JP: Ensign Nemes, Ensign T’Fearne, Ensign Syrex & Ensign Evinrude: JOPA - Lower Decks [Part 4]
Tess Evinrude
((1030 Hours - Holosuite 3, Deck 4, USS Ronin))
The off-duty security officer, sensing that decision-making on choices would take a moment, turned around and ordered some drinks at the bar for her companions. It felt like the right thing to do here in this anachronistic place. She had been to Terran bars whilst at the Academy and knew how to order here.
Tess spotted T’Fearne ordering and stepped away from Sybil while waving at her to follow him.
Evinrude: Come on, we need liquid courage…and probably the list of available options.
T’Fearne: Bartender! A round of drinks for my co-workers, please. Do you have any Nebraskan White Lightning? No? :: She picked randomly from the slightly sticky-to-the-touch physical paper list.:: Four Templeton Ryes’ then, please!
Bartender: Yeah, sure thing, sugar. I’ll throw in some shots for free if you show me a smile…
T’Fearne: I do not smile for the pleasure of strangers. :: thinking for a moment:: Alyndra! This photon is demanding displays of emotion as currency in exchange for libations. Can I delete him?
Syrex: Oh yeah, sorry T’Fearne.. I’ve been meaning to delete him from the programme, he kinda creeps me out. But supposedly, he’s period-accurate. But he's also a twonk, and if you slap him with a bottle, he’ll lay down and go sleepy for a bit.
Bartender: Hey now…!
Taking the Trill’s comment as permission, the tall Vulcazoid smiled at the holocharacter with all her teeth as she promptly removed him from the program, slipped behind the bar, and poured a finger of amber liquid from a labelled bottle into 4 glasses. She slid the glasses to the front of the bar and towards the other ensigns with a soft tinkle as the glass kissed the wood. Alyndra sighed with relief that the barman was finally gone.
Evinrude: Good choice on the whiskey, ::he said to T’Fearne, gesturing at the round of libations.:: I’m curious to see how it tastes as a synthehol…
Tess hadn’t heard the bartender’s period-appropriate but highly inappropriate comment.
Evinrude: What happened to the bartender? I was hoping to see the list of karaoke songs.
Syrex: ::bluntly:: We exterminated him for being a twat.
Nemes: ::smirking:: Hey, that’s unfair. He ran away before we actually sang.
The programme materialised an old three-ring binder song list, full of paper printouts in slightly sticky clear plastic sleeves.
Evinrude: ::To Alyndra and T’Fearne.:: I see…I’m sorry I missed you braining the binary buffoon. ::He said with a wink, and accepted the glass.::
T’Fearne::: sliding back to the patron side of the bar:: I merely removed it from our playthrough of the program. It will be there again for the next user. :: Noting that each of them a glass of the amber liquid in hand:: Does anyone want to say ritual things or ascribe accolades before we consume these beverages?
Alyndra stroked her chin. As their leader, she felt like she should give another speech.
Syrex: For all your hangovers tomorrow, we gave our liver’s today!
Alyndra slapped her face with her other hand, perhaps that was a little distasteful. She just swigged her drink, blushing slightly as she drank.
Evinrude: Hear hear! And to…making beautiful music together? ::He added, raising his glass in toast.::
Alyndra opened an eye slowly, her hands still over her face, nobody felt badly about her comment. She was the leader of the gang!
Nemes: Well, we'll see.
Sybil also raised her glass and then drank it down in one go. She still wasn't sure why she was doing this.
T’Fearne: “Ronin Strong!” is…is our rally call.
She immediately winced internally as the battlecry called forth a disturbing memory from another bar lost in time to the chaos of ancient Bajor. She threw her shot back quickly.
Tess raised a curious eyebrow at T’Fearne - normally people showed discomfort after taking a shot of liquor. But the moment seemed to pass, and it was time to drink, so down the hatch the bourbon went. It was…surprisingly good. A little flat, maybe…missing that je ne sais quois. But quite decent, for synthesized alcohol materialized into an artificial glass in a holodeck program. The ensign found himself speculating who made the program, but pushed that line of inquiry out of his head as well in favor of more booze. He vaulted the bar with surprising grace, and began to inspect the selection.
