This Is How We Party!

[Naomi Lang]

“Whoo yeah, I told you this was a good place.” Naomi Lang, dressed in a black tank top laced with a crimson spider-web pattern and a pair of dark, loose-fitting pants, pushed her way through the mass of bodies moving in time to the pounding music, the four other nightmares behind her. The nightclub, Illumina, was full of people coming to escape reality in a sea of fog, multi-colored lights, loud music, and alcohol.

It wasn’t often that the members of Project Nightmare, got any down time, but this time there was a reason to celebrate; and Naomi was going to make sure they all had a good time.

She shoved her way a sparsely lit VIP alcove and sprawled out on one of the cushioned seats.

“Figures, this place is almost as loud as you.”

Bren’lar Scothis plopped down to her right, receiving a sharp kick to the shin from Naomi, as Y’lor, Danni, and the newly promoted Crestmere ducked into the chamber.

Lang grinned at Victor. “What do you think, boss?”

[Danni Reyok]

Following Y’lor, Danni found herself swept into a very admirable VIP room. Another than the shallow lighting the room was far from mundane. Apparently, Naomi had already made herself at home. Bren’lar in the same fashion; both sat next to each other, one pestering the other or visa versa…as always. Danni could have sworn the first time she ever saw them ‘fooling around’ they were married or at least had a very interesting relationship going on. Although, maybe she should be thanking Naomi. After all, that crazy woman did get the whole group some time off.

“This is quite the place, Lang. Nice work.”

Danni brushed a large amount of her blonde hair from her eye’s as she spoke. She had never been a person to get all dress up. A few strands of her naturally strait hair was curled in small spirals around her face while the rest laid freely around her shoulders and partially down her back. The black cargo pants she wore nearly engulfed her lower body due to the miscalculation on what size she wore.

She tossed her faded auburn jacket onto the empty seat next to Naomi, before anyone else could occupy it. Underneath her jacket, she wore an azure top, with only one thick strap going over her left shoulder. The shirt was cut to just above her pant line, showing very little torso. She chuckled and turned to leave the room.

“I’m off to party! Well, before I drink myself into a coma. Join me if you wish….” Turning to Crestmere, she smirked. “And Congratulations sir, on your promotion.”

[Victor Crestmere]

Crestmere followed the group as they made there way back to the VIP room with a look of extreme confusion. Truth be told, Victor had no clue how to act right now. He wasn't raised with the Military. He was just some poor kid from Alderaan who made a living conning people. He never expected to be where he was right now, but he was, so it was time to step up to plate and take charge.

Once they were all inside the room, Crestmere took a few seconds to look around. Nothing fancy, but anything beat the dura-crete walls of the INQ building. Victor didn't get out much, other than the occasional mission here and there, but it was nice.

“What do you think, boss?”

"Not bad Naomi. Not bad at all, but I could use a drink." He said with a wink.

“And Congratulations sir, on your promotion.”

With a soft chuckle, Crestmere nodded. "Thank you Danni." Sitting down on the couch adjacent from Naomi and Scothis and next to the door, Crestmere propped his feet up on the table and continued to look around. "Oh, before you leave Danni..." He said as he tapped her on the arm. "And this goes for the rest of you as well. Let's ease up on the boss's and Sir's alright? I’m not use to that yet and I don't think I ever will be." Laughing to himself, he went on. "But while we're on the topic; do you think I could possibly get a boss or sir out of the Major when he returns?" Victor was of course, just joking, but it was still a funny idea to him.

Tonight was all about relaxing and just being with the group and nothing was going to ruin that. It was a good day, a good day indeed.

[Naomi Lang]

Naomi nodded, but before she could speak Bren’lar jumped on with another one of his idiotic interjections. “Hehe, almost as good as the last place she dragged us into.” He grinned slyly at Naomi..she really had the urge to punch him right then. “Hey, if I’d known it was a frelling karaoke bar I wouldn’t have drunk as much.”

She quickly motioned to Y’lor who was standing to the entrance of the enclave. As Danni strode by, already moving in time with the pulsating beat, he sharply grabbed her shoulder with a mischievous glint in his eye.

“Hold that thought Victor” Naomi leaned forward accusingly. “Where do you think you’re going Reyok?” Y’lor tightened his grip as Danni tried to pull away in confusion. His voice rang with amusement. “You’re the lowest ranking person here, you know what that means right.”

