Christmas Meetings

Posted on Fri Aug 13th, 2021 @ 8:59am by Commander Alexis Agrax (*) & Commodore Ledeya ‘Ed’ Ehestri (*) & Commander Christopher Mitchell & Commander Maxun Spello & Lieutenant Junior Grade Lakeland Smith & Major Levi Drake

Mission: Cosmos
Location: Starbase 47
Timeline: 2396
2017 words - 4 OF Standard Post Measure

Ledeya looked around her quarters on the base. It was massive and she was sure that she could put her ships quarters in there several times but that was not the point of what she was looking around for. She wanted to hold a dinner with all her senior crew now that all the spaces were filled after the changes and crew movements. She wanted to have it over something relaxed and food and drink as they were all on shore leave and off duty would do it.

The room was spectacular and she found herself wondering if all the VIP suites on the base were the same or if Lancaster was trying to butter her up after the issue with Winters and the tribunal but she would take it, it was going to be brilliant to hold something personal in her own space. The dining table was laid out, the seating area was decorated she even had a huge tree in the corner.
“What do you think?” She wondered glancing at Lake who had arrived early. She did not even mean her deep red dress that was a perfect match for her skin tone or the sky-high heels she wore to make herself seem physically imposing than her normal just larger than life appearance in uniform.

"I think they should stop making men's shirts so uncomfortable," Lake said pulling at his collar and then glancing up at her. His jaw fell open and stayed there but when he tried to speak all that came out was a series of sounds as his lips wouldn't close.

“Oh, hold that thought. It seems someone else is early too.” Ledeya kissed his cheek as she passed to open the door.

Maxun was suprised at the invitation, being he had literally just joined the crew. He wondered just how awkward things would be, especially if the Marine CO was in attendance. However, Maxun would be professional and polite. The things that happened between Halla and himself would not cloud how he would do his job.

So, with a slightly reinforced spirit, he triplechecked his uniform, along with the bottle of blackberry schnapps, before reaching up and pressing the door chime.

“Come in Commander.” Ledeya called as she opened the door not at all surprised it was him who was early nor that he was in uniform. He seemed the type to want to wear it all the time.

Seeing that Ledeya was in civilian dress, Maxun suddenly felt like he was going to stick out like a sore thumb tonight. "Oh, Commodore! I...uh...I didn't realize that it was civilian formal dress! My apologies. Both on apparently being early and in the wrong attire." He was blushinh red with embarrassment. "Oh! Um...this is for you, as a thank you for the invitation, Ma'am." He handed the schnapps over and stepped inside,not sure what to do with himself. He had been playing one character after another, over the years of undercover work that, as himself, he always felt out of place in a social setting.

Ledeya just smiled patiently and shrugged. It was not like it was set in time. “The invite said whatever you feel comfortable in. I am sure others will wear uniform.” She assured looking at the bottle smiling. “Aww that is so sweet of you Commander. Please come in.” She said stepping back to let him inside. “This is Lake. He is…” the woman looked flummoxed for a moment before smiling. “Mine.” She said with a bit of a shrug.

Smiling an uncertain smile, Maxun nodded and replied. "Thank you, Ma'am. And please, Max is fine." He then tjrned and offered a friendly grin and his right hand. "Pleasure to meet you. I'm....oh, you just heard...Max." he shook his head slightly to himself, feeling stupid, again!

At the mention of the word "Mine" Lake raised one eyebrow slightly in amusement but didn't miss a beat in offering his hand to the other man. "Oh don't worry, I forget names easily, always good to remind me what people are called. I have far too many friends named Mike and I'm sure those aren't their real names, they just get tired of reminding me who they really are," he joked.

Maxun grinned. "I sometimes feel the same way. Of course, after several hundred years, meeting one Mike after another, you tend to forget who is whom. Now Lake, on the other hand...." he thought for a moment, "That's a first for me. I shouldn’t have a problem with your name. It was River, right?" He asked, hoping the joke was funny.

"Yeah, my parents were a bit creative. Lakeland actually but no one ever calls me that except my mother when I'm in trouble. I guess she knew a guy in her youth who was a bit of a poet and called himself that. Not sure she ever told my dad where the name came from . . but I didn't want to start something and kept my lips sealed."

Ledeya just smiled at Lake and the amusement on Lake's face and what she had said. She had no shame in saying that he was hers, it was just the truth. He was a grown adult and they had started something when she was not even in his chain of command. "Oh, there are more people." She announced in her airy accent as the chime went again.

Christopher, Vriaral and Levi arrived at almost the same moment, sharing a private joke about something but falling into a mildly more formal posture as they joined the others.

"Commodore," Christopher smiled politely as he offered her a bottle of Kesatian Ale. "Merry Christmas."

