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Tomorrow, 2000, Holodeck 3. Dress warm. XOXO, Mike

Posted May 11, 2021, 1:37 p.m. by Lieutenant Commander Gravel Mardusk (Chief of Security) (James Sinclair)

Posted by Lieutenant Revna Edman (Counselor) in Tomorrow, 2000, Holodeck 3. Dress warm. XOXO, Mike

Posted by Civilian Michael ‘Big Mike’ McKenzie (Bartender - Mike’s Place) in Tomorrow, 2000, Holodeck 3. Dress warm. XOXO, Mike

Posted by Lieutenant Revna Edman (Counselor) in Tomorrow, 2000, Holodeck 3. Dress warm. XOXO, Mike
Posted by… suppressed (13) by the Post Ghost! 👻

snip
Mike was about to answer when he looked down at her. One of the advantages of having dealt with people in altered states of capacity, he could read people really well. So instead of answering immediately, he moved to her side and simply scooped her up off the ground and cradled her in his arms. “Shush. Enjoy the ride.” and he turned and headed back towards the torches.

Revna could honestly say being scooped up by Big Mike was not even on the list of things she expected. There was a soft gasp of surprise, but it hurt. She breathed, short shallow breaths till the ache eased. Did he really just ‘shush’ her? She’d laugh if it wouldn’t hurt so much. Oh that was fantastic. She grinned and made a zipping motion by her lips. Oh he’d be in so much trouble if she could breath right.

“I really dig old Earth American Country music. Its got some of the best lyrics ever. I also really like opera… from all over, not just human. I can play the piano and the steel guitar, too… so it translates really well. ” he said as his legs carried them over the shore towards the forest line.

Big Mike

She looked up at him from her very awkward position in his arms and made a rolling motion with her hand for him to keep talking. Her eyes danced with laughter. He told her to shush and so shushed she would stay…for the moment.
Revna

He smiled and said “I think music is the key to understanding people. If you listen to their music, their songs, then you can understand them of a fundamental level.” They moved down the torches lined path and deep into the woods, Mike talking about anything and everything he could. A few minutes later, they came into a clearing. “Know how you said my date set up wasn’t anything special?” and he looked down at her and smirked. “Well… let’s see what you think now.”

Revna shook her head her voice soft, “I did not. You asked if it had been that long since someone tried to impress me. I said no, just a while since anyone was origi....Oh…” Her gaze passed over every detail in silence.

The clearing was just wide enough for a long table adorned with traditional dishes and drink. The two bottles of mead were set in the center. The table had two chairs across from each other on the long sides. Each chair was wrapped in flowers and herbs that lent a soft aroma that smelled of spring and sunshine. But it was the lights that stole the show.

The aroma was a nice touch, in contrast to the frozen winter scene they had just been walking. As if they had sailed along into the Summerland.

Small motes of lights danced through the air, and on closer inspection the light came from tiny glowing winged people…

Fairies.

No, not the Summerland. They’d passed into Álfheimr, that world of fairies on Yggdrasil, the world tree. She held out her hand and several landed there before taking off again. She tipped her head back watching them fly away. Her gaze feel back on Mike as he finally put her feet on the ground. “Mike, this,” she looked around again, “this is incredible.”

Mike set Revna near her chair gently and pulled it out for her. He poured a mug of mead and one of water and set it near her. A hand settled gently on her shoulder and he said softly “Let me know if you need to go. I can get you to Sickbay in a flash.”

Mike

Revna sat, surprised into near speechlessness. She squeezed his hand briefly and shook her head, “I’m ok.” She waited till he sat down and then lifted the mug of mead and inhaled. No. She inhaled again. That was Paannaaq in the mead. She shook her head. She sipped it, slowly. The higher light sweetness of Paannaaq, fireweed, carrying above the smoothness of the honey. She put the mug down and closed her eyes. No one should have this particular batch. It was meant to be consumed at one point, but not…not after…she didn’t think her heart could break again. But instead of grief, it was just bitter sweet. The universe was laughing at her. She opened her eyes and looked at the man across from her. “Mike, how did you get this bottle? It was never supposed to be sold, not this batch. There was a shipping mistake several years ago. I thought we got all the bottles back. Do you remember where you got it?” Her voice was soft, and there was a hint of old sadness to her voice, but not accusation.
Revna

Mike looked confused, but said “Ummm… yeah. I think so. It was probably… oh… seven or eight years ago, maybe? Somewhere around there… don’t remember exactly. Star Fleet guy. Said he was a fan and one of my songs ‘gave him courage’ or something. Gave me a case of twelve. Said it was a special batch and that it wouldn’t be made again. Told me to hold onto to it and only bring it out for someone truly special because that was who it was made for. Made me promise. So… I have 6 bottles in storage, 4 at the bar… and two here. Never actually thought I’d open one though.” and he smiled.

