The Commander Dances

Posted on Thu Jun 13th, 2024 @ 8:40am by Lieutenant N'vok Holv & Commander Kyle Reece & Lieutenant Commander Rin & Lieutenant Anna Esquivias & Captain Samuel Woolheater

Mission: Season 6 HIATUS
Location: Dancefloor
Timeline: Immediately after "Promotion Party"
2471 words - 4.9 OF Standard Post Measure

There was some music now that Sam could find to beat to and that resonated with him. There were a great many people here now a wide diverse group milling about, macking on the food, BBQ ribs were good. The hot dog like things were good, lots of empty beer cans - a golden age of recycling ahead - fruit stuff was all gone. Anna's bean dip bowl was basically licked clean. Although good luck at finding someone to admit to licking the bowl. There used to be a big ass pile of brownie things. Square bits of chocolate brownie-like cake things that had been decimated. The foods that were left were, as usual, health food types. The celery sticks, the non-fat cheese dip that, when not brought to a party, was used to seal fissures in the hull or enhance the seal around a window frame. Unopened bowls of taste-free cottage cheese. There were flat cakes that reminded Sam of corm tortillas but were devoid of any kind of taste. He tasted one and hope that it wasn't the stryo-foam used to keeps porcelin plates from shattering during a move. Sam surveyed the food table for more edibles and found a heretofore hidden plate of some tongue-burning, mind bending, liquid lava hasperat. If they could somehow channel hasparat into the QT drive - well hell - they'd be home by now. He chugged a big glass of some delicious iced tea and thanked his lucky stars that some kind soul had to good sense to bring a box of chocolate pudding pies. Each pie was about the size of a medium sized muffin and was thoughtfully decorated with an image of the honored and promoted . Using his scouting and sniping skills, he made a full report of what was good to eat and pointed out the wasted table real estate taken up by the healthy food errors that someone - clearly suffering from some past and unresolved guilt complex - had felt the need to bring.

Sam approached Andrinn, still talking with Rena and put his arms around him from behind and started to bump, grind and gyrate and dance to the music that filled the area, "You wanna dance? Shake that booty on the dance floor?" he asked.

Andrinn felt someone tug at his waist and was about to say something when he heard Sam ask him to dance. He couldn't help but chuckle when he heard Sam ask him to dance. Andrinn replied, "I would love to dance. It was nice to meet you Counselor. I'll make sure to bring this man by sometime for some sessions. He's do for a few!" Andrinn smiled and waved at the new counselor as him and Sam went to the dance floor.

As the dancing began, Kyle moved over to Rin and extended his right hand, a friendly grin on his face. "Congratulations, Rin! I'm afraid the work doesn't get any easier, the higher up the chain you go," he chuckled softly.

"I wasn't expecting it to," Rin replied as she accepted the hand. "I'm honored the Commodore believes I can handle it."

"But, can you handle learning how to disco, Commander Rin?" asked N'vok.

"I expect disco to be at least marginally less demanding than the Commodore," Rin replied. "Are you familiar with many archaic human forms of dance?"

"Surprisingly, yes," replied N'vok. "Though disco is one of the few I have kept up on, it is excellent exercise." He led her over to a marginally clearer area so they would have room to move. And one else looking uncertain about dancing would be gestured over as well.

"Let us start with the basics . . ." he began. N'vok is actually quite a good teacher, starting with basic footwork, then adding in some turns and some gestures. He guides those wishing to learn through a quick course in simple disco moves.

Rin was a quick learner. As she had described, she was good with keeping to the beat. She just needed some guidance with actual moves. But she was lighter on her feet now too, as opposed to at the Commodore's wedding. More at ease. More able to flow with the movements.

And she was... giggly. Rin was giggling at the whole thing.

From across the way, Samuel could see Rin learning to dance and N'vok teaching her how to disco. Sam didn't know how to disco dance either. But not knowing never stopped him before. He said to Andrinn, "I don't think I've ever seen Commander Rin so...happy. Look at her, dancing and giggling. A different person since we left spacedock. Even different since we left Popsicle One."

