For the Musically Inclined

Posted on Tue Jun 23rd, 2020 @ 5:15am by Lieutenant Arlowe Tate & Lieutenant Bethany Robinson & Lieutenant Alexandra Alves MD & Lieutenant JG Aeryn Jameson & Ensign Emmanuelle Larose
Edited on on Fri Jul 10th, 2020 @ 5:30pm

Mission: Death in Paradise
Location: Paradise Station
Timeline: Before “Murder She Wrote”

ON:

It had been a long time since Emmanuelle enjoyed a girls’ night out. But when she heard about the performance by famous Andorian musician Sammiana zh’Deeree, aka DJ Sammi Dee, she felt compelled to see if others wanted to join her. She had asked that others meet her at the airlock into Paradise Station by 2200 if they wanted to come. Now here she was, dressed in a tight purple top, a black skirt, and black knee-high boots, her neon yellow hair standing out, waiting for others to join them.

Aeryn had accepted the invite to go out, it was something different to do. She’d elected to wear a red glittery long dress with a low, but not too low, neckline although it hugged her curves in all the right places. She was hoping to see John later and she'd certainly want his eyes popping out. She smiled as she greeted Emmanuelle. “Thank you for inviting me to this Emmanuelle, it should be a fun evening.”

Emmanuelle smiled back. “Glad that you can join us! You look great, by the way.”

“Thanks” Aeryn smiled. “I didn’t want to overdo it.”

Arlowe was new to the ship. Make friends, her counselor had said, find people to connect with. She hadn't connected, truly, with anyone in a very long time and thus she found herself often lonely and entertaining depression. She knew she should reach out, not everyone were fetid puss nodules on the skin of life. Most people seemed fine. She witnessed laughter, smiles, hugs, and fun from a distance and always wondered if she ought to include herself in such activities. For a Betazoid, it wasn't like she couldn't feel what they were feeling... but she had decided a long time ago she didn't really trust her mental acuity because of what happened to Sam. How had she not seen it coming, even others said the same thing. Not to her face but she could hear the whispers. Arlowe wasn't much for being girly, so she came in her usual wear. A pair of distressed and torn jeans that gave peeks to the fact that she had tattoos not only on her upper body but down on her legs as well. The dark canvas of them peeking through the tears in her pants. She wore a simple black tank top. Her silver hair down, and her eyes rimmed with the dark eye liner that made those hazel eyes pop out vibrantly.

Music was the only reason she agreed to be here, Arlowe was a music connoisseur and so it was the only reason she had agreed to the night out what so ever. Even still, as she arrived, the newbie to the group, her body was tight, solid, and her body language probably said 'no'. But, she was here. Her eyes flickered to the two women, dressed to kill, that were already there and waiting. She hadn't met either of them yet, and she had a feeling judging by their bright smiles, that she was in for a night of annoyance, and people trying to pull her out of the shell she had artfully created around herself.

Aeryn could sense the Arlowe before she even appeared, but she also noticed how she kept herself locked down tight. Betazoids were normally quite open with each other even when strangers but she was anything but. Looking towards Arlowe, Aeryn smiled warmly. “Hi I’m Aeryn Jameson.”

“And I’m Emmanuelle Larose,” said the smaller security attaché. “Glad you could come out with us!”

Two people had come up to her already, chipper and welcoming. Arlowe wasn't against people of that nature. She was fairly open when she was comfortable, right now though, without knowing anyone here, she felt as though she was fully out of her element. As friendly as they were, it likely wouldn't remain so for too long. "Evening to the both of you. I'm Arlowe Tate, you can call me Lowe if you want, or Tate, I'll answer to all of those." Annnnd now she was rambling, fantastic, you're a winner Lowe, making impressions already.

"Nice to meet you Lowe" Aeryn smiled warmly. "I'm sure we'll all have fun tonight."

“And you can call me Emma or Manu if the long name is too long,” Emmanuelle replied with a smile.

It was about quarter past ten when Alexandra finally arrived to the airlock, where the invitation said anyone who wants to join the 'girl's night out' should meet at 2200. Veronica was having a tantrum. She demanded to be allowed to stay up past bedtime, so she could read the book 'Greatest Soccer Legends of the Past Three Centuries'. After she finally managed to tuck her daughter to bed, the doctor still needed to dress up properly for the night, then head to the station. She didn't even remember the last time she's been out of uniform. She decided to wear a casual, but elegant-looking top along with a skirt and boots with small heels. It was a smaller miracle that she was only late by fifteen minutes or so. Just as she expected, everyone else was already there, waiting for her.

