=/\= Eris Deck =/\=
With the repairs wrapping up and the crew still confined to the ship, Eris Deck was packed to the gills. Rather than taking her drink upstairs to the lounge, Indi looked for an empty table down in the mess instead. Unfortunately, while most of the "dinner rush" was done with, every table was still occupied. Near one of the windows, she spotted Lizzy Johnson, PADDs littering the table in front of her.
"Mind if I join you? I was hoping to be able to catch you to wish you Congratulations."
"On what? Oh yes sure have a seat." She grinned looking up at the other officer before running a hand through her slightly messy hair. Planning her own wedding was harder then she had thought it would be there were so many choices and so much that she liked..
Indira smiled back. "The upcoming nuptials? I heard through the grapevine, though apparently ALICE is also telling anyone who will stop to listen." Sliding into the seat next to Lizzy, she picked up one of the PADDs so she could put her drink down. "Coming up with your dream wedding? I'm so happy for you and Dylan."
"Oh thank you. A lot of planning but no idea where to start." She grinned. Then looked to the other woman as she told her that ALICE was telling everyone. "I might have to reprogram her again. For a security hologram she has a big mouth." Lizzy giggled. "LtJg Elizabeth Johnson Engineering, But everyone calls me Lizzy." She grinned.
"Lt JG Indira Bai, Medical. But you can call me Indi. I kind of knew who you were, from my work with crew medical files, but it's nice to finally meet you face to face." The ladies shook hands, and looked up together as another woman approached the table.
Kallistra ran a hand through her dark hair, heaving a frustrated sigh, having not slept too well for the past couple nights. So, instead of heading off to the lounge, she preferred settle in at the mess hall, thinking it would be quiet. When she took a step into the mess hall, she was completely surprised to find that it was filled completely with people. Nearly every table was filled. Being the social butterfly she was, she decided not to sit on her own but waltzed over to a random table. She noticed two women sitting together and the table covered in PADDs so she offered a smile as she approached them.
"Might I join you?" She grinned, her hands bearing a tray laden with some sort of exotic soup.
"Of course," Indi gestured to one of the other seats, moving a couple of the PADDs. "We were just making introductions ourselves. I'm LtJG Indira Bai, or Indi for short. I'm one of the Doctors on board. This is LtJG Elizabeth Johnson, or Lizzy. She's an engineer."
Turning back to Lizzy, Indi picked up a PADD and played with it between her fingers. "So what kind of ideas do you have on these things? Maybe we can help?"
Kallistra offered a nod accompanied by a smile as she settled into a seat at the table, resting her tray on table surface.
"It is a pleasure to meet you both. I am Ensign Kallistra Grey, the Chief Counselor." She returned their greeting and hasty introductions before listening to the conversation transpiring all around them. "Might I ask to what you are referring? Help with what exactly?" She tilted her head slightly for a moment as she made her query then gathered some soup in the spoon, conveying it slowly to her mouth.
Lizzy gave a huge grin to the lady as she sat down and waved slightly. "from cloths and patterns to food and wedding cakes even holodeck locations." She said softly. I'm partial to the blue silk and white tulips for decoration, but there are so many different kinds of blue, and more white flowers that look just as good." She said with a sheepish grin.
Kallistra beamed at the influx of information, her eyes brightening at the very idea of a wedding. She was quite fond of them and did not even bother to hide her enthusiasm. She was just the sort of person to be open and to never hide who or what she was.
"Oh how lovely. I absolutely adore weddings." She started, tilting her head as she glanced down at the PADD. "If you like blue silk and tulips then why not settle upon that? I myself prefer chameleon roses. How lovely they are! They change colors and can be quite charming at a wedding. The color matches one's mood, sort of like a mood ring." Pausing for a brief moment, she consumed another spoonful of the spicy soup, gazing at the PADD still. "What sort of wedding gown shall you wear? As the Belle of the Ball, I am to expect that it should be something stunning. I know it is a silly question to ask and that the majority of wedding gowns are white, but on my homeworld, one simply does not wear a wedding gown. Everything is conducted in... a..." She paused for a moment, pondering how to convey it. "..a natural sort of manner."
"OH and for plate settings Dylan liked the Tuscany, but did you know that there are a few patterns for Tuscany as well on different colors. Like this one gold and Tuscany or even wine and tuscany." She said softly showing the two different plate settings.
M'Riarr sauntered through the mess hall, a plate with grilled meat on her paw. Wow, crowded. But nice. Her happily swinging tail nearly cleared a table and she grinned apologetically before spotting an empty chair near one of the windows.
As carefully as 180 pounds of clumsy Caitian possibly could, she maneuvered her way towards the table stacked with PADDs and gave a charming smile, trying not to show too many teeth in the process. "Good evening. I'm sorrrry if I'm interrupting anything, but it looks like I picked a bad time forrr my snack. If you don't mind me sharrring yourrr table, I'll trrry not to get into your furrrr. Hairrr. Something. Oh, and I'm M'Riarr."
"Oh, of course not. Feel free to join us." Kallistra responded to the Caitian with particular interest, never having met one of her species before. "And yes..it is quite hectic in here tonight. Who would have imagined that the mess hall would be more popular than the lounge?" She giggled softly in a melodic manner before peering over at Lizzy for a moment, "I fancy the gold and Tuscany. Of course it is because I have a partiality to gold. But what a very fine color it is." She motioned to the gold and Tuscany plate with interest, studying carefully.
"It is so very eloquent and delicate. You have good taste." She beamed before peering over at M'Riarr. "So, M'Riarr, how are you doing this fine evening? Well I hope? I apologize for not introducing myself yet. I am Ensign Kallistra Grey, the Chief Counselor."
