A spot of tea and a dash of trouble (Part II)

Posted on 27 Oct 2020 @ 8:20pm by Lieutenant C'Tora Kuroka
Edited on on 27 Oct 2020 @ 8:20pm

Mission: R&R - after facing the Planet Killer
Location: Starbase 308
Timeline: During R&R
1539 words - 3.1 OF Standard Post Measure

C'Tora quickly ate the last three of his pastries and finished off his tea. " I have several siblings who are already mated and with offspring, I am the eldest with no mate or offspring and that will simply not do." He tugged his uniform top to straighten it a bit. " But it doesn't stop there! Mammals beware!! If you are unmated and she thinks she can find you a mate, She will do everything she can to make sure your mated and happy." He said rolling his eyes. " In her mind if you're not mated and have offspring, you're not happy."

"I was talking to a friend of mine, about going home on leave and I mentioned that I was slightly reluctant about doing so. My mother is somewhat like your mother, but I would say more on a smaller amount of intensity level. I do know that my mother would have some men lined up for me to go out to dinner with. Or even have a party, under the guise of welcoming me home, just so I could meet an eligible bachelor." Natasha rolled her eyes slightly at that thought.

Then she heard the silvery bell tones of the door chime, and glancing in that direction her eyes widened.

"Oh dear...C'Tora..She is here."

Towards the table a sleek looking female caitian glided over towards the table where Natasha and C'Tora sat.

" Greetings! Welcome to the Whimsy Tea Shop and Gifts. My name is Evelyn, is there something I can help you with?" Evelyn McPhee asked, starting over towards this new guest.

"Oh that is quite alright my dear, I had wanted some tea, but instead I will order something later. I see my son, and wish to speak with him." P'Rala stated with a bit of a toothy smile, then turned her attention to her son and his...companion.

"Oh, C'Tora fancy meeting you here." she stated coming up to the table and giving Natasha a rather intense once over. Natasha returned the gaze without any expression of fear in her demeanor. It was more of an I am your equal sort of look and you are not going to make me back down.

P'rala grunted slightly her eyes narrowing to slits, then turned towards C'Tora.

"And... Who is this?"

C'Tora looked to his mother and the two assistants she had it tow. He briefly flashed his fangs to show his annoyance. " Mother this is Natasha, she is a good friend of mine and the XO of the Europa and my former commanding officer, and the person who was kind enough to let me know that you had sent me a message after I had transferred off the Europa. I am the CMO aboard the Andromeda now" His ears flattened back, the tail moving slowly side to side and eye slits narrowed. " Now kindly stop being rude to my friend.... Mother." The last part coming out in a growl.

The two female caitians were peering around P'Ral, making eyes at C'Tora, definitely interested in him.

"I am Commander Natasha Blackthorne, to be precise." emphasizing her commander rank. "It is a pleasure to finally meet you." Natasha replied pleasantly, with a slight smile.

P'Ral noticing her son's demeanor, gave him another glare but decided to be more polite.

"Ah, a pleasure as well. I'd like you to meet my assistants, S'hull S'hirio and R'nera M'tata" gesturing towards them, who presented themselves so that C'Tora could get a good look at them. They were both 1.7 meters in height and had the appearance of house cats.

Both of them gave Natasha a subtle glare as if they thought her competition. Natasha barely kept herself from laughing. P'Ral took another look at Natasha, in a rather calculating way.

"Commander, are you married? I do not see any ring on your finger, are you seeing anyone? If not, I can set you up with a fine young virile man. I know of a few. Tell me your preference, what do you like? Blonde, Brunette, Redhead Or someone with jet black hair? I can show you pictures." deciding that perhaps Natasha needed some help in the love department.

C'Tora pushed his chair back and slowly stood to his full height. " Thank you for being more civil mother. Natasha is a fine friend and capable starfleet officer, as well as a good huntress. We have hunted together and shared our kill, but she isn't a mate. So your posturing was unnecessary."

He glanced at the two assistants. " A pleasure I'm sure." He said in a neutral tone. " Don't think I didn't notice the same type of glare you gave my friend as my mother. Your etiquette with other cultures is.... lacking. Not a good first impression." Turning his attention back to his mother. " So mother, it is good to see you. Mother, this is Natasha. Natasha this is my mother. That introduction was much more pleasant. The medical conference is going well I hope? Or is there something in more particular that you wish to discuss? "

The assistants bowed their head towards C'Tora, then looked towards Natasha. "We do apologize."

Natasha nodded, "I do understand, after all he is a fine specimen of a male caitian and if I were Caitian, I would certainly be interested in him in that aspect." giving a teasing smile towards S'hull S'hirio and R'nera M'tata.

She took another look at R'nera M'tata. "You seem familiar to me, I think I've met you before at another station. Someone had said your name was Hakuna and I had the misfortune of calling you that, until I found out your name was R'nera. Once again, my apologies for that. How about we go order you some tea, while C'Tora talks to his mother."

S'hull S'hirio and R'nera M'tata nodded, R'nera remarked, "Now I remember you. I still have no clue as to why they gave me that nickname, Hakuna."

Natasha skillfully moved the two assistants away, so C'Tora and his mother could speak in private.

P'Ral watched the other three for a moment, then turned her attention back to her son. "I wanted you to meet those two, and I would like you to take them out to dinner, and see if you find either of them to your liking." she paused then answered his other question. "The Medical Conference is going well."

C'Tora stroked his chin for a moment as he thought and said very softly. " Hakuna M'Tata. I've heard that somewhere before, but it escapes me for the moment." He turned his attention to his mother. " Of course you want me to take them to dinner, why else would you have brought them? and both of them are very petite, neither one of them looks like they could hunt anything bigger then a rabbit."

C'Tora grinned. "Tell you what mother, I'll make you a deal. I have a holo program of the forest moon Janos around our home world of Cait. If either of them helps me bring down a wild razorback boar and shares the kill with me I will take them to dinner. It doesn't bother you that there is no safety protocol on the program does it?"

P'Ral narrowed her eyes to mere slits, as she looked at her son. With a slight growl to her voice she replied. "I absolutely refuse to put them in that sort of danger. Very well, I shall withdraw my request for you to take them to dinner." she looked around giving a little sniff, her nose twitching and her whiskers moving.

"Do I smell shrimp pastries?" her attention being drawn in that direction, and walking towards the counter to place an order to go.

Natasha walked back towards where C'Tora and his mother were, accompanied by the two assistants. She smiled seeing his mother distracted. "C'Tora, I must be getting going. I have some things to do."

P'Ral waiting for her order turned her attention towards Natasha once more. " I will walk you out, Commander, we have some things to discuss about your love life." she said with a toothy grin.

Natasha's eyes widened like a deer when caught in a car's headlights, she looked at C'Tora and mouthed, 'you owe me one'.

P'Ral collected her order of tea and her shrimp pastries, as well as her assistants, pausing to do a head count. "One, two... oh dear I am missing one of my assistants. She must be holed up in a corner lost in reading the most recent medical journal. I do not know what to do with that girl." tsking. "Well come along girls, and you too." casting a glance towards Natasha, who was attempting to make an exit stage left.

Natasha gave a resigned sigh, it looked like she wasn't going to escape. With the most diplomatic smile she could muster, Natasha replied graciously, "Very well, we can discuss your suggestions." walking beside P'Ral being followed after by P'Ral's assistants.

She took one more look towards C'Tora and mouthed, 'Run'. and disappeared from view.

" Thanks Natasha." He said softly under his breath. " I do owe you one." As he heeded her words and escaped the area at a rapid rate, further into the starbase.