The Mixer
Posted on 02/28/2020 @ 6:55pm by Captain Cian D'Anvers & Lieutenant JG Jasmine Langtree & Ensign Neteri Blackfeather & Ensign Romal Seshel
Edited on on 03/06/2020 @ 10:31pm
Mission:
S1E1: Out of the Barn
Location: USS Crazy Horse - Deck 3, The Blue Parrot
Timeline: Day 3 at 1900
Cyn presided over the bar with the graceful efficiency born of long practice. She seemed to be everywhere at once, mixing drinks, leaning forward to whisper in someone's ear or make a suggestion, and all the while watching to see who needed a refill. It was a skill and an art form both. People tended to notice her even when she wasn't working. Probably the deep and dusty blue of her skin with patches of iridescent gold on her head and down her nose, feathering out across her cheeks and jawline and down the sides of her neck. Many had wondered just where else the gold appeared and some, if they were lucky enough, found out. Her eyes were a pale blue, sparkling with good humor and a sort of serene calm; at the moment, she was dressed in white pants with a matching, asymmetrical tunic top. The sleeves reached down over the top of long slender fingers, each one bearing a silver ring, that never seemed to be still for long.
Tahlin entered the crew lounge and looked around, seeing mostly enlisted personnel so far. That would change, she knew, as word of the mixer spread through the grapevine that was shipboard gossip. Might as well get some food, she thought, heading towards the buffet table that had been set up. She noted, with annoyance, that there was Bajoran hasperat... Why oh why did every damn chef think, just because there were Bajorans on board, that they had to put out hasperat? She didn't mind it on occasion, but it wasn't her favorite... Kava root, cooked with a bit of ilentha, or even Terran salt and pepper, was something she relished. None of that here, she mused. May have to have a word with the chef about it.
Jasmine entered the crew lounge. She had showered and put on a fresh uniform. She saw Lae'Or and waved. Then she walked over to her. She could use a cold one.
"Hi Lae'or , what are you drinking drinking?" Jasmine asked.
"Wine, red, Terran... Yes, I think that'll do... Lovely and dry... What about you?" the Bajoran asked, turning towards Langtree. "And, when we're off-duty, you can call me Tahlin. Just don't foul up the pronunciation, and we'll be fine. You have no idea how annoying it is, getting called a bird-claw."
"Thanks Tahlin! She smiled. You can call me Jazzy or Jasmine if you prefer. Also can I have an Andorian ale please." She said turning to the waitress.
Tahlin smiled brightly at the young, bubbly scientist. "Good for you, taking a risk... I had a bad experience with Andorian ale once, right when I first got to Earth."
"Synthahol is a lot more forgiving than the real thing. I developed a taste for it in the Academy. I shared a birth with an Andorian and an Orion. We got along very well."
Tahlin gave Langtree a speculative look. "I bet you did... So, please tell me you're not married to the lab?" She giggled.
"Not at all, unless I need to investigate something otherwise I'm a free spirit." Jasmine said.
Cyn moved down to where the women had gathered and leaned forward far enough to make herself heard. She smiled, radiating genuine pleasure, as she spoke in a low, throaty alto. "Can I get you anything? I can create just about anything you can imagine. Possibly more."
"You probably can." Tahlin held out a hand. "Hope its good manners to shake at a bar... As for a drink, if you've got any dry red wine, that'll be fine. Not too dry, just... Mostly."
Cyn shook the young Bajoran's hand, laying her second hand over their joined ones, as she said, "To touch and be touched. Always a pleasure." She turned, her hand going automatically to a particularly nice Decoy Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon and poured the young Lieutenant a glass. She placed the drink on the bar and smiled. "There you go. Ripe, fruity, smooth with subtle oak influences."
"You're spoiling me." The Bajoran picked up the glass and took a sip. "Thank you, for the wine and your lovely introduction."
"My pleasure, Lieutenant," Cyn said. She smiled warmly, light reflected off the six small earrings she wore along the upper ridge of her left ear twinkled in the overhead lights.
"I'd love another scotch please", Jasmine said.
"Of course," Cyn said. She poured a glass of Macallan 25 Year Old Sherry Oak Scotch and placed it on the bar. "Fruit and honey. Like walking through a delightful farmer's market," she said with a soft smile.
"Wow this is good. This the real thing?" Jasmine asked.
"Regretfully," Cyn said with an apologetic shrug, "we only serve the Synthahol versions. Starfleet regulations and all."
