Joint Log - LtCmdr Waterhouse & Lt Atarah - "Oh, I Know That The Music's Fine Like Sparkling Wine"

Posted on Mon Aug 11th, 2014 @ 3:26am by Commander Amelia Waterhouse & Danielle Atarah

1,782 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: In the Dark

After the excitement of the ceremony itself, the crew had drifted into groups, and the holographic band took over the stage drawing some to the dance floor. Amelia had one person she was looking for, though she knew there were others who would come looking for her. Especially after the display she and Rochelle had put on. Amelia wandered, nodding and smiling at anyone who congratulated her on her promotion and awards, and kept an eye open for Dani Atarah.

Dani, for her part, was trying to be excited. Official ceremonies were as far away from her usual scene as her comfort zone went, but she tried her best to be on her best behavior, or, at least, not squirm out of her tuxedo. As soon as the official part was done, Dani made a B-line to the bar, found herself a glass of non-alcoholic something with juice in it, and stood to watch the crowd.

Amelia finally spotted Dani as she hit the bar, so she made a beeline through the crowd to come up behind the engineer. She looked pretty smart in her tux, and Amelia couldn't help a grin. Leave to Dani to find a way to comply with the rules if she must, and still absolutely shatter them. Amelia draped herself on the bar next to Dani.

"Looking sharp," she said, making a show of looking Dani up and down, and punctuating the comment with a wolf whistle.

"I know." Dani smirked, milked the moment, then widened her smile. "And you have no place for your shiny new pips. Congratulations, by the way," she grinned. She actually couldn't help but feeling proud for Amelia, despite herself. "Since you're into that sort of thing."

"Thank you," Amelia said with a small smile and a soft blush. It meant a lot that even if Dani didn't want to climb the ranks herself, she was happy for Amelia as she did. "But if you listen to my boss, all pips are good for is collecting dust in my quarters." She glanced around to see if she could spot the smarmy smirk of Commander Archer.

Dani snorted, "There are several other uses for them. You know, they are not bad as partial conductors. You'd be amazed what those can be used for," she smiled. "So. How is it? Being all Commandery," that last word was accompanied with a "ooooo" gesture, and Dani balanced her cup before it would spill all over Amelia's dress. Or worse, all over Dani's tuxedo.

"No different that bef- No wait... Is that the pressure of responsibility pressing down on my shoulders?" Amelia made a face of mock horror, badly pantomiming carrying something large on her shoulders. She hardly noticed Dani's need for a smooth save with her drink. "Wanna dance? It's been a while since my last bad attempt to learn swing, but what's the good of fancy duds like we've got on if we don't show them off?"

"Let's hope that's responsibility pressing down on your shoulders," Dani mocked, but then took a breath. She won't be the party pooper. Her friend earned a promotion she was looking for. She's happy. Dani will be happy for her. "Sorry, sorry. I know. It's a good thing. I'm happy for you, really." she smiled and surveyed the dance floor with some discontent. "Dancing? Oh, is that what they're trying to do?"

Amelia laughed as Dani poked fun at those who filled the dance floor. As usual for an event like this, a lot of the people on the floor were doing the slow dance shuffle, even if slow tempo swing from a big band was still too peppy for it. She did see a couple pairs here and there who actually had some skill to their step, but they were certainly the exception.

"That sounds like the snark of someone who thinks she can dance," Amelia quipped, smirk painting her lips. "If you want to put your rhythm where your mouth is, I'll even let you lead." Amelia held out her hand to Dani, head tilted in question. There was no point in Amelia insisting on leading anyways, she knew she couldn't lead a dance but she could follow okay enough with a good leader.

Dani laughed, "thinks? Ha! Darling, I invented good dancing," she turned to put her glass on the table and offered her elbow with a small bow. "Don't you worry, newly-minted commander," she grinned, "I'll take it slow for you."

"I can usually keep up, if you're any good leading," Amelia returned, intentionally egging Dani on. She was looking forward to seeing just what Dani called dancing.

Dani smiled, leading Amelia to the dance floor, her feet already moving to the beat. "Computer, set music to 'Duke Ellington, 'Let's get together', and make sure it's the original version." She turned to look at Amelia again with an entirely over-satisfied smile, her legs stepping with the beat, her ass moving sideways to the swing. "Ready?"

Only, before Amelia could answer, Dani twisted, let one hand go so she could rotate the other woman in place, and grabbed both her hands again. Hooting twice with the trumpets, Dani winked at Amelia and led, keeping her moves as simple in the song's speed as she could.

