Ale, Dessert, and a Little Trouble

Posted on Sun Jul 27, 2025 @ 5:15pm by Lieutenant JG Jali Andloch & Lieutenant Liam Blackwood

1,979 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Time After Time
Location: Glamdring
Timeline: MD014 Evening

Excited to be having dinner with someone, especially one as handsome as Liam, Jali was outside of the Glamdring a few minutes early. She was very glad that her mother taught her how to dress, simply comfortable and pretty. The dress shw wore was a vee neck and sleeveless, the color red. She wore black flats, her dark hair was brushed to where it shone underneath the lights, tucked in her hair was a red silk flower. She took out her compact mirror from a pocket that was on her dress to check to make certain she didn't look messy.

Liam spotted Jali as he approached the Glamdring, and for a moment, he almost forgot he was on a space station at all. The red dress, the way the light caught her hair, the silk flower...it all came together effortlessly, and he found himself smiling.

He wore a fitted deep blue crewneck sweater that brought out the color of his eyes, paired with dark tailored trousers and clean white sneakers that gave him a sharp yet relaxed look.

“Wow… you’re going to make me feel underdressed.” He said as he stopped in front of her. “Hope I didn’t keep you waiting long.”

A blink from Jali, her gaze taking in Liam's outfit. "Thank you and your outfit is ochen' khoroshiy, (Very Good) You didn't keep me waiting at all." a twinkle in her eyes. "Shall we?" Jali looping her arm with his. Once again Jali was thankful that she had been taught certain manners by her mother.

The inside of the restaurant had elements of things from Tolkien. The center focal point was Glamdring the sword, nestled on a sword display rack upon a hand carved wooden table. Bits of foliage like that of trees overhead was part of the decor. The host dressed in elven robes, walked up to Liam and Jali, "Hello, my name is. Elesar, I am your host. Which would you like? A booth or a table?"

Jali looked at Liam. A booth was intimate, a table was not. A booth would provide a bit more privacy when they converse one with another. She will leave the choice for Liam to make.

“Ochen’ khoroshiy? I’ll take that as high praise.” Liam said with a smile.

As they stepped inside, his eyes moved over the restaurant, taking in every detail. “Now this… this is a place with character.” He said. His gaze lingered on the foliage overhead and the sword on display. “You weren’t kidding about the Tolkien influence.”

When the host greeted them and asked the question, Liam glanced briefly at Jali. “A booth, if you’ve got one free.”

The booth had privacy curtains made up of green ivy made of silk. When the host parted the curtain for Jali and Liam to go inside the booth. The overhead had tiny lights which had a low glow, almost like fireflies, nestled amongst the overhead.

"This is lovely, thank you." Jali releasing Liam's arm to slide into the booth. The cushions were of a rich dark green and rather comfortable.

Sliding into the booth across from her, Liam sank into the cushions and smiled. “Good call on this place.” He said, his eyes sweeping the cozy space one more time before settling on her. “Have you been here before?” He asked.

"Yes I have, but all alone. This is much better, Thank you" her voice soft. her cheek flushing at his gaze. Jali cleared her throat her attention being caught by their waitress, who was dressed like an elven woman, her outfit a peasant blouse, full skirt, flowers in her hair. "I have some water here for you both," setting a pitcher of water plus glasses. "And anything to drink? We do have a fine true ale." She also placed the menus upon the table, the outer covering looked like leather with the name Glamdring upon it.

Liam had been about to respond to her comment about dining alone, but the arrival of the waitress drew his attention. He accepted the glass of water with a nod, then smiled at the mention of true ale.

“The ale sounds perfect. I’ll take a glass, thank you.” He said. As the waitress moved to Jali, he flipped open the menu, his eyes scanning the options with interest while he waited for her to order.

Jali chose her usual meal, she'd been here three different times, she loved how they cooked the steaks. "I'll have the steak rare, with mushrooms, sauteed onions and a salad. Add also the mashed potatoes and gravy. For dessert, triple berry pie with ice cream. And--" she paused contemplating something. "I'd like the true ale as well, please"

Liam looked up from the menu as she started to place her order. A smile forming on his lips. He gently closed his own menu. "I'll have the same." He said. "Except make my steak medium." He set the menu down on the table. "Figured I'd follow the lead of someone who clearly knows the place."

"It fits my genteel tastes as what my half brothers would say." her eyes blazing for a moment as she thought of her oafish full blooded Klingon brothers. "Sorry don't mean to bring up family drama."

The waitress took the menus and left to place their orders, swiftly bringing their ales as well. along with a pitcher of tghe ale as well. She smiled and then left once more.

"Oh dear, forgot that they do this when there is more than one person." Jali gazing at the amount of ale for them to consume.

Liam looked at the pitcher with an amused expression. He reached for his glass. He lifted it slightly towards her. "Well....when in Rome."

