Lt. Cmdr Robin Hopper: YOU GET A RIBBON! AND YOU GET A RIBBON! (Part 2)
Robin Hopper
((Wil Ukinix’s Apartment 12-56, Palais-Bourbon District, Habitat Ring))
As Moore re-took his seat, Robin noted Lt. Vanlith whisper something in Moore’s ear.
((OOC – Not heard by Robin, but maintaining tags for others’ convenience.))
Vanlith: ::Quietly:: Congrats Katio.
Moore: Response
Seeing the sparking connection forming between those two was heartwarming. And a little amusing. And it also helped reaffirm her own belief that there was no way she and Nathan would be able to maintain any sort of ambiguity regarding their own relationship.
Ukinix: And Vanlith, Iko and Hopper, you get the same ribbon for going into the belly of the beast and defending against the sick Malon crew.
oO Oh! Oo
There were more applause, and this time Robin had the enjoyably awkward task of collecting several boxes – including one for herself. oO The heck am I supposed to do with this? I don’t even have pockets. Oo
She began by passing Charlena and Bec their boxes first, shaking their hands and smiling warmly in turn as she offered them congratulations.
Vanlith: Thank you.
Iko: Ah, no biggie.
Hopper: Congratulations you two. Well-deserved. It was nasty down there.
As the other two returned to their seats, Robin set her own box aside for later.
Ukinix: Next up – Joint Meritorious Unit Award, for working with the Malon crew which I know wasn’t the easiest thing, goes to Iko, Wong, Vanlith, Reade, Richards, Blackwood, and Hopper. Congratulations.
A little queue formed as the various officers came up to collect their boxes.
Vanlith: Thank you.
Smile. Handshake. Congratulations.
Iko: ::accepting the ribbon:: Cheers mate.
Smile. Handshake. Congratulations.
Wong: Response
Smile. Handshake. Congratulations.
Reade: Well, thank you, Commander.
Smile. Handshake. Congratulations.
Richards: Thank you…Commanders?
Eye-roll. Smile. Lingering handshake. Tilt of her head towards Ukinix.
Hopper: Oh. All him, Lieutenant. Though I did put in a good word for the others.
As Nathan returned to the stairs, she watched him walk away for an extra moment, enjoying the playful exchange, before turning her head back to Ensign Blackwood.
Blackwood: Response
Smile. Handshake. Congratulations.
Ukinix: Next up – The Starfleet Investigation Ribbon, for apprehending and questioning the Malon Controller, goes to Kaito Moore, Cassian Iovianus, and yours truly.
As she collected the boxes to hand them to their recipients, Robin counted her lucky stars that Wil had at least laid them out in an orderly and organized fashion. As she turned, prepared to pass out this next round of ribbons, she took another look around his place… On second thought, it wasn’t so much a “blank space” as a spartan and well-kept apartment. Minimal, but intentionally so. Very much the opposite of her own little mid century jungle. But not quite so bad.
oO And there’s an anchor on that back wall. That’s something. Oo
Moore: Thank you, Sir.
Iovianus?: Response
Hopper: Good job, gentlemen. Thanks to you, we were able to figure out how the whole debacle started – and the Malon authorities seem to be taking an interest in preventing further incidents like this.
Ukinix: He was a slippery trickster. But we got ‘im.
Robin pressed her lips together firmly, with a simple nod. oO That’s another way to put it. Yup. Oo
Moore: That he was. Almost gave me the ‘purple flavored’ ribbon.
She’d heard about that. It had explained why Moore kept ‘popping’ painkillers after his arrival on the freighter. But that sort of risk was something they all took on as Starfleet officers. Ninety percent of the time sound leadership, quality engineering, and attentive observation kept them safe. But, now and then, their positions of unique responsibility called for jumping into danger blindly in order to keep others safe.
((OOC – This brief conversation happens ‘aside’ and isn’t overheard by any who are not tagged. For the sake of clarity / convenience for those tagged, I’ve left it in.))
When Moore started to return to his spot, Bec stopped him
Iko: Purple heart?
Moore: Response
She furrowed her eyebrows, focusing on Kaito more than what Wil was announcing at the front.
Iko: Kai, what did you do?
Moore/Blackwood: Response
With Harry's two-cents Bec put her hand on his shoulder as she addressed Kai again.
Iko: Bloody hell, we almost need an extra security team just to watch over you, ::turning to the other ensign:: right Harry?
Blackwood: Response
Moore: Response?
After a brief pause, she chuckled and gave Kaito a pat on the back.
Iko: I kid, of course. But still, be careful.
((Back to the main scene!))
Ukinix: Next up, the Innovation ribbon. Char? You’re up.
Robin grinned at Charlena– no… Char, apparently. oO Right, she and Wil go way back, don’t they? Oo The Lieutenant had only just returned from time off, working on personal projects on her homeworld and already she was raking in the accolades. There was no doubt she’d been instrumental to the success of their mission, so Robin was happy to reward her.
Ukinix: For inverting the flow of the antimatter into the warp core of the freighter, that ribbon is yours. Along with Hopper. ::slight point:: that one next to Charlena’s is your Robin ribbon – I mean, ribbon Robin.
Robin stuck her tongue out a little, amused at Wil’s slip up, as she set her own box aside and passed one to Charlena.
Vanlith: Thank you ::to Robin:: Just glad we could figure it out.
Hopper: ::Puffing air:: Phoo– yeah. Me too. Let’s not do it again.
Iko: You guys did great.
Robin grinned and pointed a finger gun at Bec across the room. Meanwhile, Charlena retook her seat and Wil brought up a few more points of honour.
Ukinix: And while no ribbon, Commander Carter, I wanted to give you an honorable mention for your efforts at the end to help coordinate everyone coming back safely. Thank you.
