Joint Duty Log - Lt Zola & Lt(jg) Roswell - "No Snow"

Posted on Mon Nov 24th, 2014 @ 9:04am by Lieutenant JG Saia Roswell

1,444 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: All Hallows’

Saia walked in in Kevin's arm wearing her red dress and red mask. The slit came just up to her knee and it sparkled near the bottom. It hugged her slight curves, but no more so than the uniform. However, the cut was a bit more flattering. Kevin had picked it out for her. He had convinced her to go as a lounge singer. When in fact, he was playing down the sexiness of a character from an old movie. Jessica Rabbit.

He himself was dressed as a detective from the same era. He even had an unlit cigar in his mouth and kept talking about gams and with a strange accept Saia didn't bother to ask about. His mask was simple and tan colored. She tried to look pleasant, but her eyes wandered warily over the people in the crowd as Kevin wandered about saying hello to people.

Saia clutched his arm tightly and she heard him ask if she wanted a drink. She simply nodded, not moving much other than to look around the room.

Zola wandered the crowd, eyeing all the costumes. She loved clothes, nearly as much as she loved technology. So tonight was just amazing. She saw a woman she didn't know yet in a sparkley red dress and smiled at how pretty it was.

"Excuse me?" Zola approached from the side. "I just wanted to say, your dress is pretty."

Saia blinked over. She swallowed forcing a smile, "Thank you. I love yours as well... What department are you in?" She tried to make her voice casual and warm, but she could even hear the strain in it.

"You like it? It feels so plain compared to other dresses here, like yours." The tiny Ferengi grinned wide, spreading her arms to show off her feathered shawl as she dipped into a curtsy. "I'm in engineering. My name's Zola." She didn't seem to realize the discomfort in the voice of the taller woman.

Saia nodded, only a bit relieved at being told she wasn't a civilian. Still, one can lie. She kept a tight hold on Kevin's arm who had handed Saia her drink. Saia took it in her free hand as he chuckled, "Well hey there! I love the costume."

"You're a dick, right?" Zola asked the man. "A PI, a gumshoe. I knew a guy who loved those holonovels. That means she's the the Dame, the mystery woman. Right?" Zola couldn't help bouncing from foot to foot as she babbled on. She loved when she remembered things about human culture.

Kevin chuckled, "Yep and... um sure..." He figured he could tell Zola later about Roger Rabbit and getting Saia to wear one of his fantasies without really telling her about it. He smirked smugly as he squeezes Saia's waist gently. "Remember the one I mentioned trying to write?" Saia was glad Kevin seemed to pick up the conversational slack as she kept her eyes out for anyone.

"You write detective stories? Are you dressed as your character?" She noticed Saia looking around. "Looking for someone? I've been here since the party started, maybe I've seen them?"

Kevin chuckled, "Well, that's the trying. I can program it, but I have no idea how to go about writing the plot. And once I figure out who the main character is, I think he would wear this sort of garb."

Saia looked up and blinked and shook her head, "No... why?"

"Oh, you're just looking around," Zola answered, frowning softly. "With everyone in costumes and masks, it can be hard to tell who's who. I though I'd help if I could."

Saia smiled, "It's alright." She sipped at the drink Kevin gave her, "Are civilians here as well?"

"I think some of the pasta people are around. I know the XO's brother is, I heard someone talking about him dressing the Captain. He's that pirate over there." Zola pointed to the tall blond man near the punch bowl with the half skull mask.

Saia wrinkled her nose and scooted closer to Kevin. Kevin sighed and smiled at Zola, "So, how's life treating you outside Engineering?"

Zola tilted her head and looked at Saia a moment.

"I'm still settling in, and trying to make friends. I'd started to make friends with a Marine, and then he transferred suddenly," she answered, turning her attention to Kevin with his question. "Did I say something wrong?"

Kevin shook his head and looked to Saia. Saia sighed, "I don't like crowds..."

"Crowds can be noisy, but you don't look like you have sensitive hearing..." The Ferengi shrugged with a smile. "It's quieter out on the balcony, and there's a pretty view. Or, you can see the whole floor if you go upstairs. Less people, and quieter."

Kevin nodded, "Show the way." He stroked Saia's hand comfortingly. If the new location didn't help her nerves, he'd just take her home. He was a bit disappointed though. He enjoyed these things as much as Zola seemed to. However, he didn't want to make Saia uncomfortable and he felt weird being there without her.

"Upstairs or balcony? There's snow out on the balcony," Zola explained, starting to walk. They'd pass the stairs to go up on the way to the balcony, so it was the right direction for both.

Saia followed Kevin as he followed Zola, Saia still attached to his arm. He offered his other arm to Zola being a gentleman. "Something tells me Saia has had enough of snow for awhile."

Saia frowned, "I can speak for myself." After awhile, "I've had enough of snow for awhile."

Zola smiled at Kevin offering his arm, murmuring a small thank you as she guided them onto the stairs headed to the second level gallery.

"Were you part of the away team on that frozen planet when I arrived on the ship?" Zola asked, a worried look crossing her face half hidden by black feathers.

Saia nodded, "I was..." She swallowed and looked up hoping they were soon there where they were headed.

"I'm glad you made it back okay," Zola answered as she stopped them at the top of the stairs. She listened for a moment before turning left. It sounded like there was a couple kissing towards the right. "You can either stay on this level, or go one more up. The top's most likely to have most of the love birds making kissy faces though."

Kevin smirked, "Well, that's a selling point." Saia had gone back to looking around at every corner however.

"Why's that?" Zola asked, then she giggled softly. "There are some couches between the doors, usually with a few candles just above them."

She stopped in front of one such couch, and waved her hand at it with flourish.

Kevin chuckled, "Nothing." He slid in followed by the Trill that was attached to him. He waited for Zola to join them.

"Would you, uh, like me to leave you two to, ug," Zola offered awkwardly.

Kevin chuckled, "No, come. Sit."

"If you insist," Zola agreed after a moment's awkward pause. "The music is interesting. I know it's a holographic band, but I catch forced imperfections in it, like whoever programed it wanted to make it sound more real. Like certain notes, each time they're played by the same instrument, they sound exactly the same, but each ai has like a signature riff or note they play differently each time." Zola started talking, leaning forward to look through the railing and watch the quartet.

Kevin nodded, "I need to find out who. I can help them put in a better randomizing algorithm." He let out a sigh feeling Saia relax a bit into him, her grip went from death to just don't leave me as they settled into the less crowded area. He could see her still watching the area warily and glad that he sat her into a corner so she had less angles to worry about.

"I know the XO put together the program, but I think she does kind of a patchwork of it. Pulling pieces multiple programs or something like that?" Zola shrugged. "I think all her programs are available to everyone to use."

Kevin nodded, "Good. I plan to add some things to it. Now probably isn't a good idea, but eventually."

"Might confuse people to change the setting in the middle of the party," Zola agreed with a small nod. "Even considering, it's still nice. Not the usual stuff I go for, but nice."

Kevin smiled, "It is some lovely music."

=/\= End Log =/\=

Lt(jg) Saia Roswell
Chief Science Officer
USS Vindicator

Lieutenant Zola
Engineering Officer
USS Vindicator

 

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