Dinner With The Enemy

Posted on Mon Apr 22nd, 2024 @ 4:14am by Lieutenant Commander Lyra Cassiel & Lieutenant Commander Andrei Petrov & Lieutenant JG Orion Wolff

Mission: In-Between (S1:E7-S1:E8)
Location: Orion's quarters
Timeline: Date 2371-09-30 at 1900
9983 words - 20 OF Standard Post Measure

Orion was a man of surprising talents that few knew the true depth of. He had trained with several renowned chefs to learn the skill. He diligently checked on the meals he had been preparing for his guests. Cooking, to him, was not just a form of nourishment but a scientific art that he had a deep passion for. He wanted everything perfect for his dinner guests, especially since one of them was his rival, Andrei.

After unexpectedly encountering Lyra in the holodeck and learning about Andrei's invitation, Wolff quickly devised a plan to turn the tables on his rival. Instead of accepting Andrei's offer, Wolff invited him and Lyra to his quarters for a dinner he had prepared himself.

With a gentle hand, he stirred the bubbling pot of fragrant Gorohoviy, a traditional Ukrainian lentil dish. The steam rose in wispy tendrils, carrying with it the rich scent of smoked pork ribs left whole in the simmering soup. He smiled, knowing that this dish, while not traditionally Russian, would surely appeal to Andrei's tastes. The aroma alone was enough to awaken any appetite and set taste buds tingling with anticipation. A surge of anticipation and excitement filled Orion's body, prickling the hairs on his arms and sending his heart racing. He aimed to impress Lyra and Andrei with his culinary prowess, hoping to gain an edge in their renewed competition without giving away his true intentions. But even more than that, he longed to spend time with Lyra outside of their duties, break through the barriers created by the rivalry with Andrei, and truly get to know her.

With a satisfied nod, he turned off the stove and carefully began to plate each guest's dishes. Making his way to the dining area, he set each covered plate down as he worked to set the table, curiously eager to see their reactions to the carefully crafted meal.

While the night was meant to be a peace offering, he hadn't skimped on himself as he'd decided to share one of the few bottles of mead he'd received from his father as a birthday gift on his eighteenth birthday. Each bottle was a rare and prized vintage that brought back memories of sitting by the fire with his father on cold winter nights as the elder Wolff had enjoyed a glass of the golden alcohol, an indulgence that he'd even let his son taste from time to time, teaching him how to appreciate a fine liquor and to savor it fully. This bottle was a full-bodied honey blonde that caused a slight smirk to twitch on his lips as he thought of Lyra, feeling that it was also an apt description of her.

Orion's quarters had been redecorated in particularly Nordic fashion; the walls were adorned with a few intricate wooden carvings and tapestry depicting a fierce battle with mythical creatures from the sagas. While he didn't have enough furniture to replace everything standard in his quarters, a pair of chairs and the coffee table were made of dark, polished wood, and around the room were several faux lanterns that cast a warm, amber-colored light throughout the room, adding a certain rustic charm. However, this clashed with the small shelf of real books locked behind a seemingly thin pane of glass. Each title was a rare classic or scientific treatise, each bound in leather and chased with precious metals.

After Andrei had told Lyra of his intention to "catch up" with Orion, she had went and told him of it. Of course, the man couldn't simply wait for an invitation from him and had decided to preempt him by inviting him and his girlfriend for a meal. Always trying to one up him, just as he had when they were children. It seemed Andrei would have to be the bigger man again, as he was in many notable ways.

The man had made the unfortunate mistake of attempting to woo Andrei's beloved, and he wondered if Orion would suspect he knew. The Science Officer had, of course, been completely unsuccessful, and it was only through several pressed entreaties from Lyra that Andrei had decided to play polite and not cut the man's balls off at his own dinner table tonight. No one took what was his, and he intended to make that very clear.

As he and Lyra approached arm in arm, traveling the short distance down the hall from his own quarters, he reached out to press the chime. He was wearing a deep read button-up shirt with the top two buttons undone, exposing the top of his muscular chest, and a black vest with pants of the same color. Around his neck, he wore a silver necklace and the black band Lyra had gotten him on his wrist. He had made the rather aggressive move of shifting the tint of his bionic eye to shine ruby red rather than its typical emerald color, giving him an overtly threatening and other-worldly appearance.

Lyra stood by Andrei's side and while they waited for Orion's summon to enter, she gently rubbed his arm in a loving, comforting gesture. Her dress was beautiful and quite modest; Lyra was a woman who could pull of both modest and sexy with complete ease, both had their time and place. A deep purple near black color, the boat neckline hid any hint of cleavage another dress might have shown; the lace panel top added interest and elegance that extended into the half sleeves. The knee-length faux-wrap skirt had a ruffle hem and when she moved it flounced and shifted in a very feminine fashion. Striking silver heels adorned her feet and the look was completed by a pair of silver and pearl earrings with a dainty matching bracelet. She looked quite stunning.

She had been a bit surprised when she had received the invitation along with Andrei, but it was probably for the best. If Orion had been alone with Andrei who knew what may have happened to him. At least Lyra had a chance of talking Andrei down if worst came to worst.

Orion's attention turned from setting up the table as he heard the chime; a few strides carried him over to the door as he took a moment to smooth out the simple dark blue button-up shirt, sleeves rolled up to the elbows, a pair of tailored black slacks, and a pair of Turellian leather shoes. It was a subdued look, though it was certainly much different from how he always remembered Andrei's fashion choices being. He did completely expect some flamboyant and over-the-top display from Andrei, be it with his clothes, demeanor, or overall appearance; that really had been how the other man had always been. He had to be the center of attention, the spectacle on display, every woman's desire, and the bane of every man's ego since they could never match his grandeur. His regal mein.

