TEST DRIVE #1 - Ten Forward

[tenforward_m]

You know how you were standing there, back in your home world, just minding your own business?

Time to forget all about that.

Instead of doing whatever the heck you were just doing, you're standing in the middle of this very stylish, sedate barroom. Happily, you're not alone there - in fact you're surrounded by people who seem to be as confused as you are...and some of them look a little, well unusual

Now would be a great time to do....well, something. Ask some questions of the person nearest you, throw a fit, stage a coup....maybe do a little exploring? No matter what you do, you're going to be here for a very long time.

For others might call it the USS Enterprise, but for the foreseeable future, you'll be calling it home.

[OOC: this test drive's open until the next app period.]

Comments

[ikissdhimbck]

The thing is, compared to the sun-dried cowpokes out in Texas, Sundance is practically cuddly. Sure, he's about as huggable as cacti, but Kate's used to reading silences and grunts in place of words. That's why Green Lake needed her touch, back during her schoolteacher days. Take the farmers and the ranch hands, try to civilize them a bit, teach them their letters, discuss poetry. She don't scare easy.

Never has.

"I'd reckon so."

She pauses, gears grinding away. She gives his gun a second look, then ponders the glint in his eyes.

"Maybe we should find them."

It doesn't fall off the tongue natural—we—but that's what they are for now. She don't know him and he don't know her, but they know Wyoming, and Texas, and that's better than anything this ship's got to offer so far. Besides, he looks like the resourceful type. Maybe even the type that'll come in handy in a shootout.

[whatyergoodat]

He runs his tongue along the outside of his teeth, under his cheek, and gives a short nod.

It's a little bit of a relief, her taking charge. Without Butch around, he always feels a little aimless, sort of wanders from place to place until there's a job, a plan, and it's probably better to stick together, even if he don't know her.

She's got a gun, and it seems she can keep a cool head, and both of those things are useful enough he doesn't particularly care if he knows who she is from Adam. He tips his chin in the general direction of that sleek bar, where people are milling, talking quiet and calm, sipping strange-colored drinks. Slants his eyes toward her, and waits for her to make her move.

[ikissdhimbck]

Lucky for him, she's accustomed to taking charge. Even if this ain't home, and even if this stranger ain't part of her gang. When you're just cresting five feet and as pretty as a summer day, you gotta show the boys you mean business by taking no gentle tack.

She nods, bolstered by his readiness, and looks toward the bar. She'll forget the expanse of stars behind her for now, pretend she ain't miles away from home, and treat this like any ol' saloon she walks into out in Texas. Shoulders back and chin high, knees as steady as they dare to be, she marches on up to the counter.

"'Scuse us! Who's in charge here?"

The woman behind the bar holds up one finger. She's busy engaging another patron at the other end, who looks about as startled as Sundance did when he winked in.

[whatyergoodat]

He likes her, which is probably a stupid thing to do, considering, but he likes the way she pushes her shoulders back and her chin up and strides up to that bartop like she's planning on robbing it. Clearly, she's someone to be reckoned with, and that's the kind of quality Sundance can really appreciate in an acquaintance, feminine or not.

She's got more bluster and brass than Butch, but it takes all kinds, he knows that, so he just sidles up next to her and leans on the bar, allowing himself to sink into the background, a bit.

Seems she's got the talking covered, and that's kind of a relief. All he'd be able to do right now is flash the six-shooter at his side, and he's got this itching, nagging sensation of a feeling that wouldn't be the brightest idea he's ever had.

She's so small he can look right over her head at the woman tending the bar, leveling an unblinking pale blue gaze at her, while she glances back a little more curiously each time, as she pours some sort of drink and says something Sundance can't hear.

He probably shouldn't set his gun on the bar top, either. Too bad.

[ikissdhimbck]

Kate's just the likable type. She's got a way with people, even the stubborn and reticent ones.

She glances up at Sundance, shrugging a shoulder. Her lips are pinched in annoyance, but she knows they ain't the only two people here. Folks need answers, and there ain't a whole lot of people doling them out.

Still, she wishes the woman would hurry up, and she can't help but feel a little thrill when she sees the flash of Sundance's iron.

"That won't be necessary," comes a voice.

[she_listens]

Guinan stops before the two roughnecks, smile serene. There's something else to it, too — fondness. It's been some time since she last saw 19th century Earth.

Her vestments are teal, loose and flowing, and she's wearing a headpiece to match. Dark braids rest over her shoulders as she folds her hands on the bar.

"How can I help you?" she asks, eyes darting between them.

[whatyergoodat]

Sundance pauses with his hand cradling the butt of his six-shooter, and casts a suspicious glance up at the woman in front of him. She's smiling, which he don't trust, and she's wearing some kind of floaty, shapeless combinations of fabrics that look about as stylish to his eye as a potato sack.

He ain't picky or nothing, but when it comes to ladies' fashions, he likes 'em trim, and stylish, and neat, and simple. And good plain colors.

He sucks on his teeth, weighing his options, then shrugs it all off again, wary gaze loosening to something almost like disinterest, as he glances back casually over the room behind them. "Information."

[she_listens]

She glances between them again, and inclines her head.

"You're on the USS Enterprise. It's a Galaxy-class starship, which appears to be stopped close to the Kavis Alpha sector, but I don't pretend any of that will mean a thing to you."

While she speaks, she lines up two empty glasses, and retrieves a bottle of whiskey.

"You're in space, on a starship with over one thousand other souls."

[whatyergoodat]

Nothing she's saying is making any kind of sense, so it's a good thing he recognizes the oaky scent of the whiskey and the amber color of the liquid.

"What's a starship?"

[she_listens]

"It's not all that different from the kind of ship you'd be used to."

She smiles, pushing the glasses closer to both cowboys. She'll start them off with one finger, and go from there.

"It only sails through space instead of water. There are cabins, recreational areas, an engine room, even places where you can shop."

She pauses, passing a kind look between them.

"Let me guess, your next question is, 'But how did I get here?' "