The One and Only: Party Time (Part 1)
Posted on 12/08/2020 @ 7:03pm by Captain Cian D'Anvers & Renee Rooke
Mission:
S3E1: Time of Change
Location: Starlight Ballroom, San Francisco Bay Area, Earth
Timeline: Day 94 at 2000
The invitations had gone out. Captain Cian D'Anvers invites you and a guest of your choice to a night of dinner and dancing in the Starlight Ballroom. Guests were requested to arrive at 2000 and dress in outfits appropriate to Hollywood of the 1930s/1940s. The ballroom had been transformed to replicate the set of Rick's Cafe American from the classic, Casablanca. It was not a movie that Cian knew though he'd taken the time to watch it once he'd heard about the theme his staff had chosen for the night. Musicians had been found who knew the music; the kitchen was a scene of organized chaos as the first appetizers were readied for distribution. A doorman stood outside, ready to invite the guests in, and waiters moved among the tables doing last-minute checks. All that was needed were the guests.
Odessa Walking Bear was unsure if this idea was even going to work as she had never once in her entire life, ever worn a gown like this. It was strapless and went from her chest down to her feet. Her arms, shoulders and hands were completely uncovered. Walking Bear was standing before a full floor length mirror. "Wow. People really dressed like this?" the young woman asked herself aloud. How did they get anything done?"
Walking Bear picked up the PADD that she had been using for her research into the matter at hand. She wasn't going to miss this party. "I wish I'd known about this at the Sadie Hawkins dance at the academy... Or any of the parties I attended..." she paused. "But you do clean up really well girl," she added, talking to herself.
Her next item was the shoes which she then slowly slipped onto her feet. They were simply looking clinky three-inch heels that felt really strange to her feet. Walking Bear perused the PADD one last time as she went over the list of things she needed to attend to. "How did people get anything done when they spent all this time getting ready for a party?"
The walls around her designed her unworthy of an answer. She realized that she might have overshot the mark with her dress for this evenings events but she opted to see this through to the end. Walking Bear decided that she was ready and so it was time to attend the party. Walking Bear placed the PADD down onto the table before she departed her quarters for the party.
She reached her destination a few minutes later.
Kia stood in the bedroom in Solpec’s Quarters looking at herself in the mirror. She’d chosen to wear a figure-hugging full length off the shoulder black dress, with a split that went the full length of one leg. She’d also chosen matching black stiletto-heeled shoes. Her hair was worn full length instead of her usual on duty tied up.
She took one last nervous look, up until now she would never ever have entertained the idea of wearing anything that showed up her scars but Solpec had given her that confidence. Walking out of the bedroom she smiled as she stood in the doorway. “So ... how do I look?”
"You're lucky that I am a Vulcan... If I were human, you could see the blush on my face from here to Alpha Centauri... In other words, simply stunning..." Solpec rose from his chair, came forward, and kissed her hand before taking it. "Milady? How do I look? Do I meet with your satisfaction?"
Kiara stepped back and looked at what Solpec was wearing, he was dressed in a suit that certainly complimented him. She'd never seen a Vulcan wearing a tuxedo style suit before. "You look absolutely ..." She pulled him closer and kissed him passionately. "Handsome ... Very handsome."
"And you are beautiful, as always... Shall we go?"
Already in the venue helping with final arrangements Jeysa scurried through the huge room; her white dress flowing behind her as she moved, eventually she stopped by the bar. "That must have been some favour your Andorian embassy friend owed you. Can't believe we got all this done in less than a day and a half."
"You could say that... Tell you specifics later, now that the favor is paid... Chavez, how are those carrot boats looking?"
"Fine, Ma'm. The egg butter gave me a bit of trouble."
"I told you to serve it on the side." Renee scowled, then smoothed a wrinkle out of her ivory dress. "Lucky I'm not trying to cook in this, plus heels. Andorians don't go for this kind of finery."
"In this period the choice seemed to be a lot more form than function." Jeysa remarked. "Did you remember to sort out the food Petty Officer Varsay'ja requested? you do remember that if he eats too much 'human' food it could kill him."
"Absolutely--took care of it personally myself. I always find cases such as his the most interesting... Did you make sure we have vegetarian options and non-alcoholic beverages? I'd hate to see a look of disappointment from a Vulcan."
"All sorted, anything else we need we can use the replicators." Jeysa replied. "It took me a while to even noticed there were replicators here, they're so well disguised."
Finishing tying a matching green bow around the point where the black fur of her tail met the white tip Mimi ran her hands through her tail fur and ensured it fit comfortably through the specifically designed gap in her long jade green dress before slipping on some flat shoes and heading for the door. Having never actually served on the Crazy Horse she didn't quite feel like attending a party was right but if most of the crew were going to be invited to the Sitting Bull too it would be a good chance to get to know some of them in advance.
Chet felt like he looked like a gangster, but at least his costume was accurate. He arrived in a light grey suit, white button down shirt complete with cuff links, grey vest, Matching grey hat, black shoes and a black bowtie. He didn't have anyone to invite along with him, so he opted to go stag. It didn't matter; he was used to being alone.