"Well then I have to say the flavor is getting better all the time." Jasmine said.
Bryanna walked into the lounge, and looked around for an empty seat. Spotting one at the bar, she walked over, and placed her order for a large Rum and Coke. She waited for her drink, before turning around, and looking around the assembled crew. She recognised most of them from their Medical Checkups.
Alvar entered the lounge and took a seat at the bar. After speaking with a bartender, ordered a glass of ti'las, a beverage made from the juices on no less than 17 different fruits on Altimar. Some of those fruits contained chemical that, when prepared properly, could produce quite a kick. It was such that first-timers to the beverage (particularly non-Altimarans) were warned of the unusual sensations that could be produced. It would probably be replicated, since most ships didn't usually carry the real thing in stock (since few outside of Altimarans generally drunk it), but it would do, though Alvar made a mental note to see about procuring a few bottles the next time the ship was in the vicinity of Altimar.
Dressed neatly in his duty uniform, Ensign Satok, entered the lounge and walked up to the bar. At 5'10" he could not be considered physically imposing but then, the Vulcan diplomat preferred a different route whenever possible. His hair was layered with feathered bangs that softened the more disciplined style many Vulcans preferred; however, it was his eyes one noticed for Satok, who embraced logic and discipline, still seemed to maintain a slight twinkle in the depths of his midnight blue eyes. A twinkle that reflected his curiosity about everything around him and his understanding that logic was not the only path for beings to take. He sat down on the end of the bar and, when the bartender, approached, requested a glass of cold water.
Tahlin looked over in Voight's and Satok's direction. "Looks like they're having fun... Well, Voight is--I think Satok is, but so hard to read... I bumped into him on Deck Five--wasn't looking where I was going," she told Langtree and Ellison.
"Let's go meet them, Lae'Or." Jasmine requested, practically pulling the young Bajoran woman with her.
Tahlin went--sometimes you couldn't change a force of nature.
"Hello, My name is Jasmine and this is my friend Lae'Or, It's nice you meet you." Jasmine said with a radiant smile.
"Pleasure." Tahlin held out her hand. She'd also have to keep reminding people how her name was properly formed/pronounced. Oh well, par for the course, as the expression went.
"Just a reminder, if you don't remember from earlier, but I'm Bryanna Voight, Chief Medical Officer. If you don't remember from your medicals, then we should probably get that checked over." She said, trying to use dry humor to make some smiles.
Tahlin smiled slightly. "I remember, trust me."
Vulcans generally avoided casual contact but Satok, having served in his position for some time now, understood the nature of inter-species greeting rituals fairly well. All by way of saying that he learned to develop formidable personal shields which meant that when Tahlin extended her hand, he accepted. "I am called Satok," he said with a nod to Jasmine and to Lae'Or, though that didn't seem correct, as he withdrew his hand. "Diplomatic Officer."
Tahlin jumped. "Sorry, forgot you were Vulcan... Vulcans and Rigelians look a lot alike..." She trailed off, embarrassed and a little nervous.
"Quite alright, Lieutenant," Satok said at once. If one looked very closely, there was the tiniest twinkle in the depths of his dark eyes. "I am often mistaken for a Rigelian and of course, I do not take offense by the mistake. An interesting culture."
"Quite... I find Vulcans the more interesting of the two, but my interests are... Unusual."
"And what about Vulcans interests you," Satok said.
"I find the tension between logic and religion interesting... What is willing to be shared of course--I do not probe the greater mysteries., and would not do so without express permission from the priests of Mt. Seleya."
"And yet, one is expected to question and understand. That's the path to enlightenment," Satok said. "Religion has its own logic. Whether it stands up under the rigors of logical proof, well, that's a subject of great debate."
"Trust me, you do not want to get into a debate on the logic of the Prophets wisdom with certain people... My father included." She gave Satok what might have been a commiserating look. "Regardless, it is... Pleasurable to meet you."
"If you'll excuse me, Lieutenant," Satok said, "I have some tasks I need to finish this evening." He nodded slightly and turned, leaving behind the noise and emotions of the lounge, in favor of a quieter location.
Cyn made her way down the bar, checking drink levels, and taking orders. She liked the unusual ones. Always had.
He was very nearly late. Archer hated being late. Yet, being the new guy on board and a perennial odd-man-out, he had come to expect it. With such low expectations, Archer's plan was to show up, make a few rounds, and then quietly slip out. It's not like anybody was going to talk to him.
