The Pip and a Half Club
Posted on Sat Mar 28th, 2026 @ 10:43pm by Lieutenant Commander Bonnie "Bon-Bon" Durnell & Lieutenant Leo Da'Cinci & Commander Savar cha'Salik hei-Surak Talek-sen-deen & Commander Dean House & Lieutenant JG Micheal Stevens & Lieutenant JG Jacob Rosen & Lieutenant JG Rowan Hale & Lieutenant JG Olivia Voight & Lieutenant JG T'Lar & Commander Jennifer Baldric & Lieutenant Sarah Wilson
1,826 words; about a 9 minute read
Mission:
Character Development
Location: Holodeck 5
Timeline: 2200 Hours Shiptime
The word was spread the old fashioned way - word of mouth. Scuttlebutt was that there was a club opening tonight - JG's and below. Inside the doors of Holodeck 5 deep down on deck 13, where the thrum of the Sunfire could be felt, was something meticulously curated. Thumbing the access panel would reveal the outside of a dark, wood paneled building and a black painted set of wooden doors, above which a flickering neon pink sign in exaggerated looping script.
The Pip And A Half Club
A holographic bouncer wearing a black leather jacket, shoulders fraying, and cyan colored sunglasses even under the darkness would take tonight's passphrase and permit entrance.
Tonight's passphrase: "I'm looking for a good book, do you have anything to read?"
As they opened the door, loud and aggressive music poured outside. The crashing of cymbals, the fast paced rhythms of guitars, keyboards, and singers harmonizing in a variety of Federation languages. The room, already packed with junior officers, had a low ceiling causing the band at the far end to slightly stoop during their performance. A dingy bar on the left served simple drinks at breakneck speeds. The press of dancing bodies created a heat and pulse to the gathered crowd. The people dancing moving their bodies in a way to not just express themselves, no this was dancing to release the pressure of stress and tension. To feel and exist just in this moment.
There was a shuffle in the change of acts on the small stage. A large group of 7 assorted Ops officers huddled together, barely with enough room for their instruments got settled. Jacob, clad in an off duty black and white flannel, stood towards the back, putting the mouthpiece on his trumpet between the drummer and the bass player. The 5' 2" on a good day Ensign Emilia Gonzalez pushed to the front, guitar slung around her neck, and grabbed the mic.
"Hey everybody, thanks for coming out. I'm Gonzo and we're Ska-perations!" She yelled with a smile, initiating the band to play their Ska cover of the classic 'Your Love' by The Outfield.
Lt Sarah Wilson was going to try an experiment. She couldn't recall the last time she had spent a night out - like outside of her quarters, with the thing called free time that until the new medical staff came aboard she didn't have any of. But now - things had changed. Yes - this experiment could be interesting. She dressed comfortably casual, old fashioned denim jeans, black boots, and a halter neck that accentuated her figure and highlighted her shoulders. Satisfied, she headed for the holodeck, cautious, but curious.
Dean had caught little rumors of this little club set up. Which, wasn't against any regulations. No one was going to be in trouble, but it had him curious. Would have been nice to have had something like that when he was a Lower Decker.
He did a little trading to get more information and the password. After everything that happened, some where to wind down and see them relaxing would be good. Dean put on a pair of black jeans, steel toed black boots and a silk maroon long sleeve dress shirt. Dean almost forgot the Indiana Jones style fedora he got while he and Bonnie were on Earth. His next stop, Jennifer's quarters. Pressing the chime.
Baldric opened the door in full uniform, coffee in hand and question in her eyes. "Going somewhere?" She asked as she raised an eyebrow and stepped aside for him to enter.
There was a kiss given real quick as he walked in and passed her. Turning around, "We are going some where for a date."
" Ooooo, do I get any more details other than 'a date'? Dress code?" Jennifer asked, inquisitively.
Dean did take the hat off while he was in there with her. "A secret club. Like, I assume there will be music and dancing, probably booze and bar food. Casual, play it sexy, both. I mean you make a uniform look hot, but not uniform."
"Sounds interesting" Jennifer admitted, disappearing towards her bedroom and peeling her uniform off as she went, folding it nearly on the edge of her bed before pulling on a pair of tight jeans, knee high leather boots, and a top that exposed her toned midriff. She pulled the pins out of her hair, letting it cascade down her back in messy waves.
"This do?" She asked, sauntering back into the living area.
He was playing with the hat when she came back into the living area. His eyes shifting back up to her. There was a pause and a certain...look seeing the outfit. "I would think so. We should probably go before we don't and I peel that off of you."
"Well aren't you in a mood tonight" She smirked, flicking her hair over her shoulder and slinging an arm through his "But first, dinner, or at least a drink, and maybe some dancing if I have enough liquour"
"What?" He pat her arm and put the fedora back on so they could head out of the quarters. "I can't want to do naughty things with my girlfriend?"
