In the Bleak Mid-Winter (Open)

Ilana Telak wrote:

[Gathering]

The smile that broke out over the Klingon's face was one that Ilana loved to see, but not quite as much as the soft ones that he reserved just for her.  Just being close to him was a delight since they seemed to be constantly busy in recent times, too much so to be able to spend much time with each other beyond Raynor's making sure that she ate and slept a reasonable amount.  With any luck, they would have more time once they Phoenix left dock.  Until then, every moment was to be cherished.

"R-R-Raynor, th-th-this is N-N-Nelkar.  H-He w-w-was th-the one wh-who h-h-helped m-m-me after th-th-the attack at th-th-the C-Cardassian c-c-colony," she said, hoping to somehow ease their introductions.  "N-Nelkar, th-this is R-Raynor, m-m-my p-par'm-m-mach'k-k-kai."

[Gathering]

Despite his intital determination not to make any eye contact, Nelkar allowed himself occasional glances at the Klingon in between his souring of the drinks table. Raynor Hughes. Definitely a man with a fierce reputation. The face rang familiar in his mind-- perhaps they'd met on some fighting plane. Best not to bring that up.

He let Ilana handle the introductions. Thankfully she seemed to have enough sense to paint him in a more sympathetic light. While it made him mildly uncomfortable, he supposed it was deserved on its own right. After all, he had lost a leg in her defense. He pretended he wasn't overanalyzing everything that was said, and siezed at last what he was looking for as Ilana finished talking-- a bottle of Kanar.

"Ah, Lieutenant Hughes. Ms. Telak has told me much about you." His tone was nothing if not polite.

Zero Alpha wrote:

[Corridors]

Pale eyebrows lifted in surprise as Zero listened to Leela's reassurance.  She had expected the Trill to abandon her to her own devices as soon as they arrived at the gathering and think no more of her, or to tell her that she was insufficient in some way should she feel overwhelmed at the gathering.  The offer of assistance should such a situation come to pass with the promise of an escape route was something of a surprise to her.

Her feelings of surprise were soon replaced by mild panic as they arrived at the gathering, stepping through the doors into the large hall that was hosting the event.  Her hand dropped to the canine at her side, threading her fingers through the soft, thick fur of the back of Ghost's neck as she tried to stop her hands trembling so much.

[Gathering]

Leela stepped through the door with Zero and ghost at her side. "It will be fine." She whispered. "You're among friends." The Trill scanned the room. She could feel Zero tensing up. The Volume of her voice increased back to normal level. "Look its Kintiss!" Leela pointed.

Kintiss wrote:

[The Party]

To Kintiss, the concept of winter itself was alien, let alone celebrating it. He came from a very hot planet with no real cold season (just varying degrees of heat), and the cold didn't exactly agree with him. Still, there was an atmosphere of good cheer and friendliness that was probably more infectious than the Phage.

Normally, he wasn't one for parties. He didn't have much else to do, so he thought he might enjoy the party for a while at least. That, and he'd heard that there would be plenty of alcohol. Surely, this would be the perfect opportunity to show off the iron livers of the Selay. He was topped up on caffeine for the moment. Time to get drunk and loosen up. If there were snacks of some kind, then the party would certainly be one to remember.

Leela raised her hand. "Kintiss! Over here!" She began waving her hand in a manner that was possibly obnoxious. "Doctor!"

Leela Kaz wrote:

Leela stepped through the door with Zero and ghost at her side. "It will be fine." She whispered. "You're among friends." The Trill scanned the room. She could feel Zero tensing up. The Volume of her voice increased back to normal level. "Look its Kintiss!" Leela pointed.

Leela raised her hand. "Kintiss! Over here!" She began waving her hand in a manner that was possibly obnoxious. "Doctor!"

[The Party]

Kintiss was lucky enough to get hold of some proper alcohol, and was already halfway through it when he heard someone calling his name. At first, he thought it was a little early to be hallucinating, but it turned out that this wasn't imagined. He looked around for who it was, and he was pleasantly surprised to see Zero with Ensign Kaz. He made his way over gently and stably. The alcohol hadn't impeded his ability to walk just yet.

"Glad you could make it," he said as he gave one of his trademark terrifying snake smiles. "They have proper Ssssaurian brandy." He shook his glass gently, making the drink slosh around. "I never knew it wasss thissss good. How've you both been?" He wasn't acting as uptight and by-the-book as he normally would when on duty. This was a chance to let his hair down, except that he didn't have hair.

