Merry Met and Merry Part
Episode Name: Merry Met and Merry Part Written By: Turtledove Cast: Caeli, Cerene, Churas, Dakin, Malloy, Starfleet and Turtledove. Produced By: Starfleet Directed By: Turtledove Aired On: Fri May 02 20:34:55 2003 Stardate: 53185.6
Time: Fri May 02 18:25:27 2003
Stardate: 53185.3
Turtledove sits quietly at a table near the back. She is alone, her hands loosely cradled around a generous mug of an ale-like substance. She seems to be contemplating the contents of her mug as she sits, and, presumably, waits.
Turtledove sits down at large round table.
Malloy heads to the bar, more or less directly, carrying a picture of Lieutenant JG Sulkat, a black ribbon over the top right corner in a silver coloured frame. Putting it on the bar, he then orders a pitcher of ale and a pint glass. Looks like he's got an agenda. Turning around finally, he sees Turtledove, then heads over to her table, putting pitcher and glass down. "Evening, Lieutenant. Mind if I join you?"
Outside the viewport, a freighter passes across the star-filled skies.
Cerene arrives from the mall, the entrance's double doors sliding silently closed behind her.
Cerene has arrived.
Dakin arrives from the mall, the entrance's double doors sliding silently closed behind him.
Dakin has arrived.
Turtledove greets Malloy with a curious smile. "I thought that was the point." Her expression is warm, her eyes reflecting a friendly and mellow sort of cheer at the good doctor. She glances at the pitcher. "Are you going to drink... all of that?"
The Zone's doors hiss open, parting to allow Cerene through, before they quietly close behind her. Slowly, the Betazoid woman makes her way across the bar.
. o O Turtledove feels mellow.
Dakin heads into the bar, looking around a bit. The slight glimmer of a frown crosses his face, before he heads over to the bar. He then notices the framed photo of Sulkat and nods deferentially to it. He then goes on to flag over a server, "Yeah, could you buy everyone a round of Bajoran springwine once the place fills up a bit? Put it on my account."
The din of the bar gets strangely quiet. Then someone laughs, and the silence is broken, returning the Zone to a counterpoint chorus of voices.
Malloy sits down, then stretches his legs out under the table. "That's the plan I guess. And maybe a bit more even. We'll see." With a slight shrug, he pours the first glass from the pitcher. "It's not like I'd have any plans for later tonight. And besides...when in Rome.."
Turtledove says, "True." She studies Malloy without moving. She grins faintly. "You'll have to excuse me if I follow your lead on this one, Craig. At least at first. This is my first traditional Irish wake."
Several Starfleet Ensigns make their way out, heading back on duty.
Cerene seats herself at an empty table and waves over a server, ordering something quietly before settling back in her chair and waiting. Soon after, the server returns with a mug of bloodwine. It is set before her, and she nods gently with a smile, thanking the server before leaning back in her chair again.
Dakin comes over to Malloy and Turtledove's table, flagon of springwine in hand. "'Evening."
Malloy lifts his glass, toasting Dakin, not quite cheerfully, nevertheless though with a smile. "Evening, Lieutenant. Care to join us?" With a smirk, he takes a sip from his glass, then idly comments "You know, Tera....I'm afraid I'm not that good a guide when it comes to this. I've never really attended one myself...but I figured from what I know of it, no matter how inaccurate it might be, it would be rather suitable. Especially considering his hatred of things like funerals. And it's even Klingon-compatible. Win-win. Just go by what you feel is right and you should do fine. When in doubt? Drink."
Turtledove looks up at Dakin, greeting him with a quietly cheery nod. After a brief pause, she follows Malloy's lead and lifts her mug. "Evening, Chief. Yes, please join us." She grins. To Malloy, she says, "I hadn't realized that Sulky hated funerals so much. I wonder why that was?"
A young ensign carefully sidesteps one of the bar's more drunken patrons.
