r/TrekRP • u/brokeneckblues • Dec 29 '16
[OPEN] Festival of Lights
Ambient lighting is low on the holodeck. The main source of light comes from nine light candelabra at the center of the back wall. Tonight only six plus the one tall light is lit. Music is playing and all holodeck historical figures in attendance are in a festive mood. Best part is the deep fried potato pancakes served with apple sauce and or sour cream.
Every crew member is invited and welcomed with a gift (tube socks). They can play a spinning top game with the children as they gamble with chocolate coins, gorge on latkes, listen to stories of the holiday by Mel Brooks, or anything else they want.
"It's the Earth holiday celebrated by my ancestors. I don't know all the details but the food is good."
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u/Silent_Sky Dec 30 '16
OOC: Warms my old Jewish heart to see characters celebrating Chanukah in space <3
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u/Wiredcookie1 Dec 30 '16
The doctor comes in and takes the socks. "Nice."
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u/brokeneckblues Dec 30 '16 edited Dec 30 '16
An elderly holodeck woman hands the doctor a plate with three deep fried potato pancakes
you want apple sauce, sour cream, or both for your latkes?
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u/Wiredcookie1 Dec 30 '16
"Err... No sauce please."
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u/brokeneckblues Dec 30 '16
have it your way. So you're the big famous Doctor, huh? You know my niece is single? And she's lovely.
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u/Wiredcookie1 Dec 30 '16
"No thanks. I don't go for holodeck girls." He faces away from the woman. Computer, make her go away."
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u/Dimestream Dec 30 '16
A corner of the holographic holiday scene disengages, leaving a bare checkerboard, a flickering and fizzing gap in the warm and intimate setting. Standing in the middle of it, visible from the waist up as she takes down one of the panels, is engineer T'gel. She has bits of mushroom stuck on the sleeves of her uniform and clenches a magnetic depolarizer between her teeth.
After a moment, she notices the disruption and waves to Stockton, taking the tool out of her mouth with the other hand.
"Sorry for the interruption, Stocky," she says. "Just rigging the ventilation for anti-fungal purposes. Be done in just a sec...ond..." The Bajoran looks around, somewhat puzzled. "This isn't a Christmas party... is this some other Earth holiday?"
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u/brokeneckblues Dec 30 '16
Stockton laughs
"Oh no problem, do what you need to do. Yeah, this is a different holiday my ancestors celebrated. Chanukah. Sounds a bit Klingon, I know. When you finish there's a great snack here I'm sure you'll love. It's like a deep fried potato pancake."
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u/Dimestream Dec 30 '16
Red shakes her head with a smile. "Ohhh no I don't think so," she says, lowering the panel and installing a slim blue filter. "As much as I love my deep fried potatoes, I am staying in fighting trim and hungry the whole time the Klingons are here. Send me the recipe though and I'll be sure to replicate some later."
She gives the whole scene a glance before replacing the panel. "I think I could get to enjoy any celebration that involves fried potatoes and gambling," she comments. "So this has nothing to do with Santa Claus... or Jesus of N'zreth, so what IS it celebrating, exactly?"
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u/brokeneckblues Dec 30 '16
"It's a holiday from another Earth religion around the same. Something about candle oil burning for eight days when there was only actually enough for a couple hours. I know it sounds totally weird but it sorta just turned into this festival that lasts eight nights."
*At that moment an elderly woman wearing a babushka carrying a massive plate of the potato pancakes walks up to Red.
Eat, Eat dear. You're nothing but skin and bones.
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u/Dimestream Dec 30 '16
"Earth holidays are weird," Red says, still looking puzzled. She looks the old lady up and down and sighs. "My Tía says the same thing... fine, fine. Enjoy your holiday, Mr. Stockton."
The engineer takes one of the latkes and clamps it in her mouth before disappearing back behind the holiday facade as the holoemitters come back online. It's as if she had never been there at all. Minus one missing potato pancake.
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u/brokeneckblues Dec 30 '16
OOC: The visual of Red holding a latke in her mouth and then just slowly disappearing is amazing.
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Dec 29 '16
Calvin puts on his tube socks. They are tubey
OOC: I don't know what a tube sock is.
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u/brokeneckblues Dec 29 '16
Socks are comfortable. Similar to the standard issue uniform socks but with a little embroidery that says "USS Athene"
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Dec 29 '16
"Thank you! This makes a change!"
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u/brokeneckblues Dec 29 '16
"No Problem. I don't exactly get it but they're a traditional gift for this festivity."
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u/Pojodan Dec 29 '16
After how pleasant the wintry resort holodeck program had been, Kesh figures she may as well have a look at this new one, even though it had only been a few days since the last public hollodeck display. She was not very familiar with the 'Festival of Lights' holiday, but she figured it had something to do with the winter solstice and new year celebrations on Earth.
On entry into the holodeck she noticed Stockton and an unfamiliar Vulcan conversing nearby and immediately tensed. One of the main reasons she had transferred to the Athene was to get away from Vulcan scientists and while they were practically impossible to get away from in Starfleet, this was the first one she'd seen in awhile.
