First Introductions

Posted on 01 Aug 2021 @ 11:09am by Ensign Vince Stryfe & Ensign Gwen Leighton

Mission: Picking up the pieces
2169 words - 4.3 OF Standard Post Measure

[bold].:: USS Andromeda :: Ten Forward ::.[/bold]

Vince walked through the doors of Ten Forward, the usual place he found himself when not on duty, and since he had only just arrived on the ship, here he was. The first thing on his to-do list was supposed to be reporting to the Captain, but He was indisposed at the moment, so he was told to come back in an hour, which he had no issues with. He moved over to a seat by the window, he always wanted to see how space looked from a new ship, it always looked the same, but somehow felt different.

" Would you care for a drink," A voice came from the side of him.

Vince turned to see a woman who appeared to be in civilian clothes, probably a server," I would love a water if you'd be so kind, just got in from quite a trip."

The woman put her hands on her hips, giving him a wry smile," Long trip? Are you sure you don't want anything more stiff?"

"I'm very sure about that, a water will do perfectly fine, thank you though," Vince smiled trying to be courteous, it was still a task for him not to drink, but he was going to make sure he didn't. If he kept away from it after Halcyon, then he should be golden here.

The server return with his water, and he took it, thanking her, then went back to his own thought, staring out of the window again. This was always calming to him, but was also a good way to at least see some of the other crew, gauge them a bit before he released himself upon them. Sometimes he could be a bit much for new people to meet, and he was aware of that. He had come to enjoy life quite a bit after what he had been through, and he could enjoy it a bit more than most in even the most critical situation. So the best thing for him was to sit back and observe for a bit, then it would be time to unleash the flyboy persona upon the unknowing.

Off in the corner, the usual crew of Security personnel were enjoying their wind down time after shift. Gwen and her best friend Sal were joking about some contraband they'd found in a crewmembers shoe.

"And then he was like, 'Oh, how did that get there' and genuinely expected us to believe someone put it...in his shoe...in his closet" Sal's laughter was loud, as usual, after telling one of his favorite stories. Gwen shook her head and waved down the server, "Another round of the usual and please, tell us if he's overdoing it again..." She winced playfully at the server who knew exactly what was meant.

"You're fine. Although..." She gave a head nod in the direction of Vince, "I would definitely encourage you to check out that one over there. I haven't served a guy who looked like him with only water in..." She hesitated, " …well ever."

"Water?" Gwen's brow hitched, "Just water?" Her eyes moved to the subject matter. Her eyes then moved over the subject matter.

"Mhmm. And I know you love a good anomaly." The Server gave a knowing wink as she caught where Gwen's eyes had been surveying and then wandered off to fill her tray with their drinks.

There was a round of laughter from the table, "That she does." Sal patted Gwen on the back, "Our not-so-chief is fond of all kinds of strange things."

"Like that one time she went home with..."

"STOP!" Gwen yelped, "We don't need that story. Ever. Again."

"Story will lay dormant if..." There was some hushed whispers from the group at the table, "...if you get him to say, 'Andorian Custard'."

Gwen looked around the table, "Excuse me. How. HOW. That's not something you can work into ANY conversation."

"Andorian Custard or ...." He winked at her. Sal knew she loved a game and this was one of her favorites. He was her best friend and he knew exactly how to push her buttons.

Glaring at him and the rest of the table while picking up here glass she said, "A pox of ...something on you all."

With a casual, almost too casual, ease she wove her way through the various tables as if heading to some known destination. A slight trip, a slight slip of her hand and voila - a wet handsome male and a mortified security officer.

"I am so sorry!" Gwen genuinely was, so the words weren't hard to say, "Your jacket sleeve is drenched." She motioned for a server to bring some towels as she set to sopping up him and the table. Taking a seat she offered him a dry towel, "Your...ear is dripping."

Vince just stared forward for a moment, taking in was had just happened; feeling the cold drink falling down the left side of him. His eye closed from the same thing. He reached out as the woman offered him a towel and started to dry his face then he turned, thinking he was going to see the server," So I guess when you order a water you get to wear a drink too?" Just as he finished his comment, her realized the woman was not the server, but another member of the crew. He smirked," And you are not who I thought you'd be, uh, thanks for the drink, but I don't usually have alcohol."

"At least not externally." Gwen added with a wince, "Unless you're some humanoid I've never met with absorbent pores." God, what a terrifying thought. Why did she say that!? She looked him over, "I can ask the server for another towel if needed, but I am curious why you would have thought she'd douse you. Did you do something wrong?"

Vince laughed," Oh no, just thought that she might have had a slight oops and I was the victim, although that did seem to be the case, just a slight oops. I'm good though, no need for another towel," Vince leaned over and picked up her emptied glass, setting it on the table," So now I'm sorry you wasted your drink on me, literally, let's get you another, and you can sit down and tell me about you. I do need to meet other crew members.

Vince gestured to the seat next to him, and also waved over the server to get the woman another drink," I'm Vince Stryfe, by the way. I'm a Helmsman, it's a pleasure to meet you..." Vince leaned a bit, hoping for a name.

