Sharing Common Interests - Part III

Posted on Fri Apr 4th, 2025 @ 8:11pm by Commander Vincent 'Vin' Salvatore & Lieutenant JG Gianna De Luca

1,572 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: EPISODE 1: SHAKEDOWN
Location: Chief Counselors Office
Timeline: After: Salvatore's Soiree

Continuing from Part II

ON:

Revealing that much of her backstory to someone she'd just met was probably too much all at once, so Gia waved his concerns off with a reassuring tone, "It's honestly fine. It was a long time ago, and it was a crisis averted thanks to my brothers. Nothing to worry about." She hadn't dated anyone since that incident, but that was beside the point. Sipping on her own coffee she added, "I apologise for blurting out that information too, by the way."

"No need to apologize." Vincent replied quickly. "It happened, good or bad, that moment is there to remind you to be more cautious and protective of who you let in. That moment, in some way, has probably helped protect you afterwards. So, don't apologize." He took a sip from his coffee, taking a second to think something through, before easing the mug down. "I was sent on a mission once... a mission for Starfleet Intelligence. Without getting into the details, I was sent to find out what happened to another Officer who was sent there for a different reason. While I was investigating, I ran into this woman. She was... incredible, to be honest. The more time I spent with her, the less I wanted to spend time doing my job. It got to a point, I started to think, if I should just drop out of Starfleet and stay there. With her."

Gia sipped more of her coffee and nodded, listening carefully at what he had to say and making sure she didn't miss anything by interrupting him for trivial questions, "What happened after that?"

He took another sip from his coffee and placed it down on the table. "If it wasn't for another officer, a close friend, I would have done it too." Vincent looked down for a moment before looking up at Gia. "Turns out... she was an Orion who altered her appearance. What lured me in, what got my head all mixed up, wasn't love. It was her pheromones. Orion women have these pheromones that are designed to pull males into their sway. This particular Orion was a highly trained killer. She pulled in the officer I was originally sent to look after and now she was doing the same to me. When I was finally back to my right state of mind, we went out to look for her, but she was gone. I've been hunting her ever since."

He looked at her calmly, his eyes focused, before a smirk appeared on his face. "Needless to say, you aren't the only one who has made a bad choice or two when it came to relationships." He let out a bit of a chuckle as he picked up the mug again. "She is the reason I know as much as I do about Orion’s. Why I am prepared to deal with them again should the time ever come. Good or bad, our past shapes who we are n the present. We made the decision to make that change something that improved who we are and not turn us into something worse. I am grateful you brothers kept you safe, because if they hadn't, I would have never gotten to know you now." He took another sip of his coffee.

After a moment of reflecting on what Vin had just said, Gia didn't actually know what to say for once in her life. Both he and she had had experiences where they could have been straight up killed if it hadn't been for the intervention of someone else. Some might have even been bold enough to call it trauma bonding in a way. With slightly raised eyebrows, she made her comment, feeling like what he'd told her was barely the tip of the iceberg and she'd have to read his file in depth later, "You weren't lying when you said there's a lot to unpack, were you? That's quite a bit to go through, so I'd be thankful your friend was there to recognise the dangers and help you through it."

Finishing off her coffee, she added, "And I'm very grateful too, in a way, for these events having both shaped a path that's led us to this moment here and now. I mean, even if it is in a semi formal capacity and all."

Vincent finished the mug in his hand and smiled before finishing it. As he placed the empty coffee mug back on the table, he replied softly. "Starfleet Intelligence isn't just about gathering information and relaying it forward to those who need it. There's another layer to it that not many know about or experience. There are the secrets. The secrets we find and hold onto. The ones we hear and not share. Each of us has a vault we keep... right here." He said softly as he tapped the side of his head. "For some of us, Gia, that vault is at capacity. So, unpacked, can be a bit of an understatement." He chuckled slightly with a smile. "If you ever want to talk, officially or unofficially, my door will always be open for you. It doesn't matter if it’s for a shoulder to cry on or just someone to lend an ear. No matter what it is... I won't judge. You have my word."

"I feel like you've just used my own words against me with that offer, Vin." Gia flashed him a flattering grin. "Our chatting has been so involved that it made me forget about the fact you're the XO. I might have to take you up on that offer at some point." She wasn't sure if she'd missed a social queue or anything, but she hoped not.

Vincent chuckled slightly, keeping to his smile as he leaned back against the cushion of the seat. "It must have been the cookies." He let out another laugh. He was expecting this meeting to go one way, but not, it went in an entirely different direction. To be honest, he wasn't disappointed at the result. They seemed to have a lot in common. More so than he realized. With another smile on his face, he looked at her with pleased eyes and slight red in his cheeks. "I'll look forward to when you do, Gia."

It felt to her like this conversation could have gone any way after what had already been discussed. But it could also be a gateway to a scheduled meeting for him too. "It was definitely the cookies," Gia slowly nodded, "Feel free to stop in any time and bring more of them as well. I wasn't lying when I said they were amazing."

"I'll be sure to do that." Vincent replied as he stood up from the couch and smiled back at her. He reached down to the contained and picked up a cookie, a Snickerdoodle, before turning back to look at her. "I hope you have a great day, Lieutenant... or is it Doctor?" Vin asked as he took a bite.

Gia smiled because it wasn't the first time she'd been asked that, "Not quite a doctor yet, so it's just Lieutenant for now. I'll be a doctor within the next five years though."

He smiled pleasantly back at her. A part of him was curious as to how she got her position before even getting a doctorate in the field. However, his curiosity didn't call for him to look into it. Whether there was a story behind it or not, it would come to light eventually, so the fact that she was in the position and clearly wanted to fulfil the role as best as she could until then was what kept Vincent in his smile.

"I have no doubt in my mind you'll get it, Gia. Those five years will go by sooner than you think. If you need anything... don't hesitate." Vincent said as he held up the cookie and took another bite. "If I can work my magic, I'll do what I can. Again, have a great day and welcome aboard."

"Thank you, sir. I appreciate it." The offer of his help was greatly appreciated, and she would take him up on it at some stage if she got stuck with anything.

"Vincent... or Vin. No Sir." Vincent replied, with a smile, before walking out of the office. He was surprisingly pleased as he left the room. He didn't have to pull out the bad memories or experiences, but then again, this was just their first meeting. Lieutenant JG De Luca, Gia, was unexpectedly pleasant from the other counselors he came across. Maybe it was because they share pieces of their past with each other or maybe it was a part of him felt attracted to her. Regardless of what it was, Vincent knew, he could open up to her and maybe share things he normally wouldn't share with others.

Gia continued to sit for a while after she watched Vin walk out, reflecting internally on how that conversation had just gone. She smiled and shook her head at the thought there could potentially be something there beyond friends off duty, before she got to cleaning up and going back to her desk to write up some notes.


OFF


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Commander Vincent 'Vin' Salvatore
Executive Officer/Chief Intelligence Officer
USS Hecate

Lieutenant Gianna De Luca
Chief Counsellor
USS Hecate

 

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