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Holodeck Side Sim - Reia's Birthday Party - All Welcome and Encouraged

Posted June 25, 2021, 12:43 a.m. by Lieutenant Junior Grade Reia Shandy (C Intelligence -Comm Officer) (Catt Bennett)

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Dagen Thor (CE) in Holodeck Side Sim - Reia’s Birthday Party - All Welcome and Encouraged

Posted by Ensign Kesh (Engineer) in Holodeck Side Sim - Reia’s Birthday Party - All Welcome and Encouraged

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Reia Shandy (C Intelligence -Comm Officer) in Holodeck Side Sim - Reia’s Birthday Party - All Welcome and Encouraged
Posted by… suppressed (18) by the Post Ghost! 👻
OOC: This is an open sim to celebrate Reia’s birthday on June 7th. Anyone is welcome to join in. Hopefully it will be fun. The setting is England in a London park around the turn of the century 1900.
IC:

Previously, a note had been left for Reia by Dagen saying, ’17:30 .. will pick you up for your birthday to the holodeck. Just bring yourself’

Later ..

The buzzer chimed at Reia’s quarters just short of 17:30hrs.

When answered Seraph was there, one of Dagen’s engineers, the female Vulcan nicknamed ‘Angel’. She had a small box in hand that was wrapped with a bow around it. “Lieutenant,” she said. “I bid you an agreeable birthday. Your husband has asked me to convey you to the holodeck where he is awaiting you. He indicated something about .. finishing touches. He also asked me to give you this.” She held out the box for Reia.

Dagen/Angel

It had been one of those days for Reia so the thought of Dagen remembering her Birthday and wanting to celebrate it was incredibly sweet to her. It was also something she was not used to so she wasn’t exactly certain how to behave or, even how to dress. As usual, when she got home from her shift, she couldn’t wait to take off her uniform and all of it’s underpinnings so, she had slipped into a summer dress and sandals after reading the note.

She was surprised to see Seraph at the door but, again, the explanation was sweet to her.

“Do I open this now?” she asked with a big smile.

  • Reia

“Is that not customary?” Seraph replied, one brow rising a little. That appeared to cover up an almost imperceptible sense of discomfort, explained a moment later. “I was not given instruction to pass on to you. However ..” a pause ..”logic would suggest that this was not the time for .. delayed gratification.”
- Seraph

Reia motioned Seraph into her quarters and say down.

“Alright, well, we’re going to be here a minute or two then.”

Seraph entered, the door sliding shut with a soft swish. She took up a relaxed pose, tipping her head to one side in relative curiosity.

Reia was giddy yet tired. Her career was going interesting new places and she had been putting in a lot of overtime and studying almost more than she had in the academy.

Examining the box she realized that the box was small but heavier than in ought to be.

“Hmmm. Does your boss have you carrying around bits of Dwarf Star Alloy?” she asked as a joke.

“If one was to examine your husbands drawers …” she paused there, then corrected herself …” at his desk one would discover a great assortment of things. He has said that he has ‘raised the bar’ on junk drawers. Anything may be found there I suspect.”

It was probably a bad joke and Reia just opened the present. A few seconds later she pulled out a large brass key. It was an ancient looking thing like something that might open a treasure chest or something equally as anachronistic.

“Hmmm… Um… Okay. Well I did say I liked puzzles. Is this the part where we go to the holodeck now?” She asked.

  • Reia

“I have found males in particular to be puzzling creatures. To provide further puzzles appears to be in character,” Seraph replied. “I am ready when you are. You appear fatigued. Should I inform Commander Thor to reschedule it for a more appropriate time?”
- Seraph

Reia picked up the key and jumped to her feet.

“Oh don’t you dare!” she said with a laugh, “I’ve been doing a lot of extra work but I have a feeling this is just what I need. So let’s go.”

  • Reia

Angel dipped her head in a simple economical motion of affirmation. “The .. costumes will be provided on arrival, or so I am told,” she explained. “I have often thought that ‘dressing up’ in simulations was an unnecessary effort. I have done a small analysis of this and my examinations has led me to think that one of the foundational causes of this is the earth holiday of Halloween. While this typically is focused upon children there is a growing number of adults seeking to dress up. The holodeck, by extension, allows a continuation of this fantasy to be what one is not. I fail to see the logic, however I have noted an increase in personal morale after engaging in such an event.”