Gary watched Rin as she danced and giggled. He was glad to see her happy and relaxed. He saw Sam and Andrinn talking, looking like they were getting to go out on the dance floor and give it a whirl. He hadn't danced since his wedding and he was content to watch others enjoy themselves.

Andrinn stopped for a moment and realized what everyone was look at. He stopped for a moment and said, "I don't think that I've seen her this relaxed in a bit. I'm glad that she's able to let loose, just like the rest of us here."

Tap, tap tap. Rin's feet fell into a rhythm. It was strangely familiar. tap tap, tap Toe, heel, toe. She remembered this. It was a really, really old memory. She danced.

A lifetime ago, Rin had been musically inclined. Had Starfleet not caught her attention, she might have pursued music professionally. She had, as Rin, been playing the violin for years. She had no memory of learning it the first time, and it was debatable whether she had some subconscious knowledge of it versus having relearned from scratch.

But, a lifetime ago, she had also danced. Nothing great. Her parents had told her of it. She had been ... 12? when she stopped.

And somewhere in the back of her mind, she remembered. It was like remembering how to rike a bike you haven't ridden in 40 years. But she clicked her heels, and she danced, a little more confident with each move.

N'vok smiled, a little, watching Rin, move with the music. Time for surprise number one. He pulled out a gold chain from a pocket and draped it around his neck, there was the shimmer of a transporter field and his uniform was transformed into a three-piece white disco suit, complete with high collar and bell-bottom pants. He struck a pose and then dove onto the dance floor, totally embracing the ideal of the disco.

Sam's eyebrows went up as the shimmer of the transporter beam faded away and left behind N'vok's disco costume. It was as if it were perfectly timed too. Which made sense to Sam. N'vok was Vulcan after all. And if anyone knew how to make an entrance it would be the Vulcans. Playing at that moment was ABBA and "Dancing Queen" which was so perfect. Both for Rin who looked like she was letting herself enjoy the moment and N'vok who was helping. Sam bumped booty with Andy and sang along to the words.

Over on the sidelines, Kyle sat and watched the fun. While disco really wasn't his thing, he could appreciate the flow and beat of the music. Watching Rin smile and laugh, he was glad that she was enjoying her party. It was a nice change, from all the pain and hardship they had been through as of late.

Rin took a pause from the dance floor to grab another drink and drop into a chair next to Kyle. "Don't tell N'vok, but I have the sneaking suspicion in my previous life I hated ABBA."

Kyle smiled and chuckled. "Your secret is safe with me," he replied quietly. He then raises his glass to toast his friend. "Congratulations again, Rin."

"Thank you, truly," she replied. "I did not think this would be as important to me as it is., both the promotion and the party."

"I may eventually benefit from an escort back to my quarters," Rin continued. "Two drinks is usually my limit, and this is..." she held up her drink as if scrutinizing it. "a value of more than 2."

Kyle grinned as he shrugged. "If you'd like, I'll be happy yo help you get back to your cabin."

Gary glanced at the chronometer and saw it was getting late. He needed to get back to Little Lia. He walked over to where Rin sat with Kyle. "Hello Kyle." He greeted before addressing Rin. "Rin I should be going. I promised Little Lia I wouldn't be too late. Congratulations on your promotion. Well deserved. Thanks for a great party as well."

Rin stood to greet Gary. "Thank you for that. As for the party, that can only be credited to N'vok."

Gary nodded, "Then I will make sure to tell him." He assures Rin. "Again congratulations."

After Gary had made his exit, Rin looked back at Kyle. "I've got a tune in my head, but I don't remember what it is." She hums a few bars of Puttin' On the Ritz.

Kyle listened for a few beats, then snapped his fingers and grinned. "That's a classic! It's 'Puttin' on the Ritz'!"

"Yes, that's it!" as the name clicked for her. That was the tune echoing in her head. "Hang on. I'm pulling rank," she quipped with a grin as she moved over to where the music was being played.

