Quid Pro Quo

Posted on Sun Aug 24th, 2014 @ 9:37am by Vlimar PontBrillant

1,067 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: In the Dark
Location: The After Dark
Timeline: Curent

-=- PontBrillant's Quarters -=-

Vlimar finished furnishing his quarters appropriately to his liking. As any senior officer's quarters, there was room enough for the main bedroom and a living room of sorts. In his usual fashion, Vlimar was setting a little lounge bar near his work table, to offer to guests. However, as he settled the bottles, he reminded himself that he passed an order through the new lounge manager, a certain Norbert Bernard, which he had never had the chance to meet. His order of a bottle of Bas-Armagnac, Château La Tourelle 2334 and a bottle of Talisker 35 years have been made at his arrival and Vlimar had no news. In the moment, he exits his quarters and headed towards the Lounge.

<---Meanwhile in the Officers Lounge -->

"NO NOT THERE", Norbert shouted at two lowly ranked Starfleet personnel. "I told you idiots to place the crates inside the walk-in", He gasped, "And be careful not to break any of the bottles, they are worth more than you are".

He watched carefully as the two men moved the cases of Liquor into the freezer, ensuring that nothing was broken.

Once they were finished he nodded, "Very well, tell your superiors that I am pleased with your work", he held out his hand, "Here take this", he handed each of them a small 5 x 9 glossy photo of himself with his signature. "Now be on your way", he added.

The two crewmen looked at each other quizzically and left the lounge, tossing the photos in the trash bin by the exit on the way out.

Vlimar arrived in front of the lounge door as the two crewmen were exiting it. Sounds of "What an idiot" and "Self-pompious bastard" were uttered by the men prior to noticing Vlimar. He slowed down his pace and looked at both crewman with a half raised smirk on his face. The crewmen immediately nodded with the head to Vlimar, on a them muttering a "sir", pitiful and ashamed of perhaps being heard. They moved along quickly, disappearing into the angle of the corridor.

The Commander shook his head slowly, anticipating quite the show inside. He slowly pushed the door and looked inside the almost completed lounge. As he saw, tables were all piled in a corner, the chairs still wrapped in their shipping protection. The carpet had a strong smell of chemical, used to properly install it into the structure. The bar was shining as a brand new piece of art and, from his angle, he noticed the male, near the counter of the bar. He slowly approached him.

"Well its about time!", Norbert said as he noticed the approaching Officer. "I put in my request nearly three hours ago!", he placed his PADD down onto the bar.

Vlimar blinked. He approached the man calmly, even though the verbal abuse. "And what request would that be?", he asked.

"My quarters of course", Norbert smiled. "The room I was given is not in correct alignment with my zen". Noticing Vilmar's confused reaction he added, "That is why you are here isn't it?".

Vlimar gave a half smile to Norbert. "I am sure I can get someone to look into that...", he stated. "But I am here for my own personal reasons. I believe you have something for me, Vlimar PontBrillant.", he stated to the man, leaning on the new bar counter.

"Hmmmm..." Norbert responded looking at the mans elbow as it smudged the newly polished counter. "PontBrillant", he said aloud, picking up the PADD again. "Oh yes", he continued, as he tapped and swiped at the device "You are here for your order", he paused and looked up at Vilmar, then tapped and swiped a little more, "Operations...hmmm...well, perhaps we can come to an arrangement then".

"Arrangement?", he asked. His smiled turned into a smirk. "What kind of arrangement would that be?", he asked.

"You help me I help you" Norbert continued, "First I would like my quarters upgraded to something more befitting a man of my stature, second you guarantee that my shipments for the lounge are given priority and expedited here without delay and in return I will let you have your pick of my inventory at half price". he smiled.

Vlimar looked at the man suspiciously. "... of your stature?", he asked. "I am well aware of who you are, Mr. Bernard, but let me assure you, your status on this ship is as important as any other civilian members contributing to our voyage. You came here as a single man, manager of our lounge. You were assigned Civilian quarters, bonified with an office, if I am not mistaking.", he stated, looking at the man for confirmation.

"Yes yes", Norbert raised his hand, "I will need a separate space for my office, I prefer not to mix business with leisure time", he added. "And I would like a hot tub installed. Just like the one I had back home, it really was quite exquisite, perfect after a long day".

Vlimar eyed the space behind the bar, hidden with a two way window. "You have an office space there, and for the the jacuzzi, I will be more than please that equipping your current quarters with holoemettors", he stated, cutting the pie in two.

Norbert paused. "Hmmmm....and about my shipments then?", he said cautiously, "I'd prefer not to have anyone prying into their contents, things seem to go missing that way", he smiled fakely at Vilmar.

Vlimar smiled. "That, I can probably assist you with. I will instruct my crew to label your shipment upon their arrival and deliver them in a timely fashion to you.", he stated, not so different from the current delivery instructions: The vital department first, then the luxury. He would simply relabel the lounge as vital and, voilà, mission accomplished.

Norbert nodded his head. "Mr. PontBrillant, I do believe we can do business and as an example of my gratitude I will have your first order delivered to your quarters at no charge later this afternoon".

Vlimar nodded and smiled. He extended his hand for Mr. Bernard for an introductory handshake, thinking it was better to make such a man an ally than an enemy, especially for the man who runs Operations.


-=- END LOG -=-

Commander Vlimar PontBrillant
Chief of Operations
USS Vindicator

&

Norbert Bernard III
Lounge Manager
USS Vindicator

 

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