Launch Party, Part 3

Posted on 16 Oct 2018 @ 6:47am by Lieutenant Lake ir-Llantrisant & Crewman Draia Thero & Commander Marisa Wyatt & Lieutenant JG Tris Shizn & Lieutenant JG Matthew Plumeri & Petty Officer 3rd Class Constantin Vansen & LuAnn Lovegood PhD
Edited on on 16 Oct 2018 @ 6:48am

3,609 words; about a 18 minute read

Mission: Episode 17 - Crystal of Life
Location: USS Galileo-A - Deck 2, Mess Hall
Timeline: MD -182 - 2246 hours

Previously on “Launch Party, Part 2”…

He nodded and said, "Yup. I see her. Someone should ask her to dance; because she's probably a very good dancer." He scanned the room and nodded towards a solo crewman, "There's somebody that could use a party. See how he's backed himself up against the wall? See how he's standing between the light sources and chosen the darkest part? He wants to be here; but he's too shy to ask anybody for a drink or dance. Now why do you suppose that is?" he asked taking another drink and enjoying the game.

"Probably been rejected one too many times," Marisa said. "Or he's never been asked before."

He shrugged, "Could be. Then there's that couple. Girl with the dark hair and Coulterian dress? Totally into her partner there. Both of those ladies know how to have a good time. That...is love and admiration if I ever did see." He let a beat pass and then asked unexpectedly, "You seeing anyone special?" He looked at her.

And now the continuation…


[ON]

"Not...at the moment," she replied. She was having dinner with Luke in a few days, but that really wasn't seeing someone. "Are you?"

He shook his head, "Nah...like you say, not at the moment. I kinda tied up any loose relationship ends before Galileo was deployed. I want to focus on some good science while I'm out here. Make the most of my time while I'm here." He was quiet a moment and then laughed at himself. "Never thought I'd hear myself say those words." He looked over at her, "I'm a little more....mmmm...peppermint...than Starfleet is used to I think?"

---

Walking around and sipping his drink, Tris was quite surprised to hear some Andorian ‘punk’ music. This was not his preferred style, but he had learned to appreciate it and it did have a good beat.

On the small stage in the corner, Draia Thero writhed in front of the drum set, her hands sliding up and down her mic stand in rhythm with the swaying of her hips. "You sweat up on my sheets and then you run, but I'm not done," she sing-shouted in Cardassian-accented Andorian. Every four words, or so, she threw in a Federation Standard word too. "You tell me I'm the one--" she sang on, but then her eyes locked with Tris Shizn, standing in the audience with his drink clutched close to his body.

"Buddy, hey buddy," Draia suddenly shouted out to Tris. She pointed at him with an accusatory finger. The band kept playing the song, but Draia had lost interest in the lyrics. "Are you going to stand there like a lapling or are you going to" --and Draia's shouting turned into a scream, as if someone was trying to murder her when she asked-- "DANCE?"

At first Tris wasn’t sure if this ‘singer’ was talking to him or not. He turned to look to see if there was anyone else around him. When it was obvious that she was wanting his answer, he figured he had to respond in some way to her. Speaking loudly over the music, “Umm . . no. I don’t dance.” He shook his free hand down and outward in a negative way. He then wanted to make everything ‘all right’ and added awkwardly, “I like your music though.” Maybe those weren’t the right ones? he thought. “The lyrics are quite interesting.”

"We're just a cover band, dude," Draia replied in a manner that was both humble and defensive at the same time. She raised her palms up as if Tris had pointed as phaser at her. "It's not my music. No one can own music. This song is supposed to make you sweat. Why won't you DANCE?"

LuAnn couldn't believe the woman on stage would actually behave that way. So, to help Tris out, she walked over to him and smiled. "I think this is our dance."

Tris turned and was face to face with a Human looking female with the whitest hair he had ever seen on a Human, but not nearly as white as his. “Um . . “ he stuttered, but then social convention kicked in that his mother had taught him multiple times over his years growing up, ‘Never leave a lady waiting’. “Yes. Yes, of course.” He turned slightly and found a table within arm’s reach and set down his drink, getting an odd look from the Bolian sitting there. Tris held up his hands to go to her waist and her hand, but then realized this may not be right and said, “I’m not sure if I know how to lead this?” He raised up an eyebrow questioning her.

"You're doing fine," LuAnn assured him. "I'm LuAnn, by the way. Nice to meet you."

