A Different Kind of Usual

Posted on Thu Jul 27th, 2023 @ 5:33am by Mykaia Kylo-Zahn & Curtis Vaan

Mission: Fractures
Location: Bar
1757 words - 3.5 OF Standard Post Measure

For a space as relatively small as it was, the bar showed signs of careworn preference that made it easy enough to predict the crew's movements, at least in the past when recreational options hadn't included the holodeck privileges now being put into place. It had an understandable disused feel to it currently; they'd been on a planet with far better options and, prior to that, trapped in a situation that hadn't made it a priority location, but as she'd taken the first hour after unpacking her belongings to get to know her new workspace, Kaia had also come to realise that attention had been given to making it more than just a bunch of tables and chairs. Someone had cared enough about it once to invest in its infrastructure and that resonated with the Risian, who was going to need a similar focus if she was to make anything of the fact she was back behind a bar again.

She hadn't figured out the sound system properly yet but it was nice to have the company of music, if only because it filled in all the spaces between her crowded thoughts and offered some reprieve from bouncing between them at a pace that proved nothing. Lyndon had made his choice, one that she supported, but the sensation of being alone was suddenly catching up with her. It had ultimately been her plan all along, not inclined to have her brother tag along forever, but she hadn't been quite ready for it yet. Now, as gentle Bajoran binaural meditation rhythms pulsed in the background, <>Rosie's newest bartender sat on the bar itself, feet rested on one of the stools, her arms folded across her stomach as she leaned forward in thought, and contemplated the oddity of a future that seemed to be pulling her into the unknown whilst pushing her directly into the path of the deeply familiar. Now that she was here, she didn't know exactly how she felt about it.

Curtis arrived, or rather bundled his way into the bar, wearing a loose pair of pants and what looked like a cannibalised Hysperian tunic that had a large rip in the shoulder. His gait was a mix of stagger and swagger, lurching quickly into a stool in front of Kaia and leaning forward to rest his arms on the bar top itself.

"I need something strong. But not bitter. Maybe fruity." His eyes scanned the display, not really registering what it was that he was looking for and hoping that she would develop a solution that worked for him.

For once, Kaia didn't move immediately. Once she realised who the new arrival was, she relaxed considerably and the urge to spring into action abated to allow a bemused scrutiny of his appearance. "You look like you deserve it, though possibly also a visit to sickbay."

"Quality assurance," he explained, playing with the torn clothing. "The safety protocols on the holodeck don't extend to clothing. I was testing out a dragon-fighting simulation so that Kali and Rick can work out the simmering sexual tension and obvious dragon fetish they seem to have shown to the universe." He shrugged. "I dunno, people are weird."

Still unfamiliar enough with the crew to have no idea who he was referring to, the Risian tilted her head to the side nevertheless at the mention of dragons. Ever since the jousting tournament, it had been a sour topic whenever she'd brought it up, and now she simply filed away his apparent willingness to move past whatever embarrassment he felt as a good sign. Swivelling before pushing off the bar, she landed on both feet and then went to consider the stock on hand. "Are you after tropical spicy kind of fruity or sweet berries?"

"This is definitely a spicy kind of day. I think. With a hint of berries." Curtis tapped his chin. "You know what, you decide. I'm still feeling the..." he shook his hands out, "Adrenaline rush."

Giving him a look over her shoulder, somewhere between amused and observantly intrigued, Kaia then turned back to her options and started to pull bottles from the shelf. "I'd have thought the crew would be eager to move beyond dragons and look towards the next adventure." It felt like a vaguely naïve assumption but she was doing her best to navigate her own melancholy by taking wild stabs at what the expected mentality was going forward.

"Not far to look with this bunch," he said, tapping on the bar with his fingertips. "Always some whirlwind adventure with this lot. Space pirates, or neutron storms, or flesh-eating super-viruses..." He paused in the realisation that the last one was probably not what she wanted to hear. "Anyway! Now I have a compatriot running the refreshments, which means favourable rates on beverages, right?" He flashed a grin.

As she turned back with his drink, which was a rather impressive shade of bright yellow, Kaia managed a faint smile through her lingering introspection. "I don't set the prices," she reminded him, able at least to study his slightly-smudged features with a degree of quiet affection. He was, amidst all the upheaval, a familiar and somewhat predictable element. It was...nice.

