Drinks to be tested

Posted on Fri Sep 5th, 2025 @ 11:05pm by Lieutenant Tyrion Faye & Niska O'Trei

1,138 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Episode 9: Across Time
Location: The Ferryman
Timeline: tbd

ON:

Niska's hand delicately measured out spirits concentrating hard. When the purple puff rose she smiled gently moving her right hand for the final ingredient. And the drink turned the colour she was expecting.

"And that's magic," she said happily. No one was close enough to admire the layering that was now happening in the glass she had been experimenting with.

However a familiar face had just entered and was heading his way to her bar. She didn't adjust her dress as she normally would. She knew he was married and as the rumours went more into his own sex.

"Lieutenant Faye, how nice to see you again. What can I get you this fine evening or ......" she nudged the drink forward, "Could I persuade you to be a as the humans say "Guinee pig?"

The Betazoid eyes the drink curiously. "Sure, if you tell me what this rainbow is? It looks very...sweet." he sniffed at the glass, turning it around to examine it. "I wasn't actually hoping for anything alcoholic, just having some time for myself tonight." He smiled. "Oh don't worry, no trouble at home but a bunch of little ones vying for attention. How've you been, business going well?"

"Oh there's not too much alcohol in there. Just a new cocktail I'm designing. Some Tarkian port and a splash of Lizzian brandy with mopa juice. The rainbow, well how I do that is a secret," she grinned. "If it tastes good I will need to come up with a name though," she mused pushing it towards him.

"Business is picking up. Since the Admiral died, the whole stations had a period of mourning it seems. Although I did get to meet a interesting Admiral passing through yesterday. Word seems to be whispering round that she's here to appoint Commander Hiro as the new CO. Time will tell.

So come on, how is it?" she asked.

"Which admiral died?" Tyrion asked curiously. He'd been keenly aware of the sense of loss when Keiben had been killed but as far as he remembered the man hadn't been an admiral. Unless he was losing his touch and had missed some information somewhere.

When prompted, he sipped the drink and let the liquid roll around in his mouth. "Oddly fizzy," he reported, "not too sweet though. Maybe an acquired taste for some but to me it tastes alright."

"I thought Keiben Haistro had been an admiral," Niska scrunched her nose. "Or maybe someone was telling me he was in another reality or dimension. Oh who know I get lost in all the talk in this place. Either way people were upset losing him at the helm.

Do you want to finish that or can I get you something else?" she asked.

"Oh no I'll finish it," the Betazoid urged, protecting the glass with his hands so she couldn't take it. "It doesn't matter what he was, the who and how we remember is more important." He lifted the glass. "To those that are worth remembering," he said before taking a too large gulp. "Oof...small sips Tyrion, small sips," he chided himself before doing exactly that. "It gets better when you get further down," he reported happily.

"Well that's good to hear," Niska said happily. "So we don't often see you in here. What's the occasion?" she asked.

"Evening to myself," he repeated, "keeps the marriage a happy one... once a week I get the whole evening without the children and another day, the missus gets one. Barring unforeseen circumstances of course, or duty related matters. And once a week we spend it together without the children, but tonight it's my night to do whatever I like. I um, just don't know what yet, so here I am, testing your new drink. Business going well, I hope?"

"Well it had a bit of a blip during that blue fin invasion but things are back on an even keel now," Niska said honestly. "I think once the colony takes off I would like to have a little place down there too. Maybe expand a little. How's that going? I haven't heard much since they brought Liam back up here to be second officer."

"I think the command lineup has changed considerably recently," Tyrion answered carefully, "everything has changed since Commodore Haistro's death and his mother briefly taking command. Last I heard, Commander Horn declined the offer and Commander Yoshida... I mean Sommers-Yoshida... He's setting in to the big chair now. I haven't got more information." He took another swig of the drink, shivering as he encountered a different, more tart layer.

"Commander Yoshida deserves a shot. He is calm and level headed," Niska said simply. "What are your plans? Do you have the ladder in sight for your future?"

"Ladder?" Tyrion frowned, not sure what she meant by that.

"I take it from your face that something upset things with the drink. What kind of fruit flavour was it?" she asked, pulling out her padd to make an amendment. "Can't be the Mopa juice. That's always very sweet.

"The drink is fine," Tyrion said, "but maybe add a little more sweetness to it? It's very colourful but it is a little tart."

"I have just the thing," Niska said with a smile. "Human melon juice." She grabbed a bright green bottle and opened it.

"So ladder - that's a humanism for looking for promotion." she told him.

Tyrion wrinkled his nose at the mention of melon. "Perhaps peach instead?" He suggested. "And no I don't think I'm anywhere near up for promotion. I like things as they are, now I can divide my time between family and duty, equally and Teena can do the same."

"Then let things work," Niska said. "Peach okay." She reached for a different bottle, more of a orangey pink colour and poured in a measure. "Better?"

Sipping the new mixture again, the Betazoid's expression brightened. "This is amazing. Think you can reproduce it just like this? Because you really should put it on your drinks menu." He smiled happily. "Call it Orion sunrise or something? Anyone in a down mood will probably feel better after trying this "

"Oh I can," Niska said smiling as she tapped her head. "I know everyone of my drinks by heart. Perhaps I will call it something like "shooting the orion breeze" or "Orion Repose". What do you think?"

"Sounds good," Tyrion said as he took another sip. "I probably should head back out. Much as I enjoy keeping you company, I hadn't planned on spending my free evening in a bar. Maybe I'll go to the holodeck, or get myself lost for a few hours on one of the planets." He smiled. "Could be fun, getting utterly lost for a bit "

Niska smiled. "Enjoy Lieutenant. Till next time."

 

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