(Backsim) JP-LtCmdr. Talos Dakora & Sam Richards- Taking A Leap - Taking A Leap [Part 2]
Travis
((Some Bar in San Francisco - Earth))
Still seated, Talos looked up at Sam and felt that same hint of a spark that he’d felt earlier. He knew the situation was complicated, but none of that really mattered right now.
He rose, finishing the rest of his beer and placing it back on the bar. Somehow, he doubted Nathan or Robin had given him much consideration before pairing off to live happily ever after. What was he worried about?
Besides, it was just a fun night out. Nothing had to get… weird.
Dakora: Alright, then. ::He shrugged.:: Let’s see where the night takes us.
The neon lights overhead flickered, casting a soft glow over the small, crowded space. Talos took Sam’s hand, the gesture easy but deliberate, and with a playful grin, led her onto the dance floor. The place was alive with a mix of chatter, laughter, and music, though the bar itself had all the charm of a forgotten dive. Still, there was something about it that made it feel just right for the moment.
The dance floor, polished but worn from countless footfalls, had its share of occupants—the usual suspects. A group of women, each at a different level of intoxication, swayed together, giggling and twirling as if they were the stars of their own little universe. Just beside them, a troop of younger men lingered nearby, cautiously testing their luck, trying to edge closer, though their movements were more hesitant, almost awkward.
Above all of it, the thumping, rhythmic beat of a song neither Talos nor Sam recognized pounded on relentlessly, shaking the floor with every bass drop. It was exactly the kind of music meant to blur the edges of reality, making it easier to lose yourself in the crowd, in the moment.
S.Richards: It’s been a long time since I’ve danced like this.
With his hand still in hers Sam let the music take over, her hips moving side to side, any hesitation she may have had floated away with the beat of the music, giving her enough reason to move in closer to him.
Talos began to sway, just a little at first, but after a moment he found the rhythm with the alcohol providing him with a laid-back confidence that made up for his lack of any real dancing ability. He snapped and executed a highly unnecessary spin, turning back to her with a lopsided grin.
S. Richards: ::Giggling:: I never expected you to have such smooth moves.
Dakora: I do try to be full of surprises…
Their movements were fluid, playful, as if they'd danced together a half-dozen times in the past. Sam spun into him, her laughter lost in the pounding bass, her hand never quite leaving his. For Talos, it was refreshing to let go like this—no mission to think about, no ship to save, just the pulse of the music and the warmth of her hand in his.
S.Richards: I think you just might be the most fun person I have ever danced with.
The pulsing beat of the song slowly faded, leaving the dance floor buzzing with lingering energy. Talos and Sam came to a stop, their movements winding down with the music. Talos grinned, releasing her hand but letting his fingers trail lightly across hers as they separated. He caught her gaze and leaned in slightly, close enough for her to hear him over the residual hum of the bar.
Dakora: Not bad. For a sciencey-type.
S.Richards: ::Playfully rolling her eyes:: You’re lucky you are so good-looking or I may have let that offend me.
With a laugh Sam closed the distance between them, allowing their bodies to get dangerously close as she ran her hands down his strong arms, letting her fingertips slow as they crossed over the tattoo on his forearm. Her mind was spinning, whether it was from the drinks she had downed so quickly or the rush of being so close to Talos– she wasn't sure.
S. Richards: What’s next for our night?
Talos’ fought through the haze of the drinks and the rather intoxicating company. He barely resisted the urge to shiver as her fingertips played across the tattoo on his forearm. His eyes settled on her lips and he suddenly found himself very interested to know what they might feel like against his–
But he couldn’t. She was Nathan’s sister. Probably Robin's friend. The situation was… complicated.
He reigned in his wandering mind and tried to focus on something other than her proximity.
Dakora: What, is the dive-bar aesthetic wearing thin already?
S. Richards: Maybe a little bit… ::pursing her lips to the side:: Hmm… There has to be more bars close by, we could go explore some more of San Francisco's nightlife.
With reluctance Sam took a small step back, not wanting to push her luck so early into their night. The small amount of distance helped to calm some of the wild thoughts racing through her head.
Talos fought the urge to reflexively reach out to stop her from pulling away, but once she did, he found it remarkably easier to think.
Dakora: I might know one-or-two places worth checking out…
With a tilt of her head she gestured to the door as she reached for his hand, finding it and holding on tight. Ready for wherever their night would continue to take them.
S. Richards: Lead the way
With a slightly devious grin, he led her off onto their next adventure.
