Lt. Cmdr Robin Hopper: YOU GET A RIBBON! AND YOU GET A RIBBON! (Part 1)
Robin Hopper
((OOC – As a general reminder for all, particularly newer members, “Any” tags can serve a couple functions when writing a scene. They can be used to indicate no specific respondent(s) intended -- great for starting a Shore Leave scene without a plan and seeing where it goes! – or can be used in lieu of listing the names of all scene participants, especially when responding may be optional. While this isn’t always
In either case, best to leave “Any” tags in so any responding after you can see where there’s room for them to insert dialogue. Hope that makes sense, but feel free to discuss with your mentor if you have questions!))
((Wil Ukinix’s Apartment 12-56, Palais-Bourbon District, Habitat Ring))
Robin had taken the afternoon off work to spend time preparing for the upcoming trip that she would be making back to the Alpha Quadrant, to Earth, with Nathan in a couple weeks’ time. It was a long journey – six weeks each way – and she’d been doing a lot of thinking about how to manage her absence… both in terms of ensuring things in the SRC kept ticking along without her, and how to approach the increasingly-apparent fact that their relationship was not going to be ‘secret’ much longer.
In fact, Robin wasn’t entirely convinced that it wasn’t, essentially, public knowledge at this point. She’d gotten her fair share of ‘knowing looks’ from the junior officers under her command at this point, and Nathan had returned from his walk and talk with Ensign Ylvor at the beach party blushing – what else could it be? (In hindsight, biting him was probably not a subtle choice to make).
Of course, that raised the scariest question of them all… Did she even want them to remain a secret? If so, why? And if not, what did that mean? This was the sort of inner turmoil that had ultimately driven her to seek a posting on Amity Outpost, far from previous posting – and her last boyfriend. She’d tried – hard – to avoid getting herself into a situation like this all over again, and now here she was, falling for that handsome blonde idiot.
With their departure looming, and a need for resolution weighing on her shoulders, Robin had shown up with a plan… But first, she had a job to do! Never one to put her personal affairs before her responsibilities, Robin was standing outside Wil’s apartment a few minutes early, and, when the others arrived, was checking over her outfit – a black and white dress straight off the pages of a 2268 fashion editorial inspired by several high-profile missions undertaken by the Federation’s flagship that year. The dress was stark white on the front, with a sharp arrow of black, and black on the other side, featuring an arrow of white.
As the other invitees arrived on time (no doubt most of them arriving on the same train!) Robin stopped looking for flecks of dust on her dress and waved warmly.
Iko: This everyone?
Hopper: ::Looking over the assembled group, counting heads:: Hmmm… Yep, that looks all the must-haves – and a few welcome extras. Perfect! Let’s get in there and cause a ruckus, shall we?
Any: Response
She gestured for the others to go ahead. John and Katy were at the head of the column and had the honours of pressing the door-chime. A moment later, the door opened, a rather startled First Officer peering out at the assembled mass on his doorstep. But, affable as he was, Wil quickly smoothed it over by stepping aside and letting them all in.
Ukinix: Come in!
Toliver: Wil, this is beautiful!
Hopper: And spacious… Why aren’t you throwing more parties here, Wil?
She didn’t let him finish, passing by him when her turn came and chuckling to herself. In fact, she’d only seen Wil’s apartment once or twice in passing – for a man with such a nice place, he didn’t seem to make much use of it.
oO I wonder when Nathan’s going to stop living with Siben and get his own place… Maybe he could get a nice one like this – or something in the Beijing district to be close… Oo
Realizing her thoughts were getting a bit away from her, she resumed admiring Wil’s apartment, walking around it with a curious and critical eye.
Any: Response
Ukinix: Hello everyone. Hey, all at once! Nice timing.
Carter: Sometimes, it works that way…especially when food and drink are involved…
Iko: We're just here on time as you asked.
Robin turned her attention away from Wil’s startling lack of decor – (his apartment felt almost like a ‘blank slate’; unless one counted a framed sports jersey as ‘decor’) – and looked over the assembled crew once more. Like her, some had worn their civvies, and others had come in uniform. Considering the rather informal setting and greeting, the mix of dress seemed almost more appropriate than if everyone had turned up dressed the same.
Toliver: Where do we sit, Commander?
Any: Response
Ukinix: There’s seats on the couch, I brought the outdoor chairs inside, there’s bar chairs. Wherever you like, have a seat. ::Gesturing:: Win, water, snacks, and a replicator in the counter if you want something else.
Robin nodded, looking about for where she might park herself. oO Near the front, I guess… Or maybe I’ll just stand… Oo She’d been warned in advance that, with Rivi preoccupied with presidential matters, she’d be pulling Wil’s usual duty of handing out the ribbons that afternoon. The better job of the two, she thought – too many opportunities to get someone’s rank or name wrong when doing all the talking!
Moore: I hope you don’t mind, Sir. I wasn’t sure if we were having a cookout at home, but I brought something just in case.
Iko: You did?
Moore held up a couple of containers of food.
Hopper: Smells great, Kaito!
Robin had thought she’d smelled something delicious – she just hoped that whatever Moore brought was veggie-friendly. oO Then again… Oo she turned to eye the snacks and drinks Wil had already laid out… oO Not like the Commander skimped or anything. Oo
Any: Response
As the others found their way to seats, or to drinks and snacks followed by seats, Robin grabbed a replicated bottle of soda & a straw, then decided to take the arm of the couch. She had just sat down when Wil passed her, heading towards what she deduced would be the ‘staging area’ for their little ceremony.
