Posted by Vanessa Slade (CNS) in Holodeck - Clam Bakes and Counseling…It’s always a goodtime (Open thread to all)

Posted by Ensign Kesh (Engineer) in Holodeck - Clam Bakes and Counseling…It’s always a goodtime (Open thread to all)

Posted by Vanessa Slade (CNS) in Holodeck - Clam Bakes and Counseling…It’s always a goodtime (Open thread to all)
Posted by… suppressed (4) by the Post Ghost! 👻
OOC: Creativity will be highly encouraged and rewarded. If you run with it I will follow. I will post it in sections so if the spirit hits you post anywhere you are inspired. Just have fun.~ Kate :)

IC:
Vanessa sat in her office with several PaDD’s propped up like picture frames surrounding her. On the PaDD’s were the faces of several of her colleagues. From right to left, there were Lt. Nathan Harland, Lt. William O’Neill, Ensign Paige Ellis, and a PaDD with the still swirling comm call to Commander Heathcliff Rinker. She heard he was up to his eyeballs with some religious cult thing on the Atlantis so odds were he might be showing but if he did, Vanessa would take his two cents. The only other faces on the PaDD were a perky Latina named Celina Creed and a stunning woman by the name of Kalani Alindor. Both of these women were not counselors but roommates of Vanessa back in the academy. All the people however were there for moral support.

“So lemme get this straight,” Nathan scratched his forehead looking slightly concerned, “you want to throw a clam bake…in the holodeck…of a ship to say hi my name is Vanessa welcome to counseling?” Nathan had worked on and off with Vanessa over the years both in private and in Starfleet since they were both from Boston.

“Yes,” Vanessa said sighing again ready to explain for the fourth time her idea. “No one ever wants to come to counseling. I mean we rank behind heading to sickbay and everyone avoids sickbay like the plague. I want to change people’s views of mental health. Yay sanity and the power of positive thinking,” Vanessa raised her hands and gave herself a small fist pump.

The PaDD’s were all arranged so that everyone in the group could see each other as if they were in the same room. “You are going to drive them to seek counseling,” Will let out a laugh tilting back the bag of chips so that all the crumbs fell into his mouth.

“Said the counselor with his of so traditional approach to therapy,” Celina laughed. In all the times she had ever interacted with William O’Neill, she had never seen him without his feet propped up on the desk, reclining back in his seat, shoveling chips into his mouth. Absently she let her mind drift to wondering if this was how he actually saw his patients.

“What,” Will brushed off a few crumbs from his shirt with a confused expression on his face.

“Well I think it is a great idea. People sometimes feel stressed even talking to you guys off duty. If you can show them counselors can be fun and are not going to hit them with Freud or those black spots you have to guess what the hell they are,” Kalani said but was immediately interrupted by Nathan.

“Rorschach. It’s called a Rorchach test and it’s not like there are answers…you know that Lani right? It’s more to let you get a peek at how someone sees life.” Reaching to his right he found a piece of paper that had a large coffee stain on it. Picking it up he held it next to him. “What do you see,” he asked with a wink.

“Butterflies. Always answer butterflied or puppies. They let you out faster,” Celina took a sip of her coffee. “Makes them think you are happy and happy means sane.”

“Or you are detached from reality, lacking honesty, and sporting an unhealthy degree of deliberate ignorance,” Nathan countered.

A loud whistle pierced the room. “Hey this is all about me and my needs,” Vanessa looked at the face. “Celina is a spy so she utterly lacks honesty and Kalani is in the afterglow of the honeymoon so she is living in fantasy land. We need to focus on me and if my idea is going to work or not. You only get one chance for a first impression.”

“I say do it,” William leaned into the screen taking his feet off the edge of the desk. “What is it going to hurt? Even if they think you are bat snot crazy as a counselor after you will get to meet the crew. Gotta go my eleven o’clock is here. Lemme know how it goes.” Clicking off the screen the group was reduced by one.

“I agree with Will. Half the success you will ever have as a counselor is making people comfortable and relaxed. Parties are a good no-pressure way to get to know someone. It’s why we Hawaiians are always throwing luaus. I however have to go to. I am meeting with my boss to try and convince him to help me cut the floor out of a storage room to create an aquarium on the Saracen,” Kalani laughed. “Comm me later. You got this,” she gave her ex-roommate a thumbs up before logging off the screen.

Vanessa looked at the faces staring back at her. The creak of Nathan’s chair signaled the man was assuming his thinking position as he called it. “I always do encourage out-of-the-box thinking but just don’t feel defeated if no one participates. I mean they will come by to check it out. You are providing food and beer. Just be yourself. You got this. You will do great,” Nathan winked at her. A knock at the door to Nathan’s office signaled he would be leaving too. “Gotta go.”

