Ens. Lyara Alroyo - She Went to Risa
Lyara Alroyo
((1700 Somewhere Beach Bar, Risa))
The Ferengi from before, although annoying, had given Lyara a great idea for an activity with her drinking buddy.
Lyara: Why don’t we do the Old Earth tradition of fishin’ while “Shootin’ the Shit” as the old holonovels would say. We can talk on the way too like we’re old men.
Alroyo got up out of her chair and grabbed the Whiskey bottle and glasses and motioned Talos to follow her to the dock.
Dakora: I’ve got nothing better to do. ::He laughed.:: So this girl– why don’t you take it from the top?
With a pep in her step her brain started to connect the words scrambled in her head and somewhat cohesively formed them into sentences. However slurred those sentences would come out.
Lyara: So it all started around, two years ago give or take. I took my best friend Lee to my parents farm for a vacation…
((RSS Hemisphere Dancer, On the Water, Risa))
The boat now at sea and Alroyo still going on and on about the likely way too detailed story of her last relationship sat at the edge of the boat as she casted her line after another failed catch. Fishing rod in one hand as the other made motions in the air to emphasize her words as she delivered her life story for the past two years.
Lyara: And so we spent the night in the shuttle, which as I mentioned, we did not steal. But anyways, we wake up so excited to start our new relationship right? But, she gets cold feet, because starting a relationship as two Ensigns on separate ships is one of the most daunting things ever. And she’s my best friend so of course I’m gonna wanna prioritize her personal comfort! So after nine hours we broke off our official relationship and two years of… whatever we had going on.
Alroyo noticed yet another fish swim away from her bobber as her constant yapping scared off another poor soul.
Dakora: That’s rough. I’m sorry. ::He jabbed a finger into the air.:: But you know what? ::He slurred, slightly louder.:: You know what!? Her loss! Maybe someday she’ll pull her head out of her butt and realize what she’s missing.
The Bajoran let out a sigh as she realized she once again ran her mouth while inebriated. Maybe he was right, maybe they could rekindle what they once had. But the chances of that seemed extraordinarily low while they were on separate ships.
Lyara: Sorry Talos, I didn’t mean to talk that much. I just hadn’t talked about it until now.
She sat for a moment in silence and took a deep breath to center herself.
Dakora: No worries. I’ve been there. –Well, not exactly there– but, I know what you mean. If talking about it helps, then talk away! It’s not like the fish are biting.
A weak smile formed on her face as she watched the twin suns set in the distance. She should talk about it with Talos. Her emotions had been bottled up so long they were practically a fine wine, and probably higher proof than the Bajoran Whiskey.
Lyara: Thank ya’. I just had hoped that after two years of no commitment it wouldn’t have been as scary for her. I practically had committed to her after a year in, I stopped going on dates with other people even though we were “just having fun”. ::She watched another fish run away from the bobber:: But I’ll admit, I was so scared too once she brought it up. I just wanted to push through it and assumed that it’d be alright, we’d work past it ya’ know? And I know it’s unfair to her to get upset, but I was still hurt when it all went down.
Alroyo took a deep sip of the Bajoran Whiskey and handed it back to Talos as she continued to stare at the bobber. The sunset reminded her too much of that day at the beach and it stung to look at it. A single tear formed down her cheek as she looked away from the sunset and down at her reflection in the water. It looked back at her and mirrored the frown that had formed on her face as the tear drop fell and made a small ripple in the water that slightly obscured the reflection. If she squinted hard enough it looked like the ripples made her smile. The Bajoran woman felt a strange sort of comfort in that.
She looked to her Betazoid companion and let a small smile form on her face.
Lyara: What about you? Any stories on that front?
He took a sip of the whiskey and let out a slight grimace as he passed the bottle back to Alroyo.
Dakora: Me? I spent the better part of my adult life running from anything that looked like commitment. ::He laughed, drunkenly.:: If this was even a few years ago, I’d be heading for some trashy nightclub to find some interesting lady or handsome idiot to be my latest bad decision, instead of fishing with a crewmate right now.
He chuckled to himself and Alroyo couldn’t help but chuckle with him.
Dakora: I guess that’s growth.
Alroyo nodded at that word, growth.
Lyara: I guess it is, that’s good you got the growth then. You’re a darn great man who does tons of growing!
Alroyo took another big sip of the whiskey then placed the bottle back down. Why let herself get worked up over her emotions when she could instead try learning from them? Crazy idea isn’t it? And maybe down the line her growth could lead to great things, like it has for Talos.
Talos leaned over the boat while she was lost in thought and had dipped his hand into the water.
Dakora: The water feels amazing. ::He shook his fishing pole demonstratively:: No wonder no fish want to leave it.
Alroyo mimicked the commander and dipped her hand in the water and felt the divinely warm water. All she wanted to do at that moment was dive in. But a voice in the back of her head told her it probably wasn’t a good idea.
Lyara: Maybe it’s the whiskey talkin’ but I kind of wanna jump in.
She laughed as she felt herself almost fall over and quickly moved back from the ledge. If she wanted to go swimming she’d have to get out one of the inflatables.
Dakora: Response
Lyara: I can get out the inflatables if we wanna swim. Wouldn’t want either of us getting so wasted we can’t remember how to swim.
Alroyo walked over to the compartment containing the inflatables and brought out one with Bajoran symbols all over it. She tapped what she thought was the self inflation device, but there was no response. Tap, tap, tap, she went over and over until she realized this boat was retro. She dived back into the compartment and brought out the hand controlled air pump.
A grunt of annoyance escaped her mouth as she sat back down and started to pump.
Dakora: Response
Lyara: They decided to be true to the 21st century, so if you wanna swim safely you’re gonna want to start pumpin.
The 21st century must have sucked for pool goers having to pump their own inflatables. Like she even really needed one. She just didn’t trust bodies of water she didn’t frequent. If this were back home she’d have jumped in no hesitation, but she didn’t trust Risa. Not yet.
Dakora: Response
Alroyo took a break as she stretched her arm, for some reason the inflatable just could not hold any air. As she stretched she looked back out at the sunsight and felt that sting of sadness from before beginning to form in her. But as it did she was reminded of what Talos said about growth. It may not have been much, but it meant a lot to hear from another that it wasn’t really the end of the world and that she could grow from her. She stopped her stretch and looked at Talos.
Lyara: Thanks for today, it’s been a real mood lifter to be out on the water drunk on whiskey.
Dakora: Response
She smiled as she picked her pump back up, now that she had gotten to know him she definitely approved of him. Sam found a keeper.
Lyara: You’re gonna be a great dad Talos, I just know it.
It was a little out of nowhere, but that’s just how the truth serum worked.
Dakora: Response
The Bajoran took one last sip of the good stuff and handed it back to Talos.
Lyara: Now let’s get this stuff inflated and onto that water what do you say?
Dakora: Response
She smiled as she went back to work. A float down the lazy Risian river sounded exactly like what she needed. If only they had enough Bajoran whiskey left over.
(OOC: Ending it here since I have to wrap up scenes. ;( Thank you so much for writing with me!)
Tag/End Scene for Lyara!
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Ensign Lyara Alroyo
Helm/Operations Officer
USS Artemis-A
D240108LA4