[ Chief Engineer Kaya Som, Taron Lars (bio) | Beer tent along the main thoroughfare ]

Kaya Som was in something like a beer garden surrounded by farmers and others from Engineering.

"Hei, tal, bal!" Thump, thump, thump went the dozen heavy cups on the wooden table, the fragrant golden brew sloshing over the brim. Those chanting then skulled as much as they could for another three-count.

Kaya came up for air and tossed her empty cup on the table and put her hands in the air, triumphant. A few others had done the same thing among them the heavy Betazoid called Taron Lars who reached across and clapped her on the shoulder.



The old farmer had been delighted when Kaya finally made good on her promise to accept his original offer to partake of Serenity's local beer. [fn]s2.m1 - Secrets of Serenity[/fn] The work was nearly done, their troubles were past, it was time to celebrate.

Kaya had plenty to celebrate. She was alive, she was thriving, she was at the top of her game. She felt proud to have done something good, to have contributed to growing things, producing something from the earth and learning new things. She hadn't realized she'd needed this closure.

"Another!" bellowed Taron who waved for the empty cups to be replaced, and the song began again. It was an old work song brought to serenity from so-and-so's home planet. It was about earth golems and promises and lost lovers and the rhythm of the feet of beasts of burden.

Open tag

[Town Square - Serenity]

Following Isaiah's lead as Mara waved to them both, Thea had to smile at seeing one of her oldest friends, looking happy and busy. The lure of the freshly made doughnuts was strong, however Thea managed to resist the urge to go over immediately as Isaiah answered her question. His response was understandable considering what had happened the last time they were here. A lot had changed and to see the colony thriving as opposed to it looking derelict, empty and terrorised by her Academy stalker.

Shaking that memory away as Isaiah looking gorgeous as ever in his dark slacks and jumper, asked if she had a preference. The choice was difficult but Thea didn't take too long to make a decision. " I know what you mean, it's so different but in a good way and hmmm let's go have some first then we can try the food" Thea suggested, before the music caught her attention.

" Would you care to dance, Mr Quinn?".

---

Tag Isaiah Quinn

[Charlie Fox - Town Square, Serenity]



Charlie was actually enjoying herself. What an absolutely foreign concept of late. But she did feel good... Well, perhaps that was a little bit of an exaggeration, it was more like a strange kind of peace. It had taken weeks for her to feel some semblance of normality after they'd returned from Caldonia, and another month at least before her enthusiasm for her work had begun to return. There was some colour in her cheeks, she'd been putting on weight, and some of her smiles even appeared less sardonic, and more genuinely pleased again.

It had been largely down to her time on Arkaria, she knew. She'd stayed after the Mac crew had left, happy that they'd managed to wrangle Gul du Toollamé once again, but Charlie had been offered a unique opportunity to take a glimpse inside the mind of a prolific serial killer. And then there'd been Deywa, the other reason that she'd wanted to stay and risk frostbite in the mountains next to the frozen lakes. She'd known that it was just a fling; a holiday romance, but it had felt so normal. So right, so vital. The time had flown by far too quickly, as it tends to do, but she'd been ready to receive that call from Spil when it came. Her editor reminded her in his straightforward, Vulcan way, that she was pushing her luck, and even snaring an interview with Kalda Kark could not buy her any more free vacation days.

The sound of a drinking song raised the corners of her mouth again as Charlie passed by the Beer Tent. As she strolled passed the opening, entrance flaps tied back to reveal the revelries inside, she caught a glimpse of her friend, Kaya. She would absolutely be joining in the fun in that tent, but experience dictated that she should leave that stop until last. She'd capture the footage of the Harvest Festival, chat with a few of the colonists and then send Olsen on a reconnaissance before making her way back to beer and song. Some things you learned the hard way.

A handsome, dark-haired and skinned Betazoid waved at her, trying to capture her attention from between two of his stalls. One exhibit seemed to involve some kind of blowpipe, which several people were using to create a currently molten sculpture. To Charlie, it looked like collaborative glass blowing, and some of the pieces on display in front of the stall were beautiful. With a flick of her wrist, Charlie redirected her holorecording drone toward the array. As she neared she could see the material was not quite as clear as glass; though it did have a crystal quality to it, with one or two pieces tinted violet. They were beautiful, though one imperfect, and Charlie was quite taken with the rather wonky looking statue of some kind of feline.

She glanced up and around, looking to catch the eye of the Betazoid colonist who had waved at her previously. "May I?" Charlie asked, gesturing toward the animal figurine.

"Please!" The man responded with an enthusiastic smile as he stepped toward the display. With a gentle touch, Charlie picked it up and held it up to the light, smiling as refraction through the stone cast tiny sparkles everywhere. "If you don't mind my asking, Miss... Why this one?"