Tahlin, noticing the engineer off in a corner, excused herself from Satok and the others. "Good to see you above deck," she quipped, walking up to the man.
"Ha!" It was an inauspicious beginning to Archer's participation in the soiree, but he was caught completely off guard. "So it is," Archer agreed with a chuckle that he hoped smooth over his initial awkwardness. "Better, even." He ran his hand over his neck. "So, uh, you want a drink?"
"You asking me out, Sir?" Tahlin mock-growled, more amused than anything.
Archer gawked for an instant at the question. "No!" he exclaimed, then quickly and internally shamed himself for the outburst that indubitably drew the attention of those in the immediate vicinity. "I meant, no... just being friendly."
Tahlin grinned. "I'm teasing." She tapped her wine glass with the tip of a nail. "But, to answer your question, I've got one already... So, tell me, are you one of those people who's married to the warp core?"
Shop talk. Archer could do that in his sleep. It nearly made him forget the faux pas of offering a drink to someone who clearly had one in hand. "Well, no. The warp core is usually considered the most important system on a ship because it's the heart of the EPS grid, engines, and all else, but everything else is just as important, too. I started out as a damage control specialist because I believe even the little parts need TLC just as much as the warp core does."
Tahlin grinned. "Phaser calibration might not be exciting, but its important... That was my first job right out of the Academy. And now look where I'm at... So, your accent isn't Terran... I don't think? Bit hard to tell sometimes..."
The question put Archer off, as it made him feel self-conscious. "Uh... Terra Nova," he mumbled.
"Interesting... I've never been there, though I've heard stories... I also took a little more than the required History courses at the Academy." She smiled. "Lets find a table, and you can tell me all about it."
"Uh...." On the one hand, it wasn't every day an attractive woman invited him to sit with her. But then one of the last things he liked talking about was his podunk homeworld, at least around these fancy types. "Sure." Maybe he could change the subject before things got embarrassing.
Neteri walked into the Blue Parrot and stopped short. The place was alive with the officers and crew of the Crazy Horse. Smiling, she walked ti the bar and got herself a Sumarian Sunrise. Looking for the Chief, she saw her sitting at a table and walked over. "Lt. Tahlin, Ens. Blackfeather, may I join you?" Neteri asked.
"Long as you don't mind sitting with our engineer, too." Tahlin grinned at her subordinate. "You seen Mendyar around here?"
"Nope, I haven't seen him. He might be off doing something. I would have liked to chat with him as well," said Neteri. " So Chief, may I call you that, what is the Crazy Horse like?" Neteri said smiling at her boss.
Tahlin laughed. "I have no idea... I only got here four days ago, and I've been focused on getting the department up and running... I do know that, if you don't tell the Engineering department you're going to be running through Jeffries tubes, they will pull tricorders and hyperspanners on you."
"Been there, done that, and been threatened with a plasma torch. Engineers love their ships almost as much as we love our weapons", Neteri said smiling.
"Imagine if I came sprinting through the armory unannounced," Archer said in mock defense. "We'd be under red alert in no time flat!"
"Depends how you came sprinting through... Shirtless, maybe or maybe not," Tahlin replied, deadpan.
Archer blushed so furiously he was at a loss for words.
The door opened and Toran Ilos, in a fresh uniform, but wearing his earring — he didn’t know the dress code for something like this — entered the Blue Parrot. He hadn’t been in the lounge yet, and smiled as he admired the layout and décor. He saw a group socializing, some of whom were familiar, and decided to proactively join in. “I hope I’m not interrupting,” he said with a smile. “I’m Ilos.”
"Tahlin." She regarded the older Bajoran for a moment, then added in their own tongue, "
“Thank you, Sister, but no need for such formality with me,” Ilos replied with a smile, matching her language.
Tahlin grinned. "Jusst a little joke, Ilos... Come, join us."
“Thank you,” Ilos said.
"Hi Ilos, my name is Jasmine welcome to the Blue Parrot. What are you drinking?" Jasmine asked.
“Thank you, Jasmine,” he said. “Is that Andorian Ale you have there? It’s been too long since I’ve had one. Where did you get it?”
"Yes it is, good eye and its particularly good too. I can get you one is you like", Jasmine said.
"Yes, please," Ilos answered with a smile.
Jasmine smiled and minced over to the bar to get another Andorian Ale from the replimat and brought it over to Ilos.
