All Dressed Up, No Place To Go

Posted on 22 Jan 2022 @ 8:58pm by Petty Officer 1st Class Gabriel Stark & Petty Officer 3rd Class Constantin Vansen

1,312 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Episode 18 - Cold Station 31
Location: Regula I - Bar
Timeline: MD03 - 21:00

ON:

Constantin Vansen smiled to himself as he walked into the bar, looking around for a moment. He wore civilian clothes, which he guessed put him on the same basis as the majority of the Galileo crew enjoying shoreleave. He walked over to the bar, running a hand through his hair before he smiled. "I'll..." he stopped when he saw, further down the bar...Gabriel Stark. "One parsec..." he said and walked away, to Gabriel, reaching out to touch his arm. "Hey there, stranger. What is a boring station doing around a man such as yourself?" he grinned teasingly, winking. He had hoped to ask Gabriel out for some drinks but seeing him here had made it impossible to resist going over.

Gabriel grinned as he saw him, perking up as he sat back. He was dressed for a night out; black leather trousers, a sheer dark red shirt on top with black braces half hanging on his shoulders for no reason what so ever other than he liked them, a touch of eyeliner, a dash of gel in his hair. Problem was, it wasn't that kind of place. Where were the clubs? Where were the heavy beats and throbbing music under strobe, smoky lights. At least it wasn't a total washout now that Constantin had arrived. "Looking to pick me up a sailor, aren't I a lucky guy..."

"Afraid you'll have better luck with scientists..." Constantin said, smiling warmly. He felt underdressed in his black trousers and light green tunic. He sat down beside him, looking him over. "You look stunning."

Gabriel watched him with surprise before grinning, shaking his head. "Thanks...you didn't have to say that, but I feel less silly now you have. This isn't exactly a 'scene'..."

"No...it really isn't," Constantin said and sighed dramatically. "We're just lucky that they serve us at all really. We're not exactly scientists..."

"That's one way of putting it," Gabriel laughed warmly, motioning over the tender. "They should be afraid. Very afraid. What are you having, Connie?"

"I'll have whatever you're having. Makes it easier," Constantin chuckled as he looked down, unable to stop the smile. Only Gabriel would get away with calling him Connie. "And I like trying new things."

"We'll have another mojito, thanks," Gabriel smiled to the bartender with a nod before turning his stool so he was facing him better. "Is that how you ended up in starfleet? You were trying a new bar out and found a King's shilling at the bottom of your tankard?"

He laughed warmly as he shook his head, watching Gabriel. "Seemed to me to be the fasted way off Earth to be honest," he admitted as he met his eyes. He searched them for a moment, watching the brown depths of them. "What of you? How did you end up in Starfleet?"

Gabriel smiled, but perhaps a little awkward with it as he shrugged. "Seemed to be the fastest way off Earth?" he quirked an eyebrow to him. "I...actually wanted to go to university, but my father wanted me to join the military, or politics. Starfleet was kind of a compromise, believe it or not."

"No, I can believe it," Constantin said quietly, just searching his eyes. "Not sure what my parents would have thought if they had seen me join Starfleet. Not sure they had a long term plan."

"Doesn't matter what their plan was, just what yours is," Gabriel replied firmly, watching him with an arched eyebrow as he took a good mouthful of his drink. "I think the fleet suits you."

"Like me in the uniform, huh?" Constantin winked before he took a sip of his newly arrived drink. "Ooh...that is nice..." he sighed softly, nodding to himself. "Never tried this one before."

"No?" Gabriel looked to him with surprise before smiling warmly. "Mojito is a classic, and with good reason. Equal parts alcoholic, zippy and refreshing. Those are real bartender terms. I'm going to have to give you a proper education on cocktails, aren't I."

"Yes, you are!" Constantin smiled as he took another sip, closing his eyes. "I am still learning so many different flavours. And textures...a lot of things. Have you ever tried nachos?"

"Yes," he laughed, shaking his head at the idea of not having tried them. "Please don't tell me you've only just tried them. They are the holy grail of snack food..."

"I..." Constantin blushed and shook his head as well, but at himself. "Yesterday. I tried them yesterday for the first time. It's..." he stopped himself and let out a breath. "You know, I want to try something new every day now."

Gabriel grinned at that, reaching to grip his hand as he leant to him. "Welcome to the sacred community of nachos," he laughed, but with warmth and no mocking. "So the big question is...what's the new thing you're going to try today?"

"You have already introduced me to my new experience..." he motioned to his drink and smiled, his eyes on Gabriel and Gabriel alone. "And it is a tasty one. Tomorrow though, that is another matter entirely."

"I really have to wait all the way until tomorrow?" Gabriel teased, smiling softly as he watched him with a gentle smile, but shook his head to show he didn't mean it. "Listen, if there's anything you want to ask or find out or experience, just ask, alright? I'd like to help you...fill in the gaps."

"Half my problem, Gabriel...is that I don't know what the gaps are," Constantin admitted but he had a smile that seemed relaxed and carefree. As if it didn't really matter because eventually he'd stumble onto it and figure it out. Or experience it. "Music was a big one but I am catching up. Food, I suppose? Or...the things people do as children."

"Ah...I'm not sure I'm the best person for that one," Gabriel shook his head as he looked down with a weak chuckle. "I wouldn't say that mine was particularly normal. Although, I guess I could climb out the window in the evening. That must be harder in a ship..."

"Oh, I just put on a suit and said I needed to check something..." Constantin admitted with an almost shy smile. "Then I'd go on a spacewalk or just...sit and watch the stars. Cut the comms and...and just stay until the O2 ran low."

Gabriel rested his chin in his hand as he leant to him, watching him with a soft, gentle smile at the description. It must have been quite something. "That does sound kind of amazing..."

"Well...we could do that here if you wanted to, before we set off again," Constantin said and met his eyes, searching them for a moment. "Get some suits and go and watch the stars."

Gabriel watched him with surprise, sitting up straighter at the prospect. He'd never done that before, not just for the sheer enjoyment of it. In honesty, there wasn't all that much he did do anymore, just for the sheer enjoyment of it. "Do you think we could?"

Constantin smiled with surprise at how he said it before he nodded. "I'll get it sorted for tomorrow," he promised, his hand going to cover Gabriel's. "I know of a guy, he can get us suits and then it's just about how long we can breathe out there."

"Quite literally, I suppose," Gabriel laughed softly, holding onto his hand with both of his own. "I guess it just sounds...peaceful, you know? Quiet. Block everything else out for a bit."

"Peaceful...I can do," Constantin said and held his eyes before he smiled, a quick and very warm smile. "Tomorrow. I will arrange it all. Promise."

OFF:

PO3 Constantin Vansen
Operations
USS Galileo
[PNPC Rice]

&

PO1 Gabriel Stark
Security
USS Galileo
[PNPC Blake]

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