A Columbus Celebration (Open)

[Leanna Mazal]

[Puzzles]

Chuckling, Derek took a sip of his champagne. While the bubbly was much too sweet for his taste, it did leave a pleasant sensation of warmth. "True. It's been a long time since I've danced, or had the opportunity to do so with such a talented partner. If you don't mind me asking, what did you do before coming to Columbus?"

[Puzzles]

Leanna smiled as Derek took a sip of the champagne and spoke about it being some time since he too had last danced or had the opportunity to do so with a talented partner. Enjoying the compliments and the small flirtations between them but when he then asked what she did before coming to Columbus, she wondered if she should be honest with him.

Taking a long sip of her own drink she considered her answer before realising that she could trust Derek and if the conversation continued then she had no issue telling him everything if it came to it. " I don't mind at all Derek after all I trust you and I have no problem telling you " she replied " Before I came here I ran another bar on a different Starbase with my now ex husband who left me for dead when I found out he was a criminal and that he had been living a double life but as you can see I survived and escaped with our daughter who is now living with me on Columbus".

She didn't feel ashamed telling him but at the same time wouldn't blame him if he decided to leave and not want to continue talking if she had scared him off.

[Derek Black]

[Puzzles]

Leanna smiled as Derek took a sip of the champagne and spoke about it being some time since he too had last danced or had the opportunity to do so with a talented partner. Enjoying the compliments and the small flirtations between them but when he then asked what she did before coming to Columbus, she wondered if she should be honest with him.

Taking a long sip of her own drink she considered her answer before realising that she could trust Derek and if the conversation continued then she had no issue telling him everything if it came to it. " I don't mind at all Derek after all I trust you and I have no problem telling you " she replied " Before I came here I ran another bar on a different Starbase with my now ex husband who left me for dead when I found out he was a criminal and that he had been living a double life but as you can see I survived and escaped with our daughter who is now living with me on Columbus".

She didn't feel ashamed telling him but at the same time wouldn't blame him if he decided to leave and not want to continue talking if she had scared him off.

[Puzzles]

"I'm sorry to hear that." Derek only understood so well what stress could do to a marriage. He couldn't blame his partner at the time, he was the one who was always gone. Placing Starfleet first had, as many of his friends warned him, it's consequences. "You're a survivor, and that's commendable. Running this establishment while raising a child, I can't imagine that's easy. I don't think I'd be able to do it. How old is your daughter?"

[Leanna Mazal]

[Puzzles]

"I'm sorry to hear that." Derek only understood so well what stress could do to a marriage. He couldn't blame his partner at the time, he was the one who was always gone. Placing Starfleet first had, as many of his friends warned him, it's consequences. "You're a survivor, and that's commendable. Running this establishment while raising a child, I can't imagine that's easy. I don't think I'd be able to do it. How old is your daughter?"

[Puzzles]

His sincerity over what she had shared was genuine and the fact she hadn't scared him away had been another bonus in knowing that she at least had found another good friend in the Medical Officer even if nothing else happened. But he was right she was a survivor and if it wasn't for her parents moving to the station she wouldn't be able to continue with the bar or career in the way she had become accustomed too.

" Thank you Derek its appreciated as its not always easy me sharing that but your right I came out of it stronger and honestly it can be hard sometimes but I'm lucky to have my parents here to look after her " she replied her tone back to normal. Then when he asked how old her daughter was she smiled as she answered " Ariana is almost 2".

[Derek Black]

[Puzzles]

His sincerity over what she had shared was genuine and the fact she hadn't scared him away had been another bonus in knowing that she at least had found another good friend in the Medical Officer even if nothing else happened. But he was right she was a survivor and if it wasn't for her parents moving to the station she wouldn't be able to continue with the bar or career in the way she had become accustomed too.

" Thank you Derek its appreciated as its not always easy me sharing that but your right I came out of it stronger and honestly it can be hard sometimes but I'm lucky to have my parents here to look after her " she replied her tone back to normal. Then when he asked how old her daughter was she smiled as she answered " Ariana is almost 2".

[Puzzles]

"Getting to the fun age." Derek chuckled, tapping his foot as someone restarted the music. Not as good as a live band, but still enjoyable, the company even more so. "I can't say that I've agreed with having children on Federation starships...too many things can, and have gone wrong too quickly before. I'd like to think that a Starbase is much more suitable. If you ever need a hand, let me know. Even the best mothers need some time to relax." He offered her a warm smile, before taking a sip from his glass. "That was some show by the way. Am I right in assuming you were the brilliant mastermind behind it?"

[Leanna Mazal]

[Puzzles]

"Getting to the fun age." Derek chuckled, tapping his foot as someone restarted the music. Not as good as a live band, but still enjoyable, the company even more so. "I can't say that I've agreed with having children on Federation starships...too many things can, and have gone wrong too quickly before. I'd like to think that a Starbase is much more suitable. If you ever need a hand, let me know. Even the best mothers need some time to relax." He offered her a warm smile, before taking a sip from his glass. "That was some show by the way. Am I right in assuming you were the brilliant mastermind behind it?"

The change in music as it restarted made Leanna wonder what had happened to Divine Temptation until she recognised what was playing and that they would be back after a scheduled break. Her attention firmly back onto Derek as he commented and chuckled about Ariana's age before going onto say his views on children being on Starships, understanding what he meant without the need to go into detail. Agreeing with what he said about the Starbase being different before his kind offer to lend a hand if she ever needed it then asked if she was the mastermind behind the show.

" Oh yes which usually involves her trying to escape or do things she's not supposed to so its going to be even more fun once she develops her abilities" she replied grinning as she to took a sip of her champagne. " I can understand completely with what you mean about that and I definitely made the right choice bringing her here and thank you that's very much appreciated and I'll have to introduce you to her " she said as her playfulness returned.

" Well not completely all me, it was a team effort and I trust Jenna, Molly and T'Prina and they've never let me down" she said then had an idea. " Would you like to continue to dance as the house band will be on soon or would you rather sit down at one of the tables?".