"Here you go" Jasmine said.
"Thank you," he said, taking the drink.
Jasmine offered a toast, "here is to our posting on the Crazy Horse, and to new friends and adventures".
"Cheers," Ilos said, raising his ale to Jasmine and Tahlin before sipping it. "Oh, I forgot how good this stuff is."
Tahlin took a sip of her wine. "Where'd you develop a taste for Andorian ale?" she asked the counselor, curiously.
"The Academy," Ilos answered before taking another mouthful. "My roommate used to bring in a case every couple of months. Wasn't hard to source from most ports-of-call after graduation, but I've been out of service for a while."
Tahlin giggled. "One of the benefits of being a thousand lightyears from Earth, eh?"
"It was the Academy for me too I had an Andorian and an Orion and we all shared quarters." Jasmine said.
“Mine was Human,” Ilos said, “just really well connected.” He smiled at his new friends. This new assignment was off to a good start.
At the ship's mess hall, Romal and Mizi had just finished a late supper.
"The cheese macaroni and was really good, daddy." Mizi said, leaning back in her chair.
"Yea, it was good all right. Now that we ate, how about we try looking for Commander Ysayne, again?" Romal suggested to his adopted daughter.
Mizi gave him a serious look. "Sure, lets find her. I want to ask her something!"
"What's that?" Romal asked, now sounding serious himself.
Mizi lifted her head, her long blond hair curled past her shoulders, "I want children to play with. I haven't seen any."
Romal reached over and lifted the little girl from her chair. "I hope there are some, but no matter what, we still have each other. Right, Mizi?"
"Yea." she said, now sounding a little blue.
"I heard earlier they've gathered at the "Blue Parrot", whatever that is. Let's try to find the Commander there, okay?" Romal said, leading the way.
"Sure." Mizi agreed and followed right behind him.
A few minutes later, they located the Blue Parrot and walked in. It looked like the whole crew was there, walking around and socializing. Overwhelmed at first, Romal lifted Mizi up onto his shoulders. "So this is where everybody was hiding out and I wouldn't be surprised if the Chief Engineer is here somewhere and and maybe even the Commander."
"I could help you look for them, daddy!" Mizi offered.
Romal smiled at her offer. "Plenty of time for that, Mizi. Lets order us a refreshment, first."
"MOON FIZ!!! MOON FIZ!!!" Mizi screamed, delighted at the prospect.
Looking for the bar, Romal spotted it and walked straight for the blue bartender. Finding a couple empty chairs, Romal sat down and set Mizi next to him. After the blue lady had served a customer, she walked over and Romal spoke to her.
"Hi there, what would you suggest for little Mizi, here? Do you happen to have Moon Fiz, by any chance?" Romal asked, sensing what he thought was a kind heart. "Oh, and I'm Ensign Romal Seshel, but friends call me Rom."
Wanting to copy her dad, the little girl bravely spoke up. "I'm Mizi and I sure could go for a Moon Fiz!"
"Well of course, Mizi," Cyn said. She paused a moment, in mock perusal of her stock, and then made a theatrical performance of preparing her drink. "There you go, Mizi. Hope you enjoy it."
Mizi tried drinking her Moon Fiz with a straw, but the glass it came in was too tall, so she simply drank it. After a healthy gulp, she looked up from the frothy drink with some on her upper lip. "You make a good Moon Fiz, bartender! I like it!"
Romal grinned and handed his little girl a napkin. "You should wipe your lips, Mizi, unless you like pink mustaches."
"Hehehehehehe!!! Thanks, daddy!" and Mizi took the napkin and quickly begin wiping her lips.
"I'll have an Andorian Ale, and aah. . .I never did learn your name." Romal inquired.
The little girl briefly looked up from her tall children's drink, "My name is Mizi!"
"Hello Mizi, I'm Cyn," she said as she poured an Andorian Ale, shimmer blue in a crystal glass, and set it before the Ensign.
Romal smiled as he waited for his ale. "Call it a hunch, but I think that won't be the last Moon Fiz you make for her."
"Well, you know what they say, the bar is always open." Cyn smiled and brought up a small bowl of snacks. Traditionally salty. Back in the days when profit mattered, such things were salty because once you eat something like that, you want to have something to drink. Hopefully, a lot of expensive somethings to drink. And while those days were gone, the custom remained. Tonight, they were serving a mix of salted nuts from several different worlds. "In case you're hungry."
