Post 539: Alter Ego

Stardate:71102.1900
Title: Alter Ego
Author: =/\= Zanh Liis
Scene: Personal Quarters, Deck 8
Time: Before "Flapper Tapper Girl"
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Zanh Liis was staring at a very small piece of fabric. It was stretchy; colorful.

Blindingly so.

She held it up over her uniform as she pulled it this way and that, thinking surely this must be wrong. This could not be the costume that she asked the computer to replicate.

She couldn't believe she was doing this at all- she had so much work she needed to do.

She was also having a hard time shaking off the cold feeling of dread that her earlier confrontation with Rada Dengar had left her with. She wanted to visit him in Sickbay, but had been advised by the medical staff that what he needed most at the moment was rest, before they made another attempt to speak with him. She could do nothing to help him tonight.

So, she would do what she could do for the morale of the rest of the crew. She would select a costume, and consider a smile to be a mandatory part of it.

She returned to her desk and directed her eyes toward the screen once again.

"Computer, display entry for fictional character Wonder Woman."

The computer brought the article up and Zanh read out loud to herself. "Wonder Woman, a heroine from a twentieth-century Earth comic book series bearing her name . . .also a television show? What's a television show?" She scrolled down. She saw an image taken from the ancient entertainment broadcast, showing a woman with dark hair in a tight bun, large glasses, and a military uniform which involved a long skirt and very modest blazer. *See, that is what I thought I was getting.*

How did she end up with this thing and how the hell were you supposed to wear it?

"I don't think I could fit one thigh into this-" Zanh mumbled aloud. "Computer, display all images of Wonder Woman associated with this entry." The computer dissolved the text and replaced it with side by side images.

The first one was of very studious looking girl, modestly dressed and in sensible shoes- and then she saw it. The caption read, "Diana Prince, everyday persona of the superhero known as Wonder Woman."

The next picture showed the woman without the glasses, her long hair free-flowing and curled, and there it was- the offending leotard- along with the belt, crown, bracelets, cape, and high boots that completed the costume Zanh was holding in her hands.

She hadn't scrolled far enough down through the entry the first time to see that one version of this character was very different from another. "Oh. Well, that explains it. Now what do I do?" Zanh asked herself aloud. Time was running out.

She had asked the computer to offer three suggestions for strong female figures in Earth lore- one historical and two fictitious. This was what the database had come up. She wanted to be careful about the image she painted of herself for the crew through her choice of costume.

She didn't want to take the occasion too seriously, but then again she wasn't going to dress up like a porcelain doll, either.

She looked again at the other two options before her. The first was a long white dress, along with a wig that looked like it had two large cinnamon rolls attached to it at the sides, and then there was the bomber jacket, silk scarf and other aviator accoutrements that accompanied the last of the three costume choices.

The door chime rang, and she realized that it must already be seventeen hundred. The Vedek expected her to be dressed and ready to go, but alas, her procrastination was costing her time.

Jariel Camen stood before her, dressed in black pants with red suspenders over a red and white striped shirt. He also sported a small, red, flatly shaped hat, and white and black paint on his face.

Zanh laughed; as soon as the doors opened he began to juggle. He smiled.

"So that's what," Zanh imitated Jariel's earlier up and down hand gesture, "all that meant. You're a mime?"

[[Yes I am,]] Jariel signed, after catching all three juggling balls in his left hand with a flourish and bowing slightly. [[They never speak out loud. A fun and practical choice.]]

"Reece told me about mimes ages ago, is this his doing? Or did you hear about them somewhere else?"

Jariel stopped short of telling Zanh that Fleur Le Marc had mentioned them, when talking about growing up in France. He knew that Liis was already on edge from the idea of this whole costume thing to begin with, it would be much better if she could find out later that Fleur was on the ship. Much later. Why Zanh didn't particularly care for Le Marc, he had no clue. He just knew that it was a foregone conclusion.

[[From another old friend.]] He changed the subject. [[You're not dressed.]] He gave an exaggerated sigh, playing up his role.

"Now don't give me the puppy dog eyes. I'll be right behind you, okay? I'm having some. . .wardrobe malfunctions."

[[Need any help?]] he grinned a different kind of grin now.

"Nooo. If you help me we'll never get to the party. Go on, shoo. I'll meet you there in a bit."

[[Any hint on your costume?]]

She smiled at him, and spun in a circle once, arms stretched out to the sides.

[[That's it?]]

"This was much better?" She once again imitated his previous 'hint'. He laughed. "Gooo. I'll see you soon."

He leaned forward to snatch a quick kiss, but she leaned backward. "Your makeup!"

[[I keep forgetting. See you soon.]]

She turned back to her costume dilemma, and sighed, no closer to making a choice than she had been before. The door chime rang again and she thought that Jariel had returned.

"I am going as fast as I can, but if you don't let me-" she began with a laugh, but the doors revealed Fox Margolis, dressed up and shimmering from head to toe.

"I'm sorry Captain, you're expecting company?"

"No, not at all. Did you need something, Lieutenant?"

"I just felt I should tell you that. . .Dr. Corbinsky paid me a visit earlier."

"To say goodbye?"

"To say. . .until next time."

"I see." Zanh had expected he might do something of the sort, and so was not surprised. "Thank you for telling me. If he shows up again, let me know."

"Yes, Captain." Fox frowned a little seeing Zanh was still in uniform. "Aren't you coming to the party?"

"I'm having trouble deciding on a costume," Zanh replied, then she had a thought. Perhaps she needed another opinion- and who better to ask for an opinion on matters of fashion than Fox Margolis?

"Maybe you can help me with that. . ." Zanh gestured for Fox to come inside, and Fox's eyes widened when she saw the three very different costumes set out before her.

In her opinion, the correct choice was glaringly obvious. "Do you have red lipstick to match those boots?" she playfully inquired.

"Do I look like I would own red lipstick?"

"Not a problem," Fox mentally rolled up her sleeves, and prepared to get to work. "I can replicate just the right shade."

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=/\= Zanh Liis
Acting Commanding Officer
USS Independence NCC-90791