Taking notice of the way Tris and LuAnn were moving towards each other, Draia Thero lost interest in harassing them. On the stage behind them, Draia counted herself in and picked up, more or less, where she had left off in the song. "You dare to question me before I run," Draia sang in mostly-Andorian. "You come undone..."

The Andorian found this woman’s very forward introduction to be quite . . calming, which made him smile pleasantly as he took her gently with his left hand behind her waist and holding her left hand with his right. As they began to sway with the rythem he said, “I’m Tris, and it’s a pleasure to meet you Louahn.” Realizing that the way he said her name did not sound quite the way she had pronounced it. “I’m sorry. Did I say that right?”

"Not exactly. It's Lou Anne. But your pronunciation is close enough for me." He was quite comfortable to dance with, which made LuAnn smile. "Where do you work, Tris?" she asked.

“I’m one of the Conn Officers,” Tris replied trying to make it seem not important. The music changed slightly, and he raised his right hand gently, moving her with his left for her to walk through and around.

"That sounds like quite a challenge. I don't think I could fly a ship full time. I much prefer the flexibility of working in counseling," LuAnn said.

The antennae lifted slightly as Tris’ eyebrows rose at the comment. “So, you are a Counselor then.” It was more of a repeated statement and not intended to be a question. He grimaced slightly, hoping he was not boring her already. Trying to revamp the conversation, “I would assume that you enjoy helping people work through personal issues?”

"I do," she said. "Helping people makes me happy. People in general make me happy."

Her comment brought a natural smile to Tris’ face, “That’s exactly what I tell people about flying through space. It makes ‘me happy’.” He released her back and then stepped away from LuAnn. At the extension of their bodies, yet still holding hands, the Andorian pulled and guided her gently back toward him.

LuAnn beamed. "I think that's the best thing any of us can say about your jobs. I'm glad you feel that way. You know, you're fun to dance with, too."

“Thanks,” Tris replied confidently. “I do have to admit that my mother taught me. She has never been much of a talker, but she said that an ongoing conversation while dancing made both much more comfortable and then the dance would come naturally.” With that the song ended and he stepped back with a slight bow.

"She's a wise woman," LuAnn said. "Thank you, sir, for the dance."

He closed his eyes for a second as he bowed slightly saying, “It’s been a pleasure.” He hesitated a second and added, “And thank you for saving me earlier.” His eyes darted toward the woman singing in front of the band.

"Any time," she said. She glanced at the woman, too. "In fact, it was my pleasure. Dancing with you, and disrupting her rant."

This brought another smile to Tris’ face. It had been a good exchange, more than he had initially anticipated. The Andorian then raised a hand to wave bye.

LuAnn waved back and smiled. He was a very nice man, and she'd enjoyed the dance, and the company. She turned and headed for the bar to get herself a glass of wine.

---

Constantin Vansen looked around with a small smile as he took it all in. The music, the vibe, the people. He had tried to make an effort for this. He had tried to do something with his stubble and just given up, so it was there just doing it's own thing. He had spent time in front of the mirror trying to style his hair. It had been somewhat styled but he was realising it was getting long. Another inch and he had to decide if he tied it back or cut it because someone would come and tell him that it wasn't within regulations. But hey, it looked good right now so Vansen would worry about it later. He had put on a pair of black, tailored trousers that he liked because they were a bit tight and a shirt to go with it. He liked the shirt because the dark blue went with his eyes. Throw on his favourite leather jacket that he had used his replicator allowance when he had finished his training, he felt...what? Good. Maybe even a bit sexy if he let himself think that way for more than a second.

He looked around for a moment, almost at a loss where to start. There was the dance floor...but he was too sober for that. Considering he wasn't a great dancer but loved dancing. So, he walked to the bar, hanging a bit back to let the other people get served. He grinned when he saw Lake. Looking good as well, but Lake always looked good to Constantin was not surprised. When it looked like his turn he motioned to Lake, little wave. "Hi Lake...this all looks really amazing. Can I have one of those...amber drinks you're making?" he asked, hands going into the pockets of his jacket as he smiled a bit shyly.

When Lake's eye had caught Constantin initially, he most certainly returned that grin with a wink and a grin of his own. In that moment of distraction, Lake had overfilled a glass, spilling booze on the bar. Returning his attention to the task at hand, Lake had a small towel at the ready to wipe the bar down, drink the overfilled glass for himself, while he poured Petty Officer Malko a fresh one. As Constantin drew nearer, and asked about the amber drink, Lake scoffed at that request and shook his head.