Archangel T'Koris wrote:

Although it took quite a bit of effort, Archangel stowed her temper away, reminding herself that, sometime soon, she may need his help with something.  She couldn't afford to burn her bridges with the man quite yet and she had shown enough attitude for one meeting.  Any more would be more resemblent of a petulant teenager than a starship captain.

"Acknowledged, sir," she replied evenly, stepping out of his office after him and starting to head down to the gathering, looking forward to seeing her family and shaking off the meeting with the Admiral.

The pair spent the rest of the trip to the main gathering hall in relative silence, with a few officers nodding but declining to approach two commanding officers who obviously didn't have the friendliest look on either of their faces. Stark knew that he was sometimes hard on T'Koris, but he also knew that she could handle it. Everything in her psych evals pointed toward that, as well as his own personal interactions with her.

And, of course, if keeping her ire stoked harnessed it into results...well, that was always a plus.

Sighing slightly, Corman entered the main reception area, sparing a puzzled glance at the purple snowflakes. "Gonna be one of those nights," he muttered, seeking the booze table.

Mira wrote:

[Gathering]

Slipping into the Christmas gathering, Mira immediately started to scan the little groups of people that had formed in an attempt to find a familiar face.  Unfortunately, those were few and far between given that she had little time to socialise outside of her duty and her line of work wasn't exactly a good one to make friends in.

Thankfully, she spotted one figure that she knew relatively well who also happened to be standing on her own.  The hologram quickly wound her way through the people until she came to be standing next to the Orion science officer.

"I think there might be a slight malfunction in the holographic systems," she said in response to Myree's mutterings.  "Thankfully, I have my own emitter.  Greetings, Myree.  I trust you are well?"

"Oh! Hey," Myree jumped, blinking her pale blue eyes a little sheepishly. Mira had such a way of sneaking up on people, and she wasn't sure if the hologram had just materialized beside her or not. "Uh...no, no malfunction. Just my code. I...might've transposed a string or something, but I kinda like it. Reminds me of when it would snow on Deneva, and I'd get to go and play in it. Snow fortresses with the other kids who lived in my sector."

The Orion's cheeks flushed slightly darker green as she realized that Mira likely would have no frame of reference for such things, even if she knew what snow was on an academic level. "Anyway. Are you here on duty, or are you socializing?"

Ilana Telak wrote:

The smile that broke out over the Klingon's face was one that Ilana loved to see, but not quite as much as the soft ones that he reserved just for her.  Just being close to him was a delight since they seemed to be constantly busy in recent times, too much so to be able to spend much time with each other beyond Raynor's making sure that she ate and slept a reasonable amount.  With any luck, they would have more time once they Phoenix left dock.  Until then, every moment was to be cherished.

"R-R-Raynor, th-th-this is N-N-Nelkar.  H-He w-w-was th-the one wh-who h-h-helped m-m-me after th-th-the attack at th-th-the C-Cardassian c-c-colony," she said, hoping to somehow ease their introductions.  "N-Nelkar, th-this is R-Raynor, m-m-my p-par'm-m-mach'k-k-kai."

"Then...I suppose I owe you my gratitude," Raynor replied, nodding in Epath's direction while he took up Ilana's hand in his. Hers was seemingly so small and frail compared to his, grey against ruddy tan. Raynor brought Ilana's hand to his lips, kissing the thin fingers, wishing he could do more. Not that he ever worried about what others might be thinking, but he would not want to embarrass her.

Of course, he had no qualms about embarrassing Ilana when the issue of her own well-being was on the line...but he'd not do it to satisfy himself. "I heard the full reports of that day. An unmitigated disaster." It galled to know that he'd not been there, having been foisted away on assignment to the Empire. His duty, of course. But it still rankled like an open sore. Failure.

[Quarters]

Getting settled into the station had been easy, of course, considering that he and Archangel weren't going to be staying on-deck. Gabriel was in agreement with his wife that there was no need to leave a perfectly good ship to inhabit the Athena...especially when it was their ship. The recent unpleasantness with those transwarp conduits had been trying, but the silver lining was the fact that he'd been able to work alongside Archangel. Two engineers, no matter what color their turtlenecks. Just like old times.