Even thinking about the other man's overinflated ego made Orion want to roll his eyes hard enough to upset the universe's balance. He had never been much of the preening peacock that his counterpart was; he preferred a more subtle gravitas and grace to Andrei's bullish behavior. The other man had always taken it as a simpering desire to be more like him, that he needed to curry favor with the Russian noble because of Petrov's position in Russia.

He stopped himself from riding that train any further since he might open the door and plant a knife in Andrei's chest and be done with it. However enjoyable that might be, he was here to let Andrei know that he was the better man and always would be.

Putting on a warm, friendly smile, he opened the door to greet his guests.

He could say that Andrei had an impeccable sense of style, the man's appearance eliciting rather biblical imagery. "Hmmm, giving off a bit of a fallen angel vibe; I appreciate the effort since you know how fond of mythology I am." His smile turned up a bit more with amusement since he was certain there was a different reaction that Andrei had been anticipating, perhaps intimidation or shock over the utter fearsomeness of it all.

His attention turned to Lyra as he gave her an appreciative once-over before stepping back to let them in. The modesty of her attire wasn't lost on him, but it did little to quench that natural sexual appeal she possessed. "Come in. Dinner is on the table if you'd like to start, or we can share a couple of drinks and catch up since it's been so long."

"Oh, you know how I love to make an impression," Andrei said with an unreadable expression strategically mixed with the idea of a smile. His gray and red eyes met Orions with an apparent focus. Predatory. He stood there, his arm holding Lyra against him gently. "It's your quarters, Orion, and it's very gentlemanly of you to spend so much time slaving away over a meal. I'm terribly excited to taste what you've made for us."

Orion didn't miss the raptorial way Andrei affixed him, likely another attempt to make him quail in terror and submit to the almighty of his most venerable and virile host of hosts. He didn't flinch or step back; he merely turned away with the same nonchalance that he'd brushed aside Andrei's attempt at a demonic appearance. Perhaps he wasn't the only one that had become comfortable since it seemed that Andrei ruled the roost here, no one with the spine or grit to challenge the princeling. The Terran nobleman moved with supreme confidence, and the subtle gesture of turning back on Andrei could only be missed by the most unobservant louts at court.

It was a gesture that would communicate that he didn't fear Andrei since every Terran noble was taught never to turn their back on a threat, even a potential one. Unless they never viewed that person as one.

Was Andrei dangerous? Absolutely. The man was a savage animal clothed in the skin of man. Did Orion consider Andrei to be a threat to him? Not at all, and if the other man insisted on posturing with him, he would remain nonplussed by it. Though that was how it had always been with them. Fire and Ice. Both were destructive forces in their own right, potentially deadly to one another and quite explosive under the right circumstances.

"It will be a multicourse meal; we'll be starting with a hearty taste of Slavic cuisine," He turned and indicated Andrei before his attention turned to Lyra. "A taste from the vibrant palette of South America,"

"And for last, a sampling of the richness of Scandinavia." He said this while moving over to the table, pulling out a chair, and respectfully bowing towards Lyra. "Your seat, Countess."

Andrei actively moved into the space, rather rudely bumping Orion out of the way and grabbing the chair from him in one motion. He finished pulling it out for Lyra.

"Again, very kind, old friend. But I pull out the chairs for Lyra Cassiel." He said, his tone neither friendly nor passive, though he clearly wasn't trying to start an unnecessary fight. Yet.

Orion hadn't expected Andrei's sudden rush, though he should have expected it as he stumbled to the side, catching himself on the table before standing up and smoothing out his shirt. He smirked since it was easy enough to see that it had come from a place of insecurity. Moving to the other side of the table, taking a moment to pour them all a glass of the mead. "Fair, it should be her man's job to do,"

Lyra had watched with rapt attention as the two men exchanged "pleasantries" though she did pause to look around Orion's quarters and noted the rather ancient nordic theme he seemed to embrace. Hopefully it wouldn't sour Andrei on their viking adventure program; it was one of her favorites. She remained against Andrei as he held her though politely gave her attention to Orion until Andrei moved from her side when Orion began to pull out the chair for her. Her brows raised slightly and she watched Andrei check the smaller Orion out of the way. Men loved to watch women fight over them, but the truth was women enjoyed watching men fight over them just as much, maybe even more.

It wouldn't be much of a fight and Lyra was firm in her love and loyalty anyways, but the competitive attention was enjoyable for her - though she hid that fact quite well. She stepped elegantly over to the chair and smiled at Andrei before she lowered herself down to sit. "Thank you, darling."

Andrei moved to his own seat and lowered himself into it. He settled in and turned his eyes to Orion expressionlessly.

Lyra looked at Orion then, speaking in an appropriately polite fashion as if they were on Terra and this was a court dinner. "You cooked everything for tonight by yourself?"

"I did," he confirmed while setting the glass next to Lyra's covered plate. The liquid in the glass was a golden color, similar to the glint of light off of gold. "Science is my passion, and cooking is how I apply it. Preparing a delicious meal is like conducting a scientific experiment, which is why cooking has been one of my longest-running and most profound interests."

He set a glass down next to Andrei's hand as he accepted that stoic glare, the look he used on the boys he would inevitably target because they had something he wanted. So the Terran man simply let it flow right through him since he knew Andrei wanted the reaction. So he acknowledged his presence, not the behavior. His attention turned from the other man to Lyra. "It's important to do proper preparation and follow a plan, similar to a scientist. However, people often mistake scientists' quietness for a lack of passion, when in reality we are quite passionate."