"Hello.", she waved to the three women already present. Two of them were familiar faces: one was Aeryn, her assistant, the other a security guard she's met during their mission on board the Tellarite vessel. Her name was Emmanuelle, if she recalled it correctly. However, she was not yet familiar with the third person. It was always fun to see new faces, she thought, and extended her hand towards the woman with a cordial smile, "I don't think we've met. I'm Alexandra Alves."

Arlowe's eyes shifted as another new woman, this one seemingly looking relieved about something, had made her appearance. She also offered a warm smile and her name. "Arlowe Tate, new transfer." she gave a quick nod.

"Sorry I'm late.", Alex then turned to the others, "Next time I'll keep a hypospray full of sedatives with me in case my little soccer star decides to ignore bedtime.", she joked.

“Glad you made it, Alexandra,” said Emmanuelle. “We’re just waiting for one more. Bethany, our new Assistant Chief Engineer.”

"Glad you could make it!" Aeryn grinned as she looked at Alexandra. "This is going to be a fun night out."

"Oh, I hope so.", the doctor replied with a friendly smile, "I must admit, my night out genes are a bit rusty. Hopefully, we can rejuvenate them."

'This is not a good idea, this is not a good idea,' thought Bethany over and over again even as she made her way towards the gathering throng of women. There were bound to be Betazoids, Deltans or Vulcans and the golden-haired girl dreaded that she was inevitably going to run afoul of them sooner or later, so she began to concentrate hard on blocking her mind. If there were telepaths among them, there was no way they wouldn't notice, but at least she wouldn't accidentally read someone's mind. That was far worse than having her mind read by them.

Bethany's love for twenty-first century Earth culture and fashion led to her current attire...well, that, and her indecisiveness. She couldn't decide between a tight long sleeved shirt or a loose short-sleeved t-shirt...so she wore both, and the same with whether to wear tight pants or a skirt. She wore both, and put on a ridiculous beanie cap (did have tin foil? Would that prevent telepaths from reading her mind?).

'Better or worse, just smile and be nice. Smile and be nice.' She told herself privately. Once she was within sight, she smiled and waved, her gait somewhat clumsy and she almost tripped over her own legs as she neared, "Hi everyone," said Bethany, "dumb question, but is this place safe?"

Arlowe had not even thought they place would be unsafe, the newest arrival coming in with a style of her own. Tate stood there with her arms crossed underneath her chest as she took in the newer arrival and wondered how many Betazoids the ship actually had. This one was different, her mental shields were unlike anything Arlowe had come in contact with before, and it intrigued her.

Emmanuelle nodded. “It’s safe enough. Energy weapons are disabled and security is tight.” She smiled widely. “And I’m a security officer. I’ll look out for us. Lieutenants Griffin and Sandoval know I’m ferocious!” She laughed a bit. “That’s all of us here. Shall we?”

Aeryn smiled and nodded. "I'm ready when everyone else is" She looked around the others. This was going to be a fun night, a chance to enjoy herself.

"She tells the truth.", Alex nodded with a smile, extending her hand, "And glad to meet you, Bethany. I'm Alexandra."

"Lead the way." said Bethany, smiling and bounced on her feet, following the group's leader.

"Sure, lets go." Tate said with a shrug of her tattooed shoulder.

Emmanuelle led the group through the airlock and into one of Paradise Station’s transport cubes. It began to propel them towards the entertainment district, where the club in question was. It took only a few minutes. The cube stopped and opened, allowing the five women to step out.

At this hour, the district was busy. People from dozens of species and all genders milled about. Some were getting drinks, while others shopped for amusing items. Others still watched performers in the main atrium.

“I think the club is this way!” shouted Emmanuelle over the din of people. She started walking. She was short, but her bright yellow hair made her stand out and easy to follow.

She... thinks, the club is this way... Arlowe tried not to roll her eyes. Shoving her hands in the pockets of her tight distressed jeans she hung at the back of the crowd. Hearing her counselor chanting in her mind something about making friends, being out there, getting into things. Even trouble, if it was something that would break the norm of Miss Starfleet.

Alexandra looked around the place in amazement. She felt tonight is a good chance to let herself loose, and simply have some fun without having to worry about a medical department or parenting or anything like that. She followed Emmanuelle, as she led the group, and gazed at the many aliens and various colorful activities, filling the place. Her super-curly dark hair was combed in a large afro style, which made her look somewhat taller than she usually appeared.

The club was loud, before they even got there. The thrumming of the base steadily made it's way through the thick walls and the flickering lights inside were seen before they even got close to the door. The music though, that base, her heart.. it moved to the beat and her head was nodding to it before she even realized it. Silent lips were moving to the words that few would know. Despite the song being remixed to give it a better club beat she knew the lyrics. Silently she stood there in line as they worked their way over towards the doorway. She looked over at the girl with the beanie on her head.

"You okay?" she asked.

