Joint Duty Log - RAdm Waterhouse, Capt Ivanova, Capt Diziara & Cmdr Dahe'el - "It's Just Life, So Keep Dancing Through"

Posted on Thu Aug 14th, 2014 @ 4:41am by Commander Amelia Waterhouse & Admiral Rochelle Ivanova
Edited on on Sun Aug 17th, 2014 @ 2:36am

2,506 words; about a 13 minute read

Mission: In the Dark

As the song wrapped up and the band started into another, one silvery-blond Admiral Corey Waterhouse, 5'8" tall wearing his dress uniform, approached the feature couple of this shindig: the newly minted Captain Rochelle Ivanova, and the dashing Commander Almar Dahe'el. With the Admiral came his wife Diziara, 6' of red hair, Klingon forehead, and Trill spots poured into a midnight blue slinky dress, and stacked on top of tall spike heels.

"Might I cut in?" Corey asked with a dazzling grin. "My wife can keep your handsome partner warm until I return you," he added with a wink.

Rochelle had only just stepped away from Almar long enough to say goodbye, to agree to allowing him to try and help her sleep, when Admiral Waterhouse and his wife cut her off at the pass. There was no escape, only the ability to smile politely and study her hands for a short moment. "I suppose I can oblige you with one dance, Admiral." She responded, quickly looking to Almar and then back to Waterhouse, offering the Admiral her hand.

The Cardassian graciously took his leave with a bow of the head towards the Admiral who had so brazenly swept in to take Rochelle from his company.

"I believe my husband directed me to keep you warm for the Captain," the tall red-head purred at the Cardassian, as she moved into his personal space like a predator stalking prey. With her heels she stood a little taller than him, but not by much. "At least I'm also a red-head and a captain, though not in command of a fine ship like she is." She grinned and winked at him. "I do not believe we have had the pleasure of being introduced," the Cardassian replied in his best 'formal' tone as he raised an eyebrow at the curious hybrid before him, "Lieutenant Commander Almar Dahe'el, Chief Engineer." "I'm Diziara," she returned, biting down her grin to try and follow the formal tone the engineer was leading with, "I get to try and break the fighter craft my husband designs in the shipyards, or at least did until recently. Who knows what the fleet will do with us." She shrugged, and held her hand out to him. "Shall we dance? I promise I won't bite... I don't have the permission of your fiery little Captain." Almar took the hand and led the tall woman to the dance floor, "It's a pleasure, I'm sure your husband and I would have a great deal to discuss. Prior to my posting on the Vindicator, I worked in Starship design and construction at Utopia Planitia and oversaw the construction of the Discovery Class Vindicator." "Then I am amazed we haven't crossed paths before, I know I would have noted you if I'd seen you. I think I recall when Vindicator left the yards... what was it, almost two years ago?" Diziara shrugged slightly. "I'm sure Cor will happily take you for a spin around the floor and compare notes, if you ask." She winked. "It is possible that I was buried away deep inside the Vindicator," the Cardassian replied with a light chuckle as they danced away, their movements timed to perfection, allowing Almar glances towards his own redhead. "I certainly have had that problem with Corey," Diziara insisted with an eye roll, gliding with Almar's careful guidance. "Thankfully, fighters are small enough, I can easily find him even if the computer's aren't online yet to help me out. I can only imagine how fun it is to try to find someone on a ship this big without computers to assist and you're wedged into a jefferies tube where you can't reach your combadge." Diziara took note of how their movements on the dance floor conveniently echoed those of her husband and Captain Ivanova. She smirked. Another raised eyebrow was drawn as Almar noticed her expression, he continued the dance as he questioned the woman, "Something amuses you?" "My husband will behave, he's in uniform and there's an audience," Diziara insisted with a grin. "I don't think it was your husband that you were smirking at," the Cardassian replied with a slight chuckle, "Is it really that obvious?" "Probably not, but when you have appetites like mine, you learn to read who's spoken for, and who isn't, really well," she admitted. "Especially when one has a distaste for cheaters, and those who would aid them in cheating." "I can't agree more," Almar replied with a broadening smile. "You two aren't an item yet, though, are you?" Diziara asked, stealing a glance at Corey and Rochelle as she did. "What's holding you back?" "Honestly... I do not know," the Cardassian replied as he shot another glance over to Rochelle before bringing them back to his dancing partner, "There is much at stake and she is still coming to terms with the loss of Captain Neyes." "They were closer than just captain and XO?" Diziara dared guess, with a soft head shake. "It'll probably take time and patience, but I hope it works out for you." "As long as we can help her heal, that is all that matters," Almar replied with another chuckle. "It is," she agreed quietly, thinking about how Corey had been there for her for so long. "She'll be fine in time, even though it may take her time to realize it. It did for me." "She is strong, but no one is an island, especially not in Starfleet, no matter how much they try and act like it." the Cardassian nodded in response. Diziara nodded, feeling there really was no need to do any more. As she noticed the song starting to wind down, she looked to see where Captain Ivanova and Corey had gone on the dance floor. He saw that her husband was leading the petite captain towards them. "Thank you for this dance, Almar," she said, taking the liberty of using his first name. "I wish you luck, and patience, with your fiery captain."