Dani had timed her request well, the band had just finished up the last song and they smoothly moved into the one she specified. Only those near her on the dance floor might even realize it was requested instead of just another track in the play list. Amelia thought she was ready to keep up, starting to find the beat as she followed Dani to the floor, and then when Dani asked if she was ready, she found out that Dani was serious.

Amelia surprised herself with how much she actually remembered from what small amount of time she'd attempted to learn swing, but she found herself really being lead around. She also kind of wished she'd kicked her shoes off first, as she expected her heels certainly weren't doing her any favors. Despite the challenge of keeping up her friend, Amelia was enjoying the hell out of it.

Dani's feet moved quickly, tapping the floor with the rhythm of the swing dance, her expression a mix of amusement and mischief as she tried to measure how further she can push Amelia's dancing. "Here," she grabbed the woman's hands and pulled her close, one arm around her waist and the other holding hers up, moving closer and farther. "Just follow my lead," she kept a steady pace, "and be ready." And again she didn't wait for acknowledgment and lifted her arm up, pushing the woman's waist for a spin, jumping on one foot and then the other in the exaggerated moves of the swing dance style.

The spin very much caught Amelia by surprise, but she laughed as went with it. She was starting to recognize the small things Dani did with her hands, her arms, to guide Amelia where she needed to be. If she let herself just go with the flow, like she did when sparring or when in a bar brawl, she was keeping up okay with what Dani was doing. But Amelia got the impression that this was the easy mode.

Anticipating the song's end, Dani moved closer, a brief horribly mischievous smirk passed on her face. She was hoping Amelia got the gist — and that she will cooperate rather than panic. If she judged her dance partner's reaction correctly, this could go extremely well. If she misjudged Amelia's willingness to trust, however, this might end up with assault charges. Or something.

Counting towards the end of the piece, Dani smiled, wiggled her eyebrows, and moved in for the killer ending. She turned, pulled Amelia's right arm forward, then backwards, tipping the taller woman backwards. And then she crouched, quickly, one one knee, extending her arms to maneuver the falling woman over her knee and into her outstretched arm, just as the trumpets sounded their final winning tone.

Amelia had finally found that instinctual place she normally only found in combat and sex, where she just moved and she didn't think about it. So she moved where Dani guided her, didn't think about it, didn't fight it. She just moved. And she fell. By the time she realized that Dani had dropped her, or so she thought, she was already landing on the engineer's arms.

The music ended with a final bombastic note, and Dani smiled widely. "Dancing, yet? Let's switch it up a bit." She tilted her head, but didn't take her eyes off of Amelia. "Computer, play Duke Ellington, 'Caravan', with Ella Fitzgerald," she stretched her free hand towards Amelia as the slower song began and Ella Fitzgerald's voice filled the room. "Here you go, Commander," she grinned and got up to her feet. "You can lead now," her smile grew to her Bugs Bunny signature grin.

Amelia blinked, suddenly realizing they'd stopped dancing for the moment, and met Dani's gaze. Maybe she'd have to give those swing dance lessons a try again, that was actually kind of fun she thought as Dani gave her a hand up.

"I can't lead," Amelia insisted, shaking her head. Next to them, Amelia's father approached, clearing his throat.

"Aww, of course you can, you see, you put your arm right here," she guided her, and I put mine right... there." She smirked, pulling her closer. "It's a slow dance now. All you have to do is— oh," she blinked, looking at the source of the distraction. Her expression shifting first to somewhat panic at the sight of the dress uniforms and the rank, and then she noticed the face.

"Might I cut in?" He smiled, holding his hand out to Amelia as he made eye contact with Dani.

"Admiral Cor," Dani smirked, and bowed, releasing Amelia to her father. "Maybe you can let her lead," she winked and took a step back.

"You lead, Daddy," Amelia insisted, laying her hand in her father's.

"You keep a spot open for me on that dance card of yours, Lieutenant Trouble," Corey directed at Dani with a wink, pulling Amelia into step and disappearing into the thick of the dance floor.

Dani grinned, "you have a club card, Chief," Dani grinned and walked back towards the bar. She took a second to pause next to Amelia's ear, "next time, we do the Cha Cha," She wiggled her eyebrows and strutted away, her feet bouncing every second step to the beat.

=/\= END LOG =/\=

Lt Commander Amelia Waterhouse
Infiltration Specialist
USS Vindicator

Lieutenant Danielle Atarah
Engineering Officer
USS Vindicator

 

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