(snip)

Mary knew it would be rude not to reply so she turned around and looked them, both in the eyes before clearing her throat slightly. She didn’t know quite how to say what needed to be said but she was honor bound to do it anyway.

“A gift for our new Captain, from the same person who gave you your lovely bottle of Merlot Counselor Dekker.” she turned slightly to face Marius more directly, “Ensign Mary Jameson, Engineering. My congratulations sir.” she said calmly waiting to be excused.

“Gifts,” Marius looked at the package… He moved to open it. “What might the gift be and who is the gift giver?” He looked at the young ensign. “Its not common for ensigns to gift superior officers… might be viewed as a bribe.” Marius looked at her with a raised eyebrow.

Mary didn’t do very well in crowds but was learning to overcome that but she couldn’t overcome the early shift she had tomorrow.

• NE Mary

With her third drink in hand, Sage found a place towards the edge of the group where she was out of the direct line of traffic to and from the bar. Her usual activity at an event was subdued, but she didn’t think anyone would really notice except, perhaps, her husband. She couldn’t get the conversation she’d had with Riley and David out of her mind where both of them had said she needed to do what was right for her—no matter what it was. Looking around at all the familiar faces, Sage knew she would miss her friends on the Genny very much if she left it for another post. What to do…?

Just then, her ears tuned to a voice she didn’t recognize. With a slight turn of her head, she saw Cmdr Petursson only a few feet away.

—Sage

OOC: Pasting in Dagen/Reia in case it got lost in the mix, Catt :) .. Gene

Reia was surprised he had such an interesting answer, Yes, he is definitely a joined Trill. she thought and wondered how many hosts Thor had had.

“Some people never wake up from their nightmares even when they’re awake. It’s not a good place to be which is why I prefer not to remember either way. Dream, nightmare, as long as I sleep.”

Reia
“Dreams are fleeting though,” Dagen thought aloud. “How many do we really remember once we wake, unless one trains oneself to? Same thing with nightmares. There are only a rare few which may yet haunt one in the day.” He could remember some himself. “But it is the daytime dreams that persist because they are the ones calling us to risk them. They are borne out of who we are inside.” His free hand touched his chest, though it was more a spot between heart and where the sac was that held Thor. “Night dreams are often just … pizza.” He smiled. “What is your dream, your aspiration?” That seemed a safe question. For Starfleet that tended to be their ‘dream’, an opening question a department head would spring on them, or a counselor to gauge someone.
- Dagen

OOC: Thanks, I think it did get lost.

IC: Reia looked at Dagen in surprise.

“Pizza? Um what? I don’t know, I never thought about it. I guess I have several dreams. Some are professional and some are personal. I guess my dream, being new here, is just to do my job well and not spill coffee on the XO’s shoes.”

She paused and laughed.

“It’s a long story. Perhaps I’ll tell it to you someday. I’m guessing you have a lot of dreams too.” she finished.

• Reia

XO

Ben noticed Calvin and Riley together and he sucked up the courage to join his fellow bridge crew. Ben held Tigress’s hand ” I’m gonna join the Counselor and the Captain. I’d like you to join me. Also if it gets too much for you gently squeeze my hand. ” Ben smiled as he waited for her answer.

Park

“ I just hope he is not like Captain King let’s go” she said smiling and shaking her head” she followed him to John the Captain and counselor.
Ensign Tigress

“I assure you he’s not like Captain King. He’s been my Security Chief for a long time before he was our Executive Officer. I see nothing like Captain King in him.” After a short walk they got to the destination to where Riley and the Captain was. Looking at the Captain “mind if we join you Sir?”

Park

“It is a party Lieutenant. The more the merrier.” They were a couple that he actually foresaw happening way back when they fought the last of the Husnock the race that destroyed the last Genesis. They had battled in the water reclamation plant… planet side. An odd, but still cute couple.

Mary stepped out of Ben and Tigress’ way but still stayed close to the Captain and Riley.

The bottle Riley was examining was Wolfburn Highlands 2330 from the last known batch made. It was pale yellow and had a smokey finish. There was a not enclosed for Captain Marius.

• NE Mary

“Oh my, where are these bottles coming from. I haven’t had such a selection since the last time I was on Earth.” He half laughed. “It was my wedding day.”

For appearances sake, Sage made her way over to the small group that was growing larger by the minute. As she sidled up next to Calvin, she slipped her arm around his waist as if everything was hunky dory between them. “This is quite the turnout, don’t you think?” Although the party wasn’t really for the Captain, she knew Riley well enough to know that he had more than one goal when he planned it. “I haven’t met the new XO yet but he is getting favorable reactions around the room so far.”

—Sage

“Serendipitous,” He looked down at Sage as she put her arm around him. “I was just commenting on the fact that the last time I saw so may whiskeys I was back on Earth on our wedding day.” He had a slight smile that he forced wider. His mood was more somber than it should be when recalling their wedding and much like Sage he didn’t want everyone to know how he was feeling.

He leaned in and whispered in he ear, “I love you.” That was the bottom line in all of it. At least to him. The rest he could work through as long as he loved her… and he did. Even when he didn’t want to.

Marius