Out on the Town: Part II

Posted on Thu Jul 16th, 2026 @ 6:03am by Lieutenant JG Talariana sh'Joven & Lieutenant Commander Mattys Plaatjes & Major T'Ria & Ensign Kynian Th'kyrheth

1,329 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: New Years on Denobula
Location: Denobula: The Three Moons Lounge

'This is why we don't let anyone talk about future plans near the warp manifolds. Unfailingly they break,' Plaatjes grinned as he pulled up a chair for the man. 'Take a load off.'

“Haha, you guys too, huh? I may have to start following that rule myself next time.” Kynian plopped down in the chair.

Talariana observed as the fellow Andorian took a seat. As much as she enjoyed the company of the Humans on the Meridian, it was nice having someone from her world on board. Someone who completely understood why she did the things that were normal for Andorians. "Its shoreleave you shouldn't be working."

Kynian shrugged a little. “Maybe not, but it was only supposed to take a few minutes. Besides, some of those questions were bothering me, you know? Now that the work’s done I can really relax, even if I do have a little less time to do it.”

"Does everyone have anything exciting planned throughout the week?" sh'Joven inquired of the group.

'There's the Denobulan Museum of Spaceflight,' Plaatjes replied helpfully, 'or the Tanberik mountains are a good hiking spot. I'm hoping to hit up both before our time here's over. People are welcome to join,' he concluded enthusiastically, looking around the group.

"Heard the helm department went out on camping trip in the mountains somewhere," the armory officer spoke. "I wonder if that't the mountain they went out to explore."

Kynian perked up, nodding to Plaatjes. “I’d join you on the museum trip! I’d been planning to see what museums they had, maybe wander around a little further from the touristy areas. No firm plans yet, other than that.”

Out of nowhere the music suddenly came to a stop before anyone realized it. Talariana glanced up from the table and could see a crowd gathering to the center of the dance floor. The sound of drinks smashing could be heard as two Denobulans stood nose to nose. This was odd considering that the Lieutenant couldn't recall ever seeing an angry Denobulan.

"You cheated!" one shouted.

"I won fairly," the other retorted. "You just can't stand to lose."

The bartender stood to his feet making his way through the crowd in attempt to calm things down. But before anyone could properly intervene, both Denobulans faces completely puffed up. This was followed by one Denbulan lunging at the other. The other quickly sidestepped, sending them both into a table. Both men rolled around on the floor in an attempt to out wrestle the other. From what seen the ordeal was more awkward than violent. Clearly neither had really been a serious fight in their lives.

A few Bolians were front and center cheering both men on, which only led to the crowd cheering as well. Thirty seconds later, both men sat up, staring at one another with a confused look. "You still owe me five strips of latinum."

"Well, you still owe me for the dinner I paid for last week," the other responded as he stood back on his feet. Extending his hand, he helped the other man up. The who was helped back on his feet, patted the other on the shoulder as they proceeded to walk through the crowd, laughing with each other as if a minor brawl didn't just take place.

Lieutenant sh'Joven who almost stood to feet, simply shook her head. "That was indeed an odd situation."

'I didn't know Denobulans could get so rowdy,' Plaatjes said as he watched the two make their way through the bar shoulder-to-shoulder. 'Still that's why we explore, eh? To find out more about others and ourselves.' Grabbing his beer by the neck, he took another long pull, draining it, before getting up to his feet, 'I'm getting another one - anyone else?'

"I think about now, I am willing to try a beer," Talariana. "Going to live a little on the edge tonight. Believe that is the correct phrase."

For a moment, T'Ria regarded Lieutenant sh'Joven as though she had announced an intention to test the structural integrity of the lounge by striking it repeatedly with a chair. Her gaze shifted briefly to Commander Plaatjes to see if further data could be gleaned. It did not provide any additional enlightenment.

"On the edge," she repeated, carefully. "I was not aware that fermented grain beverages occupied such a position." There was the faintest pause. "However, I acknowledge that the phrase is not intended to be interpreted literally. My culture does not utilize...metaphors."

Plaatjes chuckled at T'Ria's words, and shook his head. 'That's one extra beer,' he said. 'I assume Vulcans employ beer for relaxation as they do metaphors? Is there something of the non-alcoholic variety I can get you?'

"Has there ever been an intoxicated Vulcan?" sh'joven inquired. There was something about a drunk Vulcan that peeked her interest.

"There are a number of compounds that effect Vulcan physiology in a mind-altering manner...however, to pursue such a contrary state to mental discipline is considered illogical." T'Ria was not about tell them about her experience with a chocolate pudding cup at the IME.

Looking over at the other occupants around the time. Talariana no way of telling if the Vulcan was hiding anything. All these investigative skills and still she couldn't read if a Vulcan was hiding the truth.

Plaatjes couldn't tell if T'Ria was messing with him or not, but he flashed her a smile, 'some sort of tea, then?'

T'Ria's expression remained composed, however, one eyebrow rose by a fraction. "Tea would be...acceptable. Thank you." There was the slightest hesitation before the final words, and for several seconds afterward she found herself studying a light fixture over the bar rather than Commander Plaatjes. For among some of Vulcan's older traditions, a male offering a beverage to an unbonded female could be interpreted as the opening gesture of a courtship ritual. Commander Plaatjes almost certainly did not know that - and besides...he was human. However, something within her illogically 'stood up and took notice.'

"...Thy courtesy is acknowledged," she added, perhaps with just a touch more formality than usual.

'The pleasure is all mine, Major, I can assure you,' he replied obliviously with a wide smile. Plaatjes made his way through the crowd to make for the bar.

The armory officer couldn't help but to laugh as the Chief Engineer left the table. "Apparently I still have quite a bit to learn about your people. Kynian have you have witnessed such a thing?"

Kynian chuckles. "A Vulcan ordering tea in a bar, or an intoxicated one? The former's new to me. As for the latter... I knew it could happen, but I'm not about to violate anyone's privacy by getting into specifics. Did you really think no one in all of Vulcan's history would find a way to alter their mental state?"

sh'Joven shrugged. "I just assumed trying to alter one's mental state in a nonproductive manner would be considered illogical. Shows how much I really know about Vulcan's."

Returning, Plaatjes expertly bore three beer bottles in one hand, and in the other a steaming mug of what the bar assured him was their finest Vulcan tea, exquisitely calibrated to a Vulcan's exacting palate. As he placed them down on the table, and helped himself to one of the bottles, he nodded in T'Ria's direction, 'hopefully the tea suits.'

A few hours had past, and the establishment was about to shutdown. The four officers exited the building as they made their way down the street of the city that was just now starting to slow down at 2am. This was definitely a much needed change of the hustle of everyday life on a starship.


=================
Lt. Commander Mattys Plaatjes
Chief Engineer
USS Meridian

Major T'Ria
Chief Medical Officer
USS Meridian

Ltjg. Talariana sh'Joven
Armory Officer
USS Meridian

Ensign Kynian Th'Kyrheth
Science Officer
USS Meridian

 

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