Evinrude: Tequila, anyone? ::With sudden remembrance.:: Oh! And Sybil! Have you picked a song? I’ll be ready after this… ::He selected a textured bottle of reposado tequila with an art deco design on the label, and began to peruse the bar’s plastic bins of sliced fruit.::
Syrex: Personally I’d prefer a 1Balso tonic if it’s all the same Tess.
Evinrude: ::He grinned while lining up squat little rocks glasses.:: That will break the Nebraska illusion a bit, but I think I can make that happen!
Alyndra smiled back at him.
Nemes: ::holding one of those sticky printouts in her hand:: I’m not sure. ::showing the list to Tess:: Do you have a favourite song here?
Evinrude: To stick with the old Earth theme? I’d suggest Don’t You Want Me… ::Tess’ eyes took on a mischievous glimmer.:: Buuut since we’re breaking illusions tonight, do you know Andorian Rhapsody?
Sybil rolled her eyes with a smirk, playing along with the joke. Then she nodded.
Nemes: Yes, I know that song.
Peering over the bar, T’Fearne noticed that Tess seemed to know what he was doing back there.
T’Fearne::: Resting her forearms on the surface.:: Could you make me something with chocolate in it? Approximately 15ccs should do.
Evinrude: You got it, one… ::He considered chocolate drink options.:: …Alexander, coming righ–
Syrex: ::In a low-pitch growling noise:: Chocolate!!!!
Tess blinked, and murmured the rest of that phrase under his breath. He made a mental note that the Trill either really loves chocolate, or really hates it. He finished pouring his own glass of tequila and garnished it with a lime wedge, leaving the other three empty, then turned back to gather more ingredients.
T’Fearne:::to the Trill:: What? I’m not on duty right now. :: Pointing at the stage:: I’ll have a go with you, If you want to do one together?
Syrex: Ooooooooo Yes! Do you have one in mind, something Betazoid maybe? I’m sure that Sybil would recognise it.
T’Fearne: Not really. Betazoid music is very…freeform, sort of soothing, and surreal. I can make something up if you like, but it’s really not my skillset. :: non-committal shrug:: Is there something that the programme recommends?
The Vulcazoid took a copy of the sticky song list binder, tried to scroll on a page, then struggled slightly to flick through the antique style page turner.
While the others conversed, Tess grabbed brandy, creme de cacao, and something called half-and-half. He had hoped to find cream, but it would seem that stocking the freshest dairy wasn’t a priority for old Earth dive bars. Neither, of course, were Trill spirits.
Evinrude: ::Quietly.:: Computer, replicate a bottle of 2wansat, please.
A spherical bottle appeared, filled with a red-gold colored liquid. The stand-in bartender also found a sprig of mint, and some traditional Earth tonic water. The cocktail for Syrex went into a highball glass, stirred with ice and finished with the leafy green garnish. The Alexander would be shaken, not stirred, so he poured its components into a shiny silver vessel with a lot of ice, and was in the middle of shaking up the cocktail when Sybil approached the bar.
Nemes: So, are you ready to sing? ::grinning slightly:: Let's get it over with.
Evinrude: Yeah, I’m ready! Can you have the computer queue up the song? Oh, and did you want a drink? ::He asked, gesturing at the empty glasses.::
Nemes: Erm, a 3 Betazed Spritz please.
It seemed there would be two strange alien spirits for the simulated Nebraskans to sample. Nodding, Tess pondered for a moment before quietly asking the replicator for a bottle of 4diahali. Not knowing what exactly went into the cocktail, he repeated the alcohol-plus-tonic motions and, after pouring out Sybil’s request, placed each drink in front of its new owner.
Evinrude: ::His voice took on a bartender tone.:: One Alexander, for T’Fearne…one Bolso tonic, Nebraska-style, for Alyndra. Sybil gets my best attempt at a Betazed spritzer, also Nebraska-style…aaand tequila, for me!
Instead of shooting this one, Evinrude took a slow sip while stepping around from behind the bar and set off after his singing partner.
