(snip)

Now that everyone finally had a drink, Julien took a deep sip from his and chuckled at Ghubari.
“No way, you’re the Captain, you get room service.” he said and winked at her.

Ghubari snapped her finger into a pointing gesture. “You’re right, there is that. Can’t have ones commanding officer stumbling the corridors about bleary-eyed, now can we?”

Marishka watched the interplay with the eyes of a trained professional, or a very good bartender. Smiling, she sighed and glanced at the men around her.

“You know, if the Captain and our dear Ensign keep playing like this, I’m going to have to keep drinking or find a dance partner. Or, perhaps, it’s tine to put the Engineer’s sound system to the test after all.”

Marishka wasn’t certain of which avenue she wanted to take but the Diva persona was close to her actual mood so she was going with it.

• Marishka

“I’m all up for a dance.” he said, already draining the last drops from his glass. He would have to drink a lot more and harder for it to register in his half-android body.

He gave Stark a glance. “Do Caitians dance? Your wife looks like she would be quite a graceful dancer.” he said.

• Julien Smith, doctor

“We do indeed” Stark smiled broadly, “For social and cultural reasons and of course because of the martial prowess it helps train you for. Laraan is quite graceful, I have to admit that I’ve never delved into her cultures dance etiquette, I think I should take the time to do that sometime soon.”

Marishka drained her drink and made her way to a clear space int he room. If Julien wanted her, he could come get her. There was a small part of her that remembered what happened every time they danced together but she was still willing to take the chance.

• Marishka

Julien followed her and swooped her gracefully into the dance, when…

Koraia glanced at Va’rek. “You don’t have to drink it of you don’t want to. And i think I’m minded to play something with a light swing. Nothing rushed.” She looked over the piano. “I might take song requests and I might even sing, but I can’t guarantee I’ll know the lyrics.”

Fl. Captain Koraia, CO

“I was once informed that I should certainly try Tennessee Whiskey, Neat.” the Vulcan said, hoping he’d gotten the name right. “Apparently it encourages the growth of body hair…” one eyebrow rose in jest.

-Va’rek

Koraia pointed to the glass of the named drink with mystery contents. “That… is not that. If you’re looking for good whiskey, don’t try that. But I highly encourage you to try it anyway.”

Her fingers returned to the keys, resting on their polished surfaces. With a calming inhale, she set off playing Fly Me to the Stars with a light but not bouncy swing. She did lean towards Va’rek though and said quietly for him only, “You are doing remarkable at just ‘going with things’ right now.”

Fl. Captain Koraia, CO

Stark Nightstalker CIO

It was at that point that Orvos came bumbling into the Lounge. With a padd in one hand, and a head rubbing his temple, he took a seat at an empty table. As far as he was aware, only a few people had been in and apparently someone was playing pleasant music. He sighed as he set the Padd on the table and looked over the night menu.

-Lt. Orvos Legen, CE

This was too good of an opportunity for Marishka to pass up. She walked unapologetically over to the new comer and smiled.

Julien let her go with regret. But this was after all, her lounge and it would do no good to dominate a woman like Marishka, he knew all too well that that would drive her away faster than he could say “Stay”.

“Good evening my Engineer. I’m afraid most of my staff is other occupied so I will have to personally serve you myself or do you need some more time with the menu?”

Her tone was professional and courteous but her body language was quite different. She was standing a bit too close and leaned a little too far forward giving Orvos an unobstructed view down the front of her loose fitting outfit.

• Marishka

In a voice just above a whisper with sepulchral overtones Stark stated, “and so… it begins…again”

Stark Nightstalker CIO

OOC: Just so I’m aware, is this taking place before or after Stark and Marishka were made aware of Dawson? :)

OOC After would be fun I feel but I’m open to suggestions

IC: Orvos recognized the voice and the professional manner and froze for a moment, contemplating how he would conduct himself. Others were in the lounge, though not huddled all together. There was certainly at least a minor sense of privacy at the moment, but nevertheless, he chose not to make much of a scene.

She was close, he knew, as her pleasant scent revealed who she was (if her voice had for some reason not already done so). “Ah, surprise, surprise. Of course you would be up at this time,” he replied as he lifted his head to meet her gaze. But of course, his eyes became paralyzed for what felt like an eternity as he tried to focus on her eyes. For some reason, they just wouldn’t fully meet. He gulped and focused, pushing his vision to meet her own. Of course, his face also turned a slight shade of pink as he stammered more to his reply. “The menu…yes…I mean, more time with it…the menu…would be nice.”

