The Mess Hall, Day 39 [Open/Unfinished]

[miss_gaila]

Humans had bizarre food customs... and bizarre food. When she was at the academy, Gaila had normally cooked her own food, but it wasn't possible to cook every day on the Enterprise, so she was left eating what the replicator claimed were human foods. She hadn't even heard of half the menu choices. The plate before her contained something called

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[miss_gaila]

Gaila hadn't eaten the pot pie, but was almost done with her second piece of chocolate cake. She looked up when Nyota suddenly sat down across from her, and then blinked in surprise at her declaration. "Why are you apologizing?" she asked, and then realized that Nyota probably felt bad about their conversation in sickbay. "It's all right, I know you were upset."

[miss_gaila]

Gaila listened attentively to her friend's apology. "Thank you," she said. "And I know you weren't really mad at me, but if you can't freak out in front of your friends, who are you going to freak out in front of? In any event, apology accepted."

She raised an eyebrow when her friend snagged part of the cake. "Do we need another one?" she asked teasingly.

Nyota's next comment made her happy in a way she hadn't expected it to. It wasn't that she didn't know Nyota was there to support her - Nyota had listened to her before when she found human society confusing, but... But somehow the words seemed significant. The invitation was stated so openly, and Gaila found herself wondering if someday she might be able to tell Nyota about the things that really hurt her. Not yet, but... "Thank you," she said softly. "I really appreciate that, ."

[miss_gaila]

Gaila was pleased that Nyota looked more relaxed. She smiled. "Wait here," she said, and went to get another piece of cake - vanilla this time. I need to stop eating so much damn cake, she thought.

As she sat down again, she carefully considered the woman before her, as well as her conversation with Chris. Sharing pain and insecurity seemed to be an important part of human friendship, and quite honestly Gaila liked it. Still, she had long been taught that being too open with people was a good way to get yourself killed... or worse. Gaila knew firsthand what happened when you trusted the wrong people. This isn't that place, that time, those people... This is Nyota for goodness sake.

"Nyota, one of the things I feel insecure about is how to properly be a friend to you, and to Chris. Your friendship is important to me, but I know that sometimes I say things that upset you. Still, I'm... grateful, that you trust me enough to talk to me about things that bother you."

[miss_gaila]

Gaila ate slowly so that Uhura could steal as much as she wanted - it was her third piece of cake.

She nodded at her friend's first statement. "I am beginning to see that," she said softly.

The last statement confused her a little, but made her smile anyway. "Now that is something I can help you with." She leaned forward a little and grinned wider. "Unlike some people on this ship, I am definitely not afraid to argue with you."

[miss_gaila]

Nyota looked distracted for a moment, and then pulled the fork slowly, almost seductively out of her mouth.

Gaila raised an eyebrow. "And why, exactly, should I be afraid of you?" she asked, smirking a little.

[miss_gaila]

Gaila definitely didn't miss the various interpretations of her friend's words - she never did. Keeping her eyes locked on Nyota's, she tilted her head so that her hair spilled over her shoulder and smirked. "Nyota," she said, "I have no problem with your... sharp tongue. As to your talents, I do keep hearing about them." She raised a challenging eyebrow.

[miss_gaila]

"Oh honey, I've always been... curious..." It wasn't really Gaila's fault that Nyota was one of the sexiest women on the ship. Gaila wasn't entirely sure what her friend was doing, but she could flirt with Gaila any time she wanted to. The woman was gorgeous. "... As one talented woman to another."

[miss_gaila]

Gaila leaned back slightly, knowing the movement would cause the light to catch in her hair, and considered her friend carefully. Her body unconsciously readjusted, slipping easily into an even more flirtatious stance. She was a little unsure where Nyota was at the moment. She had a lot going on, and Gaila didn't want to do anything that would cause her friend more stress, but...

"Any time you want to indulge that curiosity, you know where to find me," she replied.