Posted by Lieutenant Allison Scott (Pediatrics/Assistant Chief Medical Officer) in Corridors - Leaving the Party
SNIP

Posted by… suppressed (2) by the Post Ghost! 👻
<snip>
IC: “You are both welcome of course” Rico said as the turbo-lift stopped and the doors opened. “Conversation, a few drinks and the chance to make a few friends without the annoying sound of temporary one night adventurers from the next chair over, my quarters are yours.” Then he looked at Zoi and grinned, “And the replicator might be kind and produce something a little more comfortable to relax in if you like.”

Lt Vanhall
CoS

IC: She watched as the Chief Science Officer waved off and left as the Turbolift opened. Oh well. She shrugged and left the Turbolift as well. She knew where the COS’s quarters were because she knew the layout of the ship like any good officer. Mind you, in her inebriated state, she might not be the most accurate, or the most focused on finding it. “Oh yes. That does sound far more pleasant. This dress is really tight. Pretty as it is, you have deducted… dedoo…” Zoi stopped and thought about the word she wanted to find. It appeared she found it easily enough because her face lit up and she continued walking forward. “Deduced correctly.”

Haven, Sec

Rico laughed lightly and joined her in the corridor. “Are you sure your up for another drink? We could always start with water” he teased her slightly and held out his hand, indicating the direction of his quarters as they started to walk. “I’m not sure if you’ve met my girlfriend, Doctor Scott. She was there when I left for my shift and she’s likely still there, I’m sure she would love to meet you as well and have a drink, she’s the friendly sort.” His quarters weren’t far away and Ally normally was waiting for him when she finished her shift, unless she wanted a night to herself or was entertaining one of her friends while he was at work and had returned to her quarters.

Lt Vanhall, CoS

She grinned. Zoi was a responsible adult normally. Even in her inebriated state, she was likely to make good choices over bad ones. 98 years in the galaxy made some lessons stick. Responsibility was one of them… at least for her. “Water is probably a good idea. I am going to have a raging headache when this is all said and done. Good thing I am not on duty tomorrow. And I will ask my boss if he could be kind and not call me in unless its an emergency.”

“Ah, well as to that, Ally is one of the doctors here. I think she can probably set you up with some of the good stuff to take care of that hangover, it’s worked for me.” He grinned as they came to a stop outside of his door. “Your boss gave you the day off? He must be a real nice guy. Come on, lets see if Ally is around.” Reaching to one side, he opened the door to his quarters.

ÖH!”Zoi smiled. Ï would love to meet your girlfriend. Dr. Reez has been wanting me to make friends. He says its important for an old woman like me… paraphrasing of course.”She lifted her hand with her shoes to wave it off which made them sling about and clink together. “Then at least we can avoid most of the skuttlebutt.”

Haven, Sec

“Scuttlebutt?” Rico laughed, “You mean the Chief of Security who picks up a good looking woman who happens to be his colleague, a little tipsy in the hallway after a party, and takes her back to his quarters and girlfriend is going to create scuttlebutt? What kind of ship do you think this is? We should get a license plate that reads If this ships a’rockin, don’t come a’knockin, actually, that would be pretty neat. We are carrying enough drugs to make a space hippie happy.” He held out his hand to the open doorway. “After you, Zoi.”

She laughed as she walked into his quarters. He seemed to understand exactly what the scuttlebutt would be but if he could handle it, she certainly could. Zoi just wasn’t the kind of woman who particularly cared about what people thought about her extracurricular activities. She was conscious enough of what it might look like, but not one to change what she wanted based on appearances and opinions of nosy people.

Inside Rico’s quarters, the decor was darker. Wood and darker fabrics were the feature with a comfortable sofa and low coffee table that faces a holo-projector for watching old or the latest movies and entertainment. Several cabinets held bottles of various drinks, and along one wall various weapons were displayed. On the coffee table a very well built guitar was lying, beside some kind of game controller and the dining table had fresh flowers in a vase. On the wall behind the table was a number of pictures, photographs of Rico and various other Starfleet personnel, many of them focusing on what appeared to be a small team of people. The dates on those photographs stopped about a year and a half prior to now, and since then, a number of photo’s of Rico and a gorgeous blond had gone up. Zoi would recognise the woman as Lieutenant Allison Scott who was also stationed on the Ogawa, and obviously was Rico’s girlfriend.

Zoi wandered through his quarters with ease and curiosity. Perhaps it was the alcohol that kept her relaxed and far from nervous or maybe Rico simply exuded nonchalant calm. Either way, she smiled as she perused his collection of photographs and took in the kind of person he was through the story they told.

