Star Trek: Starbase 777

The beach bar was a circular wooden structure with a thatched roof and a low bar so people could sit at the stools here rather than taking their drink elsewhere. Three bartenders meandered around behind said bar - one Orion, one Nausicaan, one Gorn, and all wearing garishly bright Hawaiian shirts. They were all incredibly chill and in no rush, but would get any orders made promptly either way. There were spinning holograms of different drinks and snacks available to help people decide. From the interior of the bar was the sound of chill, summery, easy listening music. This bar was clearly was more for relaxing rather than hard-core partying.

Korozysh was immediately struck with a strange feeling following her as she arrived at the beach. It took passing by 5 people, saying nothing for her to realize, of course, nobody knew her. She decided she needed to loosen up before mingling. A drink should do her well. She went to the bar and ordered a blood wine, which the digital bartender served her perfectly. She guzzled it, only to cough. What the-? It tasted like soap. Where was the alcohol?

“First time having synthohol?” Vahur chuckled. “You get used to it. Names Vahur.” He greeted her. He sat down on the stool next to her. He wore a pair of kaki cargo shorts paired with a dark blue Hawaiian shirt decorated with snow flakes.

Korozysh wrinkled her nose. "Ugh, you people drink this stuff all the time?" She put her glass back on the table and rested her hand on top of it. "I knew Starfleet didn't get any alcohol, but I thought there'd at least be some at a party. C'mon, what's a party without some beer?" She huffed, scratching behind her ear. She turned to greet the Andorian. "I'm gonna be performing tonight. That little stage next to the bar," she pointed excitedly. "Lead singer of Red Angel. I'm Korozysh. That means 'intestine ripper'."

“Standard procedure for any Star fleet sanctioned even. Can’t have anyone who might need be on duty later drunk. Don’t worry, I hear there’s some shops in the promenade that have the real stuff.” Not that he had checked him self. He trusted Erna but it was safer to just to have any alcohol lying around there quarters. “Performance? Fun! Also that name is sick. I am assuming you’re a rock band or something similar?” He asked trying to break the ice.

She grinned, nodding. Her tangled nest of hair swayed with her as she craned her head back. "Hell yeah. Best metal in the quad. We're going on stage later, for the hardcores who're stayin late."

“I see. Too bad I’ll probably miss out. I will have to be home in time to put my niece to bed. I will definitely have to check out a recording later.” Vahur stated. He ordered himself a fruit punch from the holo-bartender.

"Oh, well we have a holo-channel if you wanna check it out!" She perked up. "Yeah, Red Angel." She swirled around her drink. The kind she usually drank happened to be a type of bloodwine that was, in fact, lacking in any blood. At all. 90% sugar and alcohol. She asked for another, hoping the taste would soon grow on her.

“Will do! My niece will be excited. She is going through a rock idol phase. I’m thinking of replicating her a kids sized guitar. I’m worried I won’t get any quiet time.” He laughed, imagining Erna in a punk rock outfit with a mini electric guitar.

Korozysh stretched, taking another sip of her drink. "Guess I'll hafta get used to this for the rest of the night... hm. Be sure to show up, both of ya. Well, I'm going for a dip, I better see y'all tonight!"

Jilla had placed her hat on the bar and sat down with a hum, ordering a glass of water and pulling a set of coins out of a satchel. She began lightly playing with them with a hum as she sat there. These were the first coins she had ever owned, and as such had become treasured heirlooms, so she enjoyed playing with them.

Vahur waved off Korozysh. He continued his drink before noticing the new comer. “Hello.” He greeted with a nod of his antennas.

Dezyim placed his PADD down on the bar as he approached, not bothering to grab a seat. He opened his mouth with the intent to order, but when he noticed a familiar orion with purple hair what he instead blurted out was, “Jilla?” He’d known she could leave the Triple 7s of course. He just… hadn’t ever seen her outside of that context. It surprised him, frankly. He picked his PADD up once more and moved around the small building to slide into a seat next to her, realizing he could no longer just grab a drink and move on. (edited)

She gave a polite nod to the tactical lieutenant before turning to the voice that called her name, letting out a small happy gasp. “Dezyim! My favourite little customer, how have you been sweetheart? Feeling better since last time?” She asked warmly, Dezyim was honestly somebody she quite liked which was rare among her customers. She even told her workers to give him a fair deal on his gambles (fair being just 5% less weighted in favour of the house, she still wanted to earn money). “I must say, I didn’t expect to see you out here hon, didn’t feel like your type of scene.”

