Lt JG Wil Ukinix – Hey Girl
Danny Lee
((Vataix Estate, Ohmallera, Betazed))
Vataix: ~~ Hello there! Enjoying the evening? ~~
Ukinix: Hey, thanks! Just got here. Sorry, I’m from Earth, ::pointing at mouth:: that’s why I’m doing the whole, you know, ::awkward smile:: verbal thing.
::Wil offered his hand.::
Ukinix: Wil Ukinix. And you are?
::Wil took a sip of his drink.::
Vataix: Niarivi Vataix, daughter of the Eleventh House. But you can call me Rivi.
Ukinix: Oh! Are you related to Sky Bla-
::As Wil realised *who* Rivi Vataix was, he cut himself off.::
Vataix: Sky Blake. Yes, she's my cousin.
::As Rivi spoke, Wil felt a hand on his shoulder. When he turned his head, for a split second he was confused. The person who had put their hand on his shoulder looked like Sky…::
Blake: Strange how many of my ship mates are attending.
::It was Sky. He patted his hand on top of hers a few times, as a large surprised smile appeared on his face.::
Ukinix: Skyyyy! Fancy seeing you here. How’ve you been? We were just talking about you.
Vataix: Evidently, you have quite the Betazed delegation aboard your ship.
::Wil smiled as Rivi and Sky hugged.::
Blake: I'm sorry I'm late. My transport from Esperance was delayed. Couldn't be helped. I hope my dear cousin has been hospitable.
Ukinix: ::Looking at Rivi:: Actually, Rivi and I have just met, and she’s been lovely. There’s a few new crew members here you should meet.
Blake: I intend to. There are a few people I have to catch up with, actually. I don't suppose any of you have seen Eislas by any chance?
Ukinix: I only just got here. What does he look like?
Blake: Tall-ish guy, dark hair, nice beard. Voice kind of like melted butter. Significantly less high-strung than the rest of the nobility, that's for sure--well-traveled. He's pretty easy to spot in a crowd like this.
::Wil spotted a male walking towards them who fitted that description. He gestured with his chin.::
Ukinix: You mean that guy?
::Aagan’s smile when he got closer to Blake confirmed that it was.::
Eislas: Good Evening, Lieutenant Commander. I'm glad you could find ::Aagan gestured to the largess with a smile:: this small, somber celebration. And to think, Rivi was concerned you might get lost.
Vataix: Actually, Aagan had a splendid idea! Something about a bell. ::Her eyes darted towards the man.:: Care to share?
::Wil, confused, switched his focus when Aagan addressed him.::
Eislas: My apologies young man, but I do not believe we've met. Aagan Eislas.
::Sky was right – he was friendly and seemed down to Earth. Actually, down to Betazed. Wil offered his hand.::
Ukinix: Lieutenant Wil Ukinix. I’m one of Sky’s ship mates.
Eislas: A genuine pleasure, Lieutenant Ukinix. I imagine you're aware of the effect that name has in this company? I think it's quite amusing, frankly.
::Wil simply raised his eyebrows for a second, and smirked. In the presence of Rivi from the… something or other house of the rising sun or whatever it was, he remembered how Keehani had made him aware that there had been efforts by the houses to remove the Ukinix name from history on Betazed. Wil was pretty sure it was Rivi’s name Sky mentioned all those months ago. She was being very cordial, and seemingly genuinely friendly. Maybe she hadn’t made the connection, like he did? Or maybe she was just being polite. He decided to go fishing.::
Ukinix: Interesting, I had a chance to be a tourist for a short time and travel around Betazed. I met lots of people. It’s funny, the general population doesn’t seem to know the name “Ukinix”.
Vataix: You must forgive, Mr. Eislas. ::She gave him another look.:: His sense of etiquette is most lacking.
::Wil smiled at Aagan. If that was the case, he liked him already. Still, he was confused by Rivi’s response. Maybe this wasn’t the Vataix Sky had referred to. His fishing expedition had proven fish-less.::
Ukinix: ::To Sky:: ::Turning to Sky:: We’ve all missed you.
((Flashback – Engineering Lab, USS Veritas))
Teller: FALLHHHASLLPPPPPPPP!!!!!
((End Flashback))
Ukinix: It’s been an interesting few months on the ‘Tas.
Blake: So I've heard. We're here for a different purpose, though--and I for one, would love to be enlightened about that.
Eislas: And it's something I'd like to talk to you about at greater length, if you have the inclination. But for now, I had hoped to speak with Miss Blake privately for a few moments.
Blake:::with a smirk:: I've been here ten minutes and I'm already being stolen away.
Ukinix: ::Smiling:: Catch up later, Sky?
Vataix: Make sure she stays and mingles a bit with the other guests, will you? Especially the other heads of houses that are here.
Eislas: You have my thanks.
::As Aagan lead them to an unoccupied archway, Wil finished his drink.::
Vataix: So this is your first time to Betazed?
