STF

The Plaza Exchange - Diamond Jim's Speakeasy - Come Out and Play (Open to all)

Posted Nov. 22, 2022, 1:39 a.m. by General Calvin Harris (Command General- Colonial Customs and Defence Authority) (Jerome Davis)

Posted by Captain Amelia Manning (Visitor) in The Plaza Exchange - Diamond Jim’s Speakeasy - Come Out and Play (Open to all)

Posted by Lieutenant Sharah Fayth (Chief Star Fleet Medical Officer) in The Plaza Exchange - Diamond Jim’s Speakeasy - Come Out and Play (Open to all)

Posted by Civilian Yavia Crockett (Nurse - Sacred Heart Hospital) in The Plaza Exchange - Diamond Jim’s Speakeasy - Come Out and Play (Open to all)
Posted by… suppressed (9) by the Post Ghost! 👻
<snip>

Oj’kiv, an L&D nurse, waved a hand to get her attention, “Hey Yavia…think you can get ‘Skip’ there to get on the intercom and talk, sing, whatever, for the maternity ward? Those mommas would be on cloud 9 listening to his voice.” That caused the other nurses to giggle and laugh. Yavia rolled her eyes, “Oh stop. Really.”

Ilena chuckled and leaned over, “Did you know he could sing?”

“He said he could. Said he used to sing for his family, I haven’t heard him sing before.” Yavia snagged a mozzarella stick of the tray.

Ilena laughed, “I think he owes you a private concert.”

Yavia

Eela was trying to remember the lat time she had done anything like this and it had admittedly been awhile. She had been grooving to the music the entire time, with clearly a sense of rhythm. Taking a sip of her whiskey, Dasca leaned in towards Jonathan. “How well do you think it would go over if I asked him if he would sing at whatever Cabinet party we might have?”

~Eela Dasca, Incognito Lt. Gov.

Jonathan laughed. “Oh, I’d pay to be the fly on the wall at that party,” he said, sipping his own drink.

“Absolutely not!” Had come Molly’s near thunderous response when Calvin had first mentioned the invite. She had, rightly so, lectured him on taking it easy… as he had promised both Dr. Fayth and Lucas he would do… but he had shot back that he’d sat on his ass for the better part of a month and he was sick & tired of being coddled! “I’m not a child, Molly… nor am I a goddamn invalid! Fayth also said it was good for me to get out and stretch my legs when I could. I think this is a perfect opportunity to do so. Please… I promise, I’m just going to sat in a booth and listen. That’s it… deal?”

For a moment, Cal thought Molly looked as though she might throw something at him before she sighed in a rather defeated fashion. It was at that very moment, Cal’s savior arrived in the form of his former Exec… and current host… Amelia Manning. With her normal good-natured approach, Amelia had offered to go with Calvin… knowing Molly deplored crowds… to keep an eye on her former Commander and more importantly, ensure he didn’t over-do it. It was then, and only then, that Molly conceded. As so long as he took it easy and did NOT get drunk, he could go… but she made a point that she was still not thrilled with the idea.

Aside from family and closest friends, Amelia Manning was possibly the person that knew the most about the ins and outs of the couple. Not because she liked to gossip or to meddle, but rather because she had taken upon herself to help them through one of the hardest times of their lives together, when both had been too stubborn to do anything about it. It hadn’t been easy, and it hadn’t been glamorous, but she would do it all over again.

Amelia knew Molly’s reservations, and she had her own to add to it, but she also knew her former Commanding Officer to know how tired he likely was of being indoors ‘taking it easy’. So Manning knew she’d be the perfect person to keep an eye on Cal when many would be afraid to do so. She had done it before, she would do it again. Plus, it would be a nice excuse to go out with an old friend that she hadn’t seen in quite a while.

When the evening had arrived, Harris dressed… with the added ‘dapper’ of the polished black ebony cane he was still having to use for the time being… in his favorite pair of dark blue jeans, black cowboy boots he’d gotten for his 25th birthday from the old boot shop next to Langston’s in Stockyard City, dark crimson dress shirt and his grandfather’s silver bolo tie, and the black Stetson his mother bought him when he’d graduated Top Gun. When he’d walked out into the living room, Jersey & Ali had both had nearly fallen off the sofa they were sitting on laughing and Erin had stopped mid-sentence with Gavin… raising her eyebrow with a chuckle, she had added. “Really Alex!?!” Harris touched the tip of his hat to Erin and smiled. “Dr. Cooper.” The response was greeted with an eye roll from Erin before she and Gavin went back to their conversation. Ten minutes later, Amelia stepped out… equally dressed to the nines and the pair headed out to Diamond Jim’s.