"I'm ready to go!" Seika called out from behind the sofa. Aria, he carried in his arms, though she was really starting to get too big for it. It didn't matter. His arms were strong, and he knew that the time when his little girl wouldn't be little anymore was fast approaching. "Oh?" Gabriel replied, smiling at his eldest. "Did you find 'em?" Seika beamed happily, pulling a headband with plush reindeer horns on to her head. "Yep! Now I'm a Christmas rain-deer. Do they only ride when it rains? I thought Santa Claus came to your house when it snowed. How will he find us when there's no snow in space?"

Chuckling, he took up Seika's hand in his. "'Course there's snow in space, lil' lady. You can think of comets as big space-snowballs." Aria giggled form his arms. "I wanna throw snowballs again, daddy!" She was, of course, referring to one of the many holographic snowball battles they'd had as a family. "We'll ask your mama if we can do one soon," he replied, ushering the children into the corridors and to the gathering.

Kintiss wrote:

[The Party]

Kintiss was lucky enough to get hold of some proper alcohol, and was already halfway through it when he heard someone calling his name. At first, he thought it was a little early to be hallucinating, but it turned out that this wasn't imagined. He looked around for who it was, and he was pleasantly surprised to see Zero with Ensign Kaz. He made his way over gently and stably. The alcohol hadn't impeded his ability to walk just yet.

"Glad you could make it," he said as he gave one of his trademark terrifying snake smiles. "They have proper Ssssaurian brandy." He shook his glass gently, making the drink slosh around. "I never knew it wasss thissss good. How've you both been?" He wasn't acting as uptight and by-the-book as he normally would when on duty. This was a chance to let his hair down, except that he didn't have hair.

Leela glanced into the Sealy's glass. "Looks good." Drinking was almost sport for the Trill. Any occasion to drink was an acceptable reason to do so. "What are you having Lieutenant? Is there a bottle floating around here somewhere?"

Gabriel Arthur wrote:

Chuckling, he took up Seika's hand in his. "'Course there's snow in space, lil' lady. You can think of comets as big space-snowballs." Aria giggled form his arms. "I wanna throw snowballs again, daddy!" She was, of course, referring to one of the many holographic snowball battles they'd had as a family. "We'll ask your mama if we can do one soon," he replied, ushering the children into the corridors and to the gathering.

[Gathering]

The meeting with Stark had left a sour taste in Archangel's mouth as she walked alongside him in silence to the gathering. Unfortunately, her sense of duty wouldn't allow for anything except her best service and the Admiral probably knew that, if not from his own observations, then from her psyche evals. At least you don't have access to the Nemesis file, not even with an Admiral's clearance, she thought to herself.

Arriving at the gathering, she spotted the few people who could lift any dark could that hung over her head. Gabriel and their two girls. Lengthening her stride, she quickly made her way over to them, scooping up Seika into her arms. Their eldest was getting a little big to be held, but Romulan strength was still good for something. She then reached over to ruffle Aria's golden curls and plant a discreet kiss on her husband's cheek.

"I'm glad to see you all made it!"

Myree Grell wrote:

"Oh!  Hey," Myree jumped, blinking her pale blue eyes a little sheepishly.  Mira had such a way of sneaking up on people, and she wasn't sure if the hologram had just materialized beside her or not.  "Uh...no, no malfunction.  Just my code.  I...might've  transposed a string or something, but I kinda like it.  Reminds me of when it would snow on Deneva, and I'd get to go and play in it.  Snow fortresses with the other kids who lived in my sector."  

The Orion's cheeks flushed slightly darker green as she realized that Mira likely would have no frame of reference for such things, even if she knew what snow was on an academic level.  "Anyway.  Are you here on duty, or are you socializing?"

[Gathering]

Myree was right in thinking that the hologram had no frame of reference for playing in snow, but she accepted the description in stride and made a note in her program to look up such activities when she next had some downtime. It sounded like a fascinating subject for her study of humanoids and their behaviour. What was clear to her, however, was the fact that her appearance had jolted the Orion a little.

"Sorry for startling you," she said before a slightly wry smile crossed her face. "Are security personnel ever off duty? Even if they're not on the roster, the mind doesn't always stop." She then shook her head at herself for going off on a tangent before going on to actually answer the question. "A little of both. I came here to socialise, although since I'm here, I've been asked to keep an eye on Admiral Deacon. I take it you're here to socialise?"

