Star Trek: Starbase 777 - lt-jgs-giles﹢nikolayev

[D] A message appeared of Giles' PADD.

To: Lt. JG. Jericho Giles From: Lieutenant Dagis Subject: Meetup Hi Jericho, I'm going to be free of work for the next week or so (provided nothing goes wrong in the meantime) thanks to shore leave so I thought this would be a good time to say I'm free to meet up with you again whenever you're free if you'd like. I look forward to hearing from you. - Dagis

It was the quiet 'ding' of a PADD notification which stirred Giles from his present position, the Trill having been lain upon the sofa in the quarters living room for the past hour; feet up upon one armrest and crossed at the ankles, glasses off, and the crook of one arm draped across his face to cover his eyes. The lights had been switched off entirely but for a good while it hadn't mattered - the flickering white glow of his own eyes had created enough light in itself. Today had not shaped up to be the best of days, with the morning spent with both him and the computer stumped while trying to break into a suspect communications relay, and the afternoon being spent handling an hour-long nosebleed and a subsequent migraine. Knowing when to give in, he had left the computers in the labs running to continue the efforts and he had retreated here. It had been silent for so long in the quarters aside from the ambient noise of the station's systems, so the sound of the PADD genuinely jolted him from what had been a nice, calm time of lying there while he waited for his medication to kick in. He took a moment to just breathe - a sudden racing heart rate on top of everything else wasn't what he needed right now - before he pawed about for his glasses firstly and PADD secondly. The Trill fully anticipated this message to be from the Computer downstairs saying that it had managed to break through that system, but when he squinted at the screen and turned the brightness down (at least the bright glare hadn't hurt so much any more), he discovered that it wasn't from the Computer at all. He had hoped it would be the Computer, so something legitimately good could come out of today... But strangely enough he found that he wasn't disappointed when he saw the message was from Dagis instead. In fact, maybe this message made the day even better than one from the Computer would have. How strange. 777_divider

15:24

Dagis, I'm glad that you're planning on using allocated shore leave instead of doing what I've heard is a stereotypical senior staff thing and demanding to work instead. I'll be free whenever you'd like - and on the topic of like, because you brought up meeting up if I would like and I'd just like to clarify that I would like to, and I now realise that's a lot of the word like - just let me know what works for you. Best, Giles.

[D] A reply came a few moments later.

I'm glad you'd like to meet up! We could head to the parkland if you like? It's the closest thing to fresh air and open space we have here in my opinion. Plus I like trees and other plants. - Dagis

When he had contemplated the concept of meeting up he hadn't expected that meeting up to be now. That was his own fault, he supposed, considering the 'whenever you'd like' - he really should have specified whenever you'd like in the coming days. He could have just messaged back saying no... But the thought of doing that filled him with a sort of guilt that he didn't like. He wanted to meet with Dagis, feeling like a walking zombie be damned... And besides, the fresh air would probably do him some good. He had already spent too long cooped up in here and staying lain here would just make his joints stiff, the migraine had mostly faded to a dull ache and considering the length of time since he had taken his medication, surely he would be able to tolerate the light again... Yes, yes - he would go. He wanted to go.

Dagis, If you give me half an hour I can meet you at the entrance to the parkland on the environmental ring. I haven't actually been down there yet, so you'll have to keep me from getting lost. See you shortly, Giles.

[D] One more reply came a moment later.

I'll meet you there! I think you'll like it, it's a nice place to be. See you soon, - Dagis

It was twenty mintues exactly that the Trill gave himself, having the Computer slowly turn up the lights so he was sure that the brightness wasn't just going to blind him and make that migraine come straight back. When the alarm sounded after twenty minutes he was ready to leave - the last ten minutes of the designated half an hour allocated to traverse the station and find his way to the environmental ring.

“Home sweet quarters-“ Rigel laughs as he sweeps into the quarters and carefully sets P’Nelar down.

"Nice!" P'Nelar exclaimed, tucking her legs underneath her body. "Looks like your roommate's decorated a bit. Are you gonna decorate any?" She asked curiously. She hadn't gotten around to it, but her moms had sent her all her stuff from her bedroom at home.

Rigel shrugged and hugged her from behind, face buried into the back of her shoulders.

03:03

“Mmm. Dont care, it’s a good place to rest.”

Oh. Alright. This was happening now. Her thin-strapped top made it so that plenty of her fur that was 'like heaven' was under Rigel's arms as he hugged her. She hesitated, then started purring softly; not audible, but the vibrations were there.

“Couch. Couchcouchcouchcouch-“ He mumbled sleepily, picking the Caitian up once more and then plonking down on the soft couch. He hugged P’Nelar to his chest, yawning again.

P'Nelar giggled, tilting her head. "You really are tired," She noted, settling in for a snooze. "Go ahead and get some sleep, then," She smiled, keeping the steady purr to help Rigel into his slumber.

