Lieutenant Vailani Zoyara - Cocktails and Shame
Luxa Lorana
((Sunset at Temtibi Lagoon - Risa))
There was something that anyone that served with Vailani Zoyara should be acutely aware of. She was neither good at or enjoyed small talk of any kind. In fact it usually made her more annoyed.
She'd somehow gotten the notion from various higher ranked officers that being approachable and somewhat nice to crew mates was a positive attribute. Therefore she was trying. Very very hard.
She didn't begrudge her attendance to the pleasure planet, after all Gila was going to do science and she was going to do her best to help Gila pretend to have fun whilst being able to enjoy working. She was only being a good friend.
Then there were cocktails. She had taken a very sweet sip and the warmth was still spinning around her head. She felt her cheeks flush and she had the terrible fear that she may be drunk.
oO can you get drunk from one sip? oO
She took a breath and told herself not to be ridiculous while also trying to remember basic chemistry.
Which she considered a good sign. Drunk people did not remember the chemical composition of alcohol. So, in order to distract herself, she turned her focus to the commander.
Vailani: Have you spent much time on Risa, mister Dakora?
Dakora: I haven’t left the planet since we arrived! ::He flashed her a warm smile.:: I’ve been surfing and hiking and ugh… ::He tried to think of another word for drinking:: relaxing every day. This place is great.
She looked at his button down shirt and shorts and thought he'd really adapted to the Risa culture quite quickly. It made her back straighten as if somehow she could overcompensate on his behalf.
It wasn't her business how he decided to conduct himself while off-duty but she was hoping that he hadn't thought that he might drag herself and Gila down the murky path of hedonism he seemed so eagerly predisposed too. She had no appetite for that side of Risian life.
Sadar: I hope you’re minding proper skin coverage, Sir. While skin cancer no longer poses the danger it once did, the sun’s rays - particularly those of binary suns - does severe damage to unprotected skin-
He raised his hands in mock-surrender.
Dakora: I’ve been using Starfleet Desert Away Team-issue sunscreen, I promise. ::He shrugged.:: Besides, I know a great doctor that I’m sure can take care of any damage I inadvertently cause to myself.
She took another sip of the sweet drink. To quench her thirst. This time it was more tolerable and actually quite pleasant. She felt her mood relax slightly.
Vailani: :: reluctant :: I think cocktails might be nice?
She then lowered the drink and tried to avoid Gila’s eyes, a flush of shame coloured her cheeks. Or was that the alcohol?
Sadar: Mmrph...
When they arrived at the water's edge, the algae had activated into an ethereal blue-green glow beneath the surface. A handful of other visitors waded, treaded water, and floated on a variety of inflatable objects. Zoyara was slightly disappointed that there were others here to get in the way of what would otherwise be a wondrous sight.
Thankfully there was still enough room for some privacy and for Gila to conduct her scientific observations.
Dakora: I don’t know about you, but I’m definitely going for a swim. The water looks amazing. ::He furrowed his brow.:: You two can swim, right?
Vailani: :: offended :: My father taught me to swim since I was three years old. Even if he hadn't, we both graduated from Starfleet Academy. Of course we know how to swim :: to Gila, uncertain :: You do, don't you?
She didn't add that her father used to throw her in the water time and time again until she learnt to keep herself afloat. If it weren't for her older brother's, who'd swim beneath her and push her upwards there may be a possibility she'd have drowned.
Sadar: W-Well, I, uhh... I swim... ::realizes how lame that sounds:: I-I mean, I’m a decent swimmer. Mizarian school children do multiple summer excursions to the oceanic bluefarms, so it’s obligatory for us to learn how to swim.
Dakora tossed back the rest of his drink and set it on one of the nearby picnic tables and smirked.
Dakora: Great, so you’re in, then? ::He pointed to Vailani:: How about you?
She nodded and approached the waters edge, it looked so inviting.
Vailani: Yes … I guess. A little dip can't hurt can it?
Then the commander removed his clothing, in a very speedy and well practiced fashion. She almost turned away in shock but he kept his shorts on - thankfully. Instead she just nervously glanced at Gila.
Who was this man that she'd hoisted on them?
Zoyara took a lengthy sip of her cocktail, she had a feeling that cocktails helped with this kind of stuff. Risa was about exploring new things and now that she was Chief she had to place herself in new situations. She then placed the glass on the table next to Dakora’s discarded shirt.
She followed him into the water, a little less confidently. She dipped her toes in and then slowly submerged herself until the water got to her shoulders. It was only at Dakora's waist.
Suddenly she felt really short between him and Gila.
Dakora: Holy strokes, the water feels amazing!
He wasn't wrong. The water was warm and soothing, it wrapped itself around her like a gentle hug. She allowed her fingers to spread and the glow poked through them.
Sadar: Response
The sounds of quiet conversation, local insects chirping, and the gentle lapping of the gentle waves of the Lagoon provided a perfect, relaxing ambiance.
Even Zoyara, who defaulted to tense and slightly annoyed at all times was feeling her shoulders slacken and soften.
Before long, they were comfortably treading water, or holding onto one of the various inflatable tubes and floats that were available as the glow of the algae lit them from below. Dakora paddled closer to Gila and the Artemis’ most recently arrived Lieutenant.
Dakora: So, Zoyara, How are you finding the Artemis, so far?
Zoyara dipped her hand in the water lazily as she reared against a float in an attempt to remain at eye level with her much taller colleagues.
She felt herself stumble at the question. It had been an interesting few days and she was still attempting to process how she actually felt about being on the Artemis. And she really didn't feel like unloading to a …
oO A Betazoid! Prophets! Oo
In the shock of the realisation she slipped on some algae and lost her purchase on the float which flipped and dunked her under the water. After a momentary scramble she re-emerged. Her hair clung to her and she spat out the lagoon water that had not only filled her mouth but gone up her ridged nose.
Vailani: Ugh … :: avoid :: I just want to show the captain that she can count on me.
As she settled herself against the float again, she suspiciously glared at the intelligence officer. She tried to keep all thoughts of a personal nature out of her mind.
A tube floated by and he snatched it up and pulled himself up into the center of it and laughed.
oO I'm glad you find me amusing? Oo
No! She wouldn't allow him to sense her growing anger. Trust a Starfleet himbo spy to ruin a perfectly nice dip in the lagoon.
Dakora: You’ll find that Captain MacKenzie likes to make a strong impression on all our new arrivals.
Vailani: I have served on the Artemis before? :: under her breath, annoyed :: you'd think an intelligence officer would know that.
Sadar: Response
He waggled a finger between the two of them.
Dakora: So, how do you two know each other?
Vailani: :: bluntly :: We both served on the Artemis. I actually nearly died but I was just a lowly ensign then, may as well have been invisible to you it seems.
It was tiring being nice and she was just about done with the whole concept. And here she was in a lagoon with a half naked man who had a reputation that would colour the cheeks of the more seasoned Stardust City dancers. Her father's disapproval was all that she could hear in her head.
Sadar/Dakora: Response
Vailani: Gila, don't you have to collect some samples?
She could tell that Gila had noticed the change in her demeanour. Zoyara looked backwards and it would seem that they had now floated out some way that she'd need to swim back to the table again.
Sadar/Dakora: Response
Vailani: :: frosty :: I'm fine. I just think we should focus on the task at hand. Can't all be cocktails and surfing and hiking.
Sadar/Dakora: Response
TAGS/TBC
((OOC - sorry thoughts are her, I can't control her!))
--
