Dancing among the Stars

Posted on 28 Apr 2020 @ 6:24am by Lieutenant JG Lilura Karakalakss

Mission: Mission 4 - Race against the machine
Location: Holodeck
Timeline: MD 1 1900 Hrs
2099 words - 4.2 OF Standard Post Measure

Lively dance music emanated from Michael's stereo in his quarters, a selection of songs from Singing in the Rain. "Make them laugh" came on and he had to bring up his view screen to watch Donald O'Connor dance. He really loved the dance routine, especially the fight with the dummy. His laughter rang out filling the room. This scene always made him feel good. Music progressed to where the stars were talking about a possible idea for a musical, a young man going to Broadway to seek his fortune. It starting with, "Gotta Dance"

That song struck a chord, as he felt that same call, he's gotta dance. Sure he could go create the scene at the holodeck, and dance with those stars, but at the moment, nah he didn't want to do that. Michael thought of whom he could possibly ask, then it hit him. He remembered seeing Lilura dancing at the Captain's Impromtu dinner. He had intended on going and dancing with her, but, at the moment he was helping out Iola in getting food and keeping her company.

Better late than never, he told himself. It had been awhile since he had danced with someone besides a holo person. And he was curious what it would be like to dance with Lilura. He had noted that she had the rhthym and the grace when dancing. He sent her a message.

"Lilura, would you be interested in doing some dancing? Meet me at the Holodeck and bring your dancing moves. Michael" and he sent the message off. Then changing into something he could dance in, he checked the schedule for the holodeck, there was an opening. He booked it and headed to the holodeck to see if Lilura would come.

====== Lilura's Quarters ======

Lilura was sashaying around her room as she made a snack in the mini-kitchen area. While there was a replicator, sometime a person wanted a snack not from computer created constructs, no matter that they were supposed to be identical. As a pre colonization power ballad song from old Terra was playing loudly, she did not hear the message chime. However, the flashing light at her terminal showed one had come in. She lightly swayed over to it and checked it out. A grin of surprise spread over her face as she murred to herself, "Awesome! Better to dance with someone that with only yourself. She answered affirmative for in case he was still in his quarters, popped the sandwich into her mouth to chew, then ran off to her quarters to dress into some dancing garb.

====== Holodecks ======

Lilura, now dressed in spandex top, leggings, jean shorts over leggings, Jean Jacket with patches over top, middle foot bands, and some wrist and tail dangles to go with her dangling earling, arrived at the holodecks. She looked over the list and found the one that Michael had reserved. She came up to the doors, adjusted her jacket, then entered into the holodeck to see what Michael had setup for them to dance to.

In the center of the room, Michael stood, one hand upon what looked like an old earth juke box. "I wasn't certain what era of music you'd like to dance to. whether it be one with a Spanish flair." he claps his hands together, and a quick music clip of spanish nature plays. "Or, something with a strong beat like good old fashioned rock and roll. "He snaps his fingers and Elvis Presley, Jailhouse Rock starts to play, Michael doing a rather good Elvis swivel hips move. The scenery changing to that of a 1950's dance club with a bar at one end and nice dance floor with enough room to move about.

Lilura approached Michael while listening to his expose of what was or could be to come. She smiled as he hit near to what she had practiced in the Frontier zone. There were dance clubs dedicated to various styles and flairs of old Terra, and she could do a decent dance. She was no where near the style and quality of an L'Tandrey Vixen, but she tried. She came up to Michael and shook her body, then said, "Both. I grew up in the frontier, so I know Elvis Presley, AC/DC, Guns 'n' Roses, Van Halen, as well as Peruvian, Spain, and Ecuadorian flairs. Yes, I can do the tango. I am no where as good as an L'Tandrey, but I think I am decent enough. Oh, by the way, Soliodaran music is similar to Celtic with Crystalline chimes mixed in. I love Mummer's dance, and can do it justice. I think it was by an artist called Loreena McKennitt. But, as you like Elvis Presley, how about dancing with me to 'All Shook Up'?"

"I like the other music you mentioned, and I am familiar with that very artist." Michael grinned, "Especially that particular piece. You are correct in the name of the artist." he remarked, before the jukebox began playing "All Shook Up"

Lilura grinned widely at his answer. That he knew that music, and enjoyed it, was so refreshing. The holodeck shifted to a rock club, circa 1950 style, with the dance area, tables about, and the two bar stations. The Jukebox was now playing a record in its mechanism, a 45 lp as they were known, and a couple of other couples came to the dance floor. They ignored her and just started dancing with each other, bodies moving in a shortened walking stance or moving with limbs more flowing for the ladies.

Lilura moved onto the dance floor with Michael and turned to face him. She shifted lightly, starting to sashay in place, her torso and hips moving to the music, to see what his dance style was in order to follow along to his lead.

When the music started Michael watched Lilura moved onto the dance floor, noting that she was light on her feet. He wondered if she knew how to do the dance step, the east coast swing. He moved in time to the music, up to Lilura offering his hand, for the first movement of the swing. Then gently he guided her into the steps.

