A Meet At The Bar

Posted on Tue Mar 7th, 2023 @ 6:37pm by Michelle Erilin & Lieutenant Rebecca McMillen

Mission: The Interim
Location: Ship Bar

Sporting her MOUS suit, sporting the traditional blue of the Science division, the tiny tiny officer came in when the lounge doors opened up. To the casual observer the door itself just opened, waited, and then closed. Sticking close to the edge of the wall to stay out of the way of classic foot traffic, the littlest science officer made her way over to the front, over to the central focal point of any bar.... THE BAR.

The diminutive office called up to the bar, "Ummm... hi." she called out. "Sorry, umm, down here. I was, wondering if I could, well, trouble you for a drink and maybe a chat?"

Michelle glanced around at the first greeting, but no one was actually AT the bar and she listened carefully as she opened her empathic sense and... Found someone close at hand, a hint of exasperation and frustration about something, then leaned over the bar on her tip toes and glanced down with bright blue eyes and a concerned look that turned into a smile, "Oh hello there," Her eyes squinted slightly, "Lieutenant, is it? One moment, let me come around and help you up.. Must be a bit inconvenient for you at the moment!" She matched actions to words, sweeping around in the less than formal red evening gown in two inch heels. It was a flattering gown, chosen for the right mix of sensualness and modesty, a necklace with a golden chain and a three-cornered Celtic knot made of three different metals hanging from it. crouching down and offering her hand for Rebecca to step onto for the ride to the top of the bar.

"Love the dress. Nice heels too." said the officer literally as tall AS those heels. Well, at least as tall as the lift. She climbed up into the tender's hand and sat. "Inconvenient, yeah, but you know what, at least I'm alive right." she offered with a giggle. "So what's the occasion for such an amazing get up? And yeah, Lieutenant, but I don't feel right pulling rank while I'm in your palm. So, please, just Rebecca."

"All right, Rebecca, I'm Michelle, a humble bartender here at the Hydra Lounge. This is just how I typically dress when I'm here on duty, nothing special, really." The civilian brought her hand up for Rebecca to debark the ride up to the bartop, then swept back around to the other side of the remained a respectable distance in comparison to Rebecca's height so as not to overtower her while giving the diminutive officer her full attention and attentiveness, "What sort of drink can I make for you?" Her mind was already figuring out just how to make it and what to put it in, the latter being the real challenge.

"Michelle, it's nice to meet you." she offered upward once the bartender was settled back. "Just want to say, you're rocking it. That's still what they say, yeah?" she offered, before smiling up, "My drink of choice back in my, well, earlier days was a malibu seabreeze. The trick is, serving it. I'll accept replicated, easily. Might make things easier for all parties involved." she offered as a compromise. "Otherwise, it's either booze in a thimble, or you're mixing a drink and I'm using it as a hot tub." she giggled.

With a smile, Michelle shook her head slightly, "While you are quite gracious in being willing to accept a replicated drink, I'd hardly be able to call myself an expert if I did it that way!" She considered Rebecca for a moment before nodding and stepping over to the replicator and punching in a few commands, an empty glass of the right size for the officer (meaning tiny) coming up and Michelle brought it over to in front of Rebecca. She grabbed the different ingredients from behind the bar and brought them up, as well as three pipettes. After using an icepick on the ice block and selecting a tiny shard, she put it in the glass then used a pipette to first put in four drops of cranberry juice, then a similar amount of pineapple juice and finally three drops of rum. A toothpick to stir the drink to mix it properly and then a pair of pursed red lips as she carefully cut an appropriate sized wedge off of a lime and stuck it on the edge of the glass before sliding it over to Rebecca, "Malibu Seabreeze."

Rebecca giggled, "Well, if you want, Miss Bartender." she offered and watched as Michelle went through the effort, the show, the performance. The whole of the process was like a surgeon performing a procedure with physical tools rather than the regenerator and the scanner. At the end, she claimed her glass and gave a wide smile, "I appreciate it. Really, truly. It's.... it's something that I haven't had the pleasure of in a long, long time. For me, for now, my whole life is either replicated faire, or just a piece of a larger picture." she admitted, and took a swig. She couldn't tell the difference between REAL and REPLICATED, but the notion that it was real, and fresh, and made for her....