Lizzy blinked and smiled at the new comer. "You know I never thought of Chameleon Roses. That's actually a very good idea. and to be honest I haven't really thought of the wedding gown yet." She giggled... "I was thinking more silver then white, I'm not exactly Betazoid, so a more natural setting wouldn't really be advisable." She giggled.
Kallistra gave a soft laugh, nodding understandably, "I understand completely. Silver is quite a fetching color, to say the least. Honestly I prefer a gown of lace with beads. Something simple but elaborate in its own manner. What sort of gown were you thinking of? Something elaborate, classical, or simple? It is not every day that a woman weds, so it is an exciting new adventure. Some of the most exciting part is arranging the wedding. Choosing the wedding favors, the china, the wedding gown, the wedding cake, et cetera. I am so very happy for you. What sort of idea were you thinking for the wedding? What location are you going to use?"
M'Riarr waved a happy paw at the other two ladies and folded her huge frame onto the tiny chair, taking care to tuck her tail out of the way. "Yesss Miss Kallistra Grrrrey, I'm doing well, thank you. Nothing beats being rrreleased from sickbay and finally having your furrrr grow back." The gigantic lioness grinned cheerfully but quickly raised a paw in front of her snout when she realized she'd done it again – showed the impressive array of predatory teeth to sweet little non-furred creatures who might take it for a less than friendly gesture.
Her still scarred ears twitched gleefully at the mention of cake though and she leaned forward with genuine interest, nearly upsetting a pile of PADDs in the process "Wedding? Oh then you must be the Miss Lizzy that Alice keeps going on about. Congrrrratulations!"
Indira laughed at the big furball and then turned to Lizzy. "You know, you could always go with something of a small scale on the ship here, and then wait to throw your big celebration until you have some leave time with your friends and family back home?" Chewing on her lower lip thoughtfully, Indi looked around the mess hall. "I bet we could even bring the reception right in here. Set up a buffet line over there," pointing along one wall, "and rearrange the tables over here. That way you wouldn't have to repurpose a holodeck or cargo bay for the reception, you'd just have to decorate in here and work with Chef."
Lizzy smiled at M'Riarr, not in the least afraid of the razor sharp smile. "Someone asked about wedding dresses I have three that I like and can't decide which I like best." Lizzy said reaching for one of the padds to show the other three. funny that Kallistra had mentioned lace. because all three had lace.
"As for Cake. its gotta be Dylan's favorite. However I don't want a completely traditional Cake, it will have a top cake, but mostly cupcakes on layered trays." She said softly reaching for another Padd to show what she meant. It looked so good and would go well with the chameleon Roses she thought. though maybe change the black icing to match the robins egg blue silk that would be used to decorate with. Lizzy liked this it was like having friends that she could talk to. She'd been too busy working to actually meet more than Alice and Dylan though each of them seemed to know her on site despite not having met before...
"Well then, I am glad that your fur grew back. Though I shall not inquire as to what happened. It most decidedly does not sound too pleasant." She added with a wan smile before glancing over at Lizzy, offering a nod in response. Glancing down at the array of gowns, her smile seemed to deepen and her green eyes brightened considerably.
"Oh yes, they are quite lovely. Personally I absolutely adore the first and the third. Though if the two were mixed together, they would be quite elegant. Do you not agree?" She allowed her eyes to linger on the third gown for a moment before peering over at the padd with the wedding cake. "Oh that looks quite delicious. Although, on Betazed, we are prone to throwing in splashes of color everywhere. It seems like a chocolate and vanilla mix. Better not let my little one see that. She loves chocolate of all kinds."
"You know what you ought to do for the holo-deck?" She smiled still, seemingly amused by the thought that lingered in her mind. "A Risian sunrise. I hear apparently that they are absolutely gorgeous."
"We can add color to the cake, but I think I like the idea of mixing the gowns, but I like the third gown is it is too much. it's elegant and off the shoulder. though a wrap like the first one would be nice. and the vine pattern is cute as well." Lizzy grinned hitting a few buttons on the padd and mixing the two designs to show Kallistra again to see what she thought. it was in the color she wanted to shimmering silver so it looked like a gentle snowfall at night...
Kallistra tapped her chin thoughtfully as she studied the gown once more, offering a nod, "Why yes. That is quite lovely. It is delicate but eloquent. It is simple yet not overly so. That is what you are learning toward?"
M'Riarr paused chewing on a bone and leaned forward, looking at the white dresses. "I think you would look verrrry prrretty in that." She purred, pointing at the mixed design. Human wedding rituals were so terribly complicated, but it sounded like a heap of fun, too. And if there was something the big Caitian never objected to, it was fun.
"But it looks all a bit frrrragile. The dishes. And the drrrress. Is it supposed to be like that?"
She discarded the bone, just about stopping herself from tossing it over her shoulder, and picked up a juicy piece of grilled bird in her furry paw.
"It's just Rrrromulans that happened, counselorrrr." M'Riarr said with a wink of her green-gold eyes before trying to settle her huge frame more comfortably on the little chair.
"We'll yes it is delicate, but I'll take good care of it. but it is very pretty." She said softly with a whimsical smile. "Indira, I like your idea of a Risian sunrise. the sun rising would set off the sparkling silver of the dress." She grinned liking the ideas she was getting from the girls.
[To be continued …? ]
Lt. Jg Indira Bai
Assistant Medical Officer
&
Ensign Kallistra Grey
Chief Counselor
&
Lt.Jg Lizzy Johnson
Assistant Engineer
(NPC apb Kai)
&
Ens M'Riarr
Assistant Helmscat
(NPC apb I-Chaya)
USS Charon