Raynor Hughes wrote:

"Then...I suppose I owe you my gratitude," Raynor replied, nodding in Epath's direction while he took up Ilana's hand in his.  Hers was seemingly so small and frail compared to his, grey against ruddy tan.  Raynor brought Ilana's hand to his lips, kissing the thin fingers, wishing he could do more.  Not that he ever worried about what others might be thinking, but he would not want to embarrass her.  

Of course, he had no qualms about embarrassing Ilana when the issue of her own well-being was on the line...but he'd not do it to satisfy himself.  "I heard the full reports of that day.  An unmitigated disaster."  It galled to know that he'd not been there, having been foisted away on assignment to the Empire.  His duty, of course.  But it still rankled like an open sore.  Failure.

[Gathering]

Raynor's warm hand enfolding hers brought a faint trace of a blush to Ilana's cheeks, but the gesture still pleased her. It had been at this event the previous year that he had told her of his feelings. Such a lot has happened in one year... she thought to herself before bringing her mind back to the present.

Her gaze did drop to the floor at the mention of the reports of that day. Having been a patient herself that day, and one in critical condition, she hadn't been able to help with the other Starfleet casualties, nor any of the civilian ones from the colony. She had lost a lot of counterparts at the hospital there, all killed or fatally wounded in the initial attack before she and Nelkar had drawn the attention of the terrorists.

Shaking off those dark thoughts, she spoke up: "I p-p-persuaded N-N-Nelkar t-t-to l-l-leave h-his qu-qu-quarters f-f-for th-th-the g-g-gathering r-rather th-th-than s-s-staying on h-his own."

Kintiss wrote:

Kintiss was lucky enough to get hold of some proper alcohol, and was already halfway through it when he heard someone calling his name. At first, he thought it was a little early to be hallucinating, but it turned out that this wasn't imagined. He looked around for who it was, and he was pleasantly surprised to see Zero with Ensign Kaz. He made his way over gently and stably. The alcohol hadn't impeded his ability to walk just yet.

"Glad you could make it," he said as he gave one of his trademark terrifying snake smiles. "They have proper Ssssaurian brandy." He shook his glass gently, making the drink slosh around. "I never knew it wasss thissss good. How've you both been?" He wasn't acting as uptight and by-the-book as he normally would when on duty. This was a chance to let his hair down, except that he didn't have hair.

Leela Kaz wrote:

Leela glanced into the Sealy's glass. "Looks good." Drinking was almost sport for the Trill. Any occasion to drink was an acceptable reason to do so. "What are you having Lieutenant? Is there a bottle floating around here somewhere?"

[Gathering]

Kintiss was a very familiar face to the young Augment, one that she considered to be a friend. After spending so much time together in sickbay, that was almost unavoidable. She still felt a great measure of gratitude toward the Selay after his efforts.

She eyed the glass of alcohol, wishing that she could partake of the forbidden fluid, but with Starfleet Medical's threat still hanging over her head and Callion asleep in her quarters, she didn't dare. Such a thing could lead to grave trouble.

"I am functional, thank you," she replied to her colleague's question. "Are you well?"

Archangel T'Koris wrote:

The meeting with Stark had left a sour taste in Archangel's mouth as she walked alongside him in silence to the gathering.  Unfortunately, her sense of duty wouldn't allow for anything except her best service and the Admiral probably knew that, if not from his own observations, then from her psyche evals.  At least you don't have access to the Nemesis file, not even with an Admiral's clearance, she thought to herself.

Arriving at the gathering, she spotted the few people who could lift any dark could that hung over her head.  Gabriel and their two girls.  Lengthening her stride, she quickly made her way over to them, scooping up Seika into her arms.  Their eldest was getting a little big to be held, but Romulan strength was still good for something.  She then reached over to ruffle Aria's golden curls and plant a discreet kiss on her husband's cheek.

"I'm glad to see you all made it!"

Oof, not good, Gabriel thought, taking note of Archangel's features as she made her way over to them. He knew that she'd left early to meet with Admiral Stark, and those meetings tended to have shades of irresistible forces meeting immovable objects.

