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

[splendid_roman]

"No, I suppose not." He still peered at it, wondering if it was real. "But it's not the taste you drink beer for, but the effect. If the effect is different, then what's the point?"

[she_listens]

"Things are a little different aboard the Enterprise. We don't have too many portholes you can stick your head out of if you need to be sick."

Again, calm amusement radiates from her features.

"Synthohol won't make you sick or debilitated, and you won't form any addictions, but the enjoyment stays the same. Tell me, are you a scotch man?"

[splendid_roman]

"I wouldn't say no to a good scotch." He was still looking at his beer considering the effects, or lack of, of this synthohol. "So you can drink as much as you like without being sick and without getting a hangover?" These days he didn't tend to drink that much, but something like that would have been really useful when he was a student.

[she_listens]

She holds up a finger, excusing herself momentarily. She returns with two empty glasses, and two unmarked bottles.

"That's right. And you have zero chance of forming an addiction."

It has its benefits. Guinan still likes the good stuff, but when you've been around as long as she has you're allowed a few vices.

She pours a splash from one bottle into a glass, and does the same with the other bottle and glass.

"Here, taste these. Tell me which one is synthehol, and which one is real scotch."

[splendid_roman]

They looked the same - he hoped she remembered which was which. He had a sip of one, which tasted just like scotch, and then the other. Which also tasted like scotch. "If one of them really is synthehol then it's very good."

He tried another sip of each before pointing to the one on the right. "I think that one's not quite as good as the other." Probably. But he had a 50/50 chance of choosing the right one.

[she_listens]

She smiles brightly, pleased.

"You have a discerning palate. That's right."

Some will swear up and down that the differences are unmistakable, but the reality for many will come down to a 50/50 chance like Ian's.

"Sometimes, just the taste and smell of a good drink can have a placebo effect. It relaxes us, much the same as the real thing."

She leans in conspiratorially.

"But the real thing is always just a little better."

[splendid_roman]

He smiled, glad he was right, and had another sip of the real drink. "I suppose so," he agreed. "And there's something about sitting in a pub with your friends. You don't necessarily need the drink to relax you."

[she_listens]

"That's true."

She didn't see him come in with anyone, but the nice thing about Ten Forward is it isn't hard to make friends.

"I'm guessing you're used to travelling."

She takes up a rag and starts cleaning the bar top, but her attention stays with him.

[splendid_roman]

"I am. I've been living a life of leisure, seeing the world with some friends." Even on a spaceship he wasn't too sure about telling someone that actually he travelled the universe.

He sipped at the scotch and chuckled. "I've been in plenty of pubs, but never done the stereotypical thing of chatting to the bartender."