Unlike Alyndra earlier, Sybil took the ramp as she didn't want to strain her recently healed foot again. As she approached the microphone, her steps slowed down a little, but she closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath.
T’Fearne::: holding out a page from the song list to Alyndra:: This looks interesting. Under Pressure: By Queen and David Bowie. The lyrics are somewhat relevant to our situation. oO Ensigns being tempered and forged by pressure, hopefully into competent senior officers one day. Oo
Syrex: Wow! A song about how Carbon molecules are processed to make a diamond ::laughs::!
Evinrude: I love that song! ::Tess called back to T’Fearne from halfway to the stage. He crossed the remaining distance and turned to Sybil by the microphone, speaking conspiratorially.:: Bowie always brings down the house...so we gotta knock this out of the park. You ready, Nemes?
He held out his fist at a decidedly non-aggressive angle - an old-Earth fist-bump, it would seem, meant to seal their team’s “non-competitive” arrangement. Whether or not the simulated audience would cheer each pair on, deciding a “victor” by volume of cheering…well, that remained to be seen.
Sybil looked first at Tess and then at his fist, until she remembered the human custom and returned the fist bump. She had grown up on Betazed, where this was not common.
Syrex: :: Towards T’Fearne:: Humans, Am I right?
The “Alexander” as Tess had called it had been doing its work, taking the edge of T’Fearne’s hypervigilance. She was feeling good, lighter than usual. She made herself comfortable at a table in front of the stage, popped her boots up on an open chair and sipped her cocktail.
T’Fearne: They are fascinating!
The music began, and the volume of the simulated audience’s conversation dropped to a dull roar. Sybil felt the stage fright slowly rising in her. She hadn’t been singing in front of an audience - however small - for a long time.
((OOC: To the tune of Bohemian Rhapsody…))
Evinrude:
Andor and Vulcaaaan…at war for centuries…
Caught in a stalemate, no escape from barbarity.
Kicked out of Weytahn, proxy war for Coridan Three…
Sybil closed her eyes as it helped her with her nervousness. It was better not to see the crowd, even if it mostly were just holograms. She waited until Tess had finished the first verse of the song. Then she started to sing.
Nemes:
I’m just a human … exploring the galaxy…
I've made peace amends, Vulcan friends,
hit warp five, started trends…
After the first few lines Sybil started to relax a bit and she opened her eyes. Tess seemed to really enjoy himself. At first she stood a little stiffly at the microphone, but slowly she was infected by Tess's easy-going manner and the music.
Sybil and Tess Together: ::Harmonizing.::
They have no antenna, but maybe they can balance peace...our peace…
T’Fearne couldn't help but grin as Sybil sang the “making Vulcan friends” part of the song with a high clarion tone. Raising her glass to the stage to signal her approval. This was good, she could sense the occasional flicker of growing amusement and joy around her like flecks of sunlight on the surface of water.
T’Fearne::: Leaning over so Alyndra could hear her:: This was a good thing you did.
Syrex: ::cringing at the singing:: I’m not so sure…
T’Fearne reached over and elbowed Alyndra lightly in the ribs.
The song, a spirited - if stilted - account of first contact between Andorians and Humans, and the subsequent alliance that added Vulcans and Tellarites and inspired a proto-Federation, came to an end with a lone piano accompanying the closing lines.
Sybil and Tess Together: ::Harmonizing.::
…anyone can seeeeee…our coalition matters. This Coalition matters to meeeee!
As the song concluded, the Nebraskan audience broke into a spirited, if confused, round of applause and wolf-whistles, and Alyndra and T’Fearne joined in the cheering.
Many of the patrons, especially those in the back, had been somehow singing along with the wrong lyrics. Beaming, Tess walked with Sybil back to their fellow ensigns as the opening bassline of Under Pressure began to rattle the bar’s speakers.
Sybil had imagined singing in front of an audience would be terrible. But in the end she had also enjoyed it. Perhaps the memories of the terrible singing lessons had simply made her feel so embarrassed about singing in public in retrospect.
Nemes: ::showing a relieved smile:: Thanks, Tess, that you sang with me. ::beat:: You’re really good.