Corey couldn't help a sigh and a head shake, catching his wife's antics out of the corner of his eye. "Play nice, Kitten," he admonished her as he returned his attention to the petite red-head he'd temporarily traded her for. "Congratulations on the promotion, and officially being given command of the Vindicator." The sultry sound of violins did nothing more of Rochelle as she watched bodies drift along to the music across the floor. She'd been encouraged and instructed on how to dance from the time she was very young — family heritage, something sacred, she couldn't remember the laundry list of reasons why her aunts had said it was important that she know the graces of movement in a ballroom setting. Admiral Waterhouse was a talented partner, gracefully reminding her that she was not to lead no matter how much she wanted to. "Thank you, Admiral." She replied, stealing another glance towards Almar and then focused back on the brass holding her in his arms, "I'm pleased that you decided to join us this evening." She said, ever polite and ever the gracious Captain. "Please, even in uniform, Corey's fine," he insisted. "I'm glad I was here to witness Pond's promotion, that was quite a show the two of you put on," he smiled and chuckled softly. "It's tradition, Corey." Rochelle responded in kind with a chuckle, "She left the door wide open for retribution way back when she served with me on the Griffin. And now? She left the door open again. I can't promise to be kind with it either." The sharp young woman smiled vibrantly at such a thought, the pleasant memories and untold ideas for the future. "Oh, I know the tradition," he assured her. "Holo recording wouldn't have done that one justice though, so I was glad to be here for it. And be mindful of the arms race you're headed into with Pond. She thrives on that sort of back and forth." Another chuckle punctuated the soft toss of her head as Rochelle chased away an ever irritating loose strand of hair as it tried to abscond with her vision, "Your daughter doesn't worry me, sir. She gives as good as she gets and knows her limits." "I'm glad to hear it... I had been worried she was going to take more after her mother, which means her record would be blacker than a CIA report redacted back on 20th century earth." Corey shook his head, stealing a glance at his wife across the floor. Light laughter rose from the spirited little Captain's lips at the mental image the man had painted for her. Amelia had been a handful on the Griffin, was still a handful on the Vindicator even though she had matured and begun to sincerely come into her own. "I don't doubt that. She's known for being a wild card throughout Starfleet, but I rather enjoy her company." Her gaze followed his, resting on the Cardassian and the set of legs he danced with, "I intend on having her as my Executive Officer." She said, drawing her attention away. She knew the rumors surrounding how the Waterhouse marriage operated, knew how sexual the woman in Almar's arms could be — it was no small secret — but also knew it wasn't her place to guard him, to stop him should he want her. She wasn't his keeper, though it didn't stop a cold pang of some distant emotion she couldn't quite place a finger on as the Admiral guided her beautifully along in time with the music. "Do you now?" Pride lit up his smile as Rochelle confessed her intentions. Corey couldn't help a snort of amusement. "Jack is going to be disappointed though, he was expecting his daughter to make XO first. Diz will love collecting on that bet." "I'm always happy to unwittingly oblige." The young one grinned, watching a father's eyes light up at mention of their child's success. Even an Admiral, hardened by years of servitude, could appreciate and soften at the mention of their offspring's proverbial coming to age. The rise to command was no small matter, Rochelle hadn't had her family to stand behind her, she'd done it on her own with hardly a congratulatory embrace or kind word from what little of her relatives still remained. To them, this was what she was supposed to do and needed not a pat on the back. Her mother, or so she'd like to believe, would have showered her with pride and admonishment. Susan was long gone, however. "I can't tell Diz, until it goes through. She wouldn't be able to keep from spoiling. When do you plan to tell Pond?" Corey asked, looking around to see if he could spot his daughter. A smile, again, tugged at her delicate features, "Fair enough. It'll be set in stone sometime tomorrow." "I'll watch for the paperwork in the fleet database before I say anything about it to Diz or Pond. Diz will be irked if she finds out I knew ahead of time and didn't tell her," he returned, but shrugged. "How long is Vindicator expected to be in the yard for repairs?" Rochelle's body twisted in time to the music, in time to the way Corey begged for it to move with careful touches and guiding motions nearly unnoticeable by all but the most sensitive to such things. It was natural for her to move away from pressure, but not for her to yield. She'd only ever allowed herself to fully yield to Almar as he'd guided her along. "No more than a couple weeks. Commander Dahe'el insists on being thorough with her before we take off again given how much strain she had put on her." "I still can't believe he took this ship down into atmosphere... it sounds like something Diz would do to find me, but even she admits she's a lunatic," he grinned and shook his head. She smiled at this, her mind mulling over what Almar had said — his promise to always save her, come what may. "He's devoted to his cause." Rochelle replied softly, tilting her head, "A good man with a bad rap simply for being a Cardassian and one Hell of an officer." In truth, the tiny woman took great pride in admonishing the brass with Dahe'el's finest qualities and attributes. He deserved the nod and so much more. "A devoted man and a fine officer is worth his weight in latinum. Take good care of him," Corey said, with little doubt that Rochelle already did. "And call me biased, being an engineer myself, but being a good engineer only makes him invaluable." The Captain swallowed the building knot in her throat, the one that grew as the Admiral spoke. She was pleased that Almar's merit had been noticed by the brass, a small success that she'd allow herself as she continued to bolster the man along. "He is." She nodded in agreement, "I won't allow the ship to lose him. We'd be lost." Corey nodded, noting the current song winding down. A quick glance allowed him to spot Commander Dahe'el and his wife, and he gently guided Rochelle in that direction. "Thank you for the pleasure of this dance, and once again, congratulations on the promotion and the command," Corey said as danced nearer the Cardassian engineer and the Admiral's wife. "The pleasure was all mine." Rochelle smiled politely, bowing her head to the Admiral.

