LtJg Lera Michaels - Bar Trick
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steve...@yahoo.com
Mar 4, 2026, 9:52:59 PMMar 4
to USS Khitomer – StarBase 118 Star Trek PBEM RPG
((OOC I see this as happening the day after Lera and Ezra's dinner date, and shortly after Lera's conversation with Stros. ))
((Galactic Dom-jot Parlour, The Indulgence of Chocolate-Coated Jama’haron))
Lera paused outside the Galactic Dom-jot Parlour, her recent purchase securely inside her pocket. She stopped and wondered if the gift was a mistake. Matching items, one for Ezra and one for herself, might seem like too forward. Like presuming too much. But the two items were simple and, in their own way, elegant without being showy. And if Ezra did not want his, then she could use both of them. It might require some additional emotional control but she was certain she could master it.
With some time to pass before her scheduled lunch appointment with Ezra, she needed something to do besides shopping. The Dom-jot Parlour seemed a reasonable choice. The game was something she had first encountered during her midshipman cruise when Puja, her tall Aurelian petty officer mentor, introduced her to it. Puja had described it as a simple enough game that was really simply a matter of physics and geometry. The mixture of billiards and pin-ball had instantly appealed to her.
By the standards of the other parts of Indulgence she had visited, the Galactic Dom-jot Parlour felt ... exceptionally clean. It was almost the diametrical opposite of the one pool hall in Marathon. That facility was poorly lit, the atmosphere was filled with vapors from a dozen different personal recreational chemical delivery systems. This parlor was brightly lit and filled with families and couples. There was no shortage of young males and scantily dressed females seeking each other's attention. One of the females noticed Lera. As she approached, Lera decided the woman was Bolian. Lera took only a moment to realize that it was the lady who had led their safety drill.
Nolandra: It is good to see you again, Lera. I would be happy to show you how it is played.
Michaels: Nolandra. :: smiling :: Is this your duty station or are you off-duty.
Nolandra: Off-duty. :: slight shrug:: Being hospitable to our passengers. :: she gave a hint of a wicked smile. :: And always willing to earn a few extra credits by showing over confident passengers the error their ways. :: Do you know the game? :: Lera nodded. :: Would you like to go a round with me? Perhaps make a bet on the outcome?
Michaels: I am familiar with the game. My father always told me that if someone came up to you in a bar willing to bet on whether or not they could draw a map of western spiral arm of the galaxy on a cocktail napkin, you should not consider it a bet. You will always lose. Consider it the price you pay to see them do their bar trick.
Nolandra laughed a pleasant, full throated laugh that Lera was certain could be heard throughout the ship.
Nolandra: Wise man, your father. :: beat:: He doesn't sound like a Vulcan though.
Michaels: He is Human.
Nolandra: You are half Vulcan half Human then.
Michaels: I am fully Vulcan. Both my parents... my adoptive parents are fully Human. And, yes. I would be interested in playing a round provided the fee is not excessive.
Nolandra: The first round is always free and the mark always wins the first round. It is the second round that I "accidentally" win. And the later rounds where they learn the error of their ways.
oO A confidence racket plain and simple and Nolandra is making it obvious. What kind of arrogant low wattage individual falls into a trap like this? Oo
Michaels: If there is little to lose and a bit of education to gain, I will play.
Nolandra set up the Dom-jot table and invited Lera to take the first shot. Lera moved to take the shot and, on impulse, took a substandard one.
Michaels: I am... vaguely familiar with the game.
Nolandra: Then there is little point in showing you how badly you over estimate your abilities.
It was clear from the outset that Nolandra was a skillful Dom-jot player. Lera was only slightly puzzled when the Bolian made what appeared to be some poorly selected shots.
oO Ah. I understand. This is part of the con. Mislead your opponent to underestimate your abilities during the free round. Then demonstrate your complete mastery later. Oo
Both women played below their skill level. Despite increasingly poor choices, ultimately Nolandra won the first round. Nolandra laughed again.
Nolandra: That isn't the way this is suppose to work. The "client" always wins the first round. :: beat :: Are you trying to con me?
Michaels: My observation is that there are multiple levels to every game. Only one level takes place on the table itself.
Nolandra: Note to self. Do not risk credits playing with a Vulcan. :: glancing up and abruptly looking alarmed. :: I thought you were going to stay in the company with your Trill friend.
Michaels: ::furrowing her forehead :: We are meeting in an hour. Is something wrong?
Nolandra: Our match is attracting attention. Most of the men here are harmless despite how free they are with their hands. However, there are a few:: beat :: one in particular who is definitely not harmless and appears to have noticed you.
oO The Nausicaan. In a brightly lit, crowded place like this... what can he do besides be offensive? If I stay here until Ezra gets here, it should be all right. Oo
Michaels: Shall we play another round? :: doing her best to sound more confident than she felt :: I will pay a few credits to see your trick.