“Im pooped and you’re pretty. Haha. Alliteration.” He grinned and snuggled his face into the crook of her neck. “Tired and uHHH- tabby-“

03:17

“soRry-“

He was delirious, wasn't he? She decided that was why he kept complimenting her appearance. She was very plain, truly.. "Hah! My mom's a tabby," She laughed. "Dusty brown, like my spots," She told him.

“Tangy n titty… that’s not an adjective is it.” He muttered, apparently very concerned about the matter. “Am I tangy?”

"I wouldn't know...tangy describes taste, and I've never tasted you," P'Nelar shrugged, ignoring the 'titty' part. Her yellow eyes sparkled with amusement.

He gasps loudly, “Don’t you dare canna- canab- what’s the fuckin’ word- cannablims?”

"One, it wouldn't be cannibalism, because we aren't the same species, and two, that's not the only way to taste someone." She demonstrated this by licking her paw; Caitians, like earth cats, preferred grooming themselves to bathing.

“You do that shit? Woahhhh- wait but- you smell good though- how’s that possible-“ Another loud gasp. “Witchcraft-!”

"I bathe, Rigel. This is just for when I'm in a hurry, I actually like water," She giggled. "Wait, I smell good?" She raised an eyebrow. This conversation was...interesting.

“Mhm, evil enchantress of the night- like uhhh, mint and vanilla.”

03:35

“Wait, is smelling just air-tasting?”

At this, she snorted. "Are you sure you don't want to...actually sleep? After all, you're practically delirious," P'Nelar said, maneuvering so that she could somewhat see Rigel's face despite him being behind her.

“I would love to sleep….” He grinned, snuggling more. “With you. Yeah. That sounds good.”

He absolutely didn't mean what he just implied, so P'Nelar shrugged it off. "Alright, then close your eyes, ya dummy," She said. "I'll be here when you wake up...you're practically holding me captive,"

“Damn right I am-“ He giggled, hugging her even closer. “G’night beautiful.”

Still not confident enough say anything like that, P'Nelar just sighed. "Goodnight," She said, closing her eyes.

[D] The door chimed.

It had been a full day since he had left the intelligence labs with the maintenance ping from the relay still running – considering how he could track its progress on his PADD, there was no reason to go back there at present. The ping had connected just a couple of hours ago and was in the process of being bounced back to the relay. From the trajectory and length of time it had taken, he could presume it was about 5.23 light years of travel – somewhere just past Regulus in the Celes Sector, he was thinking – but it was worth waiting for more accurate results. In the meantime he had gotten a couple of things done, but mostly, he had opted to catch up on sleep… And part of that had been involuntary seeing as how he had finished a report to Intelligence and was working on a second when he promptly fell asleep on the sofa again. It was here that he found himself when the door chime went, curled up in the corner of the sofa and face smushed into a cushion. His initial idea of a response was to simply answer “no,” as if both the door chime and person who had triggered it could hear him… And then he realised that the door chime had in fact gone off and that meant someone was there, and ignoring them was hardly polite. 777_divider

17:04

Having (at some point) set both his PADD and glasses down upon the coffee table before he fell asleep, scrambling to his feet now involved a hunt for his glasses, hissing as he managed to walk into the coffee table and promptly almost fall over it, and then make his way to the door, having them slide open with a slightly disgruntled “yes, can I help you?” It was only when he realised who was actually there that he straightened up – even with vision blurred from the contrast of the darkened quarters and the bright corridor, he could easily make out who was stood there. He hardly looked as presentable as usual with slim, black tracksuit bottoms and a zip-neck jumper on – it was a contrast to the usual pristine uniform. Almost instantaneously there was an attempt made to brush his hair back into place with one hand, then adjust his glasses which were still somehow askew, and then speak with a sheepish attempt to be more polite, already blushing at his mistake. “Lieutenant Commander Dagis. I- I’m very sorry, I wasn’t expecting anyone, I – what can I do for you?”

Upon the doors opening Dagis' eyes widened slightly at the sight before her. She hadn't expected to see such a frazzled and messy Jericho, so his appearance certainly took her back for a few seconds. However, regardless of how he initially greeted her a warm smile spread across her face, feeling quite happy to see him. And when he blushed and corrected how he greeted her she couldn't help but chuckle softly. "Good afternoon, Lieutenant. I just wanted to check up on you, really." The Ferengi replied warmly, her blue eyes looking into his own as she looked up at him, her PADD clasped in front of her with two hands. In comparison to Jericho's casual and very obvious just-woke-up appearance the CMO's own was neat and tidy. She was wearing a pair of trousers just like the last pair he saw her wearing, and another similar short sleeved shirt tucked into them. It seemed to be how she liked to dress comfortably when off duty. Neat, smart, and yet comfortable and casual. "Did I wake you? I'm sorry if I did." She added a short moment later, a look of sympathy crossing her face as she realised just what she might've accidentally done. She certainly never wanted to wake anyone up, but with Giles it was different. She didn't want to prevent him from sleeping when he needed it, and she especially didn't want to get in the way of him getting enough sleep to perform his duties and maybe, hopefully, begin the process of crushing Section 31.