Lyra looked at the drink in front of her; she had never consumed much mead in her life and truthfully most of what she had drank had been on the holodeck in her viking adventure with Andrei. Still, she knew it was a traditional drink from Norway where Orion was from, so she didn't see any problems with it being served. She listened to the man speak, giving him her full attention and seemed to be actively engaged.

"Funny, I've never found scientists to be quiet or have a lack of passion. In fact they usually never shut up about their singular passion in life: science." She noted in a dry way and it was unclear if it was a simple comment or a more pointed jab. Her dark, expressionless eyes caught Orion's gaze.

"I'm sure you won't be like that though." She smiled.

"I assure you, I'm more than a one-trick pony, as they say," he said with a confident smile. He gestured towards his quarters. "I'm still setting things up, obviously I'm a student of mythology and history,"

His attention remained fixed on Lyra as he conversed with her. If Andrei decided to act like an adult instead of a petulant child, Orion would even speak warmly with him. The purpose of this evening was to set a stark contrast between the two men - the near-feral savage compared to the sophisticated Terran noble who wore his demeanor proudly. "Have you heard of the tradition of holmgang? Andrei had fought in a few when his family had reason to visit Norway."

It was a subtle jab but typical to remind a lesser noble of whom their family was beholden to. While Andrei did outrank Orion in Imperial service, Orion still outranked him socially. That they were so far from the Imperial Court didn't matter. Tradition was tradition.

"I prefer stallions, anyways." Lyra quipped quickly.

"And won every time, if memory serves," Andrei said with a genuine grin. "It's a nice little tradition, really. Two men meet, the disrespected and the disrespectful. Then, they settle their quarrel like men, with steel and blood; the best one always wins. It's how Terrans used to settle their differences once not so long ago. One day we will again."

Andrei pulled the mead to his lips and tried it, and then offered a polite and appropriate expression which couldn't be described properly as a smile.

"This is delicious, Orion. How kind of you to offer it to us as honored guests. You can't merely share this with everyone. It is quite special. A gift from a father so far away, whom you might never see again."

"My father always believed that there was wisdom in the old ways, and because of that, his territory has always remained prosperous," Orion interjected, taking a sip from his glass.

"I thought it was fitting for the occasion," he smiled at Andrei. "A religious person might say that the gods determine our fate, but I believe it's up to us to shape our destiny. I am determined to see that every Terran in this fell is safely returned home."

However, he gave Andrei a firm look as he put his glass down. "And anyone who dares to stand in the way of that goal, be it a god or a mortal, shall face the consequences of their actions."

"I didn't take you for the sacrilegious type," Lyra commented just before she brought her glass to her full lips and took a sip. She liked the mild, sweet flavor of the mead and the subtle burn of the alcohol. "Everyone here wants to return home, so I don't believe you'll need to wave your sword around on that front, Orion."

"The gods made us in their image, did they not? They are ambitious, and while they call for worship, I think they prefer for their creations to challenge them and show that the fire of our ambitions still burns as brightly as it did before the dark times." He countered before shifting to indicate the covered meals as an alarm pinged at the table. "The Gorohoviy should be just at the right temperature to eat now. Let me know what you think."

As the plates' covers were removed, the pair was filled with a succulent medley of aromas mingled to become enticingly mouthwatering. Each bowl had a pork rib resting amongst the lentils and other vegetables. "Traditionally, the pork rib is left to last while eating."

Of course, this dish was nothing new for Andrei, but he supposed Orion might just be describing it to be a good host to Lyra. He also suspected the man was doing it to toot his own horn and display some amazing scientific culinary expertise. He did not indicate his thoughts but smiled and looked down at the dish. It reminded him of home, and such reminders were becoming increasingly pleasant for him.

"Oh, it smells just like the Gorohoviy our cook used to make at the Kremlin," Andrei said, looking over at Lyra. "She was an old bábuška who cooked as if her life depended on it."

The association between cooking meals and servitude was not small among Terran nobility. Though cooking skills were valued as a sign of culture, it could easily be construed as a person who does the work of the common people. Andrei didn't imply this very strongly, if he was implying it, and scooped at the dish with apparent excitement. He took a bite and smiled, looking up at Orion with a strangely friendly expression behind his ruby-red and gray eyes.

"Oh, that's good. Perhaps you and the chef should trade places, Lieutenant. You're giving him a run for his money."

Orion didn't miss Andrei's subtle jab back by mentioning the old bábuška, nor the implication that his skill with cooking was beneath his station. He'd learned long ago that it was a way of showing mastery of the niceties; after all, one could always appreciate the brushstrokes of a master painter or a beautiful piece of music, but to truly understand the process, you had to immerse yourself into the task. Some called it obsession, but Orion considered it to be thorough. He raised his glass to Andrei as an acknowledgment of the other man's words as was proper.

"I'm glad it meets with your approval, though I prefer to keep my culinary talents offered as a rare commodity, an occasional indulgence so as not to ruin the palate," The Terran man replied as he ate a spoonful of his soup. It was a delicious dish and a strong opening he hoped would only build through the rest of the dinner. "Much like sweetbread harvested from Tellerites, they have a robust flavor tinged with just the hint of bitterness that is a treat when eaten sparingly, but for every meal, it would easily become unpalatable."

He then turned his attention to Lyra with a smile. "Andrei has indulged in such delicacies; have you ever had the opportunity?"

Lyra had listened to the exchange in politely interested silence. Truthfully, she thought it was nice that Orion could cook. The occasional treat of a homemade meal or even dessert made by hand was always a thoughtful gesture - one men received far more than women. She stirred her soup while locking eyes with Andrei as he spoke of his old cook and then took a taste when he looked away. The richness of the pork ribs hit her first followed by the more subtle seasonings and flavors. It wasn't an immediate favorite, but that wasn't surprising given she was still working on liking Slavic cuisine.