“Ally, are you around?” Rico called out as he offered to take Haven’s items to place them on a nearby side table. “feel free to use the replicator and bathroom if you would like to change” he said to her, I can get some drinks ready.”

Lt Vanhall, CoS

She turned and smiled, giving him a mock salute. “Aye sir.” and then in a more genuine tone, “Thank you.” before she left to make use of both. Zoi could hardly wait to get out of this getup. She picked a deep red tunic, black leggings, and a thick oatmeal colored sweater to replace the glittering dress. Simple black flats replaced the sharp heels. Zoi took to the bathroom to wash her face and brush out her mass of blond hair. She put it back up, but in a messy bun on top of her head.

When she came out of the bathroom, she was fresh faced and dressed like this, she looked younger, more vulnerable.... certainly younger than her 98 years.

Haven, Sec

While Haven had been changing, Rico had checked his bedroom and found that Ally wasn’t here yet. Disappointed, it wasn’t all a surprise as she was on call as much as off duty, and from time to time came around after she had visited other friends or done girl things in her quarters. So, while he waited he produced a pitcher of ice water and glasses as well as put together a tray with a bottle of his favourite whiskey, plus a pair of beers to relax into. Moving the game controller and guitar to one side, this tray went on the small table in front of the sofa and he opened the beers, then sat and waited while he absently strummed random tunes and checked his guitar over.

When Haven returned, Rico looked up and smiled. “You look different” he said to her, and nodded his head to the seat beside him inviting her to relax. “All right, so honesty” he said with a smirk, “That look suits you far more than the heels and dress” he grinned and passed her the water to start off with. “Not to say that you didn’t look great, and elegant. Now, though, you look much more comfortable. You said Reez had suggested trying to make new friends? Well, here’s to new friends” he said, holding up the other glass of water in an impromptu toast.

Lt Vanhall, CoS

She smiled as she walked in to find him strumming a guitar and she laughed at his assessment of her outfits, both the previous one and the one she wore now. Zoi sat down on the couch which was Star Fleet regulation and thankfully worn in to the point of comfortable. Her head was still swimming quite a bit from all the booze, “I am definitely more comfortable now. I do love a good pair of heels though.”

“I’ll take your word for it” Rico grinned at her, teasing slightly. “I’ve never found them comfortable and I just don’t have the legs for them.”

She leaned forward and took the glass of water, clinking it on his for the toast before drinking easily half of it. Before all was said and done, she knew she would have to have a lot of water if she wanted to avoid a headache in the morning. “To new friends.”

“Does Ally live with you or have you yet to take that serious step?”

Haven, Sec

Putting his glass down on the table, he put aside the guitar for a moment and leaned back in the sofa. “We spend most of our free time either here or in her quarters. It’s kind of 50/50, except when one of us has a double shift or a busy day and needs some alone time, then we’ll often spend the night in our own quarters for some down time. We’ve been together just over a year now, and it’s been fantastic. She’s a social butterfly and some of her friends are a bad influence, but I still love her to pieces.”

Reaching forward, he took one of the beers and offered it to Haven, then took one for himself. “We’re serious, but like you said before this is a small ship. Having our own places means that we can get that quiet time when we need it. Plus it also means we can set up surprises for each other easier without the other one finding out.” Rico grinned and took a sip of his beer. “So what kind of things do you do for fun?” he asked her, not meaning to pry but more as conversation.

Lt Vanhall. CoS

She took the beer and tasted it. It wasn’t half bad and it had been ages since she had drank one. She wasn’t going to drink this down like she did the water. Zoi knew she was quite drunk as it was. The beer would be a nice night cap without contributing more to her drunkenness if she nursed it and drank more water. “You mean besides doing things for work like going to the gym and running? I like puzzle games, card games and strategy chess-like games. I like sitting down with popcorn and watching cheesy romantic movies about as equally as I like watching Horror films. I can sing but can’t play an instrument to save my life. You?”

Zoi Have, Sec

Grinning, Rico took another mouthful of his beer and shook his head slightly. “I’m not a horror movie fan” he revealed, “which probably makes you braver than me. I play a bit of guitar” he said, tapping the Instrument, “but on my off time, my thing is..”

The chime to the door sounded filling Rico’s room with the buzz indicating someone was on the other side.

===========================
Outside the door.........................

