Some Like It Hot

Posted on 25 Jan 2014 @ 8:29pm by Ensign K'os Beaumont & Ensign Matthew Plumeri

1,544 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Episode 05 - Solstice
Location: Earth - Sao Paulo, Brazil
Timeline: MD 10 -1400

ON:

It wasn't that he didn't appreciate the fact that Jeremy The Bartender was probably sick of serving drinks to tourists. He even went as far as to overlook the fact that his 'have-a-nice-day' smiles are completely fake. This was the first real time off that he's had since enlisting, and all he wanted Jeremy The Bartender to do was make a simple gin, with carbonated water and slice of lime. Yes, he'd consumed a number of them anyway, but he'd keep trying till Jeremy The Bartender got it right. He'd try all night if he had to. He thanked the server with a wave of his hand and took his blue liquid sugar drink slowly back towards the bar.

"Service here stinks don't it?" Matthew Plumeri said to the approaching guest. He held up a mug of beer, "Beer's warm and the service is cold. The view ain't so bad though?"

He motioned with his head to a few pretty ladies that were laughing as they came in. "Looks like they got their drink order right?"

Matt then slapped his hand on the bar three times, "AY!!! C'mon?!!! Customers down here you know?"

K'os had just turned his head to see who he had been indicating when his sudden shouting made him flinch. It had the desired effect though, because not only did Jeremy The "I'm-starting-to-think-that-isn't-his-real-name" Bartender brought them new drinks, his was the right colour. He picked up his drink and with a slightly lopsided smile said jovially, "And it's in a Collins glass, yay for small victories Jeremy." He then turned towards the shouter who was not so bad looking himself before quickly turning towards the view he had indicated a moment ago. Between that and the beef cake beside him he nodded his head. "I'm inclined to agree." He rose his glass in cheers. "I'm debating if I should tell you there were more playing volley ball on the beach."

Matt almost polished off the whole mug, "Woooo!! That's refreshment right there!" He grinned and laughed. "They got your drink right this time ay?" He laughed, "Squeaky wheel gets the grease as they say."

He said, "I'm Matt. Just taking a break from sitting in front of the computer screens all day y'know? This place is pretty much all 'Fleeters'. Should I assume that you're here on shoreleave too?"

He asked with a grin as he raised his mug to get 'Jeremy's' attention. "Want another bro?"

He nodded indicating he'd have another drink. He leaned back on the bar and crossed his arms watching people mingle about. "I'm K'os, nice to meet you Matt."

A blonde Trill woman sat with another friend at a table on the far side of the bar over looking the beach. They were watching the volleyball game, but every so often she'd try and make eye contact with Matt. He wondered briefly if they knew each other. K'os was clueless when it came to such things. "Just finished a three year posting, in between transfers." He said, quickly finishing his drink so he could have the other. "You?"

Matthew made eye contact with the cute blonde but didn't say anything.

"I'm so lucky man. After the academy, right, I was posted to DS5. Did a year tour and I applied for a ship of the line. I figured it'd be something more exciting than planetside duty all the time. And, I figured it'd be a small ship. I get the notice of application back from Starfleet and I was assigned to the..what now is...the Admiral's task force flagship. USS Nimitz. I nearly crapped my pants when I read it I was so stoked. I'm a history guy. Ancient and Alien Civilizations is the proper title. So...it's kind of a dream come true y'know?"

The drinks arrived and Matt handed K'os his drink. "Here you are...nice to meet you K'os." Matt indicated to his own very human ears and said, "You've got some...Vulcan or Romulan in you huh?"

He wiggled his ears. "I do." he confirmed, not being specific on which. He took the offered drink. His eyebrows had risen almost off his forehead at the mention of Matt's occupation. History was a topic he could listen to for hours.

The blonde woman now met eyes with him again and so did a very hot, very cute, very interested red head who was looking at K'os. "I think we might get some company?" He indicated with his head

K'os grinned and not so gracefully took a seat at the bar. He followed Matt's gaze before turning his attention back. "Yes I see. The conundrum of course is, I'm torn between engaging in captivating historical facts or a barrage of red-headed giggles." He leaned in as if plotting something, and lowering his voice a little. "Compounded of course, Matt, by the very real fact that I've had a lot of gin and waters. You'll appreciate, I hope, the difficulty in getting a Vulcan hybrid drunk?"

"Now, that...I'd like to see. Which part of your personality wins out? I'm guessing the human side. Because either...you are the coolest Vulcan...or your Romulan side has been 'tamed' by Starfleet?" He teased and said, "I can appreciate the sheer...volume...of booze in your system. Let's see if you can make it outside to that table there. There's two of us...and four open seats. I like those odds bro."

He noted the table with a glance but his attention were drawn to a few of hte volleyball players not too far off. "Pull up a second table and you'd have a party." He observed with a laugh. He lurched forward with surprisingly little stagger for his condition.

K'os was a handsome guy. Matthew figured that Human and "alien" hybrids were not all that common in this part of the world and so K'os would be unique. Even exciting for the local girls to meet. "You like history huh? So do I. Which works out perfectly for me since that's what I do." He grinned back at him. When they reached the table Matt took off his t-shirt to bath his skin in the warn sunlight. It was so rare to actually get real sunlight and the Sol star kissed him. "What's your job K'os?"

K'os decided it was too early in the shoreleave to burn his pale skin so opted to keep his shirt on; oblivious to the effect it may have had on luring more friends to the table. "System's specialist." He answered after he'd sat down. "I just finished a three year posting on the Mississippi. Propulsion initially then lateral move to matter & energy systems. Worked out very well. Shoreleave, then I'm posted to the Galileo."

Matt sat across from him and draped the t-shirt over the back of his chair. He moved the other chair out and put his feet up on it and reclined, "Matter and Energy Systems...(whistles)...man, you don't play around. You must be one hell of a specialist to land a posting on the Galileo. Good work man!" Matt leaned forward and "bumped" fists with him. "You're still new to the ship though...I bet you broke some hearts when you left huh?"

"More than I thought I would." He said cryptically. He leaned forward and put his elbow on the table, cupping his chin in his hand. He gestured towards Matt with his glass, sloshing the liquid a little. "What made you choose your trade?" He raised his eyebrows as if his full attention was on his new drinking pal.

Matt looked back at him, "Awww, I love history man. I didn't always though. But I sure do now. I don't know...for me...history is one big story. And everybody has a story. History, a lot of people think is about what happened 'back then' in some far off place in some far off forgotten time. Not for me man. History is all about the present and the now. It's who we are. Its why people do the things they do. I love it! I hope that one day, I get to be on a first contact mission you know?"

"My mother used to say we are the sum of all our mistakes." It never sounded negative when she said it. "I think she would have agreed with your insight." He downed his drink in one gulp. The red-headed woman that Matt had noticed earlier was now standing over by a gaming machine wagging her finger at K'os. He smiled when he recognized her. The blonde meanwhile had plopped herself down in the empty seat next to Matt.

"It was very nice meeting you, Matt." He looked from the redhead back to the Nimitz officer. He pursed his lips, cocked his head and nodded in a 'what-can-you-do' sort of way.

Matt extended his hand as he stood, "I'll see you around OK K'os? Probably on your ship in the next few days? I think...you are needed over at the gaming tables?"

[OFF:]



Ensign Matthew Plumeri
Science Officer/Historian
Guest from USS Nimitz

&

PO3 K'os Beaumont
Matter/Energy Systems Specialist
USS Galileo

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