Best-dressed Bartenders in the Galaxy

Posted on 30 Oct 2017 @ 3:23am by Lieutenant Danyl Adan

800 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Crossing Over
Location: Talons

To say that Selah was an expert schmoozer was an understatement to end all understatements. She seemed to know when to flirt, when to shut up, when to offer intellectual conversation, and when to listen.

Of course, being a well-trained empath certainly had something to do with it. In fact, it likely had everything to do with it. After all, she had studied under the best tutors, both Vulcan and Telino, so she had the benefit of literally several millennia worth of knowledge.

Turning from the young Trill ensign with whom she had been shamelessly flirting, Selah glanced around the room to make sure nobody needed her attention before returning to the bar.


Samantha Ridgeway entered Talons in a form-fitting evening gown, her long red hair just past her shoulders. Her dark green eyes searched the lounge in case anyone interesting might catch her fancy. They all seemed rather busy except for the woman at the bar. Must be her new boss. She sachetted over and offered the woman a smile. She could feel the eyes of several of the male occupants upon her and this made her feel good.

"Hello," she said in her Irish accent. "I'm Samantha. Samantha Ridgeway, your new assistant."

"Hi!" said Sela cheerfully. "Wow, that's some dress! It looks like it was made specifically for you. I'm Selah, by the way. It's great to finally meet you!"

"I've been looking forward to serving Starfleet," Samantha said. "I have a great recipe for Irish stew and soda bread." Her smile broadened. "And this dress is the latest fashion on Earth. I'm glad you like it."

"Instead of us standing here talking, let's get a seat and you can pretend to interview me for the job. I'm sure you have some fascinating tales of your own to tell too."

"Oh, my goodness, you have no idea!" exclaimed Selah, tossing her towel onto the bar and immediately heading over to the nearest table. "There was one time these cadets were in here- well, not here, per se, because it was on the old Black Hawk, but you take my meaning- and we dragged out the karaoke stuff. This one girl- quiet, shy, you know the type- she gets up and it's just... it's... wow! You would think Aretha Franklin was in here. And then there was the time the ship had to be evacuated and the school teacher and I had to take care of two of the kids and get them off the ship. That was terrifying. Anyway!" she finished, finally taking a breath. "So tell me about yourself. Where are you from? Why'd you pick Talons? Etcetera, etcetera."

Samantha hated talking about herself, especially the past. As a server most of her adult life, it was talking to the client and getting them to reveal their past that counted. Could she get this woman to speak about herself as well?

Licking her ruby red lips, shifting her weight in the chair at the table Selah had chosen, she began. "I'm from Dublin, Ireland meself," she replied in that gracious accent of hers. "Me mum was a seamstress and me da a Barkeep. Me parents were shocked when I chose to wait tables rather than sew clothes. Don't get me wrong. I love to wear fine clothes, but I can't stand sewing them or mending them." She laughed.

"Anyhow, when I decided to serve the Universe, I worked as a Dabo girl for Kwark's. What a foolish mistake that was. He couldn't keep his grubby little hands off me. Finally, I narrowed my vision of service to Starfleet. I heard of the opening as your assistant aboard the Black Hawk and...Violaa! Here I am.

"What about you? What brings you out here to the Gamma Quadrent?"

"It's customary for my people to spend some time off-world," she replied. "I tried Starfleet Academy and hated it, but fell into bartending and just love it! Starfleet loves its bars, of course, and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to serve drinks on a ship, could I?"

"No way!" she said. "I couldn't see meself in Starfleet Academy either. Mixology and Culinary Arts was all the learning I needed."

"Yeah, way more interesting than warp propulsion theory and flight control," Selah agreed. "Plus, half of my job is just talking to people. I mean, how perfect is bartending for me?"

"Perfect?" Samantha's laugh trilled like musical notes on a piano. "Sometimes, you can't shut me up! I love conversation. Methinks we're gonna get a long just fine, Selah. How 'bout you?"

"I think we're about to be besties," agreed Selah with another sparkling grin. "And the two best-dressed bartenders in the galaxy!"

"You said it! exclaimed Samantha.

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