Giving a brief nod, the Cardassian stood and cocked his head as the Admiral and his Captain danced their way towards them.

The dance over, the music coming to a stop, Rochelle easily slipped from the Admiral's hands and back into freedom in front of Almar and, by proxy, Diziara. She nodded a greeting to both of them, "Enjoy your evenings." The Captain smiled softly, catching the Cardassian's eyes with hers before she took her leave off into the crowd.

Diziara watched her go with a slight tilt of her head, a considering look brushing across her face until she turned her attention back to the two men she stood with. "Now you should take Almar for a spin," Diziara insisted to her husband, and he laughed.

"We have spoken for quite enough of his time this evening, Kitten," Corey admonished his wife, and directed a wink at Almar. "I'd love to compare notes on this fine ship, perhaps some time without an audience and need for uniform... but for now, I should keep my wife occupied before she finds herself some trouble. Congrats on the promotion, and have a fine evening."

With that, the small silvery-blond admiral spun his tall red-headed wife out onto the floor and disappeared into the crowd.

=/\= END LOG =/\=

Rear Admiral Corey Waterhouse
Head of Fighter Design Team
In Transition

Captain Diziara
Fighter Test Pilot
In Transition

Captain Rochelle Ivanova
Commanding Officer
USS Vindicator

Commander Almar Dahe'el
Chief Engineering Officer
USS Vindicator

 

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