MISSION POST: Shi Maro Space Station - Day 47 - OPEN

[enterprise_npc]

The air was one of breathless anticipation as all off duty personnel - military and civilian, Aian and Marosi - lined the viewports to watch the Starfleet ship come in to dock. Murmurs raced through the watching crowd at her strange design, at the unfamiliar words emblazoned across her hull

Comments

[eatabean_bedone]

Keenser surreptitiously tugged at the hem of his dress uniform, having eventually chosen the same course of action as Donnie - standing off to one side and watching everyone else muck through all this 'diplomatic' nonsense. Even the catering staff weren't spared from Keenser's glaring, although of course his glaring would, to most people, look more like a generic blank stare than anything else. It all seemed like quite a bit more fuss than was necessary. Dignitaries, socialites, diplomats... They all operated on a societal level that always left Keenser feeling as though they thought he were somehow beneath them. They were worse than admirals, and very little - in Keenser's opinion - was worse than high-ranking officers.

[transwarp_beam]

Meandering through the crowd with drink in hand and an air of having no particular purpose, Scotty diligently avoided the eyes of anyone who looked even vaguely inclined to talk to him. Thus far he'd successfully managed to avoid having to interact with anyone more influential than the catering staff - and that only in the vital pursuit of a fresh drink - and one disconcertingly bright junior officer. On the whole he considered this a win.

He brightened considerably on catching sight of his favourite diminuative nonhuman, predictably lurking against an out-of-the-way wall. He ambled on over and raised his glass in greeting. "Alright, wee man?"

[eatabean_bedone]

Keenser replied with rather less than his usual verbosity, and considering there wasn't much there to start with, it amounted mostly to a small one-shouldered shrug and an incredibly noncommittal acknowledgment of alright-ness. It was the blasted dress uniform, that's what it was. The minute he was out of it and back into his usual uniform, he'd feel much better. That, and he was still suspicious of the canapes, and he'd very nearly been tripped over by one of the catering staff who'd had the misfortune to be the very person Keenser had chosen to cut in front of in order to get to the prime glowering location by the wall. He wasn't sure what happened to a guest who got a tray of drinks spilled all over him at a function like this, but he imagined it wouldn't be pretty.

[transwarp_beam]

"Enjoyin' yourself that much, eh?" he replied, unperturbed by his second in command's even more uncommunicative than usual demeanour. He set his back against the wall and sipped at his drink as he looked out at the crowd. It certainly wasn't anything he'd define as a party. He wasn't sure what it was, really.

[eatabean_bedone]

In response, Keenser merely tugged at the sleeves of his dress uniform, rolling his eyes a bit. Parties, he could deal with. Proper parties, anyway, with none of this fiddly little snacks and frilly drinks business. He already disliked most of the people here already; certainly Starfleet's arrival had sparked quite a bit of interest, and if there was one thing Keenser absolutely detested, it was people taking a keen interest in him. Anyone who was that interested was up to something.

[transwarp_beam]

Scotty shrugged. Fair enough, really. He wasn't exactly having the time of his life either. He finished what was in his glass and set it on a passing tray as one of the catering staff brushed by him. They settled into a companionable silence.

[eatabean_bedone]

Companionable silence suited him. It was a lot more comfortable than trying to make small talk with the mass of people who were at this thing. Standing off to the side with Scotty meant - hopefully - they wouldn't be interrupted by someone trying to go and get all diplomatic at them. But Keenser wasn't really one for just standing still and doing nothing, when it wasn't really him getting to dictate when and where he stood still and did nothing. He managed to resist fidgeting, but he was very much impatient for the night to be over. "How long?" he asked, glancing up at his friend.

[transwarp_beam]

"Don't know, man," Scotty said with a shrug. Maybe they'd be able to sneak out at some point soon? It might be worth a shot. But then possibly as one of the senior staff he might be expected to show his face a bit longer. "Soon wi' any luck."

[eatabean_bedone]

Keenser made a face that very likely only Scotty could interpret. It was an expression of distaste with subtle - extremely subtle - overtones of longing to be anywhere but right here, right now. "Could be on ship," he muttered, more to himself than to Scotty. "Not need me." Really, was there any reason he'd been brought along, aside from the fact that he'd be in the landing party? He was absolutely useless at social functions. More than likely he'd been made to come along as some gesture on Starfleet's part to show the Aian and Marosi people how diverse the service was. A sort of 'look at us, we accept all sorts here' kind of thing.

[transwarp_beam]

Yeah, he knew that expression - it had been a fairly common one during those fun six months on Delta Vega. He managed a grin; "C'mon, man, y'can't leave me here alone wi' this lot. I need some sort'a backup."

[eatabean_bedone]

All things considered, Delta Vega had been positively cheery compared to this. At least on Delta Vega, Keenser didn't have to dress up in this ridiculous dress uniform. At least on Delta Vega, there was always the possibility of something interesting happening out on the ice. He'd like to see some of these diplomats try to diplomacy their way out of an encounter with one of those big red beasts.

"Backup with phaser." That? That might have been a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of Keenser's mouth.

[transwarp_beam]

Scotty snickered. "Don' know, mate. 'm thinkin' we might get in trouble for that sort'a thing."

[eatabean_bedone]

"Not have one anyway," Keenser replied, shrugging. "Human phrase... Just a thought?" It was a nice thought, though. A trusty sidearm, set to stun... That would liven things up a bit. After a few moments, Keenser raised a hand and mimed shooting into the crowd, just for the hell of it.

[transwarp_beam]

Well there was a plan Scotty could get on board with. He nodded towards a politician in a particularly ridiculous hat; "Twenty points."

[eatabean_bedone]

Keenser nodded, and sighted along his outstretched finger, silently mouthing the sound effect of a phaser going off. "Hat worth extra." Another 'shot', and he nudged Scotty. "Woman in blue. Your turn."

[transwarp_beam]

Grinning he copied the action, mimicking the whine of a phaser. "Him wi' the comb-over. Go for it."