Lt. Robin Hopper: Stuck Like Glue
Robin Hopper
((OOC Time Index – This scene takes place before Robin’s promotion to Lt. Commander))
((Fitness Center, Paxau District, Habitat Ring – Amity Outpost))
Robin watched from her seat on the bench, towel over her shoulder, as the volleyball match neared its end. They were coming up on the end of the “season” schedule that she’d help set when establishing the little SRC “league” – which really only consisted of two teams. All the same, they were nearing the end of months of back-and-forth, seemingly evenly-matched competition… which made it all the harder for her to be sat on the bench, just watching.
However, she still carried the scars of their prior mission, which had carried them into a parallel universe. Some were purely psychological, and would just take time and a little effort on her part to process – others, like her leg, were more challenging. She was determined to keep it, without needing a replacement, but it had been troubling her for weeks. It just… didn’t feel the same anymore. Getting shot will do that, she supposed.
As Jadanir spiked the ball tight across the net, taking the winning point for Team Goodall, Robin stood and applauded enthusiastically. There were only a few matches left to go – and with this win under their belt, the two teams were practically neck-and-neck. As the celebrations subsided, and some of the group made plans to head to Wet Goods for an evening of karaoke, Robin felt herself growing strangely reserved. Instead – she sent the others on their way, and remained behind, volunteering to ‘clean up’ on her own so they could go have fun.
She collected one or two spare balls, tossed them back in the bin, and began the process of taking down the net to return the gym to its default blank state. As she knelt to pull one of the poles out of its floor mount, she felt another electric pulse of pain up the back of her left calf and fell forward on her hands, gasping.
Hopper: Ah! ::Panting:: Gotta be careful… ::Standing, using the pole for balance:: Hops, you should’ve asked for help with this…
She looked over the remaining netting and poles with a beleaguered sigh, then resumed her take down – doing her best to take it slow, and mind her leg. Eventually, with everything put away, she wiped her brow off with her towel before tossing it into the matter reclaimator.
Leaning back against the wall for a moment, she reached into her duffel bag containing her duty uniform and boots, and fished for her combadge. Pulling it out and pressing it lightly, she spoke.
Hopper: =/\= Computer, locate Ikaia Wong. =/\=
Computer: =/\= Lieutenant Ikaia Wong is in Three Stripes on the Grand Mezzanine. =/\=
oO Three Stripes? Ikaia? Really… Oo she tried to think over why he might be there. In all the years she’d known the affable Klingon, he’d never been much for ‘the drink’.
Hopper: Oh crap! ::Grabbing her bag and taking off at a jog:: His birthday!
((Three Stripes Bar, Grand Mezzanine - Amity Outpost))
As she walked through the entrance to the bar, brow now sweaty again from running as much of the way as the station’s layout and her sore leg would let her, Robin paused for a second to try and put herself together. She set the duffel down for a moment, let her hair out of the ponytail it had been in, and examined her notably unsuitable attire for the upscale bar – an athletic tank top and skirt, with running shoes.
oO At least they’re black… Oo she reassured herself, slinging her duffel over her shoulder again.
Looking around the room, it didn’t take too long to spot her quarry – Ikaia had a way of standing out in virtually any environment you stuck him in. (After all, how many tall blond Klingon doctors do you know?) And she swiftly made her way around the bar to stand just behind and to the side of him. She set her bag down quietly on the floor and leaned onto the bar, propping her head up on her fist.
Hopper: Hiya Ikaia…
Ikaia looked up from his glass, and immediately she could tell he’d already had a few. The poor boy, despite his size, physique, and ancestry was a notorious lightweight all the way through the academy. She bit the inside of her cheek, wondering just how many synthales he’d consumed already.
Wong: Hey, Hops.
She looked around, confirming that nobody else was there with him… oO What’s gotten into him? Oo …then hopped onto the barstool beside him, setting her running shoes on the rail that ran along the bar at just-above floor height.
Hopper: No symmetrical cocktails for the birthday boy? ::Guilty grin:: You didn’t think I’d forget, did you? ::Pointing to the bar:: Do you wanna maybe, um, share a drink or something?
Ikaia briefly flicked a glance at his glass before setting it back down again.
Wong: It's just synthehol. I really didn't want to go for the real stuff.
Hopper: ::Nodding:: A very sage decision – you sure you aren’t actually turning one hundred and… ::Pausing to count, biting her tongue:: twenty… seven?
She shook her head, not really knowing what she was getting at, and turned to the approaching bartender.
Hopper: The usual, thanks.
As the Vulcan proprietor nodded, knowingly, Robin turned back to Ikaia.
Hopper: I’m kind of surprised to find you here, all by your onesome. I figured you’d be celebrating, or at least with a few friends. ::Placing a hand on his back:: Birthday blues?
Her old friend paused solemnly. It was strange seeing her friend like this. While she wouldn’t exactly call him permanently perky, it was rare to see Ikaia so outwardly glum. She could almost feel it radiating off of him… a sort of aura like a damp chill. She gently rubbed his back, reassuringly.
Wong: Actually… well… You remember Andrew, right? Well…. We broke up.
Robin’s eyes widened, and her hand slowed to a near pause.
Hopper: Oh… ::Tilting head, brow furrowing:: Oh, Ikaia, I’m sorry. I hadn’t realized you two were…
She wanted to say “serious” – but then again, considering Ikaia’s sparse dating history (at least insofar as what she was aware of), the holographic doctor that he’d been seeing for months may well have been one of his longest-standing relationships. To suggest such a romance was un-serious
Hopper: Having trouble. Do you want to talk about it? You don’t have to, of course. I mean, if you just want to have a few drinks and distract yourself…
She glanced to the side as her moscow mule, with a symmetrical mint and ginger garnish, was left beside her, but quickly turned her attention back to her friend.
Wong: Coming here just felt easier than heading home at the moment…
Hopper: ::Knowing sigh, turning to sit parallel to him:: I understand that sentiment, Ikaia. Very well. ::Cradling the cold copper mug in front of her:: Sometimes you just need to be where the people are. Soak in the energy. Doesn’t matter what people, or that they even notice you.
Wong: Response
She took a sip of her drink – it was good, as usual. Three Stripes was incredibly consistent, considering their cocktails were never replicated. Somehow, it still tasted ever-so-slightly bitter compared to usual.
Hopper: Well I’m glad I found you. You shouldn’t be alone on your birthday – you should be with your, um, what’s the term? Ohana. ::Nudging him with her shoulder, a little smile:: Even if it’s a small family reunion all the way out here in the DQ.
Wong: Response
Hopper: You know, you’re the closest thing I’ve got to family out here too. That means we need to stick together, you and me. ::Softly singing a little ditty:: I'm stuck on you, Whoa-oh, whoa-oh, Stuck like glue – You and me baby, We're stuck like glue…
She was doing her best to cheer him up, give him room to talk about something else – but as she paused to sip her drink, she hoped he knew he could talk about anything with her, if that’s what he needed.
Wong: Response
TBC
