Launch Party, Part 9: Last Call

Posted on 16 Oct 2018 @ 7:31am by Lieutenant Lake ir-Llantrisant & Commander Scarlet Blake & Commander Allyndra illm Warraquim & Lieutenant JG Matthew Plumeri & Petty Officer 3rd Class Constantin Vansen & Lieutenant Aria Rice & Chief Warrant Officer 2 Kala Gorvel & Petty Officer 1st Class Gabriel Stark
Edited on on 16 Oct 2018 @ 7:33am

3,424 words; about a 17 minute read

Mission: Episode 17 - Crystal of Life
Location: USS Galileo-A - Deck 2, Mess Hall
Timeline: MD -181 - 0210 hours

[ON]

Allyndra made her way and she could hear the party both music and voices echoing down the hallway. She passed a few people and nodded and finally got to the main part of the lounge. Stepping inside she let the dress swirl a little, which caused scintillating cascades of rainbow colours shimmer down the dress.

0210 in the morning or 1410 in the afternoon, Matthew Plumeri was talking with a few people that were still here. The party showed no signs of slowing despite the fact of numerous "pairings" that were going on. If there were a dark corner in the mess hall it was occupied. So, when the Doctor arrived he waved her over, "Hello my dear doctor. Tonight you are the patient and I'll be the doctor. To get you started off, I per-scribe...a whiskey sour...and a cherry." He stood up to get the drink, not boozed up at all, not drunk, just awake and happy. "Don't disappear on me ay?"

"Good even...technically I suppose it is morning," she replied gather the dress a little. "Hmm.....sour? I tend to like sweet things, perhaps a vampire kiss, but with synthol please. I am still technically on duty and I made the bridge crew stick to the same as well. How are you Matthew?" She used his first name as was her way of doing things.

"Synthol?!" He made a gagging reflex and soured up his face a moment. He gestured to the area where his Fontalan liver would be - something only Doctor Allyndra would know now and he patted his abdomen, "Hardest working liver on the ship Doc. Right here."
He teased her further with, "Bleeerrghh! I don't know if the bar will serve me Synthol. They will laugh me over to the replicator. BUT, anything for you Doc. But no worries. I understand. One Vampire Kiss coming up. I'm fine. Just having a good time. Maybe I'll get some sleep tonight; maybe I won't."

When he returned he had her drink and a bottle of water for himself. Handing her the drink he said, "One...drinky-poo just for you."

"Thank you," Allyndra took the drink and sipped enjoying the sweet confection. "Ah, perfect, one of the few pleasures I can really enjoy." She looked at him over the glass and made a tight smile. "Still not like the real thing..." she teased a little.

"Meh!", he said and shrugged. "I was just ribbing you Doc,” he said with a grin. He sat back on the chair and put his feet up on the chair. "OOoooohhh.....gaaawwwd. That feels good!" he said. His muscles were fully exerted tonight and it felt like he had a workout. It was a great feeling too. He leaned his head back on the couch and let out a sigh. "Wheeew! Had a GOOD time tonight! How about you? Bridge is still there?" he teased.

"The bridge is still there," she replied. "Now take off your footwear. If there is one other thing I learned at Academy and my husband used to like it was a good foot massage." She nodded and set the drink aside.

He opened his eyes and had that 'cheshire cat' grin with narrowed eyes, "Ooooo...that would feel so good too!" He didn't wait for decorum and pulled up the leg of his jeans. He unlaced the boots, pulled them off. Thick black socks were revealed and he pulled them off too to reveal nicely muscled calves and hairy legs. His feet we well groomed; no 'corn chips for toenails' on Plumeri. And his toes wiggled and curled in anticipation. "Foot massage after dancing? Does life get any better than this?"

Allyndra only smiled in response and then used her delicate fingers to massage his feet. Human or near human had more or less the same pressure points and she had learned many of them. It reminded her of when she had spent time with House Ka'wali, those apart. The mother there was old, she was in her last year and her feet pained her. Allyndra had learned how to sooth the old Mother's feet. It was a kindness.