"I really appreciate this. Let me know if I can make it up to you." she offered, "No no, I mean it."

Michelle had started to decline, but made one of the universal gestures of acceptance, "If ever the time comes, I'll be sure to let you go." She had resumed the respectful height and distance and attentiveness, "I'm all about doing things for others, to make everyone feel special, even if just for a moment. Her smile was close-lipped, "Could say that it's my purpose in life, one that I really happen to like."

She gave a nod, "I'm a lady of science. Was studying a subspace compression anomaly when the station got attacked. Everyone got to their escape pods, except when the station blew, mine got thrown through the event. I didn't know how bad things were until I was let out of the pod, and found that someone was holding it in their hand." she recalled. "So that's my story. Not much, but it's the one I have. This is my first real posting since the accident, so I'm just really trying to fit in."

"I think you'll do just fine." Michelle avowed honestly, "I'm sure you get a lot of jokes about your size, but I think you look great!" She winked at Rebecca, "As for me, I grew up on a backwater world, started working at a bar about eight years ago and managed to get off-planet to a Federation Starbase three years ago. Got a job here a few weeks ago and been on board Chimera ever since. I was accepted virtually instantaneously, so I've got every confidence that you'll be the same. The Captain's really nice, I've found."

Rebecca nearly choked on her drink mid sip... *cough cough* "oh... oh trust me, I've met the captain. I know *exactly* how nice, and... big... and firm... she is." Rebecca blushed, looking down. "So, umm.. first time meeting her, I must have just caught her from the holodeck, cause she was wearing some tennis getup. I asked her for a lift to medical for my initial check up, right? She says sure thing, picks me right up. Now, instead of riding on her shoulder, which for the record... harder than it looks, and an outfit with no pockets... rather than just swing me around, thank you please no... sheputsmedownhertop." Rebecca spit the last part out quickly.

Michelle nodded along as she followed the adventure that Rebecca had taken alongside Cally, well, with Cally. However, when it came down to the how, she couldn't quite... But it sounded like, "I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch that?" She asked politely.

"*ahem*... she put me, down her top. Not like a little, either... like, down in there." Rebecca admitted, "Like, I knew what color her bra was."

If Michelle had been drinking, she'd have spat it out and given the small woman an unanticipated shower right then and there, instead she brought her hand up in time as she choked on her breath and coughed a couple times, "Wait... What? She put you down..." Her eyes were wide open as she had to focus to keep her voice down, trying to put herself in the same perspective as... "Well, I suppose it was thinking outside the box when it comes to safely transporting you? But it sounds like it was a bit... Squishy?"

"Squishy ... is ONE word I'd use. Squishy, sweaty... I now officially know more about the Captain than I *EVER* wanted." Rebecca said, amused looking back at it. "Though, yeah, I'd wager it was secure. Snug, yadda yadda."

"Oh my God, what in the galaxy are you doing, Aunt Cally?" Michelle said under her breath, shaking her head slowly, "I'll be the first to admit, that sounds more like some sort of kink that a client would ask about. I'm really not sure what she was thinking with that, it's... Different, I guess?"

Rebecca missed the part about 'Aunt Cally', or opted not to talk about it. "Honestly it was one of those experiences that you never, ever expect to have, and then when it happens you're kinda just shocked. She seemed to enjoy it and.... well..." Rebecca paused, a blush creeping along her features. "Yeah it was.... certainly a thing. Hot, bouncy, snug..."

She took a long pull of her seabreeze. "Okay, I.. I'm done talking about my experience down her top." a pause, "I mean it." she shook her head. "Okay, quick, literally ANY other topic."

Michelle chuckled, "Well, what's a pretty little thing like you doing aboard Chimera?" She asked, "I know she's a big ship, definitely a science vessel, which would most definitely account for your presence on board as a science officer, but what brings you yourself here?"

"I was assigned here when I requested a return to active duty. I guess the Chimera is either considered safe for special consideration officers, or she drew the short straw." and then Rebecca shook her head. "Great, that's two height jokes in a row. Sheesh... okay, so yeah I wanted to get back into research and advancing my science career so, I requested a reactivation." she explained. "Couldn't do anything majorly active, and you'll understand if I was hesitant to go back on a station, so here I am."

