Pre-launch Party Part II
Posted on Thu Oct 30th, 2025 @ 1:07am by Captain Elijah Rutherford & Lieutenant Commander T'Par & Lieutenant Commander Rafael Montoya & Lieutenant Rynna Csira & Captain Johnathon Hayter & Chief Petty Officer Jemimah Weatherly & Lieutenant JG Vanya Karolyi & Petty Officer 1st Class Dwayne Dibley
Edited on on Sat Nov 8th, 2025 @ 5:53am
1,620 words; about a 8 minute read
Mission:
Mini Mission-Adjustments [USS Orcrist]
Location: The Prancing Pony
Timeline: MD 03 2100
Previously: "Thank you. I would love to join you," Ryn replied. "It sounds like fun."
"We shall find a convenient time soon," T'Par affirmed.
"Perfect." Ryn smiled at the two. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to make sure I'm ready to perform. See you later!" With a wave, she headed off to find Vanya.
Tara waved vehemently at Ryn, as she called out, "Break a leg!"
Hayter stepped through the doors with the same energy he brought into a briefing room... measured, deliberate, scanning without seeming to. His eyes bounced from table to table, reading posture, uniforms, civilian clothes, and the way people held their drinks. He wasn’t here to socialize, not really; he was here to take the measure of the crew in their natural habitat, away from duty and regulations.
A slow breath, a faint curl of his lip, and his eyes inevitably landed on the bar. Hopefully they had real beer, not synth, cause it mattered. That was the one language he was willing to speak tonight.
Without announcing himself or making the effort to smooth out his edges, Hayter crossed to the counter, shoulders squared, gaze forward. He didn’t bother inserting himself into conversations, though he caught more than a few fragments of chatter on the way. A couple of glances in his direction told him he was noticed, but he didn’t return them.
Sliding onto a stool with the same purposeful weight as if it were a command chair, he raised two fingers to the bartender. “Beer,” he said simply, voice gravelly. “Porter. Cold. Whatever, as long as it doesn’t taste like paint thinner.”
He leaned an elbow on the bar, not looking for introductions, not looking for an opening line. Just watching, cataloging faces and voices as if the whole room was a tactical readout. And yet, despite his silence, the slight twitch of his mouth betrayed it. Yeah, he was interested in more than just scanning the room. He was definitely here for that beer.
Raf strode casually into the lounge carrying his guitar. He was wearing a pair of faded denim pants, brown boots, and a loose fitting linen shirt with the laced neck open and untied. He stood their a moment before walking over to the 'stage' and leaned his guitar against the shelves holding several other instruments.
Walking up to the bar next to someone enjoying a beer. Looking to the bartender. "Long Island."
Hayter glanced up from his beer as the man beside him ordered a Long Island with the easy confidence of someone who knew exactly what he was doing. A faint, knowing smirk tugged at his mouth, though he kept his thoughts to himself.
He lifted his beer slightly in a silent toast to the newcomer, Doctor Rafael Montoya. Hayter knew the name, the file, and the commendations that came with it. But files were one thing; the person behind them was another entirely.
As his glass arrived he lift it returning the toast. "Evening. Looking forward to finally getting out of the dock?"
The marine pilot shrugged as he took a gulp of his beer. "Here or there... Don't matter. Not my first rodeo out there. But I doubt its your first either."
"True. But I was stuck on a Starbase, DS4, for a while. Be a nice change of pace to get back to traveling around again." He took a pull from his glass, "Questions. You by chance ever serve with a Lieutenant...probably a Captain by now...Allison Tuvan?"
Hayter’s brow lifted slightly at the name, the faintest flicker of recognition in his eyes before he leaned back on his stool.
“Can’t say I’ve had the pleasure,” he said after a beat, voice low and rough-edged with that dry hint of humor. “Though the name does sound like the kind that’d come with a punch and a promotion.”
He set his empty beer down with a quiet thunk, glancing toward Raf’s guitar before looking back. This caused the bartender to notice and he raised two fingers nonverbally requesting another round.
“You two served together, I’m guessing? Or just someone who still owes you a drink?”
He spun his glass on the bar. "You could say that. Not that she owes me a drink, but yes we had served together but she got transferred off station. I saw we had a Marine onboard. Just thought I'd ask."