"Oh maybe, maybe not. Perhaps one day you might experience the H'oni A'likoa. It means the Blood Kiss. Most have found it....pleasurable." Allyndra replied.

Her delicate fingers seemed to know exactly where to go. Finding the sore areas of his feet, massaging the tissue, the tendons, the joints. Her fingers were not cold at all and the pressure was perfectly applied. He started to slide off the couch. His eyes closed and his lips puckered into a kind of 'O', "OOOhhhh!! GAWD!" was all he managed to say at the start, "Ah! Oh! Right there! Aww, oiiee, yo!" It was toe curling experience and he could feel the blood to his feet warm up. Tired calf muscles seemed to rally again and he opened his eyes. "One day? I think I just experienced - at least - the foot kiss there! Pardon my French Doc, but, 'Heiliger Strohsack!' Where did you learn this foot massage?" He started to sit up again to stop his slide off the couch.

"As I said, my husband would get cramps in his muscles and feet. He would paint for hours and forget all about the rest of his body until he could hardly lift a brush." She closed her eyes for a moment thinking back and then opened them and smiled. "I am glad I could bring some joy for you. Now," she sighed. "I best get changed again for next shift will be calling all too soon. Good evening, or morning Matthew."

In his bare feet he stood up, "Thanks Doc. That was, really quite nice. Appreciate the kindness. You're leaving before I can return the favor. I guess that means I'll have to come and look you up sometime soon? Have a good shift, Commander. And thank you!"

---

Gabriel Stark was gripping Aria Rice tightly by the waist...partly to stop the world from swaying with how much he'd had to drink, but mostly to stop the petite young woman from falling out of his lap where she was comfortably draped. In front of them on the table was an array of different coloured shots. He swooped his hand over them before finally grabbing a bright red one, pushing it into Aria's hand, and taking a purple one for himself. "I...Never....hm..." his speech had the slow deliberate tone taken on by an intoxicated person who was trying not to sound intoxicated. "...I Never inappropriately used a biobed..."

Aria groaned at the words, watching Gabriel with a pout. "That is so unfair! I told you that not...under...the influ-ence!" she said drunkenly, the pout remaining before she knocked her drink back, some running down her chin. "Ew!" she wiped at it with her hands, dropping the shot glass. "Ew..." she then wiped her hands on Gabriel before she reached for a glass, handing to him. "I...never...ever...I never...shagged my Chief..."

"Oh come on!" Gabriel rolled his eyes with disbelief at her having picked that, forced to knock back the shot, with a chief shaped notch firmly in his bedpost. He grimaced at the taste, shaking his head with it before turning the glass over to add to the pyramid tower of empties they were building. "What the hell is that?! Lake has given us the *really* bad stuff now. You better drink that shot, Aria Rice! I will not believe you if you don't...."

Aria shook her head, wagging her finger in his face. "Nooo! We said Chief, not Captain! And there is a massive difference so..." she made a mouth shut movement.

Vansen watched them from the bar, his eyes shining as he studied the way they interacted. It looked fun. She was more drunk than him and it was adorable to see them. He chuckled and looked back to his glass before back at them, his eyes lingering on the man.

Aria looked up and over at the man at the bar, giggling before she tugged at Gabriel's shirt. "That...that man at the bar...so totally checkin' you out..."

"You're just trying to distract me from that obvious lie..." Gabriel waved a finger at her in time with his words....but then looked over in the man's direction, following Aria's gaze. "You think so?" he asked, his attention piqued. Gabriel fully planned to go home with someone. If he didn't, he'd...well, he just wouldn't. He wasn't going home to an empty bed.

"Yes!" Aria almost hissed and nodded, looking at Gabriel and then over at the man. "Look at that...mm...holostar chin, a bit of a...lost look in his eyes. He's not handsome, he is positively pretty! And he is totally checking you out!" she pushed him and then slid off his lap, onto the free chair. She wobbled before catching her balance. "I mean, you should at least say hi...get a feel of him!"

"I'd have said 'I'll race you to him'...but I think you'd fall flat on your face, young lady..." Gabriel teased her, laughing fondly as he caught a hold of her to help her get her balance. It made him a little reluctant to leave her though.

