8 hours ago
"Hey Robin, Aeryn responded. "Thank you. I'm glad that you do, and great costume by the way; if I hadn't realised it was you, I'd have thought you were part of the programme."
Robin smiled. "Thanks. That's what I like to hear. Halloween's my favorite holiday and I always go a little overboard on the costumes."
The truth was that the semi-anonymity of Halloween costumes always loosened her inhibitions a little. It was if she could slip a bit into a different identity, one not quite as worried about what people thought. Her outfit would have been scandalous on Iota Tau, not for the holographic effects (which were well beyond their technology level) but for the shortness of the skirt and the skin it showed. And even in the wider Federation Robin found herself unwilling to completely break out of her shell. In a society where nudity was barely an issue the young woman wouldn't even wear a bikini when swimming. Modesty was just too deeply ingrained in her. And when the party was over she'd be back to her usual blouses and dresses.
But for now? It was time to have fun. Another crew member approached as Robin spoke to her friend. A young woman barely taller than the nurse, in an elaborate pirate costume with much jewelry, complete with cutlass.
"Cap'n Hallowette the Bloody, at your service!" She flourished her hat, bowed, then struggled as the weapon got caught for a second before correcting. Robin unsuccessfully tried to stifle a laugh. "Aeryn, this is absolutely wonderful! And Robin, you look incredible! How are you doing that?"
Hally slipped back into character. "Uhm, avast ye! Where be the grog, ye lily-livered spooks? This cap'n be feelin' a bit parched, I says!" Robin laughed again.
Fortunately at that point a ghostly servant glided up and offered the nurse the tea she'd requested. Southern style to match Robin's accent, which meant ice cold and sweet enough to melt teeth. The young woman pointed at the servant. "He should be able to help you, Cap'n Hally. Ask for whatever you like. Rum?" As she spoke with her hollow voice she picked the glass up from the tray, it becoming as translucent as her form as the holographic effect passed over it.
She turned around and indicated the small of her back with her free hand. "Holoemitter taped there." It was just barely visible if one looked carefully. "I had a friend in Engineering whip it up for me. It's like the isolation suits they use to spy on developing cultures, but since it only deflects part of the light it can be smaller. This one also taps into the Holodeck itself and uses its systems so it only works when we're here."
The first one she'd used a couple years ago had been the size of Aeryn's corset, was extremely uncomfortable, and had a battery life limited to two hours. That party, her first, had been in the lounge, and it had been a wipeout for Beka. A breakup with her boyfriend of the time and a complete dismissal by Cera Morgan. Robin had enjoyed it, but her friend's pain and humiliation soured the memory. This would be a better time, she was determined.
This emitter was the size of an old handheld communicator and would last for almost six hours. And it was much, much more comfortable to wear. Like the first costume she could control its features through a ring she was wearing. A double tap turned the voice effects on and off, and a press-and-hold turned the effect off entirely if it got to be a pain.
"If you can't go crazy for Halloween when can you, right?"
== Tags Aeryn and Hally ==
Robin smiled. "Thanks. That's what I like to hear. Halloween's my favorite holiday and I always go a little overboard on the costumes."
The truth was that the semi-anonymity of Halloween costumes always loosened her inhibitions a little. It was if she could slip a bit into a different identity, one not quite as worried about what people thought. Her outfit would have been scandalous on Iota Tau, not for the holographic effects (which were well beyond their technology level) but for the shortness of the skirt and the skin it showed. And even in the wider Federation Robin found herself unwilling to completely break out of her shell. In a society where nudity was barely an issue the young woman wouldn't even wear a bikini when swimming. Modesty was just too deeply ingrained in her. And when the party was over she'd be back to her usual blouses and dresses.
But for now? It was time to have fun. Another crew member approached as Robin spoke to her friend. A young woman barely taller than the nurse, in an elaborate pirate costume with much jewelry, complete with cutlass.
"Cap'n Hallowette the Bloody, at your service!" She flourished her hat, bowed, then struggled as the weapon got caught for a second before correcting. Robin unsuccessfully tried to stifle a laugh. "Aeryn, this is absolutely wonderful! And Robin, you look incredible! How are you doing that?"
Hally slipped back into character. "Uhm, avast ye! Where be the grog, ye lily-livered spooks? This cap'n be feelin' a bit parched, I says!" Robin laughed again.
Fortunately at that point a ghostly servant glided up and offered the nurse the tea she'd requested. Southern style to match Robin's accent, which meant ice cold and sweet enough to melt teeth. The young woman pointed at the servant. "He should be able to help you, Cap'n Hally. Ask for whatever you like. Rum?" As she spoke with her hollow voice she picked the glass up from the tray, it becoming as translucent as her form as the holographic effect passed over it.
She turned around and indicated the small of her back with her free hand. "Holoemitter taped there." It was just barely visible if one looked carefully. "I had a friend in Engineering whip it up for me. It's like the isolation suits they use to spy on developing cultures, but since it only deflects part of the light it can be smaller. This one also taps into the Holodeck itself and uses its systems so it only works when we're here."
The first one she'd used a couple years ago had been the size of Aeryn's corset, was extremely uncomfortable, and had a battery life limited to two hours. That party, her first, had been in the lounge, and it had been a wipeout for Beka. A breakup with her boyfriend of the time and a complete dismissal by Cera Morgan. Robin had enjoyed it, but her friend's pain and humiliation soured the memory. This would be a better time, she was determined.
This emitter was the size of an old handheld communicator and would last for almost six hours. And it was much, much more comfortable to wear. Like the first costume she could control its features through a ring she was wearing. A double tap turned the voice effects on and off, and a press-and-hold turned the effect off entirely if it got to be a pain.
"If you can't go crazy for Halloween when can you, right?"
== Tags Aeryn and Hally ==