As the bartender slid over another beer, John nodded before picking up the mug of beer, this time. "That's fair. Get that more often than not," he took a big gulp before looking over at the man. "Looks to be more than just serving together. She your chiropractor? "
Raf smirked and raised a brow. "Well in a matter of speaking...for a few years in fact. But that was a while ago."
"Ah..." John took the information in before nodding slightly as he took a drink of his beer. "So what was her excuse to end it? Deployment?"
Lowering his glass. "She got transferred to Camp Falkirk. Where she proceeded to freeze her ass off according to the increasingly diminishing subspace messages."
Camp Falkirk… John knew the place well. It was one posting he’d made a point to avoid; too many brass hats strutting around, too many stiff necks for his taste. And that was saying something, coming from a man like him. Hell, there were even times he found himself agreeing with the other branches about how damn stubborn Marines could be.
“Yeah, that’d do it,” the Marine muttered, taking a slow sip of his beer.
Watching Rynna and others take the stage and after they had finished he grabbed his glass and tapped it on the counter. "Thanks for the simulating conversation."
J.K. entered the Prancing Pony, a dark hooded cloak, over he sapphire-colored gown. She took a place at the bar. "Rum, dark, neat." She said to the bar tender, before indulging in some people watching.
Dwayne Dibley walked in dressed in his finest party duds, consisting of purple and green plaid pants, a black silk shirt, purple bow tie, yellow vest, and shiny black shoes. His hair had been slicked back and he had nothing planned that night but to enjoy himself. "Yeow, I'm ready to party!" he announced as he entered and headed for the bar.
A good number of people had gathered, and according to the performance schedule, it was time to begin. Ryn nodded to Vanya and the two stood and made their way to the temporary stage. While Vanya took out her violin and checked that it was still in tune, Rynna set up her keyboard.
When they were both ready, Ryn turned on her mic. "Thank you all for coming to our pre-launch party. We have a few people who've signed up to perform tonight, but there's also plenty of space for an open mic, so if you want to take a turn up here, come have a look at the schedule or hop up when the stage is empty. Otherwise, have fun!"
Then she played an intro and the two women began a classical violin and piano duet that transitioned into a classic rock number.
When that finished, Laural joined them and Rynna sang "Can't Fight This Feeling Any More."
After Rynna finished her song, Laural stepped up to the mike and after changing a few settings on her guitar, she started the main riff for "Johnny B Goode"
When they were done, Ryn and Vanya put their instruments on the shelf and went back to their table to watch Laural perform.
Raf came away from the bar as Rynna finished. "Good evening Ladies." Looking to Rynna, "I didn't know you could sing?"
Vanya nodded a greeting to the doctor, but remained silent so he could talk to Ryn.
"I was in a band on my homeworld." Ryn replied. "We occasionally played in local clubs. I don't get to do it as much in Starfleet." She tipped her head to one side as she smiled at Raf. "Do you play or sing?"
Returning the nod as Rynna replied then when it was his turn, "Well you both did great. To answer your question...Both." Chuckling, "I'd be a poor Spaniard if I couldn't. May I join you?"
"Thank you," they both said, not quite in unison.
Then Rynna added, "Yes, please join us. I saw you brought your guitar. I look forward to hearing you tonight." Then she had a thought and added, "We should do a duet some time."
Throwing a leg over the seat, setting his drink on the table. Raf grinned at her invitation, "That sounds like a great idea," adding with a broad smile, "though you might wanna wait until you hear me before you decide for sure."
"I have a feeling you'll do very well," she replied, smiling back. "So I am prepared to be properly impressed."
"Well I hope not to disappoint." Seeing another member of the crew come up to the mic Raf turned to watch.
Lieutenant Rynna Csira
Chief Operations Officer
USS Orcrist
Lieutenant JG Vanya Karolyi
Data Analyst and Archivist
USS Orcrist
Ensign Dwayne Dibley
Pilot
USS Orcrist
Chief Petty Officer Jemima Weatherly
Chief of Boat
USS Orcrist
Lieutenant Commander Rafael Montoya
Chief Medical Officer
Marine-Captain Johnathon Hayter
Chief Helms Officer
Lieutenant Commander T'Par
Chief Science Officer
USS Orcrist
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