Dakora: We’ll just have to see where the night takes us…
What followed was a wild night of fun and debauchery that both of them would have a difficult time remembering the exact details of.
((Nova Lounge - San Francisco - A Little While Later))
The sleek, ultra-modern interior of the Nova Lounge was a stark contrast to the dingy dive-bar they’d left earlier. The neon-soaked night club was packed to capacity with throngs of people laughing, drinking and dancing their cares away to the thrumming bass of some edgy new wave beats.
Sam felt slightly underdressed in her jeans and T-shirt, but once the two had a new drink in their sights her worries vanished.
Over near the glass-and-chrome bar, a crowd had begun to close in around Talos and Sam and a jeering chant had begun to rise up above the din.
Crowd: Do it! Do it! Do it!
Between the pair, two of the club’s signature ‘Supernova Shots’ were being set ablaze by a bartender with a torch. Infamously strong and said to pack all of the punch of a dying star, Talos eyed Sam with the slightest bit of trepidation.
He swayed slightly as he reached down and gripped the burning shot glass.
Dakora: You know, ::Grinning.:: this might actually kill us…
S.Richards: If this is how I go ::grabbing the shot glass and returning the smile:: I can at least say I died having fun.
Around them a new chant emerged from the crowd.
Crowd: Shots! Shots! Shots!
With a nervous exhale, Talos locked eyes with Samantha.
Dakora: On Three!?
Staring into his eyes she felt a rush as she nodded.
S.Richards: One…
Talos’ slightly nervous grin widened.
Dakora: Two…
Together: Three!
In unison, they downed the smoldering shots, tilting their heads back as the blue flames licked out just as the liquid touched their lips. The potent concoction burned all the way down their throats, sharp and intense and each of them slammed their shot glasses back onto the bar with a pair of loud clinks.
Sam shook her head and scrunched up her face trying to dissipate the effects before looking back to Talos with wide eyes.
S.Richards: Woah! ::grabbing the edge of the bar to steady herself:: That was insane!
Coughing and laughing at the same time, Talos blinked rapidly a few times.
Dakora: What in the Four Hells was that!?
The crowd erupted in cheer of approval, closing in on the victorious twosome with a few pats on the back before beginning to disperse.
S.Richards: That was by far the craziest thing I’ve done since… ::pausing for a moment:: Well probably since I punched a Borg in the face.
Already, he could feel the shot doing its thing and he found himself with an arm around her waist in what he tried to pretend was an attempt to steady himself.
With his arm around her she leaned into him, her heart racing once again at the closeness.
Dakora: I think that erased half of my memory…
S.Richards: ::Teasing:: Does that mean you forgot who my brother is?
He laughed again, the sound of it more natural and genuine than he’d heard from himself in quite a while as he considered how much more boring his night might have been if he’d never met Samantha Richards. While there had been no shortage of flirting and maybe a little harmless incidental contact, he’d managed– just barely– to stick to his plan of not letting things get weird.
Though, as the night wore on, (and his intoxication increased) it was becoming harder for him to ignore her feelings of attraction battering his empathic senses. Harder still was his trying to pretend the feelings weren’t completely mutual.
Keeping her thoughts reigned in was proving more difficult as they kept finding themselves in such close contact. Her will to keep her hands to herself dwindled by the minute.
Dakora: They teach you to drink like that back in…::He paused, screwing up his face in thought momentarily.:: Where are you from anyway?
S.Richards: Montana. ::raising her eyebrow:: Where’d you learn to drink like that?
Leaning against the bar, painfully aware of how close they were having to get to carry on a conversation in the loud night club, Talos placed a hand to his chest.
Dakora: I have the Marine Corps to thank for that. ::He shrugged and smiled.:: I’m from Medara, Betazed but I’ve been in Starfleet for so long that I’m woefully Terran-ized.
S.Richards: In that case ::smirking:: you shouldn’t have a problem keeping up with me.
Dakora: Yeah? ::He leaned in dangerously close.:: The night’s still young. How about we order something slightly less-lethal and move on to whatever is next?
The closeness offered by Talos made her catch her breath and let go of the hesitations she previously held. Her hand found its way to his chest clutching at his shirt and pulling him in that much closer, feeling the heat of his breath she finally managed to speak.
S.Richards: Bring it on.
TBC in Part 3
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LtCmdr. Talos Dakora
First Officer
USS Artemis-A
O238811CD0
&
Samantha Richards
Civilian Science Liaison
Amity Outpost
A240103SR3