[HALLOWEEN PARTY!] -- [Open to ALL PLAYERS!] -- [IC Event!]

[kirktastic]

It had gone out as an announcement over a month ago, sent to every padd and station by one very excited Captain. A Halloween party! Must come in costume, must have fun!

Despite the hell that had been going on for the last few days, Kirk was determined that it still would happen. After a long discussion with the ship's quartermaster, along with a small army of crewmen who wanted to help, the largest rec room was decorated.

A huge buffet table had been prepared by the galley and sat spread out, all in Halloween theme. Green punch with floating eyeballs, cake decorated to look like a gravestone, a huge bowl of candy, a holographic severed hand that was scurrying around on the table top. There was even a bar set up with quite an expanse of liquor that had been secured on Risa.

There was a small seating area off to one corner, a huge dance floor, tables spread out for a real meal, and a small corner set up for music.

(OOC: Just like the thread with Risa... this is a party that's 'open' from now until Sunday night at midnight! Go nuts! This IS supposed to be IC, like the Risa party, so keep that in mind!)

Comments

[rn-chapel.livejournal.com]

"He's like a teenager - all spite and certainty that no one is as intelligent as him, and no impulse control." Tina sighed. "You can't ever let him know I said this, but to be honest I think it was a clever costume. Just completely inappropriate. But he didn't get that, even after I yelled. I think he only dropped the idea because he didn't want me to be upset, not because he understood why it was too hurtful to be worth the joke."

[just-uhura.livejournal.com]

"It is clever," Nyota conceded, though she loathed to. Perhaps if Nero hadn't caused so much destruction, hadn't ruined so many lives, she would have been able to see the humor in it too. "Completely inappropriate, but I don't think he's discovered the proper boundaries of this world. Or he has, and he's deliberately being facetious to piss everyone off. I wouldn't put it past him, but I'm trying to give him the benefit of the doubt."

[rn-chapel.livejournal.com]

Tina shrugged. "He's been gentle and sweet with me, for the most part. I think because I've given him the opportunity, if that makes any sense. Most people who've met him react to him the way McCoy does. And his response to that is to be sure that they have a reason to hate him."

She paused. "It is childish behavior, really. But I don't think he's indulging himself so much as that he really isn't that emotionally mature. Or even self-aware."

[just-uhura.livejournal.com]

As she waited for her drink, Nyota pulled off her gloves and gave her fingers a flex with a sigh of relief. She dropped them onto the bartop and picked up the cool glass, holding it between her palms.

"I know the situation is different," she said, pausing for a moment to take a sip of her drink. "But he's still a Spock, and sometimes they can be like children, struggling to find the rules of a world they don't really understand. I think it's good for him, to have someone else other than--" She couldn't bring herself to say his name, not wanting to call him Pike. It seemed like an insult to the man she respected. "And he hasn't known any different. Must be confusing."

[rn-chapel.livejournal.com]

"Yes, that's what I think." Tina finished her drink in one last, long swallow. "He loves him. He'll never use that word, but he does. And I just can't even imagine being so alone that I could learn to love a man like that."

Tina wasn't using names either, but it was obvious who she meant.

[just-uhura.livejournal.com]

"Even in their world, he's cruel," Nyota all but spat out. Listening to Tina, watching how the other Spock responded so well to her kindness brought to mind an abused child. It repulsed her.

[rn-chapel.livejournal.com]

"I don't want to judge him. I want to give him the same openness and readiness to trust that I gave Spock, and Spock himself wants me to like him so much. But everything I know about him... I don't know if I could ever accept him as a friend."

Tina laughed without humor.

"Then again, I've apparently invited an untamed monster into my life, according to some people. So what do I know?"

[just-uhura.livejournal.com]

Nyota was so torn between her strong belief that they were people in their own right, not to be judged for having lived in a different world, and her own personal feelings towards Pike.

"Well after what he did, I don't trust him." Nyota muttered, sipping her drink again. "And honestly I don't understand how Spock can claim what he feels for him is love."

[rn-chapel.livejournal.com]

"He hasn't made that claim," Tina said. "But they're bonded, and it's clear that he feels deeply, even if he doesn't say it."

She sighed, and leaned forward to drop her head to her friend's shoulder. "Nyota," she murmured. "There has got to be something we can talk about that doesn't involve Spocks or McCoys. Or Kirks. I think we're getting a little pathetic, here."