"Pff..." Aria waved a hand before she looked around, smiling. "I'm fine!" she stopped when she saw Blake. "Oh! I'll go and see if Blake wants another drinkie....and you should go and speak to dark and broody..." she poked Gabriel's chest. "Go. Talk!"

"Alright, alright, I'm going, I'm going..." Gabriel smacked her backside lightly to see her on her way over to Blake. And for all of his teasing of her state, he wasn't all that steady on his feet himself.

---

Kala had been pre-drinking in her quarters with a few of the younger and new crew before eventually deciding to join the main party. She was positively tipsie... Ok, drunk may be the correct word but who could blame her? it was her first ship and her first party she had to make an entrance. Parting from her roommates Kala made her way to the bar and ordered the first drink on the menu, double, of course, to catch up with which seemed to be a pretty lively party. She stood next to a young man and young woman who seemed to be doing a very good job at poking her friend in the chest. She giggled as she watched the exchange.

As Matthew got the doctor her 'synthahol' he noticed Kala and asked pleasantly, "Hey? Great party huh? You want to join us over at the couch?" he said as he noticed her cute look.

---

Gabriel made it over to Constantin without disgracing himself, giving a smile as he looked to what the man was drinking. "My friend thinks you have a lost look in your pretty eyes...you're not lost, are you?"

Constantin looked at him before he smiled, studying the face. Now there was beauty in it. Dark eyes, dark hair...beautiful cheekbones. "No, I'm not...I was just...not sure. I was watching you two," he admitted and sipped the drink. "I'm Constantin. Do you want to join me?"

"As if you have to ask," Gabriel laughed softly, leaning in closer to him as he watched him with clear appreciation shining in his dark eyes. "I'm Gabriel. My friend is Aria, she's good at making trouble. *Almost* as good as me."

"Almost, huh?" Constantin laughed warmly, shaking his head as he searched his eyes. "I like that. What sort of trouble are you known for making, Gabriel?" he lowered his voice playfully, raising an eyebrow as he gave a charming smile. "I mean, apart from being drop dead gorgeous heartbreaker..."

Gabriel smiled warmly at the words, at seeing he had interest. He leant in closer to the dark haired man, so he could adopt a more confidential tone. "I have a very strong imagination," he assured him, searching his eyes.

Constantin smiled and nodded, knocking his drink back. "Mm...I bet you do," he said with a chuckle and leant closer to the other man, their noses almost touching. "So do I. Nothing wrong with that, right?" he asked and then touched the tip of Stark's nose with his finger. And he was surprised his aim was that good considering he had been drinking steadily through the entire party.

Gabriel gripped the other man's wrist to keep his hand lifted, holding his eyes as he tilted his head, emboldened by the alcohol and Constantin's interest as he leant up to nip the tip of his finger. "Just about perfect," he assured with a smile that took on a more seductive edge to it. "I guess you know a lot about that," he chuckled softly, running his gaze deliberately over him to show his approval of what he saw.

Constantin smiled, feeling a blush on his face as he bit his lip. "Mm...not really...but I am sure you could educate me," he said softly and moved his finger to touch the other man's jaw. The beautiful man before him. The drink, the interest he saw in Gabriel, the flirting...yes, it did made heat race through him. "Party looks to be winding down though."

"Doesn't mean it has to for us," Gabriel replied boldly, his gaze going back to meet the beautiful eyes of the other man, his smile both tempting and playful at the same time. "Depends what you want, Constantin."

Constantin bit his lip as he watched him, taking in what he was offering. He gave a small nod, chuckling warmly. "Well...we could go to yours," he said, leaning close, his hand going to Gabriel's thigh. "Have a few drinks there if you want?"

The touch sent sparks through him, making Gabriel's breath catch for just a moment. He reached down to cover the hand, sliding his fingers between his, caressing up high between them. "Come on..." he whispered, taking hold of his hand to lead him out.

---

Aria looked around, her eyes widening when she saw Blake. "Scarlet!" she got herself up and walked over, although perhaps not in a straight line. She reached out, her hand going to Blake's arm and she moved close to her. "Have I ever told you how amazing and awesome you are?"

