[JP] Lt. Vitor Silveira & Ens. Alix Harford - Shut Up & Dance Pt I

[btv.abreu]

OOC: This happens before the ceremony in MacKenzie’s Residence 

((602 Club, Mill Valley, California, Earth))

((About one month after Frontier Day.))

Vitor held the Risian Mai Tai he got from the bar. The place wasn't full, but it was crowded enough. A real band was playing some old Earth tunes, and the dancing floor was getting filled with people enjoying the rhythm. 

He had returned from his family reunion, and was just making time before going back to the Artemis. After his adventure with Genkos, perhaps the thought of entering a place for a drink was ill advised. Still he couldn't resist, and chose an old favorite as he enjoyed the live music. It was another place celebrating the “victory” of Frontier Day. He wondered how many there actually knew how costly that “victory” was. How many of them had actually been there. On the front line.

Vitor pushed aside those thoughts but as the tunes changed, to slower rhythms and more romantic styles, he felt uncomfortable. Taking another sip from his drink, he watched the dancing couples. Envy began to boil inside of him, as one couple followed the slow song and got closer. Not that they were much apart to start. Vitor kept his eyes on them, anticipating what was going to happen next.  As if a spectator on a theater play, or on those old things called movies, he knew they would end up kissing. Mesmerized, he couldn't look away. As they kissed Vitor narrowed his eyes. Burning inside he turned and, in one sip, downed the Mai Tai, setting the glass firmly on the bar and storming away, opening a path between the patrons standing there.

The last time he danced it was to a very different tune. Now, he had no one to dance with. The conversation with Nan had gone terribly wrong and he realized how much of a mistake he made entering this place. He turned quickly towards the exit and without noticing he practically tackled someone who had the misfortune to block his path. 

Recovering his own balance he reached for her arms and pulled her to him, stopping her from falling. They had nothing in common. This stranger was so far apart from Nan as it could be, but in Vitor’s eyes he was back at the moment. When he picked Nan from the assimilated arms that were trapping her, on the Artemis. Embarrassed, he began to blush and let go of the woman in front of him, showering her with excuses. It wasn’t her fault that he just got a huge mood swing, and really felt like stomping on the world. 

Silveira: I am so, so sorry. I didn’t see you, are you OK? I am terribly sorry…

Not usually one to frequent bars, and especially not alone, Alix had come looking for a place to lose herself and drown her anxieties after learning of her recent temporary transfer becoming permanent. She had nothing against the USS Astraeus and the crew seemed lovely so far. Many of them were reeling in the aftermath of Frontier Day and the heavy mood on the ship had just been compounding the cloud hanging over her. 

Now, Alix blinked up at the dark haired man who held onto her. There was some forlorn quality in his eyes that matched her own. Two sad strangers looking to disappear in a crowd. She took a half step back, out of the man's arms but still close, and began nervously straightening her simple green tee as she reassured him that he'd not hurt anything when he'd run into her.  

Harford: I'm quite alright, thank you. Are you alright? You seemed to be heading somewhere in a hurry.

Vitor forced a smile. Under different circumstances, in a different time… He tipped his head to the door.

Silveira: I was… heading out… Something triggered me and… 

He shook his head as he shrugged.

Harford: I'm sorry to hear that. I was just heading to the bar.

Thoughts on dulling her mind with alcohol, she briefly looked past the man towards the bar several paces behind him. Glancing back at his sad eyes, she offered him a sympathetic smile. What could possibly have him leaving the bar so quickly?

As they exchanged glances Vitor stopped. For a second he hesitated…

Silveira: It… It serves some good drinks. At least the Risian Mai Tai is good.

Harford: You know, there's no reason we both have to drown our sorrows alone. 

Letting the unspoken invitation hang in the air, Alix extended a hand in greeting. 

Harford: I'm Alix. Nice to run into you. 

Vitor tipped his head. The last time he drowned his sorrows was over a week ago. Him and Genkos got drunk enough that they needed an emergency beam out. His smile widened and was less forced. Reaching to her hand he gave it a firm, but gentle squeeze.

Silveira: Vitor Silveira, call me Sil or Vitor, as you please. And you will have to forgive me, but I don’t usually make my introductions by tackling someone.

Harford: It must be me then. Barreling into people en route to a bar seems to be a theme for me of late. 

