Posted by Captain Emmeline Davis (Commanding Officer) in Side Sim: The Challenger’s Got Talent (Pre-Sim)

Posted by Cadet James Hilton Douglas (Scientist) in Side Sim: The Challenger’s Got Talent (Pre-Sim)

Posted by Cadet Tandra Mika (Doctor) in Side Sim: The Challenger’s Got Talent (Pre-Sim)
Posted by… suppressed (2) by the Post Ghost! 👻
OOC (Out of Character): This side sim thread occurs before the Challenger received the distress call. Feel free to participate as you would like and to interact with your other crew members!

IC (In Character):

Following the successful conclusion of her morale building poker game with the senior staff, Emmy approached the next item on her morale building list with the same kind of dedication that she tackled operations crises on a daily basis. A thorough search of the data banks came up with the idea of a social event called a “talent show” to allow the entire crew to get involved in learning about one another. As such, she now stood in the ship’s lounge, surveying the preparations that had placed a small stage at the front of the room and plenty of chairs for those to watch the unexpected skills of their compatriots.

=/\= Davis to Challenger Crew. Your presence is expected in the lounge. Be prepared to showcase a hidden talent. =/\=

Davis, CO

Startled, Aili lost her balance and dropped the corner of the print she had been so carefully grasping.

After moving to the Academy she had quickly developed a severe homesickness for the landscapes of her upbringing, in which she would walk and hike to no end. A holosuite had never filled the void in her heart and while she could beam to her home island any day she fancied, travelling to her grandfather’s abode further North was a far less straightforward task. To bring a little of home to her as a constant comfort, she had replicated a large print banner bearing an image of her home landscape to cover a wall of her Academy quarters. Those she shared it with had been more than happy to tolerate this particular eccentricity; it was a far more mild and quiet activity than many others had to navigate living alongside.

At the moment the Captain’s voice rang through her communicator, Aili was balanced carefully, standing on the side of a chair and a table, leaning as far as she could to attach a top corner of a new, larger print of the same image to the wall of her fresh quarters. The sudden interruption having put her off-kilter, she stumbled backwards and fell flat on her back onto her bed. “Expected… a hidden talent”, she pondered. Oh dear. Sighing lightly, Aili knew that a moment had come to become better aquainted with the Captain and her shipmates, even if it were at a time when she’d really rather have a quiet lie down. Bringing herself to her feet, Aili opened a cupboard door and produced a family heirloom. Hoisting it to her shoulder, the Cadet turned and left her quarters.

Cadet McMorran arrived in the ship’s lounge with a set of bagpipes under her arm, shyly smiling to the occupants of the room.

(Cadet McMorran - Science)

Tandra had been headed back to her quarters, after a holodeck session, and once she had heard the announcement, she quickened her pace. Once she had reached her quarters she began searching through her closet for something. Shakespear… no. Novelty sword? I don’t even know how to use it. Jump rope? she shook her head. What am I, ten? She thought, frowning. Behind her, she’d accrued a small pile of her possessions, which, admittedly, she owned too many of. Oh! That’s perfect. I bet no one expects me to know that… she thought, a mischievous grin growing across her face.

A few moments later, Mika emerged from her quarters carrying a small shoulder bag. From there, she headed to the lounge. She couldn’t wait to show everyone this. And even better - it was finally the chance she was looking for to chat with some of her crewmates. Upon reaching the lounge, she glanced around to see who else had gathered.

-Cadet Tandra Mika, Doctor

Douglas heading to his quarters after his shift knew exactly what he’d do. Music. He went to his quarters grabbing his cello case, leaving the sheets thinking he can remember a few difficult songs. Once he reached the lounge he peeked in with his head, and waited at the door, “Hi Captain, may I enter?”

(Cadet. Douglas. Science)

OOC: Other cadets who would like to join the side sim are welcome to jump in by typing their entrance above my post and any following posts here, but to keep everyone posting, I’m going to go ahead and get things started!

IC:

Emmy glanced up as a cadet requested entrance and gestured him forward without comment, unsure why he was requesting permission to enter a required event for the crew. She considered the time for a moment and decided that it was time to begin the event. Making her way to the small stage, she stood in front of it formally, clasping her hands in the small of her back as she straightened her shoulders and addressed the group, “Cadet McMorran of the Science Division was first to arrive, so will perform first.” She then strode off the stage and took a seat to the right of the area to observe the talent.

Davis, CO

OOC: I hope I used the ‘if, then’ convention correctly. I reckoned it was better to do it this way than to leave a very short post, awaiting a response to then define exactly how things would carry one. Do let me know! :)

IC: Puffing her cheeks momentarily in a nervous sigh, Aili lifted her pipes from their seat beside her and brought herself to her feet. Looking over the faces in the room as the made her way onto the stage, he smiled over at Cadet Mika, and nodded respectfully to the Captain when she reached the centre of the stage. Straighening up (she had a habit of slouching slightly, especially when nervous), she hoisted the set of pipes to her shoulder.

“Uh, hello everyone”, Aili began, “what I’m about to perform is, well half of a duet. A duet my grandfather and I put together. I know it’s eh, less than ideal, but I have a holo-recording of him performing the other half, if you don’t mind me using that so I look a little less silly?” If this was given the nod, Aili would have produced a small holo-emitter and placed in beside her on the stage. When activated shortly thereafter, the image of an elderly man, with jagged features and stringy, faded grey hair, also wielding a set of pipes would have appeared, before turning and looking down at Aili beside him. His gaze was slightly misaligned as he smiled at her as Aili had never quite
mastered the use of the recording.

In time with one another, or Aili alone if without the recording, the pipes were filled with air as the playing began. A long monotone note rang out, drowning the room in sound, before a tune exploded into existence. The song was slightly slowed and modified, so as to fit the instrument of choice. After some introductory bars, Aili released the mouthpiece and burst into song: “I… am the very model of a modern Major General, I’ve information vegetable, animal and mineral”. Returning to her piping for the next few lines, the recording would do as she had done, singing in a broad highland accent: “I know the kings of England, and I quote the fights historical, from Marathon to Waterloo, in order catagorical”. And so this would carry on. In the event that Aili was playing alone, she would have looked akwardly around the room as she played her segments to no vocal accompaniment. Reaching the end of the song, both parts joined for the final lines: “But still, in matters vegetable, animal and mineral, I am the very model of a modern Major-General!” Each active piper then recited one final, climactic, melody on the pipes before bowing to the audience. At this point, the holo-recording would blink out. Aili looked around the room as she returned to an upright position, pursing her lips.

(Cadet McMorran - Science)