”No, no, it’s completely fine, don’t worry,” he replied, although his appearance very much stated otherwise. Aware of how his hair was still falling forward into his face, he made an attempt to ruffle it backwards. If anything, it made it worse. “Alright, perhaps you did, but it’s fine, I don’t mind… Afternoon, did you say?” He went to glance at his chronometer watch, only to find that he wasn’t wearing it. Doing reaaal good right now. What had the time been the last time he had checked? The last he remembered, at least, was the computer stating that it was 0914… So this clearly hadn’t been the most productive start to his day. This was what you got for completely and utterly mangling your shift pattern and paying no heed to the proper times that people were allocated to work in.* “I, uhm – clearly didn’t notice the time. It’s not as if I’m busy, or anything, though, I mean – so please don’t take that as a ‘I don’t want you here’ sort of mention of the time, it’s quite simply that I didn’t realise what time of day it is-“ still squinting against the light, he took a step backwards and gestured to the interior of the quarters. It was evident from the doorway (but only just due to the dim light) that the main living room was sparsely decorated, to the extent that it almost matched the default layout that Operations set quarters to for a person’s arrival. Anything that was lain about belonged to his roommate – someone who he hadn’t met yet, somehow – instead of Giles himself. “Would you like to come in? I doubt this isn’t as homely as your own quarters, but seeing as how you went out of your way to see me, I mean…”

Dagis smiled softly as Jericho said she had woken him up but didn't mind, and nodded in response to confirm it was, indeed, afternoon. As the Trill continued to speak the Ferengi listened along quite happily, giving her friend a reassuring look when he confirmed that he didn't mean he didn't want her there, and when he invited her into his quarters she accepted the offer with an appreciative smile, stepping in and glancing around. The sparsity inside took her back a little, but it wasn't at all surprising to the woman. If everything she knew about Giles was true, she knew he had been working from the moment he came aboard do complete the tasks he gets given. A shame, really. "I should really buy you something to decorate the place with." The woman said light-heartedly with a small chuckle, before looking back at her friend with a smile. "I'm not afraid to admit I have a habit of buying nice items to fill my shelves. It's better than empty walls. At least in my opinion, anyway." She said with a smile. "How have you been? I hope you haven't been overworking yourself. The last thing I'd want is to hear you ended up on the Hospital Ring because you deprived yourself of sleep."

Allowing Dagis to enter the room ahead of him, he lingered behind as she took in the distinct lack of decoration here. He had never been the sort of person for interior design, and apparently he hadn’t picked up the skill from any past host who had actually put the effort into making their property more homely. It was strange: you might think that someone who was joined might be the sentimental type – he had heard of others going out of their way to collect old ornaments that had been around in their past lives, for example – but he had never ended up with that trait. It was probably a sign that he just wasn’t driven by emotion as much as some of the others out there… And he wasn’t too sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing, but it was what it was. “Please, there’s no need for you to go out of your way just to find something to decorate with. I find that Operations have already done a fine job with the basics, and when a person moves out having a lack of belongings scattered around makes it an easier process…” Another reminder that he was going to be leaving the station after this Section 31 scenario was all over and done with, and that was a time which was now rapidly approaching. “Besides – it’s the first time that I’ve sort of shared a living space with anyone before. When I was at university it was only the kitchen area that we shared, and no one decorated that at all, so… I just wouldn’t want to get in the way of whoever my roommate is. I mean, I know who – Rigel Hel’jin, Lieutenant Junior Grade, Command division, helmsman by trade, a Terrelian too, a species not too often seen in Starfleet… I just mean I somehow haven’t ran into him yet.” 777_divider

21:06

Having gone back to what Dagis had started with, it perhaps seemed like he was avoiding the latter part of her statement. After a brief pause there was a nervous chuckle, however, with the Trill wringing his hands together sheepishly as he paced around the two armchairs that were closest to the door. “I’m, well… A little bit worse for wear, perhaps, but hardly as bad as things could be. I have no intention of spending more time in a medical facility due to my own actions, believe me. I’ve… Just been busy, that’s all. I was stuck dealing with this Section 31 situation – and had to put in the overtime to compensate. …Not as if it worked, though.”

‘When another person moves out.’ Those words repeated in Dagis’ head, the realisation coming forward that once Giles was done he’d be leaving. She didn’t like that, and she didn’t want that, either. He had saved her life in a not-so-literal sense, and she considered him to be a good friend, so she didn’t want to lose that. She didn’t want to lose him. Despite these thoughts, she kept a small smile on her face as she listened to what the Trill said. “A Terrelian? That’s interesting. I don’t recall ever seeing or meeting one before.” The woman commented idly. As Jericho continued to speak the Ferengi listened along quite contently, simply enjoying speaking with him - and hearing him speak - once more. The comment about him being ‘a little worse for wear’ was a little concerning, but the followup immediately suggested things have been fairly okay for her friend, which she was more than pleased to hear. “What do you mean ‘not as if it worked’? Have Intel not been able to track them down yet?” The woman asked, a slightly concerned look creeping across her face. She had experienced just about enough from Section 31. Trauma, injuries, nightmares, and even her friend being kidnapped and lobotomised. They had to be stopped. They had to be destroyed.

