Breath of Fresh Air

Posted on 16 Feb 2015 @ 5:46am by Commander Scarlet Blake & Clarence Pearl
Edited on on 16 Feb 2015 @ 5:47am

1,780 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Episode 07 - Sojourn
Location: USS Galileo: Deck 2 - Outside the First Officer's Office
Timeline: MD 39 - 1400

ON:

Knowing that the USS Galileo wasn't far from launch again, Clarence had finally gotten his invitation to see the ship's XO. He couldn't blame them, even civilians were the responsibility for the command staff. He smiled weakly as he walked down the hallway for the meeting room, hands in the pockets of his jeans. He wore a tee shirt and a jumper, in autumn colors. He liked those...browns, deep oranges, that sort. Made him half miss Mars. Half. Okay, not even that. He shook his head, finding the meeting room and ringing the chime as he waited.

"Come in," Scarlet called out, still looking at her computer screen, scrolling down with a long, tight sigh. "Oh, come on, come on...."

He walked in, watching the woman for a moment before smiling. "I'm coming, as the bishop said to the nun..." he said lightly as he walked over to the desk.

She glanced up to him with surprise before chuckling, shaking her head. "No, sorry, computer," she motioned to it before sitting back with a sigh. She took his look in with an arched eyebrow. "Ensign Stylish of the Denim Department?"

"Nope..." he shook his head and moved to her, offering his hand. "I'm Clarence Pearl. I'm a civilian mixologist."

"Ah," she stood so she could shake his hand with a small smile, retaking her seat as she cleared her throat. "Most of our civilians are scientists, so...."

"Yes...well, I'm not," he said and nodded, watching her. "I just make the drinks happen. Happy drinks."

"Well that sounds pretty amazing to me," Blake admitted with a soft laugh, shaking her head. "Tell me about yourself."

"Well, it's all on file," he took a seat, smiling as he leant forward. "I'm an Academy drop out. Grew up on Mars. I've been doing this for awhile now. Have an award winning cocktail too!"

"What is it?" she asked with genuine interest, leaning forward to him with a gentle smile.

"Lychee juice, chilli vodka, squeeze of lemon, absinthe and a drop of ale. It's...a bit of a play on thai food. You know, the four flavours of it. Sweet, sour, bitter, hot..." he said and smiled, giving a nod. "Shaken on ice, poured in a martini glass."

"You are going to *have* to make that for me," she chuckled softly with disbelief. "You have my mouthwatering already...."

"I am happy to do that," he said with a warm smile. "And anything else you want to try. I can even make things on the spot if you need."

"The Callisto Bar is a little small, but it's very popular, and has a lot of atmosphere and warmth," she assured with a gentle smile.

"Just what I heard," Clarence said, shifting to pull a leg up, close. "I've been chatting to your crew. Those that went to the bar I've been working in."

"Ah, good move...anyone in your bar on the station will most likely end up being your core customer base here," she nodded with a soft laugh.

"My thoughts too," he said as he watched her, closely. "I've seen the basic layouts."

"And what do you think?" she asked with a curious smile, leaning to him as she let her chin rest on her hand.

"She's pretty. The ship's nice, the bar is pretty. I want to get new glasses. Proper ones," he admitted, smiling as his hands moved. "And I have my own stock of alcohol to bring onboard too."

"We stock up with the real stuff whenever we can, but you're free to bring your stuff to the bar too," Scarlet nodded quickly.

"Thanks," he said and nodded, arching an eyebrow. "I like my Bols. And my other Earth brands. They're nicer, you know? Classy. And bottles pretty too!"

"Of course, silly me," she teased, but with a small, playful smile. It was a nice change, talking to someone like Clarence.

He chuckled as he watched her, nodding as he let out a breath. "Let me make you a drink," he said and stood. "Now. It'll be synth, but I want you to know you've done good with getting me here."

Scarlet smiled at the idea of it. At his enthusiasm at suggesting a 'test'. She leant back and crossed her legs with a gentle nod. "Alright, do your worst."

He nodded, moving to the replicator. He looked at her, considering it for a moment. And then he nodded to himself. "Computer, cocktail shaker with four ice cubes, strainer, chilled tumbler glass, small bottles of coffee cream liqueur, amaretto, chocolate liqueure...and white rum," he said and smiled when they appeared. "I take it you are a good drinker."

"I can hold my own," she replied with a soft smile of amusement, nodding slowly with an arched eyebrow, but she was watching his kit with interest.

Clarence nodded as he started to mix, chuckling softly. "Good, it is what I like to hear, you know." He turned his head, watching her with warmth. "Because I don't deal well with chucking people out of a bar. Not...built for that!"

