Post by Luka Mahone on Apr 1, 2015 17:29:51 GMT
Waiting for USS Portland
Authors: Eilis Ross & Lt. Jr. Grade Luke Mahone
Leaning against a railing, Eilis looked down on the promenade below. People watching was one of her favorite activities in order to pass the time. It was even better when she could do it in the middle of a space station. Klingons glaring at anyone who dared to come near...Ferengi trying to persuade unsuspecting visitors what their wares would bring billions to their owners....Vulcans staring blankly ahead as they struggled to understand why anyone would invite the chaos of the surroundings upon themselves....The list was so endless with the different races.
The most interesting though were the children. Little hands pulling the adults along, begging and pleading for a chance to purchase one of the many sugary treats on offer. Faces lite up at the many animals being carried in the arms of strangers. Faces peeping out from behind pillars where the thought is to try have a game of hide and seek but their parents are quick and pull them back into plain sight where they can't go missing very easily...in theory anyway.
Why would anyone want to be anywhere else in the world but here....
It wasn't like Luka Mahone to take a vacation seriously. He was usually the last off the ship and the first on it, ready to ship off to his next destination. However, his last few assignments had left him with a severe sense of whiplash, especially considering how much training he had been through in such a short time. The transfer to the Portland had offered just enough rest and relaxation time on the space station while he waited for the vessel's arrival, and he planned on using every minute of it to do nothing but relax.
After spending a day replicating the proper, non-Federation attire for a vacation, he was out and about, enjoying all the station had to offer, clad in a hideously printed, teal Hawaiian shirt and thankfully nowhere near as hideous bluejeans. The looks he received went unnoticed, save for the one Klingon he passed by who couldn't keep her boisterous opinion to herself. He slid himself away from the situation, having to explain that he had no intention to 'assault and offend her eyes,' finally finding a spot to lean against a railing, as if it offered some form of comfort from the hustle and bustle of Deep Space Nine.
He side-eyed the woman next to him, suddenly embarrassed at his rudeness. "I'm sorry, I just stood over here without asking if that was alright. I had no intention of offending you too-I seem to be doing that a lot today..."
Eilis didn't notice the man for a moment before she became aware of a presence at her side. Looking up, the teacher frowned a little as she realised that the guy was looking at her; almost as if he awaited a reply. "I'm sorry....I was caught up in a world of my own. Was there something I can help you with?"
There was a momentary pause before Luka responded, warding away the apology that was bubbling up in his throat. "I had just been wondering if you were opposed to me sharing the railing with you." He extended his hand for a shake. "Luka, by the way."
Pushing back from the railing with a natural smile, Eilis took the offered hand, "Eilis and last I checked Ive no ownership rights on the railing so you can join me all you like."
"Well no, but I'd rather ask, and sometimes it makes a good conversation starter." As they shook hands, the smile on his lips grew. At least for now, it seemed he was making a friend. "It's nice to meet you Ellis. Are you stationed here, or is this is a stop on the way to somewhere else?"
Turning so as her back rested against the railing, Eilis rested each of her elbows on one of the upper bars. "No, I'm wa..." Her words trailed off as she finally took notice of the man's state of dress. "Where on earth did you get that shirt from?"
Luka flinched at the question, as if expecting Ellis to be a dignitary from another planet, or an ambassador who thought the man offensive to other races. He had heard enough of that during his stay in Deep Space Nine. "It's replicated, but I based it off of a pattern I saw from a 'Hawaiian tourist shirt.' It... sort of made sense at the time?"
Biting down hard on her lip to try and stop herself from laughing, Eilis looked over the shirt once more. "Well...um...You're never going to get lost in a crowd wearing that shirt?"
"I suppose not..." The pout that followed the sentence was almost hopeless, as if he had noticed the attempt to hide her amusement. "I haven't really vacationed in awhile, so I thought I'd take the between assignments time to do that... I'm not doing too well, am I?"
Indicated the promenade below, Eilis smiled, "Well I've no plans. We can go look through some stores and see if we can get you a better wardrobe if you wanted? I believe that there might even be a tailor tucked in somewhere if you are more interested in custom makes."
