Zedd had decided to go to a more relaxed setting, opting to be out of his ready room and away from the bridge. He’d settled in on one of the couches in the lounge, looking out towards the stars. Wearing his typical clothing and jean jacket, he took a sip of scotch, neat, single malt. One thing Ferenginar provided him was the opportunity for many types of alcohol, which he’d made sure to stock up on. One thing that did stick in the back of his mind as he read over reports was the fact there had been less than the anticipated interaction with Tiraa since she’d set foot on board.

However at the moment, he’d attributed it to her taking the time to get settled in on board. He heard the doors open a bit behind him but didn’t look back to see which of the crew it may be. He figured everyone deserved a break from being under his ever watchful eye.

Handling conflict was a delicate matter – unless of course one’s version of “handling” conflict was to burn the problem to the ground, as it were. That had never been Tiraa’s preferred way, it was too inelegant, and she so hated heavy handed dealings. Still, from time to time it couldn’t be helped. She was relatively certain things with Zedd could be handled amicably, but human men could be especially volatile in her experience. She moved down the hallway to the lounge with Rallid trailing her steps as was his normal. She stepped through the doors and her black eyes immediately fell on Zedd. A simple gesture directed Rallid to sit at one of the tables while she rounded to the couches.

“Good evening.” Her low, lyrical voice carried easily in the silence, kept quiet for the quiet setting.

Zedd looked up at the sound of her voice and flashed a grin “Hello Tiraa” He set his glass down on the armrest next to him, having a quick glance around and seeing Rallid “Quite a shadow you have there. He can always say hello if he wants to.” Returning back to a more comfortable position, he motioned to the seat across from him “Won’t you join me? Or is this more of a fly by?”

“He doesn’t talk much.” Tiraa chuckled and moved to take the offered seat across from him. She wore a much more casual look than he had seen her in before, a flowing lavender tunic top that fell off one shoulder and had an asymmetrical hemline paired with a deep navy colored pant that was equally loose and flowing. Her hair was pulled back from her face, and she was absent the jewelry usually adorning her neck and ears.

“I was looking for you, actually.”

He was happy to hear her say that, she had seemed to be preoccupied with a number of other things around the ship, but then again so had he. So their lack of interaction seemed unintentionally mutual. “I am glad you found me. I was just taking some time to go over things the last week or so, just kind of decompressing. But if there is something you would like to go over now, I’m all ears.” It was true, and his disposition had changed a bit since she came on board. A bit of the original tense feeling he’d had during their initial meet was in part of the fact he had no idea, and still no clue, where they had been when they met. But at the same time, both of them working around one another and her getting settled in, seems to have allowed him to relax a bit as well.

“Yes, you’ve been rather busy both on and off duty, haven’t you?” She smiled at him, her black eyes glittering with amusement that she knew was mostly her own. “A bit hard to pin down for some of us.”

He thought he recognized some of the lightheartedness of the comment, but didn’t know if she was aware of what had transpired between him and Lindsy, so he didn’t directly address it. Plus it was best to keep his own business as private as possible. If it became necessary, he would discuss it with Tiraa in a more private setting. “My apologies, it’s a bit ironic considering we are on the same deck and haven’t had much of a chance to talk. But the good news is we seem to be ready to leave. And that computer core you delivered on, and the crystals of course, both top of the line and engineering is extremely appreciative, as am I.”

“Did you expect anything less?” The amusement still lingered in her eyes and on her lips, bright and beautiful but somehow mildly unsettling all the same like one knew they were looking at something dangerous. “Perhaps I should have gotten myself a drink before I sat down.”

Zedd reached up and motioned to a young man that had been helping to serve or clean up after folks, one of the bartenders that had drawn this particular evening shift. He had been pleasant enough, but did seem a bit nervous since Zedd had walked in. Truth be told, he’d done quite well so far. Walking up to Tiraa in his beige shirt and black pants, he looked to Tiraa “Can I get you something?”

“I’ll take a glass of Bajoran spring wine if you have it.” Tiraa looked the young man up and down, fighting against that initial temptation to toy with him a bit and instead to simply be friendly. “Do me a favor and see if he wants something up there too, hm?” She nodded toward Rallid.

He nodded, “Of course, I’ll be back shortly.” He whisked away as swiftly as he had appeared, seeing to Rallid as well.

Zedd returned his focus to Tiraa “So, it seems you have been getting settled in pretty well. Able to source what you have needed either from the planet or elsewhere. What brings you my way this evening?”