"Thank you Christopher but I did say on the invite no presents." She did have her own presents for the group but that was for later. "You all think I am alcoholic," Ledeya said moving to greet the pair as Alexis came in just behind them nearly colliding but stopped herself. She held up a brightly wrapped box that looked far more Betazoid traditional than anything she had seen from the woman before.

"Seasons Greetings," Alexis said not at all sure about Christmas despite it being a holiday that she had celebrated a lot over the years. She wore a plain dress with boots and her hair up in a high ponytail, it was subdued but still had Christmas charm with Christmas earrings. She nodded at Maxun remembering him from when she had been Executive Officer on the Cassiopea.

Maxun smiled when he saw another familiar face. At least things wouldn't be awkward with Alexis, especially as they were the same rank now. At least...he hoped it wouldn't be awkward. Damn his insecurity! Put him deep undercover with the Orion Syndicate, Klingon warlords, hell, even bloodthirsty pirates, and He sailed through them without a second thought. Be himself for a single dinner? And he starts to doubt everything he says and does.

It rather surprised Lake that Ledeya seemed so relaxed. He knew she dealt with people day in and out as a Starfleet Captain but she was also a private person who kept a lot of walls up. Tonight however she seemed more herself in front of the others. It was a good sign and one he was privately highly enjoying.

"Where's mine?" Christopher smirked playfully at Alexis, hoping to keep her mood jovial.

Alexis raised an eyebrow at Maxun being there, it was not somewhere she expected him but he looked as uncomfortable as her but said nothing other than glancing at Christopher. "Um... Later. I could not carry it." She stumbled through blushing as Ledeya took the gift.

"I was kidding. Wow..." Christopher's eyebrow raise a little at the uncharacteristic reply. Normally Alexis would have ribbed him back. Maybe this wasn't the setting. "I must say it's been a long time since I've been able to enjoy a gathering like this one. What do we have to look forward to?"

"Bigger the ego bigger the present," Alexis murmured passing Christopher, making Ledeya choke into her drink just a little before indicating the huge sofa set around the coffee table.

"Please come and sit first. We should all introduce ourselves as properly." Ledeya said watching the Chief Engineer who had not said much since his arrival with the Marine Commanding Officer and the Executive Officer. He was a man of so few words but she knew he had not always been that way. The woman had arranged this thing purely so the man could get to know people despite serving onboard since the empathic virus. She knew the circumstances of the device that was hinted at the collar of his shirt and why he was keeping his isolation but it was not needed. "I thought that some drink and then food it had a traditional human Christmas dinner as we are still in the holiday season despite the weird week between Christmas and New Year, a betazoid dessert, a trill coffee and El aurian wine."

“Trill coffee?” Vriaral’s eye lit up and he settled down next to Alexis looking a lot more comfortable. “Well as I am the only Trill in the room I hope it lives up to the reputation. I am Vriaral Dariars. Chief Engineer. And most of you know me but some of you don’t as I am torturing new.” He shrugged at his introduction. He was no good as public speaking anymore.

Maxun sat next, across from Vriaral and Alexis. "Hi, everyone," he said quietly. "I'm Maxun, Maxun Spello. I'm the ship's new Intel Chief. This is, umm, the first time that I ,erm, haven't been to a social gathering, as myself, in quite a long time." He blushed slightly, hoping he didn't sound like an idiot.

Alexis smirked a little at the man who had taken the vacant spot left by her ex and looked around as all eyes settled on her. It was nice to hear that he was himself this time. "Everyone in this room knows who I am. Even Spello... we have served together." She said softening as she realised she was still going to have to introduce herself. "Commander Alexis Agrax. Chief Security Officer on board."

Maxun gave Alexis a soft smile. She knew him very well. Hopefully, he'd get the chance to apologize to her.

"Major Levi Drake. Marine Detatchment CO." Levi left the details plain. He was always a little bit of an outsider among the Fleet types. Not that it was a big deal, but he also had a little bit of a personal reputation to uphold as the gruff, loner type.

Christopher chuckled. "Well, you know me by now. Not sure I really need to introduce myself."

"I want to hear your life story," Alexis said deadpan. She sounded like her usual self but it did not quite reach her eyes.

"Agrax leave him alone for once," Vriaral said with a shake of his head. He liked the security chief, she did not keep him at arm's length even if he attempted to keep her there.

Maxun watched the interplay of the officers present. It was obvious that several had served together for a long time. He hoped, one day, to have friendships like that. Aside from his numerous undercover ops, he had rarely stayed in one place, as himself, for more than a few weeks. Perhaps it was why he had such a difficult time, being himself, around others.

"Well if you're looking for a story about how two people met I've got a doozy." Lake piped up. Pointing at Ledeya he said. "First I knocked her down and then locked her in quarantine for three days with me." He gave no explanation, just a cheeky grin and let the others speak up around him.

"If that's how you two got together then I dread to think what spending a night in a cave on New Rixx means," Christopher responded with a smirk at Alexis.

And that was how the Security Chief was finally shushed.