Bren’lar and Naomi both yelled out at the same time. “BOOZE MULE!”

[Danni Reyok]

Danni did a jaw drop, right there and then. What the hell? They had to be kidding; there was no way in the deepest pits of hell that she would be their fracking pack mule. She pulled herself out of Y’lors’ near iron grip. She glanced from Naomi to Bren’lar, back to Naomi, and then to Y’lor next to her. Waving her hands in front of her, in mock surrender sort of way, Danni attempted to get out of this embarrassing task.

“Sorry guys. I don’t serve booze, I drink it.” She grinned, it was a weak excuse and she knew it but at the moment she had nothing else she could do or say. And apparently it wouldn’t fly with these four either; for she received a hard shove from Y’lor right out of the curtain enclosed room and into a great mob of people, dancing crazily to the music.

She managed push her way through the waves of semi-sober dancers, to the bar which just happened to be on the other side of the massive room, all the while cursing at the others for this ridiculous task. Taking a bar stool, Danni waved down one of the many bartenders.

“Give me five of whatever your strongest drink is.”

The bartender handed her a tray, loaded with overflowing tall glass drinks filled with something that hopefully tasted better than it actually looked. Gradually she made her way back to the VIP room. Amazingly enough not much was spilled on the way back. Pushing away the curtain, Danni rolled her eye's and simply stated...

"You panzies better like this junk, I'm not going back anytime soon."

[Victor Crestmere]

"You panzies better like this junk, I'm not going back anytime soon."

"Not so fast Corporal!" Victor shouted so that he could be heard over the loud music blaring into the room through the door behind Danni. "Shut the door first. Now then, as the lowest ranking officer in this room, as pointed out by Lieutenant Lang here, you are on official drink duty for the remainder of the evening. Failure to do so will result in 72 hours of PT and your weekend passes will be revoked. Am I clear?"

It was all Crestmere could do to stifle his laughter. Seeing the look on Danni's face was priceless as well as the others, but more so Danni's. He was of course just kidding but he wanted to see just how long he could ride this one out. "Am I clear Corporal!?" He shouted a little louder this time.

[Danni Reyok]

This was completely ridiculous! Danni stood stupefied in the doorway, her mouth open slightly in ever lasting shock. It just surprised her how fast every ounce of her pride that she had left diminished, in just the past few minutes. It took most of her will power to keep her from lashing out, not physically, but in a verbal war. With Crestmere backing up Naomi and Bren’lar, Danni really had no choice in the matter.

“Yes Crestmere, I understa-…”

Realization dawned on her like a good morning slap to the face. Victor was good at what he did but by the way he composed himself this very moment made her see just how “serious” he was. And the tiniest trace of humor in his tone also gave him away. Gradually her angered/shocked expression turned into a well-practiced smirk. Danni decided that it would be best to humor her comrades and go ahead and be their little ‘Booze Mule’ for the time being. Turning her full attention to Victor, she put on the sweetest smile she could conjure up. Sliding her fingers around both his wrists tightly, she brought her emerald green eyes level to his own unique ones, loose blonde hair falling over her shoulders.

“I understand fully Crestmere but now…you owe me a dance.”

[Victor Crestmere]

"Excuse meh....."

Crestmere began but was quickly cut off as Danni lifted up out of his seat and towards the dance floor. Crestmere had never danced a day in his life and he wasnt about to start unless it was for a mission, but then when would he ever be on a mission that required dancing?

Pulling his hand free, Crestmere gave Danni a sharp look and said, "One, if you know whats good for you, you'll stop while your ahead Soldier. Two, I didnt come here to dance, I came to relax. Sorry if I come across as a buzz kill but for right now, I just want to enjoy my drink." Turning on his heel, Crestmere started to make his way back to VIP room.

Once back inside, Crestmere sat back down and with a sigh sipped at his drink. When he noticed the others looking at him, he just smiled and said, "What!?"

[Naomi Lang]

A shocked silence, relative to the music anyway, filled the room as Danni dragged Vitor onto the floor. The three remaining Nightmares all looked at each other....before bursting out in laughter.

Y'lor left his post at the door and flopped down into a chair still chortling.

"She learns fast doesn't she."

Bren'lar lifted his glass. "Cocky is more like it, we should have put her through a hazing."