Ukinix: ::With a smile:: Not you, Commander, I need you up here.
She responded by squinting at him and blowing a couple frustrated little bubbles in her soda, but stood and followed him over anyways.
Hopper: ::To Wil, teasing:: You waited for me to sit down on purpose!
Wil offered no confirmation, but it would hardly surprise her if he had. After all, when they’d commanded the USS Jemison together briefly, he’d put a little essential oil diffuser on her seat just to make it smell like eucalyptus! Granted, she’d made some offhand comment about him smelling like eucalyptus first, but that was beside the point.
As she passed the stairs, she caught Nate’s eye long enough to give him a little smile. He responded with a confidence-boosting wink.
Hopper: ::Mouthing silently, to Nathan:: Thanks!
With that, she found herself up in front of the crowd along with Wil – a viewscreen and table behind them. She set her soda down on the table, half-finished, noticing the conspicuous cloth laid out atop it. Looking towards the assembled officers, she clasped her hands together and put on her game face.
Toliver: ::smiling:: So the show begins…
Any: Response
Ukinix: Thanks for coming, everyone. Rivi’s very busy at the moment with the President of the Federation here, so she’s asked me to call an important meeting.
Robin nodded, her expression affirmative and serious, without dipping into severity.
Ukinix: Commander Hopper, ::gesturing to small table:: If you could be so kind as to remove that towel?
Hopper: My pleasure.
She turned around, carefully removing the cloth, minding her soda bottle to avoid spilling it all over the finely-crafted wooden boxes revealed underneath.
Ukinix: ::Gesturing to table:: Ta-daaaa! ::Gesturing to Robin:: My assistant, everyone.
Vanlith: ::smiling:: Your glamorous assistant I think you mean!
She turned to grin at Lt. Vanlith – and in so-doing, the cloth, tucked under her arm, knocked the soda bottle off the table onto the floor.
Hopper: Aah! ::Setting the bottle upright, dropping the cloth on it to soak up the spilled liquid:: Yep. Sooo glamorous. ::To Wil:: I’ll… clean this up after.
Any: Response
Standing up again, Robin brushed a stray hair out of her face, tucking it behind her ear. Her cheeks were undoubtedly turning a bright shade of red. She wasn’t about to live that down any time soon. Thankfully, Wil was gracious enough a host to move the show along.
Ukinix: Alright! The incident with the Malon was hairy, very hairy, and I’m bloody proud of all of you for what we managed to achieve. The colony’s back up and running, the Malon have buggered off back to Malon Prime, and everyone’s happy, until the next crisis.
Carter: ::sipping his bourbon:: And there is always a next one…
Moore: ::Quitely from the back:: I think I’m still glowing from that.
Robin smiled. Nate snorted. At least she wasn’t the only one ‘glowing’.
Iko: Whelp, no awards for you then. Better get you to Medbay.
Any: Response
Ukinix: Firstly, I’d like to offer welcome to ensign Torvi Ylvor, who comes to us from the Gorkon. Hope you enjoy living in an apartment compared to quarters, ::taps nose, playful slight whisper:: don’t tell anyone in Starfleet, it’s our little secret.
Robin clapped her hands together quietly, then separated them and pointed excitedly to Torvi with a wide grin. She was happy to have the focus on someone else – and was genuinely excited to have another friendly face join their senior staff. From what she’d seen so far, Torvi would be a solid addition to the the Sec/Tac team aboard Amity and seemed to be getting along well with her crewmates. Nathan seemed to like her, at least, and Crewman Fuhral Ygryix hadn’t even lodged a formal complaint about her working his case yet (which was something!)
Toliver: Some things we keep to ourselves, Ensign…
Iko: But Yes, welcome to the team Tor-Vor.
Hopper: ::Chuckling:: Yes, absolutely – we’re glad to have you with us.
Any: Response
Ylvor: Response
As the hoopla for Torvi died down, Wil kept the momentum going with another shout out.
Ukinix: I’ve only invited Starfleet crew tonight, but if you see him around, make sure you give Doctor Orrey a warm welcome back to the Outpost as well.
oO Doctor Orrey… Oo she pondered, for a moment, remembering seeing that name pop up in the recent personnel updates. No, she had seen it before somewhere, or heard it. Had he worked on Nathan’s arm? She’d have to ask him.
Her thoughts were interrupted when Wil gestured for her to prepare to hand out the ribbons as he continued to speak…
Ukinix: Let’s get down to business, it’s ribbons time. ::Reaches for PADD on coffee table, taps screen:: First up – Ensign Moore, for finding your way to the Malon freighter from the Indy on board the shuttle, you receive the Good Conduct Ribbon. Congrats, Kaito!
There was a general applause that filled the apartment as Moore, who looked quite surprised to be summoned to the fore so quickly to receive a ribbon, stood and made his way forward.
Iko: Woo!
Moore: Thank you, Sir.
There was a brief pause, until Robin remembered she was supposed to actually give him his award. She should have asked to do a rehearsal.
Hopper: Oh! That’s my job… ::Spinning around, grabbing the corresponding box, then turning back to Moore:: Here you are, Ensign. I believe this is for you.
She held the box open, showing Moore the little emblem that signified his daring, before passing the box to him. What he did with the box from there on out was his problem. But the ribbon would be stored with honour and then pinned on his dress uniform someday when he was a grizzled admiral or something.
Hopper: Not to mention all the stuff that came after you flew that shuttle over, Ensign. ::Wink, handshake:: Very courageous.
TBC (In Part 2)
