*** Restaurant 'Serendipity' * SB Unity ***
Stephen Jacobs was sitting on a tall stool leaning against
the bar with a half empty glass in one hand. He liked
'people watching', in fact it was one of his favourite
pastimes.
He liked to think he could learn a lot about them
by their actions both sober and, though rarely in this
establishment, drunk.
His eye was drawn to a newcomer, a tall slender woman
with a cascade of dark curls falling over her shoulders,
who stood for a moment in the doorway before walking
confidently to a table and sitting down alone.
Stephen took a drink from his glass, keeping his eyes
on her as he did so, well aware that he wasn't the only
one to have noticed her. She was, he
thought, certainly worth noticing for he had rarely seen
such a naturally beautiful woman.
Athena picked a quiet table where she had agreed to met
Viktor, if he didn't have to rush off. She sat down and
when the waiter arrived she placed her order. She ordered a
drink with a suggestive name and the waiter turned red but
nodded as he walked away to get the requested beverage.
Stephen noticed the encounter with interest and deciding he
would like to know who this woman was and where she had come
from, he took another drink from his glass, hopped off his
stool and criss-crossed between the tables until he arrived
at the one she occupied.
" May I take this seat? he asked "The place is rather full."
He waved his hand vaguely to encompass the whole room.
"Unless you're waiting for someone that is." he added.
"I am waiting for someone and If you thought this place was
so full .... why did you give up your seat at the bar,"
Athena asked never saying that he couldn't sit. Most people
usually under estimate what she took in at a glance and she
never understood why.
"Because, as you must know, you are a very intriguing
character and I wanted to speak to you." He sat down
opposite her, a smile behind his eyes.
"I didn't realize I was a character and what genre do I come
from," she inquired while thinking {presumptuous...} isn't
he.
Her drink arrived and she smiled at the waiter and took
a sip as she let her attention fall back to her unexpected
visitor.
"You attract attention yet feign surprise when it visits
you." he replied
and raising his hand to attract the waiters attention said :
"Same again please." when the waiter was close enough to
hear.
Athena took a large swallow of her drink savoring it as she
swallowed it down little bits at a time. Her eyes briefly
scanned the door as well as the rest of the room before
coming back to her uninvited guest.
"Javier," she said
calling the waiter to a halt, "save yourself a trip and
bring me another as well." With a nod the waiter was off
and running.
Stephen noticed the glance towards the door and how it
subtly changed when she observed the room. He noticed a
split second attention on a table set behind him and also
how she appeared to have avoided looking at him although he
knew she was aware that he watched her.
"Why do you avoid me?" he asked.
"I'm sorry, I was looking for the someone I mentioned
earlier." She took another sip of her drink as she looked
over the interesting features of her table partner. "Do you
often join strangers, she asked giving him the full impact
of her attention, icy blue eyes and exaggerated attention.
"It has been known." he replied then glanced up at the
waiter who had returned to them and placed a glass in front
of each. Stephen nodded thanks, lifted his glass and took a
drink. "Do you?" he asked, setting it down again.
"No, I find it usually causes problems," she said and
finished her first drink.
" It depends on who you approach." he replied and eyed the
empty glass
she held. " I won't offer to buy you a drink." he said
"Fiances don't always appreciate
it, especially those new to the job"
He took a gulp from his own glass.
"Commander," someone addressed Athena, and she turned to
look at them. The starfleet officer continued, "I just
wanted to thank you for that program of meditation you
suggested... I'm sleeping so much better."
"Glad to hear that.." Athena grasped for the woman's name as
she smiled and finished, "Shalla." Athena watched a the
woman for another moment of two as she made her way through
the crowd. The counselor then directed her attention back
to the man in front of her as she set down her empty glass.
"Are fiances considered new to the job if they've been a
fiance before," she asked a bit curious at what the answer
might be.
" A good question Commander Wellington." he replied. He
gave her a disarming smile and got to his feet. " ..But if
you don't mind I think I won't dare to ruffle the feathers
of this particular one."
He downed the remaining liquid in
his glass, gave a small bow with his head and walked off
towards the door.
{Dr. Jacobs... I presume} she thought as she watched him
walk off, very happy indeed that the other counselor didn't
want to tango with Viktor.
Stephen had been interested to see what Athena was like. He
had suspected it was she when he approached the table and
the glittering ring had confirmed it.
{Ivanov} he thought as he merged into the crowds on the
promenade {well well....}
*** End Log ***
Commander Athena Wellington
Chief Counselor
USS Chimera - C (when she arrives)
&
Dr.Stephen Jacobs
Chief Counsellor
SB Unity