"You can want all you like, but dinner, drinks and dancing come with the date "she steered them out the door and down the corridor. It was going to be a good night.
If she hadn't already figured, they would need the Turbolift. Once they were in he called for Holodeck 5. "Yes, yes, actual date stuff."
T'Lar was self conscious as she made her way to the secret club. Unlike most people she was passing she was not dressed casually but instead was decked out in a gold lame' evening gown with a slit straight up to her hip and her hair done up like a 1940's torch song singer. She gave the pass phrase to the door man and stepped in as the band began to sing~
Josie's on a vacation far away
Come around and talk it over
So many things that I wanna say
You know I like my girls a little bit older
She made her way past curious onlookers towards the stage where Jacob Rosen was playing away on his trumpet. She smiled and gave a conspiratorial wink. This was not a case of a Vulcan misreading social cues, accidentally showing up over dressed. She was dressed that way for a reason, and she was nervous. She made her way to the bar and ordered a chocolate martini which calmed her nerves as she settled in to watch the rest of the set.
Rowan paused just outside the holodeck doors, the bass reverberating faintly through the deck plating beneath his feet. He hadn't intended to come. But Sickbay was quiet and his quarters were even quieter.
The passphrase had made its way to him in passing. He hadn't asked for it, but he hadn't dismissed it either. As the doors opened, sound spilled out in a wave - loud and unobstructed. Alive in a way that Sickbay never was.
Stepping inside, his gaze moved across the room - not aimless or searching, just assessing.
Movement. Coordination. Impairment. Stress release masquerading as recreation.
He stood near the edge of the room, observing. At one point a glass appeared in his hand. He hadn't ordered it and didn't drink it either. He simply stood there, watching as the crew shed the last remnants of the mission in movement and noise. For a moment, he considered stepping back out but dismissed the thought just as quickly.
"..oh no." a voice cut through the noise with surprising clarity. "Doctor Hale," one of his medics said, appearing at his side with a drink already in hand, "are you... lurking?"
"I am observing."
The female medic took a sip, unimpressed. "That is just lurking with better branding."
"This appears to be a controlled environment for stress release." He replied, his gaze shifting back to the room.
"Mmhm," she nodded, "And you're participating, how exactly? Vicariously?"
"I am present."
The medic's gaze followed his line of sight out toward the dance floor, then back to him. "You realise that doesn't count, right?"
Rowan didn't answer immediately. "It is sufficient."
"For who?" she shot back. "You don't have to like this," she continued, gesturing to the chaos of the room. "But you also don't get to stand here like a concerned parent at a school dance."
That earned her a look.
"I am not concerned."
"Wow. That might be the most concerning thing you've said." she said, nudging his glass toward him. "Drink."
"I didn't order this."
"I did."
"That is not reassuring."
"It's not poisoned," she deadpanned. "Relax. You are aware this is not a staff briefing." she laughed, looking at him, still in uniform.
"Yes. I wasn't intending to come."
"... and yet." She pushed herself back from the table. "I'm going to make some questionable choices on that dance floor." she motioned towards his glass, "Try not to analyse the entire room before you finish that." she said as she stepped away.
Rowan glanced down at his drink, pausing briefly before taking a measured sip.
The band shifted tempo and the energy in the room rose with it. A group of officers cheered somewhere near the front. From somewhere across the floor, Rowan thought he heard Sarah's laugh as it carried through the noise. He took another sip, catching himself tapping his fingers against the glass in time with the music.
Sarah Wilson had arrived a short time earlier, uttering the passcode and being granted access. She felt casual and comfortable, the music playing was catchy, filling the space with a nice vibe. Conversation bubbled over the top of the music, adding a friendly atmosphere. She looked around, finding several people she recognized before spying Rowan sitting alone with a mostly full glass. She swung by the bar and grabbed herself something called an 'Andorian Sunset' and went to join him.
"Hey" she said simply. Rank and position would be no longer valid in this place. "Mind if I join?"
Rowan's gaze settled on her, the noise of the room seeming to dull slightly at the edges. "Not at all," he said, shifting over just enough to make space beside him. "You appear to be adjusting to the environment more successfully than I am."
"Who said anything about adjusting? It's been so long between drinks, not even the proverbial ones, that I think I've forgotten how to relax" Sarah admitted, raising the glass that she's barely touched so far. "If I drink this I'll be on the floor"
He smiled lightly, shifting his eyes to the dance floor, watching a nearby group with mild scrutiny before returning to her. “Based on current observations, you wouldn't be alone.” He said, taking another sip of his own drink.
TBC
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