Whatever thunderheads in her dark eyes quickly cleared up, however, at the sight of her family. It made Gabriel proud to know that he, at least partly, was responsible for it. "Hello, love," he grinned. Aria laughed as she ruffled her hair, giving a delighted squeal of 'Mommeee!'. Seika reached up and re-adjusted her reindeer horns. "Hi, mummy! Daddy says that Santa can find us by riding comets through space. Is that true?"

Mira wrote:

[Gathering]

Myree was right in thinking that the hologram had no frame of reference for playing in snow, but she accepted the description in stride and made a note in her program to look up such activities when she next had some downtime.  It sounded like a fascinating subject for her study of humanoids and their behaviour.  What was clear to her, however, was the fact that her appearance had jolted the Orion a little.

"Sorry for startling you," she said before a slightly wry smile crossed her face.  "Are security personnel ever off duty?  Even if they're not on the roster, the mind doesn't always stop."  She then shook her head at herself for going off on a tangent before going on to actually answer the question.  "A little of both.  I came here to socialise, although since I'm here, I've been asked to keep an eye on Admiral Deacon.  I take it you're here to socialise?"

Myree didn't find it all surprising that Mira would be assigned to watch duty. She assumed that Admiral Stark himself had likely put the hologram up to it...probably without Admiral Deacon's foreknowledge. Of course, assassination attempts tended to leave everyone on high alert.

"Yeah, you could say that I'm here to socialize," the Orion grinned, holding up her flute of fizzy drink. "The barkeep called this Tarkalean champagne, but did you know that real champagne only comes from a region of France, on Earth?" Frowning, Myree took a long drink of it. She was sure the last thing Mira wanted was a lesson in alcoholic nomenclature. "So...uh. Is Kristen coming to his get-together?"

Gabriel Arthur wrote:

Oof, not good, Gabriel thought, taking note of Archangel's features as she made her way over to them.  He knew that she'd left early to meet with Admiral Stark, and those meetings tended to have shades of irresistible forces meeting immovable objects.

Whatever thunderheads in her dark eyes quickly cleared up, however, at the sight of her family.  It made Gabriel proud to know that he, at least partly, was responsible for it.  "Hello, love," he grinned.  Aria laughed as she ruffled her hair, giving a delighted squeal of 'Mommeee!'.  Seika reached up and re-adjusted her reindeer horns.  "Hi, mummy!  Daddy says that Santa can find us by riding comets through space.  Is that true?"

[Gathering]

"Hello, kilas," Archangel replied with a wide smile. "And hello e'lev." Being close to her family, even when she knew that they were always close, made her heart feel so much lighter. There were times, of course, when she would lie awake during the sleep shift and wonder if they wouldn't be better off far away from her, but she couldn't bring herself to send them away. To do so would break her grey heart.

Those thoughts were far from her mind at that point, more focused on the squirming bundle of Seika in her arms and the closeness of her beloved with their youngest daughter. As it was, she turned an amused smile to Gabriel as Seika asked about Santa's transport methods through space.

"Yes, 'Ika, but only as long as Julia or I remember to send him the ship's location so that he can find us," she teased, playing along with it.

Myree Grell wrote:

Myree didn't find it all surprising that Mira would be assigned to watch duty.  She assumed that Admiral Stark himself had likely put the hologram up to it...probably without Admiral Deacon's foreknowledge.  Of course, assassination attempts tended to leave everyone on high alert.

"Yeah, you could say that I'm here to socialize," the Orion grinned, holding up her flute of fizzy drink.  "The barkeep called this Tarkalean champagne, but did you know that real champagne only comes from a region of France, on Earth?"  Frowning, Myree took a long drink of it.  She was sure the last thing Mira wanted was a lesson in alcoholic nomenclature.  "So...uh.  Is Kristen coming to his get-together?"

[Gathering]

The hologram gave a smile of amusement at Myree's lifting of her glass of alcohol. It seemed that the majority of the time she saw the Orion, there was drinking involved. Then again, Mira considered that if she were subject to the same glances that Myree was, she would likely want to drink as well.

At least you are not affected by her pheromones, she mused. The conversation turned to Kristen, who Mira hadn't actually seen in recent times, a notion that she voiced.

"Due to my schedule and her transfer to the Phoenix, I haven't seen her recently. I don't know if she will be here."

