Star Trek: Starbase 777

Off the side of the red carpet was the photo booth, separated only by a curtain halfway closed to avoid photobombs while showing clearly whether or not the space was occupied. In the photobooth was a well-dressed hologram of a photographer, an ancient, large-lensed contraption in his hands to make a shot the traditional way, flash shining bright every time someone, or multiple people, went in to get their attires documented. Make sure to leave your name behind, and Operations will make sure to get all the pictures to the right people.

The first thing to do while his outfit was still fresh was snap a good photo of it while it still looked as good as him - by the end of a party, one always end up looking a little more disheveled than when one started, he would say, thought that's usually because he ended up making out with someone in a back room or getting QUITE drunk. Spotting an interesting stranger, he approached and said: "Hello, dearest stranger of mine! It seems like you're a good amount of shimmery to match my shiny. I'm Dion - care to take a photo together as a souvenir of the night?"

Apollo had seen the man once or twice already, and had enjoyed hearing his mental confidence in his outfit. Someone so flashy was sure to be a friend. He turned around expectantly when Dion approached him. "Evenin', mister. Name's Apollo, pleasure to meetcha." He inspected the armor closer now that they were nearer. "Course I'll take a photo. Must say, quite the handsome suit you got there. Where'd you pull the idea?"

He smiled, please to be asked about his outfit's inspiration. Complimenting his outfits was probably the best way to his heart, other than through his stomach. "I've always enjoyed those knights in shining armour and valiant princely types in stories; they're the kind of modelled myself after, albeit a significantly more modern version." There weren't too many damsels to rescue these days, and if there were, they weren't always damsels at all. "What was the inspiration for yours? You seem to be an unusual mix of eras."

"Oh, I just went with what feels right." Apollo grinned. He could tell from a few cursory reads this fellow liked to discuss clothing. "Something my father's friends would be obsessed with." He chuckled as he flicked his shaggy, uncombed hair from behind his neck. "The hat's just a bit o' home."

"Where are you from, then? The wild, wild west?" Dion said, going into the photo booth. It was far more roomy than the photo booths of yore (the ancient 2000s), probably due to the varying sizes of different alien species. He sat down on the chair, tapping the spot next to him for Apollo to sit.

"Haha, I don't know what that is." Apollo followed in. Thankfully he didn't have to duck his head thanks to the spacious interior. "'Come from a farm." He said simply, not feeling the need to yet tell this person his complicated parental history.

"Oh, you're from the country, then? Me too, actually. From a place in England, near some lakes. Was less of a wild west and more of a mild north." He fiddled with the buttons and options of the photo booth, making sure they wouldn't come out looking like two pig's asses. (edited)

Apollo refrained from reading minds, but he had to refrain from giggling at some stray thought he picked up having to do with swine's rears. "My home was quite nice. Never had to worry about the sun. Obviously that's changed." He signaled to his pink face. "I must say, Dion, you're very collected. Musta been lookin' forward to this, yeah?"

"Oh, I plan for this every year. I usually wear some sort of elaborate gown or fancy suit, but this time I felt like being unexpected." Boop! The photo booth was ready. "Alright, what pose do you want to do? I usually put my arm around the other person, but I understand not everyone's a fan of physical contact."

"Ah, s'alright with me. Whatever you're lookin' for." Apollo shrugged his shoulders. He liked to present himself as mellow around those he just met. Helped them grow more accustomed to his presence. Not that he had any discomfort with touch.

Now, what did we have here?.. The android slowed his pace to a halt and focused on the glimpses of the holographic photographer and his ancient contraption of a camera, with an expression of curiosity on the Intel ensign's pale face.

Garcia was set on finding her tall Vulcan after talking to Victoria, and started to roam the ball areas. For someone with that height and that fit – she had insisted he sent her a picture of it before – he sure was being quite adept on hiding from her sight. Soon enough another tall figure entered her line of vision and she momentarily forgot about her original goal. “Kairos! Hey there roommate, oh you’re looking sharp!” She quickly approached with her usual big smile. “Looking for a photo? The fit is certainly worth it!”

His pondering was interrupted by a familiar voice. Kairos turned towards Garcia - locating her instantly, easily, like a well-tuned sonar - and lowered his gaze down (and down... and down...) to meet her own. "Fancy meeting you here," came an easy reply, as the Trill took a step closer. The subtle wag of the fifth limb betrayed his delight - be it from praise, or just happiness from seeing a friendly face. Likely both. "Aw shucks, give yourself just as much credit! Your dress is lovely and should be immortalized in a picture as well, don't you think?"

She blushed just a tiny bit. “You think so?” A little twirl there to show it off. “I gotta admit, the parties where we are allowed to dress up are the best ones! You just get the chance to feel so confident, plan the whole outfit…” She stopped herself from getting carried away. Kairos had asked a question. “Oh! Yes! I have so many people I want photos with… I guess my roommate gets to be the first!” Her smile was double as bright. (edited)

He nodded to her question sagely, because obviously he did and he was also obviously right. He had functioning eyes, duh. "Well, I'm happy to let you know then that this is an annual thing, with a different theme every year - so you'll have plenty of opportunities here. I was told so by a lovely engineer I've just met at the bar. I can ask if there are any other party-type happenings on the station whenever she will get to poke around my guts, if you'd like?" Ooh, a double picture? The science team that quite literally created and raised him had taken many a group photo, which at some point began to include Kairos - both before and after his gain of, well. Himself. The quasi-Trill associated such pictures with sentimentality. Perhaps that's why he was quick to nod: "You know what? Yeah, let's do it! Do you have anything in mind?"