It did not take them long to get to the holodeck in particular. Upon entering the scene became that of a well tended park. Flagstone paths wove about a large garden where bees buzzed and hummed in the air. Parkland of green grass spread out to the other portion of the park. It itself was tree lined with a stone and iron fence beyond. Through a gate one saw a horse drawn carriage clopping by. Scents of flowers mixed with wood fires mixed with coal fires and freshly baked bread wafted through the air. Other persons, alone or couples or families strode about the park, children running about in relative orbit of their parents. The dress was certain period with the men in dark suits, top or bowler hat and umbrella .. the women more ‘assorted’ with colorful voluminous dresses and unique hats on each.

To one side Bat stood; even in this period suit he looked like he was going to pop out of it, his bowler hat seemingly too small for his head. “Ladies,” he said, “Just down the path there is an area set up. Oh, and Happy Birthday Reia.”

The ‘just beyond’ was a clearing. Tables were set up with various foodstuffs that were more picnic style than formal with a rather large sampling of sweets there. Opposite that was a rack with a selection of kites of various shapes and sizes. Just farther along there was what looked to be a ‘horseshoe’ pit. A small ‘group’ of four were playing a variety of instruments of faintly recognizable music but it was not loud and totally background.
- Dagen

OOC: Circa 1900 English park .. everyone feel free to join in and enjoy a picnic and fun, oh, and Reia’s birthday.

From the moment Reia had stepped in to the holodeck, she was entranced by the scene. She didn’t know when Dagen had the opportunity to put it all together but he had certainly outdone himself or, perhaps, the whole staff had helped him. Being the boss did have it’s perks after all. The bees, the flowers, even the children, it was all quite lovely. She heard the music as a beautiful undertone to the whole event. The smell of food reminded her that she hadn’t eaten in quite some times and the spread of food that had been laid out would certainly fix that.

She managed to slip into one of the voluminous dresses but decided to keep her own sandals and simply tied her hair back in a scarf because the mink hats, though lovely, seemed cumbersome to her.

Making her way back to the food table, she caught sight of Kesh.

“Oh, you simply must fly a kite, rrrrnth, they are positively a delight.”

The vocal tone and slur alone made identifying Ensign Kesh all too easy. Additionally, while the holodeck may have some variety in the holographic guests so that those of the crew that did not look like 18th century Englishmen would not be terribly out of place, there likely were not other cat-people visible. However, the felinoid wore not the volumpuous dresses of the women, but rather the breeches with a shirt, cravat, waistcoat and frock coat of the men, colored to match her usual uniform of black and gold., complete with simplified starfleet logo at the appropriate location on her shoulder. She wore no wig or hat, and had bare footpaws like usual when on duty, but the colorscheme matched well enough to not clash.

An animated bow came just as soon as eyes were upon her, “Kesh Colonist the First at your service. Oh! Rrrrnth, and happy birthday, Reia.” A long, friendly blink of bright golden eyes paired with a brisk quiver of whiskers to further express delight at being here.

->Kesh, Engineering.

“Oh thank you for the birthday wishes and may I say, you look adorable. Come come, let’s eat. I’m sure we’ll get to kites soon. Where is that wonderful husband of mine?” she asked Bat and Angel.

  • Reia

Angel’s eyes scanned the scene. She was gowned in a deep violet dress with white accents and modestly plunging neckline that her long dark hair only partially camouflaged. She had a small decorative umbrella in hand which she used as a pointer, gesturing toward the horseshoe pit. “The last I saw your husband he was casting what he called a horseshoe at that spike in the ground. By his general aim I would estimate his skill there was poor. He explained that they were used to ‘shoe’ a horse’s hooves. He couldn’t explain the logic behind why one would throw them about rather than use them where they were made to be. Perhaps you know more about this .. game?”

Bat only shrugged. “The Chief has a way of appearing and disappearing in this park. He has a bowler hat on but it doesn’t do anything better for his hair, unfortunately. Trill would be much more handsome if they were more like us Bolians.” He grinned and removed his hat, rubbing his balled pate.