Through the course of her Starfleet career, Amelia had had the fortune to see a great number of unexpected things. Still, she was not expecting to see Calvin Harris, former Marine, and her former Commanding Officer wearing… a cowboy outfit? Trying her best not to laugh and to keep it together for her evening date, the smirk that still made its way to her lips told Harris all he needed to know.

When compared to Cal, Manning was wearing what she considered to be a much less flashy outfit. A pair of snug dark blue jeans, a black pair or flat ballerinas, a boatneck black lace shirt. Her hair was tied up in an elegant knot, and a thin gold necklace and pair of delicate golden earrings adorned her frame.

“Nice hat.” She said as she walked up to Harris. “I didn’t know we were going to a barn dance. Or is this what you Yanks wear to outings all the time?” Amelia winked, grabbing his arm in an exaggerated formal manner. “Shall we get on our way?”

“Smart ass..” Harris playfully grumbled as Amelia took his arm. As they headed for the door, out of sheer habit, he turned to address the girls but was cut off before he could say a word by Ali… in the most obnoxious accent she could manage saying “Y’all kids behave now.. ya hear!” Ali, Jersey, Erin and Gavin all burst out laughing as Calvin sighed and walked out to the car with Amelia.

It was not a long drive from the Manning’s place to The Speakeasy, so it didn’t take long for Cal and Amelia to find themselves at the door.

Walking up to the door, seeing three previous couples turned away, Calvin stepped forward to the guard… who was eyeing the CCDA General in a manner that told him the guard expected to turn them away at any second. “General Calvin Harris, Commandant General of the CCDA, and Lady Amelia Manning. I’m here at the invite of Skip Tenkiller.” The guard’s eyes widened ever so slightly before he merely nodded and opened the door for the couple… to the clear annoyance of the couple he’d just turned away.

Walking down to the hostess stand, Harris once again gave his name and with a smile, the young woman took the pair to a booth near the stage, the concert already in progress. As they sat, Calvin motioned to Tenkiller. “I never woulda guessed in a million years that that boy could sing! I mean… he’s not as good as I am, but…” Harris shrugged with a smirk. “… aside from Erin’s boy, not many are!”

Calvin Harris

“As good as you are, huh?” Amelia said with a smirk, taking a seat at their allocated table. “Feeling modest today, I see.” She gave Cal a playful wink. “Although, I have to say… we’ve served together for what? Two years? And I never really heard you sing! Heard a few things about it though… so I’m curious… when are you going to grace us with a concert of your own?”

Capt. Amelia Manning

“I’m classically trained on the piano, Amelia…” Harris began with a smirk. “… I started playing at five and began vocal lessons at eight. Mom always hoped… I guess, that if I could do something in music I’d be less likely to follow Dad into the Corps.” He chuckled. “Needless to say, it didn’t work! I did eight years of musical theatre, almost all of them in lead roles… Les Mis’, Oklahoma, Beauty and the Beast, hell… even West Side Story! I have a whole wall of awards from my time on stage at my folk’s place! But… I found piloting was something I was even better at my Senior year of high school and the rest… as they say… is history!”

After a short pause, Calvin added. “I still practice almost daily… it’s a way to relax and unwind. Needless to say, most don’t think a combat-hardened aviator as a musician. It makes me happy… what can I say!” He shrugged.

Gen. Calvin Harris

One of the people in line behind the pair leaned forward and said “That’s all well and good, but we didn’t come here to listen to you, now did we? Keep it down so we can hear.” The hostess arrived at that time and said softly “I’m sorry for the delay, General. Right this way.” and she led them to a booth off to the right side but with a clear view of the stage. As they walked towards the table, Tenkiller saw his boss and tipped his head slightly in Harris’s direction as he kept on singing.

Speakeasy Staff

Ilena poked Shrine, “Hey, isn’t that your favorite patient over there?” She nodded to Harris and his date.

