Lorelei's debut

"I've not been shown around the station," said Da-an wistfully. "Would you show me?"

"I know," T'Pren replied cheerfully to Regan, smiling over-brightly.

The half-Vulcan was having no such flashbacks and she tossed back a Klingon-sized gulp of her bloodwine with relish, enjoying the feeling of it down her esophagus and then through her veins. Drunk was about to happen and the lieutenant was very pleased with herself about that.

"Anywhere is an amazing view when the singer looks like that," she pointed out slyly, carefully not looking at Regan until changing the subject: "I was telling Akhil about our illustrious reign as bloodwine binge queens until we were dethroned by some third year Klingon cadet." She paused to let the memory meander pleasantly through her mind's eye. "I do feel badly for whoever had to clean that up."

And then there was the Commander beside her and happily-buzzed Pren grinned up at him. "Mm," she agreed. "My dad used to love this kind of music. I don't know this song particularly, but I'm sure he'd have had all the words memorized." And while there was a tiny nostalgia-tinged twist to her smile, the feeling got no further than her face. She was drinking! And happy! And wearing a dress! "You should join us, Commander. I think we're about to get drunk. And Regan is at her most fun when she's drunk."

Da-an wrote:

"I've not been shown around the station," said Da-an wistfully. "Would you show me?"

Val continued to stroke one of the creature's limbs as it rested on the bar and glance over their anatomy.
"That sounds splendid. I'd be happy to make some time tomorrow to walk you around the Promenade... then perhaps you'd like to show me the Pleasure Gardens."

T'Pren Inabnet wrote:

"Anywhere is an amazing view when the singer looks like that,"

Regan gave up hiding her blush and instead squared her shoulders and started to drink her bloodwine. She didn't stop all through Pren's words, as though in demonstration of their famous bloodwine talents. About three quarters of the way down the glass she heard Pren mention her human dad, and then invite the commander to join them. Politeness would dictate that she stop and greet him, but who was she to leave a glass of bloodwine unfinished?  She drained the glass and set it heavily back on the table.

T'Pren Inabnet wrote:

 Regan is at her most fun when she's drunk."

Regan nodded her agreement - oddly, the bloodwine was making her feel more clear headed than she had since she got sick - "it's true." She said aloud, "I am the most fun." She turned to Pren and added quietly,"by the way. You look happy, and you look beautiful in that dress. I didn't tell you yet, but I did notice."

There was no way T'Pren was going to be outdone by a sick Trill, so obviously she tossed back the rest of her cup too, cracking her neck slightly as the strong concoction went down. "So it begins," she told her empty mug in an ominous tone.

Regan's words drew the look an almost-drunk person gets when they receive a compliment that really means something to them. And there, in the crowded bar, the half-Vulcan leaned over to her friend and planted a loving kiss on the other girl's cheek, space flu and all.

Akhil watched the two with amusement, trying to figure out the nature of their relationship. New friends or not, Pren seemed to be doing much better than when he first met her.

"Commander!" he said when Rai joined them, then looked back behind him to see Tal'Ara down the rest of her drink and make her way out of the bar. The Klingon's smile faltered for a moment, but then he turned his attention back to the table. "Care to join us? We're all drinking bloodwine!"

Lorelei, meanwhile, had gone through two more songs - another human melody, and a spicy Risan number that detailed all the kinds of fun you could have at night during the Moon Festival. Conversation was drowned out by applause as she took a bow. The uncertain audience was more boisterous now, drunk, entertained and having fun. Lorelei beamed and thanked them through the noise, promising to be back for another set in just a little while and encouraging them to refresh their drinks.

A glass of champagne made its way through the crowd to her from an admirer as she stepped off the stage and mingled with the guests. She stopped by Morn's table, laughing and joking with his companions, then proceeded further. She spotted Val chatting up an odd looking prospect and left him to his own devices, making her way instead to the table with the Klingon, who stood out of the crowd like a lighthouse over a stormy sea. She glided up to the group to greet them. "Lieutenant Inabnet, you made it, just as you promised!" she called out happily, "And you look absolutely radiant!"

Incoming! T'Pren was on wingVulcan red alert as Lorelei made her way to them, mentally preparing for the task of throwing Regan into the Risan's arms.

When their first interaction turned out to be a compliment, the lieutenant beamed back at her, too drunk to be embarrassed anymore and surrounded by people she trusted to keep her safe from whatever may come. Not too bad for one week on the station.

"Thank you!" she replied. "I was very uncomfortable at first, but now I'm full of bloodwine, so who cares what I'm wearing?" She seemed very pleased with herself.

But no time for Pren! Time to introduce Regan!

"Lorelei, this is my dearest friend in this or any galaxy, Dr. Regan Ozan. You may remember her from earlier when you were particularly touchy." And T'Pren was so very proud to be introducing her Trill friend.

Lorelei narrowed her eyes at Pren jokingly, like she had just been very naughty. "How could I forget. I was just going to ask if you were planning to introduce me to your beautiful friend - little did I know it was the doctor herself!" Lorelei turned her full attention to Regan and extended her hand, leaning forward slightly, "It's a pleasure."

The influx of drink requests and payment juggling had left Falten unable to spend more than a moment acknowledging anyone. The hazards of being barkeep - always the most popular woman in the room, for the thirty seconds it took to procure a glass, and then gone. She preferred her solitude, but it had always made her a touch wistful to see groups of friends and colleagues break away from the bar and disappear into the dark. Not wistful enough to ever pursue them, fuck no, but just a distant sigh in her mind.

She'd spent much of her time trying to listen to the Romulan's mind - she was curious about someone so brusque, yet so observant. She'd noted how Tal'Ara's eyes passed over everyone, how they focused on her fellow crew members. The Betazoid Commander seemed to take no notice of her at all, which made Falten second-guess her own sudden intrigue.