The idea that Luka could spend more money on something he may not have worn past the his visit to Deep Space Nine didn't sit well with him, but he smiled and nodded along nonetheless. It beat having to be criticized by Bolians. "I'd like that... I didn't think anyone would be offended by bright colors and palm trees."
Eilis could perhaps detected a little trepidation behind the man's agreement to her proposal. Not wanting him to do anything he didn't want, she smiled a little as she tilted her head slightly to the side. "I promise I won't get carried away shopping..."
"Carried away?" Repeating the woman's words comforted Luka. Not only did it give him a moment to comprehend and process Ellis' words, but it also allowed him that moment of stall time while he tried to formulate his response. Clearly, he needed more social interaction. "I suspected no such thing!-... okay maybe a little." His smile quirked into a sheepish half-smirk, scrunching his nose playfully.
Laughing as she held out a hand, Eilis eyes sparkled with her amusement. "Fortunately I'm not that bad. Once I have the basics I'm good. I'm also about to be shipped out so you'll be doing me a favour if you keep me company while I pick up a couple of items. Your shirt should help keep away the men that might try hit on me."
"I dunno if it'd keep anyone away, but I could try if anything happens." Luka rubbed the back of his neck nervously, glancing around to check for weird stalkers in the crowd. He hoped it wasn't going to be an issue, but he could have never been too sure. "But you can tell me about your next assignment while we're finding a place to shop!"
Noticing Luka's glance at the crowd, Eilis wasn't able to hold back her laughter anymore as she let out a light laugh. Taking the stranger by the hand, she let them to the turbolifts in order to access the lower levels, "I'm being redeployed by Starfleet to one of their newer ships. I've been recruited as a civilian teacher for youngsters they are expecting to have onboard."
Luka gave Ellis a strange look, uncertain as to why she was laughing. Instead of asking, however, he decided to focus on her assignment as they were traveling to the shops. "Oooh! You must be on a larger vessel then if there are enough kids to require a teacher. I bet you're really good at your job too!"
Eilis blushed a little at the man's words as she lead them both into the turbo lift and selected the lower promenade area. "I'm not great with ship types and sizes and such...All I know is that she is a...Miranda class? I'm not sure if I'm mixing it up though as Id a student called Miranda on my last assignment so I could be incorrectly associating."
"Miranda class?" Luka's eyes lit up at the news. "Those are pretty big ships, but they're older models. I was reassigned to one myself... I wonder if it's the same one? You don't hear about Miranda class vessels wandering about... Does USS Portland ring any bells?"
As Eilis lead them both towards a store, she wrecked her brain to try and identify the name of the ship. "Well..." It wasn't that she had a bad memory for recalling information it was more so that she had had so much information thrown at her regarding her new posting that she had found it all hard to digest and the name of the ship had been her priority. "That does sound about right."
Luka couldn't judge Ellis on potentially forgetting a ship name in the hustle and bustle, especially with the profession she presented to him. It was her job to memorize the names of children, not the names of ships. He merely scrunched his nose at her, excited at the prospect. "I hope we end up on the same vessel. It'd be nice to know someone on the ship before I get there."
As Eilis moved towards the rack of clothes, she ideally allowed her fingers to move through the materials as she tried to see if anything caught her attention. "What will you be doing on the ship? Are you a civilian also?"
"Mmm..." Luka shook his head, more interested in the conversation than with the clothing in front of him. He idly pulled on a sleeve to look at a shirt on the rack, attempting to seem a little more into the idea. "Not really. I've been reassigned as Chief of Operations... which I guess is sort of a promotion for me, but I'm used the responsibility."
As her fingers crossed a soft satin material in a deep navy blue colour, Eilis pulled it out; studying it intently for a few moments, "What did you work at prior to the promotion? Have you always been ops? And what about this?"
Luka eyed the blue material, a sudden nostalgic look crossing his features. "Ah... I've been told I look good in that color." He laughed half-heartedly. "I was... actually earning my official Operations training on another ship... but most of my career requires a longer story, really... It's... quite the ride."