She thought back to T'Ama, the Vulcan Operations Officer she'd nearly knocked over at the wedding a few weeks ago, and a light chuckle escaped her. 

Vitor raised an eyebrow but smiled and gestured to the bar.

Silveira: Well since I bumped into you the first drink is on me. What are you having?

Vitor raised his arm, calling the attention of one of the barmans.

Harford: I'll try one of those Risian Mai Thais you mentioned. 

As Vitor ordered their drinks, a nearby table opened up. Alix took the opportunity and slid onto one of the two tall stools after gently squeezing Vitor's elbow and nodding to show him where she'd be. 

Vitor nodded and smiled, waiting for the barman to serve their glasses. He grabbed them and joined Alix, putting down her glass.

Silveira: Here you go. I hope you like it.

Harford: Thank you, it looks… fruity.

After a cautious sip of the cocktail, Alix offered a pleasant smile. She'd never been a big drinker, but lately it seemed she was buying into the fleet lifestyle of caffeine to perk you up and alcohol to wind you down. Rather than think on that too hard, she took a second sip and regarded her new acquaintance thoughtfully. 

Vitor took a long sip as Alix slowly tried hers. It was a pretty decent one, considering they were on Earth.

Silveira: I spent some of my youth with my maternal grandparents on Risa. That’s why I am used to them. These aren’t that bad.

Harford: They're pretty good. ::takes a longer drink:: Was it nice growing up on Risa?     

  

Vitor shrugged and tipped his head as he leaned slightly, finding a better balance in the stool.

Silveira: I used to spend my school year here on Earth with my paternal grandparents. And the vacations on Risa. My parents are traders and it was safer for me to grow up between Earth and Risa. I actually just returned from visiting them. We managed to gather the whole family last week. After Frontier Day… ::he shook his head, raising his hand and waving it, as if pushing away that event.:: Well it wasn’t easy so we needed a nice family time.

Harford: Oh. Yes, Frontier Day was… Well it's certainly had a long reaching effect. ::hesitates:: Were you in the fight?

Vitor nodded. Usually he would only give his rank if they met during service.

Silveira: I am the Artemis Chief Tactical officer. Are you a Fleeter as well Alix?

Harford: ::nodding:: I'm a Doctor. I was stationed on Denali but, in the aftermath, I was transferred to the Astraeus.

Alix's mood, which had been on an uptick since meeting Vitor, seemed to take a turn. A worried frown tugged at the corners of her mouth as she returned to her drink. It seemed Frontier Day was inescapable. 

Denali. The name was very familiar to him. He almost asked about those he knew there; Alora, Kendrick, Falt, even Captain Oddas, although they were never that close. But Alix's expression made him focus more on her than on himself. Moving to a new posting, particularly after Frontier Day must have been difficult.

Silveira: Was it a complicated transfer?

Harford: Oh it's been ::hesitates:: an adjustment. The news is relatively fresh. I thought my assignment on the Astraeus would be temporary, but it seems I'm staying. 

Vitor nodded and took a sip from his drink. His last move from the Excalibur to the Artemis wasn't easy as well. Although most of the senior staff went together, the Excalibur held a very dear place in his heart 

Silveira: I can understand that.

Looking to change the subject, Alix finished her drink and chewed her bottom lip for a moment before speaking. It was a nervous habit and one that had been more prevalent lately. There was just so much on her mind, not the least of which was wondering if her own family made it through Frontier Day and hoping they still cared enough to wonder the same about her. 

Harford: So I take it your family all made it through the attack? Was it a good reunion?

Vitor kept smiling, but noticed Alix changed the subject. He decided to humour her.

Silveira: It was. I really need it. My son and his mother also joined. ::he tipped his head as he explained:: Although we aren't together we keep a good relationship. How about you? Did you manage to catch up with your family? 

Harford: ::softly spoken:: No, I um- I haven't reached out. I'm sure they're fine, but-

She shook her head to dispel the thought and then frowned at her empty glass. Picking it up, Alix shook it gently from side to side, rattling the ice and looking around to grab the attention of a server. 

Harford: Maybe I'll grab us another round.

Vitor raised his eyebrow slightly. Another sore subject? And he was the one thinking he was having a bad day. He shrugged and finished his drink quickly, almost in a single shot.

Silveira: Sure. But do me a favor, if you please. 

Alix raised an eyebrow. What kind of favor could this charismatic stranger possibly ask her?

Harford: What favor would that be?