And now Vanessa was down to the only two PaDD’s present.

Vanessa Slade CNS

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Two days later…
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Vanessa walked to all the common areas on the ship taping flyers in places like the gym, mess hall, recreating deck, and the crew lounge. The flyer was something reminiscent of something one would find announcing a yard sale, need for a roommate, or reminder a school dance was imminent. Her flyer was simple like all of those. Taking a step back, Vanessa read it for the hundredth time.

Clam Bake
Where: Genesis main holodeck
When: Saturday the twenty-second
Time: Noon until 4 PM

Come for the clams and beer. Stay for the company.

Picking up the remaining flyers, Vanessa took one last look before exiting the mess hall heading to her next distribution location.

Vanessa Slade CNS

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Genesis Holodeck
Saturday the 22nd
================

Vanessa let out a deep contented sigh closing her eyes and inhaling the scent of the air. The air had a slightly industrial smell but for her it was comforting. The South End of Boston was not known for its pristine parks or high-end restaurants. In some people’s opinion, a slum would be a better description but she didn’t care. This was where she was from. Vanessa loved the city and all the smells and sights it contained. The holodeck program was set up to replicate Peter’s Park. The playground, basketball courts, and large grassy expanse made it the perfect spot to set up for the bake. Vanessa stood at a table folding a few of the t-shirts she had made and was ready to hand out. Genny’s First Annual Clam Bake was printed in white letters on a choice of red or blue shirts. Many people would assume it was because those were the colors of the United States flag. They would be decidedly wrong. Red, white, and blue might be that nationalities colors but first and foremost it was the colors of the greatest team ever: The Red Sox.

Looking around, Vanessa surveyed the area. The food was steaming and ready along with standard fare like burgers, dogs, and a variety of sides. The keg was tapped and coolers filled with bottles of drinks. The music played over the speakers. Everything was set except for people. Glancing at her wristwatch, Vanessa bit her lip and resisted the urge to call one of several of her brothers. Maybe she should have played it safe. Made an announcement…sat in her office until someone showed up…played words with friends: There were a million ways to say hello I am Vanessa Slade and I am your new counselor besides a picnic. Secretly, Vanessa just hoped at least one person on the crew showed up. Being the new guy was never fun and the crew of the Genny was tight-knit and close. Their reputation of being loyal, innovative, and brilliant was one of the reasons she jumped at the chance to work with them. She just hoped they liked her as much as she knew she was going to love them.

Moving to the coolers of beer, she popped open a Sam Adams, took a seat on a cooler, and waited for someone to show up.

Vanessa Slade CNS.

Three things came to mind at the sight of the oddly physicalized notification.

1) Humans sure do love finding ways of turning foods into alcoholic drinks

2) Humans sure to romanticize the oddest locations of their home planet

3) Why are these notices not posted on the digital billboards? It seems a waste of replicator credits, when anything and everything can freely be placed under social notices. But, again… humans.

Having grown up on Riviera, where nearly half of the population is human and nearly half of it Caitian, Kesh had a keen appreciation and understanding of human idiosyncrasies, even before she joined the human-dominated Starfleet the first time. In a way, lacking that human contact had been part of her reason for returning to it. As such, though many would view any of the three items that came to mind as ample reason to skip this social gathering, for her, they were all abundant reason to attend.

If only she knew it was crafted for the purposes of mental health. There’s baggage, and then there’s what continues to haunt this augmented, once-demoted, once-resigned, Dominion-War-surviving Caitian engineer. Perhaps Vanessa will get the chance to try to coax her into talking about it someday, no doubt through some sort of order by the engineer’s superior officer.

For now, the hook works wonders, and the hollodeck doors open to a rather plainly dressed felinoid carrying a rather large lidded basket that’s doubtlessly meant to be an addition to the offered foodstuffs. A quick flick of the Caitian’s tail upward ensured it did not get in the way of the rumbling doors closing behind her as wide golden eyes peered about the curiously ramshackle area in search of where she might deposit the basket.

-> Kesh, Engineering.

Vanessa tapped her toe and head bopping to the song playing on the radio. “We don’t even have to try. It’s always a good time,” she sang taking another sip of her beer. Looking around the empty park she debated about filling it with hordes of people like it was back home. With twelve people in her family, it was never quiet, so the silence of the program was irritating Vanessa more than no one actually showing up. Polishing off her beer, she made a decision. If no one came in the next twenty minutes she would start replicating Southies.

Hearing the artificial swish of the pneumatic doors Vanessa looked at the door and a smile spread across her face. It was not that a crew member showed that had her smiling. It was that the person brought something.