Eilis pushed the shirt against the man's chest with a smile before nodding her head in the direction of the changing rooms. "Why don't you try this in and while your in there you can figure out how to make your story more manageable to describe to me."
The awkwardly curious expression that crossed Luka's features lasted for a short moment, before he nodded a slow, deliberate nod, turning absently toward the changing rooms and disappearing inside one of them. It wasn't long before he emerged and returned in front of Eilis, smoothing out the shirt and straightening out the collar. "It's something I'm not really comfortable talking about... er... here." He gestured around them. "Maybe I could invite you to somewhere a little more private to talk?... Er... just... to talk. I can replicate a mean lasagna-oh! How do I look?"
Eilis laughed as he tripped over words before taking a step back and giving him the once over. "I think it suits, it highlights the features of your face more and brings out the colour of your hair and eyes. But it's more of a shirt you'd wear to a dinner party...."
Looking around, the teacher caught the attention of the shops tailor as she motioned him over and stepped in closer to Luka, "Perhaps if we shorter the sleves to just above the elbows? Create a subtle rolled up effect and here..." Eilis' hands moved to his waist as she tucked in the material along the sides to give it a better fit, "...You achieve a far more casual look. What do you think?"
Luka stared obliviously at Eliis as she discussed the notion of shirts and styles with the tailor. He couldn't tell the difference, but he did like the shirt she had picked out. It felt comfortable, and, as he examined himself in the mirror further, he did look quite good in it. Absently, he smiled at Eilis and the tailor, nodding. "I agree, especially since I don't see myself going to fancy dinner parties in the near future!" At least, Luka hoped he wasn't going to go to a fancy dinner party.
As they made the arrangements, Luka beamed pleasantly at Eilis. "Thank you, I didn't think I'd survive the rest of the wait in that other shirt. Not without ending up in a fistfight somehow."
Easily returning the smile, Eilis handed some credits to the tailor before moving Luka from the area, "Pick it up in an hour and then I'll expect you to be wearing it when you finally tell me the story of your career."
Authors: Eilis Ross & Lt. Jr. Grade Luke Mahone
Leaning against a railing, Eilis looked down on the promenade below. People watching was one of her favorite activities in order to pass the time. It was even better when she could do it in the middle of a space station. Klingons glaring at anyone who dared to come near...Ferengi trying to persuade unsuspecting visitors what their wares would bring billions to their owners....Vulcans staring blankly ahead as they struggled to understand why anyone would invite the chaos of the surroundings upon themselves....The list was so endless with the different races.
The most interesting though were the children. Little hands pulling the adults along, begging and pleading for a chance to purchase one of the many sugary treats on offer. Faces lite up at the many animals being carried in the arms of strangers. Faces peeping out from behind pillars where the thought is to try have a game of hide and seek but their parents are quick and pull them back into plain sight where they can't go missing very easily...in theory anyway.
Why would anyone want to be anywhere else in the world but here....
It wasn't like Luka Mahone to take a vacation seriously. He was usually the last off the ship and the first on it, ready to ship off to his next destination. However, his last few assignments had left him with a severe sense of whiplash, especially considering how much training he had been through in such a short time. The transfer to the Portland had offered just enough rest and relaxation time on the space station while he waited for the vessel's arrival, and he planned on using every minute of it to do nothing but relax.
After spending a day replicating the proper, non-Federation attire for a vacation, he was out and about, enjoying all the station had to offer, clad in a hideously printed, teal Hawaiian shirt and thankfully nowhere near as hideous bluejeans. The looks he received went unnoticed, save for the one Klingon he passed by who couldn't keep her boisterous opinion to herself. He slid himself away from the situation, having to explain that he had no intention to 'assault and offend her eyes,' finally finding a spot to lean against a railing, as if it offered some form of comfort from the hustle and bustle of Deep Space Nine.
He side-eyed the woman next to him, suddenly embarrassed at his rudeness. "I'm sorry, I just stood over here without asking if that was alright. I had no intention of offending you too-I seem to be doing that a lot today..."
