[Interlude] Lieutenant Commander Divya Tam: Ride 'Em Cowgirl
mrsciroth
((Beerzilla, Studio 66. The Tangle))
There was a moment of blackness, during which Divya wondered where she was and where she had been. Then the curtains parted, and something shoved her through them onto a stage. The sound of her feet tripping on the wooden planks echoed through the dimly lit room. The stage was mostly taken up by elaborately connected drums and speakers. There were also several guitars and long metal poles. Everything had a chord. She was unsure where to step, but more people were coming through the curtain, pushing her forward. They twisted around her and shoved her in front of one of the poles.
Sounds beyond the stage caught her attention. There was a sea of people standing shoulder to shoulder, yelling at her. She wasn’t sure what to do and looked around. The moment felt strange. It was something about her head. She shook it and realized her hair was not moving. She pulled a strand over her shoulder, and it crunched between her fingertips. She couldn't tell if it was gold or yellow, but it glowed in the bright lighting. It was then that she realized it was her reflection in the long mirror on the back wall.
oO What am I wearing? Oo
Crystals all over what little fabric covered her also caught the light. Hair sat unmoving on top of her head in a shape that reminded Divya of a yellow helmet. Big curls cascaded down past her shoulders. They also did not move. She reached to touch the helmet and found it firm in a way hair should not be. She didn't press it much for fear that it would crunch and break off.
The shiny, sparkling dress was low-cut, short, and tight all over. It was also startling pink, pinker than anything she had seen in her life. Hundreds of strands of crystals, from her waist to mid-thigh, moved when she moved. It was mesmerizing. She stared in the mirror, over the heads of the audience, and shook the strands. This caused strange noises to come from the audience and their hands when up in the air. She shimmied again because she had idea what else to do. The audience made more noise.
A single voice in her ear cut through her confusion.
Voice: Sing, already!
Band: ::whispering:: Sing. Come on. Do you want us to fall off the charts? Just sing.
At least someone had decided to tell her what to do. She opened her mouth, and what came out was not her voice. She hadn't had a plan for what to sing, but as soon as she opened her mouth, a song flew out of her. At some point a stomping off stage caught her attention. A large white sign with big black letters told her to MOVE YOUR MOUTH. She realized her mouth was still open.
Embarrassment flooded her, but sound was still coming out of her mouth, so she listened for a moment and latched onto a word. As soon as she did, something in her shifted. She started actually singing. It was still not her voice that she heard, but she seemed to know the words to the song. After another moment, she twirled, and something took over her body. Before she knew it, she was caught up in the sharp twang and was clicking her heels to the beat. The crowd sang and hollered.
♪♪ … kick up my boots. ♪♪
As Divya strutted across the stage…
SCENE CHANGE
She found herself pushing her way through a crowded bar. The thrumming of the people as the drank and danced was familiar, but Divya could not understand why everyone was wearing wide-brimmed hats indoors. She had to duck several times before she reached an open spot. At the edge of the room, there was an inflatable barrier with a fake horned animal, with no legs, bobbing in the center. The person on the horned creature hit it twice. The animal thing suddenly started twitching irradicably, and the person doubled over, clinging to the back. In less than two seconds the person flew through the air and hit the inflatable barrier.
♪♪ … You hit me like sunshine and whiskey. ♪♪
SCENE CHANGE
Wind blew dust through her hair, and she coughed. The open vehicle she lay in was moving fast through the desert, and the heat was enough to keep her from moving anything but her mouth. Sweat rolled down her face and splattered onto the impractical, uncomfortable black leather clothing.
Voice: Stand up and dance.
That was a stupid thing to do in a moving vehicle. She shook her head and whispered in between the song lyrics.
Tam: Too hot for a Barzan. Can't move.
♪♪ … A little sun-burned in the back of my Chevy. ♪♪
A heavy, drawn-out sigh filled her ears.
SCENE CHANGE
This time, Divya was riding a tall, elegant animal through the snow. She relaxed and smiled as she belted the song.
♪♪ … Riding off into the sunset on a white horse. ♪♪
This was the first time since she was on the Thor that she wanted to stay where she was. The thought confused her.
oO Thor? What is a Thor? Oo
SCENE CHANGE
Cheering from the crowd blasted and burned her ears. Everyone in the bar seemed to be looking at her.
Crowd: 8 seconds, 8 seconds, 8 seconds, 8 seconds
Confused, she looked around and, to her horror, realized she was now the fool sitting on the fake frenetic horned thing.
♪♪ … have the courage to put on a fight. ♪♪
Both hands clamped down on the handle just as it jerked up in the back. She clamped her legs around the device that was trying to expel and possibly kill her. It jerked up in the front, then to the side. The movements had no pattern other than harsh and painful. She forcibly relaxed her neck to avoid an injury and did nothing else but hang on. Fortunately, there were no notes about the fact that she stopped singing. Possibly there were, but she didn't see them. Either way, the crowd picked up the song and sang for her.
♪♪ … 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 ♪♪
After one, there was another burst of cheering before the jerking tripled, and she flew into the air.
SCENE CHANGE
A nice, cool pile of snow softened her fall. She rolled over on her back and smiled a genuine smile.
♪♪ … and then you're done. ♪♪
SCENE CHANGE
The beautiful snow was replaced by a dirt road and oppressive heat. She took a deep breath to prepare for the last line of the song before she realized where she was. Dust went down her airway, and she coughed.
Tam: ::whispering:: Jerk.
♪♪ … and then you're dooooonnnnnnnnne. ♪♪
(( Done ))
Lieutenant Commander Divya Tam
Chief of Operations
USS Thor
A240104DT4
She/Her (character and player)