Ilana Telak wrote:

[Gathering]

Raynor's warm hand enfolding hers brought a faint trace of a blush to Ilana's cheeks, but the gesture still pleased her.  It had been at this event the previous year that he had told her of his feelings.  Such a lot has happened in one year... she thought to herself before bringing her mind back to the present.

Her gaze did drop to the floor at the mention of the reports of that day.  Having been a patient herself that day, and one in critical condition, she hadn't been able to help with the other Starfleet casualties, nor any of the civilian ones from the colony.  She had lost a lot of counterparts at the hospital there, all killed or fatally wounded in the initial attack before she and Nelkar had drawn the attention of the terrorists.  

Shaking off those dark thoughts, she spoke up:  "I p-p-persuaded N-N-Nelkar t-t-to l-l-leave h-his qu-qu-quarters f-f-for th-th-the g-g-gathering r-rather th-th-than s-s-staying on h-his own."

[Gathering]

Nelkar listened to Raynor and Ilana's exchange in silence. He refused to allow himself to feel guilty over the injury Ilana has suffered. It had, of course, been at the hands of the bajorans, and not himself. Letting himself care about how Raynor felt at having not been there would only cloud his mind and detract attention away from his primary purpose- observation.

Thick liquor from the Kanar bottle in his hand filled a waiting tumbler. Ilana's description of how she'd convinced him down here wasn't innacurate, but it did make him sound like some sad loner in need of a friend. That may be accurate, his mind gently reminded him. After all, what had he been doing but mourning the past?

Nelkar's lip twtiched in disgust at himself, but he covered it by partaking in his Kanar. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of an approaching admiral. Stark. Nelkar would be a very poor intelligence officer indeed if he didn't know who he was... Or of his open dislike for those more scaly-skinned members of the alpha quadrant.

Hopefully, he wouldn't have to have that awkward conversation.

Quote :

"The Chief Flight Officerrrr's got me down in the shuttle bays most shifts," she replied with an indifferent shrug of her shoulder. "I think I might have said something, but I'm due to get back on the brrridge next time we do a shift rrrrotation."

Buris nodded appreciatively at that fact. "Well, then I hope that the enlisted Ops men down there are treating you with the respect you deserve. If any of them give you lip, send 'em my way and I'll straighten it out properly."

One thing he'd come to appreciate about his commission was the ability to set the rough-and-tumble set of enlisted men straight from their more uncouth and unpleasant ways.

"Chief Callan and the Captain have decided that I'm going to stay on the Bridge on our next shift rotation. So I will see you there."

Quote :

Julia's smile grew larger as Persephone seemed to return her own sentiment. She approached the pair and held her cup in the air, as if it were a glass of champagne at time of toast. "You can say that Seph! Let ensure the replicators never go down again." With a slight chuckle she had arrived at the window and stood with the pair of Ensigns. "Looks like we're early?"

As Persephone spoke about Ensign Kejal's concerns she shifted her body weight and attention in his direction. "Ensign no one is after you." She sighed. This wasn't a conversation that she cared to have. Her smile and calm demeanor remained as she continued her thought. "I think you're imagining things. I have served under T'Koris in a variety of roles. She wants nothing more than the success of those under her. But you have to respect her first... you've done your duty... but you've never made things easy for her or given her a chance to earn your respect."

"I'd say we're on time, but I guess I'm just very punctual. And, not to put too fine a point on it, ma'am, but if the SCE board was calling someone to sit to justify an off-book repair, I'd throw anyone under the bus I could. If you've never had the 'pleasure', count yourself lucky. It's just hours of old engineers asking you every question they can think of while you justify that everything done was necessary at the time and the safest possible option. The number of field repairs we did - not only the lateral array, but the helm computer and probably a good half of the EPS grid's diagnostic circuits... to put it simply, I'd throw the most expendable Ops person at them and hope for the best."

He shrugged lightly. It was obvious he was accustomed to rubbing people the wrong way, and that he'd been in places where that particular trait hadn't done well for him. He actually tried smiling. "Frankly, if you'll excuse me for putting it like this, ladies, the whole damn process is a little funny, if looked at in a certain way - because anyone who's sat for these guys knows that they've probably pulled off something even crazier. Then again, I guess that if you grow up fragging Cardies like that bastard Gul Telak and his demonspawn, you learn to find humor in strange places."

