[sb118-ops] Ensign A'Mayri - We beat them! But at what cost?
A'Mayri Y. Stark
((The Bottled Repose))
A grapefruit paloma, an espresso martini and a hot chocolate finished a few rounds later, the night was plentiful and full of unexpected surprises. Hot chocolate was her favorite by far. Despite the drinks, even A’Maryi could see her two friends and fellow officers gravitate together like inevitable planets circling towards their shared sun.
If her attention wasn’t being drawn by the game at hand, she would have made a comment about it. Pointed out the physical and emotional compatibility. Instead, the frustrated voice of the other player had rung in her ears and kept her grounded to the game.
Ferengi: ::through gritted teeth:: I always knew you Vulcans were cheats. How is it possible you haven't lost a single round?!
A’Mayri found no offense in the Ferengi’s complaint, the smallest curve of a grin hidden behind her warm mug of chocolate goodness.
A'Mayri: ::small sip of her almost empty hot chocolate, the tips of her ears and nose a tinted and flushed green:: Probability of the deck is never perfectly predictable. I am also quite skilled in practicing mental calculations—though I am told that is also known as ‘counting cards’ which should not be an issue for this playstyle. ::sets mug down:: Match is a simple subject, we are only completing addition after all. What was the human phrase? ‘This isn’t rocket science?’
Evan tried not to laugh and leaned a little closer to Voss.
Ross: ::with lowered voice:: If she keeps going at that rate, we'll have to party for three days straight.
There was quite the pile of latinum strips sitting in the center of the table with Lyra hiding her amused smile.
Voss: There’s still plenty of leave left. I bet we could manage it.
Despite the space being more physically crowded now then at the dinner they all shared, A'Maryi could see the ease that naturally settled between Lyra and Evan. As the Ferengi reshuffled the deck with gritted teeth after another round lost, she easily accepted her new hand. Her eyes only spared a small glance over to the two of them whispering and only inches apart.
The Ferengi seemed dissatisfied with his hand, and she found herself oddly pleased by it.
Ross: Come on now.
Lyra’s turn was next. She picked up her cards and immediately leaned in to whisper with Evan.
Voss: Wait, so, the J is ten? Seven, ten, four, but the ace is eleven?
Somehow, her empty hot chocolate had been wonderfully replaced by a new freshly brewed and steaming cup. For added measure, shaved chocolate decorated the whip cream with a lovely red and white swirled peppermint candy stick plopped into it.
She discarded her hard and picked up a new one with a mostly neutral face, and she spoke as if the question was open to the air.
A'Mayri: :: Eyes locked onto her cards as she takes another sip of her new drink:: J is ten and Ace is eleven yes.
Voss: And you have to pay attention to the… the card’s jacket…?
Ferengi: The SUIT! Suit! How are you still in this game when you don’t remember how it’s even played?
Lyra gave him a shrug and put her seven of spades back face up on the discard pile, and A’Maryi plucked the peppermint stick out of her drink and stuck it between the corner of her lips like one would a cigarette.
A’Mayri: Your words mean nothing if my friend still remains even with her well meaning confusion. Perhaps that is cause for some self reflection into your own abilities.
It was the smallest of things that could make a moment. It was hidden notions and physical cues that A’Mayri relied on during social interactions.
Ross: ?
Klingon: ::with annoyance:: I didn’t realize the rules allowed for a coaching section.
From out of the corner of her eye, she watched as Lyra casually rearranged the cards in her hand and lightly replied:
Voss: SoHvaD qeS veb Quch 'e' vISovbej... lugh, bImejpu'! (I'm sure he'd be happy to give you some advice too next... Oh right, you're already out!)
The woman’s eyes immediately widened and then she snarled and slammed a hand down on the table.
Klingon: maj, puqloD – (All right, you little –)
The Ferengi put out his hand to calm her.
Ferengi: We’ll get their money and then who the hell cares what the stupid little lovebird says, huh?
A’Mayri had gone quiet during the interaction, her gaze immediately locked onto the Klingon woman at an almost darkened angle– of the kubrick variety. It just quickly went away when it appeared that an internal realization finally caught up to her conscious thought.
Perhaps she had too much to drink. Perhaps not enough. A’Maryi would never resort to violence, never! She would however have no qualms about addressing another issue at hand and trusted Lyra and Evan to handle the Klingon.
A’Mayri: Your confidence and well meaning assurance to your counterpart is admirable, but the doubt I see in your eyes and the hesitance I detect in the fluttering of your hands is counterproductive.
The Ferengi was the next one to sharpen his gaze and huff at the half Vulcan.
Ross: ?
Lyra just grinned as she looked at A’Mayri.
Voss: It’s not like I’m the one you have to worry about anyway.
A’Mayri: ::biting down on the peppermint stick with an openly pleased hum, Vulcan and Federation Standard mixed on her tongue:: Tor sadalaya uncontrolled ambition, ri tor mastevau svi' greed, acquainted veh.