"You'll have to slip something into the drinks to send them to sleep," she teased with a soft smile, watching what he was doing with a keen eye.

He mixed the cocktail, smiling as he poured it slowly into the glass. "There..." he took it and carried it to her, placing it down. "This...is a Coffee Morning."

"Coffee Morning, huh? Gotta love that already," she smiled as she slid the glass closer, closing her eyes to just smell it first. Carefully, she took a sip, smiling at the rich, earthy tastes that came with the cool blast of ice. "Now that is the best way to start a morning...."

He chuckled, clearly pleased as he clapped his hands. "And that isn't the proper version. That is the shaky your head and the buzz goes away version, which is really really boring..." he stopped and met her eyes, holding them. "You like it though? I thought you were more a tea person by glance, but then I'd have to get my earl grey vodka..."

"You have earl grey vodka?" she asked with surprise, never having heard the like before.

"Well, I made it," Clarence said and smiled to her, nodding. "I flavour vodkas. And rums. But mostly vodkas because vodka doesn't have such a...flavour."

"I think we're definitely going to enjoy you in the bar. Hopefully we'll be seeing a lot of specials," she suggested, shaking her head as she glanced to the PADD with his record on.

He chuckled at that, nodding as he considered it. "Depending on how good it goes, you know. I've had some disasters. Nothing, of course, that would make people insane or possibly die from it. Just...that diarrhoea incident...and maybe that one projectile one but that was totally not my fault, the olives had gone bad..." he said, gesturing...because he could guess what she was looking at and it made him nervous.

"Let's try to not repeat that again then," Scarlet shook her head with a small but felt smile, meeting his eyes at having read his psych notes. "How are you doing these days?"

"Me? Me...all good," he said and smiled, shaking his head. "All good with the good things. Great sleep patterns and such on. Diet good. And...no mental episodes..." he grinned, nodding. "That's why you are asking, right?"

"You read it right," Scarlet nodded with a half smile at his straight forward question, liking the direct approach. "You know that you have been directed to see a counsellor here, yes?"

"Yes," he nodded and smiled at that. "It's because of the added risk factors with a ship. Stressful situations and all that, it's what we like to try and avoid. Well, I try to avoid it, I bet you are seeking it out."

"Maybe that's my hang up," she tilted her head with a chuckle, shaking her head softly. "I've looked this over," she motioned with the PADD. "I think you are a strong, intelligent young man, and I want you to know I'm not worried about you."

Clarence met her eyes, searching them with surprise. "Wow..." he sat back, frowning. "Huh. Now I didn't see that coming..." he smiled, slowly. "But you can't call me young, we've got to be the same age."

"Are you calling me old?" she replied without missing a beat, arching an eyebrow.

"No...no!" he met her eyes, taking a quick breath. "No, no, not old. No! But the same age. Twenties. Twenties are good, it's like being a teenager only you can drink!"

"Then you are a young man," she said firmly, nodding as if that were that. "There's no harm in some counselling during the transition. At worst, it's a few hours of your life."

"No, I like it," he said and smiled, shaking his head. "I like the talking. I like talky and I like being told I am not insane now and then. Makes a difference too and it is...fun too. The banter you get, you know? Chemistry. And you get some proper perspective too."

"Good," Scarlet couldn't quite hold the note of surprise out of her voice. It wasn't often she came across someone who actually wanted to go to counselling. "Well we have a few counsellors to choose from. I'm sure you'll find someone with the chemistry."

He watched her, smiling at seeing her reaction. He had gotten that face from the starbase counsellor. "Good. Because you know, talking helps. More than drugs. Not keen on drugs."

"Just rum and vodka, hm?" she said softly, but with a touch of amusement. "Is there anything you'd like to ask?"

"Will I be sharing?" he asked, stopping for a moment. "Quarters, I mean? I don't know how it works with civilians."

Scarlet nodded with a small smile. "Yes. We're a small ship, so you'll be sharing. It's that or pitch a tent in the cargobay...."

"I can share. I am...shary..." he said and grimaced, watching her. "I might not be the best person to share with, I can be a bit...strange, you know. In a good way. Sometimes, I can annoy people."

"Isn't that the same with everyone?" Scarlet said lightly, but with a small smile playing on her lips.

"Yes...yes, it is," Clarence said with a smile, nodding as he sat back. "It'll be good, I know it will be. The Galileo looks like a good ship."

OFF:

Clarence Pearl
Mixologist
USS Galileo
[PNPC Markos]

CMDR Scarlet Blake
First Officer
USS Galileo

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