Light 'em up

[starcharter]

Characters: EVERYBODY
Date: sundown on November 29th to sunrise on November 30th
Location: A plaza in Earth
Situation: The population of Keeliai could use a little warmth. So Chekov set stuff on fire and invited everyone over.
Warnings/Rating: None, but please put something in your comment header if necessary.

On Wednesday, everyone received the following audio message (and text attachments in English and Russian) from (1) Pavel Chekov in their inboxes:

“Hello. I would like to invite you to a bonfire in Earth sector on Friday at sundown. Please feel free to bring friends.”


A plaza in Earth sector is buzzing with activity-- most of it from one young man. He spends the day lugging folding tables and pushing wheelbarrows of supplies into the plaza. As the day wears on, several entrepreneurial kedan set up stands. By sundown, the plaza is lit up with three large, roaring bonfires. Most of the ice and snow has melted away, leaving a few patches here and there in the furthest corners of the plaza. One patch a bit away from the fires is completely devoid of snow and ice-- it's a sort of dance floor or performance area. Some music is playing out of one of the upper windows of the buildings overlooking the plaza. It's varies from quick and frenzied to slow and soothing. Of course, anyone is welcome to claim the floor to perform a magic show or do a little singing of their own.

There's a hodgepodge of various folding tables set with the essentials: raw vegetables, the closest equivalent of marshmallows Chekov could find (next to the chocolate and graham cracker substitutes), and sausages. There are skewers and tongs lying around should anyone need them. He also brought a few jugs of water, which are refilled periodically. It's not much, but it's the best he could do with a limited budget and not a lot of time. The kedan have taken the opportunity to sell what Chekov couldn't bring-- hot beverages and food, blankets, scarves and gloves, and several other simple wares.

It's not a grand setup, but there are roaring bonfires, food, and good company.


(Posting this slightly early because of Thanksgiving chaos. Let me know if you have any questions)

Comments

[starcharter]

[She's going to make him blush again.

Ah, I would not say I am that interesting.

[beunbroken]

Well, I would. You're a Russian from the moon who's traveled the whole Universe. There's nothing about you that isn't interesting.

[starcharter]

Only a small part of the universe, actually. It would be sad to discover everything about the universe anyway.

[beunbroken]

But it doesn't make you any less interesting.

[starcharter]

[He's blushing]

But no more interesting than any other Starfleet officer.

[beunbroken]

No, I don't think so.

[She just smiles]

[starcharter]

[He just smiles back.]

I don't know-- I have a friend who is a genius pilot, a fencer, and an expert botanist. Most people on the Enterprise are quite interesting in their own ways.

[beunbroken]

Maaaaybe. [She teases him, drawing out the word.] But I don't know him. I know you. And that makes you the most interesting person.

[starcharter]

[Mock-sadly:] Ay, I am interesting because I have little competition.

[He can tease right back.]

[beunbroken]

Oh no, Pavel! Don't say that! [She chides him.]

I'd say you have a lot of competition. But you still beat them by miles.

[starcharter]

I will take your word for it and hope I am not removed from the top spot anytime soon.

[beunbroken]

I hope you aren't, either.

[starcharter]

[He's not entirely sure what to say. She really seems to mean it and it makes him feel a touch... nervous? Jittery? Excited? Usually when people call him 'interesting,' it's dismissive or an insult wrapped in layers of seemingly kind sentiments. But she means it in a positive way.

Wait, is this flirting? Or not? What if--

Luckily the song ends before he can overthink this too much.]

[beunbroken]

[When the song comes to an end, she takes a step back and gives a small curtsey.] Thank you for the dance, Pavel. You're a lot better than you think you are.

[starcharter]

[He bows back.] It was a pleasure. You dance very well too.

If you ever need a dance partner, I would be willing to assist.

[beunbroken]

Of course! I'll make sure to ask you again sometime soon.

[starcharter]

I look forward to it.

[beunbroken]

I do, too.