Carter: Thank you Commander…
Toliver: Congrats John…
Any: Response
Ukinix: And the same goes for Nadeshiko, for her efforts. That can’t have been easy for a civilian.
Another round of applause marked the additional shoutouts. Robin nodded and clapped along. She’d have to think of a way to demonstrate her appreciation for Nadeshiko. Did the android woman enjoy drinks? Dancing? Dinner? oO Hmm. That’s a puzzler. Oo
Richards: ::Mostly to himself:: Wasn’t really a walk in the park for any of us…
Iko: ::keeping her voice low:: Never is mate, never is…
Hopper: No, it sure isn’t. But if it were, where would the fun be, hmm?
Any: Response
Ukinix: While we’re here, does anyone want to announce anything? Achievements… upcoming holidays… party plans…finally got that missing stamp for your collection…
Nathan let out a sigh before he stood up at his place by the stairs.
Richards: I guess I fall within that, don’t I? In just a couple of weeks, I will be heading back to Earth for my Brother’s wedding and Sister’s graduation. ::Shrugging::
Robin’s knowing gaze glided over to him. Their room aboard the starliner was booked, and she’d already begun trying to work out how to say “nice to meet you” to each of his one hundred family members that she’d be meeting without repeating herself.
Hopper: I will be away as well, actually – so please forward any requests for the SRC in the next little while to Crewmen Axon and Helqun. They’ll fire off the really high priority stuff to me via the Watson channel. Everything else will get appropriately delegated.
She hoped that her focus on the professional details would deflect any speculation.
Any: Response
Ukinix: Alright, everyone, congratulations. You’re free to stay for a drink and I might even put on a couple of pizzas for those that are a bit peckish. Feel free to check out the view from the balcony too.
The atmosphere in the room shifted as everyone began to mill about – ribbon time quickly shifted into an Amity crew mixer, which suited Robin just fine. And things could have been worse. Her pop bottle could’ve shattered.
Moore: I made a not-so-secret family recipe, sushi Bake! The red one is meat, and the blue is mushroom. ::He glanced over at Robin:: So make sure to leave some for Commander Hopper!
Iko: We will!
Hopper: Woo!!! ::Thumbs up to Moore:: Thank yooouu!! I just have some messes to clean up first. Then I’m all over that!
Any: Response
((Additional tags re: the food sharing can be found in Moore, Vanlith, & Iko’s recent sims (please check if you’re tagged there!) – I am excluding them here as they are out of earshot for Hopper. Similarly, you can all assume that most/all of the following conversations occur out of your PC’s hearing as well.))
As she turned to look at her handiwork – a pile of boxes to take home, a crumpled up cloth that had soaked up a fair bit of spilled soda, and a bottle with a bent straw sticking out of it, she sensed Nate approaching out of her peripheral vision and looked sideways at him, crossing her arms.
Richards: Congratulations, Commander. ::Winking:: Well deserved and all that.
Hopper: Thanks. Same to you. I see you’ve pinned yours on already?
Nathan puffed out his chest to show off his ribbon, with a goofy grin on his face that made her want to both roll her eyes and give him a smooch at the same time.
Richards: It will make a nice addition to the collection.
Hopper: Are you sticking around? I’m going to, um, have a chat with Wil. About the trip, and, well… You know. You can just have fun though, get a drink. I can handle it.
Richards: I, uh, actually have to go finish up a couple of reports, so I’m not going to stay. ::Smiling:: I’ll see you back at your place later?
Robin glanced around again at Wil’s apartment, then back to Nate.
Hopper: Mhmm. This time. But when I get there we are filling out the paperwork to get you a new place when we get back here. Your turn to make the bed in the morning.
The two of them shared a brief chuckle, and she wasn’t entirely sure if Nathan thought she was kidding or not. But it didn’t really matter. She knew.
As he made his exit as inconspicuously as possible, Nate’s hand brushed against her arm. Watching him leave, Robin’s opposite hand made its way up to the spot on her arm subconsciously, resting in the spot that he’d touched. Things were about to get a whole lot more complex.
Ukinix: Thanks, legend.
Eyebrows raised, Robin looked over her shoulder as Wil approached.
Hopper: Well, well. Think of the devil… ::Smirk:: Did you sense that I wanted to talk to you? Or are you just looking for a co-conspirator to pull some prank on these poor unsuspecting Ensigns?
Ukinix: Maybe we’ll commandeer the Jemo and take it for a spin again.
Hopper: ::Amused nod:: Mischief it is, then, mm?
Wil chuckled, before moving over to the coffee table.
Ukinix: Vino?
Hopper: @#%& yes. ::Blushing:: That slipped out. ::Sighing:: Sorry that ceremony was a little messy. First time. But, hey, no fatalities, right? Is that wine still available?
Ukinix: Response
She took the offered glass gladly, taking a larger sip than was probably appropriate, but she needed the extra dose of courage.
Hopper: Hey, um, I know this is sort of a weird moment… but with my upcoming leave, and all the preparations, I haven’t really had the time to pencil in a specific appointment just to talk with you. ::Rolling her neck a little:: But I have sort of a personal matter that, um, overlaps with a professional matter…
Ukinix: Response
Hopper: I know you probably don’t want to know about this, and frankly, I’ve been trying to keep things on the DL – trying, not sure how well I’ve been succeeding – but Lieutenant Richards and I are dating. Per the Starfleet Handbook on Personal Relationships sub-section related to fraternization with subordinate officers, I feel obligated to inform you of this ‘dynamic’ as the ranking Starfleet officer aboard this station.
She shrugged. Well, there it was.
Ukinix: Response
TBC
