Posted by Lieutenant Commander Stark Nightstalker (Chief Intelligence Officer) in Lounge

Posted by Lieutenant Laraan (Counsellor) in Lounge

Posted by Civilian Marishka (Lounge Host) in Lounge
Posted by… suppressed (2) by the Post Ghost! 👻
The following appeared on all terminals several times throughout the day.

‘Attention good crew of the Athena. I will be reopening the lounge at 1900 and hope to see you all there. It has undergone extensive renovations and requires a new name. Therefore I’m holding a contest to choose a new name by the end of the night. Uniforms not required.’

• Marishka

Stark arrived at 1900 on the dot and took a seat. “I’d like to put in an idea for the name if it’s ok” he said his dark eyes thoughtful.

“My idea is to call it “Mambo”, short for Mambo Sawa Sawa which is Swahili for “Everything is Good and Alright”. Swahili is an East African Language from Earth which might appeal to the Captain. Mambo is a common Swahili greeting but also in Latin American languages it’s a pretty swanky kind of dance and in Creole it means a Voodoo priestess” he paused and smiled at Marishka “which kind of makes me think of you”.

Stark Nightstalker CIO

When Stark arrived Marishka seemed to be standing on a cloud near the ceiling. Looking down at Stark she smiled as she finished hanging the last of the peacock curtains. It was a task too delicate to be left to anyone but her. Pausing for a moment she seemed to be thinking before effortlessly stepping off the cloud which was, infoact, a hover device and coming to kneel next to Stark. Looking up at him with her silver eyes she nodded slowly.

“I am aware of the dance, perhaps I should teach a class in it someday. And I don’t think I’ve ever been called a Voodoo Priestess before but thank you very much.”

More crewmen started entering the lounge, their eyes wide. Among them was a tiny, alien-looking woman. She had no body hair, but instead all of her skin, except for her face was covered in filigree, tattoo-like intricate red designs, spirals and elaborate patterns, winding over her fair skin so it looked as if she had red, slightly curly hair. Her eyes were a bit larger than human eyes and light grey with a dark outer rim. She wore a long tight red dress that had patches of transparent fabric in between, showcasing in a modest way, that those red intricate designs really did cover all of her body. Slowly she made her way towards Stark’s table.

Slowly she rose to her feet, her newly made scent filling Stark’s nose. She had taken a few minutes to adjust the air circulation system and soon her scent would fill the room if she chose. Tonight she wore a sweet fiery scent. The out fit she had chosen was a long black velvet dress with the pattern of a gold dragon burned into it. The head rested on her left breast and it coiled all the way down her body with the tail ending in a short train. A large opal made up the eye and the opal choker, that she never took off, was on a pale gold ribbon. Back in heels, she seemed to walk with much more purpose as she went to stand behind the bar across from Stark.

“I have a feeling this evening, and many others, are going to be full of surprises. Do you like surprises Commander?” she asked.

• Marishka

From behind she ran her hand through the fur at Stark’s neck in quite an intimate way with a gentle smile on her lips that were as red as her skin markings. Her almost-white eyes looked at Marishka.

“Usually he doesn’t but it depends on the surprise. Hello, nice to meet you. I’m Laraan, the head counselor.” she sang and her voice was quite unusual too, as if she spoke with more than one voice, it was multi-layered and very pleasant on the ears, soothing and melodic.

• Laraan, CNS

Stark smiled, and wrapped his tail around Laraan’s diminutive form as he gave a response of his own to Marishka’s question. “I like to give surprises but not receive them, very one sided and selfish of me really but then I’ve never been one to play fair.”

He turned this head to Laraan, “Any ideas on a name for the bar?” he asked curiously.

Stark Nightstalker CIO

Marishka smiled as she studied the woman for a few seconds.

So this was what made Stark purr. she thought.

“I’m so very pleased to meet you Counselor. I apologize for not having done it sooner. Would either one of you like a drink?” Marishka asked moving behind the bar with practiced ease.

• Marishka