Yavia raised a brow, “That is not Mly Holloway.” She gave the other ladies at the table a look. “I knew the man flirted, but really! I thought he was a better man than that.”

Shrine patted Yavia’s hand. “Calm down dear. We are all fond of Molly Holloway, and General Harris is heads over heels for her. That is Captain Amelia Manning, a close family friend to both Harris and Molly. It is where they are staying.”

Jessa snickered, “You know an awful lot about it. I thought you were too old for crushes, Shrine.”

The older nurse laughed, “Honey I had to do his discharge paperwork, and she visited several times before he was released. But I swear that man does anything be shouldn’t, he will hear about it from me in this bar. Eraras and I worked too hard to keep him alive.”

Yavia waved a hand, “Oh hush, I can’t hear Tenkiller sing over all your hen pecking.”

Crockett and Gaggle of Nurses

While he enjoyed Tenkiller’s singing, the casually dressed captain took in the crowd with interest, curious who might show up. The hard was that he was still too new to really recognize anyone, but his eye did catch a man walking in that felt familiar to him, though likely was only a face on a file. He leaned in towards Eela and discreetly point. “Who’s that? Someone we know?”

Captain McBride, Starfleet CO

Sharah had said she would think about coming. After her rounds she had returned back to the fleet district. Nothing was right. She had considered not going. It was her immediate reaction. A surprise call from Andrew, her brother, and his advice made her change out of her uniform and go anyway. It wasn’t hard to find the place, simply by listening.

However, once she entered the area of the PE, she was glad to be out of uniform. This was not, as General Tenkiller had told her and Eela, not a place to venture alone at night. She should turn around. Her only means of self preservation was to listen and steer clear of anything unsavory or dangerous. What did it matter anyway? If she wanted more out of life she would have to do it alone anyway.

She approached the guard at the door. “I am with Yavia Crockett’s party. I was running late. My name is Fayth.” The crowd was already nearly too much. Again what did it matter? It would never not be. She was attracting looks, having come alone. She waited patiently, refusing to glance around as someone’s slimy thoughts oozed over her. The man finally nodded, “Welcome to Diamong Jim’s, Doctor.” and opened the door for her. Sharah made her way down the stairwell and into the line of people waiting for a table.

As the song faded away, Tenkiller smiled out at the crowd. The band grabbed bottles of something dark and probably alcoholic, and while they took a quick break Tenkiller talked to the crowd. “Well then… good ta see a few familiar faces out there tonight. Let’s see… we got the CCDA General here, y’all! Give him some love will ya?! Man got blown outta the sky not a couple weeks ago and here he is! Good to see ya, General!’ and he winked at his boss. “Oh hey…” he said as his eyes fell on the table of nurses and Yavia in particular. “Looks like Sacred Heart let their best nurses out of their wards for a bit! I’m telling y’all… you ever need help, these nurse right here-” and he pointed at the table, “- are the best in the galaxy.” His eyes focused on Yavia and he grinned and said “Some of the hottest, too.” and he winked at her and then turned back to the band and said something. They all picked up their instruments and Tenkiller tuned back to the front. He began strumming and singing… and slowly the band joined in.

Harris chuckled, making a slight throat slash movement to his Exec… laughing while mouthing the words ‘I will kill you’ before smiling broadly and waving to the crowd. He wasn’t expecting the nod but it was nice. The folks at OED had been incredibly kind to he and Molly over the past few weeks.

Yavia got all kinds of teased over that, her cheeks flushing red. Temple called out to Tenkiller, “Knew you had taste, Skip!” Yavia rolled her eyes but raised her glass and winked at him.

Loud thunder, heavy rain
Thin line ‘tween joy and pain
It’s a long strange trip, it’s all insane
You ain’t never gonna be the same
Living life through the night
Thin line of a lightning strike
Sometimes the only light
When the moon is tucked away

Pistons pumping
Minds are racing
It’s hard to sleep, man
When I’m shaking
Bad news surrounds me
It’s always found me
Creeping up when things are good
Yeah, the dark days find a way

Loud thunder, heavy rain
Thin line ‘tween joy and pain
It’s a long strange trip, it’s all insane
You ain’t never gonna be the same
Living life through the night
Thin line of a lightning strike
Is sometimes the only light
When the moon is tucked away

The camera captures
All the things that
Make us turn from
What we see
It’s always moving
It don’t stop rolling
I haven’t slept in three damn days
Yeah, but who needs that anyway?

