LTCmdr. Quentin Collins - We Were Meant to be as One

[Justin Partridge]

((OOC: I've got more replies for the rest of yall incoming, but you also all know how I get when Kylie shows up on my playlist lol you all are AMAHZING.))

((Interior. Shor's Shoals. Casperia Prime.))

Jacin: What does that exactly do though? Environmental control? Replicator?

Collins: What do you know of the ancient and noble art of...karaoke?

Quentin Collins felt more happy than he had in a very long time. He wasn't sure what it was. The unexpected company. The warmth and affably comfortable vibes of the planet. The thrill of a job done. Or maybe the two (or three) Romulan Ales he had had at this point, but he was bubbling with...smiles. Laughter. 

Things he thought were just out of reach for him after such a harrowing mission. But that was the darkness of the past. He was firmly focused on the future at this point. Which included punching up the holo-table's karaoke interface and song list. His hands danced across the haptic keyboard as Ayemet responded from the bar floor.

Jacin: Err it’s a Klingon dish isn’t it? Like Gagh, but aquatic of origin?

Quentin barked a genuine laugh as he continued to fuss with the haptic controls. They were quite a sight older than even some of the one's on the Arrow, but Quentin was on a mission at this point. He had the song in mind, and the artist, he just needed to find it.

Collins: HA, well, top marks for effort at least. It's something we humans are somewhat fond of. Well, the COOL humans that is...::he said with a self-deprecating snort.::

Jacin: RESPONSE

Quentin was about to answer when he noticed a new face in the thin crowd. The officer that had been so kind enough to invite and share his own culinary culture with him, Mister Tro'k! A recent Klingon exchange officer that seemed to be settling in quite well amongst the tapestry of the Arrow. 

He approached the stage with a causal contriteness that Quentin greeted warmly from the smallish stage.

Tro'k: Would you mind some extra company?

Collins: Mister Tro'k! Of course, of course! Please! Join us! Have a drink should you wish!

He turned slightly to Ayemet, pointing at the new arrival.

Collins: Jacin Ayemet, may I introduce Mister Tro'k? Another recent arrival to us and someone with wonderful taste in gagh, come to mention it!

Tro'k/Jacin: RESPONSE

Quentin finally found his quarry and "punched in" the selection, feeling the rush of self-important adrenaline that always came before he subjected himself and others. Some people worked out. Others ran.

Quentin Collins did stupid karoke. And, despite him fully knowing how ridiculous it was, he still loved it. More than he probably loved himself. There was a truth in the performance. A truth he could never reveal willingly off stage. Nobody had known that better than his sister Sara. Which is why he picked the song he did.

He rose the mid-sized microphone to his lips, his breathing now steady and controlled.

Collins: This is...an old favorite...

He took two steps backward on the "stage" and punched Play with a pointed haste. The song started, the comforting and familiar sound of an ancient digital drum machine pulsed beautifully from the unit's holo representation of speakers. Soon after the beat was joined by a catchy hook and synthesizers.

Quentin smiled as the song continued. Wrapping the memories associated with it around him like a long-loved quilt. His cue approached. Four measures...three...then two...Quentin's voice then returned.

Collins: Thought that I was going craaaa-zay/

Just havin' ONE of those days, yeah/

Didn't know whaaat to dooooo/

Then there was yooooooOOOu!

He pointed directly at the bartender, who was shaking her head in the dimness in disappointment. 

Collins: Then everything went from WRONG to RIGHT/

And the stars came out and filled up the sky/

The music you were playin' really BLEW my mind/

It was LOVE (love) at first sight!

As Quentin then all-but-leapt into the chorus, his voice coming cleanly but not pretentiously, singing words he had had memorized since he was 13 years old, the pure raw emotion of the moment and his memories hit him like a crashing wave. But instead of taking him under, like it usually did, it just lifted him higher. 

Not just the elation of the moment and relief of shore leave. But memories he had associated with the song and it's joyous contact throughout his life. The times his sister had forced him to dance to it with her in the Study and their respective rooms. How they had each played it at their graduations. How it had roped in David one summer on a road trip to Bangor, just the three of them, playing from a playlist Sara had prepared.

Dancing and singing and laughing and never knowing a love more pure, a happiness more shining, than in that moment. How it's sudden and unexpected play on the Collinsport Inn jukebox had shot a beam of light through the dread and sadness of his last night in Collinsport. His last night with Sara and David before the next chapter of his and their lives had started. Bringing them all full circle and then continuing as a bardic bond between his siblings that only death would likely break. Extending even beyond probably. David always said he had made "wake-lists" for them all. He always threatened to pack it with Kylie.

It all came out of him throughout the song, but it never felt...dark. Just light and love and a killer hook and bridge. Quentin Collins sang and danced the whole thing, toe to tip, hoping his brother and sister knew how much he had thought about them over the last months. And just how much he really loved and missed them. More than he could possibly say. So he would sing it. They would feel it, surely. Because he felt them.

Always.

The song started to fade away and with it, Quentin's rush. But his eyes suddenly stung with sweat and the thin edges of happy tears. He stood on the stage still, now powerfully aware of himself and gripping the microphone nervously.

Collins: It...it's s-something like that....

His ears burned passionately.

Jacin/Tro'k/Any: RESPONSE

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TAG/TBC

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Lieutenant Commander 

Quentin Collins III

Chief Science Officer

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U.S.S. ARROW NCC-69829

ID: E239512QC0

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F.N.S. CONTRIBUTOR

(SB118 Forums) 

((OOC PS: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wf421JsG004  

The amazing music video for this equally amazing song.))