“Yes, much better, thank you.” He leaned an elbow on the bar and regarded her with amusement. “Not my scene? And what would you say is my scene?” It was true that he rarely made a concerted effort to visit any of the various environments simulations available on the station, but he didn’t avoid them either. He could enjoy the beach as much as anyone else!

She smirked softly as a water came towards her, and she swiftly took a sip. “Oh I don’t know. My lovely house of sin for instance.” She said with a grin. “I also considered you perhaps spending a fair amount of time at work rather then enjoying this type of event, but I’m glad you’ve come. If you don’t mind me saying, you were a bit of a mess the last time we spoke, so I’m happy you are feeling better.” Jilla always spoke in teasing tones and with the heart of a born businesswoman, yet she meant that genuinely. She considered Dez a friend, hence why she only screwed him over at the slots a little bit rather than a lot like the rest of the station.

He laughed and matched her tone. “Me? Spending all my time working? You must be thinking of someone else.” He glanced away and waved down one of the bartenders, asking them to surprise him with a drink. He turned his attention back to Jilla and her coins. “So… do you make a habit of bringing coins with you to the beach or are those for something in particular?”

Jilla hummed as she flipped each coin into the air and caught them in between her fingers with perfect grace and skill. “Oh these? The first set of coins I ever earned on the streets as a girl.” She said with a smile. “I scammed an older couple on vacation to Risa so I could buy a gift for my parents while they were working.” She said with a smile. “They never knew where I got the broaches I got for them, they were so busy meeting John’s and Jane’s at night that they couldn’t know I scammed it off people.” Jilla sighed. “The next week, they died in a shuttle crash. They were so busy that it was the last time I spoke with them.” Jilla said with a small breath. “I don’t keep them out of pure sentimentality, I simply haven’t found a proper deal for them yet.”

Dezyim had been following the coins with his eyes as they glinted in the bright light. When she explained their significance though, he averted his gaze and softly replied, “oh.” It certainly looked like sentimentality to him, but if she said it wasn’t then it wasn’t. It took him a moment more to come up with something appropriate to say. “And what would be the proper deal?”

Vahur quietly finished his drink. Sighing to himself he got up. It was probably about time to go home soon. Maybe a quick stroll around to take in the view before calling it a night.

Jilla hummed as she looked at Dez. “The proper deal? Hmm.” She said with a little smile on her face. “If you must know, something meaningful.” She said with a grin. “It can’t just be a good bet, or a simple transaction. Ideally it has to be something I can retire on or just, something that makes me happy. My life has been a life of sin, scams, and lust for coin and copper. My kindness extends to giving the strange Vorta who comes to my den 5% better odds then the rest of the station.” She said with a small smile. “I want these coins to be used for something better then I was, like the two Orions who toiled in the beds of rich tourists so their daughter could live happy.” She said with a laugh. “Sorry, for getting poetic. My staff quite hates it.” (edited)

“Huh. Well, I can see the appeal of that.” He caught his mystery drink as the bartender slid it across the bar and took a small sip. “Not at all. I realize I don’t know anything about you. It’s… nice to hear more.” He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, suddenly acutely aware of how venerable that sounded. He cleared his throat and quickly changed the subject. “I wouldn’t happen to know this strange vorta, would I? Surely you’re not admitting to give people you like an unfair advantage.” He shot her a roguish smile. Truthfully, he hadn’t realized he had made such a big impression. (edited)

Jilla smiled softly as she looked towards the Vorta with a roll of the shoulders. “Oh yes I’m certain. It’s whatever new version of that Weyoun fellow they have now.” Jilla said with a hum, a small laugh. “And darling, 5% isn’t an unfair advantage. I run a casino, the numbers are always weighted in my favor. You do the math on what I’m implying.”