PNPC Lieutenant JG Jelanna Zarax: Orion Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
Isara Aleron
Jelanna needed a drink. Well, what she really needed she wasn’t going to be able to find on this ship, but a coffee of some kind would have to suffice. She had chosen to wear an off-duty outfit for this excursion. Some officers would wear their uniform pretty much all the time, on-duty or off. But not Jelanna. She enjoyed her uniform, and she enjoyed her flight suit even more. But off-duty, she wanted something much more comfortable. So, she had chosen a sleeveless wrap-top of deep plum fabric that resembled a cross between silk and stretch weave. Her pants were black, tailored trousers, with a black belt sporting gold accents. She was also wearing black boots with a high, spiked heel, and her magenta-tipped black hair hung loosely about her shoulders and falling to her mid-back. On her upper left arm was a gold arm bracelet, and both wrists sported wide gold bracers. A simple gold chain with an amulet hung around her neck and completed the look.
She entered the Brew Continuum and headed for the barista, but was intercepted along the way. First, another Orion woman had entered just about the same time as her and had decided to introduce herself. And then a third Orion woman was making her way over from near the barista, also presumably to introduce herself. If she hadn’t been so desperate for her drink, she might have been amused to see so many Orion women in one place.
The first Orion woman started to introduce herself and Jelanna smiled pleasantly back at her.
Reine'X: Hello there.
The second woman, who was carrying a coffee of some kind, along with a muffin, approached. The second woman was tall, but not quite as tall as Jelanna who stood at five-foot-ten without the added height from her heels. She was also wearing a black, long-sleeve dress with one shoulder exposed and about four or five centimeters of collar. The dress transitioned to a red color the lower down the dress one looked, and the woman’s long, black hair fell down her back and she was wearing black lipstick.
Zarax: It’s nice to meet you, Reine’X. I’m Jelanna Zarax. But you can call me Jelanna, if you wish.
Tani: Hello, I’m Maha Tani.
Reine'X: Hi, hello. I'm Reine'X.
Zarax: Jelanna :: she repeated :: Jelanna Zarax.
Tani: Pleasure to meet you both. I was about to introduce myself to the other Orion officer over there. Would you care to join me?
oO Other Orion? Oh, she probably means Neshala. Oo
But she looked and it wasn’t Neshala.
oO Just how many of us are there on this ship and why is it that we’re just now crossing paths. All we need now is for Lieutenant Neshala to come in. Oo
She was just glad she was finally in the routine of getting her pheromone suppressants because she’d been born with unusually strong pheromones even for an Orion woman. That fact had almost condemned her to a life of servitude in a brothel somewhere but for the good graces of a Ferengi.
Reine'X: The more the merrier, ::beat:: as they say on Earth.
Jelanna tried to stifle a snicker and turned up the corners of her mouth in a smirk.
Zarax: Always. And it’s a pleasure to meet you both.
Tani: Lovely.
The three of them then made their way over to the fourth Orion woman, who Jelanna had seen recently in the hangar deck. She’d transferred straight from the Academy, if Jelanna recalled correctly.
oO Helm officer, I think. I bet Neshala’s loving that. Oo
It wasn’t much of a secret that the Communications Officer much preferred to sit at the helm than at Ops. And she was a decent pilot too, but for whatever reason, the COs kept putting the woman in Comms.
oO Too good at that to be a pilot, I guess. Oo
Tani: Hello there, I’m Maha Tani, Federation News Service.
Vaysha: Vaysha Lennai. Just call me Vaysha.
Reine'X: And, I'm Reine'X.
Zarax: Jelanna Zarax de la Croix. But I usually go by Jelanna Zarax. Or just Jelanna.
Tani: Would you mind if we joined you and got to know each other?
It was a good thing Jelanna wasn’t drinking anything at that moment or Vaysha may have wound up wearing it. As it was, she let out another snicker, this time louder than before, and threw her new acquaintances an apologetic look. It had been a long time since Amuro had transferred away.
oO Just get your coffee and shut up, idiot. Oo
Vaysha: ::Looking at the empty seats around her.:: Nope.