The table was furnished with, alas, small plates meaning many trips for one hungry. Apart from the abundance of desserts there were many traditional ‘picnic’ fares that were not specifically England circa 1900, but included such things as fried chicken, Risan braised beef on a bun, spicy looking beans and many more. There was even a bowl of gagh there. One dessert item that Angel was looking at was a square, thick wafer that was apparently Vulcan; the closest earth similarity would be baklava. There were several missing from that. Angel’s eyes went up. “Bat beat us to it, apparently.”
- Dagen

Angel and Bat were not familiar to Kesh yet, so they both received a long look from bright golden felid eyes in quiet consideration. Neither seemed to take any notice of her, so she doesn’t rush attempt to break the ice. Besides, this was Reia’s day in the starlight, so she deserved the focus for now.

OOC: Apologies! They are both engineers so kinda assumed some latent familiarity there .. pardon me for tunnel vision on the post. And love the touch of the cane :)

Reia’s response draws a long, firm blink of those bright gold eyes, as whiskers fan out into a stiff cloud of thin strands, tremoring in a delighted fashion while a short burst of vibrated breath sounds this Caitian’s form of purring in appreciation of the compliment. “Awrr, certainly, the food looks divine!” A previously unnoticed cane is hoisted up and twirled before planting at the felinoid’s footpaws as she begins to stride toward the table, acting with a limp so as to explain the cane, though this seems purely out of keeping to the character she’s crafted for this setting.

->Kesh, Engineering.

Bat pointed to a platter that had a mass of purple sweets on them. “Turkish delight, Kesh,” he said. “Not blue but nothings perfect but it’s a tasty earth treat.” He definitely looked like he didn’t need any more sweets but it didn’t stop him from plucking one from the dish.

Angel tipped her head to one side. “I have never been to the Bolian homeworld. The way you speak of color you make it sound like the world is .. blue.”

“That’s for me to know and you to find out, Angel,” Bat said, then turned to Reia and Kesh. “Have either of you visited Bolia?”

About that moment Dagen made an appearance, traditionally dressed if walking stiffly in it as though not entirely sure it fit right. He too had a bowler hat though it fit lower o his head than Bat; his hair yet stuck out the side from it as if to prove it was still unruly even under cover. His 5 o’clock shadow was more pronounced. He approached, rubbing his hands on a cloth that he then pocketed. “Welcome!” he said to Kesh and the others, then greeted Reia with a soft kiss. “Happy Birthday, love. Not quite the simple family picnic but what’s life without a little holo-tweaking.” He plucked up a small cut sandwich from the table.

“Bat, you’re wasting away. Why aren’t you in there eating?”
- Dagen

Reia was a little overwhelmed by the extravagant program Dagen had put together and the attention people were paying to her. Truthfully, part of her was quite enjoying it. Leaning in, she returned Dagen’s kiss and smiled, plucking the brass key from the bodice of her sky blue dress.

“So. Do I get to find out what this goes to by the end of the night handsome? Is it something I’ll be able to tell my friends about?” she asked smiling at Bat, Angel, and Kesh.

  • Reia

Angel raised a brow at Reia’s smile. “It is known that even Vulcan males during the early stages of pon far act in ways similar to other males when seeking sexual encounters which are subtle, if lacking transparency. Occasions, I have noticed, are prime events for this.

Dagen made an effort to look innocent, but still blushed. “Who’s to say it doesn’t open more than one thing?” he replied. “It may depend on where you go here in this program. In fact .. there may be something at this table that it fits.”

Wait. That voice. Saying Kesh’s name. It was suddenly familiar, prompting a pause for a moment as the felinoid’s ears sag down and flush just a bit within. Oh how she loathes it when her problems with identifying members of some species rears its head and makes her misidentify someone she does know as someone she does not. Perhaps she was so deep in character that she was seeing these party guests through the lens of an 18th Earth Century nobleman, rather than her own eyes. Right. That explains it. Sure.

“Eh, rrr.. yes, ah.. quite right. Hmm hmm! Turkish delight. How curious.” Whew. Back in character. Clawtips pinch around one of the jelatin treats to pluck it up and sample. Hmms and hums and hrrrs are made to the rather floral-flavored candy, thankfully lacking the sugar that her metobolism has a hard time with.

“I hear Bolia is quite delightful this time of year, yes, rrrrnth.” A nod and tug of petty coat keeps up Kesh’s facade as she replies to Bat, only just then remembering the name. Was it related to the earth flying mammal or just a coincidence? Will have to ask sometime.