Silveira: Let's not get drunk. Just a couple of weeks ago I ended up in a bar with our Chief Medical Officer, it wasn't pretty. I think I might still have a hangover leftover. Besides… ::Vitor looked around at the dancing crowd.:: We might end up dancing and…

Harford: Dancing?

It was a soft, hesitant question. Alix wasn't the best dancer and the expression that crossed his face kept her from pressing further. Instead she offered a concerned smile, One hand gently resting on his forearm. 

His expression turned cold. The smile was gone and a dark shadow clouded his mind. 

Silveira: My last dance was with someone I lost. She died during a mission and…

He looked away from Alix. Vitor’s eyes began to burn. 

Harford: Vitor I'm- I'm so sorry. ::pause:: We won't get too drunk, just one more round to dull our aching hearts and then ::shrugs:: we can just see how the night goes.

Vitor nodded. 

Silveira: Fair enough.

Holding up her drink, she got the attention of one of the wait staff and silently signaled for two more. The young attendant nodded and turned to the bar to fetch another round. 

Harford: ::turning back to Vitor:: Would you like to tell me about her?

Vitor almost shook his head. He frowned trying to find the words.

Silveira: It's… ::he hesitated::

Alix stood just a little bit closer so that he'd not be overheard if he wanted to share though she didn't push him to open up. After all, they were practically strangers, but maybe the comfort of knowing he'd never have to see Alix again would give him the peace and the space to share. 

Harford: I'm a pretty good listener, Vitor, but we don't have to get heavy if you'd rather escape it all for the night. 

Vitor closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He opened them and smiled sadly. It still felt like yesterday, but it's been almost a year. 

Silveira: Many months ago, during a routine mission we encountered a ship from another universe. They had a lot of similarities with us, and in their universe they were fighting a war with another civilization, and losing. Our weapons and some technology was more advanced than theirs. One of their crew, Jovenan, flirted with me and… And I flirted back. We eventually ended up on the holodeck and I set up a program for us to dance. 

Harford: I’m sure it was a wonderful night. 

Vitor began playing with his glass, a sad smile set up on his lips. He kept his eyes down as he spoke. 

Silveira: I set us up in Vienna, birthplace of waltz. We… We danced and there we found a place just for ourselves. In that one brief moment we had our own universe.

She… Her crew tried to seize control of the Artemis. She warned us but… But she was killed by their Captain…

It took a long moment for Alix to find words. She looked at the heartbroken stranger next to her. Though she wasn't sure she could call Vitor a stranger after he had shared something so personal. His story, the love he lost, made her own feel small. After all, Charles hadn’t died, he just wasn’t speaking to her.

Harford: I’m so sorry. I can’t begin to understand how painful that must be.

Vitor finally raised his head, nodding to Alix. 

Silveira: Thank you.

He took a sip from his Mai Tai and tipped his head. He was about to tell Alix about Nan, but he felt he was already monopolizing the conversation, so he simply asked Alix a question. 

Silveira: And how about you? What's your story? 

As tempting as it was to avoid talking about herself, she thought perhaps Vitor needed a change of topic. Just before Alix spoke, their new drinks arrived and with a quick smile and nod the young wait staff retreated, clearing their empty glasses.

Harford: My story is, well ::pause:: complicated.

Vitor offered her a sympathetic smile and nodded as he replied.

Silveira: Aren’t they all…

Harford: I was recently transferred to a ship where the one I let get away is stationed. 

She really didn’t want to say his name, or dwell on just how awkward that moment in the Security Office was. Alix hoped sparing him the details wouldn’t come across as being unwilling to share, but after hearing of his tragic loss, her own pity party seemed a bit self indulgent.

He arched his eyebrows and leaned back. That certainly didn’t go well. Particularly after such a traumatic event like Frontier Day. Vitor asked the question, although he had a feeling he knew the answer.

Silveira: Ouch… Have you crossed paths?

Harford: We have. ::shrugs:: Between the awkward reunion and my fear of ships, a night alone in a bar seemed the appropriate choice.

His eyebrow raised as Alix mentioned “fear of ships”. Going to Starfleet didn’t sound like a good career choice…

to be continued…

Lt. Vitor S. Silveira

Chief Tactical Officer

USS Artemis-A, NCC-81287

O238907VS0

and

Ensign Alix Harford

Medical Officer

USS Astraeus, NCC-70652

D240104AH2