She looked up, brows raised with surprise at the question. "I don't know," she said honestly with a shrug, returning her attention to the not-quite-right Betazoid cat. "It spoke to me more than the others, I guess. What can I give you for it? Credits? A trade?"

"Please, you must have it." He smiled at her, an expression so bright that it caught her off-guard and she found herself speechless for a moment.

"What? No, no, don't be silly, man. That wouldn't be right."

"It would be most right," he responded, his tone sure. He somehow managed to be quietly persistent, without being in any way pushy. It was an excellent skill to have as a salesman, Charlie thought. He had her full attention as he explained, "I'm a student of kaladi, the art of blowing serenite, the stone found to the east of here. When I come to work every day and begin, my Master makes me keep my first creation, every time, no matter how good or bad it might be. It is created at a time when the serenite is not hot enough to be appropriately malleable. It is a tradition." He gestured toward the purple-hued, sparkly "cat" in her palm. "That was my first work of the day. Nobody ever purposely chooses to display their first work of the day, and I've never met anyone who liked one."

"Oh." Charlie couldn't decide if she was embarrassed or amused, and perhaps the confusion showed in her expression, but she rallied as usual. "It's half-baked, just like me."

The artist laughed, surprised, having thought he'd need to reassure the young woman. "Nothing perfect is ever interesting," he told her, his smile just as bright, though his tone turned a little suggestive. "And interesting is always beautiful. The piece has found its match."

He was a bit of a smoothie, but Charlie knew she liked him. "What's your name?"

"Andrus."

"Thanks for the wonky cat, Andrus." With those parting words, she wandered off, slipping the little imperfect creature into a pocket on her sun dress.

---

Open.

[ Chief Engineer Kaya Som, Taron Lars (bio) | Beer tent along the main thoroughfare ]

"KOVAAAAA...!" Kaya saw the sullen Andorian so cupped her hands around her mouth to holler drunkenly at her in an attempt to summon her.

"Kova! Kova! Kova!" A farmer, who didn't know what a Kova was, began pounding her fist on the table joining in the fun.

Taron leaned to see who Kaya was calling and he lifted his eyebrows when he saw the unhappy-looking Andorian. He was much larger and could hold his drink better than the small Trill so he had a mite more sense. He didn't have to search Kaya's mind at all to sense her genuine affection.



"Kova is your friend," he observed. "But may need more subtle encouragement to join us."

Kaya didn't need to be told twice, she stumbled over the bench and trotted out of the tent. She'd abandoned her sandals at some point, her feet bare beneath her light loose layers and short trousers.

"Come on, Kovy, we know you're hot. Get over yourself. Come have some beer. It's made of wheat."

That last fact seemed like it was meant to be enticing because Kaya was nodding and grinning about it. "Oh, look, it's Charlie --," Kaya was momentarily distracted. But she righted the ship. "Come come come come come."

Kova Sh'qaleq, cc Charlie Fox

[Lt. Commander Isaiah Quinn - Town Square, Serenity]

Thea had made the suggestion of having a little fun before getting something to eat.  Isaiah nodded in response. Perhaps it was about time for them to actually start enjoying themselves. After all, it was a party. Thea then asked Isaiah if he cared to join her in a dance. The science officer smiled. "Well, I--" he had begun, but noticed Jovireh Velal moving towards them. He was relieved when she stated that everything looked clean thus far. He had to give the woman credit for always being thorough in her job. If something was afoot like last time, he had confidence that she would have discovered something by now. She stated that probably after another half hour she'd be able to relax.

"Only a half-hour, Chief?" he said. He purposely made mention of her new rank via her latest promotion. Having worked with her as much as he had, Isaiah could say that it was long overdue. "I hope you do take the opportunity to enjoy yourself in... twenty-nine minutes. You've earned it."

---

Tag: Thea Baker , Jovireh Velal

[Lt. Shavan Th’zhaar - Main Thoroughfare, Serenity]

Shavan would’ve been perfectly fine with never going back to Serenity again, and the prospect of the Harvest Festival had done little to change that. And yet, here they all were, and a celebration was a celebration, wasn’t it? Naturally, he gravitated towards where things seemed to be the liveliest… or at least where there was plenty to drink.

Walking unhurriedly down the street, he approached the beer garden tent, and waved to Kova and Kaya Som when he noticed them inside.

But before going in, Shavan caught sight of Charlie walking by, and instead turned towards her with a friendly smile. “Up to anything interesting?” If anyone was going to discover if the colony had anything interesting to offer, beyond the obvious ‘attractions’, it would probably be her.

tag Charlie Fox , soft tag Kaya Som Kova Sh'qaleq