Bat puffed up, threatening the buttons even further as they strained to hold his jacket together. “There are some areas that are simply delightful. There is a flower, particular fragrant, that is similar to an Earth lilac or Centauran Longrose, which blooms for much of the spring and early summer and changes its color as it matures from a faint light blue to deep blue purple. Utterly lovely.” The name was perhaps simply his own name, Bat, though as Kesh looked at the rotund Bolian that his ears did appear long and, at an angle, were bat like.

“Cheri-o!” A hoist of that cane and waggle of its pommel greets Dagen when he arrives, while leaning over to snag another Turkish delight, as it reminds her of fond memories grazing in the roses of her long-ago aeroponics bay.

Dagen

Reia’s inquiry evokes a little shrug as she knows little of this party other than the setting, really.

->Kesh, Engineering

Reia stood by Dagen as she listened tot he whole conversation play out. As she did so she looked over the table wondering what the key would unlock.

“Hmmm. Well right now the only thing I’m interested in unlocking is some of that fried chicken and that lovely Vulcan thing.” Reia said pointing to the baklava like dessert.

“Good choices. There’s some dips there too for the chicken. Sweet to spicy,” he said with a half smile.

Stepping forward, she made herself a small plate and smiled coyly at Bat. What fun could a little harmless flirting do?

“You know those flowers sound absolutely lovely. I think they’d make a wonderful birthday present.” she said sweetly, “And as for ever having been to your home world, I don’t know if you have the security clearance to hear the answer to that question.” she said stepping back tot he safety of her husband.

“Oh? Do you grow flowers, Reia?” he said with a wide smile. “I’ll make sure that I can get in a cutting or seedling for you. It would look lovely in your quarters.” he then wagged a finger at her. “Come now, the only thing anyone is covert about with Bolia is trying to snag the Deno Fields Ice Wine when it comes out. Which you might find at your quarters as my gift to you.”

She loved Dagen deeply and passionately. There was something about feeling safe with him that made her feel more relaxed and flirtatious than usual.

  • Reia

While Bat was his regular effusive self, he didn’t seem to be very ‘moved’ by her flirting, but did enjoy the attention.

Kesh places both hands on the pommel of her cane, back arched just a bit to further express the necessity of it for this character, while spending a few moments rolling around the flavors of the turkish delight across her gums and teeth. Bit of an oddity, as human snacks tend to be either sweet or salty, but she knows well that there are many that fall into neither category. Still, it seems more like an Andorian delicacy than a human one. Then again, she is not exactly broadly familiar with culinary arts across the cosmos. She likely will, someday, but not yet.

While contemplating this and further adjusting her posture, Reia’s behavior toward Bat is observed with quiet curiosity. The way different individuals and groups and species handle relationships is definitely interesting to follow, with her biggest wonder being what aspect of Reia and Bat leads to this flirtatious behavior while Reia’s newlywed husband was in sight. If anything she saw it as a good thing, as that meant she felt comfortable, rather than restricted. Such limitations had been a predominant reason for her own lingering solitude, though more-so had been her general abandonment of trying to find a partner owing to how ‘growing old together’ is basically not going to happen for her.

Angel had taken up a small plate of fruits. “I have heard your world is forested. Is that in error?” she asked Kesh. “What is your home world like?” She looked around. “While there is ever a sense of being home when I am there I find forest and foliage to be agreeable.”

First opportunity to casually converse with Angel? Seemed like it. Kesh leaned the cane against the side of a table to subtly indicate she was dropping her character act for the moment in order to give an unfiltered response. “You mean Cait? Yes, rrrnm, quite heavily, though not dominantly so. Still a lot of tundra and desert. I.. ah.. have never been there. I imagine calling Riviera my ‘home world’ would be the most fitting, as I grew up there and I still keep possession of my parents’ former home there. Mmmrm. It is a resort world, not quite as elaborite as Risa, but still quite heavily terraformed and.. ah.. adapted, if with only portions of it fully..mmmnn… crafted for tourism.” A glance around considers the environment of this simulation as well before looking back, “Much of the visitors to Riviera are human, so much of it is very Earth-like, so I would agree with that sentiment.” A small head dip and long blink punctuate this.

“I think of tundra much like that of the deserts of Vulcan. Similar however with more plant life and still a danger with predators lurking,” Angel observed. “My upbringing was principally on Vulcan. My parents yet live. My father’s occupation is in .. sales. He sells holopaper. I believe that there are some programs in that which include Riviera pertaining to shoreline and islands. Do you return to that home for shore leave?”

