JP: LtJG Jocelyn Marshall & LtJG Sera zh'Aella - Part 2 - Drinking (For Science!)

[mark devlin]

(( Lounge Bar, Cloud Skipper)) 

:: Jo patted Sera on the back, as high as she could, then reached for the bottle again, this time pretty sure things were starting the get a bit fuzzy around the edges.::

Marshall: Serious question. Are Andorians just carved from pure muscle? I spend hours in the gym, literally forsaking sleep, and you know how much sleep means to me.

:: The comment was so unexpected that Sera begin to giggle, she hated the way she sounded when she giggled but couldn’t help it as her surprise mixed with the alcohol. It took her several seconds to get herself under control before she could respond.::

zh’Aella: Yes, another well known Andorian fact. ::Sera did her best mock flexing before breaking out into laughter again. She continued once her laughing fit was under control.:: We naturally have high muscle density, but it comes at a cost of endurance. Back in the early days before we all became friends, anyone in a fight with an Andorian would try to outlast us until we became exhausted.

 

Marshall: Ah, the Achilles Heel of the mighty Andorians. Sprinters instead of marathoners. Can you train on endurance?  I've found it's like a muscle; over time, it expands.

::Sera shook her head before reaching for her ale.::

zh’Aella: I still find it difficult. I’ve tagged along on a few of those Ranger training exercises that Commander Eerie runs, and I feel like I’m at high attitude for most of it. By the end, I’m an icky mess barely able to stand.

 

:: As Jo imagined most of the Rangers were. Incredible warriors, some previously Marines, and she had been silently competing with some in the Gymnasium with power lifts. It had become a running competition that no one spoke about, and yet the personal best records on the main display in the Gym kept climbing to new heights.::

Marshall: I wonder if Commander Eerie actually sweats. ::she knocked back another shot:: This theory must be tested. For science.

::Her antennae shuddered in amusement as she imagined a number of unrealistic way to test such a theory. She laughed at the ridiculous ideas before turning back to her friend with a wide grin, the alcohol was giving her vision a warm glow.::      

zh’Aella: Your brave sacrifice of sleep seems to be paying off. ::She took another pull on her ale before absentmindedly adding.:: I think you body looks great….

:: As soon as she said it her cheeks flushed dark blue.::

 

:: The immediate blush on her friend's cheeks made Jo laugh and her eyebrow lifted while amusement sparked on her face.::

Marshall: Slow down there, cowgirl. That's four drink Sera talking. Compliments like that have a five drink minimum.

:: She laughed. Despite her improved social skills and growing self confidence she still had moments when the old Sera would raise her head.::

zh’Aella: I’m not going to be able to dig myself out of that hole, am I?

Marshall: Not even a little bit. Your appreciation for my physical form is duly noted. ::she grinned:: I'll have to start flexing around you more.

:: Sera finished her ale with a nod of agreement and smiling widely as she spoke.::

zh’Aella: Well, in that case I stick by it. As my best friend you’ll just have to get used to my clumsy compliments and any other eyebrow raising comments. It’s a tough burden, but I have faith in you Jo.

Marshall: I will weather that burden with relish. It's such a hardship, after all.  ::she reached for the bottle:: You should come to the gym with me, see if we can get you... ::she stopped and looked at her friend:: Hold on, what colour is Andorian sweat?

zh'Aella: At the moment, I imagine my sweat is one hundred percent ale… so blue, normally it’s clear. ::She said placing the empty ale down, It took her two attempts. She knocked it over the first time and scrambled to recover.:: I need a new glass, and another drink to go with it. ::Sera said gesturing to the waiter.:: So how are you planning to get me sweaty? 

::She asked the question with raised eyebrows.::  

Marshall: You know, playing sports is a good endurance enhancer. What sports do you play? Springball? Racquetball? 

::As Jo finished the question another pair of drinks arrived.:: 

zh'Aella: Sports? I like to swim, sail and I’m a pretty good wrestler if I do say so. ::She said the last with a touch of drunken arrogance, before recalling the question in a foggy haze.:: I don’t play Racquetball… What’s Springball? Is that like Bajorian…. Tennis? 

::She was sure it was Bajorian but couldn’t recall what the sport entailed.::

:: Jo looked almost personally offended and covered her open mouth in shock.::

Marshall: I don't know what to do with this information. This needs to be rectified immediately. ::she stood, felt a little dizzy, then sat back down:: Maybe not right now. Maybe tomorrow. You've... never... pahna, you're breaking my heart, Sera.

::Sera slowly opened and closed her eyes as the Human spoke.::

zh'Aella: Did you know there are two of you? ::She closed one eye and smiled at the result.:: Ah, that’s better. But why am I breaking your heart? I don’t want to break your heart, you’re my favourite human…. My... My favourite human… 

::Sera placed a hand on Jo’s shoulder for emphasis and gave her a small shake.::

Marshall: I’m overly fragile right now. Don’t take advantage of my trusting nature. ::she knocked back another shot:: We’re playing Springball. When we’re sober. We’ll get you lasting longer in the battlefield by smacking a tiny ball around for hours. 

::Sera closed eyes and slowly shrugged, she stayed like that for a moment but quickly opened her eyes when she felt the room spinning.:: 

zh’Aella: I’m not sure that the skills translate well, but I’m willing to try it if it means that much to you... Is this springball game how, um, you stay in shape.

