Post 415: Place Your Bets

Stardate:7082322.805
Title: Place Your Bets
Author: Ensign Xhian
Scene: Quarters and Seven
Time: Before "Surprise Surprise"
---------------------------------------------
It'd been a few days since he tried to give those jewelry boxes to Lily and February, but Xhian hadn't seen them or heard a word from either of them.

He sat in his quarters while strumming his guitar, letting his mind drift. As he sings a song by Metallica, thoughts about the party start going through his head.

Concerns cloud his thoughts again; about being at another social event. Another crowd of people, and even maybe seeing Lily and Grace there as well, and wondering will they even wear those pieces of jewelry he made for them?

As he thought more on the subject of the gifts, Stratton just came by. He walked in through the unlocked doors just as Xhian was singing the lyric;
". . .and I wish for death.."

He looked at Xhian with a shocked stare and genuine concern. "Do you need to go see the Counselor? Maybe have a chat with the Vedek?"

Xhian looked over at Stratton, and quietly replied, "I don't think, they're trained in fixing reality." He managed to force a small smile. "So what you doing here? I haven't seen you since we were working to stop the computer virus."

"I was injured on the runabout trip transporting new people up from Trill, then after that I couldn't find you." Stratton explained. "You have to admit, X, you usually keep to yourself a lot, so I kinda figured you wanted to be alone," It seemed that Captain Zanh's nickname for Xhian, simply calling him X, was catching on.

Xhain realized he was right, he had been hiding out. "Sorry about that," he started to strum his guitar again.

"Wanna go get a drink before Seven fills up for the party? Tell me what's on your mind?" Stratton asked.

"Why not, like I can ever get drunk before I go on duty." Xhian replied, joking.

-----------Scene: The Bar----------------

As they moved through Seven, Xhain observed all the people in the restaurant and took note of the fact that a lot of them seemed to be part of a couple.

The two men went to sit down, and the more couples he saw, the more Xhain started to look depressed. Stratton ordered their drinks.

"Okay pal, What's wrong? You look even more blue then usual."

Xhain looked at him,and gestured with his head toward a nearby table and stared for a bit. "Look at all the people." Xhian said. "It seems like everyone can find someone- at least to be tolerant of their company for a few moments over dinner. Everyone but me."

Stratton looked at the couple that Xhain was indicating just as they kissed. "Oh I see. A romantic interest,"

Xhain began to tell Stratton how he had started to have feelings for both Lily and February, but at the same time how they seem to be spoken for, and about how his first love interest back at the Academy basically made him feel foolish for even thinking anyone could remotely ever feel that way about him.

Stratton looked at Xhian for a long moment and then said, "If humans can fall for Klingons with their short fuses, and Vulcans that must suppress their emotions for feisty Bajorans, then you are a prime catch around here!"

Xhian looked at Stratton as if he was absolutely insane as he took a sip from his drink. "Look there is no one on this ship who would see a tall blue Smurf android with antennae as a love interest!" Xhain exclaimed.

"Wanna make a bet of it?" Stratton dared.

"What are the stakes? "

"You give me two weeks to find you a date. If I win, you make me a few pieces of that fancy jewelry you're known for nowadays and if you win, well, you can name your terms."

Xhian looked at Stratton again as if he was completely off the deep end. *Doesn't he realize this is a suckers' bet?* Xhian thought, * Or did Mr. Stratton know something he didn't?*

"Okay, I'll play along just to see you try." Xhain said with a grin, "But I'll hold my terms till later."

They shook hands on it. The deal was struck, and the bet was on. 2 weeks. . .to literally accomplish what Xhian believed to be the impossible.

Ensign Xhian
Engineering Officer
USS Independence NCC-90791