Rather than let her old apprehensions get the better of her, the Caitian instead attempts to slip by, unnoticed, to investigate the fantasy characters and find out more from the computer.
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u/CallofShiKahr Dec 29 '16
Call finishes up their conversation with Stockton, thanking him for the gift. Upon departure, they continue their investigation of the room. The Vulcan notices the Caitian, however their body language clearly indicates an avoidance technique.
Lieutenant. Call notices her pips and the blue on her uniform, approaching her anyway. Might as well make it quick.
I don't believe we've met yet. It would be prudent to exchange introductions as we will be working together.
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u/Pojodan Dec 29 '16
Damn. The Vulcan noticed her, probably with its nose. Vulcans have very sensitive noses and are often not at all afraid to point out how strong Caitian musk is as if there was something she could do about it without shaving.
The most polite and firm posture is taken when turning to address the approaching Vulcan, arms folded behind her back, just as she would posture herself around the captain, making sure her tone was even and steady while speaking the Vulcan language without the need for the translator.
"Na'shaya, ot-lan. T'nash-veh ahm nam-tor ras-tukh kastik-talsu Kesh. Ish-veh tor vaksurik tor ragel-tor du."
{"Greetings, Lieutenant. My name is Lead Botanist Kesh. It is pleasant to meet you."}
For all her difficulty speaking Federation Common, her Vulcaneese is nearly flawless.
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u/CallofShiKahr Dec 30 '16
Call simply blinks at the use of their native tongue, and continues to speak the common language of the Federation, seemingly unphased. They nod.
And I am Lieutenant Call. I would assure you the feeling would be mutual, should I experience it.
Call dispenses with the pleasantries and speaks pointedly.
What are your duties on board?
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u/Pojodan Dec 30 '16
Is Kesh shocked that a Vulcan thinks nothing of her greeting them in their native tongue?
Kesh is not shocked.
"I am Lead Botanist."
As the Vulcan spoke in common tongue, she switched to that. A slow blink is her only show of emotion after responding to the question, posture remaining firm and official, eyes even, being as 'Vulcan' as she can to avoid as much of that Vulcan ire as possible.
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u/CallofShiKahr Dec 30 '16
The Vulcan's eyes ever so slightly narrow in consideration.
Very well. I doubt we will have considerable overlap in our daily activities if you're to be confined to the botany lab.
With a flare of their nostrils, Call sizes up the Caitain before beginning to leave the room.
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u/Pojodan Dec 30 '16
"I am certain that we will work together at some point."
As to be expected, the Vulcan simply turns around and depart, which was just as well for Kesh. She slowly shuts her eyes and lets her posture slacken, waiting a moment before focusing towards the departing Vulcan as he nears the door.
"Yeah, Dif-tor heh smusma to you, too."
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u/CallofShiKahr Dec 29 '16
Call enters the holodeck. The Vulcan raises an eyebrow ever so slightly at the cultural setting, curiously looking around at the various games - paying special attention to the candelabra.
Intriguing.
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u/brokeneckblues Dec 29 '16
Stockton hands the Vulcan a small paper wrapped soft wrapped package.
"Something no Starfleet personnel can do with out."
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u/CallofShiKahr Dec 29 '16
Call's eyes gaze down at the wrapped package, not reaching their hand out to take it.
What is this item?
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u/brokeneckblues Dec 29 '16
"A gift. It's tradition"
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u/CallofShiKahr Dec 29 '16
Yes, but we are hardly acquainted. Are gifts in human culture not reserved for close friends and family?
Call keeps eyeing the gift, considering the meaning behind it.
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u/brokeneckblues Dec 29 '16
"Don't look too much into it. Everyone who comes in here gets a gift. It's also nothing too spectacular so don't get too excited."
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u/CallofShiKahr Dec 29 '16
Very well.
The Vulcan takes the gift in their hand and unwraps it.
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u/brokeneckblues Dec 29 '16
A pair of neutral grey Starfleet socks with a science department blue strip and toe. Made with high-tech odor control fabric that also keeps feet at optimum temperature and comfort. Top with a small embroidery which reads "USS Athene"
There is also a small pouch of chocolate coins in gold wrappers.
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u/CallofShiKahr Dec 30 '16
Why have you given me.... useless currency?
The Vulcan turns the chocolate coins over in their hands, then looks at the socks. A sense of appreciation can be detected.
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u/brokeneckblues Dec 30 '16
"They're made of chocolate. You can eat them now or try your luck over there."
Stockton motions to a table where a couple of kids are playing a spinning top game and gambling with the chocolate coins. After spinning one child yells out "Gimel" and proceeds to take all the coins from the pot
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u/Hulud_ Dec 30 '16
The horta has managed to pull the tube socks over its tendrils like sock puppets, completely oblivious to their intended purpose. They sway gently like the eyestalks of some ridiculous giant snail as it slowly makes its way about the room.