Loud thunder, heavy rain
Thin line ‘tween joy and pain
It’s a long strange trip, it’s all insane
You ain’t never gonna be the same
Living life through the night
Thin line of a lightning strike
Is sometimes the only light
When the moon is tucked away

Loud thunder, heavy rain
Thin line ‘tween joy and pain
It’s a long strange trip, it’s all insane
You ain’t never gonna be the same
Living life through the night
Thin line of a lightning strike
Is sometimes the only light
When the moon is tucked away

Loud thunder heavy rain
Loud thunder, heavy rain
Thin line ‘tween joy and pain
A long strange trip, it’s all insane
You ain’t never gonna be the same
Loud thunder heavy rain
Loud thunder heavy rain

(Cody Jinks - Loud and Heavy, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vfv9ijR7e6M )

Tenkiller

Fayth

What happened when the music started was all TK’s fault. The mention of hot nurses had their table swarmed by several suitors of the one night stand and looking for more variety. Yavia turned down a couple of men, but there was even someone for crotchety old Shrine. It was a bit chaotic and Yavia caught Tenkiller’s gaze and quietly mouthed, “This. Is. Your. Fault.” But she was laughing. The table cleared as people stepped onto the floor.

Ilena and Yavia both looked up and toward the door, and slid out of their seats together. They disappeared into the crowded line, reappearing a moment later. They both had an arm around Dr. Fayth, looking concerned and clearing offering comfort, and led her over to their table and slid her into the seat between them. Fayth looked at the stage and leaned over to Yavia and said something to her. Yavia smirked and Ilena laughed.

Pavia

Calvin saw the girls from his Ward getting swamped and couldn’t help but laugh. After another song, the CCDA General clamored to his feet and made his way to their table… ensuring to bring Amelia along. Seeing one of the Junior Officers from his headquarter’s staff chatting up one of the nurses, Harris cleared his throat… the officer going slightly pale seeing the planet’s top military official standing three feet away.

“Good evenin’ ladies…” Calvin beamed with a warm smile. “… I see Skip’s ‘hello’ has made this little corner a… target rich environment!” He laughed, giving a genuine nod to each of the nursing staff.

Harris, CCDA

Elaine, the nurse who had had the young man’s undivided attention looked at Harris, “Aww General why’d you have to go do that? We were just getting to the good part.” Then Harris was swarmed by every nurse at the table. Making quite a bit of fuss over him, to the point the man had several lipstick marks all over his face and in just as many colors. Until they all scattered a little leaving Harris’ personal nurse, Shrine, standing before him her arms crossed looking formidable and scary.

The laugh that escaped Calvin as the bevy of beautiful nurses swarmed the man was warm and happy. Truth be told, it had been… more than a few… years since Calvin had received that much attention and it did make feel much younger than his 41 years, taking him back to his days as one of the Corps’ hot shots while flying at TOPGUN. Each kiss was rewarded with a grateful squeeze from the former Marine Aviator, who stood a bit straight as he looked down at the glaring Nurse Shrine. “Hi’ya Sweetie… glad to see you could finally get out and have a little fun now that I’m not on Ward!” He snickered softly… hoping he wasn’t about to die.

Walking over with Cal, Amelia nodded in greeting to the women at the table, a few of which she recognized from her hospital visits.

Rolling her eyes at Calvin’s comment, Manning shook her head. “You know, you’re lucky that you just got out of the hospital or I would thump you on the head.” There was a playful smirk on her lips and the sentence had clearly been uttered in good-natured jest. “I’m so sorry you have to put up with the General outside of the hospital… I tried to convince him not to come, but you know how stubborn he can be.” She chuckled. Manning’s words had a heavy British accent, the Oxford kind that one used to associate with the highest echelons of English society. “I’m sorry… where are my manners. I’m Amelia and I’m making sure that Cal doesn’t have too much fun tonight.” She said with a chuckle.