”I… It’s not a matter of Intelligence. It’s a matter of me.” There was no nervous laugh this time, just a half-smile very swiftly falling at the look of concern that Dagis gave. Before he had been so concerned about how his colleagues back at CRCO would react to this situation and his complete failure to get his work done, and he had been entirely concerned with whatever punishment he might face. Now, however, that worry turned away from that of his superiors or colleagues back home. Instead it entirely revolved around Dagis, and the prospect that he might have disappointed her. “You know, I uh… I’m normally perfectly fine at breaking into communications systems. No matter what faction you’re intercepting against, there are only certain ways that you can transmit subspace communiques which makes it all very similar, and very easy with practice. But uhm… Those Section 31 former colleagues of yours – of ours, really? They’re good at co-opting relays for their own, and they know how to be very secure about it.” Having paced over to the sofa, he all but folded himself into the corner that he had claimed only minutes before, picking up a cushion and hugging it to his chest. “It turns out I am not as good a general hacker as I thought I was. No matter how much I analysed their system or scoured through research on what I was supposed to do, there was just no way I was getting into that system.” 777_divider

23:22

The Trill sighed, adjusting glasses which concealed those ominously flickering eyes. “The five others on this project all broke into their respective relays long before I did – to the extent that I got flagged up by Intelligence about it. So like I say, I put in more hours to try to work it out, but both stress and lack of sleep are quite common triggers for my handful of conditions. My medication wasn’t doing enough to keep up: so either I was in too much pain to focus, or drowsy from having to take the strongest dose, or just postictal and completely out of it. It was this uhm… Vicious cycle, really, where things just kept escalating and nothing was working. I ended up having to rope in this ensign from Engineering of all places – highly skilled, and with a strong history of hacking, but still… I shouldn’t have had to. Anyway.” He gestured to the PADD upon the coffee table, the screen upon which had locked but should still be tracing the ping. “It’s all sorted, now, thanks to him. I’ve got a rough estimate of where your transmissions were being routed to – probably another relay – and then once Intelligence has all six, they can triangulate points based on these locations. It… Has very much been held up by myself, though. By weeks, I might add.” Prophets, he didn’t like to think about that. Being last to complete the task was bad enough, but lagging behind for so long? It was sickening. He was supposed to be far better than this. While his gaze for the most part had been unfocussed, looking blankly at no one part of the room, it now flitted sideways to look to Dagis. “I know how important this project is to you. I hope this isn’t a let-down.”

Dagis listened silently as Jericho spoke, following him to the couch as went to sit. As she sat, she focused on every word he said with the same concerned look on her face, and as her friend spoke about the vicious cycle of tiredness and pain caused by his conditions and the subsequently required medication the look of concern on her face changed from being about the situation to being about him. As the Trill spoke of everything being held up by him for several weeks the Ferengi looked down briefly, her mind wandering. Not because she was unhappy about the fact that he had delayed the process, but because that delay meant the Section could've done more damage and hurt more people in the meantime. However, as soon as her friend said he hoped this wasn’t a let-down Dagis immediately looked back up, her eyes making contact with his as she put her PADD to one side and went to rest a hand on his arm gently. “Not at all, Jericho. I don’t care how long it took, and I don’t care that you needed help. I care that progress is being made, and it is.” The woman replied softly. “Your health wasn’t on your side at all, and it took longer than anyone would’ve liked, but the important thing is that what we want to be happening is happening. Yes, you weren’t able to hack into their system, but that’s not your fault. Everything, including the Section's systems, was against you." 777_divider

12:51

Dagis spent a moment in silence as she thought about what to say next, her eye contact briefly failing, before ultimately resuming. "Without you they wouldn't have had my messages. Without you they couldn't have had me, or my knowledge. Without you this ball wouldn't be rolling in the way it is. They sent you to do that job, not anyone else. Sure, it was partially to lure me out of hiding, but it was also because you know how they worked, so you have far more experience with the Section than most others at Intelligence. You might not be the best hacker ever, but you're still good at your job. I wouldn't be able to do half of what you can, even with training. You shouldn't compare yourself to others, Jericho, because you're not them. You're you." The woman said in just as soft of a tone as before, a small smile appearing on her face.