When Orion spoke to her, her dark, impassive gaze shifted over to him. "No, I can't say that I have."

Truthfully, she was a bit surprised Andrei had.

Meeting her gaze, Orion took this in with a quiet and fascinated curiosity. Given what had happened to her family and likely having to live in hiding to avoid the agents of her father's murders, he suspected that it wasn't something that she'd been able to experience. "Perhaps if this goes well, I could invite you both over for sweetbreads," he offered, though he found his mind drifting towards what kind of flavor Vidiians might possess.

"Or perhaps we'll invite you. With any luck, the Empire will have expended and we will be able to feast on Tellerite Sweetbreads, Kelpian Ribs, and Gorn Bites." Andrei responded, taking another bite from his spoon and then reaching for his ale. "But, as far as I'm concerned, I would be alright with starting some culinary experiments here in the Delta Quadrant. We haven't encountered any good candidates yet. All humanoids."

"The Numiri barely count." Lyra pointed out, a slightly sour note to her voice though she frowned it down with another drink of her mead. She hadn't finished the soup, but gently pushed it away from her. It was a bit too rich for a first course for her taste.

"Mmm, yes, I did read over the encounter with the Numiri, though it seems that they received a just punishment," Orion commented as he looked to the dish Lyra pushed away from herself, barely touched. "Would you like me to bring out the second dish and see if that is more you like?"

"You don't need to move along on my account." She gave a dismissive wave of her hand.

The three of them sat and conversed similarly for the next several minutes. For his part, Andrei finished his bowl without complaint and then sat back in his chair and rested his eyes on Orion. He knew the man had something planned for after their meal, even if it was something as simple as dessert, more drinks, or moving over to the couch area for more conversation.

"What are your hopes when we return to Terra, Orion?" he asked. "Do you intend to pursue a career in Starfleet until you inherit your father's lands, or do you have other plans?"

"For the time being, it remains my original goal of becoming the head of Biological Warfare and Genetic research before achieving the overall head of the Imperial Science Division," He replied while clearing the table and pulling a small tray from the refrigerator with three small bowls of what appeared to be ice cream on them. "Though, should the needs of my family call for it, I will take my place as the head of my family,"

"As they say in Italy, we're having an intermezzo to prepare for the next dish, lime sorbet, to help cleanse the palate and set the stage for the next course." He explained, looking between his guests since he suspected Andrei had expected this to be a one-and-done dining experience. Boorish thinking from a boor of a man. Andrei was powerful and charismatic, but he was like Caligula, a violent and short-sighted psychopath interested in only his pleasure at the expense of his people and the realm. "A personal favorite and always a pleasant treat."

"Those are towering ambitions." Andrei said, spooning the sorbet and eating without remarking on it. A smile played at the corners of his lips, but he kept the rest of it in check. It was amusing to him that Orion seemed to think they needed an education on a centuries old palate censor that was used in every court and at just about every wealthy table, and had been since the invention of refrigeration technology. The man really thought Andrei was stupid. It was a dangerous thing to think. "You missed a few good whole-planet exterminations on our journey, so far with the Numiri and the Ocampa. I hear my father genuinely tried with the Sikariians when they called in the cavalry on us. If the gods will it, you'll get the chance soon, though."

"Perhaps towering to those of lesser ambition and driven by an acceptance of their poorer place," Orion replied after savoring a taste of his favorite dessert and scooping up another bite. I've read about your past exploits, quite glorious and, once the journey is done, more than worthy of being added to the records in the Halls of Conquest."

It wasn't idle praise he heaped upon the ship, he truly did mean it as he continued to eat, seeming paying Andrei a casual sort of attention for the conversation, but not being outright disrespectful. "I've found the study of the various pathogens you've encountered quite fascinating, particularly the virulence of the Vidiaan phage and the data from their ships systems, I've even applied some of their knowledge to a few of my own pet projects."

The idea that Andrei lacked ambition was ludicrous, and hearing the suggestion come from Orion's mouth was immediately amusing. He smiled and even chuckled a bit at the other man's word. One day, he intended to be Lord of the Terrans, and on that day, if not long before it, he would get the respect he deserved from Orion Wolff. If not, the man would be proven a fool.

"Just be careful not to replicate it here. The crew isn't interested in another Vidians Zombie fight. The first one was wild enough for us."

Lyra had been content to sit quietly, eat the sorbet that had been set in front of her, and listen to the two men verbally spar. Sometimes it was just fun to watch, though if a physical match up might have been more even, she would have much preferred to watch that. She had noted Orion's jab at her lover's "poorer place", though didn't respond immediately. She preferred to let people hang themselves after all - it was much more entertaining.

"Yes, you'll be keeping that to the holodeck." She said definitively and then finally shifted her gaze to Orion fully. Her eyes captured his with intensity. "I'm surprised to hear you say that you strive toward mediocrity then, Orion. Having towering ambitions for oneself is the mark of a great Terran after all." She picked up her mead and brought it close to her lips.

"How disappointing." Her intense, cold gaze remained fixated on his as she took a sip from the glass.

Orion focused on Lyra as she spoke, making Andrei seem like a mere afterthought. Lyra was much more than a trophy woman. Her intellect and sharp observation skills were a force to be reckoned with and could be just as devastating as any physical blow she might deliver. With a confident smile, he raised his glass to her. "Let me rephrase, they are stepping stones to my more ambitious goals of having my name go down in history alongside Cochrane and Archer as for taking the reins of my house, my father was content to remain a Dominion Lord, but I aim higher and strive for more."