Eilis didn't notice the man for a moment before she became aware of a presence at her side. Looking up, the teacher frowned a little as she realised that the guy was looking at her; almost as if he awaited a reply. "I'm sorry....I was caught up in a world of my own. Was there something I can help you with?"
There was a momentary pause before Luka responded, warding away the apology that was bubbling up in his throat. "I had just been wondering if you were opposed to me sharing the railing with you." He extended his hand for a shake. "Luka, by the way."
Pushing back from the railing with a natural smile, Eilis took the offered hand, "Eilis and last I checked Ive no ownership rights on the railing so you can join me all you like."
"Well no, but I'd rather ask, and sometimes it makes a good conversation starter." As they shook hands, the smile on his lips grew. At least for now, it seemed he was making a friend. "It's nice to meet you Ellis. Are you stationed here, or is this is a stop on the way to somewhere else?"
Turning so as her back rested against the railing, Eilis rested each of her elbows on one of the upper bars. "No, I'm wa..." Her words trailed off as she finally took notice of the man's state of dress. "Where on earth did you get that shirt from?"
Luka flinched at the question, as if expecting Ellis to be a dignitary from another planet, or an ambassador who thought the man offensive to other races. He had heard enough of that during his stay in Deep Space Nine. "It's replicated, but I based it off of a pattern I saw from a 'Hawaiian tourist shirt.' It... sort of made sense at the time?"
Biting down hard on her lip to try and stop herself from laughing, Eilis looked over the shirt once more. "Well...um...You're never going to get lost in a crowd wearing that shirt?"
"I suppose not..." The pout that followed the sentence was almost hopeless, as if he had noticed the attempt to hide her amusement. "I haven't really vacationed in awhile, so I thought I'd take the between assignments time to do that... I'm not doing too well, am I?"
Indicated the promenade below, Eilis smiled, "Well I've no plans. We can go look through some stores and see if we can get you a better wardrobe if you wanted? I believe that there might even be a tailor tucked in somewhere if you are more interested in custom makes."
The idea that Luka could spend more money on something he may not have worn past the his visit to Deep Space Nine didn't sit well with him, but he smiled and nodded along nonetheless. It beat having to be criticized by Bolians. "I'd like that... I didn't think anyone would be offended by bright colors and palm trees."
Eilis could perhaps detected a little trepidation behind the man's agreement to her proposal. Not wanting him to do anything he didn't want, she smiled a little as she tilted her head slightly to the side. "I promise I won't get carried away shopping..."
"Carried away?" Repeating the woman's words comforted Luka. Not only did it give him a moment to comprehend and process Ellis' words, but it also allowed him that moment of stall time while he tried to formulate his response. Clearly, he needed more social interaction. "I suspected no such thing!-... okay maybe a little." His smile quirked into a sheepish half-smirk, scrunching his nose playfully.
Laughing as she held out a hand, Eilis eyes sparkled with her amusement. "Fortunately I'm not that bad. Once I have the basics I'm good. I'm also about to be shipped out so you'll be doing me a favour if you keep me company while I pick up a couple of items. Your shirt should help keep away the men that might try hit on me."
"I dunno if it'd keep anyone away, but I could try if anything happens." Luka rubbed the back of his neck nervously, glancing around to check for weird stalkers in the crowd. He hoped it wasn't going to be an issue, but he could have never been too sure. "But you can tell me about your next assignment while we're finding a place to shop!"
Noticing Luka's glance at the crowd, Eilis wasn't able to hold back her laughter anymore as she let out a light laugh. Taking the stranger by the hand, she let them to the turbolifts in order to access the lower levels, "I'm being redeployed by Starfleet to one of their newer ships. I've been recruited as a civilian teacher for youngsters they are expecting to have onboard."
Luka gave Ellis a strange look, uncertain as to why she was laughing. Instead of asking, however, he decided to focus on her assignment as they were traveling to the shops. "Oooh! You must be on a larger vessel then if there are enough kids to require a teacher. I bet you're really good at your job too!"