For the duration of Dagis’s talking the Trill remained silent. Now and again he adjusted his grasp on the cushion, still hugging it to his chest, and nestled his chin into the top of it as he listened. “It’s um, it’s annoying,” he stated to start his reply, gaze having wandered away and not meeting Dagis’s own again. “Because you’re entirely right, and I keep telling myself that. To put things in a logical context, I am not a hacker. It’s not what my field of mathematics revolves around, and it’s not what I’ve been trained in. Anything I’ve picked up along the way has just been additional learning. So it’s entirely fair that I wouldn’t have managed it – but the issue I have is that other people did. And you’re right, I am not them, but they’re… One of them is a linguist, and they still managed. Maybe their system wasn’t as secure. Maybe they had help from someone else. Who knows – but it still doesn’t feel right.” There was a slow exhale from the Trill as he tried to recollect himself and gather his thoughts, shaking off the negative energy. There was a conscious attempt to lighten his tone, too; stop being pessimistic, because it wasn’t going to get you anywhere. “I know it’s all a silly conflict. I just don’t like feeling useless, you know? That’s one of the sole fears that lead me to join Section 31: the thought of having no prospects, but there they were, offering a career. And then – Trill society is so competitive. Even if you don’t want to be joined, there will always be someone trying to surpass you to prove themselves. As much as I’m not as violently competitive as other people, I… Suppose I don’t like lagging behind, or… Just not being as good as others. What a selfish concept, I know,” he then added with a halfhearted chuckle. 777_divider

15:26

”Either way, it’s all sorted and soon we’ll have results. With any luck, CRCO might hand the triangulation section of the work over to myself – it’ll give me a chance to redeem myself, considering how I’ve already been flagged up. I’m not sure exactly what they’ll do with me once I’m back on Earth, having to face their scrutiny and all. Maybe that’s a good reason for me to hide out here a little bit longer.” A beat, and then he looked to Dagis again, the slightest hint of a beguiling smile playing upon his lips. “…Among other reasons, that is.”

As Giles spoke Dagis once again listened along, focusing on what her friend was saying. She occasionally nodded in response to what the Trill said, especially at the point of him commenting on the fact that the linguist might've had an easier job, or that they had help, as she doubted they would've managed it alone. The woman's look of sympathy returned - only a short moment after it had previously been replaced with the small smile - as her friend started talking about the fact it didn't feel right, and that he didn't want to feel useless. His comments hit quite close to home for the Ferengi as she realised that not only were Trill and Ferengi society both competitive, but that neither of them wanted to feel useless. She especially felt bad when he mentioned Section 31 offering him a career because of his fears, and in the process praying on his vulnerability and innocence. They were a truly horrible organisation. Dagis continued to nod along with what Jericho said, but a look of gentle disagreement crossed her face when he said he considered not wanting to lag behind or be not as good as others to be a selfish concept. She didn't think as such, so she wanted to show him that without interrupting him speaking. The woman gave her friend a small smile when he mentioned the potential chance for him to redeem himself, and let out a small chuckle when he said avoiding his superiors would perhaps be a good reason to stay on 777. However, it was when a different and new expression crossed the Trill's face, - one that Dagis had never seen him use before, - along with him mentioning 'other reasons' for staying that the Ferengi took a moment, her smile fading for a brief moment as she processed the expression and what had just been said. 777_divider

17:05

It was only after a good few seconds that she realised what she thought he was saying. Him looking at her, smiling in that specific and different way, and saying that there were other reasons for him to stay here clearly meant she was one of the reasons for him to stay here. A warm smile crept across her face as she looked into Giles' eyes, her hand gently squeezing his arm in response. "I admit I quite like the idea of you staying aboard for a while." She replied in a playful, yet warm tone. There was a brief pause before she spoke again, her eye contact remaining the entire time. "You've been so kind to me, and I'll always be grateful for what you've done for me and my family, so if I'm being honest I don't like the idea of you having to leave. I care about you, Jericho. A lot. I'd like to keep being able to be with you." She said warmly, before immediately realising the mistake in her choice of wording. "No, not "be with you", we're not in a relationship. Not that I would mind being in a relationship with you, of course! I mean, I like being around you. I like your company!" The Ferengi said quickly, pulling her hand away from Giles' arm and gesturing with both as she spoke. A nervous chuckle escaped her mouth as she started blushing from the realisation of everything she just said.

In their interactions so far, tripping up over words had always been his sort of thing. Now, however, that trait had been passed onto Dagis. It was amusing to hear her rapidly try to backtrack and to clarify, although her attempts just seemed to dig her deeper into a hole. While Dagis’s laugh was of nervousness, Giles’ own was of complete amusement, sat there grinning over the top of the cushion and finding the entire situation hilarious. “We’re both as awkward as each other, aren’t we?” He mused and gave a shake of his head, watching how poor Dagis just sat there awkwardly, catching up with her plight. “I have to say, I’m almost glad that I’m not the only one with a complete ineptitude when it comes to having a properly functioning conversation. Or – why is it that we can both be entirely put together on-duty, but can’t have a conversation together without falling apart?” The ‘falling apart’ section could have been a reference to how when they talked it always ended up being emotional and angsty content, but right now, it was nothing of the sort. Interspersed with the Trill’s speech were conscious attempts by him to stifle his laughter until by the end he couldn’t, burying his face into the cushion in a bout of half-laughing, half-wheezing. “Oh, we’re so bad at this,” he said, speech muffled by the fact that he still hadn’t raised his head – and then eventually he did, that grin still remaining. It was probably strange to see him dropping that uptight influence from certain past lives and giving into others instead – but there was a high possibility that it was nice. 777_divider