But then she swept out, and Falten shrugged it off, for the night. Drinks everywhere, a happy crew, and a beautiful songstress - that's the kind of bar she liked to run.

"HJ! Pick it up over there, fuck - is it that hard to pour a fucking bloodwine?"

She looked up at the Phylosian at the bar, and her hands almost stopped. She had never met one in person, but she had heard of them and was astounded at their plant-like beauty and grace. Her people had such an affinity for nature (her room was a collection of small plants and miniature trees from across the galaxy), and the Phylosian filled her with such awe.

Regan stood perhaps a little too quickly (the chair didn't make it quite out from under the table and her knees were still bent) and warmly grasped Lorelei's hand, "it's a pleasure to meet you, Pren's told me about you - she's so grateful you offered to show her your room for tips on how to de-cardaissian-ize her quarters." she disentangled herself from the chair and stood upright, "And I'm grateful too, there's only so far I can help, and she's been shacking up with me until - but only out of necessity" she added quickly, "we're not..." ('as though Lorelei cares who you're in a relationship with?' the thought came with an odd stab of pain.)

Regan took a breath and chuckled, "I'm sure you're used to people behaving this way, you are an extraordinary performer. I can't blame Pren for not doing you justice in her description, because I doubt any description could prepare a person for you."

A warm glow spread over Lorelei's cheeks. Compliments were frequently paid to her, it was true - but that didn't mean they weren't nice to hear. Especially from people she wanted to hear them from. "You're much too kind," the Risan replied, squeezing Regan's hand in return. The doctor's explanation of her relationship with the lieutenant didn't go unnoticed. "I'm more than glad to help," Lorelei continued, smoothly maneuvering herself into a seat between Regan and Akhil, with T'Pren on Regan's other aside. "It's so wonderful to have more exciting new people on the station. Have you two known each other long?"

T'Pren was highly entertained by Regan's awkwardness, in no small part because it was vindicating of her own stammering first reaction to Lorelei, but mostly because it was one of her favorite of her friend's qualities.

"We were at Starfleet Academy together," the half-Vulcan explained, reaching out a hidden hand to touch Regan's leg in case the Trill needed to know she had backup. "Regan saved me from a roving gang of snobby Vulcans two weeks into our first year. And we were roommates our second year."

She frowned at the empty cups on the table and pushed to her feet. "Time for more bloodwine. Would anyone else like some?"

Rai grabbed a chair and squeezed between Akhil and T'Pren.
"Count me in for a bloodwine, I have some catching up to do. I'm so glad we have live music now, aren't you? Not a moment too soon, either. This station was on the risk of turning into a ghost town a few months ago, and now look at it!"

"Oh no! Please let me get this round! I've already had so much of yours!" Regan turned especially to Lorelei, "Would you like a refresher of that champagne?"

Their tendrils drew back at Val's touch. They were very sensitive.
"I would like that, very much," they said. "Is this what people do for... fun here?" they asked Val in a hushed tone. Their voice buzzed faintly.

Lorelei smiled at Regan's offer, looking at her as if she was counting the spots on her skin all the way down into her sweater. "If everyone is having bloodwine, who am I to keep drinking champagne. And if I start dancing on the table later, we can all blame it on the counselor," she added, winking knowingly at Akhil.

Akhil chuckled at a share memory, and protested over all the others, "It is the drink of Klingons, and I have already promised the next round!" he rose, nearly knocking back the chair with his lumbering form. The crowd parted like the sea as he made his way to the bar.

Da-an wrote:

Their tendrils drew back at Val's touch. They were very sensitive.
"I would like that, very much," they said. "Is this what people do for... fun here?" they asked Val in a hushed tone. Their voice buzzed faintly.

Val perched his chin on his hand and the other on his hip, completely perplexed by his ability to attract people who didn't like being touched.  He glanced around at the bubbling crowd of drinkers, the Federation Table getting more boisterous with each cup of blood wine.  
"Generally, yes.  Why, what do you do for fun?"

He straightened up as he saw the bulky form of the station counsellor draw near.
"Oh hello, Counsellor," Val said smoothly. They had met on friendly terms once or twice, but never really became intimate in any way. Still, it was Val's philosophy to make sure the biggest and most powerful person in the room was on his side. He was still choosing his moment to let Akhil know he was open for business should the Klingon need counselling himself.

"A few more rounds and we'll be wrestling each other to buy the next," T'Pren remarked with a grin, dropping back down in her seat and watching the Klingon clear a path with envy before turning to the Commander.

"I'm just glad the pressure is off me to be the live entertainment," she admitted cheerfully. Bloodwine really did agree with her.

"I like music, that's why I'm here," they said to Val.
"They all seem very nice," they said, gesturing to the Federation officers. "Do they treat you well?"

"Wrestling! That might be fun," Lorelei remarked, sitting back against her chair. Her breasts struggled against the confines of her dress. "Though I wouldn't want to ruin my gown. I suppose I'd have to just take it off!"

T'Pren shot a look at Regan when Lorelei mentioned getting naked and desperately wished they both already had bloodwine in front of them. Instead, she cleared her throat and smiled at Rai.

"How very Betazoid of you."

Akhil knew Val by face and reputation only. The Bajoran was an intriguing figure, and one at the center of much attention lately. "How are you!" he said, with rather a hard slap - which to a Klingon amounted to a friendly pat - on the shoulder. For a moment, Akhil was confused as to why the young man brought a plant with him to the bar, then quickly re-adjusted his expression when he realized the being was an alien. He cleared his throat, "Hello."