Dance With Me

Posted on Fri Aug 16th, 2024 @ 6:08pm by Nollel Livaam (*) & Chief Engineer Michael Burnstein & Laurier Cami

Mission: Shackles
Location: Mess Hall
Timeline: MD -05
1858 words - 3.7 OF Standard Post Measure

Nollel was tired from working through the cargo containers, but she had made the effort to dress up for Cami’s party. The room was busy, filled with lively conversations and laughter, but she knew that Michael would track her down eventually if she could not find him. They had decided to come to the party separately since she was running so late.

As she scanned the room, the decorations and ambient lighting created a festive atmosphere, contrasting sharply with the gritty environment she had left behind in the cargo bay. She felt a sense of relief wash over her, knowing she could finally unwind and enjoy herself.

Nollel navigated through the decorated mess hall, smiling and exchanging greetings with familiar faces. Her eyes darted around, searching for Michael's familiar figure. She felt a mix of excitement and anticipation, knowing that once they found each other, the evening would truly begin.

"Right here," Burnie said, coming from behind and wrapping an arm around her waist. He'd been hanging toward the edge of the party - while he was friends with the other engineers, he was also the 'boss' and didn't want to jump into any conversations unless he was approached. Smiling, he looked appreciatively at her all done up and dressed for the party - which made the nice-ish shirt and black slacks that were his concession to dressing pale in comparison. "You sure clean up beautifully."

The woman jumped as someone wrapped an arm around her a moment before she heard the familiar voice. She turned around properly and looked up at him shaking her head. "Not bad yourself." She assured. "No paint or no smudges on you at all."

"Is that the standard for me?" he laughed and glanced around the room. "But as long as I pass muster, I guess we can join the party."

Nollel inclined her head and nodded. "It is very much your standard. But I do not judge you at all for that. I married you." She reminded him pointedly sliding her hand down his arm to his hand to tug him through the crowds.

"You did," he agreed, smiling at what still seemed something of a miracle, and let her guide him into the party. It was a lot easier to circulate with her beside him. "I already left a gift on the table for Cami, so I guess we can grab a drink."

"Something large and fruity." She declared thankful that he had sorted out the present as he knew Cami the best and knew something she would like. "What do you fancy?" She wondered spotting both the bar open and the large punch bowls that no one seemed interested in yet.

"A little early for a Warp Core breach," he joked, eyeing the punch bowls that he was sure had been spiked by now (the main question being by how many different spikers). "So, I think I'll start with a Fuzzy Tribble."

It might be early for him but Nollel was more than happy to get drunk after the day she had, had trying to solve half the ship's issues it felt. "You go get. I think I wanna try the punch," Nollel declared as she saw Cami coming towards them.

He glanced around, noting medical personnel in the room. "Okay... I'll make sure we have hypos for hangover by the bed," he said, half-joking but fully intending it as a promise. "Must have been a rough day. You know, engineering is always available to support ops."

"I..." Nollel started but Cami reached them quicker than she expected.

"Heyyyy!" Cami called, giving Nollel a quick half-hug. It was obvious she'd already indulged in at least a couple of the available beverages. "Look at you two! Having fun? Have you made sure he's danced with you yet? Everyone needs to dance. That's the rules...or so I'm told..."

Wow. Maybe Hasperat-spiced rum was the wrong gift... The thought was momentary though. It was her birthday and she should get to enjoy it. Hopefully Beya had her usual supply detox and hangover cure for 'species who could hold their intoxicants' on hand. "Happy birthday, Cami!" he said with wide smile. "Who decided compulsory dancing was a rule? Given the way drinks are flowing tonight, that might become a safety hazard," he laughed.

Nollel smiled and leaned over to hug the woman back properly and whispered a happy birthday to her in Ardanian. She did not speak it often but Cami was a sweetheart who deserved to have something solely for her. "Happy birthday. I am not sure that is a bad rule." Nollel teased.

"You might feel differently after that punch kicks in," he teased back. "But I'm willing to dance if you want to. Or watch you dance with Cami, which is probably better for everyone's toes."

"Both," Nollel declared grinning at her husband. "Cami first and then I am going back for you Michael." The blonde declared taking the woman hand and quickly tugged her away through the crowd to where people were dancing.

Burnie smiled watching them head off to join the growing crowd on the dance floor. Then eyed the punch bowl. Maybe a cup to loosen up before it was his turn wouldn't be such a bad idea...

