Quite An Appetite

Posted on Thu Aug 6th, 2020 @ 4:35pm by Lieutenant Commander Savin & Lieutenant Dessame Sar

Mission: The Shadow of Arachne
Location: Savin's Quarters
2459 words - 4.9 OF Standard Post Measure

Dessame had not seen Savin since Sickbay, in fact she had made a point of avoiding him since the planet. Their mental link had been a bit of an eye opener, the injuries sustained on the planet should have cut it but it didn't, it lingered. It revealed thoughts, emotions and memories that were private and close to her heart.

Savin had asked her to come for dinner, for a chat she presumed and she didn't have the heart to say no. She had turned up on time, she was always on time.

The table was set for two. Jerant had initially asked if he should be present too, just in case but Savin had gently declined that offer. He didn't want more people involved than was really necessary and as this was something he considered a delicate situation, he didn't want to complicate matters by having his aide present. Jerant hadn't liked that notion, but since these were his own private quarters, the Betazoid had to accept the fact that he wasn't welcome to a dinner.

He had just set a simple pasta bowl on the table when a strobe signalled her presence. "Come in," he called out.

Dessame walked in with a small frown of concern. "I saw Jerant as he passed me. He didn't look too happy. I mean I'm a telepath but I don't need those kind of powers to know he was annoyed at something. Is it me?" she asked. "I know you two are close."

"He does not appreciate me having a telepathic link with someone else. I already explained to you that I have never been telepathically linked for longer periods to anyone other than him. I believe he may feel entitled to solitary access to my feelings and thoughts." Savin shrugged as he held a chair back for her. "Are you recovering well?"

"Thank you." Dessame replied as she sat down and Savin pushed her chair in. "Yes, I'm recovering just fine thank you. My grandmother always said I had a thick skull so I guess it acme in handy this time." She joked. "How are you doing?" she asked.


"Not too badly. I have taken the rest of the day off to recover," he answered, just seeing her speak as he sat down himself. "Vulcans supposedly have thick skulls too. Alas, I am not Vulcan and I do not take such a blow very well." He nodded over to the sword displayed on the wall. "Next time, I will make sure to have that with me to fend any attacker off."

He paused as he dished up their dinner. "I am curious however, how come we are still connected? Why has our link not faded?"

"Well that's good." Dessame smiled a little as he sat down. "I think maybe a sword would look quite intimidating for an away team." she joked. "Maybe a concealed knife in your boot would be fine."

She watched intently as he began to place the food on plates for them. She was more than capable of doing so herself but it was nice for someone else to care enough to do so. "I'm not sure Savin." She admitted. "Maybe it was the knock to both our heads that has caused something more permanent. We can work to try and sever it together." she said openly. "Sometimes Betazoid connections never fade, depends on the relationship of the two. Commonly if one shares an event or relationship it can always remain to some degree."

"I would not be opposed to that," Savin answered honestly, "I did consider it very useful and I assure you, that your memories are safe with me. And I believe you speak of Imzadi, are you not?" He arched a single eyebrow at her to support his curiosity. He was pretty certain that this was not the case between them. "However if you desire, we can work towards severing it."

Dessame had been taking a small sip when Savin mentioned Imzadi and this forced surprised spray to follow. Wiping her face a little and giving him an apologetic look that said sorry she smiled. "Well Imzadi translates as beloved. This is a strong connection between both individuals that is usually through a romantic relationship and a bond develops stronger over time." she played with her food a little. "What are you not opposed to?" She asked. "And do you want to sever it?"

"I would not be opposed to it remaining as I did consider it extremely helpful in Jerant's absence. You must understand, he and I grew up together, our bond is almost as good as a sibling bond." He took a sip of his own drink, though he never took his eyes off of her. "Is it wise to sever it? Probably.... Do I wish to? I am not certain. Do you?"

"I don't know." Was her honest answer. For a moment she got lost in her drink, staring into a liquid abyss. "This might not sound so obvious to you given what you now know about me but I don't connect with men usually so closely..." she paused for a moment to see if he would react to the bits of her past he had seen in his mind.

"I understand your reference," Savin answered slowly, now briefly looking away. "I did see into your memories and I understand. However what happened down there were unusual circumstances. You let me in because the situation warranted it." He paused, reaching to touch her hand and reclaim her attention. "I would not abuse such trust," he promised.

Once his hand connected with hers there was a small shock followed by the warmth of his skin. She raised her eyes to look at him, she had his full attention. Whether that was so he could read her lips or because she truly had it she wasn't sure but she believed it more the latter than the former.

"I know." Dessame smiled and relaxed a little. "I feel connected to you, and not just as an information conveyor. That connection changed when we got injured but more so from my end that yours I think." she wasn't sure how strong his telepathic abilities were but hers were quite strong. "Maybe my injury made me reach out and grab you tighter... I don't know but I know losing it would make me feel a little lost. If that makes sense?" she asked.

Considering her words for a few seconds, Savin then nodded. "It makes sense. Reaching out to anchor yourself also makes sense." He pulled his hand back. "And my telepathic abilities are not as strong as yours, though they are stronger than one might expect. Especially from a Romulan. I have been using mine and training mine from a very young age, to compensate for my lack of hearing. I am still a touch telepath, and do not have the skill you have, but I can sense things very well. The only ones I can telepathically communicate with, without touch, are you and Jerant because he too, is Betazoid."

"Yes, I know." she nodded. "I've not directly spoken with him but we get a sense for our own people. How long have you two been together? " she asked.

"We are not a couple," Savin answered, somewhat defensively as he misunderstood the reference. "Jerant was brought to my family when he was ten years old, we have been in each other's company since then, until I went to the academy and he went off to university. We did not meet again until my first space-bound assignment." Surely, she had been able to see such if she had seen his memories?