Eilis blushed a little at the man's words as she lead them both into the turbo lift and selected the lower promenade area. "I'm not great with ship types and sizes and such...All I know is that she is a...Miranda class? I'm not sure if I'm mixing it up though as Id a student called Miranda on my last assignment so I could be incorrectly associating."
"Miranda class?" Luka's eyes lit up at the news. "Those are pretty big ships, but they're older models. I was reassigned to one myself... I wonder if it's the same one? You don't hear about Miranda class vessels wandering about... Does USS Portland ring any bells?"
As Eilis lead them both towards a store, she wrecked her brain to try and identify the name of the ship. "Well..." It wasn't that she had a bad memory for recalling information it was more so that she had had so much information thrown at her regarding her new posting that she had found it all hard to digest and the name of the ship had been her priority. "That does sound about right."
Luka couldn't judge Ellis on potentially forgetting a ship name in the hustle and bustle, especially with the profession she presented to him. It was her job to memorize the names of children, not the names of ships. He merely scrunched his nose at her, excited at the prospect. "I hope we end up on the same vessel. It'd be nice to know someone on the ship before I get there."
As Eilis moved towards the rack of clothes, she ideally allowed her fingers to move through the materials as she tried to see if anything caught her attention. "What will you be doing on the ship? Are you a civilian also?"
"Mmm..." Luka shook his head, more interested in the conversation than with the clothing in front of him. He idly pulled on a sleeve to look at a shirt on the rack, attempting to seem a little more into the idea. "Not really. I've been reassigned as Chief of Operations... which I guess is sort of a promotion for me, but I'm used the responsibility."
As her fingers crossed a soft satin material in a deep navy blue colour, Eilis pulled it out; studying it intently for a few moments, "What did you work at prior to the promotion? Have you always been ops? And what about this?"
Luka eyed the blue material, a sudden nostalgic look crossing his features. "Ah... I've been told I look good in that color." He laughed half-heartedly. "I was... actually earning my official Operations training on another ship... but most of my career requires a longer story, really... It's... quite the ride."
Eilis pushed the shirt against the man's chest with a smile before nodding her head in the direction of the changing rooms. "Why don't you try this in and while your in there you can figure out how to make your story more manageable to describe to me."
The awkwardly curious expression that crossed Luka's features lasted for a short moment, before he nodded a slow, deliberate nod, turning absently toward the changing rooms and disappearing inside one of them. It wasn't long before he emerged and returned in front of Eilis, smoothing out the shirt and straightening out the collar. "It's something I'm not really comfortable talking about... er... here." He gestured around them. "Maybe I could invite you to somewhere a little more private to talk?... Er... just... to talk. I can replicate a mean lasagna-oh! How do I look?"
Eilis laughed as he tripped over words before taking a step back and giving him the once over. "I think it suits, it highlights the features of your face more and brings out the colour of your hair and eyes. But it's more of a shirt you'd wear to a dinner party...."
Looking around, the teacher caught the attention of the shops tailor as she motioned him over and stepped in closer to Luka, "Perhaps if we shorter the sleves to just above the elbows? Create a subtle rolled up effect and here..." Eilis' hands moved to his waist as she tucked in the material along the sides to give it a better fit, "...You achieve a far more casual look. What do you think?"
Luka stared obliviously at Eliis as she discussed the notion of shirts and styles with the tailor. He couldn't tell the difference, but he did like the shirt she had picked out. It felt comfortable, and, as he examined himself in the mirror further, he did look quite good in it. Absently, he smiled at Eilis and the tailor, nodding. "I agree, especially since I don't see myself going to fancy dinner parties in the near future!" At least, Luka hoped he wasn't going to go to a fancy dinner party.
As they made the arrangements, Luka beamed pleasantly at Eilis. "Thank you, I didn't think I'd survive the rest of the wait in that other shirt. Not without ending up in a fistfight somehow."
Easily returning the smile, Eilis handed some credits to the tailor before moving Luka from the area, "Pick it up in an hour and then I'll expect you to be wearing it when you finally tell me the story of your career."
