To Be Or Not To Be

Posted on Wed 27th Jun, 2012 @ 5:36am by Commander Brian Windsong & Senior Chief Petty Officer Fihnrilk'Hob"ledn-ardol (Fin)

1,579 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: http://sb109.sim-station.net/index.php/sim/missions/id/2
Location: Orchids
Timeline: Current, 0200

Brian wasn't in the best of moods. First he was upset by Ashton's actions. Not so much his being turned down, after all it had only been a dinner invitation, it hadn't even been the way he did it per se, though the abrupt dismissal had smarted some. It was his holding on to his anger and pain. That didn't just make him upset. It scared him.

In addition to that he was pretty sure that Jade thought he was incapable of handling the piano gig, but he loved a challenge and wanted to prove her wrong. Wicker was curled near the piano bench in a tight ball.

He began playing Night And Day. He could sense the presence of others, how many others he didn't know. but a crowd only brought out the best in him.

It was the third 'bar' Fin had entered while checking out the promenade. As she stepped through the door, however, she was pleasantly surprised by the ambiance of the place. It was clean and had atmosphere. Now if the drinks were tasty, she would have a new haunt. Fin walked up to the bar and ordered a double vodka on the rocks with a peach schnapps on the side.

Jenna looked up from cleaning and restocking bottles which contained no more than a quarter of their full content. "I'm sorry, we aren't open, Chief. Our hours are noon to 0200 and 0600-0830 for breakfast only. I hope you'll return during those hours." She eyed the petty officer, trying to determine exactly what kind of humanoid she was. If she was the correct term. Jenna had never seen this species before.

"Damn. I've been searching out the bars on the promenade in order to find one I'll be comfortable in. This one looks promising, but only if your liquor is tasty." Fin looked around at the few workers still present and in the process of cleaning up. "I just barely squeaked in the doors before they were locked for the evening." In her perusal of the place, she spotted the piano player and beneath the piano, an animal...a dog? Fin was curious about the beast. "Do you serve dogs here?" The question was a serious one.

"No, we don't serve dogs. However, the one you see is a service bar. See the woman sitting at that table down front, listening to the audition?" Jenna pointed out the Orchids & Jazz owner. "That's Jade Lantz. She owns this jazz club. If you value your skin, don't let her here you call this place a bar. It isn't a bar. It's a jazz club and restaurant. She's likely to ban you if you persist in calling it a bar. And see that big Klingon by the door?"

The server nodded her head toward the fierce-looking humanoid watching the final cleaning taking place. "If Jade says you don't come in, he's the one who'll carry out her orders. Now I have to get back to work. It's been a long day. Try us again tomorrow for lunch or dinner." Jenna smiled and went back to cleaning the cut-class decanters in front of the mirrored wall behind her.

After finishing Night And Day, Brian began playing an Andorian Blues number. Unlike Night And Day, it really wasn't designed to be a piano solo, but it was a bold move. He hoped Jade and the audience would enjoy and appreciate it.

It was Jade's habit to listen carefully at auditions. She wanted a specific sound for the club, variety within narrow parameters. That's why she had a 3-piece combo, a 6-piece combo, a torch singer and a piano player, all at assigned hours each day. Denny, her current pianist, was at the end of his contract, and moving on to another gig. Jade wanted a replacement, but it had to be the right person, and someone who could commit to the late hours, 2400-0200, every day.

As she listened to Windsong playing, she noted that he had good technical skills. He also seemed to play with feeling, two points in his favor. The Andorian piece was an unusual one, and not something that fit into the parameters she'd set for Orchids & Jazz. Nevertheless, it showed his versatility, and demonstrated his range of skills. She leaned back and listened, wondering how large his jazz repertoire was. Of course, he could learn, if necessary.

The next song that he played was Song For My Father. It would have been richer with a band playing with him perhaps, nonetheless he played it was one of his favorites and he played it with passion. Dedicating it not to his father, but to Morgan, the man who he had planned to marry until he had been murdered.

Jade glanced at Jenna, having a quiet conversation with someone who'd come in too late for service. She seemed to have things under control, so the club owner relaxed, closed her eyes, and listened to the music. When the third song ended, she stood and walked over to lean on the piano. "You're quite good, Commander, but what about your duties here on the station? Can you devote two hours a night to playing in my restaurant?"

He looked up, slightly startled he hadn't heard her approach, "Unless I am called away on an emergency I should have no problems with that. I live alone, well just me and my dog. And I'm a bit of a night owl."

Making fast decisions was a daily occurrence at Orchids & Jazz, so Jade nodded. "Then you have yourself a job, starting a week from Monday. Denny . . . that's Deny Moran, my current pianist . . . moves on to his next job then. I don't suppose you have an agent?"

"No I don't," he replied. "I am sure we can come up with something that is fair and equitable."

While he waited for her to reply, he took hold of Wicker's harness and headed towards where he knew the bar was. He was thirsty after all his playing and besides he thought landing this gig was a cause for celebration.

When he got there, he noticed a presence he had not sensed before. It was a most unusual one. "Hello," he said, "Brian Windsong. How are you?"

Since Fin was the only 'customer', and because he was looking in her direction, she answered. "I am well, thank you. You can call me Fin." She noted that his eyes didn't focus on her or on anything really. However, he was paying attention and listening very intently.

"That is a dog, isn't it? I have seen holopics of them before."

"Yes, she is a dog. Yellow Lab as a matter of fact," he said with a smile, "Wicker is a guide dog. I'm blind. She is my eyes."

Fin squatted to get a better look at the animal. "She looks intelligent and very healthy." She held her palm open so the dog could smell her hand. "How long have you had her?"

Wicker cocked her head to one side and sat on her haunches as Fin approached her. She didn't back away nor was she aggressive. When Fin placed her palm face up near her nose she sniffed the nose, then licked the hand and wagged her tail.

Fin smiled at the dog's behavior.

"I have had her for about three years now. And thank you for the compliment. She is healthy and I like to think she's pretty bright. She can be pretty protective and doesn't like it when I try to get around on my own.

What are you drinking? I know they're closed here, but I'm sure we could find someplace else if they need to kick us out."

Jade came up to the two with a standard contract in her hand. She gave it to Brian and said, "Look this over and get it back to me sometime this week. Standard Entertainer's contract and salary. Any tips are all yours."

She smiled at the woman talking with Brian. "Now I'm afraid we really are closed, and my people need to get home, so I am kicking you out. Have a great evening, just have it elsewhere." She bent over and scratched Wicker between the ears. "You, too, big guy. Keep your fella out of trouble, you hear?"

Brian nodded at Jade and turned to Fin, "That sounds like our cue to take off. We could go to my place if you want. I need some help with the contract. I need someone to read it out loud for me. I know I'm imposing on you, so I do have some wine, a White Merlot, the real thing, I would trade you."

Fin stood and looked at the man. "Why would you ask a total stranger into your private dwelling?" She would never do that unless she had an ulterior motive. However, since she'd just met the man a few minutes ago, she had no idea what he might be up to.

He smiled at her, "I'm just looking for someone to read the contract for me and have a drink with. Not really thinking much beyond that. I'm somewhat of a telepath and I know you're not dangerous. Or at least you're not a serial killer. I have a feeling to the wrong people, you can be very dangerous."

Jade watched the two walk out of Orchids & Jazz, a half-smile on her face. Humans made such an interesting study.

 

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