Lt. Robin Hopper: Bwood Sports
Robin Hopper
((OOC – Appreciate the elongated sims and the left-in tags, all. As noted at the start of Shore Leave, I’m going to find it hard to keep up with these larger group scenes. Please feel free to keep it moving along and I’ll catch up when I can. I’m afraid I didn’t have the energy left in me to push it ahead much, but I'm at least caught up... And you can generally safely assume Robin is happily following along with whatever is going on.))
((“Villa, Magna Roma” – Holodeck 2, Copernicus Center - Amity Outpost))
As the doors the Holodeck opened, Robin peered inside, eager to see what sort of surprise Cassie Iovianus would have for the assembled group of senior officers. It wasn’t every day that Amity’s grizzled Security Chief reached out to do something… fun. In fact, Robin was confident there might be entire days that Iovianus never said a word. Much could be communicated with a simple glare, after all.
That said, she’d certainly seen another side of the man when his mother had unexpectedly visited the station – ostensibly to see how he was doing with his work on the station, but given by the chat she and Robin had shared, in reality, to see to his ‘familial engagements.’ Aurora Iovianus hadn’t uttered the words, but the “where are my grandkids?” look was unmistakable.
So, it was with peak intrigue that Robin found herself entering a warm and welcoming garden amidst walls of stone… The warm humid air reminded her almost of Florence, when she had briefly visited for an ill-fated gelato – but of course, that made sense. After all, she was quickly putting the pieces together. This was Magna Roma, or at least a faithful recreation of it.
Iovianus: Welcome my friends.
oO Oh my god. He’s wearing a tunic. AAAH! Oo
Reade: Morning, Commander.
Iko: ::looking around the holodeck:: And a nice one too it seems.
Ukinix: Thanks for the invite ::rubbing hands together::.
She then noticed the table behind Cassian laid out with food and beverages, the cozy cushions strewn about. It was so quaint and cute – and so opposite from the tough rough-hewn Lt. Commander that it continued to boggle her mind. But… whatever the case, it was thrilling!
Hopper: ::Struggling to contain her excitement:: So!!! What’s happening?!
Iovianus: I am glad you were all able to come to my little viewing party.
He motioned to the table, and Robin nodded enthusiastically.
Iovianus: We have a variety of wine, Romi and Australian. There are also some fruit juices and water.
Reade: Oh! They are all so good. I'll try the Romi first.
Scotty made his way to the table and reached for the decanter of wine, Robin close on his heels. She nabbed a clay drinking vessel and, as the Engineer finished pouring his own cup of wine, she held out hers as well.
Hopper: Fill me up, Scotty! ::Chuckling, turning to face Iovianus:: So, what’s the deal? What exactly are we “viewing” anyways?
Iovianus: The Arena Games are a part of my culture I am happy to share. There are a lot of misconceptions I have heard.
Robin’s eyebrows shot up, though everyone seemed intrigued. In fact, she felt a droplet on her hand and realized she’d almost absent-mindedly strayed her cup away from the wine Scotty was pouring for her. oO Whoops! Oo She nodded gratefully, then stepped back as Wil helped himself to some of the vino.
Ukinix: You mean, like the lions and the death and the spears and stuff?
Robin swirled the wine in her cup and sniffed it, but her attention was firmly on Cassian. Tight-lipped as usual, he refrained from outright acknowledging whether or not those were the “misconceptions” or not. Robin didn’t mind. They’d find out in due course, wouldn’t they? She instead just took a sip of her wine and hummed contentedly.
Iovianus: Fill a glass, grab a plate and get comfortable. We can have a little chat before it starts. I set it into the program as if it was the day it happened so we have a few minutes before the start.
Wil raised his glass in a little silent toast, and Robin repeated the gesture – though she quickly moved along to the second thing Cassian had mentioned; taking up one of the ceramic plates and setting about loading it with authentic Magna Roman snacks. Some were fairly familiar, not at all dissimilar from Italian fare from Earth… but others she didn’t recognize. Either way, it didn’t matter.
oO Give me salt, bread, and oil, and I am there! Oo Plus, it didn’t hurt that essentially everything set out for the day appeared to vegetarian.
Iko: ::to Wil:: Where’s the best spot to sit, ya reckon?
