[Charlie Fox - Guard Room, Adjacent to Conference Room, Akrath Island]

Charlie did not mind being searched by Officer Deywa. Not one bit. It seemed that the Arkarian security guard that she'd gotten to know rather well these last few days was getting something of a kick out of it, too. Charlie grinned as the woman took a second, very unnecessary pass over her hips, patting the pockets of her dark jeans.

"They have scanners for that, you know."

"That would not be half as fun," came Deywa's coy response, lips curving upward.

"Old-fashioned, huh?" Charlie asked, her long hair, tied up in a ponytail swishing across her shoulders as she shook her head. "Could at least buy me dinner first."

"Or after. I will see you back at the Lounge later?" The Arkarian woman stood and faced Charlie, seemingly pleased that her search had turned up no contraband or concealed weapons that she was planning on slipping the serial killer in the conference room.

Charlie nodded in response, then in an instant, Deywa was all business. "Kalda Kark is a model prisoner, but he is a dangerous individual, Charlie, understand that. If you feel threatened, hit the panic button. When you want to leave, just stand up and we will enter and escort you out."

"My safe word is 'moist'."

With a roll of her eyes the Arkarian gave Charlie a little push toward the door. Still grinning, the journalist took a moment to compose herself before entering. This was a very interesting opportunity she had before her, and she wanted to do it justice.

She stepped inside and greeted the serial killer. "Hello again, Kalda Kark." She approached the seating area, brows raising with surprise at the spread that had been provided. Olsen, her constant companion, hovered just behind her as she moved closer. "Klingon foodie? I'm not long back from Qo'Nos myself. That was an interesting culinary experience."

Charlie moved to sit, but then she looked up. "Oh, my thanks for taking the time to meet with me," she added, as though just remembering her manners.

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Tag: Judith Eastman (Kalda Kark)

[Charlie Fox - Conference Room, Akrath Island]

She chuckled shortly, amused by the assumption. "Someone who acts before they can think?" Charlie asked. It might appear like a self-deprecating thing to say, but she knew that it was highly likely he meant something else. She also knew that's not at all what she was really like.

"May I?" She gestured toward the spread. It was there for eating, not for looking at, surely.

"I know a guy, Starfleet Officer, who uses his tricorder to scan unfamiliar foods." She quirked a brow. "Maybe there's a happy medium in there somewhere."

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Judith Eastman (Kalda Kark)

[Charlie Fox - Conference Room, Akrath Island]

"Thanks," she responded, then picked up a two-pronged fork and began twirling the barely warmed gagh around the tines. Belatedly, she noticed a distinct lack of sauce, but did not have to cast her gaze about much before her eyes landed on something with a fiery red top. She wasted no time in applying it liberally.

"Wistan is my favourite," Charlie confided conversationally. "I think the targ blood reminds me of a breakfast food from back home; similar texture, spicy flavour."

The fork paused just in front of her mouth as she looked at the serial killer passed the tepid klingon delicacy. "In that instance, it's the person who observes the assertion of power, rather than the participant, who truly has the control."

In went the gagh, and her face reflected the flavours and heat from the unusual combination of spices as she chewed a handful of times.

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Tag: Judith Eastman (Kalda Kark)

[Charlie Fox - Conference Room, Akrath Island]

Charlie was no stranger to side-eye. In fact, when not on her guard, she had a very expressive face, and it was often very easy to gauge her thoughts or mood. She'd given a killer look or two in her time, but she took Kalda Kark's advice onboard, even if he hadn't meant for her to. Used less, certain things were more effective.

"Oh, black pudding!" She readily supplied as she began gathering another mouthful of gagh with her fork. "Not to be confused with human dessert. Traditionally it was made from the blood of the cow or the sheep, bled before slaughter, and then boiled in a natural casing, like the animal's intestine. Spices added, along with some cereals to thicken it up. It's known in some parts as blood sausage, though the traditional ways of cooking and serving it are definitely the best."

Perhaps that was why she did not balk as much as other humans might when presented with unusual, alien meals. "A couple of small islands on Earth still eat it. The reactions of others to it always intrigued me; to many it's distasteful."

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Tag: Judith Eastman (Kalda Kark)

[Charlie Fox - Conference Room, Akrath Island]

Charlie agreed that people could be very narrow-minded and closed, but she had a suspicion that she and Kalda Kark had different ideas of what a "push" might constitute.

"How do you do that?" She asked, her tone curious. One of the most interesting aspects of having conversations like this was that they tended to go in unexpected places, and usually quickly.

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Tag: Judith Eastman (KK)

[Charlie Fox - Conference Room, Akrath Island]

"My viewers and readers won't be tuning in for my research, Kalda Kark," she put her fork down for a moment and her hand flicked toward the hovering Olsen, who was recording everything. "We have a saying on Earth: 'Straight from the horse's mouth'. Much more interesting."

Charlie wasn't sure if hearing of this murderer's deeds directly from him would be more or less terrifying than reading detailed descriptions of them in records. One removed the reader's need for imagination, the other could potentially take you anywhere.

"I would imagine that people will do anything to survive," she opined, before picking her fork up once more, "That seems to be a universal constant across most species."

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Tag: Judith Eastman (Kalda Kark)

[Charlie Fox - Conference Room, Akrath Island]

"I would agree in general," she responded, nodding slowly when he observed that killing a loved one seemed to be a line that many would not cross. "And I would imagine if you were to test that theory, you'd have to choose a subject with strong connections to others."

What of those with no such connections, Charlie wondered to herself. She knew that some would balk at the idea of killing a stranger, while she'd also known others who would gut their own mothers to survive.

"Do you have a set criteria for those you like to test, Mr. Kark?"

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Tag: Judith Eastman (Kalda Kark)