Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Janna Kingston (Counsellor) in Holiday hijinks, come one come all

Posted by Lieutenant Benjamin Grey (Chief Medical Officer) in Holiday hijinks, come one come all

Posted by Civilian Marishka (Lounge Host) in Holiday hijinks, come one come all
The Parthenon sparkled with lights, streamers, and many other small delicate decorations as well as the traditional Grecian decor everybody on board the Athena was accustomed to by now. It smelled of pungent conifers and other near Earth species. Marishka had taken time decorating the Parthenon to represent many world’s end of year celebrations. Some called it Christmas, others had interesting names for such things and others didn’t celebrate anything at all. Her own Klingon people had end of the year hunting and gathering type celebrations and Orion’s never needed a reason to celebrate, they just did. She had decided that after everything the crew had been through lately that they really didn’t need a reason to celebrate but the timing was perfect. Stepping out into the near empty space in a gold and red gown she glanced about several times before declaring everything fit to open. It was at that moment that Ted stepped up beside her dressed like some Earth nearly mythical figure in a red hat and some gaudy beard, he swore it was tradition of some kind but Mariska hadn’t quite checked into it yet.

“Hey boss lady, lieutenant Dexter says he’s got the scent of the snow right and he’ll be ready for it whenever you signal. Also, I think I have just enough cinnamon in the coffee cake if you’re still interested in having that on the dessert menu. Do you even celebrate christmas?”

Marishka turned to Ted and smiled. She counted him as a type of friend indeed she had several aboard the Athena and he had been one of the first that she had made.

“Of course I celebrate christmas, if it’s a holiday I usually celebrate it. Hell, I don’t really need a reason to celebrate it’s in my Orion blood, my Klingon blood too if I think about it. Thank you for the update on the snow and the cinnamon. So, who do you think will be the first to show up?”

• Marishka

First to arrive was the ship’s Medical Chief, he wore dark slacks and a red and green sweater with white fringes, it was based on a sweater his cousin had gifted him when they were in their teens. He held in one hand a basket with various assortments of food and in his other a box that clinked when he took a step “Miss Marishka” He placed both vessels down on a free table before removing a small red bag from the top and walking to the proprietor “My Nanna always said that first footers need to bring the host gifts” He opened the bag and removed a glass bottle with a dark brown liquid “Whiskey, single malt 15 years from Aberdeenshire” He handed the half liter unmarked bottle to Marishka then reached in the bag again “A Black Bun, there’s an ingredients list in the bag as well as the standard bread and salt”

Benjamin took a quick sniff and frowned “Hmm” He grabbed his necklace, opened it, inhaled deeply then returned it “Oh and there are cookies, mince pies, and similar smaller snacks in the basket, some of it’s replicated but mostly I used the Holodeck as a kitchen.” He smiled a more polite smile than anything, he hadn’t planned on bringing anything beyond some whiskey and the Black bun as gift but once he’d started gathering ingredients more ideas came to him and he felt inspired to continue.

Dr. Grey - CMO

“We had the same idea,” a voice said from behind and the petite head of counselling stepped forward carrying a deep sided white ceramic serving dish with a blue filagree pattern inspired by traditional Portuguese tiles and filled with small balls of dough that were deep fried and sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar. “Filhós, a treat from one of my mothers’ heritage that we always had every Christmas. I figured deep fried dough with sugar was a safe bet.”

Janna herself was in an emerald green velvet off-the-shoulder dress that skimmed her chest and hugged her small frame to the knee. A pair of gold pumps with an ankle strap mirrored the matte gold hammered hoop earrings she wore.

~Janna Kingston, CNS

Marishka and Ted looked pleasantly surprised to see the two early birds bringing such bountiful gifts. Ted moved quickly to help arrange the table Benjamin had set things down on and made room for what the counselor had brought.

“Oh wow, such ingenuity. Thank you for being so hospitable and gracious with your time. I’m certain these won’t last but the half hour. Be careful, if these are as good as they look I’ll be stealing recipes.”

Marishka ducked behind the bar and brought out several shot glasses to set with the whiskey. She wondered if she should keep that behind the bar for herself and staff, but it was such a generous wonderful gift she wanted to share. She opened the whiskey and inhaled deeply before holding it out to everyone else with a raised eyebrow.

• Marishka