[snip]

The young, red haired, Romanian gypsy walked into the party and looked around. Her red dress (*) was simple yet elegant. Her hair, wild and unruly like a bonfire around her head when down, was pulled back with gold and red cord in a simple knot at the base of her neck. The gold was also echoed in a simple torc around her neck with a wolf head on one side and a ball representing a full moon on the other. The ends resting lightly on her shoulder blades as if watching, or guarding, her throat.

The protem Chief of Engineering was unknown to most of the ship, so she didn’t expect anyone to rush up and welcome her. After a moment to get her bearings, she headed for the serving area and waited till she had the chance to order a nice, cold, ale. It wasn’t very ‘ladylike’, her mom would probably have said. But her dad would have approved. She took the simple glass of amber liquid and moved towards the windows and a corner near them where she could see what was happening without feeling like she was a caged animal.

Few things escaped Cross as she scrutinized Tia ‘’Lt ‘’ she turned to the CoS ‘’Would you mind if we call the lady in red, I do hate to see her alone?’‘ the female doctor asked ‘’ I do know that she’s relatively new and may be feeling well kind of awkward’‘ Cross did wonder if he wanted someone’s else company beside her.

Nkosenye paused, looking intently at Cross, and then nodded and said “Of course, Doctor.” and then said much more softly so that only she would hear “But only if we continue our discussion over dinner tomorrow evening.” and without waiting for a reply stood up and said “Lieutenant Ezial. Would you care to join us?”

She felt her heart flutter and did her stomach do a somersault as well? ‘’Oh that would be lovely Lt’‘ Cross replied with a wide and delighted smile.
OOC: It looks like Tia is taking too long to join us :)

Cross thought about it would she dare ask him,after all they hardly knew each other ‘’Em…would you like to taste some Maltese local cuisine ?’‘ she asked holding her breath.

Cross Dr.

Mthunzi looked down at Cross and smiled, his teeth brilliant white against his jet black skin. “I would like that very much, I think.” he replied in the same low volume.

‘’Shall we have the meal at my quarters?’‘ Cross asked in a neutral tone .

OOC: Yep, maybe she just doesn’t like us. ;-)

OOC: Na,she takes some time to post.

Meanwhile, down at the opposite end of the bar, Ade was left with Marthese. “Dr. Bugeja, may I call you Marthese? Your Indian Princess outfit is extraordinarily detailed. How did you manage to design and make such a thing at such short notice?”

‘’Sure ‘’ the female doctor replied as she stopped sipping the orange juice ‘’Oh this’‘ Marthese looked down at her costume ‘’It was given to me at a festival that I had attended,you see I was born in Malta but mum died during childbirth with my twin brother and I. As dad had relatives on my mother’s side living in America he decided it was best to emigrate and leave us with our aunt who had no kids of her own’‘.
Mentioning her brother brought horrendous, atrocious memories and she was now left with a look that could only be described as the haunted haunting kind.

“Memories that are not so good, huh? Just ignore them. You know, big families can often not be so good either. I have brothers, sisters and half-brothers. I have a ton of first cousins… cousins everywhere at home, and everyone for miles around is a second cousin. It doesn’t mean we all get along with each other, there are disputes over land and valuables, and then there is all that sibling rivalry too… You moved around a lot though, that is not fair on a young child. Children need some stability.”

She heard him but took time to respond ‘’Do you have a brother who happens to be a serial killer Ade,a father that committed suicide when the police told him about his son and a sister who ran as far away as she possible could even though he’s incarcerated for life?’‘.

Ade took a while to answer. She wanted to shock him, but he refused to be shocked by her. Ade had lived long enough to have seen things that he couldn’t describe. Instead, he tried to lighten the conversation. He remembered a similar conversation with Marthese in Sickbay and was sure she needed some help for her issues. Strange that Starfleet Medical had completely missed them.

“I cannot say that I do, no… I was just saying that I do know about dysfunctional families. Two of my cousins are real Princes, but another has been imprisoned for pretending to be one. I also have a cousin banned from the Galactic 3D Chess Federation for cheating. I have yet another cousin who left her husband, is addicted to the Venus Drug, and now lives with an android on Mars.”

She cocked her head to one side ,took a deep breath and burst out laughing ‘’Oh what a silly penguin you are ‘’ her voice was honey sweet.She finished off what remained of her juice while gazing at Ade ‘’So tell me what made you join Star Fleet?’‘.

Ade immediately replied back, “Easy! Quite obviously, I joined Starfleet to see the Galaxy, and to meet new and interesting aliens, and then to look at their teeth!… …That is unless Security didn’t kill them first!”

‘’Strange..... you can still examine their teeth if they are dead’‘ she replied with a hint of humor ‘’In fact I would consider it much safer that way’‘.

“Indeed,” replied Ade.

Marthese caught sight of some crew members dancing ‘’Would you mind excusing me or join me Ade?’‘ the doctor asked while looking at him wondering if his costume would be to uncomfortable to dance in.

“That’s fine!” replied Ade, “I’m not much of a dancer, even if I wasn’t inside this! You go and enjoy yourself.”

Ade, Dentist.