"No, Con, no," Lake replied like a concerned friend, shaking his head again. He pointed out a couple of the glasses he'd poured earlier. "That stuff is basically Palukoo piss. For you, I'm making a paper plane," Lake promised. Like a magician, a lemon appeared in Lake's hand rather abruptly, and Lake chopped it in half to squeeze its juice into a cocktail shaker.

Constantin grinned at the words, his teeth worrying his bottom lip for a moment before he watched what he was doing. "Can you teach me how to do that?" he asked, motioning to what he was doing. Because he had never done it before and it looked like fun. How did Lake know what to put in the drinks anyway? Did he remember or did he look it up somewhere? To Constantin, it seemed almost like...well, alchemy. Magic. The things he had started reading about in those fantasy books that had been on his reading list. He had lists now. Music to listen to. Books to read. Cultural references to get.

"Without a doubt, I can teach you how to mix drinks," Lake promised and he did so eagerly. He turned back to retrieve a couple of bottles from the shelves behind him and picked up where he left off as he poured aperol into the shaker. "I worked as a bartender. It was my career. You wouldn't be my first," Lake assured him. "But what're we going to do with all the cocktails you mix? Hide a speakeasy in your quarters or shall I be your guinea pig?" (Of course, it had been the Universal Translator that offered the word guinea pig to Constantin. Lake had used an off-colour cultural slur about injured Remans who are only good for dangerous scientific experimentation, and the computer had understood.)

"Maybe I can help out on special occasions? I learn things quickly and got good hand to eye coordination," Constantin said as he looked at what he was doing, his eyes bright as he took it in...clearly cataloguing it and memorising it for the future. "What is a speakeasy?" he asked seconds later as he met Lake's eyes with confusion.

"It's an illegal bar," Lake replied, shaking the cocktail shaker until it broke out into a cold sweat. "Serving drinks without the Captain's approval or knowledge." Having prepared a double, Lake poured out two coupes of the paper plane. One for Constantin and one for himself. Lake raised his glass in a toasting gesture. "The crew probably needs a speakeasy until the lounge is repaired," Lake supposed. Grinning at Constantin as he remembered their second first-contact, Lake asked, "I mean, what do you do on a starship at night?"

Constantin watched him at the idea before she raised an eyebrow playfully. "Do you want a clean answer or a naughty one? No. Clean answer since I haven't had this drink yet. Chat with people..." he took the glass and raised it. "And drink. To the bartender and the ship..." he winked and took a sip, moaning at the taste of it. "Bitter...sweet...strong..." and he loved it. It was a great drink. He had to remember it.

Taking those words as a personal compliment --strong, sweet, bitter-- Lake supped again from the coupe before he looked Constantin in the eye to say, "And the drink's not bad either." Looking to the left and to the right of Constantin, Lake expectantly asked, "Who's here with you?"

"No one," Constantin said easily as he sipped the drink, giving a small shrug. "I never go anywhere with anyone. I was going to do some dancing, drink a lot and just enjoy all the people around me." And the lack of silence. He would enjoy that and he hoped that Lake remembered how he was. That he hated being alone, so this party was perfect for him. This party was like nectar from the gods. All the people, the voices, the bodies, the laughter...it made him feel alive, as if he was part of something special.

Tilting his head to the right, Lake affirmed, "Those are the right goals. Those are all the goals to have on a night like tonight." He punctuated his point with a gentle clap of his hand against Constantin's left shoulder. Lake's eyes practically sparkled when he said, "I wish every night on this ship could be like this."

"You'd get bored quickly," Vansen said with a dramatic sigh before he sipped the drink. "I am going to go and mingle...and let you serve drinks! I can't be hogging up all your time, people will get jealous..."

Jutting his chin out, Lake said, "Let them," with absolute conviction. All the same, he respected Constantin's decision and wished him well. Lake offered him one last little wave before he was prepared to acknowledge there was anyone else waiting for a drink at the bar.

Constantin laughed warmly before he waved back, heading away from the bar towards the dance floor, already moving with the music with the drink in his hand.

Matthew made some room at the bar for the new arrivals. The mess hall was getting quite the crowd now and he loved the energy in the room. They seemed really happy to be here and everyone was having the grandest of times. He had a good buzz going now and the music was flowing. He wanted to dance to the music and so he scanned the room for someone to dance with.