Ukinix: ::Back to Bec:: You mean once we get there? Well if it was footy, I’d say on the wing, but… ::shrug::
Hopper: ::A Magna Roman olive in her mouth:: Waih– Aw we gowing to va awena?
Reade: What exactly happens in these Arena games?
Iovianus: An extension of our legal system. In addition to the trial by combat to settle disputes, we also have sporting events that happen around the same times. The recording that will be on the screens today is the regional showing. Track and field type events as well as some combat sports to break up the..
Robin nodded, swallowing her food. Okay – on the screens. Understood. oO Wait. Did he say “trial by combat?! Oo
Iovianus: My mother always said “legal boredom.” But it is a big chance for some of the young athletes to also get their names in circulation.
Ukinix: Does it get rough?
Hopper: ::Giving Ukinix a dubious look:: I’m pretty sure he said “Trial by combat,” Wil… Something tells me it’s not “tickle fighting”.
Then again, the thought of a few toned Magna Roman men rolling around in the sand together wasn’t at all an unappealing idea. Maybe Wil was onto something.
Hopper: I mean… I could be wrong though. Maybe that’s one of the misconceptions.
Reade: Interesting. This must be a big honour thing for families back in Manga Roma.
Iovianus: ::nodding to Scotty before shaking his head to Wil with an almost smile:: We have adopted rugby, but beyond that, most legal cases, at this level at least, end at first blood.
Hopper: ::Nearly choking on a piece of oil-dipped bread in her mouth:: Bwood?!
Reade: That must be fascinating.
Iko: I honestly just find it fascinating.
Ukinix: Me too.
There was a brief pause and Robin realized she should probably say something as well, seeing as everyone else had.
Hopper: Maybe a little gruesome.
She hoped that comment wouldn’t offend Cassian. Scotty looked to Wil and Bec.
Reade: I agree 100% with both of you.
Robin just shrugged, defeated. Everyone else was fascinated by blood sports apparently. Now it was beginning to make sense why she kept seeing Tsunkatse posters up all over the Merchant district. She made her way to one of the cushions and took a seat, as everyone else settled into their own respective spots.
Iovianus: ::nodding:: It is a long tradition, in some forms it predates our contact with the Federation.
Iko: Okay, While we wait, why don’t you give us a run-down of the rules?
Ukinix: Yeah, I mean if it doesn’t sound too crazy then maybe we can have a go?
Robin’s eyes widened. She’d heard rumours about Aussie Rules sports and their relative brutality – but surely Wil wasn’t interested in fighting any of the present company in ritual combat. He must just be teasing.
Iovianus: Of course, do we have any specific questions?
Robin just shook her head. Specific questions? No. A million vague ones? Sure, probably.
Reade: Are there any political awards for the winning family?
Ukinix: ::Looking around:: And is this program a recreation of where you live on Magna Roma?
Iovianus: ::looking around as well:: It is in fact. This is the regional governor’s manse.
Hopper: Well, it certainly is fancy. You know, it reminds me a little of Velestus as well. I haven’t been since I was much younger, but the island that my granny lives on has a similar sort of feel. Very greco-roman… ::snapping her fingers:: Argh. If I’d known what we were coming for I could’ve worn a traditional Centauran dress or something. ::Looking around:: I’d fit right in with the statues.
She took another sip of her wine, and tilted her head to the side, trying to decide whether or not it would be worth sneaking off and changing into something just for the fun of it. Her current outfit – a white-and-red sundress, which she’d shaped with a belt, and let sit off her shoulder – now felt out of place, despite the fact she’d picked it specifically for the promised “warm relaxing atmosphere” of this holodeck simulation…
oO Hmmm… Oo
Iko: Response
Reade: ::looking around:: This place has such a fantastic view of the surrounding areas. Reminds me of the Okanagan Valley back on Earth.
Ukinix: ::Looking up:: I’m loving this sunshine. Perfect swimming weather, nudge nudge wink wink ::double raise of eyebrows::.
Iovianus: Well, if there is time we have some swimming possibilities nearby. ::nodding his head toward the pool in the garden:: That is part of the water catchment system for the home. We like to keep things natural.