Jelanna took one of the seats and brushed her hair back.
Reine'X: And while we all introduce ourselves, I’ll have that raktajino.
Server: One raktajino. Got it. Anyone else need a drink?
His gaze turned deliberately to Jelanna and she nodded.
Zarax: The usual, please.
He just smiled at her knowingly and nodded.
Server: Got it. One Zarax Reserve* coming up.
Meanwhile, it seemed the introductions were underway and the woman in all black had started. Jelanna had seen her around and knew she was a civilian, but had never learned much else about her.
Tani: Lovely. I’m from the Bronx, New York City, Earth. What about the three of you?
Vaysha: On a merchant vessel orbiting Khitomer. Don't really have one place I'd call home.
Reinex: I was born on Qo'noS.
Zarax: Qo’noS. How exciting. Well, I was born on the homeworld, but was sold to a Ferengi as a young girl. Thankfully, not for the reasons the Orions hoped. But when I was approaching my teens, the Ferengi died of a massive heart attack and I was rescued by Starfleet. I was taken to Earth where I was adopted by my human family, which is where I get the de la Croix surname from, not that I use it much because it’s a mouthful.
Tani: Response
Vaysha: That's interesting enough. I'll drink to that.
Reine'X: And how did you all end up in Starfleet...? It’s not like there are a lot of us here…
The server arrived with Reine’X’s and her drinks. Jelanna’s drink arrived in a tall black mug, glossy and understated. The aroma reached her even before the cup did, espresso first, then dark chocolate, then something warmer and sweeter that lingered just out of reach. She took the mug and held it between her hands for a moment, watching the thin ribbons of steam drift upward. The espresso was softened by the chocolate and milk, while black cherry flavor added a bit of depth that made her feel nostalgic for home when her adopted grandmother would serve her chocolate-covered cherries as a secret treat just between them. They were still her favorite secret indulgence.
Zarax: Mmm, that tastes like heaven. :: she allowed the bliss to linger a moment longer, then addressed Reine’X’s question :: To answer you, because I was grateful to Starfleet for rescuing me from a life I didn’t want, I knew I wanted to join them. I worked the rest of my teen years preparing for the entrance exam. And now, here I am, a fighter pilot on one of the best ships in the fleet.
That last statement was said with no small amount of pride. The truth was, she wasn’t just a fighter pilot. She was the Deputy Wing Commander for the ship’s Fighter Wing.
Tani: Response
Vaysha: Well, me personally? I was always into ships growing up, having been born on one. My father had me in the helm seat around the same time I learned to walk. ::She chuckled.::
Reinex: That's so interesting.
Zarax: Indeed. Have you met Neshala yet, Vaysha? She’s another Orion, but she mainly works in Ops. Communications, specifically. But her dream job is the one you just landed.
Tani/Reine'X: Responses
Vaysha: Oh, no. My first posting was on Denali Station. It was.. well. Let's just say I hope to make better memories here.
Zarax: Well, I’ve been assigned to several places myself. I was first assigned to the USS Atlantis as the tactical officer for their Hawkeye shuttle. Then, when the Captain decided to get rid of it, I requested to train as a fighter pilot, which I’ve been ever since. I transferred with most of the Atlantis crew to the Chin’toka when it was first launched, then the Astraeus, Chin’toka again, and now here.
Tani/Reine'X: Responses
Zarax: So, with so many of us here I am wondering when the party starts. After all, girls just wanna have fun, right?
Vaysha / Tani / Reine’X: Responses
Zarax: Well, I hear that the planet has a lot of water and plenty of sunlight for our skin. We could go find a beach somewhere, soak up the rays and get our skin nice and green. Maybe dip a toe or two into the water? Or we could go shopping!
(( OOC: Feel free to reject this idea, if you wish. Just made the most sense to me considering our location. ))
Vaysha / Tani / Reine’X: Responses
*Zarax Reserve: Double espresso blended with dark chocolate, black cherry infusion, and steamed milk. Served hot. Bold, balanced, deceptively smooth.