Andrei chuckled as if a joke had been told. Cochrane had been handed over to the Vulcans for his murder of the crew that had made First Contact with Terra as a diplomatic ploy by the Western Alliance. The man returned decades later to a life of relative obscurity and the Lordship of Montana. Archer had been murdered by Hoshi I before her ascent to the throne.

"You're looking for a woman to kill you and take everything you hold dear then?" Andrei asked, looking for the next course. His hand found Lyra's leg under the table and rested on her thigh out of sight of Orion. "That isn't a difficult thing to find if you really want it. I have a few suggestions, if you'd care to hear them."

"While ever the magnanimous offer, I think I'll have to decline politely," Orion stood and gathered their bowls with a smile as he met his rival's gaze. "Too few people in our society give women the respect they are due," he continued and paused a moment as his gaze shifted to Lyra. "Besides, there's already someone I have in mind."

The Terran nobleman disappeared into the kitchen once more and brought out the next course for dinner, setting the covered dishes down as he stood next to Lyra and removed the lid from her dish to reveal it. His attention was solely fixed on the Terran woman, knowing that this would infuriate Andrei in its own right. though it wasn't solely to prod at the other man, he enjoyed being close to the Terran woman, the air felt electric around her as he resisted the urge to lean in to catch her scent. He also control the desire he felt welling up within him to reach out and touch her, knowing now was not the time, though he did let himself imagine that it was just the two of them enjoying a meal that he'd made for her to enjoy just because. "Baião de dois, a classic meal from the northeast of Brazil, I made it as close to the original recipe that I could get, letting the beans and rice cook together and adding a sauteed medley of various vegetables together on top,"

Inspecting the medley would reveal a fragrant mix of onions, tomatoes, and different peppers with a blend of herbs and spices. He stepped away with a finger held up and returned with a dish of lime wedges. "If you'd like to add a little citrus," he said.

When Andrei's hand found her leg under the table, the corners of Lyra's mouth lifted upward for just an instant then even out again. She again simply watched the exchange between the men - it was more or less her role tonight in a way - but when Orion looked at her and spoke directly of having someone in mind already, she lifted her brows. As he turned away, her had found Andrei's under the table and rested over it, her fingers sliding between his to weave together with him.

When Orion returned and uncovered the dish, Lyra did seem to be genuinely interested in the taste of home before her, though her hand didn't leave Andrei's for the time being. Once Orion had returned with the limes and taken his seat, she looked at him.

"This looks delicious."

The comment from Orion that he had a woman in mind had almost been the last straw for Andrei, and he reached to his belt with his free hand when the man approached her. He knew exactly how quickly he could extend his telescopic sword and cut the man's hand off if he laid a finger on her. For the first time, he didn't mask his feeling and the anger in his natural eyes was clear and enhanced by the red of the mechanical one. He would only take so much disrespect before he would have to act.

"If you mean you're looking for a woman to kill you and take everything you hold dear, I imagine we might be thinking about the same one." He said in a slightly raised voice, his Russian accent intensifying. He looked to Lyra, and raised any eyebrow. "Though it's more fun when it's a team sport."

Lyra giggled, innocent, girlish, and terrifying only to those who knew the truth. She held Andrei's gaze with a smile, though her hand left his and moved over to his thigh under the table where she gently rubbed and caressed him with just her fingers so it didn't move her shoulder. "Yes, it is."

With her other hand, she used her fork to gather a bite of the new dish in front of them, hoping to diffuse the situation since Orion seemed keen on testing his luck.

Orion didn't miss the murderous glare or even the implied threat Andrei had issued to him; in fact, that had been the whole of the evening's exercise in the first place. He knew just how far he could push Andrei. Still, the fact that he could push those buttons so quickly spoke volumes about Andrei's underlying feelings regarding the relationship and even possibly a little more since an alpha wouldn't feel the need to defend his territory unless it was somehow threatened. After all, Andrei was the Alpha of his little kingdom here. He took his seat and uncovered his dish as he sought to diffuse the tension in the air.

Andrei remained as predictable as ever. Orion paused and picked up one of the lime wedges to squeeze it over his meal, looking at Lyra with a smile. "Did Andrei ever tell you of when he had to put his rowing team vice-captain in his place?"

“No, I haven’t heard that one.” Lyra replied honestly. She reached out for a couple of the limes, placing one next to her bowl and squeezing the other slice over the bowl until it was bone dry; she liked lime.

Andrei knew Orion felt he was in control of this situation and had been quite tolerant so far. Still, there was only so much disrespect a man like him was willing to take, and if he stepped over that line, all Orion would be trying to control would be how much of his blood he kept inside his body. This entire meal was an insult, an overt attempt by the man to steal Andrei’s girlfriend. It was fight-worthy a thousand times over, and Andrei was closer than the other man thought.

He reached for the bowl, skipping the lime, and immediately took his first bite. He didn’t bother to interrupt the man’s story.

"This happened back in our sophomore year at the Academy; Andrei, with his competitive drive, had taken the position of captain of the rowing team," Orion began the story as he stirred his dish to mix it up, meld the flavors together as he looked over at Lyra and smiled before attention drifted to Andrei. "There was a little bar that most of the sophomores frequented off Presidio Row, Davy's Tavern, not the biggest shop but a great place for a good stout ale."