The fact that Buris was so affected by his history was troublesome at best - but the fact that he named outright the father of one of his shipmates who was standing less than 5 meters away - and her dead siblings - might be cause for alarm. He thankfully hadn't noticed Ilana and Gul Epath with Raynor, because he wasn't looking at the drinks - having decided that he'd only start in when M'Rai did.

Archangel T'Koris wrote:

"Hello, kilas," Archangel replied with a wide smile.  "And hello e'lev."  Being close to her family, even when she knew that they were always close, made her heart feel so much lighter.  There were times, of course, when she would lie awake during the sleep shift and wonder if they wouldn't be better off far away from her, but she couldn't bring herself to send them away.  To do so would break her grey heart.

Those thoughts were far from her mind at that point, more focused on the squirming bundle of Seika in her arms and the closeness of her beloved with their youngest daughter.  As it was, she turned an amused smile to Gabriel as Seika asked about Santa's transport methods through space.

"Yes, 'Ika, but only as long as Julia or I remember to send him the ship's location so that he can find us," she teased, playing along with it.

"Oh," Seika nodded, after giving the idea a moment of thought. "I hope he'll bring me good things. I don't know about Aria, though." She turned toward her sister with a teasing look. "She might get coal." Blowing a raspberry, Aria frowned. "Nuh-uh! What's coal?" she asked, turning a quizzical expression to her father. "It's fossilized dinosaur food." This seemed to placate the toddler, as she smiled and nodded. "I'm gonna eat dinosaur food."

Chuckling, Gabriel let Aria slide down his side, her little booted feet touching the deck plating. It almost took the breath away to realize how fast time was going, now that his little girl could walk around on her own.

Gabriel Arthur wrote:

"Oh," Seika nodded, after giving the idea a moment of thought.  "I hope he'll bring me good things.  I don't know about Aria, though."  She turned toward her sister with a teasing look.  "She might get coal."  Blowing a raspberry, Aria frowned.  "Nuh-uh!  What's coal?" she asked, turning a quizzical expression to her father.  "It's fossilized dinosaur food."  This seemed to placate the toddler, as she smiled and nodded.  "I'm gonna eat dinosaur food."

Chuckling, Gabriel let Aria slide down his side, her little booted feet touching the deck plating.  It almost took the breath away to realize how fast time was going, now that his little girl could walk around on her own.  

[Gathering]

Although an amused smile lifted the corners of Archangel's mouth upwards, as she started to scan the gathered people for one face in particular, the smile turning into a frown as she failed to spot it. She gave a quiet sigh, tapping her commbadge.

"T'Koris to Pardek. Safefta, I thought I told you to take some down time and come to the gathering on the Athena. Don't make me turn that into an order."

Once the message had been sent, she looked back to her husband and spotted the flash of emotion across his face as he set their youngest daughter down to toddle off.  It was difficult to see their girls growing up so quickly, knowing that Seika would be starting primary school classes soon and Aria was powering through pre-school learning with astounding alacrity.

Setting Seika down to run after her sister toward the large Christmas tree that dominated the room, she turned to Gabriel, running her fingers lightly down his arm.  "No matter how old they get, they'll always be our little girls," she murmured.

Kejal Buris wrote:

"Frankly, if you'll excuse me for putting it like this, ladies, the whole damn process is a little funny, if looked at in a certain way - because anyone who's sat for these guys knows that they've probably pulled off something even crazier. Then again, I guess that if you grow up fragging Cardies like that bastard Gul Telak and his demonspawn, you learn to find humor in strange places."

[Gathering]

Following Nelkar's line of sight, Ilana had thought that her main problem at the gathering was going to be Admiral Stark, but another voice, one that carried rather well, reached even her sub-par hearing, causing her to turn toward the source, her face paling.

Her eyes fell on the Bajoran who had spoken and anger flared up in her chest, prompting her to take a step in his direction, only to have memories of other Bajorans who had attacked her before surge to the surface. A step back was quickly taken, the young Cardassian shifting closer to Raynor and looking at the ground despite the anger that still burned in her narrow chest.

Ilana Telak wrote:

[Gathering]

Following Nelkar's line of sight, Ilana had thought that her main problem at the gathering was going to be Admiral Stark, but another voice, one that carried rather well, reached even her sub-par hearing, causing her to turn toward the source, her face paling.