"Yes," said Bethany, totally lying. The girl tugged at her beanie, bringing it a little lower over her brows, and then she tugged fretfully on her braid, and began to focus on keeping up her mental shields. She did not want to be read here. "There's so many people..."

Liar thought Tate as she viewed Becks. She didn't need to be an empath or have Beck's shields down to actually read her face. It was written all over it how uncomfortable she was.

Aeryn was finding the whole din as well as the number of minds present a little tough to handle, she clamped her mental shields down tight to keep herself from getting overwhelmed. She just hoped she’d enjoy the evening.

Bethany's eyes grew wider and wider. She was beginning to wonder if this was a good idea at all.

Inside, Tate noticed the wide eyes of the Assistant Chief Engineer, and so Tate did what anyone would likely do. Took a step closer and put her arm around the woman. "Stick with me, I got your back." Tate said with a wink and a grin. The music was loud, and it was good. It was the kind that Tate could lose herself in for hours. When she was busy in her office plotting the day to day life and the schedules of the ship, this was the stuff she would listen to. This was the kind of music that could get her through a day of paper work. "You want to get a drink first? Or do you want to dance?" she asked Becks before looking at everyone else because she wasn't going to leave anyone else out. She and Becks were new though, and it seemed that sticking together was smart.

“Drinks first, Mesdames!” said Emmanuelle. She lifted a credit chit that she filled with acceptable currency before coming over. She palmed it before anyone other than the five of them noticed. She loved this atmosphere. It reminded her of clubs in Montreal before she joined Starfleet: a sometimes-underaged girl with neon hair trying to have a good time. “If I brought back five brightly coloured drinks that might contain real alcohol, would that be alright?”

"As long as it's just the one!" Aeryn smiled. "It doesn't agree with my Betazoid half as much as it does my Human half!"

Bethany's head whipped to look at Aeryn in alarm, her panic and fear rising. Tate could feel the tiny blonde stiffening and her emotional output was written all over her that she might as well hold a signboard that said 'Panic Mode Engaged' with blinking neon lights. And one of them mentioned bringing back alcohol...she wanted to keep her wits about her as much as possible. "Water..." she said lamely.

Aeryn was only half-Betazoid, but it was still one part too much for the girl, and she was now visibly looking to put distance between herself and the other woman. She was glad for Tate, though. The woman was kind and thoughtful. She spoke softly to the other new arrival of the ship, "Sorry...I guess it's really been a while for me since I...went out...or socialized."

"Booze is fine, whatever you think is good. I can hold it." she said with a shrug of her shoulders. She worked with a lot of males, males liked to drink, so she had learned how to hold her liquor. It also helped loosen the rigid pole that went up her spine when it came to social situations. Her eyes shifted to Becks though, and noticed that she was freaking out a bit.

Alexandra noticed there was something wrong, apparently concerning with Bethany, and took a step closer to offer her help. "Is there anything wrong?", she asked gently, then added, with a smile, "Same with me. I can't even remember the last time I've been out somewhere else than a parents-teacher meeting."

Emmanuelle saw Bethany’s change in demeanour and wanted to reassure her. She gently touched the woman’s arm. “It’s okay, Bethany. I’ll get you a water.” She let go of Bethany. “Aeryn, why don’t you come with me? I probably need more hands anyway.”

Bethany felt like a perfectly horrid person for feeling glad to see some distance between herself and Aeryn.

"Sure, happy to help!" Aeryn grinned trying to enjoy herself but this was a bit busy for her liking too.

The others asked if Becks was okay, and Tate kept her arm around the small woman anyway. One, to keep all the greasy man-paws off of her, the thing was afraid of her own shadow she doubted a robust Klingon was going to woo her into security. Two, to keep the thing calm and from running. She looked like a small woodland creature about to bolt for the door the second someone brushed by her. "We got this, Becks. Music, dancing, no booze, you can do it." she gave a reassuring smile to Bethany, who gave a wavering smile of her own, if only to try and divert attention by not looking so much like she was about to leave Tate with a Bethany-shaped dust cloud in her arms any second.

Tate looked at Alex. "What department did you work in again, I'm sorry I can't remember if you told me."

"I forgot to tell you, sorry. I'm your good old grumpy space doctor.", Alexandra replied with a grin, "Chief Medical Officer.", she said, "How about you? Let me guess... sciences?"

"Chief of Operations, actually, newly minted." she said giving a bit of a grin to Alex.

Emmanuelle and Aeryn approached the bar, the shorter woman’s bright hair, practically glowing under the UV light, easily catching the bartender’s attention. She quickly placed an order with him for four of a brightly coloured drink that she saw others consume, once she confirmed it was potable for humans, and a distilled ice water. She turned to Aeryn and her curve-hugging, low-neckline dress. “My god, Aeryn, that dress. Has John seen it yet?”