"His vice-captain, a freshman by the name of Poinart, began blaming some equipment failures on Andrei to their coach, so one day word got back to Andrei that the vice-captain was running him down to anyone that would listen or let him buy them a drink." Orion continued his story after taking a sip of his mead before continuing the story. "Poinart's behavior eventually made it back to Andrei, who came to the tavern to have a level and reasonable conversation with him and get his second to toe the line; a drink was poured on Andrei's shoes before he was told to piss off like a peasant, there was some shoving after that before Andrei finally reached the end of his patience, doing his best to make it look like Poinart was a survivor of a HALO impact, security was called, and as they were dragging him away, Andrei managed to spit on Poinart, but effectively the other man's career was finished with the brutality of the assault but none of Andrei's vice-captains ever tried to undermine him again."

Truthfully, Lyra was sure she wouldn't find the story to be of much interest, though she was more inclined to listen while Orion spoke since it was a story about her beloved. She continued to eat the dish in front of her which she was enjoying much more than the soup while at first giving polite attention, then becoming more engrossed in the story as Orion went on with it. She wasn't sure if Orion was trying to pain Andrei in a bad light by showing how volatile and over the top he could be, but he had certainly failed.

She turned her beautiful dark eyes to Andrei and they sparkled with that certain gleam he loved when she was thinking about violence. The hand still on his thigh moved inward and a bit higher, her fingers pressing into the softer flesh meaningfully.

"A lesson much needed and well taught, it seems."She all but purred, tempted to kiss him but deciding to simply let her hand do the communicating.

Andrei grinned at the story, really thinking of it as a good memory and a story of his success over adversity more than anything. He had a hard time understanding why Orion would bring it up considering he would try to undermine him. He hadn’t highlighted a single negative trait as far as Andrei was concerned. He grinned at Lyra as she moved her hand up his leg. Considering the relational context of being touched like that in the other man’s presence, he felt himself start to harden near her hand. He turned his attention back to Orion and shook his head.

“Good times.”

"I think there might be someone else who would argue that," Orion chuckled as he sipped his mead and tucked into his dish, not sure if the story had the right effect given how Lyra was looking at Andrei. However, if they had been together for as long as he had heard, she would have to know about Andrei's violent side, which meant she wasn't turned off by it, so perhaps that was part of the attraction between them. Dinner continued in companionable silence until they'd all had their fills before Orion moved to clear the table once more, disappearing into the kitchen and emerging with a dessert tray.

On were about a dozen or so balls of what appeared to be chocolate cake covered in coconut and chocolate sprinkles. Setting out a plate for each of them, he used a pair of tongs to deposit four each and disappeared once more with the tray, carrying a small pot with a drizzle cone in it. "Romkugler, a popular Danish treat and I made up a semi-sweet chocolate sauce in cause you are feeling indulgent."

"I'm always feeling indulgent if there's chocolate involved." Lyra spoke without shame. It wasn't like it was something she indulged in every day after all. She pushed her plate toward Orion slightly with one hand, her other hand was still entertaining itself under the table on Andrei's thigh.

Orion smiled and gave her a nod as he carefully maneuvered the pot and started to drizzle the melted sauce over her dessert, stopping when she indicated and then made the same offer to Andrei.

Orion’s failure to make him look bad had done a solid job of defusing the situation, and Andrei resisted the urge to try and make the man look stupid. In truth, there was no doubting he had already done it himself. Instead, he gestured to the plate and slid it toward Orion in an invitation to give me the glaze. Lyra’s hand continue to tease him under the table, in secret, and he found the gesture increasingly distracting.

“Baking as well as cooking. You’re a regular master chef.” Andrei said.

"Have you ever had romkugler before, Lyra?" He questioned the woman while providing some of the chocolate dressing to Andrei's dish, his attention turning to Lyra while moving to take his seat.

“Hmm…” Lyra cut open one of the balls with her fork and brought a bite up to her face. The scent of rum hit her and she glanced at Orion. “Not these specifically, but I’ve had rum balls before.”

As she took the bite to taste it, her hand moved from Andrei’s thigh and instead settled between his legs directly to continue to tease him. She could feel the heat and hardness that met the gesture and had to fight not to smirk. “Pretty good, though I might accuse you of trying to get me drunk.”

“Oh, there’s an idea.” Andrei said, licking his lips and using his fork to split one of the romkugler into half and pull it to his mouth. As she massaged and teased him, he enjoyed the sensation, though it was never more than mild through his pants. He grinned at a connection that came to his mind. “But that’s enough talking about Lyra’s curious love for balls drizzled in warm goo.”

It was shockingly unclothe for the situation, and one look at the satisfaction on his face would tell any intelligent person he was saying it specifically to thumb his nose at the social rules. Suddenly, he scooted back from the chair and stood. It had been quick enough that Lyra’s hand came up with him and fell rather slowly from the notable erection on his leg.

“Excuse me. I need to use your restroom.” He said in an amiable tone. Then he picked up his fork, popped the other half of the ball into his mouth, and strutted away like he was wearing a gold medal between his legs. It was overt, playful, and an unapologetic status claim. And, if there was anything that was certain about that, it was that he did carry around Lyra’s favorite toy.

Lyra wasn’t even remotely shaken by the theoretically embarrassing display of what she had been entertaining herself with for the past twenty minutes or so. She simply took a sip of her mead, and then hastily put it down. “Darling, wait. You forgot something… important.”

For Orion, seeing Lyra's hand on Andrei's groin a brief moment of pause since he was used to these kinds of displays from Andrei given that the man was ever so proud of displaying his pipe whenever he could. Lyra's encouragement of the situation was something a little different given that she wasn't the seemingly disposable woman that his rival would have usually gone for, so he still didn't necessarily understand the attraction between them. He remained seated as his guests got up and followed after each other, sipping his mead as he considered how the night was ending on a defeated note.

She got up from the table and followed after Andrei. She knew he didn’t actually have to use the bathroom except maybe to adjust himself from her attentions. Sweeping through Orion’s room she moved into the doorway of the bathroom and found Andrei at the sink. “Excuse you. I worked very hard to nurture that. I would see it put to good use.”

