Shenanigans

Posted on Sun Sep 20th, 2020 @ 8:27pm by Commander Samantha Howard & Commander Jonathan Grayson
Edited on on Sun Sep 20th, 2020 @ 8:28pm

Mission: Return to Paradise
Location: The Fox n Hound

Dr Sam Howard strode out of the now deserted conference room, still somewhat shocked she still had her rank and her career somewhat mostly intact. There seemed much to celebrate over, or drown their sorrows in - which ever way you wanted to look at it. Down a somewhat quiet street not far from Starfleet Medical was the Fox and Hound Inn, a quaint little place still amazingly intact from the country's pioneering days.

“How about this place? Jon asked as they drew closer. They could hear music and laughter from inside. “Sounds like they know how to have a good time as well.”

“ We’ll see if they remember me after all these years. It’s been some time” Sam replied with a wry smile. She’d spent far too much time here during her academy years, it’s proximity to Starfleet Medical making it the Go To place for young doctors in training.

“Oh really? I didn’t realize there was a celebrity in our group. This should prove interesting. The renowned Dr. Samantha Howard returns to her old stomping grounds.” Jon teased.

“Bite me...it’s been a long time between drinks, but there used to be many drinks between times” the Doctor snorted as they pushed the door open. The smell of alcohol, old timber and some undescribed stenches that she didn’t care to think about erupted as they entered, moving around some of the small round table to the long timber bar that was the feature of the room.

Jon looked around then nudged Sam, “A long time you said? Why then pray tell do they have your picture hanging above the bar?” He asked as he looked for a waitress to flag down so they
Could their first round of drinks underway.

“ They do not” Sam retorted, refusing to look where Jon was indicating. It was either the ‘banned’ list, or the ‘should be banned’ list.

Jon chuckled, “Sam, yes they do.” He insisted. “Just take a peek. It’s right above the bar. It’s even got some inscription written below it.”

Sam refused to look, flagging down the barkeep.

“ Warp core breach… two for now” She handed over enough credits to get them started.

“Say, aren’t you Dr. Howard? The barkeep asked, “Yeah! You are! We have your picture right over there!” She pointed to the bar. Meanwhile Jon had just about fallen off his stool at the barkeep’s knowing Sam.

Sam wanted nothing more than to down her ‘Warp core breach’ and allow the floor to swallow her up whole.

“ Nope… must be a strange coincidence...there’s a vague resemblance” The Doctor mumbled, her cheeks flushing red with embarrassment
“More than a vague resemblance Sam.” Jon added, not doing anything to help the situation. “I wonder what it says?”

“Oh! I know!” The barkeep spoke whose name was Tammy. “It says best table dancer ever!”

“Really?” Jon said, faking genuine interest. Then looked at Sam, “I had no idea. You learn something new everyday.”

Sam looked as though she would rather be anywhere else in the universe than where they were right now. There wasn’t a warp core breach in a fishbowl big enough to cover her embarrassment. Her eyes remained glued on the bar, counting how many beer glass indentations had been left there over the centuries.

Jon saw Sam’s embarrassment and stopped the teasing. “Hey, “ He whispered, “We can go somewhere when we’re done. The Jolly Roger is just a couple of blocks away on the waterfront.” To Tammy he said, “Say Tammy, can you get us a plate of onion rings covered in cheese?”

“One plate of cheese rings coming right up!” She replied as she literally bounced away toward the kitchen.

“ Is there an embarrassing photo of you there?” Sam replied as their drinks finally appeared. Sam laid into her with a little too much gusto.

“Could be.” Jon admitted with a smile. “Never know,until you go.” He replied as he picked up his drink and took a sip. “Good.” He observed.

“ Just watch the kick at the end” Sam smirked as the multicoloured drink almost shimmered in the dull light of the bar. She hadn’t had one of these in many a year - for good reason.

“Kick at the end. Will do.” Jon repeated. “You know come to think of it, there is a picture of me down there you might like Sam. ...one of me riding a dolphin.” As he took a bigger sip of his drink.

“ Riding a dolphin?” Sam’s eyebrow raised as she regarded her crewmate over the rim of the glass. ‘Surely not’ she thought.

Jon smiled, “You doubt me? I can see it in your eyes that you do. You nonbeliever.” He teased. “It was just before graduation.”

