Ice, Ice, Party - Part I

Posted on Tue Aug 1st, 2023 @ 3:06am by Ensign Ivitha zh'Vaoreth & Thren ch'Yalorn
Edited on on Tue Aug 1st, 2023 @ 3:17am

1,328 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Mission 1: Campor III - Resupply
Location: Deck 10, Ice, USS Columbia
Timeline: MD10, 1822 hours

Ivitha didn't need the telepathic and empathic powers of her Deltan friends on Duo III to see that spirits were high. Simply the good-natured buzz of the crowd around her, the clinking of glasses and the occasional shout of elation as crew members cheered their successful departure was more than enough proof of that.

She certainly hadn't expected a ship's bar named Ice to be quite as literal as it was, really - everything from the floor to the bar counter to the shelves to even the pillars that stretched from floor to ceiling were gleaming crystals of ice with not a single spot of wetness in sight. Whoever had designed this bar had certainly gone great lengths to humor the name they'd given it, and she could certainly appreciate that. Though she'd never been to Andor, if this was what her home was like, she could certainly get down with visiting one day.

For now, though, that day was rather far away for her - and so she'd settled for enjoying the atmosphere with her colleagues, laughing and talking with them before turning away to refill her drink. She'd sampled at least three different drinks, alcoholic and not, on the menu, and she intended to try at least half the menu by the close of the night.

Shan was sitting at the bar in a fitted black t-shirt and light colored silk pants. He enjoyed the cool temperature of the bar - felt like home. He was drinking a synthehol version of Andorian ale, it wasn't quite as good as the real stuff - which they did have on hand, but he knew some of the senior staff would be stopping by and he wanted keep his wits about him.

He saw Ivitha checking the place out. When she looked his way, he held up a hand for her to join him. "Can I get you a drink?" he asked.

Ivitha turned to face him, as did her antennae, which detracted from their heart-like position at rest to swivel in his direction. He was good-looking, she reckoned, albeit a bit plainly dressed - but then again she was the one in a curve-fitting red dress for the night. She wasn't one to talk. He reminded her of someone famous she'd seen once, someone whose name she couldn't presently place. Nonetheless he'd invited her to join him, and she was happy to oblige.

"Andorian ale. I know it's syntheholic, but I find it quite enjoyable, actually." She said in a voice that was soft and sensual, like gossamer on the ears, as she approached the other thaan, arms folded and a smile on her lips. "Care to introduce yourself, tha...?"

Shan gave a mischievous smile, "The Captain is Andorian, and keeps us well stocked with the real stuff, if you prefer. Shanir Th'kaasnik, everyone calls me Shan. And you are?" he asked.

"Ivitha zh'Vaoreth. It is a pleasure to meet you, tha Shan. It's nice to see fellow Andorians so far away from home." She replied with a grin.

Thren ch'Yalorn approached Shanir and Ivitha with a warm smile, a glimmer of excitement concealed within his glacial blue eyes. "Greetings," he said in a melodic voice, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Thren ch'Yalorn, head chef here at Ice."

Thren paused for a moment, antennae gently swaying with curiosity. "I could not help but notice you two ," he continued, "Seeing you converse reminds me of couples meeting back on Andoria", he said. "Bondgroups frolic across the icy parks there, especially in cities like Tarsk and Wethesa. The sound of a busker's tune often filled the air. Ah, to be so young again..."

"Where do you hail from within the Andorian sphere of influence?" Thren looked back and forth between the pair, antennae rotating with the motion. "I always find it fascinating to learn about the diverse regions of our homeworld."

"Shan Th'kaasnik," Shan said, bowing his head in greeting, his antennae dipping slightly and turning outward. "I was raised in Lor'Vela. Two of my parents are in Starfleet actually. And my other two teach at the Military Academy, but when my little brother is of age, they will join the Imperial guard full-time."

He turned in his seat and tilted his head to listen to Ivitha's answer.

"Ah, so you are from the new Capital", Thren interjected excitedly. The chef turned towards Ivitha as Shan did.

"Duo III. I'm afraid my parents weren't very present, you see, they were businessmen and often weren't home to take care of me. So I hung out with the Deltans there instead... I must say they're a very enjoyable bunch to be around, period." The young Andorian woman said with a soft smile. "Forgive me if I start asking questions about the most basic things."

"I too was influenced by outsiders throughout my early years", Thren said. "I grew up in Laikan, before the attack. There was a large population of offworlders present. My first days in a kitchen were spent making Andorian food pleasing to these people. It is great that you were able to make the most of your experience with Deltan culture."

"We are not a couple, by the way - though tha Shan here isn't too bad looking." She turned to the ensign and smirked, blue eyes gleaming. One of her antennae twisted, then untwisted itself. Hmm.

Shan's antennae twitched anxiously, the topic of bondgroups and mating generally making him uncomfortably. He was 22 and would be expected to marry soon.

"I did not mean to suggest you were", Thren said in a playful tone. "I was just reminded of memories long past."

Paisley was looking forward to a good time after her shift. She was adjusting quickly to a senior position; though she wasn't a "commanding" officer, being Department chief had a certain workload she hadn't had to deal with before. Still, she had the tenacity and sheer will to do it, and do it well. She had learned from the best in the Fleet (in her opinion, of course), and therefore, she was the best, too, and would train up her junior staff to be the best.

She was currently dressed to party, in a tight party dress. It was pink, sequined, with a bow across the bust. It looked a bit odd against the grey tinged skin she had, but she didn't care. She wore matching sparkly pink heels, crystalline earrings that swept her shoulders, and a pink ribbon in her inky black hair, which hung down straight. She wore just a little makeup-beige eyeshadow, but bright pink lipstick. She walked into the Lounge. She liked turning heads-she was just getting old enough that the party-girl lifestyle she'd led in her youth was getting a bit old and not cute anymore-but she still needed a few last hurrahs. Besides, she was a social butterfly, and she didn't like to be contained. She sidled up to the bar. "Springwine, please!" And then turned around to people-watch.

A petite Andorian shen with a shoulder-length bob cut offered a wide smile and chirped, "Right away!" She was dressed in a simple black skirt which ran just above her knee. Glimmering chainmail-like material was tightly wrapped around the left side of the dress.

She turned and knelt to reach a counter where the Bajoran drinks were stored. The Andorian server, named Eveza, reached for an opaque bottle halfway full of a pale, sky blue liquid. She turned towards Paisley as she opened the bottle.

Eveza gently poured the springwine into a fluted glass and offered it to the Chief Engineer. Light shined through the transparent drink, giving it a gemstone-like appearance.

"Thank you," replied Paisley, when the drink was sat in front of her. "I appreciate it.

Lieutenant Paisley F’Rar
Chief Engineering Officer
USS Columbia

Ensign Ivitha zh'Vaoreth
Alien Archaeologist/Anthropologist
USS Columbia

Ensign Shanir Th’kaasnik
Operations Officer
USS Columbia

Thren
Chef/Owner - Ice
USS Columbia

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