Lieutenant Commander Divya Tam: The Game
mrsciroth
(( Backroom, The Starlit Decanter, DS14))
Exploring Deep Space 14 had quickly become a hobby for Divya. Yesterday was consumed by designing outfits for tiny mannequins. She had stumbled across Kujor's Custom Fits and struck up a conversation with the ship owner, who was unhappy with replicated clothing for an idea they had for a miniature window display. The discussion had become animated as they discussed exactly what the owner desired. Divya spent the entire evening crocheting clothing and dropped it off this morning. Delighted with the results, the tailor insisted on fitting Divya for a leather jacket she'd admired.
It was to be ready in several hours, so she decided to walk the corridors instead of returning to the ship. In her wandering, she ran across an indulgent shop called The Starlit Decanter. It was lined with dark, wooden-looking paneling. A curved counter ran the length of the shop, in front of built-in shadow-box shelves that reached all the way to the high ceiling. Each box held a bottle, and the background mirror made it seem as if the rows of boxes would never end. There were bottles in a plethora of shapes and sizes with as many colors of liquid as she had ever imagined. Only a few were recognizable to her.
The soft amber lighting made the bottles glow, and the warm scent of fruit, spice, and smoked wood made the shop too irresistible to pass by. As soon as Divya stepped inside, she was transported to a bar on Barzan that made her miss home and want to nestle herself into a cozy corner for hours. The shopkeeper interrupted her ruminations.
Proprietor: Ah, you must be here for the game.
Divya turned to see who he might be speaking to, but saw no one else.
Tam: Me? What game?
Proprietor: Yes, you. Come, come.
He waved her forward, and he disappeared into a panel along the back wall. She didn't want to leave without explaining, so she followed him through the pocket door.
Tam: Sir, I love a game, but I don't know anything about …..
The room she entered had the same wood paneling, soft lighting, and shadow box shelving. This shelving held a few bottles, but it also displayed model ships, small exotic weapons, gemstone jewelry, cubes of different sizes and materials, technology she could not identify, and a few boxes containing swimming bioluminescent creatures. The treasures were a marvel, but what captured her attention was the octagon table in the center of the room. The edges of the table were a rich wood, perfect for leaning on. Each side had a metal cup holder and a black felt rectangle inset into the wood. The center of the table was covered in the same black felt. A clear box held stacks of chips in four, slightly glowing, jewel colors. The box was accompanied by a deck of cards.
Tam: Oh. I umm. This looks amazing. What game will you be… No, I was not invited. You have the wrong person.
The shopkeeper chuckled in a low, rich tone and laid a hand on the shoulder.
Proprietor: I have a feeling about these things. The others will be here soon.
Before she could say more, he had left her in the room. Her confusion was quickly overpowered by her curiosity about the items on display. After looking at various items on one wall, she noticed a ladder in the corner. It was connected to a rail at the top and had wheels on the bottom. A spinning orb near the top caught her attention as she examined the construction. She was halfway up the wall when the sound of the door opening caught her attention.
Is'Kah/Carras/Meris: Response
Tam: Is'Kah, what are you doing here?
Divya looked down on her old friend and waited for them to find her on the ladder above them.
Is'Kah/Carras/Meris: Response
Divya slid down the ladder and picked up the small Vulcan Trill hybrid in a big hug.
Tam: It’s so good to see you. How did the rest of you end up here?
Is'Kah: Response
Carras/Meris: Response
(Tags/TBC))
Lieutenant Commander Divya Tam
Chief of Operations
USS Thor
A240104DT4
She/Her (character and player)
[BTW: You lost.]