A slight head rattle puts aside those sour thoughts, having worked so hard to escape them when returning to Starfleet. Instead, she limps over toward Dagen, holding a fuzzy golden hand up to announce herself before speaking up, “My good lad, I must wonder, why this setting? Rrrrnth. Not out of rejection, as I find it quite fascinating, but rather out of simple.. mm… curiosity.” She is definitely hamming up the ‘old English gentleman’ language.

->Kesh, Engineering

Dagen raised a finger. “Oh I like that accent,” he said. “I’ve tried it and am horrid,” he said, “Unless I’m doing it in front of the mirror in which case I sound amazing.” He tipped his bowler hat at Kesh and attempted an accent which was .. pretty iffy. “My dear wife had sounded intrigued by my telling her of birthdays when I was growing up. They were family affairs and involved different things, kite flying being one. Camping another. Dad was the creative one with these things. I started off with a program that might fit something like that .. and then kind of got carried away.” He paused then asked, “And how about you? What are birthdays like for you?”

“Awrrr, thank you.” Those large, bright golden eyes shut tightly as whiskers and cheeks lift just a bit to show Kesh’s pleasure in delighting her CO. “I quite like the occasional venture into character types and settings I have never noticed before. Rrrrnth.” Adjustment of posture leans Kesh’s body weight back onto her bare footpaws, using the same subtle gesture to show she is setting down the act for the sake of honest reply. “I do not know the exact stardate of my.. mm.. completion. I would honestly rather not know. Mmrrm. Rather, I celebrate my ‘birthday’ on the Earth date of June 4th as it coincides with a few noteworthy events of my youth. I.. ah… have not paid much attention to it in recent decades, though I have had fond memories spent with friends in times past.” Her gaze wanders up and around, then to the table of food and back, breath fluttered in a soft purring sound for an exhale, “The timing of this is a bit fortuitous in that sense.”

“Well then we can lift a cup to you as well,” Dagen said, but thought those noteworthy events might come at a later time. Decades. Dagen hadn’t looked to see how old Kesh was. He glanced over to Reia to see her studying the table. “Have you thought any more about a botany project?” he asked.

OOC: Hope I remembered that right!

While Dagen replied Reia would have time to peruse the long table. Not too far from the chicken was a plate of dipping sauces. That was raised up on a cloth covered platter - or so it seemed, as under that could be seen the hint of dark wood and brass in a box like shape.
- Dagen

Reia had been listening to the conversation with interest, smiling and laughing, she enjoyed the comradery that was developing. She made a mental not about Bat’s vague promise of Ice Wine. It sounded delightful and she seemed to remember something like that on Earth. A flash of the XO came to mind but she put it aside. Being the observant CIO she was, Reia gently moved the platter and cloth to pick up the box underneath. She turned it in her hands several times, studying it carefully.

“Hmmm. This looks promising.”

  • Reia

->Kesh, Engineering

It was a chest, ancient looking and with some weight to it. It wasn’t large but the lock was perhaps a bit overlarge for it, but would fit the key that she carried.

In the distance they could see two other engineers, Deeg and Sebastian, facing off at the horseshoe pits. Deeg’s eyes darted about while Sebastian studied the pit and clanged the horseshoes together to make a ringing sound. Bat looked over at that time and shook his head. “This will be good,” he said with a wide grin.
Dagen and cast of er, four

Reia studied the box for a few more seconds before setting it down on the table again. She noted the lock and thought it might be a bit big for the chest. Was it just for show or, perhaps, it was overcompensating for something inside. Smiling, she brought her mind back to the present and slipped the key in easily. It opened without much force to reveal half a dozen cupcakes heavily covered in whipped cream. The box had also heald in the delightful scent she would have known anywhere.

“Mmmm. Mango! Yum! Oh Dagen! This is delightful!”

Picking one up, she took an unapologetic bite, whipped cream and all. The cake was light, moist, sweet, tart, and the whipped cream was light and fluffy. Absolute perfection. She was silent for a few seco0nds enjoying the perfect bite.

“Oh this is wonderful. My grandmother would love this. They’re even better than her’s. Should I hold onto this key or give it back to you?” she asked.

  • Reia

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