Scarlet blinked with surprise as she looked down at the petite young woman from where she was perched on the high stool, sipping her G&T. She turned the stool enough to take a proper look at Aria, smoothing the black satin of her dress down to be closer to her knees again. Ah, she understood where the statement had come from. Aria was sloshed. "How much have you had, Aria?" she couldn't help but ask with a chuckle at seeing her friend so...merry.

"Me? Pff! A little bit. A wee drinkie..." Aria said and shook her head with a warm smile before she stumbled as the movement disorientated her. Oh. Her head was spinning a little bit. She liked it. "You look so beautiful...that dress is so you," she reached out to touch it, unable to resist before she met Scarlet's eyes. "You want to dance?" she wrinkled her nose after a moment, looking at the drink. "Oh! Whacha drinkin'? I can get you another!"

Scarlet sighed softly as she reached out quickly to get a hold of her arm to steady her, but with a small smile, shaking her head. She had managed to get through the whole evening without dancing. She wasn't going to start now. "Maybe...enough drink has been had for tonight?" she suggested lightly.

"No! No, that's just silly..." Aria said and smiled as she held her eyes and then took her hand. "But if you don't wanna dance, you don't have to dance. Not everyone dance! I mean, I dance, but loads of peeps don't..." she laughed and tried to get onto one of the high stools, with both her size and her drunken state working against her.

Scarlet had to cover her face for a moment, both to hide her near laugh, but also so she didn't have to see if she fell. "Okay," she stood up decisively, moving to get a hold of the slight woman's arm and waist. "No need to get up there, bar is closed, for Arias at least..."

"Aw...but I want another drink..." Aria said with a pout but stopped trying to climb it. She met her eyes before she shrugged. "I think I want more though...more drinkie...it'll be fuuun!" she wrapped her arms around her, to hug Scarlet.

Scarlet couldn't keep the surprise from her face, her body tensing at the sudden launch at it, her arms held out to the side. She relaxed when she realised what she was doing, shaking her head with a small smile of amusement, gently patting her back in a soothing manner. "Or maybe it's time to call it a night..."

"Nooooo!" Aria whined, her face pressed against her shoulder. "I don't even wanna go..." she giggled suddenly, because in fairness that had been a decent impression of Scarlet's daughter when it was bedtime.

Scarlet tried not to laugh at her in the drunken state. It seemed a low blow afterall, but she couldn't help it. It was also a good reminder as to why Blake didn't let herself get drunk at parties. "Come on..." she got Aria's arm around her own waist to start leading her friend away. She was in no state to be on her own though. She wasn't going to let her walk home alone and then crash by herself. "You can have my sofa."

Aria sighed softly, leaning close to her before she shook her head. "Sofa..." she said and considered it. Soft, warm sofa actually. "Mm...I like your sofa, your sofa is for snuggling down..." she yawned, her energy flagging now that Scarlet had taken charge. She giggled and looked at her. "Gabriel's gonna get laid by pretty broody man..."

Scarlet arched an eyebrow at that, glancing down to Aria with a slight chuckle, shaking her head lightly as she half carried the light woman out and towards her own quarters. "Some people get all the luck..."

"Tell me 'bout it..." Aria muttered as she shook her head before her eyes widened. "Oooh...that was bad idea...world's all spinny spin spin..." she rested her head against Scarlet as they walked. "I love you...I love you and Lily and the whole shippy ship ship..."

"Of course you do..." Scarlet sighed with a slight chuckle as she patted Aria's head gently, leading her friend away to a night on a cramped sofa and the promise of a killer hangover in the morning. "Of course you do…"

As he watched them walk away from the bar, Lake ir-Llantrisant wiped down the bartop for what felt like a nine-hundredth time. As the bartender and architect of this party, he felt satisfied, complete. As the Chief Counselor, he supposed this crew might just make it. Might. They knew what to do aboard a starship at night. They could make it through six months of dark, warping out to the raggedy edge of Federation space. He could see it now. They made their own light.


[OFF]

Fin



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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