LtJG Nilsen, Ens Lahl, Ens Caras, Ens Qurgh'Loq Yinn, Nurse Miash, Ens Nis, Ens Kovacs, Lt Herrick - JOPA Bridgerton: Part 2
Lhandon Nilsen
((Holodeck 2, USS Octavia E Butler))
With the issues in the holodeck somewhat fixed, thanks to the great work of Caras and Lahl, the rest of this JOPA meeting got underway. Lhandon had started to lose count of how many he’d attended, and by extension, how many he’d organised. The holographic horse upon which Lhandon arrived at the manor was now stabled outside and seemed to be enjoying her best holographic life. Despite their best efforts, he wasn’t too disheartened that the murder mystery part didn’t work. While he thought it might be cathartic, he had already had his fill of murder for the month.
The manor was accessed via a path leading up to the top of a massive hill. As one reached the top of the path, the track widened to a large rectangular area of sandstone, where the guests and carriages would arrive. The guests would see a large stone staircase leading to the wide and tall main entrance of Jopaina Manor. At the rear of the building, however, was a sheer cliff where every room on the side overlooked a pre-industrial town. With Caras and Lahl already here, all that was left was for everyone else to arrive.
Lhandon stood at the top of the stairs as if he was taking the role of the lord of the manor, holographic characters played the roles of various staff, including a quasi-cowboy butler, groundskeeper and housekeepers, all ready to greet the guests of honours. Lhandon was looking into the manor when Miash was the first of the new group to arrive.
Nilsen: Hey, glad you could make it.
Miash wasn’t surprised when Nilsen turned around; the man was a bit awestruck, if you could call it that. Miash had decided to be proud of her gender while sticking to the Ferengi tradition. She entered the holodeck in proud glory wearing only a traditional, classical, Ferengi earring. This, was now not forced by society, but rather a choice that she was able to make of her own accord.
Lhandon smiled as he realised why Miash had chosen to attend naked.
Miash: Evening Lieutenant, you’re looking dapper dear.
Lhandon had found it harder to smile recently, he had every reason to fall into a pit of dispair. Yet he had committed himself to living life even more fully than before; he had already had his last day.
Nilsen: Yeah, it’s good to see you’re well.
He still felt a little awkward, though. His face was plastered all over Tidbitter, and while no one said anything about the trial afterwards that wasn’t positive and fully supportive, he still couldn’t shake that little voice in the back of his head. That voice that said everyone was whispering the word “murderer” behind his back even though he was proven innocent and the real killer was brought to brutal justice.
Miash: When is everyone due to arrive? Am I early?
Miash was very cognizant that she was going to draw attention for her choice of attire.
Lahl: I think you’re just on time.
In the time in between the start of the setting program and the party, Kimonzihad somehow found the time to put her hair in a magnificent up do that was common to the setting.
Nilsen: I thought this might be a fun theme—a chance to dress up and prance around, you know.
Miash: Or dress down I suppose. Although truth be told, this is my mothers ::pointing to her earring.:: I certainly hope the earring isn’t over doing it? ::a sly smirk crossing her face::
Caras as an Orion was no stranger to being scantily clad and seeing nudity. Often Orions would use it as a technique to throw off other races. Some females would use it to expose more skin to expel more pheromones if they had them. Morro nodded at Miash’s comment, but he didn’t really understand it.
Yinn: And I was going to come nude, like the traditional shi’ian divers of old, but [their Bolian body’s back straightened] my Klingon sense of propriety won out in the end.
Instead, their Bolian half wore a long flowing skirt, and something halfway between a sleeveless top and an elaborate necklace, made of strings of shells. Their bare shoulders glittered with what, on Bolarus, would have been crushed up shells, but on the Butler were replicated and artificial.
Their Klingon self wore the gilded, webbed armour of the fanatics of old. They shaved both of their heads for the occasion, as their Klingon hair felt increasingly unnatural.
Loq: You didn’t expect me to wear that human nonsense, did you?
They knew humans favoured garish colours, but enormous baggy pants? And shoes that were comically oversized, even taking into account humans’ weird extra toe? And a fake red nose worn over the nose? Nilsen intended it to be a classical era costume that is suitable to each individual species, fitting the Bridgerton theme, but they suspected this was another prank. Even if it was how humans used to dress, they wouldn’t be caught dead dressed like that. The party called for traditional dress, they were following their own traditions. Not everything had to be on the humans’ terms.
Caras: Despite getting laughed at ::looking around:: I feel like I fit the setting just fine. ::adjusting his dress:: this is a cumbersome outfit, but since you can still dance in it. I’m going to attempt the challenge.