Lyra grinned at Andrei then, purely gleeful in a wicked way. Her hands moved to her dress and she started to slide her skirt up.

Andrei certainly hadn't expected Lyra to follow, but the fact that she was amused him to no end. Then when she started to hike up her skirt, he understood exactly what she was after and also couldn't help but notice she hadn't closed the door. Orion would no doubt be in the main living space, but seeing the two of them wouldn't be difficult if he stepped in front of his bedroom door. He grinned and reached for his belt, undoing it, unbuttoning his pants, and unzipping all in what seemed like one motion. He then pulled them down to his feet along with his boxers and his manhood came bobbing out. He didn't bother to remove his shirt or even to step out of his pants.

"You're the devil in a dress." he said to her as he approached and kissed her neck, his hands moving over her body.

When Andrei responded, her wicked grin only grew and there was a certain hot shimmer in her dark eyes. This was wrong, rude, and disrespectful and she loved it. As his lips found her neck, her hands moved to his hips.

“And you love me for it.” She purred and then nipped the soft skin under his ear. With a shifting of her body, she pulled herself up onto him, her legs wrapping around his hips tightly. A hand found his hair, pulling his head back so she could kiss him with fire. Her other hand moved down to adjust the fabric of her skirt a bit more and he could feel the soft, inviting flesh of her naked thighs and womanhood greet him.

After so long being tempted and played with by Lyra, Andrei was more than ready to feel her body next to him; around him. Even if he did have anything more than contempt for Orion, he didn't care now, but the fact that the man had spent the entire evening trying to steal Lyra from him just made it all even more perfect. He made a rather loud moaning noise as he supported her body with one strong arm and used his hand to guide himself into her tight entrance.

"Yeah, I love you for it." he said, again, at a deliberately uncareful volume as he started to move her up and down on him with agonizing slowness, enjoying her wetness on his first few inches as she tensed on his largesse sweetly. "Is this that important toy I forgot at the table, Love? Thanks so much for bringing it to me."

She would be able to tell right away that he was being greedy with what he gave her, and denied her the depth and the speed she would be wanting. If she was going to get it, she would have to wait. That, or she would have to take it from him.

Lyra knew it was fair play for her having spent so long teasing him at the table, but she didn't want fair play. Despite Andrei's strength, in her position she had much better leverage and the strength of her legs which wrapped around his hips even tighter than they had been. She started to move her hips, working herself down on him insistently and enveloping more of him into her silken depths. She set her own pace, grinding down on him and angling so he hit all of the spots that simply delighted her.

She moaned for her lover, unashamed, and found his lips with her own again.

Andrei didn’t resist her efforts but didn’t help either, watching her move and enjoying the impressive strength of her movements. He lingered there with her, letting her lose herself on him and feeling the occasional shaking of her body and loving every second of it. After a while, though, he started walking, limiting her range of motion a bit, until they reached Orion’s bed. He pulled out of her and tossed her on the bed playfully, a feat which wasn’t easy. He looked down at her hungrily, wondering if Orion had even heard any of it at all.

Lyra could have fought being tossed down to the bed, but of course she didn’t. She went down with a laugh, bouncing a couple times as she landed and then looking up into Andrei’s eyes with a hungry gaze. Her hands moved down to her skirt again, pulling the fabric up with her fingers in a slow, tantalizing fashion until it crested her thighs, but stopped just short of revealing his desire.

Andrei didn’t need her to reveal anything. He had proved himself more than capable of getting what he was after. He looked at the meeting of her thighs and the obscured space between her toned legs.

“You liked the balls that Orion baked out there, but I know you prefer mine.” He said with a raised eyebrow as he climbed on to his rivals bed, and guided himself inside the object of their desire. This time, unlike in the bathroom, he was taking no prisoners. He wanted to hear his beloved make some noise for him, and make it very clear to their benevolent host exactly whose she was.

Drawn to the open doors of his bed by the sounds of Lyra's moans, he watched as Andrei exited his bathroom carrying Lyra, lithesome legs wrapped tightly around his waist. Ignoring the man she was clinging to was easy enough for Orion, though he took her slightly flushed cheeks, the happy, even eager grin on her perfect features. She was radiant like he'd never seen in other women; passion radiated from her like heat from a star. It was addictive seeing it, and he could understand why Andrei would guard her so jealously. His attention followed her as she was thrown to the bed, listening to the surprised sound she made upon landing, his gaze following the supple curves of her calves, up to her toned thighs and the shadowed apex where they joined with the rest of her body, where her succulent prize rested. However, that was hidden in shadow before the entire view was ruined by Andrei and his bloated body intruding into the picture.

Orion stepped back from the doorway and back to the dining room table and retook his seat, picking up one of the rum balls in his fingers to examine it as he heard the muffled sound of passion coming from his bedroom. Rolling the doughy cake ball into his hand, he clenched his fist in a moderate display of anger as he imagined it being Andrei's balls that he was crushing. He felt the warm chocolate smearing against his palm, and for a moment, he could believe it was the viscera of his violent fantasy as he downed the rest of his mead using his clean hand. Since his bedroom was occupied, he'd have to remember to recycle the sheets; he stepped into the kitchen to wash his hands and pulled out a bottle of scotch to pour himself a few fingers as he set about cleaning up dinner, recycling things into the replicator.

While he had undoubtedly lost this battle, the war wasn't over, and he swore to the gods that he would see Andrei made into something that even the lowest Terran slave could look upon and have some small amount of pride in knowing that there was a form of life even lower than they were.