Vanessa Slade

The deserted nature of the setting was just a touch disquieting. Did Kesh misunderstand the start time? Was it changed since she last looked at it? A flush of anxiety prompts a few stiff tail twangs behind her bare ankles with a contemplative glance passed toward the holodeck doors as they finished closing and being replaced with appropriate scenary. Thus, it is with faint whiplash that her attention snaps back forward to the sound of the greeting.

“Oh crap…they are going to run,” Vanessa said in a low voice with the beer hiding her lips and the sounds of the music drowning out her words. She had to move fast. The last thing she wanted was for someone to run in fear. People in SOBO always came to events like. When word got out there was free beer the events always looked like an outdoor concert event. Maybe things were going to be very different on a starship. That however didn’t mean an out-of-the-box approach wouldn’t work.

Getting off her perched spot on the cooler, Vanessa walked towards the Caitian. Vanessa was so glad to see the crew member had not come either in uniform or dressed like it was a garden party. Striding across the small grassy area, she met them at the door. “Hi. I’m Vanessa obviously the new girl in town,” she joked extending her hand in greeting. The day was perfect with a breeze that keep the warmth of the day from overheating anyone. It was also perfect for the cut-off jean shorts, t-shirt, and sneakers Vanessa was wearing. Her long dark hair was pulled back into a loose ponytail that swayed slightly as she had walked towards Kesh. Nothing about the girl said stuffy, prim or proper.

Golden felid eyes are wide and tufted ears flex forward, looking almost spooked initially, graduating on to an enigmatic visage that well conveys how much Caitians and Earth cats have in common. The engineer certainly keeps up with what is stated, and even falls in step along with the human once Vanessa moves toward the serving area.

Vanessa could see the Caitain’s ears slide back and eyes widen some denoting what she hoped was surprise and not fear. Vanessa hadn’t been around Caitains enough to know exactly what the woman was feeling but overwhelmed was probably a good college guess. “From your expression, I am guessing this is not how you met the last counselor,” she said full of humor. “What’s your name?”

A forward flex of ears and slight head tilt conveys that while the felid absorbed the word ‘counselor’, it does not yet sink in that the human was indicating she was the new ship’s counselor. Instead, focus is put on the next question, which prompts a slight brow ridge lift and settle of ear positions, “Ensign Kesh, ah… you must be Vanessa, rrrn?” Noticed the name on the flier, not so much noticed the profession of the one issuing them.

“So nice to meet you especially because you brought food. My Ma always says show up with food and you have an instant friend. Let’s go put that out and get a beer.” Vanessa lead them to the main table filled with steamed seafood. Lobster, mussels, crabs, soft-shell clams, and quahogs were piled high along with ears of corn, boiled potatoes, macaroni salad, potatoes salad, and coleslaw. A large pot filled with clam chowder separated the traditional food from the more basic burgers and dogs for those that were not brave enough to step out of their comfort zone and slup back a few quahogs. A large open pit had several large pots on it boiling up more food as if the food already out would not be enough to serve a contingent of Federation Marines.

Only after the spread was presented and her eyes wandered over the fragrant assortment, did that level visage finally lift into something a little more upbeat as Kesh’s gaze centers on the hostess. Ears sag outward as eyes blink firmly, while a soft flutter of exhaled breath conveys a subtle vibration prior to her finally speaking in reply, “Your ‘Ma’ has very appreciable viewpoints, rrrnth.” Soft, almost whimsical in tone, and fluttered with a mild slurring along with that rattled utterance at the end, Kesh certainly sounds much like how many would think a cat might talk if able to speak. Those that know many Caitian would know this is not a universal thing, and it seems like an almost deliberate choice for those individuals that understand and cater to human perceptions.

“Oh my god don’t ever tell her that,” Vanessa let out a huge laugh. “It will go straight to her head.” As she moved a few things around on the table to make room for the basket, Vanessa’s voice suddenly sounded very different as she continued talking in a heavily accented twang. “I’m telling you, Vanessa. List’n to youh mawthah. When ah you going to staht doing that? Why do you think I stumbled around faw fifty eight yeahs and nine kids before you and didn’t leahn anything is a mystery. Trust youh Ma. I know everything.”

Kesh’s head leans back and tilts once again, blinking quite owlishly following that first remark and laugh, evidently a bit perplexed by this reaction, though the most the woman says, the more that look returns to neutral as she focuses toward getting her food basket onto the freed spot on the table. She does remark, though, “It sounds as though your mother is as… rrm… verbose as mine was.”