Loq: I was considered a very good dancer back on Bolarus.
Both Yinn’s Bolian and Klingon selves raised their arms in front of them, and began to move them almost imperceptibly slowly.
Nilsen: You know, this wasn’t how I saw this Bridgerton vibe going but I’m here for it.
Lahl: Oh come on Lieutenant, this is fun!
Nilsen: No, I meant that, this is fun, I’m really happy with this. I didn’t expect everyone to really show off who they are.
Loq put their arms down abruptly.
Yinn: This is who I am!
Zarah had known nothing of this ‘Bridgerton’ until she dug into some historical archives. Evidently it had been a wildly popular holo series that was viewed on what was the predecessor, the television. After finding that while there was some accuracy to the costumes, it wasn’t completely so. For a while, Zarah bounced back and forth. Did she wish to go something more akin to what might be shown in the show, or more historically accurate? In the end, the latter won.
Since Zarah had no materials, nor did she know how to sew, she had to replicate it, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t program the replicator to get as close as possible. The result was well worth the effort. Made in replicated fine muslin, the delicate and lightweight fabric floated with every step she took. The gentle lavender hue was of the kind very likely to have been worn by young ladies of her age during the Regency era, and she rather liked the shade. With precise measurements, the bodice hugged her figure, but was not uncomfortable. The low, square neckline trimmed with intricate lace brushed against her clavicles, soft to the touch, and woven with tiny satin ribbons. That same lace and ribbon work graced the hem of her short, puffed sleeves which ended just above her elbows.
Unlike most dresses she wore, this one featured quite a high waistline, which was typical of the Empire silhouette so popular during the era, and she accentuated it with a wide, silk sash, the hue just a couple of shades darker than the lavender of her dress. Tied into a long bow in the back, the tails cascaded down the length of the skirt, which flowed gracefully to the floor in multiple layers to give it a soft, ethereal look. Delicate embroidery, so fine that it almost appeared as if it had grown naturally from the fabric, embellished the hem of the skirt, and tiny flowers of violet intertwined with vines and leaves, and between the the silken glimmer of the thread and the flowing fabric, the dressed seemed to subtly shimmer with every step, and gave the impression of a veritable flower in bloom.
She did not limit her replications to simply the dress. Lustrous white pearls adorned her ears and her neck, simplicity contrasting with the elegant intricacy of the dress. Ebony curls were relaxed and gathered into an updo, a ribbon matching the shade of her sash adorning her locks, and a few tendrils framed her face to soften her features. Gloves as white as the lace and pearls adorned her hands and drew up past her elbows. In her hands, she clutched a small lavender reticule, cinched with a drawstring of the same hue as her hair bow and sash. More pearls adorned its surface, and white tassels dangled, dancing playfully with every movement. As she drew up to the manor, she eyed the others in their…eclectic array, but smiled, greeting them warmly.
Zarah: Hey everybody!
Caras: Hello!
The Orion waved, and did a bow the best he could. He did not know how to curtsy yet. HE didn’t know how to move at all in the dress and he was developing his own way of trying to gracefully use. He had seen Zarah around the ship but they hadn’t been formally introduced.
Lahl: Good evening!
When Jania Nis entered, it was in what could have been mistaken for a human set of armour, but it would’ve done poorly in a battle. Like the more traditional Tin Woodman-style outfit Kimonzi had worn before she’d gotten changed into human-style clothing, Jania wore tin, shining with various arcane symbols on it. Kimonzi would have recognized it as stylized versions of the fungi that grew around symbiont pools.
The scattered pieces of aluminium were secured by a gauzy-white cloth that modestly covered Jania’s body but left openings to reveal the intricate pattern of spots which cascaded from her neck to the sides of her torso. As if to reinforce how ineffective the “armor” was, there was a gap below her chest that exposed her belly and the pouch where her symbiont lived. Despite its modesty and the metal, it was designed for hot weather and somewhat inappropriate for the 1800s England vibe, but still quite a bit more concealing than some of her colleagues. It was more than vintage, and represented some of the earliest recorded regal clothing in Trill history.
Jania: :: In a tone that did not at all match the outfit :: Hi everyone! Thanks for inviting us!
Nilsen: Glad to have you here. Welcome. I’ll catch up with you in a second, but make yourself at home.
Lhandon pointed Jania in the direction of the main group, while he tapped Lhal on the shoulder to speak with her.
Nilsen: Hey, Lahl, you got a second.
He motioned for Lahl to join him a little away from the group.
Lhal: Of course.
