Taking It For a Test Run [Tolaran]

Promenade, DS9

Waiting for USS Portland

Authors: Lieutenant Junior Grade Luka Mahone & Tolaran Kian

Luka couldn't wait to test out his brand new PADD; a brand new model with customized programs that had been freshly uploaded straight from their source on Earth. It had been many years since he had been in contact with brand new equipment, so he found himself lucky that someone had considered him worthy enough to grant him a device that had more capacity than the ten-year-old model that he had received as part of an old Medical Academy assignment.



The new assignment as an Operations Chief had given Luka an appreciation of updated software and hardware. It made his job much easier when he didn't have to wait five minutes for a list of personnel to load.



Strolling through the promenade may not have been the wisest move Luka had pulled while he examined the luster of his screen and the resolution of the LCARS interface. He could have easily run into any manner of person, some who wouldn't have appreciated a personal bubble popping. The short-sighted and, admittedly, short-minded, golden-haired man had his nose nearly pressed against the screen as he continued down the path...



Tolaran was tired, his journey to DS9 had been a long one and he was eager to get to his first assignment. The academy had been four years of hard work and now he'd made it all he had to do was wait for the USS Portland at the station. Slinging his bag across his back he looked around the promenade as he walked on to it, the old Cardassian station was a bustling hub of life and people of all species walked her corridors, the vibrant colours of the promenade brought a wry smile to his face as he remembered the stories he'd heard of the place. The first thing though, some hot food and a drink and maybe some people watching, just trying to grasp a few thoughts about those around him was a habit he'd picked up from some humans at the academy, at first he'd never understood why you'd want to sit and watch people however the more he did it, the more he found it completely engrossing.



Walking towards what seemed to be a bar he suddenly was sent sprawling, his bag flying off in one direction as he fell into another, as he pushed himself up from the floor, he turned to see who had bumped into him to find a Starfleet Officer staring down at him apologetically... "Help me up please Lieutenant if you wouldn't mind" Tolaran said as he extended his hand...



Predictably, Luka's first reaction to being bumped into was to stumble back and clutch the new 'beloved' PADD to his chest. He knew PADDs to be incredibly durable, but he didn't want to chance an accidental fall within the first few hours. After a moment of realization, his gaze fell upon the other yellow-shirted man, and a dash of guilt crossed his mind. "Oh! Of course!" He offered a hand to the other, swiftly helping him up to his feet, before retrieving the bag.



"I'm sorry, I'm not usually this spacey. Usually, I'm watching where I'm walking. I had just procured myself a new PADD and... well, it's a shiny new toy." Luka wiggled the device in the air for a short time, tucking it under his arm the moment after. "I'm Luka Mahone, in Operations. I'm supposed to be shipped off to another vessel soon, so maybe I'll have my wits about me before then... maybe I can buy you a drink or something to make up for the spill?"



Tolaran smiled softly at Mahone and chuckled "Ah... Lt. Mahone, you're joining the USS Portland right? I'm Kian, Tolaran Kian, Security Officer, also waiting for the Portland to dock here before starting my new assignment... I made it my personal mission to read up on as many Portland crew files as possible with it being my first posting out of the academy and a drink would be wonderful, thank you. I was actually just heading to get a drink and something to eat now to be honest."



Taking Luka's hand, Tolaran got up off the floor and took his bag from Luka much to the bemused look of the other users of the promenade, he dusted himself down and straightened his uniform taking something comfort in that the Lieutenant seemed more invested in his PADD than any possession a man could ever possess, techies loved that kind of stuff.

Looking sideways towards Luke, Tolaran grinned "So, how do you feel about Klingon blood wine?"

"Oh, yes!" Luka nodded avidly. Tolaran's knowledge of who Luka was and where he was going seemed out of place at first, but realization washed over the former doctor. Poking at personnel files was probably something he was supposed to do, just so he could know everyone on the ship. He made a mental note of it, relieved that the other hadn't taken offense to the sudden collision.

"I'm... not sure." At the mention of the drink, Luka tilted his head to the side curiously. "I haven't tried that before. It's usually Romulan ales and Andorian elixirs... But I'd be more than willing to give it a shot!"


Tolaran looked at the Lieutenant with a look of surprise and then deep thought "To Milan Ale huh... didn't expect that to be honest, never tried it myself so you'll have to introduce me." Tolaran stopped and pulled out a chair, ushering Luka to sit as he went to the bar where a young Ferengi was taking orders.

"What can I get for you? Some fine brandy perhaps? A spin of the dabo wheel would go well with it, or how about the holosuite? We have some very... adventurous programmes if you catch my drift..." said the Ferengi with what Tolaran supposed was to a wink but looked more like a nervous twitch to him. "No thank you. Two Klingon blood wines please." Which brought a look of disgust from the Ferengi as he scurried off and got the order, returning and almost slamming the tankards into the bar in front of him. Tolaran made the payment and took the drinks back to the table. He set the drink down in front of Luka and took his seat, which he had purposely chosen so he was back against the wall and could see both the promenade and the bar with ease so he could enjoy his people watching.

"Drink up Lieutenant, and do you ever let your eyes wander from the PADD and observe what's around you?"

As Tolaran returned with their drinks, Luka had found that he caught the eye of a young Romulan girl a few tables over. He waved nervously at her, taking his drink from the table, almost forgetting that his PADD had been set down next to it. After a point, he turned his gaze to Tolaran, smiling weakly. "I... don't get out much, so I suppose the answer to that would be no." Shrugging, he took a sip of from his wineglass. "Oh! This is quite delicious!-... I'm used to people coming to me for their troubles, so if observation is done, it's on a case-by-case basis."

- tag

OOC: It's all good, we can make it super tidy and pretty when we're ready to post it!