19:53

“I would like to clarify, Lieutenant Commander Dagis, that I know exactly what you meant, and that your clarification is appreciated nonetheless – but that it isn’t required.” Another chuckle, and a slight shake of his head, face flushed from laughing. His tone was only semi-serious now, still smiling away – but despite that, it was conveyed an air of complete legitimacy. “And what I would also like to say, seeing as how we’re both so bad at this and I might as well just get on with it, is that I very much enjoy your company in return. I would like to ‘keep being able to be with you,’ too.”

Seeing Giles not feeling awkward, but instead grinning and laughing in amusement served to make Dagis feel a tad more embarrassed, but also to reassure her that she hadn't made the situation feel awkward. The mention of the Trill being glad he wasn't the only conversationally inept person brought a fake look of being insulted to the Ferengi's face as she crossed her arms. "How dare you! I'm not inept, I'm just very, very bad at it!" She replied in a joking tone, trying her best to not burst out with laughter. However, when Jericho finally broke and started laugh-wheezing into the cushion that the woman finally broke, bursting out with laughter as well as she leant back on the sofa. "We really are!" She said in agreement, having just barely heard what her friend said through the muffling from the cushion and her own laughter. After a moment her laughter finally subsided, and she looked over at the Lieutenant as he spoke, the blush on her face having vanished and instead been replaced with being generally flushed from laughing. A warm smile soon appeared once as he said he enjoyed her company, and that he would like to 'keep being able to be with' her. It was after a quiet moment of simply looking at him with a smile that something clicked in her head, the realisation being visualised on her face as her expression changed and she metaphorically raised an eyebrow ridge. "Wait, you just called me Lieutenant Commander. Have I been promoted again?" She joked with a cheeky grin, before reaching out a hand to gently rest on his arm once more. 777_divider

20:57

After another short moment of silence she spoke again. "Honestly, Jericho, we may both be terrible at having a 'properly functioning conversation', but I'm glad we understand each other." The woman said warmly, her blue eyes looking into his own. "As a kid I never really had friends, and sure, I had some at the Academy, but I grew apart from them as our careers progressed slash were casually hijacked by a certain organisation. But, even then, I don't think I've ever met anyone that properly understood me, or that I've truly enjoyed simply being around. At least... Not until I met you." The Ferengi said quietly, a warm, appreciative smile on her face as she gently squeezed the Trill’s arm.

It was a pleasure to see the awkwardness dissipate and to have Dagis instead join him in the sudden fit of hysterics. More often than not (he could give you the precise percentage if you wanted one) the conversations between them ended up being so dire - and that wasn't either of their faults, it was just the result of circumstances and situations that they had found themselves in. Dagis had been forced to do terrible things for Section 31 with a threat against her family used to rope her in, Giles had been the one effectively trying to find and stop her... What a strange position they had been in at the start, and yet they had already come so far. Dagis and her family were safe, soon the project against Section 31 would be over and another branch of their operation would be stopped. He rather hoped it was a sign that things were looking up. "I'm sorry about the rank," he said when Dagis had stopped, apologising even though she had seemed amused about it. "That was just a force of habit, I'm afraid - or maybe it's a sign that you'll be promoted again in the near future? Who knows? And - I'm sorry that you've felt that way. I... I suppose that in our line of work - or former line of work, in your case - people are always distant. There are such rigorous rules in place forbidding you from telling people things that makes it far easier to simply not become close to someone at all. It's very difficult to find a friend in that sort of environment, and it's the same at Intelligence. It's a do your job and go home type of situation. But here... Things are different. There's an entire community spirit here: people don't just work, they live. To be quite honest, it's been a pleasure to experience - and that is very much due to you." 777_divider

00:03

From where Dagis's hand had once again settled upon his arm he moved; with him curled into the left corner of the sofa, he linked his right arm around Dagis's left and then simply tugged slightly to draw her closer to him. It certainly wasn't a move that he normally would have made, but screw it. Call it sleep deprivation or a lack of oxygen from laughing only moments before. Call it the two of them perhaps finally just... Reading the signs. "From holding one another at knifepoint to this," he stated, closing his eyes for the briefest of moments with his head still propped up on the top of the cushion he held, content with Dagis now there to his right. "What a fascinating story we have."