[just-uhura.livejournal.com]

Nyota tilted her head to rest against hers, idle fingers coming up to play with the ends of her hair - carefully, so she didn't ruin the full effect.

"Believe me I know," she sighed, wondering when the hell her life had become so centered around these men. She supposed that it wasn't entirely unreasonable; two of them happened to be her superior officers. "But I suspect you don't want to hear what leaps and bounds I'm making in my study of Risian."

[rn-chapel.livejournal.com]

"Don't be so sure," Tina said, smiling against Nyota's skin. "If you find it exciting, I'm sure you can tell me about it in a way that will make it interesting for me, too. What else have you been doing lately, anyway?"

[just-uhura.livejournal.com]

That brought a smile to her face, though Nyota knew better than to bore her friends with detailed nuances of whatever language had her interest that week. Even the polite ones that genuinely wanted to listen like Tina got the glazed eye look when she geeked out.

"Aside from an insane amount of paperwork? I have to be up stupidly early tomorrow. Starfleet are requesting a conference. It might have something to do with the communications network. They were discussing some upgrades a few months ago."

[rn-chapel.livejournal.com]

"Huh. That could turn out to be interesting. Or, you know, a pain in the ass, depending." Tina straightened up so that she could meet Nyota's eyes. "What kind of upgrades, can you say?"

[just-uhura.livejournal.com]

"I have subspace comms with them once a month, to give them regular updates, a report, if I need any staff or authorizations on transfers." As Tina moved, she shifted around to face her, replacing her glass on the side. "They're just minor improvements, mostly software updates that can be done remotely. But for some of them we have to adjust the consoles ourselves. But I mean it was all hypothetical. They're just to speed up the system, and to help eliminate the feedback on some transmissions. But it's good timing, I have to suggest they work on the static we get in the systems whenever someone transports."

[rn-chapel.livejournal.com]

"Hm. Sounds like you have a way more streamlined process of feedback and improvement than we do in medical. It can take months to get improvements or even very small changes improved."

Tina grinned. "And, of course, we always wait for official approval in sickbay."

[just-uhura.livejournal.com]

"I'm just pushy." Nyota laughed, running a finger around the rim of her glass. "And if we didn't get things done fast, communications would kind of fail. Failure is not an option. But I have a feeling that nobody is going to question you down in sickbay. You have sharp objects. There's a reason I don't piss off McCoy before physicals."

[rn-chapel.livejournal.com]

Tina laughed. "Everyone says that! You'd think we were all stab-happy down there or something, but I've honestly never had anyone say 'ouch' during a minor procedure except the Captain. And I think he just does it because he thinks it's funny."

[just-uhura.livejournal.com]

"It's the scowls." Nyota said, with a matter-of-fact nod. "You all have the scowl perfected. Very few of us actually know you're pussy cats."

[rn-chapel.livejournal.com]

"It's definitely true that the right facial expression can make all the difference sometimes," Tina said thoughtfully. "I think it's important to perfect more than just the scowl, though. The 'I think you are an idiot' tone of voice, for example. You've got that down extremely well."

[just-uhura.livejournal.com]

"It helps when they're actually being idiots," Nyota laughed. "Although we're both pretty intimidating apparently, so I guess you have it down too."

[rn-chapel.livejournal.com]

Tina waved her hand dismissively. "Everyone has their talents. Some of them are even useful."

There was a meditative pause as both women looked out into the crowd of party-goers in their bright costumes.

Tina sighed. It had been nice, catching up with the friends she'd had a chance to speak to, but the idea of diving back in and doing more of it made her feel tense.

"I think I may be partied out," she said. "Do you mind if I abandon you here?"

[just-uhura.livejournal.com]

Nyota shook her head, wrapping one arm around her shoulders to give her a brief hug. "I'm not going to be far behind," she assured her. "I'll be fine, just propping up the bar."

[rn-chapel.livejournal.com]

"Goodnight," Tina said, returning the hug. "I'll probably see you tomorrow - I'll let you know how the rest of my evening went then."

She headed towards the door, pausing only long enough to catch Jim's eye and give him a little wave, letting him know that she was leaving.

Her feet were a little sore from her fancy heels, but her step was light as she walked back to her quarters.