A Lucky Day

Posted on Mon Aug 22nd, 2011 @ 10:55am by Vice Admiral Iluvar & Vice Admiral Quinn Androski & Ensign Jesse Gael

Mission: Episode 2.2 - "Resistance"
Location: Starlight Lounge, USS Orlando
Timeline: Mission Day 03, 1328

::BACKPOST::

ON: [[Starlight Lounge, USS Orlando, Mission Day 03, 1328]]

Jesse (PNPC) rocked back and forth on his heels as the turbolift continued its journey through the primary hull of the Legacy-class USS Orlando-A. He had spent the last few days just trying to keep himself occupied while he waited for the Orlando to rendezvous with his first deep space assignment, the USS Pandora. The journey from Earth had been rather uneventful thus far which meant Jesse managed to finish reading a novel his parents had given him as a graduation present while still having time to make use of the Orlando's holodeck. Still, he was rather anxious to finally meet up with the Pandora and begin his first tour of duty. At least it would give him something to be doing.

Once the lift had finally come to a stop, Jesse emerged and crossed the short distance of corridor leading to the entrance of the Starlight Lounge. He could see through the frosted windows that most of the lunch crowd had already come and gone which meant he probably wasn't going to have any trouble finding a seat. The large, wooden double doors parted smoothly as he approached, allowing him to see the room and its occupants more clearly. No one really seemed to notice the young Betazoid as he paused just inside the doorway and slowly surveyed the room.

"...sounds crazy to me," Aaron (PNPC) was saying as he wiped down the surface of the counter, "Then again, that's probably why I never went into engineering." The sound of the lounge doors caused him to look over where he could see an ensign in sciences teal standing just inside the doorway. It definitely looked like the young officer's first visit to the Starlight, given the way he was taking everything in.

Jesse watched the stars streaking past the large viewports as the Orlando's engines pushed the ship forward at faster-than-light speeds. He slowly finished looking around the room before starting to make his way toward one of the open seats at the bar. It would have seemed rather silly to sit off somewhere by himself, especially given how empty the place appeared, when his whole reason for coming down was to at least find some sort of social interaction.

"Good afternoon," he greeted casually as he climbed onto an open barstool and rested his arms along the counter. The petty officer two seats down offered a sour look before tipping back the last remnants of his drink. Jesse watched as the man placed the glass back on the bar, slid off his stool, and disappeared through the same doors he had just come in.

"Don't worry about him," Aaron said, offering the new arrival a small smile, "They've been trying to work out a few bugs down in engineering and it's meant extra hours for some of them. I guess they hoped a new ship like this would have had all the kinks worked out of her before launch."

"I suppose," Jesse agreed. He had sensed there was something more to the man's negative response, but that hadn't necessarily helped the feeling he had spoken the wrong thing at the wrong time.

"This your first time in the Starlight," Aaron asked as he finished wiping down the counter.

"Yeah," Jesse replied, turning his attention back to the young man standing opposite him behind the bar, who he realized could not have been much younger than he was, "I've just been recently assigned to the Pandora and, since the Orlando was already headed out that way, I decided to catch a lift."

Aaron tossed the dirty rag into a bin just below the counter and reached for a nearby PADD. "I suppose that would explain why I've never seen you around before," he said as if suddenly coming upon the realization, "Science?"

"Counseling, actually," Jesse corrected, though he knew one usually couldn't tell just by the uniform, "but don't worry. I'm off duty at the moment, so I won't be giving any counseling sessions today." He gave a small smile to show he wasn't being entirely serious. "I guess I should probably order something though," he added, looking down at the open counter in front of himself, "Anything you'd recommend?"

"Depends on what you're in the mood for," Aaron replied, "We typically go a little lighter on the lunch items." He watched as the ensign processed that information for a moment. Things were still settling down as far as the lounge was concerned and Aaron was really taking a look at what people were ordering to see if he couldn't better tailor the menu to his customers.

"Well I suppose something light wouldn't hurt," Jesse said, not really feeling all that hungry anyway, "maybe just something to drink...like kaeo juice."

Aaron made quick note of the order for later reference before setting aside the PADD and reaching for an empty glass. He set the glass down and opened one of the smaller cooling units from which he removed a bottle of kaeo juice. A moment later, a glass of light-colored liquid stood on the countertop between the two of them.

Slowly, Jesse reached out to lift the glass from the bar. As he pulled it toward himself, he could already smell the strong, fruity odor of the drink. He swirled it around for a moment or two, watching the liquid slosh against the sides of the glass. "I'm impressed," he said with mild surprise, "not many people keep this stuff in stock. I sometimes wonder if I'm the only one who ever drinks it."

"That makes two of us," Aaron said, also a bit surprised, "I usually keep a bottle around for myself, but you're the first person who's ever actually asked for it."

Jesse lowered his glass. He looked from the light-colored beverage in his hand to the young man who had given it to him as slow smile spread across his face. "I guess that makes today my lucky day," he chuckled.

"It very well might be," Aaron agreed with a smile, "I'm Aaron, by the way, Aaron Russell." He wiped his hand off on a clean rag hanging from his belt and held it out across the counter.

Giving the offered hand a shake, Jesse replied, "Jesse Gael."

OFF

A Joint Mission Post by:

Ensign Jesse Gael (PNPC)
Counselor
USS Pandora
Played by: VAdm Iluvar

and

Aaron Russell (PNPC)
Starlight Lounge Owner
USS Orlando-A
Played by: Cmdr Naros