What's Inside
Posted on Wed Jul 10th, 2019 @ 11:02pm by Commodore Tyler Malbrooke & Michael Taggart
Edited on on Wed Jul 10th, 2019 @ 11:36pm
2,425 words; about a 12 minute read
Mission:
Episode 7 - Home Again
Location: White Stag Pub, Empok Nor
Timeline: MD003 2200 hrs
Tyler's leg was feeling much better after the incident in the turbolift. That small incident had changed everything. First and foremost Tyler's view on Enya. She carried herself calm and composed, a perfect officer. A perfect O Flannigain... Tyler thought. The second was that it had Tyler rethinking his whole life, his outlook on families on starships. This combined with Kat's request for a transfer had the Captain reeling as he walked into the White Stag, his home away from home. "Hey Mick..."
"Well now lookie what da cat dragged in. Tyler Makbrooke Captain o da Pioneer. Have ye come to grace us with yer presence no doubt." Mickey smiled as he hopped the bar to give his friend a hug. "Welcome home Ty..."
"Thanks Mick! After that last mission it is good to see your ugly mug. Can I have the usual?" Tyler embraced the Scot heartily and then took a seat on his usual bar stool. A few of Mickey's regulars came by and said hello. Shortly a pewter mug was placed in front of the Captain. "One bee sting, and ye know the tradition..." Mickey smiled and raised his glass. Tyler begrudgingly stood up with a smirk on his face. "As I have come home I bring you lot a toast." He spoke load so all could hear. Everyone responded by raising their glasses "A Toast..." the crowd shouted. "May the best ye've ever seen. Be the worst ye'll ever see. May a moose ne'er leave yer girnal Wi ' a tear drap in his e'e. May ye aye keep hale an' herty Till ye're auld eneuch tae dee. May ye aye be jist as happy As we wish ye aye tae be." Tyler took a swing of his drink as the crowd responded with alright Captain, here here, and well said etc... Mickey just stood there smiling. "Now ye tell Ole Mick all the news."
Tallida had been hesitant. She had never been to an establishment like the White Stag. She still wouldn't have if the Captain had invited, or openly suggested she join him. It helped that Mariam had gotten word of his invite, in the annoying way she did, and practically shoved her out of her quarters. The Captain was the one person on the ship that knew her status but he didn't seem to hold it against her. She let out a sigh before smoothing down the front of her t-shirt, like she would have her service jacket before walking inside.
She couldn't help the smile on her face as the hoots and hollers sounded out around her. She could see why someone like Malbrooke like this place. It was someplace where for a moment you could forget how alone you were. Striding up next to the Captain she cleared her throat. "So, I walked inside. Now what, us, sir."
Tyler was about let the tale of what the station is calling the battle for Cardassia fly into Mick's ears, when his guest arrived. "Tallida welcome. First off you can drop the sir. When in the White Stag we leave our pips at the door. I am Tyler or Ty if you wish. Next pull up a chair and meet the finest thing that Scotland has given us since Montgomery Scott. This is Michael Taggart and this is his place."
Mick smiled at the newcomer. "Welcome lass an' please call me Mick. What can I get ye?"
Tallida grinned at the bar keep as she tucked her hair behind her ear. "I will take whatever good scotch you have." She didn't drink often, but when she did she like the good stuff.
Mickey smiled. "Now dere is a lass after me own heart. She likes her scotch and she probably only drinks the good stuff I'll warrant." He turned toward Tyler and exchanged a look with him, one that said that she was more than met the eye. "Since ye are new here you do not get any of this normal swill." He pulled a special crystal bottle from under the bar, along with two tumbler glasses. "Dis here is Glen Alba made in Scotland. As far as it's age let us jus say it is old enough to buy it's own scotch." He placed the bottle down next to the glasses, but not before pouring his own. The label read that it was made in 1998.
Tyler looked at and smelled the scotch enjoying every sense of the drink. "Mick this is really special, you sure..." He let the scotch breathe as he gauged Tallida's reaction.
Tallida didn't hesitate. She swirled the glass before taking a long inhale. "Sandlewood, orange peel, honey, vanilla, hint of chocolate." She grinned at the bartender as she took a sip. She let out a contented sigh. "Aged in a genuine sherry barrel." She took another small sip. Unlike her last drinking experience in the Stag this was a beverage to be savored. "God that is good."
Tyler savored his first two sips along with Mickey. "You know your scotch Tallida. That's pretty impressive, welcome to the White Stag. This is my home away from the Bridge. Do you know your Scottish traditions?" Tyler asked as he looked around. He was not sure why but the Stag always relaxed him. It might be the people, it could be the ambiance, or it could be both. He was not sure but he loved it.
"No," She said with a nervous laugh. "Distillery science was something I used to work with in my spare time." she took another draw from the glass. "I am not much of a drinker but I have a developed palette." She smiled as she looked around the bar. "Is there something I should know? I am always open to learn."
"Well nuthin in particular. Jus that when you are in these doors ye be family. That an we like our food, our drink an our toasts." Mickey sipped his drink and let the fluid roll in his mouth. Tyler chimed in "Sometimes the best counseling can be done not in an office. You worked in a distillery now that is interesting. Why the career change?"
"No, I didn't work in a distillery." Tallida laughed completely understood where he got that idea. "I was allowed to toy with distilling my own spirits a few years back." She took a sip from her drink. "I have a tendency to be all in or nothing." she grinned.
"I believe that it is like that with every Starfleet officer. All or nothing I mean. You are simply full of surprises." Tyler smiled and sipped his drink.
"Well lassie any friend o the Capn's is a friend o mine. However, in order to adhere to the traditions ere. We need a toast." Mickey chimed in.