Capt. Amelia Manning

Shrine smiled a the woman, “Oh yes we know all about his stubbornness and his flirtatious streak.” Everyone else greeted Amelia with warm smiles. “However,” Shrine began with a wicked twinkle in her eye, “here…and here,” she pointed out two spots on Harris’ head, “can be thumped without worrying about aggravating his concussion.” Then she shook a finger at Harris, “And NO alcohol. Alcohol messes with your blood pressure and concussions love to wreak havok on your head when your blood pressure makes sudden changes. But what would be good is dancing. Great exercise for those legs of yours.” She glanced over her shoulder, “Isn’t that right Dr Fayth?”

The CCDA General rolled his eyes and snorted slightly, shaking his head knowing he was way too outnumbered to be arguing with any of them! When the topic of dancing came up though, the man was clearly all ears. “Dancing ya say?!”

“Ooh! That’s some information worth remembering!” Amelia said with a laugh. “Who knows when it might come in handy!” She winked playfully at Cal. “And don’t worry. I’ll make sure that he doesn’t touch a single drop. I’ve done it in the past, I can do it again.” Manning said with a smile. There was still a slight hint of playfulness in her tone, but her expression was more serious than before.

“Yeah yeah yeah…!” Harris laughed at the snark from his former Exec. “No whacking your old boss upside the head…” He snorted a laugh. “… and no telling Molly either!” After a pause, Harris added. “I promised I would behave, Amelia… and I meant it!”

In fact, as far as Amelia was concerned, no alcohol was a good thing. She wasn’t planning on drinking either, even though her reasons were not related to Harris in any way. Still, the argument that the former Marine would not be able to drink made it easier for her to hide her own alcohol abstinence that night as a solidarity gesture towards one of her closest friends (and drinking buddies), rather than having to disclose the real reasons for it.

Sharah blinked and looked over pulling her attention from wherever it had gone, “Wonderful exercise.” Yavia and Ilena hugged her quietly.

Yavia chuckled, “And with so many willing partners, General, you should have PT knocked out for a week.”

The General tipped his cowboy hat and smiled his trademark, Hollywood smile. “Now that’s an exercise plan I can get behind!” He winked at Yavia before looking to Shrine. “So, I’m cleared for a little fun PT tonight… what’s the plan?”

Shrine nodded, “And since I’m your favorite, you’ll take me for a spin first. You don’t mind do you Amelia? We won’t let him do anything he’s not supposed to.” Shrine laced a hand into his elbow with a grin.

Yavia and the nurses

“Not at all! Please, he’s all yours!” Amelia grinned. “I know he’ll be in good hands.” Turning to Cal she shooed him. “Go on, General.” The rank still sounded weird to her. “Go have some fun! You deserve it!” She smiled as she watched the pair.

Capt. Amelia Manning

As Harris was turned to head to the dance floor, he looked over his shoulder and laughed. “Traitor! Just throwing me to the wolves! I thought you loved me Amelia!” He barked another laugh as he turned to go.

The General led Shrine onto the floor for their first spin around the hardwood. For someone still rather stiff from the crash that nearly took his life only a few weeks prior, the former Marine still had the swagger and strength to impress on the dance floor.

As their dance came to an end, Harris chuckled as they glided back to the group. “Alright ladies…” He beamed. “… who’s next?!”

Harris, CCDA

“Oh me!” Jessie was the youngest of the group. She was a CNA and still in school to get her LPN certifications. She was totally taken in by Harris’ charm and flirtations. She tucked her hand into his elbow as they left the table. Ilena laughed and looked at Amelia. “I feel bad for Harris. Jessie might have a bit of a crush.” Then Ilena and the others were quickly persuaded away to dance.

The General smiled that standard, charming fighter pilot smile that had been breaking hearts for years as he led the young woman out onto the dance floor. Resting a rather respectful hand on her waist, the pair moved along with the music.

