Samantha Richards - When the Captain says Dance... We Dance
Samantha Richards
((Sickbay - Deck 7, USS Artemis))
They were in too deep. There was no way the two were getting out of there unscathed and unembarrassed. The Captain would make damn sure of that.
Jaran: Don’t be modest, Miss Richards. You said you wanted to welcome the Captain back in style when she returned, and you knew I had some small ability with the belaklavion to accompany you. I’m of course happy to help. If you’d like, I could even go retrieve an instrument right now.
Sam had a small sense they were bluffing, and she had no other choice but to call them out on that bluff.
Richards: Yes! ::jumping off the biobed:: Go and grab your instrument. It looks like we are putting on a show.
Jaran: Oh, I don’t need to go anywhere. The sickbay replicators are certainly up to the task of getting me something serviceable.
If she hadn’t been in the middle of putting on a brave face, Sam may have shot a glare towards the Ensign, but that would have broken the immersive experience they were now on-the-fly setting up.
If looking like a fool was a profession, Sam would be the CEO. Thanks to Jaran, they were now her employee of foolery. Now she only had mere moments to mash together something in her head.
Richards: ::Gesturing to Jaran:: Be quick, I’m going to smooth out my lyrics while you get your instrument.
By smooth out, she meant create.
Jaran: ::turning their head back to the two:: Sam, that rhyme you made with the captain’s name is truly inspired, and it worked on so many levels. I certainly hop I can keep up when you get to the fast part.
The fast part?! A rhyme with MacKenzie?! If Sam and the Ensign dug their hole any deeper, they’d go right through to the outside of the ship. Which is where they were likely to end up after this was over.
Richards: Don’t worry Captain, this won’t take long. ::with a hopeful smile:: Unless… You have somewhere else to be? We can pick this up some other time. Or forget about it all together…
While Sam crossed her fingers tight enough they might break off, the captain grabbed a stool and sat down with the poise of a woman who was about to watch a couple of her crew members make absolute idiots of themselves. And Sam knew, MacKenzie enjoyed every second of it.
MacKenzie: Oh, I wouldn’t miss this for anything. Besides, you’ve both worked so hard on it…
The sound of chords from the other side of the sickbay signaled it was time.
Jaran: This should do it! A sound to make The Prophets weep.
oO Oh they are going to weep alright…Oo
Richards: ::Already sweating:: Okay. Lets uh… lets do this.
Jaran: Sam? Are you ready?
With a mock smile, Sam nodded and looked around, gauging the space around her.
MacKenzie: Please! Whenever you’re ready!
That was when MacKenzie 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: Response
Why was Sam willingly making it worse on herself? Perhaps some sort of strange need to feel like she was actually doing something legitimate? Who knew? Sam surely didn’t.
Richards: Okay. ::Pointing to the instrument:: Try to keep up.
MacKenzie/Jaran: Response
With a few large, deep breaths Sam began to snap slowly and step side to side, setting the pace.
And began to sing…
Richards:Ooooooh. Ooooooh ooohhhh.
Here we areee
In this Roooooom
She held her arms out to the sides and spun in a slow circle
Richards:Things are on paaaar
We have our Captain heeeerreeee
So never feeeeaaarrr.
Pumping her fist in the air.
Richards:Now everybody cheeeeer
She gestured to Jaran to pick up the pace for the “fast part”. The slower song now turning into something rap adjacent.
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.
She couldn’t make eye contact with the captain, Jaran, or the few nurses who had come to watch the show.
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 pizzaz.
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 her arms out to her sides to indicate her humility was over. At least she hoped. After straightening herself back up, she looked MacKenzie in the eyes for the first time.
Richards: Well. ::Wiping sweat off her forehead:: What did you think?
Jaran/MacKenzie: Response
RIchards: I expect nothing less Captain…
Jaran/MacKenzie: Response
TAG/TBC!
Samantha Richards