With a nod to both, Cyn worked her way down the bar again, removing emptied glasses and bowls while accepting orders for refills.
"Thanks, Cyn." Romal quickly replied, then he turned to Mizi just as she finished the last of her Moon Fiz.
"I like Moon Fiz! Can I ask her for another?" Mizi asked, showing her empty glass.
"No, I don't want you getting an upset tummy. . .I need to find someone." Romal said, changing the subject.
"Who?" the little girl asked.
Romal helped Mizi down from her bar chair and took her little hand. "Come on, Mizi, we're going on a hunt. The Chief Engineer is who we're looking for, a Lieutenant Archer Logan I believe. With all these chiefs standing around here, one of them must be him."
Taking out his PADD, he started looking through the crew roster, until he came to a picture of Lieutenant Logan. Then he showed Mizi the picture. "This is the man I want to find, Mizi. Help me look for him, would you?"
"Hehehehe!!! I sure will, daddy!" and the little girl took off running, ducking in and out of clusters of people as if they were moving in slow motion.
"Watch out, Mizi!" Romal called out and tried to warn her. "You're going to run into someone if you're not careful!"
Finally, the inevitable happened and Mizi ran into someone with a drink in their hand, spilling it all over their uniform. Mizi shook her head, slowly getting up, she tried to focus. "HEY YOU. . ." she cried out, tears streaming down her eyes.
Romal saw what had happened and immediately ran to her side. "There, there, Mizi. . .you're okay! Now what did I tell you about running?"
"I'm sorry, daddy! *sob* I just wanted to help you. *sniff*" the little girl sobbed in Romal's arms
As Romal comforted her, he happened to notice the man they were looking for was only ten feet away. "Mizi, you did it!"
"Did what, daddy?" Mizi asked.
"You helped find our man." Romal then walked up to Archer Logan and introduced himself. "I'm sorry for not coming to you sooner, I'm Ensign Romal Seshel, your new assistant chief. This little speedstir is my daughter, Mizi."
At first Archer was startled by the sudden introduction. Then he was slightly intimidated by the starkly handsome man with the chiseled jaw and impressive head of hair. But at the sight of Mizi, Archer regained his bearings. Children could be scary, but they were also fun.
"Pleasure to meet you," he said to Romal with a mild anxiety that made the sincerity of the statement rather questionable. For Mizi, though, he offered a sincere smile. Squatting slightly to be less towering, he said, "And hello, little lady. Are you here to help keep us in line?"
Using her little fingers, she wiped away the last of her tears. Mizi then looked up at her dad, then at Archer and feeling very guilty, she revealed what was foremost in her heart. "I'm here to help, daddy."
"We know that, Mizi, just no more running." Romal replied, then helped her to her feet.
Turning to Archer, Romal returned his greeting, "It's a pleasure to meet you, too. May I call you Chief? Anyway, Mizi wants to help anyway she can, but sometimes she gets a little over enthusiastic about it."
"Daddy means I love to help him." Mizi admitted, then she innocently asked, "Can I do engineer stuff, too?"
Archer wasn't a family man, though one day he aspired to be. That Romal had already accomplished that spoke volumes about him in Archer's book. He smiled at Romal, then back to Mizi. "I think we can figure something out."
"Thank you, Chief. I look forward to working with you and even Mizi is happy to help you. Right, Mizi?" Romal asked, returning the smile and sensing that Archer was a fair man, who loved children.
"Right, daddy!" Mizi cheerfully responded as they left.
A Post By
Elandri Cyn
Bartender
USS Crazy Horse
Ensign Satok
Diplomatic Officer
USS Crazy Horse
Lieutenant J.G. Lae'Or Tahlin
Chief of Security, USS Crazy Horse
Lieutenant JG Jasmine Langtree
Chief Science Officer
USS Crazy Horse
Lieutenant JB Bryanna Voight, M.D.
Chief Medical Officer
USS Crazy Horse
Lt. Commander Alvar Othran
Executive Officer
USS Crazy Horse
Lieutenant JG Toran Ilos
Chief Counselor
USS Crazy Horse
Ens. Neteri Blackfeather
Security Officer
USS Crazy Horse
Lieutenant (J.G.) Archer Logan V
Chief Engineer
USS Crazy Horse
Ensign Romal Seshel
Assistant Chief Engineer
USS Crazy Horse
and
Mizi Seshel
Child of Romal
USS Crazy Horse
