Quark donned his most charming smile as he approached the table. The grapevine had carried news of an unexpected Andorian guest aboard the station, and he was keen to evaluate this new patron. It irked him that Garak had apparently whisked her away before she could amble into his bar, but at least the tailor had had the courtesy to eventually bring her back. "What'll it be? Let me guess, a hefty krill-beast steak with a side of vithi bulbs?"
N'iv looked him over with an air of keen interest.
"No? I suppose you're right. Why eat what you can have back on Andoria? This is Quark's! How about something more… adventurous, then?"
She threw a questioning glance at Garak. He gave a noncommittal shrug and idly selected a few Gramilian sand peas from the dish in the center of the table.
"A hearty bowl of Kholanese stew?" Quark suggested, not missing a beat. "A delicious plate of chilled tube grubs? Or perhaps locally sourced Hasperat, or some exquisite Alterian chowder?"
Her blank expression answered him.
Exasperated, Quark sighed. "Look, I have plenty of other customers to serve. So, do you want something or not?"
"I…" Flustered, N'iv fumbled in her bag. "What can I get with this?"
The sight of the item on the table transformed Quark's thinly veiled annoyance into undisguised delight. "An entire bar of gold pressed latinum?" he nearly salivated, rubbing his hands together in an effort to keep from snatching it up. "I'm sure we can prepare something to your liking."
"Good. Then surprise me."
"Leave it to me. I always take extra care of my best customers."
"And something for Garak too," she added as Quark gingerly reached for the latinum. "Whatever he wants."
Quark's instinctive protest was stifled when he noticed the smug grin on the Cardassian's face. It was wiser to charm a big-spender for continued business than exploit her in the short term. Besides, how much could Garak consume in one afternoon?
"Of course, my pleasure. What'll you have, Mr. Garak? A glass of kanar?"
"Actually," Garak responded, his smile still playing on his lips, "I think I'll have the whole bottle today. To share, naturally."
Quark suppressed a grimace, knowing any objections would be futile. The weight of the latinum in his hands, though, helped soften the ache of greed in his heart. "Right away. And what about food?"
"Just my usual, thank you. With some extra I'danian spice pudding, if you please."
Quark exhaled in relief. "I'll have it ready in a flash." Cradling the latinum to his chest, he scurried off to his storeroom to secure his treasure before any minds could be changed.
"I overpaid, didn't I?"
"I'm not one to comment on another's financial decisions," Garak replied. "Cost, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder." He popped another pair of Gramilian sand peas into his mouth. ""But yes, you most certainly paid too much."