As the current disco song came to its end, Puttin' on the Ritz started. She clicked her heels agaisnt the floor a couple times. Wrong shoes, of course. That was fine. She wasn't going for anything fnacy.

Rin gently tapped along with the music, mostly ignoring the fact that she had an audience. It might have been a bigger hurdle if she wasn't already on drink number more-than-two. The toe of one foot caught on the heel of the other. That was fine. Just listen to the music, move with the music. It felt more familiar to her now, more natural, playing out a dance she hadn't remembered in 35 years.

The change of music was abrupt; Sam liked that. Totally different kindof a beat. One that he wasn't used to. He stood there next to Andrinn as he watched Commander Rin bust a move. This was no toe-tapping burgoemaster song. It was different. Like a bundle of energy barely contained. He listened to the song and found the beat. He watched Rin and a few others and got the jist. He said to Andrinn, "C'mon? You got it. I see those toes tapping." He took the lead and started to dance to the music, enjoying the warmth of the promotion party. "I think the Commander must like this food?" He slided up to Andrinn and said, "It's a song about crackers. They must have been really good?" he said and sang along. He was sure he got the lyrics too:

If you're blue, and then don't be slow where to go
Why don't you know where szechwan sits?
Put it on a Ritz
Different types but none can cut it
Pints with stripes and a chutney coat, perfect fits
Put it on a Ritz

The change of music caught N'vok by surprise but he was nothing if not adaptable. He smoothly slides into some soft shoe dancing, regretting not having a hat and cane to fully match his routine dance to that the music demanded. He nods to Rin.

Anna was watching from near the wall. It has hard to put a finger on exactly what she was thinking. She was mostly just not that familiar with these particular old Earth styles. But she was always thinking about things over the last few years. She took a celery stick and dipped it in the light ranch dressing, eating it in one bite.

Taking a break from dancing and chugging some sort of a light green drinky-poo, Sam saw this new crewman that he did not know. He joked a bit with her, "Things can't be that bad can they?" he indicated to the celery sticks, "I'm pretty sure there's plenty of good stuff left to eat. Try the ribs? Or the fruit? The pink things that look like grenades? Yeah, sweet and tart those are. I'm Sam by the way" he extended a hand to her.

"I'm afraid to eat the grenades," Anna said, putting the dip down for a second. She took his hand. "Anna. Nice to meet you."

----

As the party started to wind down, Rin approached N'vok, a bit wobbly on her feet. "Thank you very much for this. It's really nice feeling appreciated by you and everyone else."

"I am gratified, Rin," said N'vok, "but there is one more thing . . ." As the current song wound down he muted the music.

"Gentlebeings," he said, "thank you all for coming and celebrating the promotion of our dedicated shipmate, the now Lieutenant-Commander Rin." He waited for the smattering of applause and cheers to die down. "But there is one last part to the night, I admit that I worried about it being in poor taste but, as Rin told me to 'go wild' with the party, I decided to go ahead."

N'vok produced a meter-and-a-half-long rod, striped red and white, and offered it to Rin like a sword. Then, with a gesture, a piñata in the shape of a Borg cube descended from where it had been hidden against the ceiling. "Have at it, Rin."

Rin chuckled, somewhat relieved that a pinata was the Vulcan's idea of a "wild" time. She twirled the stick around with a flourish, pulled it back, and swung hard as she could. The thing bounced around on its string, so she swung a second time as it swung back towards her, tearing a hole in its side.

As the piñata started to tear, colorfully wrapped candy could be seen inside.

N'vok was pleased that Rin was taking to bashing the piñata with such glee. He had worried that it might offend. But a bit of authorized violence combined with colorful candy seemed an appropriate endcap to the evening.

Rin gave an inward sigh of relief that the candy of the cube was normal and not something "funny" like bring drone shaped, which would have been gross. She had always been open about her experiences. She was fine with the cube. It was amusing.

She gave it several more whacks until he damn thing broke in two, dumping the entirety of its contents onto the floor for others to scoop up.

N'vok stepped back to watch the candy fall. It was a pleasing end to the evening.

 

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