Ukinix: Yeah, it is! Um, I’m part Betazed, I’ve never been here before, so it’s nice to check it out.
Vataix: What do you think?
Ukinix: ::Smiling: Oh, honestly it’s a wonderful planet. Most of what I saw is absolutely gorgeous. ::Looking around:: Like all of the people here.
::Wil smiled a little as Rivi chuckled.::
Vataix: Sometimes, I think it is appropriate Betazed is so well-known for the beauty of her flowers. But there is another side to Betazed that off-worlders sometimes miss amongst the beauty they see on this planet--certainly, the Dominion did as we celebrate our liberation from them tonight.
::Nodding, Wil also recalled some of the abandoned devastation he’d seen. He briefly thought about Keehani again, before Rivi continued…:
Vataix: A line from one of your own Earth poets has always stuck with me. She wrote, "But he who dares not grasp the thorn, should never crave the rose." I must warn you, Mr. Ukinix: there are many thorns on Betazed.
::Wil tilted his head and felt slightly anxious.::
Ukinix: Uh ::awkward smile::. What does that mean?
Vataix: Response
::There was a tone in her voice, and a small fleeting sense that she was either digging for dirt, or trying to provoke him a little because of his name. Or both.::
Ukinix: Oh, OK.
::Wil looked around, put his tongue between his lips, and nodded, before looking back at Rivi.::
Ukinix: My grandfather, “Astrad” by the way, is someone I love very much. Grandpa’s been there for me all my life. And he’s very well respected in the small rural community he lives in.
Vataix: Response
::There was no point being coy or withholding information. He assumed that Rivi was the kind of person that had the resources to find out information if she wanted to. What surprised him what that she seemed to genuinely not know. But maybe that was because once his grandfather had left Betazed, no-one really cared what happened to him. He was out of the picture, and that was a nail in the coffin for the Ukinix family name.::
Ukinix: He and my Grandmother Hayley own a vineyard in a continent on the southern hemisphere.
Vataix: Response
::Was she suggesting his Grandfather did something else that Wil didn’t know about before he left Betazed? Or was it just a well disguised swipe at her grandfather? He naturally went on the defence again.::
Ukinix: They worked pretty hard to get that vineyard successful, Rivi.
Vataix: Response
Ukinix: Sure thing. Well, uh, I better go join my crew mates. It was interesting to meet you, Rivi, looks like a wonderful party. Let’s talk later.
((Five and a half drinks later))
::People started to look towards the entrance to the party. Wil wondered what they were all looking at, so he turned his head in the same direction – only to see his second cousin, Keehani, arguing with the “bouncer”. After a small moment of shock, he “excused me” himself to the person he was talking with and walked towards Keehani.::
Keehani: ::To Bouncer:: For Four’s sake, you let Earth Ukinix in, but the *real* Ukinixes? The Ninth House Betazed ones? Nooooo... But that’s to be expected.
::Unimpressed, Wil went to speak his mind. But then he realised he didn’t have to. He instead pointed at the side of his head, to tell Keehani to read his thought.::
Ukinix: oO What the &$@# you doin’ ‘ere?! Oo
::Wil then noticed the older woman standing next to her. She looked tired, and unwell. As the awareness of who she likely was hit him like a thunderbolt, he realised that she looked a little like his grandfather. When he looked back at Keehani, she gave a small grin in a “yep that’s who you think she is” kind of way.
He didn’t want them to cause a scene. He had already been the topic of “intrigue” for some at the party. He didn’t want to ruin anyone’s night – especially that of his fellow crewmates.::
Ukinix: ::To Bouncer:: Could you hold on for ::raising finger:: one moment? I’ll sort this out.
::The bouncer gave Wil a single nod of his head, with his eyes closed. The word “pompous” entered Wil’s mind briefly but didn’t register any further. He turned to address his second cousin.::
Ukinix: ::To Keehani:: Stay here.
::Wil quickly made his way back inside. His first thought was Ghant – but he and Andy were dancing together and seemed to have eyes for each other. A tune fleetingly entered Wil’s head::
Ukinix: oO Smoooth O-per-a-torrrrrrrrrrr… Oo
::He felt awkward about interrupting them. But given the circumstances, he made his way over towards them anyway - until he saw Aagan Eislas. He changed direction and instead headed straight towards Aagan::
Ukinix: Excuse me, Aagan? Mate, Sorry to interrupt, ::anxious:: I need your help. You got a tick?
Eislas: Response
::Wil looked at the entrance.::
Ukinix: That’s my second cousin. And next to her is my grand aunt who I’ve never met before. She doesn’t look too well. They’re trying to join the party, but the guy at the entrance won’t let them. Anything you can do to help them get in?
Eislas: Response
Tags/TBC!
Lieutenant JG Wil Ukinix
Engineering Officer
USS Veritas
V239511WU0