Post 422: Thanks For All the Fish. . .and Chips.

Stardate:70831.1230
Title: Thanks For All the Fish. . .and Chips.
Author: Trick London
Scene: Seven
Time: Before and during "Surprise Surprise"
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"Sweet Highland mist! Get a look at that, would ye!"

I heard Angus' exclamation from the open window in the wall between the dining room and the kitchen and stopped cold. *Oh no,* I thought, *One of my guests of honor is early. If we blow the surprise, Zanh is going to flush me out the nearest airlock without hesitation or fanfare.*

I expected that MacDougal was going to further comment (as he has done repeatedly, every hour of every day since meeting her) that Lily T'Ana looked unspeakably ravishing tonight, or breathtakingly beautiful, or incredibly irresistible or some other form of the romantically induced hyperbole that has become the staple of his vocabulary since he was smitten by the divine lieutenant.

Not that I miss his point- to be honest. She's extraordinary. Those exotic eyes, that perfectly sculpted face. The whole "I could kill you in your sleep if I wanted to and you'd never see it coming," danger-vibe. All very hot, indeed. But even if she hadn't been 'dibbed' on pretty much our first day aboard the Independence by my partner in crime, there are other women on the ship that I find more suitable to my personal taste.

The beauty queen is a joy to behold. Then there's that doctor Trind. But I don't want to get distracted now by those thoughts, I have work to do.

When I finally looked up from the glassware I was arranging for the champagne toast and directed my attention toward the direction of Angus' attention-grabber whatever it was, I dropped the crystal flute from my hands and listened as the stem separated from the bowl with a sickening 'clink' as it landed on my shoes.

"Holy-" I echoed, but what I was really thinking was *When Trill perform a life-altering ritual, they don't screw around.*

This couldn't be our gawky, gangly February.

February of the dinner-plate sized glasses with the thick black frames? February of the disheveled hair and too-large uniform on duty and the mismatched, striped knee-high socks and clunky pink sneakers off-duty?

This can not be the woman I know.

She's wearing a sleek, off the shoulder sapphire colored silk dress which does ample justice to her admirable form. The necklace gently encircling her throat draws even more attention to those damned hypnotic spots, and she actually just strolled- not slumped, not lurched, not tripped, down the small staircase leading into the bar. In high heels.

She waved to me, and noticing the look on my face she looked at the floor and smiled her usual, shy smile- which tells me at least that there is something left of the girl I know left beneath this. . .this. . .siren.

She immediately moved toward the stage and began to tune up a guitar-looking quite a sight in her party dress with the instrument strapped over her shoulder.

She began to play a happy, upbeat riff and I found myself bouncing a little as I stepped forward, actually giddy from the emotions she was projecting so clearly. It was then that I crushed the remains of the champagne flute accidentally with my right foot and cursed.

"Jeaq, the quickvac, please?"

"What the bloody hell has happened to her?" Angus' head popped out through the window again as if he was the furry target in a game of whack-a-mole.

"I could hazard a guess." In fact it wouldn't have to be a guess. The joy radiating from her told only one story- even to someone only half-Betazoid like I am.

-----------------------------after the surprise------------------------------

I watched the room fill up with familiar faces, and found it to be oddly comforting. For a man who always preferred his establishments past to be filled with a new batch of strangers every night, this was something different. I actually like having 'regulars' for a change.

I've honestly made friends here, even if it was in the strangest way- ending up castaways with many of these folks on the Holodeck when it malfunctioned. I don't feel like a hired hand here. I feel like one of the gang.

I see Lair and her husband Salvek, who said he could only stay briefly at the festivities because he has to return to the Bridge. Former Miss Federation Fox Margolis is here, and becoming increasingly annoyed it seems with the security detail that has been assigned to tail her for some reason. I don't think anyone else at the party has actually noticed she is being followed but I'm a man who has at several points in his life had to lose uninvited company, I know what surveillance looks like.

The groupings of people at table are very unique this evening. TC Blane, who to me seemed to be barely tolerating our Acting Captain up to this point in time is actually dining with her tonight. N'Dura, chief of security has just joined them.

The new guy Dabin Reece is sitting at a booth in the corner with the Bajoran priest and Maak the Klingon- a man I really, really like. Anyone who still sets up a tab at the local pub in this day and age obviously has his priorities straight.

*Sounds like the introduction to a really bad joke,* I thought, *A Vedek, a Klingon, and a joined Trill walk into a bar. . .*

Rada Dengar and Micah Samson are trying to chat with the mysterious Ensign Xhian- who looks like he's ready to bolt for the door at any moment.

Dr. McKenna and the ever-more-lovely Dr. Trind are getting acquainted it seems, conversing animatedly at the bar across the room. Why does it irritate me that she's flirting with him?

The band plays on.

Angus signaled at last that the special dinner I was asked to deliver personally was ready and I headed back toward the kitchen.

I don't get the joke, but obviously it is long-standing between Zanh and this Reece fellow. Something significant in some odd way, because she made very specific requests of me. That's something that she usually does not do.

I wheeled the tray out and signaled to Zanh. She excused herself from her discussion with Blane and N'Dura and followed me.

The conversation taking place at Reece's table as we were approaching amused me.

"And then, they made her their chief!" he concluded dramatically, ending his tale. "True story about Grace. T'Ana told it to me during trip to Trill."

Maak's shoulders shook with hearty laughter. "Who would believe that within that pale, spotted child beats the worthy heart of a warrior!" he rumbled.

He saluted Grace in Klingon, raising his tankard high. I didn't quite catch all that he said, but apparently the meaning was not lost on Reece.

"A-men." the Trill swooned as he glanced at February as she played away with the band across the room.

*A-ha* I thought. *So he's the one, is he?* I reserved the comment and asked for Reece's attention as Zanh Liis stepped up to the table from behind me.

"Reece, you always manage to keep coming back to me like a bad penny, I guess I have to get used to it," she began, as I held my hand poised over the cover to the tray."Ever since you arrived aboard the Indy, you've been complaining that you only wanted one thing to eat. I figure you've more than earned it. London?"

"Bon appetite," I lifted the dome with a flourish, and Reece laughed out loud when he saw the gigantic platter covered in all manner of seafood. Fish and chips, fried shrimp, Alfredo pasta with scallops, a lobster tail, a bowl of New England style Clam Chowder. . .the list was extensive and it had taken some doing on Angus' part to prepare it all.

"Aww, Liisy I'm touched! See the tears in my eyes? Nothing says lovin' like somethin' from the oven!"

He elbowed the Klingon beside him then raised his hand to his heart. "See, Maak, what did I tell ya? She adores me." He winked at Zanh, then invited her to join him. "C'mon, Crinkles. Help me out here," he handed her a fork and she slid into the booth beside him.

I turned a bemused smile toward her and silently mouthed the pet names back to her."Liisy? Crinkles?!"

"Don't even, London," she warned, holding her fork in the air like a dagger.

So I didn't.

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William Patrick "Trick" London
Manager/Bartender at Seven
Fine Dining Aboard the Federation Flagship