"Fortunate for you." she teased.

"I'm flattered that you chose me." Michelle said with a wink as she placed a hand on her own chest, "But alas, I'm not the sort of girl for just one person, at least not yet." She finally burst out in a fit of quiet laughter, mindful of how it could sound to Rebecca, "Is there any sort of specialty that you're interested in? I've become a bit of a chemist of sorts, making sure that I'm not going to poison someone accidentally with commonly used foods and drinks and even the specialty stuff."

Rebecca joined in the mirth, "My specialties involve gravity fields and propulsion, scientifically. Personally I prefer holodeck programs, reading, and redesigning the dollhouse I live in." she smiled. "See, I'd invite folks over for dinner BUT... can't fit." she giggled again, certainly having a good time. "And I'm certain you'll meet your One." she offered. "Until then, relax and enjoy life."

"Oh, I'm not in any rush for that, it would be a bit awkward for The One unless I find someone that's really very understanding with what I do for a living." Michelle chuckled, raising one finger instead of the whole hand to admit that it was her that would be barring any sort of relationship to someone of Rebecca's size, the whole hand could be seen as threatening, "And believe me, I do enjoy my life and enjoy what I do. Though I'll never turn down a good book or holoprogram, when I've got time for the holodeck that is." She gave a small shrug, "And never say never for inviting people over for dinner, it's all a logistical situation, just have to think outside the box."

"There's that box people want me outside of again." she giggled. "Well yeah, whatever it is you do, your One has to be cool with it. Otherwise, well, they ain't the One now are they?" Rebecca offered. "And if you never find your One, then no worries. Look, I don't expect to find the One now, so I just, well... like you said, think outside the box." she paused, "Could I have another? Sorry, but this conversation just hit Two Drink Minimum." she giggled, offering up her empty glass.

"Same as before?" Michelle asked with a smile, getting the nod from the diminutive officer before taking that step away to repeat the process of making the drink. It was clear that Rebecca didn't know what the necklace meant, but that was all right. If asked, she'd answer, and the reason why she wasn't going to settle down anytime soon would be apparent. "And if you need an alchodote, just let me know. I might need to get creative so we don't OD you on that, but that's one thing I've never been accused of not being."

She reclaimed her drink, and took a sip, "Okay, so, full disclosure. We're talking about relationships, romance, and just plain ole' having fun..." a pause, a sip. "I ... I liked it down Calypso's top." she muttered.

"Oh?" Michelle's eyebrows raised slightly as she'd resumed her position. Learning about people was as part of what she did and she enjoyed it, meant she could cater to them better, "I'll admit that it does sound rather intriguing, but you most certainly have a better point of view than I could possibly have in that position."

Rebecca gave a giggle, "Oh believe me, it was quite the point of view." she paused to compose herself. "Sheesh, look at me. I'm the one that asked to not talk about it anymore and yet, boom, here I am blabbering about it." she shook her tiny little head. "And yeah, I guess if I need to get rid of the afterbuzz we can work on something. Usually why I'm not picky about synthetic booze. Although I used to be a real huggy drunk. Wouldn't that be funny?"

"I'm certain the holodeck could replicate something like that experience. Just... not sure how close to the actual it'd be unless I made it." she giggled again. "Golly, an entire line of holonovels of the most intimate nature." she giggle again, "I'd be rich, but couldn't tell anyone why."

“The Adventures of Starry McTiny in the Land of the Giants?” Michelle teased gently with a sly smile on her face, “Rather than tell everyone why you know what you know, put it in a format where they can relate? There was a fairy tale I heard once a long time ago as a little girl that had some similarities.. From really old Earth my mother said.”

"Right, but where would they know to send the proverbial check?" Rebecca giggled. "And I think The Hills Are Alive has a more direct tone to it, but I like it. Rather than sell a story about a tiny tiny person in a normal world, flip it." she giggled again, "And, I'm familiar. Believe me, after the first three months of trying to come to terms with, well, THIS... I read every copy of Alice in Wonderland, Through the Looking Glass, The Incredible Shrinking Man, and even Gulliver's Travels but all of those were allegories to government rebellion. Or the warped mind of a sick man."