He sighed, realizing just how stupid he sounded after soaking in the unobstructed view before him. It was subtle and outside of anyone else’s view. She did it on purpose.

Orvos quickly looked at the padd once again and added. “Are there any specialties I should be made aware of?”

-Lt. Orvos Legen, CE

Marishka let the silence stretch for a few heartbeats. Perhaps she was thinking of what the specials of the night were ot, perhaps, she was just letting Orvos squirm.
Before speaking again, she laid a hand on the back of his chair.

“Of course I’m here. Too much sleep is fro the boring or the dead and I doubt you’re either my engineer. As for specials, would you like an appetizer or are you finally brave enough to sample everything the menu might have to offer?” she asked softly.

Sample everything the menu might have to offer… he repeated in his head as he pondered the undercurrents of what she said. His brain told him to just stick with the appetizer, but his physiology was telling to just dive right in and live a little. The conflict practically paralyzed him as he felt a strand of her hair brush his shoulder.

Somehow a strand of her long dark hair had fallen from it’s complicated arrangement and brushed Orvos’ shoulder. Smiling, she removed it and took a half step to the side.

Julien was still standing there, watching them, his face blank. But it was only his android-enforced poker face. Inside he was having visions of walking over, picking up Orvos with his right and throwing him all the way to the opposite side of the lounge against the wall. He took a deep breath and shook his head, forcing himself to look away and suddenly he had to think of La’kia. He needed diversion and looked at Ghubari at the piano.

“My apologies. Perhaps I should just get us a drink and sit down.”

• Marishka

He let out a deep breath, as the internal conflict was pushed to the side. Orvos looked her in the eye again and leaned back with a somewhat cool demeanor. He was a good actor when it came down to it, so it was ultimately she would know how he had reacted prior to this. “A drink would be nice. Something strong perhaps? You can surprise me.”

And it was then that he realized she was effecting him. When had he ever let anyone surprise him with a drink? Perhaps the risk would pay off? He didn’t take it back however.

-Lt. Orvos Legen, CE

Marishka bowed slightly and turned away. If he wanted a surprise she would deliver something special. Walking back to the bar she passed by Stark, caught his eye, and licked her lips. His ominous statement had not gone unheard by her but Orvos had not asked him to chaperone them yet.

Stark raised his glass in mock salute, grinning as he did so.

Stepping behind the bar she poured together several liquors and picked up two glasses and walked quickly back.

Sitting down near Orvos she decided to leave a bit of room between them, just top make the engineer feel safe… For now.

“This is called A Scorpion’s Kiss. It’s usually done in much smaller portions but I enjoy living. Shall I pour?” she asked indicating the clear liquid.

• Marishka

Orvos raised an eyebrow. “A scorpion’s kiss? Potent I assume?” He nodded his head in reply.

“I’ve been known to hold my liquor,” he added, though slightly cautious. He had rarely ever been drunk, though the few times he had been tipsy ended in some very interesting tales.

He grinned at her as she poured.

-Lt. Orvos Legen, CE

Stark Nightstalker CIO

Marishka lifted the pitcher and poured the clear liquid. It became a vivid amber as it left the pitcher and returned to a clear state as it settled in the glass.

“You will find it smooth and, perhaps, sensuous but it does have a sharp kick at the end although I suppose that depends on your sense of taste. You’ll have to let me know what you think.” she said settling in close and raising her glass.

Marishka had behaved perfectly. She had barely laid a hand of Orvos except to remove her errant strand of hair. She hadn’t asked him to dance with her, offered to sing or play music for him, perhaps she had been behaving too properly. Still, it seemed to be working.

• Marishka

He walked over to where Ghubari sat at the piano and leaned onto it with his torso, facing her and seemingly simply watching her play, kind of non-chalantly and suave… at least that was the vibe he was hoping for to throw off.
As his right arm rested on the top edge of the soft wood and his fingers curled around the wooden rim, he locked his eyes on Ghubari’s. She looked relaxed, even happy. He hadn’t seen her like that a lot…
He forced a smile on his lips, but didn’t notice that his four fingers under the wodden rim of the piano made small indentures in the wood as he still fought inside to fend of those puny feelings of jealousy and anger.

• Julien