The New Guy

Posted on Thu Nov 12th, 2020 @ 2:07pm by Ashe Zachariah & Lieutenant Craig O'Donnaghue
Edited on on Sat Dec 5th, 2020 @ 3:28pm

Mission: Enforced Intermission
Location: The Raging Deity Lounge
Timeline: Prior to 332

The Raging Deity wasn't exactly raging. The mood was rather sullen, even the usually vibrant rainbow haired bartender sat on the end of the bar, leaning back against a wall, her usual vodka on the rocks having been replaced with sparkling water.

Everyone was waiting on news. News that the away teams had returned, that their friends were okay.

The news that the second away team had been presumed dead had rocked the ship and travelled faster than a Borg transwarp conduit. There had been silent tears as officers held their heads high and continued to do their jobs, exactly as they were expected to.

The news that the away team had in fact been found alive and, well, mostly intact, had travelled just as quick and before an official announcement could be made, everyone knew that Lieutenant Alani had been gravely injured and their Chief Medical Officer was still unaccounted for.

Calvin. Someone she considered a friend. Buck was down there too, someone else she considered a friend. She grimaced and looked at the glass of water, swirling it before taking a sip. This kind of dwelling was not going to help improve her mood, yet with the lack of customers she presently had, she wasn't sure what else to do.

The sound of the doors parting made her look up toward the entry way, the arrival of an unfamiliar face causing her to quirk one eyebrow slightly. Six foot, solid build, dark hair. This would be the new guy that she'd heard about. He'd only arrived an hour or two ago but she'd already heard the buzz. "You'd be Lieutenant Craig O'Donnaghue then I'm guessing?" she asked as she slid off the bar and flicked her hair back over her shoulder, watching him carefully.

Craig had settled into his quarters, black shirt, black trousers and boots clung to his form as he styled his hair in the very small mirror in his bathroom. The room was way larger than the one he had on the andromeda and it was very nice. Hair now styled he grabbed his side arm, a small habit the young lieutenant couldn't forgo and wouldn't forgo even if they were in a time of peace. Exiting the blast doors of his room, the ship was little quieter now, as he made for the bar.

Walking silently with his hands in his pockets he looked ahead to the turbo lift, as it parted he stepped in "Deck 5" he spoke to the computer. Whizzing up to the 5th deck, he stepped out making for the raging deity! he sorted out his collar and hair before he entered. The doors parted as he walked up to them. The bar was a lovely place as he stepped up to the bar he was taken aback a little "Jeez News really does travel fast on this ship" He said with a little nervous tick to the back of his head "Lieutenant Craig O'Donnaghue at your service" He said tipping his head to the bar lady "I'll Have A pint of Guinness Please and what ever you'd like?" he said with a smile.

"Faster than a Borg transwarp conduit," Ashe replied with a smile, nodding toward one of the empty seats at the bar as she poured a pint of Guinness and set it on the bar in front of him. "Call me Ashe," she picked up her glass of water and held it toward him. "Always nice to see a new face on the ship. What do you think of it so far?"

Craig laughed a little as took his drink "Well that is quick" he said with a little wink, as he took a sip from the guineass in his hand "Nice to meet ya Ashe" he said placing his drink down on the bar "Well i can say that I like it so far `its nice and small I like small ships less for me worry about and the bar is divine" he said scootching along the bar on his stool.

"I just had her redesigned myself," Ashe replied proudly. "We gutted most of the lounge and installed holoemitters so we can change the theme at will. As they say, a change is as good as a holiday. The only things that aren't holographic are the bar here," she patted the bar in front of her, "And my collection here," she motioned over her shoulder at a startlingly impressive array of bottles, all of which appeared very real.

Craig looked behind Ashe and looked at all the bottles, he was stickler for actual alcohol "I mean kudos to you this place is fantastic! I wonder though if the holoemitters could give a traditional Irish bar feel?" he asked with a slight smile, then his face dropped "Is that a 2020 Jim beam black label I see?" he was astounded bourbon was one of his favorite drinks and to see a black label which he hadn't in about 10 years was an even bigger miracle "Next drink I have I'll have Jim beam on the rocks please" He said taking a sip from his drink.

She nodded. "The Jim Beam isn't bad, though it's not my go to. I have a Whiskey I sourced on our last trip to Earth, it's an Orion blend, kind of hard to find. Comes from a grain that's only grown on a very hard to reach location on Orion 5, but then it's laced with pollen from the grain flowers. Kicks like a mule, but it makes you forget what your ails are!" Ashe finished with a grin. "Oh, or the Kitarian blue wine. Actually, no, forget about that one, I'm not even actually sure it's legal in the Federation any more."

Craig just sat there in wonderment as she spoke "Ive never really had any alien alcohol save for andorian ale which is a cure for a broken heart" he said with a slight dip of his head, it been 3 years but it was still as fresh as the day it happened "Then ill take an andorian ale and jim chaser" he said smiling, it had been a while since was able to let loose "If you ever find that orion blend you have a subject to try on" He said winking "Always nice to see a bar tender who knows there stuff its a asset that's forgotten in these times" he said drinking some more of his alcohol.

Crouching down behind the bar, Ashe unlocked a cabinet and pulled out a bottle of deep amber liquid, dark and syrupy. Grabbing a glass, she poured a healthy measure over a single large ice cube. "Try this," she said with a grin, sliding the glass toward him. "Trust me, you won't be disappointed."

Craig grabbed he glass and sniffed it, his face taken aback by the smell " suppose its been a while since I've had anything that tasted like brake fluid" he said as he slamemd it back "But that burn is so good" he said with is eyes rolling into the back of his skull.

Ashe smiled as she refilled his glass. "Enjoy," she said cheerfully. "Now, if you'll excuse me, rush hour is about to start and I need to get ready. If you want another, give me a shout darlin'," she added with a wink before she picked up a white cloth from on the bar in front of her and headed for the group of new arrivals. By the looks of things, it was going to be a busy evening."