(Do release uncontrolled ambition, don't drown in greed, acquainted one.)
Was it tasteful to pull such words? A’Maryi only felt that it fit the situation as the Betazoid shared her own thoughts with foreign tongues.
Ross: ?
A’Mayri carefully laid her cards face down onto the table, her hand closed into a gentle fist before the placed once single and firm knock against the table.
Voss/Ross: ?
Ferengi: I grow tired of hearing your knocking, Vulcan! ::small curse under his breath, using the last turn to swap another card.::
A’Mayri remained poised in her seat as she appeared perfectly aligned and capable. Stillness in her body was her shield and vice, and anyone who looked upon her would only see a Vulcanoid who appeared to be either tolerating or enjoying the game with her friends.
A’Mayri: I look forward to the revealing of our hands. ::sharing a small and openly amused glance to Lyra and Evan.::
Voss/Ross: ?
A’Mayri: Interesting indeed. King, Queen, 9. I do believe that is a total of…29? I could be mistaken. Please hold me accountable if I have miscounted. ::Looking to Lyras cards with a soft grin:: I am impressed with your hand as well friend. You and your mentor are quite formidable ::completely ignoring the fuming ferengi::
Voss/Ross: ?
The Ferengi swiped his cards away, his hand the lowest of the three. The female Klingon stood abruptly, her chair scrapping across the floor as some of the other patrons moved to clear a way. Before much more action could occur, A’Mayri shoved a small handful of the pile towards them and muscled the rest back into the now overflowing container. While the Ferengi was quick to accept the gift, the Klingon seemed set on sharing more than just quaint conversation.
A’Mayri: Let us be off– ::plopping a few bars to many into a observing and slightly horrified bartenders hands::
Voss/Ross: ?
Box tucked under her arm, she wiggled away from the table and quickly learned that her body was not as coordinated as it usually was. Despite her best effort and what she thought was well controlled movements, she mirrored the gracefulness of a fresh spring fawn. It could have been seen as comical to those who knew her.
As carefully as she could, what she thought were well placed guiding hands was tightly gripped Vulcan strength to Lyra and Evans hands as she pulled them from the booth– shoved the box into the Human male’s hands, grabbed them again– and stumbled her way out of the bar.
Voss/Ross: ?
((Time skip, Ashalla District))
The simulated night air was crisp once more, the trio of newly more wealthy and partially tousled officers free and back into the open nature like walkways of the Ashalla District.
The moment her internal instincts and self calculations that ran on chocolate and sugar deemed it safe, she stopped in place and released her friend's hands. oOAre they safe? Are they happy?Oo
Yes, they looked happy. At least she hoped she was correct in watching them.
A’Mayri had never been a romantic. She never found entertainment value in films based on love, the search for romance– the journey to finding a soulmate. Yet tonight she saw enough signs and shared twinkling gazes to know it was real, and that they would eventually be alright despite their shared blunders she still had yet to understand.
Again, it reminded her of her parents. The one example she knew to be true in all its forms of love. Her parents were more steady however.
She would never fully tell anyone what she felt when she and Lyra linked. The fear, love, vulnerability. It wasn’t hers to hold yet she still felt she had to take part in its handling and care. Was it the need for justice? To not be a bystander? With Evan, even without the connection she could recognize worry, fear, admiration and love–love again. Love love love, so many forms of love and feelings of the unknown.
A’Maryi’s thoughts and observations were all made within seconds of her standing still in the middle of the walkway, her eyes unwavering on the two people she learned to call friends.The Vulcanoid took pride in her ability to observe, and what she saw was what she believed people would say was ‘worth fighting for’.
A’Mayri hoped this was enough evidence to dispute their initial stages of doubt. She was relieved she was in neither of their places.
Maybe she would eventually want to understand it for herself.
A’Mayri: I may have consumed too much sucrose and sugar forward beverages, and thus will be experiencing un-optimal symptoms and physical coordination. I apologize in advance and hope I remain in good standing.
After a beat, the half Vulcan puddled onto the floor in a tangled mass of baggy clothes and loose limbs.
A'Mayri: Funding....::still face down, hand wobbling as she vaguely pointed in their direction:: for- ::small hiccup:: -for future planet side courting rituals...
A call back to their previous nervous ramblings about future trips together. The intoxication did not hinder her caring bluntness now that she felt at ease around them.
Voss/Ross: ?
((OOC: Thank you for letting me be part of their journey! Apologies for the heavy inner narration, I wanted to help set up the scene for Voss and Ross so they could split off and do their thing after this is all settled like we discussed LOL. Feel free to add and remove tags or add dialog for the Klingon and Ferengi players and your lovely characters!)
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V/R,
Ensign A’Mayri Ych’a Stark
Engineering Officer
StarBase 118 Ops
O240303A11