Dinner with motive

Posted on Fri Dec 2nd, 2016 @ 7:29pm by Splendora Sage & Tom Vercetti
Edited on on Sat Dec 3rd, 2016 @ 10:30am

835 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Episode 93 - Warrior VS Warrior
Location: Good Fellas' Bar and Grille
Timeline: MD04 1035hrs

ON:

Splendora smiled as she headed to Tom's bar. She dropped off her charge at school and told Lai'lira she was taking the morning off. When she'd told the girl she was going to see Tom Lai'lira had turned red and made some excuse about having to get something before leaving. She wondered why. She could sense the girl was hiding something but didn't know what.

Sighing she entered the bar and smiled seeing Tom again. Her heart did the little flip flop it always did when she saw the bar owner. "Tom!"

Vercetti was looking over the recepts from the night before. It had been a slow night. Business had been down since the Klingon civil war started. Civilian traffic in the area was down and all of the businesses on the Promenade were feeling the effects.

Tom looked up from the PADD. "Ms Sage, how are you today?"

Splendora smiled. "I'm feeling better, thank you. How are you and you an call me Splendora you know."

"Splendora." Tom replied with a smile. "I'm doing well, thank you. Has there been anymore problems with your sister?"

She sighed. "Thankfully no, but she is not one to give up." After a brief pause she continued. "Listen Tom...can we sit and talk?"

Tom could see something was bothering her. "Sure." He motioned to a booth over to the side.

Once they sat down he looked at her for a moment, "What's wrong?"

Suddenly Splendora felt...out of her element. " Well...Tom...I..." She found it oddly funny that she, a counselor, was tongue tied "I was wondering. Would...would you...." She looked away hoping to give herself a moment's pause. "I was wondering if you'd maybe like to have dinner sometime." She continued. She said it in one breath knowing that if she didn't she'd never say it.

Tom smiled. "That's all?" He asked, then realized that sounded harsh. "I mean, all you had to do was ask. I was under the impression you were busy with your office, your sister, and that Romulan." He couldn't think of the name. "But to your question, sure, that would be nice."

She smiled. "Lai'lira. She's really sweet. Her heart is in the right place but sometimes she's got no filter..." Then it sunk in. He'd actually said yes. Her smile brightened. "Wait you did say yes right?"

"I did." He replied and flashed a smile. "Tonight? We can do somewhere else on the Promenade instead of here."

She smiled. "Perfect!" She said brightly. She felt relieved and happy. He had said yes. "How about the Blue Bayou? I've heard great things."

"All right, nineteen thrity hours?" He asked.

She gave a nod. "Sounds great." She smiled at him somewhat shyly. "I'm really looking forward to dinner."

"So am I." He replied. "Do you want to meet me here and we go there together?

She smiled. "Sounds great." Splendora stood up and then sat back down. "I...Tom I think that before we can have this dinner I have to tell you that my motives aren't just to thank you for your help...I..."

Vercetti raised an eyebrown. "What do you mean?"

She smiled. "This might come as a shock." She said, not knowing that Lai'lira had already spilled the beans. "I do want to thank you for your help but I...well that is....I think that....I find you...." She sighed frustrated at herself. she was a counselor. She took a deep breath. "Tom I like you."

Tom smirked for a moment, then the expression turned more serious. He leaned in closer, "You really don't want to be involved with a guy like me. I find you attractive, but there's a part of me you don't know and I don't want you hurt."

Splendora smiled. She'd heard everything he'd said but the 'I find you attractive' part stuck out on auto replay. She placed her hand on top of his on the table. "I think that despite your past you have a good heart. I'm making an executive decision and I'll ignore everything you said except the part where you said you find me attractive. I can work with that." She grinned. Splendora tilted her head to the side. "How about we try this. We have dinner we get to know one another and take things day by day. No promises, no expectations just two people exploring a mutual attraction."

Tom was uneasy, he didn't want Splendore hurt in his...competition became hostile again...but he also wanted to give things a try. "All right. We have dinner, see where things go." His tone got more serious, "But if a situation ever arises, you do as I say. Agreed?"

Splendora smiled, she gave his hand a squeeze. "Ok." She stood and placed her hand on his shoulder. "See you tonight Tom."

Tom smiled, patted her hand, and watched her leave.

Splendora headed out of the bar. She rounded the corner bumping into Lai'Lira. "Oh hi!"...



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