her or if it changed anything.

She moved around behind the bar and made a show of looking around. "Hmm...something old, something new, something borrowed..." she reached down to pick up a blue bottle that had glass spikes sticking out of it at various spots. "...or something blue." She set it on the bar and pulled out two shot glasses and filled them before she capped the bottle and put it back under the counter.

Vash handed him one of the shot glasses with a smile. "Bottom's up."

William lifted the glass and necked it. He pulled a slight face as it went down. "Let me guess, Romulan Ale?" He spoke putting the glass down again. "Nice evasion too."

"I didn't evade," she said as she tossed her back. "I just didn't answer. As for an actual answer, is that how you see me?"

"I see you, as a woman who is driven, focused, determined and outgoing. She knows what she wants and will go the lengths to get it. She's also considerate, attractive, breathtakingly beautiful and still has a thing for the Commodore." William answered giving her a semi serious look to let her know he meant it.

Vash's cheeks turned a slight darker shade of green which would be the equivalent of an Orion blush and she looked down demurely. "So does that make me your equal, you kind, handsome, wonderful, exciting man?"

"I believe it does." William spoke. "I took the shot, I've not changed my view of you, if...you're still willing, we spoke of starts so with a clear head and shot taken, I'd like to start." Will once again sporting his serious face.

She looked thoughtful for a moment, then up at him. "Very well," she said. "But only if you agree to wipe last night off the board and start relatively fresh."

"Agreed." William spoke as he smiled. It was progress and he did feel better for being able to think clearly around Vash. What the future held was unknown but he was hopeful. "So, you got about 50 minutes before you open....now that you have me, you going to kick me out?"

"Why would I do that?" Vash asked, genuinely confused as she motioned for two more shots of the blue stuff.

"Well, we have 50 minutes before you open. What did you want to do?" William asked not sure if she had business preparations to do. "Not that I mind, staring at you in just that." Others may see her like that, but there was a comforting warmth in known, others see, he gets.

"We could simply talk and get to know each other better," she said. "We didn't do a lot of talking last night."

"No I suppose we didn't." Will spoke. "Ok, so tell me, any hobbies, anything you like to do in your free time?" He asked. "I should probably ask too, since we're starting, are there any ground rules we should talk about?"

"I like to study medical procedures," Vash told him. "And...looking at feline pictures. I've never had one and they seem so strange to me. As for ground rules, I'm not really sure. One would be to never cheat."

"I think never cheating is a given there." Will replied. "What about our quarters, do you mind me coming to you or would you prefer to just come to mine?" Will knew people could be private and he didn't want to barge in on hers if that was the case.

"I don't really have a quarters," she said. "I have a room in the back here where I sleep. It cuts down on my overhead and I doubt a Commodore would want to sleep in a oversized former supply closet. Not to mention the trouble I almost got into earlier today with your Security personnel just trying to get you to authorize that shipment. Maybe we could reserve a quarters somewhere else to meet?"

"Well, let me pose this." Will asked. "We are both adults, I'd like to offer this, and I'm not trying to rush. If you prefer staying here I won't try and dissuade you, I can see if I can find some quarters for you elsewhere on the ship, or....you can move in with me." He knew it was early, but they were both mature adults and for him he was too old to play games, take life by the horns and just hold on.

Vash shook her head a bit too vigorously and sent her long red hair flying. "No....I mean, thank you for the offer to move in with you, William, but it's too soon. I would appreciate if you could get me a quarters somewhere else, though. All work and no play makes a girl stressed."

"I will look into it when I depart here then, I just wanted to offer." Will replied acceptingly. "So, are there any bad times to stop by, anything private that you do alone when you don't want company during the week or set days?"

"I'm generally busy between twenty hundred hours and zero three hundred," she told him. "Running a business is probably a lot like running a ship. This is my bridge." She motioned around the club where a few dancers were getting warmed up on the stages while other people were testing the lighting and sound.

"Any rules for when I visit here?" Will asked. This was her place of business, he didn't want to make it awkward for her.

"If you come here while we're open, you're just another customer," Vash said. "I treat everyone equally. Rank and organization gets checked at the door. I run the place fairly and I expect people to act like civilized beings."

"Do you get any days off and would you object staying with me at mine sometimes?" Will asked, continuing his quest to get to know her.

"The only days I get off is when I have a good man who goes to the effort of getting me off," she said with a wink as she finished her second shot. "But the answer to your second question is no, I wouldn't."

"I'm sure I know a few measures to get you a day or two off here and there." Will mused though it wasn't strictly how he took it, nor the cleanest. "I will inform my security detail to expect to see you so you can pass but you'll still have to chime my door."

Vash laughed. "That's not the way I was talking about getting off, William," she said. "But I can take off any time I want."

"I know what you meant dear." William winked. Even with the shot having its effect on him, she was still a remarking woman, very attractive and he wasn't thinking that just because he wore a two piece. right now. He checked the time, open time soon. "Did you want me to leave before open time so you can get everything ready?" He asked and offered.

"Everything is ready," she said. "All I'm waiting on is to open the doors and let the people in. With the short shore leave going on, I doubt I'll get many customers until we're in deeper space. People are going to be sated on leave and not feel the need to come in here."

"Well, I know someone you can sate later then." Will winked at her with a smile. "But only of you are not too tired, I don't want to keep you up too late if you have work the next day."

"Is that a fact?" Vash asked him with a laugh. "That someone didn't get sated last night?"

"I was told to forget last night, so that doesn't count." Will replied playing the card she handed him.

"Touché," she said. "What am I going to do with a man of your caliber and obvious stamina?"

"Take some time off sometime and meet up with him, I'm sure you will find out." Will chuckled. "I hear some good drinks and food can be had if asked nicely, something I'm sure you can do wearing oh so little babe."

Vash laughed. "I think I know where to find him if I get hungry or thirst in that case," she said with a wink.

"So, you're ok with this?" Will asked. "Us, the shot, giving it a go, everything?" If she was used to having the upper hand, now being on a level footing it may be a new thing to her it may not but it was for him and he wanted to make sure everything was good before anything else.

"I am," she said. "If I weren't, I wouldn't have told you about the shot or the effects of the pheromones. I could have had you on my terms."

"That is very true, I won't deny that." Will didn't for a moment worry in the least what dating this Orion woman would mean for his career. If he'd managed to not mess it up so far then having Vash around was not going to change that.

"Then let us not worry about who is okay with what and build upon a foundation of equality and go from there," Vash said.

"Now that, I will drink to." William gave a warm smile, a wink and an appreciative look.

She motioned for refills of their shot glasses and looked at him. "As will I," she said. "I think we're both going to enjoy this."

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