Lyra had seen the motion in the corner of her eye, but she hadn’t even bothered to look; her eyes were only for Andrei. Before he had really settled into his pace, Lyra had managed to pull her skirt up from under her so her naked lower half was on the bed though still obscured by the fabric of the skirt. Her legs draped over his hips, giving him better leverage to work every single inch of his manhood into her depths. One hand was tangled in his hair and the other gripped onto his arm. His efforts elicited the exact reaction he wanted and she wasn’t shy with her praises, giving even more than she usually did.

Andrei pounded like a machine, using every bit of himself to illicit moans, squeals, and dirty talk from Lyra. His hands moved on her body as he moved in her rapidly with an accompanying chorus of his own grunts and moans along with the natural wet sounds of the act itself. By the time they finished together and began to kiss, Orion’s bed was left in a state of absolute chaos.

Andrei pulled the man’s pillow case and used it to clean both him and Lyra off before tossing it carelessly on the man’s side table. As he pulled his underwear and pants back on and made himself presentable again, he watched Lyra with lustful eyes. She was amazing in his eyes, and that scared him a bit more than anything else. She had been loyal to him in this situation, but was that because she was truly dedicated to him or simply because she had no interest in Orion?

He kept all of these doubts from his face perfectly, and even winked at her with a smile. He was probably being silly.

Lyra looked up from the bed at Andrei, her dark eyes smoldering with the heat of satisfaction and desire. When he winked at her, she grinned in response and extended her hand to him so he could help her off the bed. As soon as she was on her feet, she kissed him; it was deep, passionate, and possessive. When she pulled back, she gave a giddy little giggle over what they had just done. It had been so wrong and yet so very right for them. She gave his hip a squeeze, letting him know she was ready to head back out.

Andrei led the pair as they walked back into the main living area flushed, breathing somewhat heavily, and with scattered hair. He walked past Orion without acknowledging him and plopped down on his couch with a groan. Then, finally, he looked at the other man with those predatory mismatched eyes, one silvery and the other blood red. His smile was dark and said everything his words did not. He had won. He was better. He had the prize; and he always would.

“You’ve got a tiny bed, Orion.”

Lyra wandered out after Andrei though was a bit slower as she had taken a moment to fix her hair as best she could with her fingers. She smirked at Andrei’s comment about the bed being small, and immediately moved to slide into his lap. Her arms went around his shoulders and she leaned her body into his while her eyes found Orion.

“Orion, would you be a dear and get us more mead? I’m very thirsty.”

Orion smiled at Lyra and ignored Andrei's comment, resisting the urge to roll his eyes at it as he walked over to a small wine rack and ran his fingers over the small selection that he had. He found the one he wanted, a 2365 Chateau D'Everaux, a fine enough selection he was willing to part with. He pulled it free, set it on the table before his guests, and smiled. A gesture telling them to get the fuck out; the evening was done.

"It's not more mead, but its a bottle of wine that I think will suffice to sate your thirst," He focused on Andrei, still smiling despite internally desiring nothing more than to infect the man with some sort of parasite that would make his cock stay flaccid and his balls to shrivel. A fitting punishment for a man like him. "I'm glad you enjoyed the evening, but let me see you out."

He also emphasized the point by gesturing towards the door.

Andrei pushed the bottle away slightly and shook his head. He grabbed Lyra’s hand and squeezed it affectionately, but directing his attention to the man in front of him. Orion had gone too far today, but he doubted the man would see it that way. He slavered after what was Andrei’s like a dog, and he might one day have to be put down like one. But, for now, he was an asset to the Fleet, and Andrei didn’t want to lose him in a pool of blood.

“We don’t need your wine, Orion.” Andrei said, as if the suggestion were simply stupid. Their game of politeness was at an end. “My advice to you is to go charm someone else. There are plenty of attractive women in the Fleet; you don’t need the best every time. And, if by some stroke of insanity you were to lay a hand on my woman, it would result in your brutal murder. It’s not really worth it, old friend. Find safer pussy. It’s everywhere.”

A retrovirus. Something that would settle into Andrei's genetics and find the triggers for every awful thing waiting for the right key to unlock. Something that would cripple the man and leave him a retched shell, a little something more akin to Quasimodo, bent and broken with none of what Andrei was so bloody proud of and allowed him to woo his lovers. Resisting the urge to use the heavy bottle as a bludgeon, Orion returned it to the rack instead. "Then leave; you've made your point; now go fuck in your quarters."

Lyra watched and listened to the exchange between the two men while remaining where she was in Andrei’s lap. When he squeezed her hand, her lips twitched upward in a slight smile. She didn’t interject her own comments after Andrei’s speech definitively declaring her as his woman; she paid no mind to the fleeting whispered question of if he would say the exact same for the rest of the women he had claimed on the ship. She turned her head to give him a quick kiss and then finally moved to stand so they could leave Orion’s quarters and leave the man to tend to his eviscerated pride.

“We’ll do that… probably several more times.” She smirked.

Only Orion could conspire to take another man’s girlfriend and then get upset that the man pushed back. Andrei shrugged and glanced at Lyra indifferently. Then he started for the exit with her. As far as he was concerned, the meal had been a smashing success.

Orion waited until the pair had left his quarters before he finished cleaning up the meal and pouring another couple of fingers of whisky as he steeled himself to go into his violated bedroom to overlook the damage. He took a sip of his drink, making a slight face at the burn, setting the glass aside so he could gather up the soiled linens and carried them over to the replicator as he ran them through the recycle process, setting up some incense to burn, to at least override the smell of sex going stale.

He'd have to take his time and regroup, figure out a different angle to come at Andrei from, maybe find his enemies and pool resources for revenge.

END