"What, you don't want to dance with me too?" Cami asked, poking her bottom lip out towards Burnie. "Your loss. I bet Nollel won't want to come back once she's danced with the girls!"

"I wouldn't blame her one bit," he joked back with a grin.

"I will!" Nollel assured before she disappeared further into the crowds. She had not had much opportunity to dance with her husband and was planning to not waste an opportunity like tonight that was for sure. Tonight, she was determined to seize the moment. As she weaved through the crowd, she caught glimpses of couples dancing, their movements showing just how different each and everyone onboard was. The melody of the music beckoned her and she started to move. "What is this music?" She yelled hoping to be heard.

"I don't know, some of Jeassaho's weird stuff," Cami called back. "I'm starting to get used to it," she added, joining in with the small group of dancers. "You like it?"

"Sure," Nollel assured with a bright smile. She had initially been hoping to discover the identity of the singer, but at the very least, she had learned who owned the music. Jeassaho was known for sharing most of her music files with the entire crew, so Nollel knew there would be plenty of options to explore later. "It's got a beat," she added, unable to resist the infectious rhythm. She shook her hips playfully, her laughter bubbling up as she watched Cami enthusiastically jump into the fray.

"C'mon, Nol - let loose!" Cami called back to her.

"I am going to get Michael," Nollel called out over the music. She made her way through the lively crowd, weaving between her crewmates who were lost in the rhythm. The beat seemed to carry her along, adding a bounce to her step as she headed to where she had left the man.

Burnie sipped a cup of punch with a smile, watching her moved through the crowd. The bounce had returned to her step, and at least to his eyes, there was practically a glow about her - a nimbus of inner beauty reflected around the outward that made her absolutely stunning. How had he been so lucky? "Need a drink after dancing?" he asked, reaching for another cup.

Nollel took the offered drink and took a large gulp before tugging on his hand. "Come dance." She requested pointing to where she had left the birthday girl dancing with people.

He glanced at the cup of punch in his hand. One sip had been enough to confirm it was spiked, possibly with several liquors - whiskey, Saurian brandy, knock-off Romulan ale - leaving little taste beyond strong. But if he was going to wade into that scene... He shot the contents and smiled. "Sure." He reached back and took Nollel's hand, already feeling his normal inhibitions about looking like a fool on the dance floor start to fall away.

"You are going to be fine," Nollel laughed, her voice full of reassurance as she turned back to dance with him. "And if you're not," she added with a playful smirk, "no one else will remember the next day anyway." Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she stated it.

He laughed. "There is that," he said, following her out onto the dance floor. Or dance space, which was maybe more appropriate since the area was more a vaguely oval open area filled with people moving in various styles of dance. "Maybe we should stick to the outer edges though?"

The woman could not help but smile and compromise on that seeing he was wanting to dance with her. She grabbed him through the crowd till they were towards the edge. “Of course.” She twirled and leaned close to wrap both arms around his neck.

Now this was more like it. He smiled and wrapped his arms around her waist, swaying with the music. Or the beat anyway. "What is this tune? It sounds a little like what Jea uses to drown out the laser drill in engineering."

“No idea.” The woman admitted glancing around for Cami but she was no where near. That was a shame, she had gotten Michael and her dancing which was nice as she was pretty sure it was not something they had down since they had gotten married. “I like it though. Does this count as our first dance? It’s a tradition on Earth isn’t it?” She wondered thoughtful out thinking on what she had been researching.

"We did go to the ball on Hysperia," he reminded, "But I guess their style of dance doesn't really count for a newlywed couple's dance, so I guess," he spun her with a big smile, "this is our first real dance."

The woman paused as she had forgotten Hysperia for a moment as so much had happened since then but she nodded. She span away to only come back to him. “I like this style much better.” She assured. “It much more us.”

"Yes," he agreed happily, enjoying the dance. At least until the song ended and another that was ...far less couples danceable... started. He suppressed a grimace, switching to a hopeful grin. "Now that we finally had our first wedded dance, we could duck out and reprise the honeymoon."

Nollel glanced at the man and burst out laughing. "We could?" She agreed thoughtfully and laughed. "Come on then." She agreed tugging his hand not at all surprised that he was the one suggesting they escape.

"You don't have to tell me twice," he said, offering zero resistance to the tug on his hand. In fact, Burnie was beside her so quickly he had to remind himself to slow down because looking like he was as eager as he was to leave the party would be rude.