"A fly boy," She settled into the seat and motioned for the server to replace their drinks, "I've met more than a few helmsmen who pride themselves on being able to handle anything, including their liquor." Her finger pointed to his glass, "Religion or far too many bad decisions?" Of course she was inquiring about his choice of beverage.

"We'll just go with water is healthier," Vince paused hoping that was a good enough answer," So, what do you do on this fine ship, Ms. Yellow Shirt?"

"Security," She laughed, "and it's Gwen. Or, Ensign Leighton, I guess when on duty. I don't really have to say what I do. It's implied pretty much there. I do the protecting thing. You do the flying thing." Their drinks arrived and she picked it up, "Cheers?" Her brow quirked.

Vince tipped his glass to her," Well, Gwen, or Ensign Leighton, it is a pleasure to meet you. Good to know you've got the protecting thing going, I'll remember that for sure. I arrived not too long ago, so haven't even touched the helm yet. Although hopefully you don't spend too much time on the bridge, might find it hard to concentrate," Vince smirked and laughed slightly," be difficult to fly dodging drinks."

Gwen laughed, loudly, at that comment, "Ironically I'm more of a bringing the Danishes to the meeting type of girl. So, beware flying pastry." She took a sip of her drink and then said, "I'm not on the bridge as much as I use to be. I just stepped down from Acting Chief so I much prefer hiding away from the spotlight. It didn't suit me too well."

"We'll I'm a pilot, so I have no choice but to be in the spotlight. To be honest though, I quite enjoy it. I actually like the fact that I'm responsible for something so important, and I excell at it, or atleast I hope I do," His thought flashed back to his time in the Marines," I try my hardest at least, that's all anyone can ask for right, nobody is perfect, nobody can be perfect, mistakes will be made sometimes."

"Yeaaah but if you make a mistake and we all get sucked into a black hole, we all die ," She smirked, "So please, don't be anything that isn't absolutely, one hundred percent - perfect." Gwen looked over at her table. Sal gave her a wink, "Speaking of perfect, do you see that bunch of ridiculous looking security personnel over there?"

Vince looked over to the people she was talking about," I do, hard to miss with all that mustard in one spot, what about them?"

Gwen almost spit out her drink at the mustard comment, "They're a special bunch who currently have it out for me. So I was hoping you could help me win a little game. Normally I wouldn't ask but this one is especially...difficult. You game?"

" We may have just met, but I've got a feeling about you, so what's the game? I'm always ready to play," Vince looked at her grinning.

Gwen smirked and cursed the annoying blush that hit her cheeks, "Alright, forgive me for getting far too close as I explain this." Gwen pulled her chair over so her back was facing the 'mustard' table and she was side by side with Vince, "So," Gwen spoke with a tilt of her head in a low tone, "It's a simple game of getting the person you're talking to, without knowing it, to say a phrase or code word. Normally it's fun and quite easy but they picked something that I genuinely can't seem to be bothered to squiggle in."

She motioned to the server and quietly asked her for something before turning back to him, "So, this is where you come in." She gave him a once over, "How's your aim?"

Vince rotated his shoulder," Oh dear, I was an All-State catcher for my high school baseball team, point me in the right direction, and I'll impress."

The server returned with a bowl of something and Gwen dipped the spoon into it, "See, this stuff is disgusting. It's an Andorian custard made from tuber root that is...a ..learned texture and taste..." She dropped the spoon onto a napkin, "This was the thing that I was supposed to work into your vocabulary and, honestly, ick." She picked up the bowl, "But I can't lose face in front of them, so perhaps you could help a maiden out while also getting back at them." Gwen handed him the bowl, "I'm going to go back to my table, but if you happen to toss some Andorian custard at the cocky brunette that I'll be sitting beside I would owe you...a bundle." Gwen stood and winked at him, "Just don't forget to mention what it incase he misses the point."

Gwen finishes her sentence while standing and ensuring it's spoken low and quietly directly into his ear. Once done Gwen leaves back to her table and takes a seat beside Sal.

"Well?" Sal asks.

Gwen takes a sip of her drink, "Mhmmm."

The rest of the table seems to quietly lean in awaiting her words.

Vince watched Gwen walk away, not losing sight, then down at the bowl when she walked away. He stuck the spoon into the bowl and stood up, walking over to the table. As he walked up to the one she had pointed out, he took a big spoonful and popped it into his mouth, he'd had it before as a Marine. It wasn't great but wasn't that terrible. The man looked at him confused," Andorian Custard," Vince said as he tipped the bowl over onto the man," It's not that bad."

Vince winked at Gwen, he really hoped to see her more often. Just as he started towards the door, he realized he still had the towel from earlier, so he headed over to the bar to return it.

Gwen's laughter from the table could be heard above all the noise of the room.

"That's cheating!" Sal yelped as he flicked a handful of custard towards Gwen, "You do....there is no way..."

"Shhh..." Gwen motioned for a towel, "You're showing off your sore loser side."


Ensign Gwen Leighton
Security, USS Andromeda

Ensign Vince Stryfe
Flight Control, USS Andromeda