Drawing in a breath, Jali let it out slowly. "Well when in Rome." she paused grabbed the water and drank two glasses of water. "I'll wait until i have food first. I well that is..." her cheeks color, "And I don't know why I am saying this but be warned with my physiology I tend to get drunik easier and stay drunk longer"

Liam took a slow sip of the ale, savoring its rich flavor. He noticed her downing the water and arched a brow slightly. As she explained he nodded in understanding. "Good call." He said.

For a moment, he hesitated, unsure what to say next, his fingers brushing the edge of his glass.

“Thank you for inviting me. When you scared the hell out of me in that lab…” He smiled at the memory, “I figured dinner with you was the last place I’d end up. Maybe the brig, sure....but not here.”

"Well, I think it was-- a meeting that might live in infamy?" Jali giving a wink " Or it will be called a meeting to remember. Do you have questions you'd like to ask about me? I'd like to get to know you." she reached up to wrap a strand of her hair around her index finger. She was feeling a touch awkward, handsome man, he also seemed slightly nervous as well.

“As long as I don’t keep taking bumps to the head like that, I should remember it just fine.” He said with a smile.

He took another sip of ale, letting the rich flavor settle as he glanced off to the side for a moment, debating whether to say what was on his mind. Finally, he looked back at her.

“I’m going to be honest with you…” He began. “I’m a bit out of practice. It’s been… a minute or two...maybe three since I’ve been out to dinner with an attractive woman. And you… you’re very attractive. I don’t usually just blurt that out, so maybe we’ll chalk it up to the ale…” He shrugged his shoulders with a grin.

A warm chuckle from Jali a twinkle in her eyes, "Let us set something here right now. We both can speak what is on our minds, without uh, how did my mother put it, playing ring around the mulberry bush. She said, best to be upfront. And my father said the same. I find you attractive, and rather appealing.Getting to know someone shouldn't have the feeling of going to a dentist right?"

"But what if you really like going to the dentist?" He teased.

“Your mother’s right...no sense in beating around the bush.” He leaned forward slightly, resting his forearms on the table. “I like that approach. Makes things… easier. Cleaner.”

He leaned back in his seat. “And for the record, I find you more than a little appealing too.”

Her cheeks warmed up when he stated that he found her appealing.

Jali caught herself just staring into Liam's blue eyes. "Your eyes, they remind me of the skies above Mongolia. Beautiful, captivating." she stopped there.

“Oh, don’t stop now.” He said with a playful tone. “But…thank you for the compliments.”

“You know, we’re about to eat a heavy meal, and if you’re anything like me, that means feeling sluggish afterward.” He leaned back, tilting his head slightly. “What do you say we get our meals to go, enjoy dessert here… and then see what kind of trouble we can stir up on the station?”

He smiled. “That is… if Security or Investigation officers.....still like getting into trouble?”

"Well, that depends on the type of trouble you are thinking of." Jali feeling intoxicated, even though she'd not had a single drop. "Dessert first, sounds lovely. And food to go... Where could we eat it?" raising an eyebrow and an interested smile.

Liam smiled as he took another sip of ale. “The good kind of trouble.” He said, setting the glass down. “Nothing that gets us written up.”

"Then I am all for it." She paused looking at the pitcher of ale, "I wonder if we can take this to go as well? I hate to waste this pitcher of ale"

The waitress came back bearing the food.

Clearing her throat, Jali with a touch of awkwardness. "May we have our food to go, as well as this pitcher of ale? Plus I'd like to have my dessert now instead."

The waitress looked over towards Liam. "And you sir?"

Liam glanced at Jali, then looked up at the waitress with a nod. “Yes, I’ll take my food to go as well. Dessert now sounds perfect.”

He turned his attention back to Jali. He wasn’t entirely sure what came next, where they’d go, or what kind of trouble they would get in. “I have a feeling the best part of the evening’s just getting started.”

A light laugh from Jali, a twinkle in her eyes. She wondered just what sort of enchantment she was falling under where Liam was concerned. Just something about him. Was it due to her feeling lonely? Was it something about him that was drawing her in? She didn't know but with Jali being an investigator at heart, she was quite willing to investigate this and see where things will end up.

"A little exploration of our own, here upon this station." Jali giving a smile.

“In my line of work, we’d call that field research.” He said with a grin.

"Field research. Interesting, I like that." Jali giving a sunny smile.

The waitress had quietly left to go get their dessert and also get their to go request done, taking their pitcher of ale to transfer it to another container.

The dessert was brought, and Jali gazed at it. "Well here's to the next part of our research."

Liam smiled. "To next research."

LTjg Jali Andloch
Security
Deep Space Five

Lieutenant Liam Blackwood
Chief Science Officer
Deep Space Five

 

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