Tags/TBC
——— ○● ———
LtJg Lera Michaels
Engineering Officer
USS Khitomer
K240106LM2
((Galactic Dom-jot Parlour, The Indulgence of Chocolate-Coated Jama’haron))
Lera paused outside the Galactic Dom-jot Parlour, her recent purchase securely inside her pocket. She stopped and wondered if the gift was a mistake. Matching items, one for Ezra and one for herself, might seem like too forward. Like presuming too much. But the two items were simple and, in their own way, elegant without being showy. And if Ezra did not want his, then she could use both of them. It might require some additional emotional control but she was certain she could master it.
With some time to pass before her scheduled lunch appointment with Ezra, she needed something to do besides shopping. The Dom-jot Parlour seemed a reasonable choice. The game was something she had first encountered during her midshipman cruise when Puja, her tall Aurelian petty officer mentor, introduced her to it. Puja had described it as a simple enough game that was really simply a matter of physics and geometry. The mixture of billiards and pin-ball had instantly appealed to her.
By the standards of the other parts of Indulgence she had visited, the Galactic Dom-jot Parlour felt ... exceptionally clean. It was almost the diametrical opposite of the one pool hall in Marathon. That facility was poorly lit, the atmosphere was filled with vapors from a dozen different personal recreational chemical delivery systems. This parlor was brightly lit and filled with families and couples. There was no shortage of young males and scantily dressed females seeking each other's attention. One of the females noticed Lera. As she approached, Lera decided the woman was Bolian. Lera took only a moment to realize that it was the lady who had led their safety drill.
Nolandra: It is good to see you again, Lera. I would be happy to show you how it is played.
Michaels: Nolandra. :: smiling :: Is this your duty station or are you off-duty.
Nolandra: Off-duty. :: slight shrug:: Being hospitable to our passengers. :: she gave a hint of a wicked smile. :: And always willing to earn a few extra credits by showing over confident passengers the error their ways. :: Do you know the game? :: Lera nodded. :: Would you like to go a round with me? Perhaps make a bet on the outcome?
Michaels: I am familiar with the game. My father always told me that if someone came up to you in a bar willing to bet on whether or not they could draw a map of western spiral arm of the galaxy on a cocktail napkin, you should not consider it a bet. You will always lose. Consider it the price you pay to see them do their bar trick.
Nolandra laughed a pleasant, full throated laugh that Lera was certain could be heard throughout the ship.
Nolandra: Wise man, your father. :: beat:: He doesn't sound like a Vulcan though.
Michaels: He is Human.
Nolandra: You are half Vulcan half Human then.
Michaels: I am fully Vulcan. Both my parents... my adoptive parents are fully Human. And, yes. I would be interested in playing a round provided the fee is not excessive.
Nolandra: The first round is always free and the mark always wins the first round. It is the second round that I "accidentally" win. And the later rounds where they learn the error of their ways.
oO A confidence racket plain and simple and Nolandra is making it obvious. What kind of arrogant low wattage individual falls into a trap like this? Oo
Michaels: If there is little to lose and a bit of education to gain, I will play.
Nolandra set up the Dom-jot table and invited Lera to take the first shot. Lera moved to take the shot and, on impulse, took a substandard one.
Michaels: I am... vaguely familiar with the game.
Nolandra: Then there is little point in showing you how badly you over estimate your abilities.
It was clear from the outset that Nolandra was a skillful Dom-jot player. Lera was only slightly puzzled when the Bolian made what appeared to be some poorly selected shots.
oO Ah. I understand. This is part of the con. Mislead your opponent to underestimate your abilities during the free round. Then demonstrate your complete mastery later. Oo
Both women played below their skill level. Despite increasingly poor choices, ultimately Nolandra won the first round. Nolandra laughed again.
Nolandra: That isn't the way this is suppose to work. The "client" always wins the first round. :: beat :: Are you trying to con me?
Michaels: My observation is that there are multiple levels to every game. Only one level takes place on the table itself.
Nolandra: Note to self. Do not risk credits playing with a Vulcan. :: glancing up and abruptly looking alarmed. :: I thought you were going to stay in the company with your Trill friend.
Michaels: ::furrowing her forehead :: We are meeting in an hour. Is something wrong?
Nolandra: Our match is attracting attention. Most of the men here are harmless despite how free they are with their hands. However, there are a few:: beat :: one in particular who is definitely not harmless and appears to have noticed you.
oO The Nausicaan. In a brightly lit, crowded place like this... what can he do besides be offensive? If I stay here until Ezra gets here, it should be all right. Oo
Michaels: Shall we play another round? :: doing her best to sound more confident than she felt :: I will pay a few credits to see your trick.
Tags/TBC
——— ○● ———
LtJg Lera Michaels
Engineering Officer
USS Khitomer
K240106LM2
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