With a smile on her lips, Amelia’s gaze followed the young nurse as she eagerly jumped at the opportunity to dance with Harris. “Don’t feel bad for him.” Amelia laughed at Ilena’s comment. “I assure you he knows exactly what he’s doing. He’s just that cocky.” She said jokingly shooting Harris her biggest smirk, hoping he might catch sight of it. “I’d feel bad for her though.” Amelia motioned to the young nurse with her chin. Manning still remembered the amount of young women on the Dresden with crushes on the ship’s Captain, who would swoon the moment they caught sight of the man. That was until they found out that his partner was none other than the ship’s Chief Intelligence Officer, one of the scariest people on board. The truth was, for as many fall outs as the couple had had in the past, Calvin Harris and Molly Holloway trusted each other incredibly deeply, and for as terrifying as Molly could seem, she didn’t care one bit about the gaggle of women that would follow Cal around. The only issue was… she liked to have fun with it every once in a while. And the worst part was, she didn’t even have to say anything, she simply had to exist. Amelia turned back to face Ilena. “Molly doesn’t bite, but she definitely likes to pretend she does, even if only for her own amusement.”

Harris caught the smirk and glared back as the young nurse pulled him a bit closer in their dance. Nor a word He mouthed.

Sharah had to smile at Jessie’s enthusiasm. Everyone at the table did. She hoped Harris knew what he had gotten himself into. The nurses would ensure that he earned every second of his PT for the week. They had all, nurses and patients, earned a night of fun, and she was glad they were getting it.

As the music died down, a voice from the stage said to the crowd “Well y’all check out the General, will ya? That right there, ladies and gentlemen, is how we do it in Oklahoma.” and Tenkiller laughed loudly as the music picked up and the band began to play. Tenkiller said “This next one goes out to anybody thinkin’ they can mess with us or our own Oed V…” and he began to sing:

The General laughed at his Vice calling him out again, giving a nod to the band.

I hear them talkin’ under their breath
Their lips don’t move but I know what they say
I see ‘em lookin’ me up and down
Hidin’ their smiles like I’m some kind of clown
They don’t know what you don’t know

I’m gonna hurt you as much as I can
And watch you cry and die where you stand
I wanna hear your tears hit the floor
I’m gonna hurt you, and hurt you some more

I felt the air sucked out of the room
What the hell did you get into?
They just assume that I must be blind
Man, I wish they could read my mind
‘Cause they don’t know what you don’t know

I’m gonna walk right up to your friends
I’m gonna tell them ‘bout the mess you’re in
You’re gonna watch their jaws hit the floor
I’m gonna hurt you, and hurt you some more

I’m gonna hurt you like you never hurt
I’m gonna drive your name in the dirt
You won the battle but I’ll win the war
I’m gonna hurt you, and hurt you

I’m gonna hurt you as much as I can
And watch you cry and die where you stand
I wanna hear your tears hit the floor
I’m gonna hurt you, and hurt you some more
I’m gonna hurt you, and hurt you some more

(Cody Jinks - ‘Hurt You’ https://youtu.be/O77oysDDR6I )

Tenkiller

Being in the crowd was overwhelming and Sharah put effort into focusing on the instruments and the words. The latter cut deep, hitting a still bleeding wound. She couldn’t understand why, and that unanswered question left an aching whole.

Fayth’s heartache was almost tangible to Yavia, and she put an arm around the doctor and gave her a small hug. She knew Sharah wasn’t big on physical contact, Yavia even understood why. Yavia also knew that sometimes you needed to know you aren’t alone. There was one way Sharah was very alone, had been her whole life. It was cruel and Yavia was not afraid of Sharah’s telepathy. ‘Don’t listen to the words. Feel how the music affects them. They all share a common pride.‘ As a server passed Yavia ordered two Uttaberry Juices.

Yavia and nurses

Sharah sighed and nodded to Yavia’s advice that sounded in her head. The focused feeling of fierce pride from so many was moving and much more positive than her own take on the words. She leaned into Yavia, letting her hug her, despite that being the opposite of her instinct. Accepting the support where it was given. Yavia was wild and a bit crazy, but when it came to caring for others, there was no one more compassionate and tranquil.

Fayth

Amelia couldn’t help but notice the doctor’s uneasiness, but thought it best not to interfere. Instead, she motioned for the waiter and ordered a glass of tonic water. She sighed. It would have been the perfect night for a glass of whiskey, or to try new alcoholic delicacies from different parts of the quadrant that had more trouble reaching Earth. It was for a good cause though, not to mention, if Cal asked, she could try to convince him that there was gin in it.

Capt. Amelia Manning

As the music died off, the pair made their way back. “Who’s next… or, do you wanna take an old aviator for another spin hun?” He smiled down at Jessie.

Harris, CCDA


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