:: Jo, now starting to feel a little more than squify, narrowed her eyes in jest at her friend.::

Marshall: Springball is… is so so much more than a game. It’s a way of life! It’s a... It’s a calling. ::she clicked her fingers as if looking for the word in her brain:: Bajorans play for years… for years, Sera… and never end up in the leagues. ::she sighed, finishing off her drink and squaring it on the bar in her unsteady grasp:: It can be dangerous, though. Some body slams are just brutal. 

zh’Aella: Sounds like you want an excuse to rough me up. 

Marshall: Would I? ::she did her best to look incredulous:: Would this face do something like that?

::Sera nodded her head, but immediately regretted it as the room kept on moving after her head had stopped. She answered after closing her eyes and taking a long deep breath.::

zh’Aella: I shouldn't told you about our endurance issues. But I'll try it with you, ::Sera added a raised index finger.:: When we’re sober. But you have to come swimming or sailing with me during our next shore leave, dealers choice.

::Sera reached out for her ale, missed and knocked the glass over spilling half a glass of blue alcohol over the table top.::

zh’Aella: Did you see that? Oh, evasive manoeuvres.

:: Sera said before beginning to laugh uncontrollably at her own joke. Her antennae were trembling frantically as she bent over clutching Jo’s arm for support.::

:: Which Jo joined in with, it was just too funny. In her head, a mental image of Sevo issuing the order as the viewscreen showed a large shot glass of Andorian Ale careening towards them. She narrowly avoided more of the stuff exiting through her nasal cavities.:: 

Marshall: Alright, alright, alright… ::she took a breath:: I think we’re at a point we should… umm… quits! Call it quits. That’s such a weird combination of words. Humans are strange. ::she laughed again:: I’m a Human, I should know. ::she picked up Sera’s remaining liquor and downed it:: Yep, definitely Human, with a… a Human alcohol tolerance… wooo, that’s strong.

:: Somehow, they had managed to sink through a bottle of Andorian Ale and another of Bajoran voodai between them, both bottles now looking sorry for themselves. There was enough left in the blue bottle to warrant two more shots and it shimmered before them on the bar, tempting the two Officers with its beauty.::

::Sera slowly straightened up, she really should call it quits but there was a small voice in her head which said, ‘One more’..::

zh’Aella: One more? ::As she said it her antennae straightened with an idea.:: How about we each put a shot inside of an ale, for science? 

::Her eyes were glowing wide at the idea.::

:: Jo jumped on the idea as though her Andorian friend had just proposed the solution to a complex math problem.::

Marshall: YES! Yes! For science. ::she raised her hand to get the bartender’s attention:: Sir! Sir! Two more of your finest ales for us. 

:: The bartender nodded and poured another two tall ale glasses, placing them delicately in front of the two drunken habitants of his bar. Thanked in Bajoran and then Andorian, the bartender moved off to the opposite end of the bar, just in case the ale decided to take a flying leap over the edge once more.::

:: Jo poured another two shots and slid one over the bar to her friend, then lifted her own over the rim of the ale glass.::

Marshall: On three… en, ti, bik…Masal - err, Science! 

zh’Aella: ,,,,Science!

:: The shots descended into the ale glass, fizzed for a short second, then were raised up in a salute, before being knocked back in a few short mouthfuls. The sweet and sour tastes of both drinks mixed together as they descended over already mangled taste buds.::

Marshall: Ooooh that was good…

:: Sera coughed as the cocktail burned through her chest, and placed the glass down sideways on the table. She considered getting the glass on the table at all a success, as the room was vibrating to her pulse. She wiped her mouth and nodded in agreement.:: 

zh’Aella: Yeah, it was good. The science types are going to be impressed with our…. Endev…. ::cough:: our progress….. I’m tired… Are…. you tired? 

:: She rested her head down on the table which she considered a very good pillow even if it was damp and had a strange smell.::

Marshall: Right… ::she smacked the bar:: Come on, we’ll… we’ll try and get… wait a minute… ::she frowned:: Where… Where did we park the ship?

:: Sera’s head darted up.::

zh’Aella: I….I can’t remember…. Oh… the Adm...Admiral is not going to be happy. ::She clutched Jo’s shoulder and pulled her close.:: Maybe…. Maybe it’s cloaked…. Does the ship have a cloak?

Marshall: I… I don’t… ::she chuckled:: Your antenna… it’s in the ale… Cloaking ships! Now that… that’s a good… ::she felt her pockets for her PADD:: I should… Erin will know that, she’s like... super smart… three peehaychdees… she’s soooo pretty...

::Sera placed her head back on the table.::

zh’Aella: We should stay here… They might be looking…. looking, for us. Jo, its very comfortable down here. Come and… stay, with me. 

::Sera mumbled as she closed her eyes and unconsciousness took her.:: 

Marshall: ::quietly:: Sera… Sera… Sera… wake up, Klingons off the Starboard bow…starboard bow… Sera… what happens… when we die? Sera… ::she yawned:: I’m just… gonna... 

:: Jo pawed at her friend for a moment and mind wandering off in various directions. She poked her friend’s eyebrow, then her eyelid, then her cheek, before her head found her crossed arms on the bar to be quite comfortable.::

=/\=

Lieutenant JG Jocelyn Marshall

Operations Officer

USS Gorkon

G239304JM0

&

Lieutenant JG Sera zh'Aella

Helm/Comm/Ops

USS Gorkon

Publicity Team

V239107TZ0