Nilsen: I just want to…
He stopped in his thoughts as the arch appeared once again, and this time it was Eli who stepped through it. He had chosen a decidedly less regal approach to his outfit. Aside from his swashbuckling pirate outfit, fitted with leather boots, a silk shirt with way too many buttons undone, and a leather jacket, he also had someone in medical stimulate his facial follicles into a scraggly beard.
As he looked around the room, the now-not-so-new engineer was more confident in his choice. Miash had been the boldest of the bunch; even during their hot yoga she didn’t go so au naturale. He walked, somewhat unsteadily given his eye patch and lack of depth perception, toward the group and joined the conversation.
Nilsen gave him a short kiss on the cheek and a quick hello; he smiled as this happened and he couldn’t help but stare at Eli and couldn’t help but think that pirate was such a good look for him. He unconsciously bit his bottom lip and had to resist the urge to ask Eli to retire to another room with him.
Lahl: Don’t get yourself too worked up, I expect this will be a long party. ::smirking at Lhandon.::
Blinking, and getting his back in the proverbial room, He turned to Lhal.
Nilsen: Yeah, sorry, erm…I just wanted to chat about Port Coray. You know, that place.
Kimonzi put up a fan up between them and the rest of the group as it seemed like Lhandon wanted some privacy.
Lahl: This privacy fan would work better if you weren’t a foot taller than me. Or if Lahl didn’t have a thing for small women. ::She chuckled at her own joke before going serious again.::
Lhandon smiled at the comment, and laughed a little. This would look curious from any other angle.
Nilsen: I just want to erm…
Lhandon knew what he wanted to say, but the words failed him. How could he even put into words what she had done for him over the past few weeks?
Lahl: Yes?
Nilsen: I wanted to say thank you, for everything you did back there.::beat:: no one would have blamed you for not taking on the case and yet you step up for ma and, I guess saved my life, so erm, thanks
Lahl: Well, if I didn’t take it, someone was going to make absolute hay out of it. And you are welcome.
Nilsen: You need anything, you just say. Now come on, let's rejoin ‘em before they get too rowdy.
Lahl: Aye sir. ::she stood on her tiptoes to give him a chaste kiss on the cheek:: And I think they’re always rowdy.
Lhandon and Lahl returned to the rest of the group. Unfortunately, their timing led them into the tail end of a conversation, which was enough to make Spock raise both eyebrows.
Yinn: …not only were we all still naked, the religious service had already started!
Lahl: Well then. Impressive you were able to turn it around.
Zarah: I’m glad it wasn’t me there!
Zarah would have been absolutely mortified. Sometimes, some experiences weren’t worth experiencing.
Caras: I still don’t get it. If they didn’t want you to be naked then why did they have all those mirrors?
Jania tilted her head in thought, trying desperately to understand the anecdote.
Nis: I think I need more context on your local religious customs to understand that story.
Nilsen: You know…I don’t know if I want to know what the context of that is.
Smirking, Zarah sung her reticule by the tethers a few times and shook her head, the curls bobbing almost gleefully at the motion.
Zarah: Trust me, you don’t want to know.
Caras: People invented modesty to have one more thing to hide behind.
Lahl: Could be amusing.
In a more fortuitous moment of timing, the holodeck doors opened wide and in walked the chief engineer, late as usual. He donned a navy blue top hat, with a matching tailcoat and dress pants, a baby blue ruffled-collar dress shirt, and a glossy black cane.
He peered through his silver monocle, looking at the gaggle of junior officers and the attire that they’d all chosen to wear to the event. Everyone looked to get into the full spirit of things, even Miash has put her twist on Ferengi traditionalism. He spotted Lhandon, and with a small smile, Josh bowed his head while pinching the rim of his hat, a silent hello of sorts.
Lieutenant Josh Herrick
Chief Engineer
USS Octavia E. Butler
O240005JH3
he/him/his (player/character)
&
Ensign Elijah Kovacs
Engineering Officer
USS Octavia E. Butler
&
Lieutenant JG Lhandon Joseph Nilsen
Assistant Chief of Operations.
USS Octavia E Butler
O240007LN1
He/Him/His (Both player and character)
&
Senior Chief Petty Officer Miash
Head Nurse
USS Octavia E Buttler NCC-82850
Writer ID.: O239910TA4LT
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Ensign Kimonzi Lahl
Engineering Officer
U.S.S. Octavia E. Butler
O240107KL4
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Ensign Morro Caras
Engineering Officer
USS Octavia E. Butler
O240106MC1
&
Ensign Qurgh'Loq Yinn
Science Officer/Diplomatic Corps
USS Octavia E Butler
O240011Y12