Just a girl. In a bar.
Posted on Wed Aug 28th, 2019 @ 7:17pm by Lieutenant Commander Carolyn Corrigan MD & Lieutenant Commander Ariana Monroe-Wayne
1,782 words; about a 9 minute read
Mission:
Episode 99 - Exordium / Epilogue
Location: Promenade
Timeline: MD1 2330 hrs
"Another round and two extra shots," Having to practically shout to be heard over the music, Carolyn Corrigan surveyed the room as she waited at the bar for her drinks to arrive. Approaching midnight, it was now busier than ever.
Behind her, a short flight of stairs led to the lower level where booths circled a crowded dancefloor. Which was where most of the nurses could be found, pretty much dancing by themselves. Nobody was apparently brave enough - or drunk enough - to try and approach them and none of them cared about that one bit.
It had been a far better night than she had expected it to be. Better than being home alone.
A tray of drinks arrived and she added it to her bill, quickly downing two of the shots and setting the empty glasses down on the bar. "Sorry!" she called out as one of the empty glasses tipped over, rolling off the other side of the bar and smashing over the floor. Before anyone could complain she turned, tray in hand as she headed for the stairs.
Andy walked through the crowd looking for a nice girl he could have a little fun with for the evening. He had to plan how he was going to get to Freya and her friend Ariana too but he had time to think about that. Right now he was out for some fun with whoever he could find that would please him.
"Coming through," Carolyn warned the stranger who had moved into her path, barely squeezing through the gap between him and the stairs which lead down to the booth they had reserved. Biting her lip, she was concentrating on ensuring the drinks survived the perilous trip.
"Hey whoa there!" Andy smiled. "Perhaps I can give you a hand there!"
She turned to face the voice, the combination of heels and too many shots making her start to lose her balance. On reflection, putting any blame on her choice of footwear was very unfair.
Andy quickly weighed up the situation, she was about to topple and he swiftly discerned which way she was about to fall. He swiftly moved to catch whilst barely spilling a drop of her drinks. “Been partying long have we?” He grinned as he helped her back to her feet.
“A while,” she told him with a grin, kicking off her shoes so she could be a bit more steady with her now bare feet. “Thanks for the help. They'd never have forgiven me. Do you maybe want to join us and grab a drink? It only seems only fair...”
“Sure why not!” He smiled, it seemed he had himself a woman who was just raring for a fun, forget it all night and he was good at entertaining girls. He could have plenty of fun if he helped her get drunk enough and she wouldn’t remember a thing in the morning!
Leaving the shoes behind she led him towards the currently empty booth, save for an assortment of bags and glasses, most of which were empty. “What’s your poison?” she asked him as she set down the tray carefully, picking up her own cocktail.
"Anything alcoholic!" Andy grinned. "I'm not fussy. So what brings you here, you a regular or just looking for a good time?"
"Then the choice is yours... it's kind of a welcome back party. I got back this morning and the nurses were planning to go out anyway so..." Carolyn told him, her voice trailing off as she emptied half of her glass in one shot.
"Ohh I see!" He nodded. "So are you just trying to get away from it all? Let your hair down for a while?" He looked her over. "Maybe you'd like to make a full night of it tonight?
"Confident, huh?" Carolyn grinned, tilting her head back and finishing the cocktail as if it were just water before she sat the empty glass down on the table. She was about to say something else when a young woman came up, whispering in her ear.
“Someone just take her to get something to eat and get her home,” Carolyn told the woman before she turned her attention back to him, a bright smile lighting up her face as she recognised the song that had started to play.
"I love this song!" she told him, holding out her hand. “Do you want to dance?”
"I never say no to a dancing with a gorgeous woman" he smiled a sweet smile but his mind was firmly on getting this girl home for some serious rough fun. Guiding her to the dance floor he grinned as he danced alongside her. "Would you think me too forward if I invited you back to my place?"
“Confidence really isn’t one of your issues is it?” She grinned. “Tell you what, if you are a good dancer and you buy the next round, then maybe you could convince me.”
"Now there's an offer I can't refuse!" He grinned as he showed off his dancing moves before buying her a very stiff drink. The more alcohol the better, it made girls nice and willing to his ways.
