Petitions *by Sergeant Major Vincent Aigremont* The wine was fruity and sweet on her tongue with a light spice to it that Elspeth always found appealing in a wine. It was the last of his collection. He'd hidden it away at the back of his gardening closet where he'd thought she wouldn't find it. *Probably to go with a birthday dinner,* she mused as she sipped it again. He would be back for it, she was certain. Her eyes flicked to the door as the chime sounded and she swept gracefully to her feet. She pressed the door release delicately and posed so she looked her most attractive in her long, flowing dress. "Ah, Vincent, what can I do for you?" she said gleefully, drinking deeper from the ruby red liquid. His lips formed a thin, tight line as he looked between the glass and her face. "My last bottle." "Of course. You didn't really expect me to destroy everything without leaving me something to toast the death of our marriage, did you?" Stepping up close to him, she ran a finger over his green uniform. "Come in lover, or have you had your share of the bedroom for today?" "Don't be vulger, Elspeth, is doesn't become you." Glaring around but avoiding looking at her, Vincent stomped over the threshold. "It's pink in here. You decorated." "Aren't you the observant one," she muttered, sweeping after him. "And if you thought that was vulger, you haven't heard anything yet." He span around to stare at her. "Don't start! You're a lady, the least you can do it pretend to be lady-like." "Hmm, is your precious Trill lady-like? Does she let you screw her lying on her back or does she prefer to dominate and fuck you from above?" She spat the last few words at him, venom screwing her face into a mask of hatred. "You're pathetic, you know that?" he said, taking a step closer to her. "I'm your wife!" "Not for long." Offering her the PADD in his hands, he showed her the divorce papers he was filing. "I need you thumb print to say you agree." "But I don't." Elspeth smiled, her cruelty twisting it into a grimace. "I won't divorce you, Vincent. You're mine and no stupid, foolish little whore who didn't know when to keep her legs crossed is going to take you away from me." The open-handed slap whipped her head to the side, made her stumble backwards and drop her glass. It shattered on the ground, soaking the carpet in almost blood-red liquid. He grabbed for her chin, holding it in a vice-like grip. "You do not speak of Jassa that way, do you understand?" When she didn't respond, he gave her head a shake. "Do you understand?" "Oh yes," she said as she pulled her head away, glaring daggers. "I understand you very well." Licking the side of her mouth, she pulled the blood inside and rolled it around her tongue. "Do you hit her when she says something you don't like? Is that why she's so meek and deferential?" A look of complete disgust soured Vincent's face and he pushed past her for the door. "If you will not sign the papers, I will talk to a lawyer. We will be divorced, Elspeth, mark me on this." As the door slid shut, Elspeth allowed herself the smallest of chuckles before she moved to the comm-panel. "Security, this is Elspeth Aigremont," she said, her voice coming in panicked gasps. "Help me... My husband... He hit me and stormed off... I don't know what he's going to do... oh God, Jassa, no..."