"No I know you aren't." she laughed. "I have seen inside your mind to know that, but the passage of time through memory isn't as easily placed. The things I saw were disjointed, back and forth from different times in your life so I was just curious to know how long the friendship has lasted."

"Almost a lifetime," Savin smiled, "as I said, our bond is that of brothers. I trust him with my life, and with my secrets. He would never betray me as I would never betray him. Now, this includes you. As I have said as well, your secrets are safe with me, and even Jerant would not violate my privacy by delving into memories that are not his to access."

"What would you like our bond to make us?" she asked uneasily. Dessame was treading lightly here as she felt an affection for him to may lead to more but if he wanted a new sister, much like Jerant was like a brother, then she would have to look as if that's what she was asking.

"I do not know." It was the honest answer. He could see and sense her unease but he didn't understand it. "Time will tell," he finally added, "it is too soon to know for certain. Friends, at the least?"

"Yes." She smiled. "Friends at least." she ate a little more off her plate now. Realising it had in fact been some time since she had attempted to do so. "What is this? It's delicious." Dess asked as she nodded towards her plate.

"An Earth dish called pasta. I am not certain which variant, I had the replicator choose. Do you like it?" He gave her a hopeful look, as he twirled some long strands of spaghetti around his fork. "Vegetarian however, I hope you do not mind?"

"Yes, it's quite nice and no I don't mind. If anything actually I prefer that is doesn't have meat in it. I try not to eat meat if I can help it. This body doesn't happen by accident." She said joking.

"It does not?" He seemed to size her up. "There is nothing wrong with your body," he commented innocently, "and I assume you work out, given you mentioned your personal weapon when I checked mine in."

"No." She giggled. "It doesn't." she added before she watched him look her up and down. "I train every day with and without my Cresana. Keeps me in shape and able to do my job a little better, plus its nice to feel nice sometimes." she added.

Savin nodded. "For the same reason, I train with my sword. It hones my skills and my senses. I am proficient with several Vulcan weapons as they are traditionally used, but they do not have my preference. A lirpa is very heavy and cumbersome."

"i can imagine." Dessame replied before twirling some pasta onto her fork and then eating it. "We should train together."

"I would like that." He gestured at her plate with his fork. "Are you enjoying your food?" he asked quietly, watching her eat for a moment. His plate was almost empty.

"Very much so." Dessame replied with a smile as her plate neared emptiness. "It's nice to have a meal with someone as well."

"It is certainly better than dining alone," Savin agreed, "especially if one has such..." He hesitated, not quite sure how to express what he was trying to say. "Such excellent company," he finally finished, inwardly grimacing as that hadn't quite been what he had wanted to say.

"I'm not used to company, not sure if you've noticed I tend to keep to myself a lot." she opened up a little.

"I had not noticed," he admitted, "even so, I do appreciate your company. I do not have a great many people I would consider calling my friend. Beyond Jerant, I mean though he means much more to me than just that."

"I've noticed." Dessame replied. "About Jerant that is." she completed noticing she had left the comment hanging a little. She pondered for a moment, staring at her drink glass. Lifting it she smiled, "Here's to finding good company." she offered a toast.

"Of course you have," Savin smiled, lifting his own glass in return. "To company," he replied. He sipped his drink then gathered their empty plates. "What would you like to have for dessert? Something...chocolate, I assume?"

"Almost like you read my mind." she playfully joked. A tip of the hat to their still present link.

"Unnecessary," Savin chuckled, "it is well documented that Betazoids have an utter weakness for chocolate. Do you have a preference on what kind? Chocolate, or dessert?"

Damn that weakness... "Maybe a chocolate dessert?"

"Obviously..." The Romulan grinned. "But there are thousands of variations of chocolate, so I need to know which you would prefer."

"Hot triple chocolate fudge cake, with ice cream..." she replied with no hint of guilt. She was already liking the sound of that...

Stacking their plates, he moved over to the replicator. Within seconds he returned with two bowls. "One hot chocolate fudge," He reported, "with Betazoid chocolate ice cream and some whipped cream." With a flourish he set the bowl in front of her. "Vanilla fudge and fruit for me."

Her eyes widened like proverbial saucers. The sight and smell of the chocolate was like a guilty indulgence and she didn't care. It was true that Betazoids had a weakness for chocolate and if Starfleet ever chose to invade that would be all they needed for her to capitulate. "Thank you Savin." she said not taking her eyes off the bowl.

"You are welcome," he smiled, watching her stare at the bowl, "please dig in Dess, or it will melt and cool off." He quietly spooned away at his own dessert. "What is your favourite chocolate?"

"Oh there so many." Dessame replied with some degree of passion. "I couldn't possibly choose. There is a chocolate from Earth, Belgian I think it is called. I think it is from a region on a continent there but I have never been."

"It is a country on Earth," Savin answered knowingly, "I have never been there but their chocolate does have quite the reputation. It is, supposedly, the best in the entire universe." He took a few bites again from his own dessert. "Want a taste of mine?" he offered, holding out a spoonful towards her.

"Yes please, it does look inviting." she replied as she eyed up and spoon and took a 'bite'. "Oh my, that is amazing! What is that?" she asked.

"The replicator said it is a blonde fudge, with fresh fruit. Vanilla, I believe?" He arched an eyebrow at her. "I am not very familiar with desserts, I do not often eat them. Do you?"

"No... I don't really indulge if I'm honest." Dessame admitted.

"Except now," he added, nodding towards her somewhat extravagant dessert. "You earned it."

"I'd say we both did." Dessame smiled.

Smiling, Savin nodded. "That we did."