Aly pulled and yanked at the skirt on one side and then the other letting out a groan as she seemed to make no headway on either side of increasing the length of the fabric. Her hair was up in a high ponytail but the decorations adorning it tickled her neck with each movement of her head. Nervously Ally cast a glance to the right and then the left down the corridor. If anyone caught sight of her outside Rico’s doors dressed like this the rumor mill would no longer be spewing out false allegations but stone cold facts about her feelings towards the handsome COS.

“Come on Rico,” she said quietly before looking down and tugging at the top of her dress now. No matter when she pulled it always seemed to come up short. The designer had assured Ally that the dress and its accoutrements were perfectly accpetable but Ally had a reputation to protect and if anyone saw her like this she would definitely be sporting a less than flattering new nickname.

Lt. Ally Scott, medical

“Excuse me a minute” Rico got up and put down his beer, “that’s likely Ally, I wonder where shes been.”

She watched Rico curiously as he went to answer the door. They had been getting to know each other and it had been strangely easy to talk to him. Maybe there was more to this making friends thing than she had given credit. She took a sip of her beer and snuggled further down into the comfortable couch. Thank god for regulation couches. They were so comfortable even though they didn’t look like they would be. Or maybe, Zoi Haven was just an odd individual.

Reaching the door, Rico palmed the control and let it slide open revealing Ally in all her glory. The sight of his girlfriend outside his door in the corridor at this hour, wearing something that got his blood pumping with excitement at first made him stand with a shocked look on his face as hectilted his head, looking her over before breaking into a very large, wide grin.

“I swear to God Rico one chuckle and I will....pfft..pfft…ugh damn feathers,” Ally said trying to blow the feathers from her tipped arrows out of her face as the shiver on the back fell forward. “You had better know what I am.”

“Faerun, 1600’s, and that appears to be Wood Elf Rogue your wearing, it’s a good choice” he said as his eyes settled on every book and cranny. “Well it’s that or Tinkerbell went Goth or Santa is mobilizing for war.”

“I am not a Goth Northern Fairy Elf hell bent on finding who is naughty or nice,” Ally sighed. “And I was hoping for more than good choice,” she rolled her eyes. “I mean who in thier right mind dresses like this when it is not Halloween Rico.”

“You look fantastic” remembering Haven, Rico’s smile widened and he reached out and took Allys hand, “come and meet someone Princess, I think you’ll like her. What’s the occasion?”

Looking around at Haven, Rico proudly presented his scantily clad warrior woman. “Zoi this is Ally, the love of my life, and rogue Elf who moonlights as a pediatric doctor.”

Lt Vanhall, CoS

“Hi,” Ally said clearly shocked there was a woman in Rico’s apartment. Not due to jealousy but more that she felt like a fool dressed up like this. It was then she remembered Rico asking her what the occasion was for her to be dressed this way. “It appears that my better half has either a bad memory or I am bad at marking things on a calendar. Wasn’t tonight that Dungeons game,” she asked Rico feeling her cheeks get even redder.

Zoi started to smile, watching the woman who was obviously uncomfortable in her clothing, perhaps more than Zoi had been in that dress and heels getup she had been wearing.

“Okay, not dungeon dungeon but more hideo ho I am skipping through the woods and out pops a troll from under a bridge or something dungeon games. I am making this worse aren’t I,” she started to laugh looking at Zoi. “Can I start this again? Hi, I am Ally and I was practising for the Christmas talent show titled ‘I am the crazy Elf that Santa never talks about.’ It is a one-woman monologue.” Ally had already made a fool of herself. At least she might show Zoi she had a sense of humour.

Zoi’s smile grew wider as Ally kept speaking, apparently unable to stop herself due to embarrassment, or maybe she was just that kind of person. Zoi could not tell. Her reference to Santa had Zoi laughing easily. “My…”

“Is that a beer,” Ally said not caring whose it was on the table but picked it up taking a long draw. If there was one thing she learned from her uncle it was that alcohol always made things easier.

Lt. Ally Scott.

“Goodness. That’s a lot. I wish you the best of luck at the show. Let’s see if I can catch up.” She laughed and tipped her own beer in a salute towards Ally. “I am Zoi Haven, new Security Officer. It is a pleasure to meet you. This evening, I attended a rather awkward party with some ensigns… got well and truly drunk. Hated the practical orgy it had become and left. Thankfully Lt. Vanhall came to my very wobbly rescue. Under direction from Reez, I am to make friends, so I did. He is currently helping me drink water and have a night cap so I can get a little sober before going back to my place.”

“Yes. That is beer. And you are exactly how I kind of thought you would be based on lavish compliments by your boyfriend… but the outfit was a surprise.”

“Do you need a buddy for the show?” She teased.

Haven, Sec