Heading to the dance floor when the music changed he started to dance solo. Well, sometimes one has to just move to the music. He had a rhythm and he found the beat. The guy knew how to dance. Raising his arms above his head a undulated, moved, hips and ass, torso and neck to the pulse of the beat. Getting lost in it, enjoying it. Just being...alive!

Constantin smiled warmly as he looked at Matthew, finishing his drink before moving to the edge of the dancefloor to reach and put the drink on a table, not noticing the people already sitting there who gave him a look. He went back to the dance floor, throwing his arms in the air as he moved with it, feeling the beat of the music. He wasn't a good dancer but what he lacked in talent he made up in enthusiasm.

Noticing another person had joined the rest of the people dancing Matt made eye contact. Andorian music, especially the way the band played this music, had a trance-like effect. The band was playing many styles and this tune was the closest Matt had heard that he recognized. Plumeri nodded to the other guy, "Feels good to just...move to the beat doesn't it?" he asked.

Constantin smiled warmly, nodding as he met his eyes. "It does..." he admitted, pitching his voice to be just over the music so that the other man could hear him. "Feels good to drink and just move!" he admitted as he moved closer to him. "I'm Constantin!"

Plumeri smiled, reached out and pulled Constantin into a hug and just as quick let him go. For Matt, it was a greeting. Humans do handshakes, Fontalans do hugs. "I'm Matt. Matt Plumeri. Constantin? The Romulan Proconsul from the Phrennic Wars?" he said as he stood closer now to listen and lessened his dance a bit. He smiled broadly, the red and blue lights highlighting his fair hair and skin. The beat of the music moving through the room.

"I...was just named it, I do not know what is is from," Vansen admitted, surprised at the hug but still grinning though, watching how the light danced off the other man's skin and hair. "Where did you learn to dance, Matt? You're good at it!"

"It's a good name!" he said above the music. Smiling at the compliment he said, "Thanks. Years of practice!" he said with an infectious laugh. He pulled Constantin further onto the dance floor and into a small group of four other people as the music changed into a more, 'bump and grind' style.

Constantin laughed at being surrounded but moved with it, shaking his head. "I...did not learn it well," he admitted, but he knew himself into it regardless, enjoying the way it made him sweat. Yes, he would feel it the next day. Didn't matter, right now there was no day except for this day, no time except this time.

"It's your name, and it's one of the dearest things you can have." He bumped asses with another dancer and then bumped Constantin's butt cheek, "Oohhh...all tight and firm. Shake that BOO-tay Constantin" he said as they danced on. Who'd you come with? Where's your date man?"

Constantin laughed warmly as he shook his head, the new move fascinating him. "I came alone," he said before he shook his head. "What about you, did you come here alone or with someone?" The man was vibrant. Fascinating, actually. And it was fun to dance and feel the buzz of the crowd.

"Just here by myself. Getting to know everybody and this lil' ol' tasteful gathering is a great way to do just that. I find it hard to believe that you came here alone. No date? No...special someone to meet here?" he asked in an attempt not to pry too much into a total stranger's private life. He stood closer as they danced to hear him better.



[OFF]

To Be Continued…



Lt. JG Aria Rice
Security
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Vansen]

Lt. Tris Shizn
Conn Officer
USS Galileo-A

LTJG Matthew Plumeri
Science Officer
USS Galileo-A

Lieutenant Lake ir-Llantrisant
Chief Counselor
USS Galileo-A

PO3 Constantin Vansen
Operations
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Vansen]

CWO2 Oliver Sylver
CONN
USS GalileoA
[PNPC Vansen]

CH Verity Thorne
Chaplain
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Blake]

CDR Scarlet Blake
First Officer
USS Galileo-A

PO1 Gabriel Stark
Security
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Blake]

Dr. Alexion Wylde
Medical
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Blake]

Laeon Wylde
Civilian Dependent
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Blake]

Cmdr Allyndra illm Warraquim
Second and Chief Medical Officer
USS Galileo-A

Crewman Draia Theroh
Engineer's Mate
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC ir-Llantrisant]

Chief Petty Officer Kala Gorvel
Engineering Officer
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Wyatt]

LuAnn Lovegood
Counselor
USS Galileo-A

Lieutenant Marisa Sandoval
Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo-A

 

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