"It DID put things into perspective, no pun intended, but after about nine or ten months of this, I realized that it was better for me to adapt than to cling to a hope of restoration. Rather be surprised by a cure than disappointed in a lifestyle. That's about when I started on the MOUS." she motioned to her somewhat stylish EVA suit.

“Definitely better than the civilian suit I’ve got in my quarters ‘for emergencies that may come with combat damage.’” Michelle used air quotes from what the Ops NCO had told her during her civilian on-boarding briefing, “Mine isn’t much more than a suit proof against vacuum with an emergency distress beacon to hopefully get someone’s, anyone’s, attention in the case of forcible removal from the ship’s hull.”

Rebecca gave a nod. "Just wait until it catches on, and they make it in your size." she giggled. "And I try to avoid combat, for, well... obvious reasons. I mean, look how threatening *I* can be, grrrr." she struck a pose. She looked more 'adorable' than threatening. She would probably have trouble with a Hand, nevermind a whole person. Watching her in combat would be hilarious.

"I had to make it pretty much 'life proof', but it's a work in progress. I'm... I'm glad you like it."

“I can lull them into a false sense of security for you?” Michelle spun around briefly to show off just how threatening she looked, “Then you poke their eyes out with a toothpick while they’re staring? I’m sure we’d make a heckuva team!” She giggled herself, “Okay, sure, I’ve taken some self-defense courses and I’m not totally helpless, but I’m more than willing to stay out of the way.”

"Heck yeah! You and me, the perfect team!" she jumped up, fist pump in the air. Then she held her little little fist out to Michelle, "Give it here! Fist bump for Team Distraction!!" she giggled, "Or maybe Team Stay Outta The Way!"

Michelle met the first gently with her own, despite the size difference, "Team Stay Outta The Way it is! May we always avoid being underfoot!"

Fistbump achieved, Rebecca returned to her drink, "Golly you got that right sister. I think I just made another friend today." she admitted. "I'm the ultimate ice breaker, just keeping it going without looking like a curio, that's the issue. So far, so good." the diminutive scientist laid the conversation on the proverbial table. "Though, I will say, I'm gonna need a scan of that dress, see if the replicator can make it in my size."

"Done." Michelle agreed, "I've got the pattern for it in my virtual wardrobe, which I can most definitely share with you, at least.. Most of it." She didn't even blush at the thoughts of some of the items in that list, "Some things I do want to keep a bit under wraps, adds to the mystery of me and all, but anything that's presentable in public? Definitely."

"Of course, always need a secret weapon." Rebecca offered with a smirk, "And I really appreciate it, especially having some killer outfits to wear to any public functions on ship. You know, like crew nights or maybe even going out on a date." at that, she giggled. "Yeah right, a date. Please Becca, the only person you're taking on a date is Tinkerbelle. Hell who am I kidding, that bitch is seven inches tall, she'd TOWER over me." she giggled, but there was a tone to her laugh that, maybe... she was a little bitter about it.

"Anyway, I should probably be heading back to the lab. Think I could trouble you for a lift back to ground level?"

"Certainly I can." Michelle gave a very soft smile as she once again came around the bar to give the small officer a gentle lift down, "But never say that you'll never go out on a date." She used her other hand to touch the necklace she wore out of habit, "There are definitely people on board that would be honored to be on a date with you, I promise."

Rebecca focused more on the descent then the discussion at that moment, but when she hopped off the Hand'Elevator, she looked skyward towards Michelle and gave a nod, "You know, I hope so. I mean, I'm not in a rush but, that's reassuring. Thanks. I'd offer a hug in thanks, but I'm a little intimidated by those heels of yours." she teased, "See you around." said the littlest officer, as she carefully started to navigate her way out of the lounge. A spring in her step, this was certainly a very excellent meeting.

Michelle smiled fondly already at the departing Rebecca. Perhaps she didn't need the heels, now that she knew that someone didn't find them charming on her. Perhaps she'd get into a routine with Rebecca so that she wouldn't be wearing them when the science officer came in. This ship was so much more interesting than the Starbase ever had been, almost as if it had been put together intentionally with disparate parts.

How intriguing.