Big Mike

She picked up the bottle staring at it, at the label, A Paannaaq flower overlaid on the Edman crest. Devlin, it had to be. He was the only one who would do it. She put the bottle down and stared up the fairies. “Alright, Mike, some truth of my own. The man’s name was Devlin Mattsen. He was supposed to be my brother-in-law. This batch was made for me. To be consumed at my wedding. Shauwn died in the Breen attack on Earth.” She picked up the mug again and took a longer sip of it.
Revna

Mike looked at her for a long time, a plethora of emotions dancing through his eyes and across his face. “So… but… wait…” and finally he shook his head. “So this is your mead for your wedding and I just served it to you on our first date?” He looked at her with a blank expression for almost a minute before he laughed and then said “Oh, very smooth, Mike.” more to himself than to her. “Maybe for my next trick I move these plates and stuff and you see that the tablecloth is actually your wedding dress? That would just be the perfect end to an absolutely embarrassing moment.” and he picked up the meade, looked at it, shook his head, and then grabbed the water.

Big Mike

“The Norns have their own plans for our fates, Mike. This bottle was meant to be here, on this table, tonight. That the truly special person you would open it for would be me. I’m not upset, Mike, just surprised, that’s all.” Yeah okay I get it. I told him he couldn’t handle me and here he’s been in possession of a mead that was made to represent me. Yeah okay Freya I get it! Enough hints. I’m not dead I need to stop acting like it. She leaned forward putting her hand over the water. “Please don’t be embarrassed. There’s no need to be. Drink it with me.” She sat back holding the mug in her hand, and holding his gaze with hers. A hint of challenge crossing her face along with her smile. “Unless, of course, your admitting you can’t handle me.”
Revna

Mike looked at her and shook his head. “So its a truth kinda night then? Okay. Im really confused. First, you tell me you won’t go out with me. But I took that as you challenging me, so I pushed. So then you said yes, bet or no bet. We get here, and I at least things are going… well… pretty damn well and then you tell me that you are leaving and don’t know if you are gonna even live, let alone come back. And now you tell me that some random fan almost a decade ago gives me booze he wasn’t supposed to have to begin with and tells me to hold onto it till the right person is there and I think that’s you and now its your wedding mead from an engagement but he died and now we are drinking the mead that you were supposed to drink with him when the two of you got hitched on our first date and that you’re not freaked out by that and still want me?” and he looked at her quizzically and then realized what his last question may have sounded like and he said “I mean… not want me, want me… but want to be here with me.”

Big Mike

Her voice was slow, soft, and measured, “I didn’t say I wouldn’t go out with you. I said you should get your facts. I also told you I spend time with people because I want to, because of who they are and not what I would make them. That I don’t play games like that. Bet or no bet I wouldn’t be here unless I wanted to be. I am not upset with you for having this particular bottle. I am totally freaked out by it. But I don’t have the luxury of really freaking out, I can’t breath enough for that. The bottle is already open and it’s a shame to waste it. So why not share it with me? And you’re right, it’s not fair to you and I shouldn’t have come knowing I was leaving. Knowing the risk. It was selfish and I’m not usually that way. But I like you Mike, so I came anyway.” She set the mug down, untouched. “If that’s more than you want to deal with, I understand, and I’ll leave.” Her chest felt tight but she leaned back in the chair releasing the tension slightly making it easier to move the air. And she waited.
Revna

Mike looked at her for what seemed to him like hours, but was in fact just a few long moments. He then smiled, picked up the mug in front of him, tapped it to hers and said “It’s supposed to be for you… I’m just glad I get to share it with you.” and he took a drink, his eyes not leaving hers.

Big Mike

Revna picked her mug back up, tapping it to his, and then held it with both hands. She took a long pull from the mug. The light airy sweetness of the flower over laid with the warmer, heavier honey flavor was a nice contrast, but it was the spicy kick that followed that really showcased the flavor of the flower, and set this particular blend apart. Until tonight she’d never tasted it. “I’m glad too.” She grinned, she could hold someone’s gaze for quite awhile without baulking. But she liked Mike’s eyes, and he didn’t baulk either. “So piano, steel guitar, what else do you play?”
Revna

He took another sip and nodded appreciatively and then said “Ummm… bass guitar, electric and acoustic guitar, drums but I suck at them, Klingon war drum, Vulcan lute, and the clarinet. What about you? Do you play?” he asked. He was watching her closely, and he knew she was hurting. But yet… here she was. One drink, then I’m calling it. There’ll be other nights… he thought to himself.

