Pub Crawl

Posted on Fri May 22nd, 2020 @ 2:43pm by Lieutenant JG Matthew Plumeri & Ensign Aria Davis

2,027 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Episode 106 – Stalemate
Location: Starbase 23
Timeline: MD04 - 1900

[ON:]

STARBASE 23 - UPPER MARKET LEVEL

LTJG. Matthew Plumeri was off shift and thirsty. It was time for a pint or two of delicious beer. It was time for an Olde Timey pub crawl. It was also a good way to see the local people and meet and make new friends. Matthew was good at that. Consulting the station directory, he located the upper market level on SB23. There were a dozen bars and drinkability establishments on the upper level. He went there and exited the turbo lift.

The upper level's ceiling was made of transparent aluminum and it was such a great view. The stars and the ships going in and out of spacedock. Above them was the command and admin sections but they didn't detract at all from the spectacle. Matt walked along the wide, spacious and open atrium area and got a feel for the bars. He saw one that looked interesting to him. It had a jungle theme to it. Lots of trees and vines, torches and the sounds of drumming and music coming from inside. He decided this was the first stop. He stopped and looked at the sign, "QUOZIEL's"

Holding her empty shot glass up in triumph, accepting the applause of her colleagues, Aria Davis watched as another row of shots was lined up. These were not in traditional glasses, instead in old fashioned test tubes and each one with a liquid of different colours. Hands reached out to take one each and with a chorus of cheers, each tube was drained within an instant.

“Can we have some food for the VIP area?” Aria called out to the bartender, ignoring the protests from some of the cadets as she gestured to the far corner of the room where more of their colleagues were enjoying the music and drinks. She waved away the protests, “trust me...”

With the next round of drinks balanced precariously on a tray she turned, almost bumping into someone coming the other way. “I am so sorry! Are you okay? I didn’t spill anything on you did I? If I did I am so sorry!”

Matthew smiled and said, "Nah, nah...no worries. Need some help with that?" he asked the pretty lady who was having a ball. He said, "It was a narrow miss. It wouldn't be the first time I was doused with booze though." He laughed warmly.

“Oh thank goodness!” Aria said with a sigh of relief when he said she had avoided that embarrassment. “Oh, it’s okay, I got it.”

"You all are having a good time! Haven't seen anyone drink from a test tube in a while." The bar was noisy with the music and the energy but Matt has a strong voice and this was not the first time in a bar. "What's that? Looks good?" he said indicating to one of the drinks on the tray.

“A Vulcan sunrise,” Aria confided, “it may be the end of me. Why don’t you join us? It’s just me and some of the medical staff from 400. We thought we’d catch up, you know? You are welcome to join us! I’m Aria by the way! And you are .... very tall! Guessing that isn’t your name though right?”

"I'm Matt Plumeri. Nice name Aria." He looked over at her group and said, "Yeah, OK. I wouldn't mind joining you for a drinky-poo! I'll join after I get me something OK?"

“Sure thing,” she smiled.

Plumeri went to the bar. It was all decked out in a jungle theme and the bartender was wearing a themed outfit too. "A frosty cold one please? And A Vulcan sunrise too?" When he had his drinks he made his way over to the table and sighting Aria said, "Room for one more?"

“Absolutely!” Aria assured him, sliding down so that the seat closest to him was free. “As you can see,” she confided as she gestured to a table loaded to the max with various alcoholic beverages, “we have a LOT of drinking to do! I’m Aria ... oh wait, I said that already, didn’t I? Matt, this is everybody!”

By everybody she indicated three tables and various small groups standing amongst them. “I know some names,” she whispered in his ear, “but most of ‘em? No idea! So! What you do? You were on 400 right? I’m sure I saw you.”

Matt greeted the group with a wave, "Thanks for letting me crash your party everybody!" he said. There were a lot of empty glasses and shots on the table.
There was an equal number of untouched glasses too. Matt was wearing a
red t-shirt with a band that he liked on the back. He was wearing comfy pants and shoes. Taking a drink from his beer mug. He leaned in to hear what she said, "Thanks. There are so many new faces for me to learn." He clinked mug and shot glass to hers and answering her question said, "I'm a transfer. A week ago now I think? Science department. I can do Astrophysics, Stellar Cartography and I do History. I'm now a part of the Starbase 400 crew. I'm sure I've seen you around too Aria. So, you're in Medical? These are nurses?"

“We have nurses, techs, medical students, doctors,” Aria rhymed off, “I’m a Doctor. Shocking right?”

He took another look at her and said, "Not at all. I think that anybody that can down as much alcohol as this...they'd better know a doctor." He clinked his mug to her glass, "Or...better yet, be one." He finished the beer off and let a beat pass. "OK, I am a little bit surprised. 1% surprised. Usually doctors are telling you not to do...whatever it is you're doing that's so fun. But you? Hell's yeah. I'd rather be treated by a doctor that knows what it's like to get falling down drunk. That's what we're doing here right?"