“ You realise this could be the start of an all-nighter, although I’m not sure my liver knows how to handle those anymore” Sam mused, looking around at the mostly empty bar. It was still early and most cadets would still be in class or studying.

“Have you got somewhere better to be? “ Jon asked, “We just escaped with our careers intact, so it’s time to celebrate. Make you deal, you don’t dance on tables and I won't ride any dolphins.”

“ After a few of these I make no guarentees “ Sam admitted as she took another sip. Yep, still packed a punch. “How the heck did we can out of there with our careers intact?”

“Not sure but I’m not complaining. The important thing is we did.” Jon replied as Tammy returned with the plate of cheese rings. “Dig in Sam. These are great!” As he picked one up, bit into it, closed his eyes and went “Yummmmmmm! So good!”


Sam picked up said onion ring with a cautious eye, looking at it critically “ What did you say these were?”

“Cheese rings or a bloomin onion if you prefer.” Jon replied as he took another. “Don’t look at it Sam, take a bite.”

Sam closed her eyes and took a bite - the flavour was somewhat unique, the sweetness of the onion combined with the smoothness of the cheese. It went rather well with the warp core breach.

“ Not bad… I must admit” She replied, reaching for another one.

“Not bad? Surely you jest. These are great!” Jon restated with gusto.

“Each to their own, I’m normally a potato chip with my drinks kinda gal, but hey you gotta try new things sometimes” Sam admitted, ordering her own bowl of said potato chips with tomato sauce.

“They aren’t potato chips Sam. Their onion rings. Onion.” Jon stressed as he took another ring.”And what is that?” He said pointing at her bowl.

“ Deep fried potato, a sprinkle of salt, and tomato sauce, heck deep fried anything is good in a bar” Sam’s melancholia was slowly diminishing at an equidistant rate to her alcoholic beverage.

“Nope, nope nope.” Jon answered, “Going to stick with my rings. You keep your deep fried whatever you call it. Does it even have a name?”

“Potato chips… or if you’re from New Zealand Potato Chups” Sam giggled at her own joke, throwing to the friendly rivalry between her home country and their nearest neighbour.

“Do I look like a Kiwi?” Jon asked her. “I mean seriously.”

“ You never know, you could have some Kiwi heritage you don’t even know about” Sam joked, downing the last of her drink and deciding on what she wanted next. The alcohol from the current one was kicking in giving everything a muted happy fuzz.

The jukebox in the corner came to life as someone gave it an almighty kick, whirring as though it was something that was centuries old. In essence it was, the tunes it contained now digitally remastered and apparently ‘the most eccentric mix this side of the quadrant’ How true that was no-one could actually quantify.

“So do you want to stay here and relive your table dancing days or head down to the Jolly Roger, where no one knows your name and you can see me on a dolphin or maybe it was a whale.” Jon teased.

Sam mused over the options, the alcohol starting to tarnish her rational thinking.

“ You know what - one more drink...just one more. Besides you’ve gotta finish those…ring things you ordered” She quipped, trying to swipe one from his plate and realising again she wasn’t overly a fan.

“One more drink Sam.” Jon agreed as he smiled as Sam took one of the rings from his plate. Before he took a ring and popped it in his mouth

The Washington’s CMO swiped a menu off the bar and squinted her eyes to try and make the writing clearer. Who thought it was clever to create a menu in a watering hole with small print.. Seriously!

“ What does… THAT one say?” She pointed at a line about half way down the page with a fancy looking multicoloured fishbowl.

Jon looked at the menu and to where Sam was pointing. “It says if you feel you're living in a fishbowl try our rocket red glares and watch where it takes you.”

“ Oh goodness that sounds potent…” Sam mused, wondering if she really wanted to get wasted or wanted to see more of the day. Jon was so far matching her for drinks, more than holding his own.

“ You know what - you only live once, one of those… two if you want to be daring” She regarded him out of the corner of her eye.

“Oh what the hell. I’ll have one as well.” Jon replied with a smile. “Just hope I don’t regret it.” He looked at Sam, a mischievous smile on his lips. “Now, I’m not going to have to carry you back to the ship am I?”

“ Probably, I’m really not in the position to care very much at this point in time” Sam admitted, watching as two fishbowls approached the table on a large tray. Oh dear…