Big Mike

While he talked she took a piece of flat bread from the table and spread Lingonberry jam on it. She took a bite chewing slowly. “I can play a Psaltey, a Bodhrán, the pan pipes, and I sing…or I did. I miss it.” She flexed her fingers in the gloves several times again at the cold that had nothing to do with the temperature in the holodeck. After all these months Revna didn’t notice the pain....much, it simply was.

He had come to some decision, it was in his expression, but she wouldn’t hazard a guess at to what it was. He’s either tell her or not. “Music, sailing, and bar tending. What was your favorite type of boat to sail?” Revna might not have more than these 2 dates with Mike and she was going to make the most of it. She wanted to get to know him and not what everyone else thought they saw.
Revna

Mike leaned forward and said “How about I tell you that as I walk you home? Rev… you need to rest. I can see it. So how about we finish this amazing mead, I’ll walk you back to your quarters, and then we can continue when you feel better? I’m not in a rush… regardless of what’s coming. I just want you to be okay… okay?”

Mike

Ah. Well she couldn’t blame him. “I’m fine Mike, really. There is nothing I can do at home that is different than what I can do right here. And at home I don’t have fairy lights to look at or your company.” She put the bread down in exchange for the mead, and savoured it for a moment. “But if it puts you at ease, you can walk me home.”
Revna

Without moving, he said “My favorite was a single-masted sloop. Just enough going on to keep you occupied, but easy to keep control of. That’s also the last one I sailed. But I always wanted to try my hand at a schooner, too.” and he lifted his drink and tapped it to hers again. “Would it ease up if you were reclining? Because I can totally make that happen.”

Big Mike

“Hmm I don’t own a schooner, but I know someone who does. But that’s back on Earth. Could always try the holodeck though. But either way I’m going to show you how to sail a full size langskip.” She smiled over her glass and then nodded her head once. “Yeah, it would.”
Revna

Mike said “Ok, but no cracks about the program name.” and he looked up and said =/\= Computer, run program ‘McKenzie Tonight’s The Night’ =/\= and the scene froze and then shifted. The two of them were standing in a single room log cabin or lodge. A large stone fireplace was set into one wall and a roaring fire cast light and shadows around the room. Outside, a snow storm blew against the glass of the windows, barely visible in the deep night gloom. In front of the fire was a pile of blankets and pillows on the floor, laid out to form a cushioned and comfortable pallet. The mead appeared at the head of the ‘bed’.

“C’mon. Coats and cloaks off. Get comfortable and lay down.” and he helped her off with her heavy outergarmets and shoes. Shedding the same himself, he helped her to the pile of blankets and settled her in so she was comfortable. He then sat down, cross-legged, facing her.

“Better?” he asked and picked up her mug and held it out to her.

Big Mike

Revna literally bit her tongue. The name was comical but she had a feeling this program was no more cliche than the other program was. She let him take the coat she was wearing and then settled back against the pillows and blankets, draping one across herself. He was caring and attentive and it had been a very long time since someone treated her like that, instead of the other way ‘round. She waited several minutes for her hands to warm before taking the gloves off, and then took the mug from him. The strain he saw on her face wasn’t gone but had eased significantly, her breath no deeper but easier. “Much better, thank you.” She slipped the mead, “It’s actually really good. So is Mike’s place your first bar? If not where was your favorite bar that you worked, owned, what have you?”
Revna

“It’s pretty unfair that you get to ask all the questions and I don’t.” Mike replied and smiled at her. “No, it’s not my only bar. Mike’s Place is a kind of ‘experience’, not just a bar. There are fourteen of them. This is the first one on a Star Fleet ship, though. My all time favorite bar was this little dive bar in New York City. McSorely’s Pub it’s called. Oldest continually operated bar in the Federation. Opened its doors in 1888. Been open ever since. They serve two kinds of beer: dark and light. And they make a mean burger.” and he looked at her, something in his eyes that seemed to be a brightness that maybe hadn’t been there before. “You should let me take you there, sometime.”

Big Mike

“I’d love to go there. Somewhere that has been around that long has to be unlike anything else anywhere. Go see some of your other locations too.” She slipped the mug, small sips, making it last. “Ask away Mike. I’m an open book.”
Revna

Mike smiled and said “Okay. That’ll be the next date on the schedule.” and he winked at her. “So tell me about you. I know you grew up on the island, have a twin sister… but you are by far the better looking of the two, were engaged… and I’m really sorry, Rev. He musta been someone really special for you.” and he took her hand and squeezed it before letting it go. “And I know you are hurt. But outside of that, I may need you to read some of the pages of that book.”

Mike


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