Stepping back from the table, Vanessa continued to chit chat letting the woman place her dish down in the spot. Her voice instantly went back to her normal voice indicating she was imitating someone. “She means well but is like another other mothers in the galaxy. They always know what is best.”

One simple bob of the felid’s head makes her styled mane sway, otherwise focusing on placing her offering.

The carried basket is hoisted and set in an open space nearest the seafood, with a simple stroke downward collapsing the vessel to make it into a sort of woven platter for presentation of the dark green bowl held within.

“So what did you bring. It smells amazing,” Vanessa inhaled deeply. Whatever was in the basket was making Vanessa’s stomach start to rumble. If there was one thing the Slade family did was eat. The scent of garlic, onions, and peppers seeped from the dish into the air making Vanessa’s mouth water.

“Eggplant Etouffee.” Kesh states, extracting a ladel from the side of the basket as it’s converted, dipping it into the North American stew for serving. Her three-fingered hands then grasp the sides of the bowl, lifting it to show that it has two sections, with the lower containing steaming-hot white rice, with the main dish set beside. A grip and twist of the ladel handle separates it into two pieces as well, with the second expanding into a rice fork, which is plunged into the lower container.

Vanessa’s face lit up in a huge smile seeing the dish. Large chunks or eggplant, onions, potatoes were sitting in a thick and rich brownish-red gravy-like soup. The peppers gave it a highly colorful look that promised the only thing that could compete with how amazing it looked was how incredibly delicious it smelled.

“Ah, uh, I believe this may not be exactly appropriate for the region, but every buffet needs a spicy dish, ah? Rrrnnf.”

-> Kesh, Engineering

“Hell yeah it does,” Vanessa said polishing off her beer. “Do you mind if I try some now? I do not want to miss any or have to share when other people start showing up. Can I get you a beer,” she lifted up the table cloth and showed the woman where one cooler was semi-hidden under the table. Inside the cooler was a large assortment of real alcohol with bottlenecks and tin pop-tops sticking up through the ice just enough to make out the labels. At a glance, there was just about one or two of anything someone would want . Vanessa fished out a Sam Adams and popped the top off on the edge of the picnic table. With her other hand, she caught the top as it flew up with the dexterity of someone who was practiced at opening beverages like this. “Booze is in the blue coolers. Sodas, water, and fruit juices are in the red coolers,” she explained in case the Caitian was more of a teetotaler.

“Now lemme try this,” Vanessa set the beer she just opened on the table. Grabbing an empty plate she put a scoop of rice on the plate and then drowned the white ball with the mix of veggies and broth. Vanessa had no idea if this was the way to serve it but that was the beauty of new experiences. You learned from them.

Taking her first bite, Vanessa’s face assumed a neutral expression before melting into a groan of happiness. “Oh my gawd dis is soo good,” she mumbled through her mouthful be careful not to talk with her mouth full but wanting to make sure the Engineer knew the dish was a success. Poking at her next bite with her spoon, Vanessa took the time between bites to get to know the woman. “A-two-fee,” she butchered the name having never heard it before. “Is this a french dish because if so I am going to be all viva la France?”

Vanessa Slade

Kesh makes the smallest of gestures to encourage having a bite of it, which is followed then by another glance in various directions to affirm that no one else was in the area yet. A soft warbly murmur rolls from her throat that wordlessly expresses her concern, both for the possibility of such a festival being missed by the rest of the crew, and in her dish possibly cooling off. Reheating such dishes tends to damage the textures, if not the flavor, at least.

Rather than distress, though, her attention went to the other nearby food and drink on offer, namely anything that looked to be vegetarian in nature, though the ‘baked clams’ that the title of the flier mentioned was her primary concern, as that was one Earth food she had not tried before. That long, tufted tail and its abundant spots swung in contemplative swings as bare footpaws strode across the concrete until what appeared to be the clams were located. A moment of staring and sniffing is shortened by sounds of pleasure. Maned head twists back with eyes slivered in delighted amusement while her tail curls upward behind to wobble about in pleased expression, “Awrrr, I am pleased you like it.” There’s a moment of staring that wanders a moment before the felid twitches slightly then turns away from the clam with a flourish of her tail, striding toward where the drinks where indicated.

“It, ah, it is inspired by French cuisine, but is of Caijun origins. Rrrnth. If the rumors are true, it was a Caitian ambassador’s misprounciation and the Earth ambassador’s misunderstanding that led to our being called ‘Caitian’ by humans. Eh, hrrr.. if the rumor is true, at least.” As she spoke, the drinks are pursued, with a small bottle of sparkling apple juice being collected and opened. “Thank you.” A ‘toast’ style gesture following.

-> Kesh, Engineering