"Oh no," Tallida replied with a smile and a shake of her head. She knew from her night with Ade that avoiding this toast the first time was a miracle. "That isn't necessary."
Tyler and Mickey both laughed heartily. Then Tyler leaned in to her to speak intimately. "Listen it may not be necessary for you. But for him, and for them it is necessary. Consider it your first step toward finding normalcy." He smirked for a moment as waited to see what she would come up with.
"Ok," She replied easily as she looked up at Tyler. There was something about the man that she trusted. She held up her glass. "Hit me Mickey." She replied loudly with a large, genuine grin.
Mickey smiled broadly and poured the lady another glass of scotch. "Right listen up you group of lavvy heid. Dis ere be Lieutenant Tallida Ova, and she be new ere. But dat jus means our family has gotten bigger. So raise yer glasses fer a toast."
When Taggart finished speaking Tyler smirked he knew what was coming. He raised his glass along with the rest of the pub and obediently responded. "A Toast!" He winked at her and nodded toward the crowd.
Tallida could feel the eyes on her, or at least she thought she did. Her mind was racing and she had no idea what to say. She didn't want to look at Tyler. She knew his type. He would swoop in and save her and she so desparately wanted to prove she could hold her own. Raising up her glass and turning to the room she shouted, "Here’s to a long life and a happy one. A quick death and an easy one. A good girl, or guy," She added with a sly grin. "And an honest one. A cold pint and another one." With that she downed her drink.
The crowd in the bar cheered and there were shouts of "Welcome El T..." "Here, Here" "Slainte..." "All right Tallida..." and more of that nature. Tyler for his part raised his glass to salute her and shot back his drink. Mickey did the same and then refilled the glasses. "Now that was one I haven't erd in some time. Well done lass. If yer wantin any food just gimme a shout. Fer now I will leave you to it." Mickey hustled down the bar to another patron and began to lay the charm on thick.
Tyler cocked an eyebrow. "Well you are just full of surprises. See that wasn't so hard, and you made some new friends. I don't think they will forget you anytime soon. That was a great first step, and here is to many more." he raised his glass and sipped.
Tallida raised up on her toes before dropping back down with an excited grin on her face. She could do this, maybe. She could learn to be 'normal' she just needed practice. "Thank you, sir." She replied with a grin taking a sip of her glass that had miraculously been refilled.
"You should know that most of the people here will simply judge you for you, and nothing else. So tell me why the fleet why here? Forgive me but I am still trying to figure out why out of everything you chose to come to Starfleet." Tyler liked the woman, she was a good person and he knew it. He simply had to get her to open up.
Tallida watched him though her long lashes as she took a draw off her drink. She took a breath as she thought over the situation. "I grew up around Starfleet." She started. "I am not sure how much of my history you read up on, but I was found in an Angosian lab when I was around two. I honestly don't really remember much from then." she took another sip. "I was always treated like I was a danger to everyone else. Like I was contagious. When you are raised that way, you latch on to what you know. Starfleet is what I know."
"That makes sense... Now that you are here what do you make of our happy fleet?" Tyler sipped his drink as he took stock of the woman. He knew something that she did not, he knew what was coming. As such he had to make sure that she could hack it, would she be able to get them through what's next. "Well please allow me to be your escort to normalcy, that is if you call a cowboy normal."
"I appreciate that, Captain." Tallida replied as she looked up at him. She had never had a friend before, not that she would classify him as a friend, but it could happen. "I don't really have a normal outside of Merriam, and she is far from normal."
"Ah, yes your caretaker of sorts I guess. You know you should have a better normal." Tyler replied with a chuckle. "Who says that you do not have a normal. You are sitting at a bar with a friend having a drink. What can be more normal than that?" He laughed as he sipped his drink.
"True, however." Tallida started with a grin. "This is the first time that has ever happened." She motioned towards the bartender for a refill. "I really appreciate this. All of this." she said as she looked at Tyler with genuine appreciation.
Mickey saw her hand wave and came jogging back. "Well lass I see that your cup is a wee bit broken. What say ya to me fixin it." He said with a smile as he poured her another drink. When the drink was poured Mickey had a sly grin on his face. He poured himself another drink and then raised his glass. "A Toast!" The crowd made the obligatory response including Tyler. "Right so dis toast is fer da lads. Ere's to da breezes. That blows dere skirts above dere knesses and shows us da spot dat teases and pleases. And spreads diseases..." He immediately took his shot and burst out laughing. Tyler took his drink and looked toward Tallida for her response. The bar itself was filled with a lot of laughter and groans in response to the toast.
"Here here." Tallida replied with a laugh as she clinked her glass against Tyler's before down the entire contents of the glass. She set the glass down on the counter and had to hold on slightly. The movement of dropping her head made the world spin slightly. Wiping her lips on the her hand she turned to Tyler. "Not the best way to make a good impression on my boss." She laughed.
"It is the best way, and here I am not your boss." Tyler laughed. "Looks like someone needs to find a bed." In truth Tyler wanted to find his wife.
"I will find my way." Tallida replied with a smile. "I like it here." She added. "Besides, I have beta shift tomorrow." She smiled up at him. She was looking forward to people watching for a while.
Tyler squeezed the woman's shoulder. "Right Tallida I will see you in the morning on the ship. For now live it up. Mick give the lady a round on me."
"Right-o!" Mickey replied and he was already pouring the next drink.
A Joint Post By
Lieutenant Tallida Ovaa
Chief Counselor, USS Pioneer
Captain Tyler Malbrooke
Commanding Officer, USS Pioneer
Michael Taggart
Owner/Bartender "White Stag Pub", Empok Nor
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