Dagis' smile grew a little as Jericho said that him using the wrong rank for her might've been a sign of things to come, enjoying simply thinking about positive thoughts without the intrusion of any negative ones. As he spoke of finding it difficult to find friends in certain work environments she nodded a little, her smile fading ever so lightly, before immediately returning as her friend said it had been a pleasure to experience this work-living lifestyle, and that it was due to her that he'd been able to. Yes, the reason why it was due to her wasn't great, but at least things had sort of worked out now, right? She had a friend she considered close, one that she trusted with her life, her family were safe, and she was as free as she'll ever been from the grasp of Section 31. This was nice. When Giles moved his arm the Ferengi initially had no clue what he was doing. That is, until he pulled her closer to him. As she processed his actions her smile faded a little, before her face changed completely to express the warmth she was feeling inside. And, as he spoke of the story the two had, and that they had gone from holding each other at knifepoint to comfortably enjoying each other's company, the woman found herself gently leaning against the Trill (without putting too much weight on him) and also closing her eyes, as her left hand slowly moved up to take ahold of his right, interlocking her fingers with his as she enjoyed this moment of quiet happiness. "I hope you keep getting to experience living here." Dagis replied softly after a short moment of silence, her tone conveying the content relaxation and comfort she was experiencing. 777_divider

14:27

"And you're right, our story is fascinating. I'd like to keep experiencing it, and to see where it goes next." She said in the same soft, warm tone as before, as her hand gently squeezed his, her eyes opening again to look at him fondly, a warm smile on her face. She was perhaps finally just reading the signs. "I'm really glad we met, Jericho, despite the reasons we did." The woman added in the same warm tone as before, as her mind slowly wandered back to the fact she said she wouldn't mind being in a relationship with him. She wondered if she had said it just so she didn't come off as insulting, or if she had said it because she actually wanted to be in a relationship with him, and that she had accidentally verbalised a subconscious desire to 'be with him'. Perhaps it was both. But what the Ferengi did know is that she was immensely enjoying this moment of closeness.

There was absolutely no protest to Dagis entwining their fingers, instead doing the same in turn so they were properly linked. Actions spoke louder than words, it seemed, and even with the subtext of their conversation being right there he found that this was more confirmation than anything else. It really was like some sort of strange journey they had gone on in the past three months: from suspicion to near-murder to this. The more he thought about it, the stranger it was – and he didn’t particularly like strange. His next online search was going to be ‘does liking the person who almost assassinated me make me the most foolish person ever.’ …He liked to think it was just simple character development instead of anything. There was nothing to say that you couldn’t come to trust the person who had been out to kill you – especially considering how they were being forced to – after all. From the off Dagis had proven that none of what she had done had really been her fault. Giles was content with that. “It’s funny you should mention that, actually,” he mused, finally looking sideways to Dagis again. There was a brief moment while he readjusted his position so he could actually look to Dagis without the constant glance sideways, having been facing forwards where he was practically curled into the corner of the sofa. One hand remained entwined with hers, the other still holding the cushion solely because it was soft. “Because this project is almost over, it’s… Doubtful that I’ll be aboard the station for much longer. There’s no reason for me to be here after its conclusion, and I know I’ll get recalled to Intelligence headquarters on Earth – I dread to think what they’ve done with the place after that fire, though.” 777_divider

19:41

The latter part was accented with a vague chuckle; an attempt to make light out of the situation which was actually somewhat of a conundrum. Solving problems was his thing, and it was with frustration that he had found no solution to this one yet. “I… As much as I value working there, I will admit that I’ve grown rather fond of here. I had never anticipated having an opportunity like this, or meeting such wonderful people, such as yourself – but the issue is that I don’t have any sort of valid reason for why they would let me stay. It isn’t as if I’m even proper Starfleet material: it’s not as if I’ve been through the Academy or transferred from any associated faction, and stars know I'd be disqualified based on my medical record. There’s no valid reason for me to have a posting here – and yet, I would very much like one.”

As Jericho spoke Dagis once again listened, eyes entirely focused on the Trill as she processed what was being said. As he talked about the fact he might not be aboard for much longer the woman's smile did, admittedly, fade a little. It was exactly what she didn't want to happen, and it was the thing she had honestly hoped would never have to be a possibility. A small chuckle did, thankfully, escape her mouth at his comment about what they might've done with Intelligence headquarters. She wanted to keep things light and not ruin this moment, and he clearly did, too, which resulted in a look of fond appreciation crossing her face and her smile returning at least a little bit. "Probably some ghastly interior design choices, no doubt." She replied in a half-joking tone. As Giles continued talking the Ferengi carried on listening intently, a warm glow coming to her face as he said she was a wonderful person, her hand once again appreciatively gently squeezing his own. As he continued to talk about the fact he had no valid reason that he knew of to be here after the project was complete the COO, ever a problem solver, started thinking about potential ideas for reasons for him to stay here, and even totally bullshit ones. Two minds was better than one, right? As her thumb idly stroked the Trill's hand the woman took a moment to think, her eye contact leaving her maybe-more-than-a-friend for a moment. If there was one good thing an ex-Section agent could do, it was find a bullshit reason or loophole to do something or be somewhere. 777_divider