”Oh that would be lovely! I have my own source too already… but you know what they say: if there is no party, throw one!” That was most certainly not a saying, at least not a popular one anywhere with those words. Garcia simply smiled though, as if it were. “We can have it in our quarters! It will be fun!” She called the attention of the hologram that seemed more than happy to take their picture. What a lovely program. “We can uhm… oh…” She looked at him, at them both, side to side. Talk about a height difference. “I’m used to being tiny, but if I tell you to bend down your clothing wont look right, and if we take it higher then my dress won’t show… so that means… to solve it… OH!” She clapped her hands and smiled. “You could hold me! Hollywood style, to go with the theme!”

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He literally never heard anyone ever say that, but you know what? Sure. "Just make sure our guests fit there, yeah?" As for the photograph logistics... the android hummed, giving the human besides himself a quick once-over of a glance. "Bridal style works, but I might cover some of your dress as a result. With my arms, that is. Ooh, you could perch on my arm maybe? Like in the crook of it, and I'll just hold you up? That way you'll be even a bit taller than me." Kairos gestured a bit with his arms, miming the position and showing vaguely where Garcia would end up sitting. There were many benefits to being stupid strong by human standards - like being able to lift your tiny, fleshy friends.

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”Why not both?” She clapped her hands in excitement again. Or maybe she was just feeling a tad silly with being held. It had been quite a while since anyone had done that with her. Even if she saw Kairos as a roommate and a friend only, it still gave her a bit of the rush of when she was on her teens or early twenties. Good times. “We can pick the best one to display!”

"Both? Both's good," they had plenty of time, after all. He gestured with his head towards the booth, just as the previous group walked out of it: "Let's do just that, then." As soon as they walked in, Kairos began fixing his sleeves and cufflinks, giving Garcia a squinted, cheeky look, allowing her just enough precious time to fix the dress and the hair and the accessories and whatnot: "You ready?" It was with ridiculous ease that Kairos lifted the human up. It required him just two steps forward, a slight bend of his knees, and one fell swoop of his arms, for Garcia to be suddenly suspended several feet up in the air, now taller than the android, leaning against his arm and shoulder... and yet, it was careful. Gentle. A hatchling in a crocodile's mouth levels of safety. "Doing okay there?" he asked, turning towards the cameraman and unhurriedly finding the photo spot. Showoff.

”Yiiiiiip!” Garcia could not help but loudly at the way she was so easily lifted. “Ha ha, I certainly don’t do this everyday!” She stroke a pose, one leg crossed over the other, her hand placed on his shoulder and the other lifted in a sort of “ta-da” gesture. “Ready!”

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With one of his arms now occupied, Kairos kept his other one low, palm bent upwards and showing a peace sign to the large lens of the camera. He also stuck a little bit of his tongue, showing it off alongside his sharp teeth and fangs in a lazy half-grin. It certainly painted an interested picture (or, rather, a photo...), together with his relaxed facial expression. "Lemme know when I should lower you down - you'll probably want to fix your things a bit before I pick you up again?" he wondered out loud, not moving his head but flickering his eyes upwards, where Garcia's face vaguely would be about.

As the clicks were heard she relaxed her pose. “Oh yeah yeah… you do know how to treat a lady!” Garcia patted his shoulder playfully. Once he settled her back on the ground, she ruffled her skirt a little and made sure her jewelry was not too misaligned. Her hair… well, it was always a little everywhere, no point in trying to tame it with her fingers now. “Okay I’m ready for round two!” She smiled brightly.

Kairos snorted at her comment as he lowered her down, using his other hand to waggle his index finger like the smartass that he was: "I was raised by a bunch, and have echoes of two residing in the backseat of my brain. I think I know what I'm doing!" He then turned his palms upwards and made a little "come 'ere" gesture, leaning in slightly so that Garcia could secure a hand around his shoulders.

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”Alright!” She positioned herself, making sure her grip around him was good, and could not stop a second “yiiiip!” when he lifted her for a second time. Garcia felt so happy and so silly at that moment!

Getting to carry people around reminded him quite a bit of his time in the laboratories, when Kairos only just got into his android body. It was the kids of the various scientists and workers who instantly recognized the opportunity, now that Ulysses-10 had a sturdy spine and more fitting silhouette for the uppies. Humans - and some other species - seemed to enjoy them quite a bit. And said enjoyment clearly wasn't limited to just the small ones, if Garcia's squeals of delight were anything to go by. Their second attempt was probably, indeed, the sillier one out of the two, which might make the process of choosing between them all the more harder. Eh, might just keep both, then. He offered the lens a little wink. "I think these will turn out great!" he concluded, as soon as he lowered Garcia back to the ground again and offered the woman his gloved palm for a little high-five. Go, team. "Thank you for the offer. You gonna continue hunting down people for photos, now?"

”Your handsome face and my hot figure? I bet they will.” She laughed after being placed carefully back onto her feet and promptly returning that high-five. “Oh there might be a few I wish to hunt.” Tarsek, Allan, Ed, to name a few. The first two she had not even seen yet. “Thanks Kairos, this was really fun! We’ll see how to properly display them later.” (edited)

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Kairos offered her a bow and a two-fingered salute: "It's my pleasure. Good luck on your manhunt, then! Remember to be quiet when you sneak up to them."

, Though Wesley had no one to take a photo with, he figured that he would take one photo to mark his start here at 777. He lifted his slightly spiked cup of hot coco for a photo, and then pranced off towards his quarters to drink and promptly hit the hay. Once he was 'home', he set the empty cup in the replicator and flopped sideways into his bed face first. That little gift still sat on his nightstand, labeled: Open after your first shift, mi pajarito. Wesley was too scared to open it, he didn't want to be homesick. -# End of Event Participation