Fleet Captain Addison MacKenzie - And So, the Puppets Danced
Addison MacKenzie
Jaran: Sam? Are you ready?
With a mock smile, Sam nodded and looked around, gauging the space around her.
MacKenzie eagerly looked back and forth between the two of them from perched atop her stool, the most false smile on Richards' face she'd ever seen.
MacKenzie: Please! Whenever you're ready!
She thought for a moment, then suddenly leaned forward in excitement.
MacKenzie: WAIT! Is there choreography, too?!
Richards: Of course there is! ::Her eyes widening:: Why wouldn’t there be choreography?
Jaran: I... of course there's even some simple choreography for the musician.
Richards: Okay. ::Pointing to the instrument:: Try to keep up.
Dig yourselves deeper.
MacKenzie: ::leaning forward in eager anticipation:: Break a leg!!
The music started and Sam started dancing like she couldn't even hear the pulse Jaran was laying down for her. MacKenzie sat, partially stunned, forcing herself with every fiber of her being not to let the enthusiastic smile on her face morph into anything other than supportive enthusiasm.
It was, by all accounts, a rough start. To Jaran's credit, he tried to pick up the speed to accommodate her, even stepping up side by side with her to hopefully get them to match pace. Sam took a few large, deep breaths.
And then the shreiking singing started.
Richards:Ooooooh. Ooooooh ooohhhh.
Here we areee
In this Roooooom
....Ohhhhh. Ohhhhhh. ........ Oh. No.
Sam held out her arms out to the sides and spun in a slow circle. Jaran joined in with an uncoordinated box step.
Richards:Things are on paaaar
We have our Captain heeeerreeee
So never feeeeaaarrr.
She started fist-pumping. Jaran did a little jump.
Richards:Now everybody cheeeeer
Then Richards gestured to Jaran to pick up the pace. To his credit, Jaran did his best, but... ....was that the sound of the belaklavion crying?
And then the rap started.
...If that wasn't the belaklavion wasn't crying, maybe it was her?
Richards: Everybody cheer! ::Pointing at MacKenzie while hopping back and forth between each foot:: Addison? More like Raddison!
Addie, She a bit of a baddie.
MacKenzie– got us in a frenzy ::gesturing to her chest:: Give some of us… Rack Envy.
Several of the nursing staff had gathered behind her, but MacKenzie didn't dare turn to look at them. In fact, any available reserve energy in her body had now been directed to her eyelids - her upper lids she was sure were now glued to her forehead. Whatever it took to keep her face from giving away how awful the performance was.
She wasn't even sure she was still blinking.
...In fact, the slight stinging from the dryness of her eyes confirmed it.
Just. Keep. Going. Surely they can't keep it up for much longer.
But still, Richards persisted.
Richards: Mack, lookin’ like a snack.
Uniform on fleek. She bends over and we never seen her crack.
Thanks for being you!
Without you. Don’t know what we’d do.
A few more spin moves and wild arm gestures were thrown in for some pizzazz.
Okay, no it's definitely the belaklavion crying. Poor devil can't keep up.
Richards:
We missed you on the mission with the Boraxian… and Yurum.
Had to come up with a plan– to cure ‘em.
::Brief Pause as she thought more::
Please don’t leave us again Sir.
The airlock missed you.
It said, “I can’t live without her.”
Sam, now out of breath, bowed and held out her arms to her sides to indicate the end of the performance.
The music had ceased.
At long last, it was over.
Richards: Well. ::Wiping sweat off her forehead:: What did you think?
A lone tear escaped her right eye and streaked down her face. She was in pain. How long had it been since she'd last blinked - hours? Days? She didn't dare blink now, lest her lids feel like sandpaper scraping across her eye, but she had no choice - the alternative was probably that her eyes would dry out, shrivel up, and fall out of their sockets.
She blinked rapidly, each blink slowly becoming less and less painful, but nevertheless the moisture collected on her lashes and she couldn't help but sniffle.
And so,she did the only thing she could do - she stood up and started to clap.
MacKenzie: Response
RIchards: I expect nothing less Captain…
Jaran: Sir, of course, sir.
MacKenzie: Oh, that was magnificent. I haven't seen or heard anything like that before. And to think you did it all for me.
Well, remember what mom always said: you can't bullshit a bullshitter. Maybe, maybe not.
Richards: Response
Jaran took his time returning the belaklavion to the replicator. No doubt hoping things weren't about to go extremely south. MacKenzie called to him
MacKenzie: And who taught you to play the belaklavion, Ensign?!
Jaran/Richards: Response
She smiled and nodded, sneaking in another sniffle. Maybe they'll think I'm crying out of appreciation.
MacKenzie: As spectacular as that was, I'm sure you ::nodding:: have to get back to the lab, and I know that Lieutenant Morgan has no doubt assigned something to keep Ensign Jaran busy... And I have a meeting with Commander Munro. You'd both better get back to work. Thank you for such a wonderful surprise!
(Richards/Jaran: Response if desired, and feel free to continue beyond MacKenzie's departure if you want)
She quickly spun on her heels and made for the door. On her way, she searched desperately for something with which to wipe her eyes, to no avail. When she finally passed through the doors and moved out into the corridor, she released a breath she hadn't realized she was holding and used the sleeve of uniform to pad her eyes dry.
MacKenzie: Gods in the heavens, what was that?
Tag, and End Scene for MacKenzie!
Commanding Officer
USS Artemis-A