"Not yet!" Aeryn grinned as she looked at Emmanuelle. "Do you think he'd approve?" It was nice to have Emmanuelle to talk to about her relationship with John. "Maybe I should drop by later and see him?"

“Absolument,” Emmanuelle said with a big smile. “Wake him if you have to. He’ll thank you for it, I’m sure!” The bartender handed them the five drinks, and then walked back to Alexandra, Arlowe, and Bethany.

“Voilà, mesdames,” she said, passing drinks around. “Apparently they’re called ‘A Night in Paradise.’ Local thing. And one ice water. Probably good that one of us isn’t drinking anyway.” She raised her glass. “Santé!”

"Down the hatch!" Aeryn grinned as she took a careful drink of hers. "Mmm not bad" She smiled. "This is my only alcoholic beverage tonight though!"

Bethany blushed and then grasped at her choice of drink, easily identifiable for all, and raised her glass in cheers, and took a sip. At least the music was enjoyable, and the company was very accommodating. It made her feel a bit better, but she was still eyeballing Aeryn warily every now and then, and raised up her mental shields more firmly each time that she did. Maybe she ought to try getting to know her first before alienating herself from the woman.

Tate grabbed her drink from the crew. "Thanks." she called over the music before she held it up to all the other women in attendance before taking a long drag. Short-stack was still having trouble, and Tate's arm hadn't moved from it's spot around her shoulders to keep her close and secure.

The music was lively but not deafeningly loud and unbearable. The crowds were joyous and enthusiastic, and even the little blonde was beginning to calm down a bit more.

"Thank you!", Alexandra smiled, as she picked up her drink from Emmanuelle, "A Night in Paradise? Sounds like an offer you can't refuse.", she joked, then raised her glass, "Cheers!"

Drink in hand and mouth, Emmanuelle looked around and saw the dance floor, filled with handsome men and beautiful women from dozens of races. The famous Andorian DJ Sammi Dee was on a platform high above, making the music possible. “Anyone care to dance?” she said with a big smile.

Aeryn shook her head. "I'm fine, I'm more of a table dancer!" She grinned. "I'll just sit here and watch."

Tate rose her brow and put her drink down, already half empty, on the table. Dancing, well, she supposed she could get behind some dancing. Though Becks might not be interested she needed to venture out of her little box and meet some people. "I'm in for dancing." Tate said looking at Manny.

"At the risk of looking like a complete loon," said Bethany, "I...will try the dance anyway..."

The blonde's decision to go dancing might have to do with Aeryn wanting to stay put, but Bethany wasn't saying anything or looking any longer at her.

Aeryn had noticed the way Bethany was acting towards her but not wanting to make her feel uncomfortable or ruin the evening she hadn't taken any notice. She thought of mentioning her concerns to Krysia though now that she was ships counsellor. She simply smiled at the blonde for now.

Emmanuelle pulled Bethany and Arlowe to the dance floor, looking to Alexandra and Aeryn, who for the moment stayed behind, and started moving her body to the rhythm. Within minutes she had lost herself. She smiled at a handsome gentleman of a species she didn’t recognize, and looked past him to a tall beauty with pink hair. They locked eyes and moved towards each other, and enjoyed the next song.

Tate was rather proud of Becks. The fact that she wanted to come out on the dance floor was a huge step for her. So, it was nice when they headed out with Manny. Something caught Manny's eyes and she moved forward to the destination she set in her mind but Tate pulled Becks close to keep her protected and have fun with the first friend that she had made here. Tate didn't swing both ways, though you probably couldn't tell by the way that she was dancing with Becks. She had one hand on the woman's shoulder, and their bodies were moving together to the music. Tate was the sort that could fully lose herself in music, and with the beat helping her body move the way it needed to, she was rather enjoying herself.

Becks for her part, moved awkwardly, in what she believed was a dance. She actually looked a little epileptic, but as she began to relax with some distance put between her and the known Betazoid, she began to move a little more gracefully. Not by much, but a little.

Aeryn's mind was elsewhere she was looking forward to dropping off at John's quarters on the way home and she couldn't wait for the time to come. She was sure he'd like her dress especially after Emmanuelle's comment on it.

Alexandra decided to follow Emmanuelle and hit the dance floor, afterall, they came here to party. She soon found herself a dance partner in a fast moving, handsome-looking alien of an unknown species. She waved to Emmanuelle and the others, as she saw them dancing nearby.

Emmanuelle looked around and smiled giddily, seeing her friends, some older, some newer, having fun. Aeryn seemingly looking forward to what was undoubtedly coming later for her, Arlowe and Bethany dancing together and getting more relaxed, and Alexandra dancing with a handsome gentleman not far from her. She winked at the CMO and then lost herself to the music with the pink-haired beauty dancing up against her.

:OFF