Lilura gladly took his hand, then used her auric senses to follow Michael in what he was doing. She followed along, aptly learning quickly, and recognized the steps he was doing were similar to a couple of other dance styles she knew. Any hesitancy quickly went away after the first stanza of the song and she was dancing away without a care, enjoying being alive and energetic with a date on a dance floor in celebrating living.

Michael decided to see what sort of dance steps he could do with her, having the time of his life, laughing. She was proving to be a fun dance partner. When the song came to an end. He said, "Your turn to choose, what dance."

Lilura was breathing heavy, but that quickly returned to a normal breathing pattern, showing she had a lot of stamina and recovery. She grinned to him and stated, "Isn't it obvious?" She called out, "Jukebox, Mummer's Dance."

The scenery around them changed. The 1950's rock club shifted into a courtyard. Musicians were to the side, tuning up their instruments, while the Maypole in the middle was being finished with garlands of flowers. Lilura removed her jean jacket and jean shorts so that she was in her spandex top and leggings. She reached over to grab and put on a blouse and skirt that were made of handkerchiefs that were to be plucked off during the dance by Michael. The musicians started up the song, while a red headed fair lass stepped forward into an alcove designed for magnification of sounds and music, a natural 'mic with amplifier'. Lilura shifted into an almost classical ballerina pose, but with more forward focus while reaching out for Michael's hand.

Lilura smiled to him and said, "Fair Sir, shall we celebrate the harvest and the gift of living another year by God and Our Lord's Grace?"

It seemed that Lilura was going to be performing a sort of scarf dance where, as she danced, the recipient of the "gift"would take off a kerchief. In olden times in an arabic setting, a concubine or a woman wanting to gain attention of her intended, she would dance this dance and invariably end up naked at the end. Then the woman would either accept the man's attentions or rebuff him. However, Michael mused, he didn't think that Lilura had this in mind, her keeping some clothing beneath the kerchief's.

Michael moved forward with a catlike grace, in time to the music, taking Lilura's hand. With a nod towards Lilura, Michael murmured softly, "Yes, sprite of the forest." Letting the music whirl around and envelope him.

Lilura danced, shifting within the music, as she moved close and far, dancing in leaps, shifts, swirls, and always within the music. She was following the harvest dance of Celtic yore, when, scarves would be given to those males who would earn the right to date and woo the female. As this was a harvest dance, and not a wedding dance, she retained clothing under the scarves. This dance was about fall, the harvest, the fruits of the land, the females allowing themselves to be harvested by the males for dating and socializing, to give of themselves for further allowances for determining if a future wedding dance was in the wind in spring. It was always fall for determining who could woo, spring for marriage or begetting children.

She enjoyed moving close for Michael to pluck a scarf, then shifting among the other dancers, letting two others who were of medium build and high of mind to take as well (even though 'npcs', as defined by the holodeck, a female always had to have several suitors. The order of dates was he who had the most, followed by second, and third, which showed the male who was plucky enough to take the scarves first, ergo, who wanted the dates the most). She shifted and danced, leaping about, yet moving close to shift and touch Michael, and Trond, and Eliah. Would Michael understand, and pluck more?

Michael understood, he participating up to a point, however near the end of the song and the scant number of kerchiefs Lilura wore, he could not continue. It didn't matter that she had clothing underneath the said kerchiefs, it was becoming too intimate for him. With deft fingers, he quickly tied two kerchiefs together, placing one end in Lilura's hand and he held the other end, weaving himself and Lilura through the other dancers to the outer edge of the circle. When the last of the notes faded away, Michael turned to look at Lilura. "I am sorry, I just couldn't finish removing the rest of the kerchiefs, Lilura." his voice sincerely apologetic.

Lilura politely curtsied to him after he spoke, and then she replied with, "That was a deft move with the two kerchiefs, Michael, I enjoyed it. And, as a harvest dance for a maiden to be selected to be wooed by suitors, that you took some showed an interest. Of course, as these are dances for us to enjoy, I won't beholden you to what the dance was for.. unless you want it to be true.." Lilura looked at him with a quizzical expression upon her muzzle and head tilt.

"I believe that we've got a beautiful friendship developing here." Michael replied softly, "Anything more than that, I don't think its written in the stars. Though when it comes to dancing, we do create a nice rhythm." giving a bit of a smile.

Lilura gurgled in humor and replied, "I like that, what we are developing. We shall see what develops further as we definitely have time. Now, onto our next dance..." Lilura called out to the Holodeck, "Trance 4, Nothing but love".

The Holodeck changed from the beautiful landscape and into a ravers style club. The dance floor was electric as people had on light sticks and various garbs of dress that shown in the UV lights. Lilura's outerwear changed to Dance Club Artists monikers and she motioned to the dance floor. "High Energy jumping and moving time.. lets have fun, shall we?"

Michael laughed and said "Yes!!" as he joined Lilura on the dance floor, enjoying every minute of it.


●○ Lieutenant JG Lilura Siana Karakalakss
Assistant Chief Engineering Officer
USS Andromeda

● “ Ensign Michael Hawkins“
Chief Operations Officer
USS Andromeda