Dakin seats himself and downs a good portion of his wine before answering. "Likely for the same reason I don't. The last thing a departed friend would ever want, in my opinion, is for all that knew him to gather together and cry. Gathering together and getting intoxicated to the point of coma's much more constructive."
Malloy mmmhmms. "One of the reasons. Besides...I think memorizing someone's life, sharing stories and maybe understanding the departed a bit better even in hindsight is better than grief over the loss for grief's sake alone. You know the two different views of the half full and half empty glass. The same with this. You can either mourn the loss...or appreciate the time you had. Mourning doesn't bring the person back...a wake like this? Keeps memories alive, broadens the picture you have of the person...and brings you together with people in a more talkative and remembering way than a funeral would and could."
A group of Orion traders start a drinking song amongst themselves.
Turtledove smiles, part self-concious, part amused. "I suppose. Meaningful reflection does seem more like Sulkat's style." She gets a wistful expression. "Every time I walk in here, I still half-expect him to be stationed at the bar, quietly contemplating the contents of his glass and occassionally shrugging off some amusing quip or other with that surprising sense of humor of his."
Dakin smiles a bit. "He was unique in that. He always had his own way of interacting with the universe."
Malloy chuckles softly. "Yes...especially when teaching close combat. My. He always was sorry for each and every single bruise he gave me. And he had a lot to be sorry for, that I can tell you."
Cerene listens to the stories in silence, taking large drinks from her mug from time to time.
The lights on the jukebox flash.
Turtledove lifts her mug to her table-mates, smiling fondly. Her eyes find Malloy and linger there, impishly. "I'm sure that he did, Malloy. And I'm sure that he was glad to teach you, too. He always seemed happiest when he felt that he was being useful." She sips.
Dakin smiles. "Any of you ever read any of his poetry?"
Turtledove gets another wispy smile. "Yeah." She looks at Dakin, regarding him warmly.
Caeli arrives from the mall, the entrance's double doors sliding silently closed behind him.
Caeli has arrived.
Malloy shakes his head slightly, taking another sip from his pint glass. "No, can't say I did I'm afraid. What did he usually write about?" Malloy, Turtledove and Dakin sit at a table together, talking while sipping on their respective drinks. On the counter of the bar is a picture of Lt. JG Sulkat in a silver frame, a black ribbon over the right top corner of it.
Cerene takes another long drink from her mug and sets it down on the table firmly, leaning back in her chair and listening to the stories being told.
Dakin shakes his head. "I never actually read any of it, but you could always find him writing a new one."
A Human freighter captain, bereft of a Dominion war to bemoan, stews in silence for a new crisis to complain about.
Caeli strides in quickly, and yet with a sort of guarded silence to his steps, spotting the gathering at the table and walking over. "Evening... sorry I'm late." A glance to the picture set on the bar, before a quizzical look is shot to those at the table. "May I join you? I'm not exactly sure how this is supposed to work." They don't have Irish wakes on Bolarus. Makes sense, when you think about it.
Turtledove's eyes shift to Caeli with a smile. Her mood seems to be mellow. "Sure, pull up a chair. You should grab a drink, though." To Dakin, she says, "He was so quiet about that stuff, his writing. Perhaps it will be something that his father can read and enjoy."
Malloy hmmms. "Depending on the nature of his poems, that might not be a good idea. I told him to start writing, as sort of a therapeutic measure. Some of that might have influenced his poem writing, making some of them maybe too personal. Sulky was a multi-layered person. I wonder if he ever presented the same personality to a second person."
A Tellarite makes his way past. The exit parts for him and he disappears into the mall.
Cerene slowly stands, picking up her mug as she does so, and begins slowly but purposefully making her way over to join the others.
Dakin smiles somberly. "Prophets guide, I hope so."
Caeli detours to the bar at Turtledove's suggestion, murmuring something in the flowing, lofty language he shares with Blutox and receiving his customary frothy blue delight in a cup. That taken care of, he seats himself beside his department head, listening for a bit before jumping in.