“Here here!” She agreed, raising her glass. “And seriously, this happens a lot, it’s pretty much our essential relaxation technique!”

"Right on, I'm loving it already. Hey? Where's your Vulcan sunrise? 'cause I got one too. A toast? To new friends and drinking buddies?" he raised his Vulcan sunrise to Aria.

“To drinking buddies and new friends,” she agreed as she raised her glass. “May the hangover angels protect us...”

Clinking glasses, Matt took a drink of the Vulcan sunrise. It was like drinking hot sauce. The inside of his mouth felt like it was going to start peeling. His tongue went numb, ~OH SHIT!~ he thought. He swallowed the mouthful and it felt like he had just swallowed anti-matter. All the way down his esophagus it felt like the kiquid had turned to razor blades. Like he had swallowed broken glass shards that were shredding his throat on the way down to his stomach. ~OH MY GAWD!~ he thought to himself. When the drink entered his stomach and hit his stomach acid a reaction occurred. It was as if he had swallowed carbonated candy "pop rocks" and the CO2 gas built up explosively in his gut. He couldn't feel his guts any more. He was sure that the chemical in his body was going to eat right through his digestive tract and the last thing he would see was lying on his back staring up at the ceiling as someone called for a medical emergency. Then, he let out a belch and a green gas, glowing green gas, escaped his mouth. "Oh daayym! Oh, shit, I'm sorry! Excuse me, WTF?!"

Aria exploded into a fit of giggles. "First time, huh? The trick is, drink fast and hold your breath at the same time," she counselled him as she set her own empty glass down. "One of these will help," she promised, reaching across the table and snagging one of the shot glasses. "Risan Sunset."

If Aria had offered him battery acid he would have drank it. In a single gulp, he downed the Risan Sunset, a drink he knew. He smiled and when he could, he laughed. "You...you I gots to watch out for. I guess I'm the lightweight here huh?" He smiled and laughed and pushed the Vulcan Sunrise faaaaar away. His head felt fuzzy and he had a awesome buzz going. He was dressed in play clothes so some comfortable pants and a red and yellow t-shirt. He felt hot and he pulled at the t-shirt to fan himself a little. The laughter at the table and the mild jabs sent his way made him grin. He looked over at Aria and asked, "So, what kind of doctor are you? Like a medical doctor? Like....it hurts here when I do this kind of Doctor?"

“Exactly like that!” She exclaimed. “You haven’t have you? Hurt your arm?”

He flexed his right arm, "Nope. My guns are good." he laughed. "Sickbay always gives me the creeps you know? IDK, I just don't like going there. Nothing personal you know. Just...hey I don't like having to go to combat training or doing inventory either. Somehow, everytime I go to sickbay they always find out that I need another hypo." He looked over at her and she looked as bright and happy as a clam. "Hey? You want to take this party on the road? Ever done a pub crawl? It's a Human thing I think?"

“It is. And it sounds fun,” she nodded, downing another shot. “Though you have a lot of catching up to do. We’ve been here an hour...”

Aria was definotely going to be fun to hang around with. She also seemed to be to handle 'the creature' (alcohol) with ease. Matt grinned and reached for another shot to follow hers, "Bottom's up!" and down it went.

“Okay, everyone grab a shot, drink it and then we can go on to the next stop!” She raised a shot glass and grinned, “to the great pub crawl adventure!”

It was an easy group to fall in with. People who were perfect strangers an hour ago, were now drinking friends. Matt was grateful for the companionship. Being still new, he wasn't even sure if he would "fit". He followed along with the group and tried his best to stay near Aria. She was a popular person and Plumeri was sure that she had lots of friends. Matt got to talking about another love of his, besides Parresis Squares, repulsorlift bikes. Like motorcycle racing. As they walked into another pub, he had to speak louder over the din. The drinks and shots were ordered up and Matthew found himself at a different table but still in earshot of Aria. His buzz was going well and he felt relaxed and happy. The Vulcan Sunrise must have peaked and as long as it didn't disintegrate his kidney's he'd live to tell the tale. A tray of blue ale was delivered and Matt helped himself. He grabbed a shot and offered it to Aria, "Thanks for...." he laughed and blushed. "Here" he handed her the shot glass, "It's.....blue. It's blue!" he said.

Aria grinned, taking the drink before handing him one back. “And this one, my friend, is green!”

He took the green one, looked at it and was too buzzed to worry about it. He was too happy to worry. He said, "No, no...we gotta drink it like this!" he said as he inter-twined their drinking arms. So that they were both drinking at the same time with arms crossed. "Down the hatch!" he said as he slung the drinl back. He laughed as it went down. He wondered if that was warp plasma he just drank? Then they started talking about Sports and that's the last he remembered. What seemed to be an endless row of shots and staggering from one bar - or first-aid station - to the next. Compared to Aria Davis? Matt was a lightweight.


[OFF:]

Ensign Aria Davis (PNPC)
Medical Officer
Signed off by Plumeri

&

LTJG. Matthew Plumeri
Science Officer/Historian
USS Endeavor
NCC-72802

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