Evinrude: ::Tess downed the rest of his tequila, wrinkling up his nose as the lime wedge bumped against it mid-gulp.:: Sybil, ::he said, pulling her into a quick one-armed hug,:: you can be my wingman anytime! You’re an amazing singer!
T’Fearne: That was very harmonious.
Tess looked to T’Fearne, oddly unsure what to say, but quickly composed himself and nodded his gratitude.
Syrex: I agree! ::Raises her glass, before taking a grateful sip::
Sybil sat down, took a sip of her Betazed Spritz and leaned back, relaxed. Tess, meanwhile, went back to the bar to hunt for another beverage.
Nemes: ::her eyes jumped back and forth between T'Fearne and Alyndra:: What are you going to sing?
Already on her way up to the stage by stepping off a chair and stepping onto the stage, the tall Vulcazoid pointed at the song list on the table left open to the page on Under Pressure: By Queen and David Bowie and offered a hand to Alyndra as she attempted to follow her up onstage by the same route. Hoisting her up.
The vocals began and suited T’Fearne well as it was similar, if more energetic and upbeat to Betazoid accapella ethereal styles. But it was soon apparent why no one had asked her to sing before, she gave it a good effort, but her changes in tone and pitch were just slightly off every time. She could hold a note, but changing it quickly sounded off-key. Luckily Alyndra came through, and as they belted out the ending together, she felt a strong sense of cathartic release that was all her own.
As the other two ensigns made their way towards the front, a few of the simulated patrons made wincing, pained faces at T’Fearne’s singing. Alyndra, moved a bit closer to her singing partner, showing both support and looking for the said patrons eyes to death stare back at them. At any grouping with someone not showing full support, Evinrude would slap his hand down on their table and grin.
Evinrude: Those are my friends! Help us cheer them on!
Whether the simulation was programmed to respond to such camaraderie or not, Tess couldn’t say, but to his satisfaction, the crowd had turned positive by the time he and Sybil found their places.
T’Fearne & Syrex:
Aaand love… dares yooou… to care for,
The peeeople… on the eeedge… of the niiight,
Aaand love… dares you… to change our way of
Caaaring… about ooourselves
Thiiis is… our laaast dance
Thiiis is… our laaast dance,
Thiiis is… ourseeelves
Under pressure,
Under pressure,
Pressure.
When the pair eventually finished, Tess jumped up to greet them at the stage, cheering all the while.
Sybil couldn't remain in her seat either. She stood up and clapped, although not quite as enthusiastically as her colleague.
Evinrude: ::Shouting exuberantly:: Now THAT’S carry oakey, bay-BEEEE!
Alyndra snorted, she had no idea what infants had to do with this, the mention of them filled her with an amused sense of irony.
Tess helped them down from the stage (more of a passive help, than anything, taking the place of the chair T’Fearne had used to ascend as the song began) and dragged them over to Sybil, inciting a sort of disorganized group hug.
Nemes: Well done!
Syrex: Thanks, ::Looks to T’Fearne:: Thanks for doing that with me.
T’Fearne: You're welcome. :: grinning ruefully:: I guess carry-okey’s not my strong suit. It was fun, though. :: shrugging and going for the last sip of her drink.:: I’m better with instruments, a geo harp or percussion instruments. Anything I can hit with a stick. One more round of drinks?
As the refilled glasses all touched with soft chimes, the ensigns toasted to the Ronin, to new adventures, and new friends.
[End Inaugural JOPA Meeting Scene]
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OOC:
1Balso Tonic, a drink ordered by the joined Will Riker on Star Trek TNG’s “The Host”. A native Trill drink that wasn’t available on the replicators at the time.
3Betazed Spritz, a traditional alcoholic drink on Betazed with a bright green-coloured Betazoid liqueur called Lorepa, prosecco and club soda
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*Ensign Sybil Nemes*
Science Officer
USS Ronin
D239009VD0
&
Security Officer
USS Ronin - NCC-34523
R240107T14
&
Ensign Alyndra Syrex
Medical Officer
USS Ronin (NCC-34523)
R240107AS3
&
Ensign Tess Evinrude
Operations Officer
USS Ronin
R240111TE1