Turtledove lifts her glass, smiling at Malloy. "That he was, Doc. I think I was lucky enough to glimpse a few of those layers myself. If his poetry is too personal... perhaps it will help his father to... see his son in a different light."
The clink of glasses can be heard from a far corner.
Malloy clinks his glass against Turtledove's, then takes another sip from it. "Sulky was special alright. Although you needed hammer and chisel to get to the Sulkat behind the walls he errected. I swear, it was a work worthy of Sisyphus."
Cerene grabs the back of a chair with her free hand as she slowly strides over, and drags it along with her as she approaches the rest of the group. She raises her mug in greeting as she draws near.
Dakin looks over to the bar and waves over. "Hope no one minds, I bought everyone a round of springwine."
A Bajoran starts arguing about the Cardassian occupation with the man he is sitting near.
Caeli shakes his head, setting the whiskey down before him. "Never tried it, but I'm open to new things." He watches the springwine approach, kicking in his own contribution to the conversation. "I talked to Sulkat about his poetry once... from what I gathered, it was mostly about his mother and another girl back on Earth, who died in the Breen attack. He said he remembered them through what he wrote."
Turtledove's eyes remain on her drink. She sips. "He didn't restrict his subjects, I don't believe. Although... those poems in particular, may have the most significance to his father."
Malloy furrows his brow, then takes another thoughtful sip. "Could be, could be...well, I guess we will nver find out..."
Cerene sets the chair down near the group and seats herself in it, taking another long gulp of the bloodwine in her mug, not saying anything just yet.
Dakin looks over as the server sets down a glass of the crimson-colored Bajoran beverage for each person at the table, excluding Dakin, who shakes his head upon being asked if he wants a refill.
Milara serves drinks to a group of loud Klingons.
Caeli lifts the glass, sipping gingerly for lack of any knowledge of what to expect. Setting it down after a contemplative moment, he tosses out onto the table, "The one thing I don't think many people knew about Sulkat was just how good he was at getting people to tell him things."
Turtledove grins at the spring-wine. "Thanks, Chief." To Caeli, she notes, "A consequence of his open-mind and heart. No ulterior motives, there, I'd lay good odds on that."
An Andorian patron contemplates the stars in silence, then orders another drink.
Cerene finally speaks up. "I was on the mission with Sulkat. He fought bravely, and sacrificed himself so that we could escape with the information we needed to stop the coup to take over the Klingon Empire. He's also one of the reasons I was able to make it back here alive."
Turtledove lifts her glass of generously-provided spring wine, for one last toast. "Sulkat was a wonderful man and a priceless friend. In the interests of tradition, I offer this. Sulkat. Merry met and merry part... we drink to you. With all of our hearts." As she lifts her glass for a sip, she smiles at her table-mates, smiling in memory, in honour of the person being celebrated. "To Sulkat."
Cerene raises her own mug. "I just wish I would've had the chance to get to know him, as you all did. He sounds like a good man."
Caeli nods in agreement, "To Sulkat." before lifting his own glass for a sip. "Where some saw a monster, he looked closer, and saw what nobody else could." He refers, of course, to the incident with Dryden, though not all present might recall.
Churas arrives from the mall, the entrance's double doors sliding silently closed behind her.
Churas has arrived.
Dakin raises his glass in turn. "To Sulkat. A good officer. One of the..." It's then that Dakin's commbadge goes off. "Azzarello to Lt. Dakin." Frowning, the Bajoran taps the badge, responding, "Dakin here."
"Sir," the other voice says, "I'm sorry to disturb you, but we have a couple Yridians in the docking bay who refuse to declare their cargo." Dakin nods, "We'll see about that. On my way, Dakin out." He downs his glass. "Sorry to rush off, duty calls." He rises from his seat and heads out, pausing only to deliver a quiet prayer upon passing Sulkat's picture.