Taking the drink she slid into the booth, everyone else either gone already or still dancing. “Thanks,” she said as she took the glass he handed over to her. After a first tentative sip to decide if she liked it, she took a longer drink. It was strong but sweet. Besides, the time for her to stop drinking had been many, many shots ago. If she was to have an epic hangover tomorrow, she wanted it to at least be worth it.
Andy smiled as he sipped down his own drink planning how the night would go. He'd see her home, have some fun in bed with her for a while and be gone before she awoke in the morning. It was going swimmingly so far.
“Carolyn you have to come and help Katie, she’s done something to her ankle,” a young blonde said as she appeared at the booth. She looked surprised to find someone had joined them but said nothing about it. Offering a small smile, she turned her attention to Carolyn. "She slipped in those stupid shoes. She's asking for you...”
Andy shrugged his shoulders. "Just hurry back gorgeous!" He smiled secretly hoping the alcohol would take effect soon so he could 'escort' her back to her room.
Crossing the bar, letting Jenni pull her towards the seat someone had helped Katie onto, Carolyn frowned as she took one look at the offending ankle. Which was easier said than done as she blinked a few times, trying to make the world seem a little steadier. “You need to go to sickbay...”
“Can’t you fix it? I don't wanna go in to sickbay like this. You may not know yet, but they are evaluating everyone, I'd be gone for sure,” Katie pleaded, the words mostly an incoherant jumble.
“You need a doctor who can only see one of you,” Carolyn said as she looked at the woman's already swollen ankle. “If you go now, maybe Dr Miller is still on shift. She wont tell a soul.”
“I’ll help you get there,” Jenni promised her friend, helping her to stand.
Carolyn watched them go, debating if she should have gone too. But being drunk in sickbay was not a good plan. For one thing, Hades would murder her. And two, she was not entirely sure her legs would make it that far.
"I am no expert on female fashion but I think you are meant to wear these?" Liam O'Connor commented as he came down the stairs, scooping up her shoes from the floor as he headed in her direction. "Or do you hate shoes?"
"He speaks!" Carolyn declared, grinning as she folded her arms across her chest. "And no, I don't hate shoes. But they were endangering the drinks."
"Spoken like a true Irish girl."
"That'd be me."
"Who's your friend?" he asked casually, nodding towards the booth where a man sat staring at them, glaring in fact. Liam studiously ignored him.
"Didn't ask," she admitted, holding out her hand, "can I have my shoes back?"
Andy stood and made his way across to Carolyn. "Problem?" He looked at Liam then back at Carolyn.
"No problem at all," Liam assured him with a smile that definately did not reach his eyes. "You are?"
"Andrew" he nodded and slid his arm around Carolyn's waist. "I was just enjoying a pleasant drink with the lady here."
Liam's eyes narrowed ever so slightly, looking at the arm coiled around Carolyn's waist. "You know, maybe I should walk you home and get you some strong coffee."
"No need" Andy smiled. "I'll do just that, I'll make sure she gets home just fine."
"I don't believe I was talking to you," Liam said flatly, every bone in his body telling him this guy was off. At his side, his right hand balled into a fist. "And if she could even walk straight I'd be back at the bar, minding my own business."
"Oh come now friend!" Andy grinned. "No need to get sore! Just cause you're bring beaten to the pretty lady here!" He grinned looking at Carolyn. "Come on let's get you home!"
"And the drink you all but poured down her throat didn't influence it at all?" Liam all but shouted as they began moving away. He reached out to grab her arm, "wait -"
Andy was quick to anger as he released Carolyn's waist and turned to face off at Liam. "The lady is coming home with me!! You got a problem with that then let's settle it!!"
Liam smirked a little, standing his ground, "ah... there you are ... why don’t you look inside my head, friend and see all the ways I know to teach you some respect."
Andy smiled. He had plenty of time, he had his ways of getting what he wanted. Carolyn could wait. "I don't want any trouble." He raised his hands. "She's all yours, I'm sure you'll have fun!"
Liam glared at him and didn't need to be a mind reader to know how close he was to punching the guy square in the face. He turned to check on Carolyn but she was absolutely nowhere in sight. Glaring at her new 'friend' he turned on his heels, guessing she had probably headed for the exit and shoes be damned.
Andy took his chance and headed out of the club himself. He had time, he'd done this enough times before.
OFF