Cian had chosen an ivory white tuxedo, vintage Bogart, for the evening with a white cotton shirt, pristine black pants, and a black bowtie he'd needed instructions to figure out. The outfit hung on the outside of his bedroom closet door while he sat on the bed, one bent leg on the bed, the other extended down to the floor, going over his notes and making sure that he had everything he would need. In the movie, one he'd watched back before the Academy, Rick's place was considered neutral ground. Here, it was where the crew of the Crazy Horse could spend one last night together before they separated -- some to stay behind and some to transfer to the Sitting Bull. It was not his strength, party-planning, and he knew that he tended to get too wrapped up in the work sometimes. Maybe it would be good to have an administrative aide on board that would make sure this sort of thing wasn't left forgotten. He'd been reluctant to even consider the idea but they were right. A larger crew meant more details that might get overlooked.
Satisfied that everything was in order, he stripped and showered. Lean and well-muscled, his back was a lattice-work of old scars, a legacy from a time in his life when he'd been considered property, an unruly child that needed to be punished for the slightest infraction. The beatings had taught him control; so much so that by the time the ships finally left Syndar Prime, he'd already become someone who never cried. On his left bicep was a complicated runic tattoo, a brand, that described his bloodline, his status as a serf, and that he'd been abandoned. Not freed. Abandoned. He had chosen long ago to leave the marks of that life on his body; they were the forge in which he had been made.
As he toweled off, he hummed, sotto voce, a song he remembered from his youth, one about young lovers who steal time by their noble owners. The lovers were discovered (weren't they always caught?) and the girl, no longer virginal, had been given to a higher placed noble who was looking for a new concubine. Her lover liberates her and they choose to end their lives rather than be separated. Like so many of their songs, it represented a part of their history, disguised in a ballad.
He dressed as quickly as he could with unfamiliar garb; the neck thing proved to be impossible ... the bowtie. And so, he went to the nearest holodeck and ordered up a valet who could tie it properly. Grinning, he shut the program down and headed for the nearest transporter pad.
Tahlin and K'Taal walked into the Starlight hand-in-hand. "Could you imagine if we time-traveled back to the set of this movie and walked in?" Tahlin was practically giddy, dressed as she was in something K'Taal had used a rather interesting Klingon word to describe.
"The name does seem appropriate." K'Taal's dress was black with little glittering stars all over it. Somehow, it fitted her well, and the theme. "Wasn't there a song from that time period called Starlight?"
Tahlin grinned. "You're avoiding my question... And, don't ask me--might have been Stardust... Look, there's the captain, and that Lieutenant Mimi. Let's go say hello."
They moved in the direction of the two officers, and Tahlin held out a hand. "Good to see you out of uniform, both of you... Captain, classic look... Lieutenant..." She stared.
"She's trying to say she's glad you could find something to fit the tail." K'Taal also held out her hand to the captain. "Captain, Lieutenant Commander K'Taal."
Tahlin gave her girlfriend a look.
Cian, who had only just arrived, stood off to one side taking in the scene and matching it to his memory of the cafe from the film. Good thing the computer's algorithms were up to estimating color values. He was brought out of his reverie by the approaching group and he reached out his hand automatically, accepting the Commander's handshake with a silent thank you sent to his instructor at the Academy who had made sure they knew greeting rituals from a number of worlds. He could hear his instructor now, his voice rising above the chatter in the room, as they all milled about greeting each other. Firm but not crushing and remember to make eye contact. And for heaven's sake, smile!
"Commander, a pleasure to meet you," Cian said, smiling warmly. "Lieutenants," he added turning toward Lae'Or and then to Mimi. "I hope everyone is enjoying themselves." Behind them, the band took their seats and began to play "It Had to be You" as waiters moved about the room taking drink orders.
"We only just got here, but looks a smashing hit... Did you have any trouble finding something to wear, Captain?" asked Tahlin. "I was afraid I'd look a bit out of place, but apparently not..."
K'Taal grinned and kissed her on the cheek. "You could never be out of place, my dear."
"This is a re-creation of Rick's Cafe American from the movie Casablanca. That made the choice of the outfit fairly easy for me," Cian said, gesturing to his white tuxedo. "Same as Humphrey Bogart wore. Interesting that none of this was real. It was created in the studio though I believe someone built one later on."
"Hello Commander, Lieutenant." Mimi said after Cian had finished speaking. "I am afraid I have not watched Casablanca, but this looks like a very nice place."
Arriving at the Starlight lounge Kiara looked at Solpec. “I’m not sure if I’m looking forward to going in there or not!” She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I chose this dress, I guess now I have to be comfortable in it.” She took his arm. “Lead on Imzadi.”
"You will find your courage, Kiara... If nothing else, you can stay close to me, and we can dance as much as you like... Or as little." He opened the door, then twirled a little so she could go first. "After you."
To Be Continued
A Post by:
Captain Cian D'Anvers
Commanding Officer
USS Sitting Bull
Lieutenant Odessa Walking Bear
Chief Engineering Officer
USS Sitting Bull
Lieutenant Kiernan Gallagher VII, Ph.D.
Chief Science Officer
USS Sitting Bull
Lieutenant JG Lae'Or Tahlin
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Sitting Bull
Lieutenant JG Mimi
Chief of Operations
USS Crazy Horse
Lieutenant JG Kiara Rahl
Chief Counselor
USS Crazy Horse
Lieutenant JG Chester O'Hamlin, M.D.
Chief Medical Officer
USS Sitting Bull
Renee Rooke
Head Chef
USS Crazy Horse