Hopper: ::Admiring it:: That’s so fun! If we go swimming I’m definitely changing into something Centauran afterwards. But – wait, is it for swimming or for drinking?
Iko: Response
Reade: Cassian, you have my full attention now ::looking towards the table with wine bottles:: I want to try everything.
Robin nodded. So far, learning about Magna Roman culture was delicious. With just a tiiiny hint of fear.
Iovianus: So a few things to go over then. We can start with the drinks and food. ::indicating the wines:: From Earth, we have a Flower Shiraz, Milky Way Chardonnay, a Purple Haze Rose, and a Nutbush Cabernet Sauvignon that I am informed is so good it will make you clap.
Ukinix: Response?
Iovianus: Meanwhile from Roma we have, and I have somewhat paired these so that you can help me introduce them. ::glancing at Wil before indicating one of the golden white wines:: This is Bulla, an almost lime-based citrus with some beeswax to soften it.
oO Alright – that’s next then. Oo
Iovianus: Red fruits, cherries, raspberries things like that but with an underlying hint of mint. It is called Boscachlea after the Eye of an Ox that the grapes are the approximate size of.
oO No, wait, THAT’S next. Oo She smirked to herself. Maybe she’d just pour two cups and alternate back and forth. Surely that was some sort of sin for the wine purists of Magna Roma… or Earth… but unless it was outright culturally insensitive or something, she didn’t really care about the purists’ ways. They were all on shore leave, having fun! If she wanted to double fist cups of wine, then double the cups she would.
Iovianus: ::pointing at the other white wine in the Roma grouping, which Wil, Scotty, and Robin had already tried:: Uvalia is a simple wine just as it grows, but it is a very important plant when you start to work with it. It has a shifting citrus flavor that has an oily feel to it so it lingers. It is the variety we let linger to make Gelu, the ice wine I presented to you and the Ambassador when I was assigned.
Ukinix/Iko: Response?
Iovianus: We also use the leaves for Farcio. An entire strain of cooking things wrapped in the grape leaves. It is a favorite so I have some further on the table. I saved my personal favorite wine for last though. ::He lifted up one of the decanters, it was a deep red, almost purple:: Ignaglutto is a complex spicy wine. The name means Fire Throat it is just under the line of to much tannin. ::He chose not to mention the traces of pepper, cloves, and tobacco that would also present in the wine as a little surprise for anyone brave enough to try it.::
Reade: You know what, I will try this Fire Throat drink. Hopefully, I do not need to go see Ikaia after this. ::laughing::
Hopper: ::Chuckling along:: Hahaaa… oh boy. ::Shaking her head:: I think I’ll stick to the – what did you call it? Uvalia? For now. Then work my way through the other lighter options. After all, I’m more of a rosé kind of gal, you know? Something tells me I might regret subjecting myself to “fire throat”.
Iovianus: It helped me through many a night studying law at the academy.
Robin nodded.
Hopper: I’m sure it’s hard to fall sleep when your throat is burning.
Iko/Ukinix: Response?
Reade: Ok, I am totally ready for this. ::looking over to Wil:: What are you going to try mate?
Ukinix: Response
Hopper: ::Goading him on:: You, however, should totally try the fire wine, Wil. Have a little competition with Scotty, see who wins. After all – we’re here for arena games, right? And you wanna play, right? ::An evil little smirk:: Why not start now?
Robin shrugged. Seemed like a good idea to her. She began hunting the spread of food for another little something. Maybe one of the grape-leaf things Cassian had been talking about. After all, it was important to eat if you were going to be drinking. She intended to have fun and let loose a little, but not to get wasted in front of two superior officers… even off duty.
Iovianus/Iko: Response
Reade: Are you rooting for anyone Cassian?
Iovianus: Response
Robin held aloft a dolmathe-like snack and looked it over curiously.
Hopper: I hope there isn’t any meat in this… ::Indicating Wil and Iko:: Would one of you check this one for me? You eat meat right?
Ukinix/Iko: Response
Scotty, meanwhile, kept the conversation with Cassian going.
Reade: I see, what events are planned for the event today.
Iovianus: Response
Hopper: I think Scotty means – how long are we going to be here? ::Smirking:: Is this an all night shindig or just a few hours?
Iovianus/Reade/Ukinix/Iko: Response
TBC
