driftfleet | Iskaulit Mingle

Mmm, Malum is a little fancier. I guess it depends on your mood. I have friends working at both. I told Tyrion I'd bartend at Malum once upon a time, but then things got busy and distracting and we've never come back to it. I probably won't.

I find it difficult to imagine you as a bartender. Not that I doubt that you'd succeed, of course you would, but it's a very stationary occupation.

Now you have your dance studio, anyway.

[It's like you've never seen "Coyote Ugly," Chekov.] Oh, I don't know. Lots of shaking drinks? [She smiles.] It's hard to get a really active job on a spaceship. At least in this fleet. But my interest in having a permanent job waned. I still take occasional jobs in some of the systems.

True. Weird, huh? [It's weird to her. Building something and inviting people to join her. And it's not something like the Defense Force.]

[It's like Trek only knows how to reference things that happened prior to 1967!] Are jobs difficult to find? You, I understand how you would be employable, but my skills are... unimpressive, I would say, outside of the right context.

Are you happy with it? The studio? Dreams can be difficult to realize.

Not really. Certain augments are marketable in certain places. I've gotten bonuses for doing jobs that involved my pilot's augment before. I assume you could find the same. But sometimes it's just about retail or food service which I'm sure you could handle if you wanted to.

It's still early. I haven't officially opened it yet. I guess there's time to see if it was a terrible mistake or not.

Maybe. I have never had a job before. [Clearly he can't count Starfleet or any of the things he did in the City or MarinaNova as jobs. Trying new and completely unrelated jobs almost sounds... fun?]

I don't think that it will be a mistake. The worst that can happen is that no one will come, and in that case I would come in for lessons.

I'll let Kirk know you think that. [Looking amused.]

Is that the only scenario where you'd take dance lessons? Only to bail me out? You know there are great Russian dancers.

Serving on a starship is a way of life, not a job. The captain would agree with me.

Not the onlyscenario, probably, although I can't think of others. [That's not true. All Kitty would have to do to get him to take lessons is ask nicely.] You have danced with me. You know very well that I'm not one of the great Russian dancers.

It can be both. Pirating is both. [Is it?]

You're not one of the great Russian dancers yet. That's why you need class.

I would consider pirating an occupation. [He doesn't know.]

If you could teach me to be even a decent dancer, you would be the greatest instructor the universe has ever known.

I'm glad we're in agreement. Now just add Star Fleet in and we're on a roll.

What do you mean "would be?" [Smiling as if she already is the greatest instructor in the universe.]

Fine, add in Starfleet, you win. I don't remember what you win, but you do.

Let me correct myself. You would have proof that you are the greatest instructor in the universe.

Mmm, next world or station that has chocolate has you buying me as much as you can carry. [Smiling.]

I don't remember that, but okay, I'm willing to trust you. [Smiling back because that was absolutely not mentioned. She might get chocolate later, though.]

Right now I would buy you a drink. Not as good as chocolate, of course.

Good. Now, we need to work on your arm strength because I want you to be able to carry a lot of chocolate.

[She shakes her head.] I can buy. I've been here longer. I've worked up the credits.

Of course. I will start training again solely for that purpose.

If you weren't correct, I would protest. Thank you, Kitty. [And, as if this is part of the same train of thought:] Have you stopped smoking?

I knew I could count on you.

[She smiles.] Looked like something was missing?

I thought you couldn't get them here. It's not easy, but you can. But someone told me you couldn't so I was already mostly through withdraw when I figured it out. Seemed like maybe I should quit anyway. Not that I haven't had the occasional one bummed off someone.

Yes. Cigarettes were your most noticeable accessories.

Then that was helpful misinformation. I know that you tried to quit before... I'm glad that you were able to. Not as glad as your lungs, I'm sure.

I guess I smell better now, but do I look as cool? [She never exactly made a pledge to quit in Marina but the happier she was with Reid the less she did it and when things got rocky she smoke more than ever. Then again, for all she knows, she did try to quit in the time she can't remember. She wonders about that time some, but she's not sure asking is wise.]

No, unfortunately. You have sacrificed your coolness for better health and smelling good. [A part of him wishes she would ask about that time, but most of him is certain that he already told her more than she wanted to know, at least about the them-related parts.]

Have you ever considered getting a dog?

Darn the luck! [At least she already landed a guy? Yep, keeping that joke to herself.]

Uh...[Where did that come from?] Like ever "ever" or ever while I've been here?

Everything has a price.

[Hey, this all made sense in his head. Category is 'things that are different about Kitty.']

Ever ever. You got one shortly after you remember--ten days after? something like that--and it seemed very sudden. I wondered if it was entirely situational [like the smoking] or something that you had thought about previously.

Oh... [That time.] Um, Reid didn't like pets. So, I never really thought of one while I was with him because it felt like I couldn't or shouldn't. Maybe it was like burning down Tyki's bar. But less intense. Getting rid of a bridge I didn't want to use again.

But sure, I like animals. I've thought about it before.

A dog seems like a much healthier way to get rid of a bridge than a fire.

[Wait, why did he bring any of this up? Why does he talk? Or think? There's got to be a way to stop all of that.]

Er. Sorry. The things that happened after... I'll remember not to mention them again.

Personal growth. [He's not wrong. At least she hopes he's not. She felt so much more herself through the break up with Tyki. She wasn't in a great place with it, but her feelings and actions made more sense to her than the sad, and kind of pathetic girl she turned into over Reid. She didn't know she could be so crushed after everything else she'd been through.

She reaches out for Chekov's hand and gives it a squeeze.]

You can talk to me. [Maybe it's not a great idea, but she's not so broken now. She can handle it. Whatever it is. And especially if it helps him to talk about it.]

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