Her eyes fell on the Bajoran who had spoken and anger flared up in her chest, prompting her to take a step in his direction, only to have memories of other Bajorans who had attacked her before surge to the surface.  A step back was quickly taken, the young Cardassian shifting closer to Raynor and looking at the ground despite the anger that still burned in her narrow chest.

[Gathering]

Nelkar was many things, but deaf wasn't one of them. He heard the cruel and downright violent words from the bajoran across the way, and felt a definite resentment at the arrogant man's little spiel settle under his breastbone. Of course, the man had to jab and slur at people he wasn't in front of... as if he would have the courage to do so at all. No, Nelkar supposed this man felt safe in his racism.

Felt safe. He knew Ilana sure as hell didn't. A disgusting comment about family like that could sting even someone like Nelkar, who intensely disapproved of Gul Telak and everything his defection meant. His grey fingers gripped his quickly-emptying glass tighter, but he held his tongue. No use getting too testy over one loud-mouthed child.

Ilana Telak wrote:

Following Nelkar's line of sight, Ilana had thought that her main problem at the gathering was going to be Admiral Stark, but another voice, one that carried rather well, reached even her sub-par hearing, causing her to turn toward the source, her face paling.

Her eyes fell on the Bajoran who had spoken and anger flared up in her chest, prompting her to take a step in his direction, only to have memories of other Bajorans who had attacked her before surge to the surface.  A step back was quickly taken, the young Cardassian shifting closer to Raynor and looking at the ground despite the anger that still burned in her narrow chest.

Klingons could sense trouble, practically taste it like the seasoning of life.

Still, Raynor knew that this was neither the time nor the place for it. For some reason, Starfleet gatherings frowned upon good-natured bodies slamming through tables. Therefore, Raynor chose to ignore the Bajoran officer's sentiments. He would have assumed it was just his acute hearing picking it up, but obviously both Ilana and Nelkar had zeroed in.

He gave the Bajoran a quick glance-over. The man's age seemed fairly close to his own, and his sentiment ruled out his having been a collaborator. Resistance, Raynor thought, quickly sorting deductions. Probably seen action. Rudimentary medical treatments available to rebels mean possibility of poorly-healed bones. Could exploit old fractures. Probably has bad joints, particularly knees.

The hell of the thing was...Raynor didn't mind the sentiment itself, just the fact that it was directed toward Ilana. Or, rather, her father. If someone had insulted Ilana directly, the Great Bird of the Galaxy itself would not stand between him and revenging that wrong. Or making the Bajoran a permanent addition to the Christmas tree.

"Perhaps we could continue this conversation. Elsewhere."

Opran didn't seem to be much in the talking mood. Not that Conor blamed him...it seemed like just about everyone had the same feeling when it came to 'mandatory fun' like holiday gatherings. Oh, the children of the ship (especially the captain's girls) seemed to be having a great time. Then again, Conor assumed that it was kinda the point of Christmas.

His father was here, but that was no surprise. Conor would probably make a point to stop in his office at some time before the Phoenix shoved off again...but that didn't mean they needed to stand around and make awkward chatter tonight. Honestly, he was looking for Leela, having noted that the Trill'd arrived earlier but she'd not approached him. Did she just not see him, or...? Damn, he thought. Hope things aren't awkward now. Conor wasn't sure what bothered him more - the idea of 'it' being awkward, or knowing that he was concerned about it being awkward...

Opran was not being intentionally rude to the Petty Officer - he hadn't processed that the man was speaking to him at first, before looking through the purple snow. He was kind of awkward himself. And when Leela walked in, he noticed at the man's eyes were drawing to the young Trill woman as well. Not that he had any real issue with that, but it was interesting to notice the difference in their expressions.

He looked at Conor. "Uh, yeah, sorry. I know, actually. I tried to go skiing once while I was at the Academy... it didn't go very well, but this is an interesting effect. I wonder if it's intentional."

He waited a moment, taking a sip of his tea and looking back toward Leela, speaking to Conor with a smirk. "Fortune favors the bold, man. Go talk to her. She doesn't bite, at least she didn't when we got into a discussion of philosophy."

He chuckled and looked into his teacup, thinking that he ought to find one of the doctors, maybe that Kintiss fellow, and ask if there was any way they could let him eat and drink like a normal person for a night without retching his guts out the next day or some other systemic issue that'd leave him in Sickbay.