"But you're the one working the bar. Which means you probably know the margins," he reasoned, taking a sip. His eyes widened a fraction at the sweet taste. "Now that's an adventure in a glass right there. Do I detect a hint of Talarian mango? It hits..." he took another drink. "The spot."

"Personal favourite," the bartender explained, leaning forward to cup her chin in hands propped up at the elbows against the bar. "And I'll add it to your tab." Even with her face somewhat smushed, Kaia grinned. "We can worry about how you pay it off later."

"Ah, you know, we live in a post-scarcity utopia. Doesn't that mean we all just share everything anyway?" Curtis shrugged. "Though serve a few more of these and I might have to start making some sort of payment. Do you accept..." he patted down his clothing, realising in that moment that he was still wearing his clothing from the holodeck. "Payment in holo-novellas?"

A glitter of intrigue once more lit the fires beneath the bleak uncertainty, pulling Kaia upright into a thoughtful pose. Hysperia had been an aberration, when it was all said and done. Most of the other jobs they'd secured since leaving Risa had been fleeting and decidedly dull, the only difference being that Lyndon had been there to talk to throughout all of it. Finding ways to keep herself occupied did seem like the best way to move forward and it had been a while since the Risian had set foot on a holodeck. "Do you write them yourself?" It seemed an unnecessary question, or at least one she probably could have guessed at fairly accurately.

"Do I write them..." He echoed, shocked and exasperated, and exaggerating the reaction at the same time. "Lost on Rigel VII? One Flew Over the Klingon's Nest? Certified game-changers, from yours truly." He tapped on the counter again. "In fact, Laney and have been working on a pirate adventure. The whole works: ocean waves, perilous schemes and dashing swashbuckling! You should give it a playtest sometime..."

A lot of the specifics had gone completely over her head but Kaia found herself slowly smiling at his enthusiasm. "You know," she confessed, surprised somewhat to find herself comfortable admitting it to a fellow Risian, "I've never actually been on a boat." For someone who had grown up surrounded by tourist resorts that backed onto the coast, the revelation seemed unlikely and yet her cheeks had already turned slightly pink.

"Never been on a..." Curtis leaned back from the bar, dramatic with his shock and surprise. "There would definitely be a certain irony to having your first boat ride while in space. Oh - ship. It's a ship, not a boat. They're really particular about that for some reason. Blame Laney for the historic accuracy parts..." He tapped his chin, sliding the glass aside slightly to take hold of Kaia's hand. "And the best part about doing it in a holodeck is that if you start to get seasick you're not actually stuck in the middle of an ocean."

The physical contact, unanticipated, provoked mild surprise but was swiftly normalised by cultural acceptance. Kaia might have struggled to live up to the aquatic stereotypes of her people but she suffered less, despite being generally subdued in her actions, with social overtures that some might construe as intrusive. Instead, she gave his hand a grateful squeeze, viewing it as an attempt to console, and concentrated instead on his proposal. "And how does one go about learning how to...swashbuckle?" It was an alien term, not handled well by the translation protocols.

"That's the best part - you don't!" Curtis grinned. "Part of the fun of the holodeck safeties. You can tune things to make it like fencing with pirates that can barely hold a cutlass upright. Even my grandmother - rest her soul - could look like a prime adventuring heroine the way our holos are scripted." He tapped on the bar again. "Now you're making me insist. We absolutely have to at least let you enjoy the prologue!"

The bartender looked uncertain for a moment. "Right now?" What had started out like a seemingly general ramble about his hobby had very swiftly transformed into an insistence that Kaia wasn't entirely sure how to interpret.

"Why not?" he grinned. "It's not like you're rushed off your feet in here," he added, motioning to the empty bar. "Have some fun!"

The way he sold it was tempting. And, given that Curtis now represented everything that Kaia could consider familiar, spending time unravelling the mysteries of his hobby didn't feel like it would be wasted effort. She'd never engaged in this level of escapism where holodecks were concerned but, as her brother was wont to say, there was a first time for everything. She smiled at his enthusiasm and ducked under the serving hatch.

"If you're willing to teach me, I'll buckle swashes with the best of them."

"Arr," Curtis grinned, squinting one eye a little to add to the terrible pirate accent. "That be the best way, lassie!" Hopping around, he offered her his arm. "We set sail for the high seas! Adventure, mystery, an' lots o' gold!"