20:26

It was after a good few seconds that Dagis looked back at him, thoughts running through her head. "I can try and help you find one. You deserve to have a reason to stay here. I mean, a reason your superiors will actually accept, that is. I have a few ideas already for how you might be able to stay aboard, although how plausible they are I have no idea." She said with a soft smile, squeezing his hand yet again as her blue eyes looked into his own. "The Captain could ask for your superiors to let you remain aboard for some reason I haven't thought of yet, or-or maybe they could keep you here because this is a major hub for tourism, trade, and crime, and they need someone to monitor for encrypted communications or something. We've also experienced terrorism, so that could maybe be used." The Ferengi suggested with an obvious degree of determination and hopefulness in her eyes. "You want to stay here, that's very obvious, and I want you to stay here, too, so there's got to be something we can come up with."

At Dagis’s talk of actually working to find a reason for him to stay he straightened up, listening intently. So far he hadn’t managed to come up with anything, considering how there wasn’t really any valid reason of why he would be posted anywhere else. CRCO had a central hub of operations where everyone operated out of: there would be no reason for him of all people to be stationed elsewhere, especially considering how all transmissions got sent directly there for decryption. Having him work elsewhere would mean a change in role – and there wasn’t exactly anything else that he would qualify as, nor did he particularly want to drop his existing career. There wouldn’t be any benefit to CRCO receiving a transmission and then having to forward it onwards so he could work on it. There just didn’t seem to be any logical solution: but if Dagis was determined enough, then why shouldn’t he be, too? “I don’t think I’d really want to ask that of the station commander. He wouldn’t have any reason to keep me here, for one, and it’s not as if I’ve done anything noteworthy to help the station or himself personally. I’ve just done the job that was assigned to me by Intelligence – and the posting has to be conducted through them, considering how I’m not technically a run of the mill Starfleet officer.” As he spoke he systematically kept lacing and unlacing their hands, one finger at a time – subconsciously counting, one through five and back again. “I’m not sure if Intelligence would be willing to put in the effort of having me stationed here – it’s not exactly practical. But, like you say, the station is in a prime location. Utilising the starbase’s position to use it as a listening post would be beneficial. It would save having to wait for a transmission to be intercepted and sent all the way back to Earth… Something that would have been incredibly helpful in the likes of Virinat’s case, for example.”

As Jericho straightened up Dagis adjusted her position to match, as well as to maintain comfort, all while still leaning against him like before, and still happily holding his hand. It was as he responded to what she said that the Ferengi once again listening along intently, looking at him as he spoke and nodding in response to what was said. The woman noticed him lacing and unlacing their hands in a pattern, but didn't think anything of it and simply carried on idly rubbing her thumb against the back of the Trill's hand. It was as her maybe-more-than-a-friend suggested using the starbase as a listening post that her eyes practically lit up, a grin crossing her face as she realised just how feasible an idea that was, completely shrugging off the comment about Virinat as she focused on finding a solution to their problem. "That could work! You'd- we'd have to be very persuasive to get your superiors to agree, but if the Captain is willing and I as the Chief Operations Officer am willing, - which I am, - I don't see why that couldn't work! It would save Intel time, and it could speed up any response times to protect the Federation or our allies in this part of space." The woman said, her grin still fixed to her face. In stark contrast to when most Ferengi grinned, Dagis didn't have even an ounce of an 'evil scheming' look about her. In fact, the look on her face was one of pure hopefulness and happiness at the prospect that this idea could potentially work, and subsequently would mean Giles could stay aboard the starbase. After a couple of seconds of silence, however, a thought clicked in her brain, her grin fading to that of a slightly confused look. "Wait... Did Intelligence know about the Virinat attack before it happened?"

Dagis was right in that he’d have to be very persuasive, resulting in a nod in agreement from him. Intelligence certainly liked to have its people close to home when possible: it meant that they were easier to keep track of, and considering the past of the division, it also meant it was easier to ensure people weren’t trying to go about bending rules or breaking laws. That may well be another spanner in the works, he realised – would they be willing to let the former Section 31 agent stay out in the middle of nowhere, unsupervised aside from the station’s own Security division? He still wasn’t sure if Kier had just been winding him up or not, but if CRCO were contemplating that this project was taking him so long because he was purposefully stalling on Section 31’s behalf, then that would be a hinderance to this plan. It may well be worth a try, though. He would have to come up with a plan to bring it up with the head of division. While he had matched Dagis’s glee – his own grin perhaps a smidgeon cunning in comparison to hers – his expression dipped into a frown upon the Ferengi’s grin fading. Oh, Virinat – what a nightmare it had been. It had to be one of the most frustrating cases he had worked on, solely because they had been so close to everything having gone right. 777_divider