Lifting her hand, Naomi began counting off her fingers. "Let's see; we you shot at her and threw her out a window, Y'lor beat the crap out of her, I almost blew her up, and who knows what Vic and the Major put her through."

She looked up to a pair of stares. Naomi blinked. "Oh, yea,h hazing, not induction. I get the two mixed up."

Y'lor shook his head at her as Bren'lar took a sniff of his drink.

"Whew, what the heck did she bring us anyhow, I bet this stuff could knock out a bull bantha."

"Naomi waved her hand towards dance floor. "Let Victor try it out, looks like he got away form Danni"

Crestmere entered the lounge."what?"

Bren'lar snickered, offering his drink. "That was fast. Drink?"

[Victor Crestmere]

"Don't mind if I do." Crestmere said as he lifted the drink from Bren'lar and sat down. Taking a gulp of his drink as he finally relaxed a little, Crestmere was up and out of his chair spewing the contents of his drink all over Bren'lar.

"WHAT THE FRELL did you just give me? This stuff taste as bad as you look!" Crestmere said as he watched Bren'lar wipe his face clean.

"Blame Danni. She's the one that got it for us." Y'lor said after he finished laughing.

"She doesn’t learn does she?" Crestmere asked the group as he looked around for something to chase down and refresh his taste buds with. "Do we have anything in here that doesn’t taste like something the Major would inject into somebody?"

[Naomi Lang]

Naomi nearly fell out of her chair laughing, seeing liquor dripping from Bren’lar’s face was new. Watching him wipe it indignantly off his face was even hilarious.

“Hahaha, oh man, Danni gets brownie points for that one.” Naomi reached over and grab the glass sitting on the coffee table in front of her. She tossed her head back downing the fiery drink in an instant and smirked at Crestmere. “You drink like a girl.”

Y’lor shook his head. “I think Naomi gives the Major that stuff.”

[Victor Crestmere]

Crestmere just smiled at Naomi's comment about him drinking like a girl. Truth be told, Crestmere wasn't much a frequent drinker. He only drank on certain occasions and even then it was only in small amounts. This was one of those occasions so when he thought he was getting a decent drink; he didn't expect it to be such a foul and powerful concoction. "Hey, I've been a girl before. It comes with the job." He chuckled out loud, mainly to himself.

Picking up the only glass of wine that Danni had considered getting, Crestmere chased it down, rescuing his taste buds from their polluted hell. "Much better…" He said to himself. Sitting back down in his chair, for the third time, Victor propped his right leg over his let knee and relaxed. “So, did you kids have any more surprises planned for this evening or is it going to be a surprise?”

[Danni Reyok]

Danni laughed hysterically at Crestemere’s retreating back. She was sure that the rest of the gang could hear her through the curtain to the V.I.P room even over the blaring music. By the time her cackling was finished, she was doubled over in hysteria and nearly rolling on the floor. Still she was able to straighten herself out without any problems.

After mentally slapping herself back into reality, Danni took the time to scan the surrounding club. Early she had been so set of retrieving drinks she didn’t bother looking around, but now she was like a psycho let loose in a weapon’s shop.

From what she could make out there were two floors to this club, an upper and a lower. A small grin graced Danni’s lips, she had a pretty good guess on what was going on up on the top floor, away from the crowd of half-drunken partiers. Looking back to when she was a bit younger, she could see herself up there with those people; but of course not for the same reason.

Danni grunted at the resurfaced memory and pushed it away. What the frell was she thinking?! Tonight was probably the only night that she could cause trouble and get away with it. Her eye’s met the bar she had been at previously and the smile on her face twisted wickedly. In an instant, she decided that she would start the night with a couple drinks.

. . .and so she made her way to the bar, blending into the massive crowd of dancers.

[Naomi Lang]

Bren’lar shot Victor a mock glare. “Kids? Kids! You might have the shiny rank cylinder now, but you’re still a rookie with us.”

Y’lor took his turn to whack Bren’lar over the head as he walked to the nearest empty chair. “Ignore this loser, he’s just jealous.” The Nightmare medic leaned back into the remaining arm chair, propping his feet on the table. “We’re off duty, nothings planned.”

With a last mournful look at her empty glass Naomi followed suite. “There might be a few surprises later with Danni out there on her own. I think we have an hour or so before the screaming starts.”

[Danni Reyok]

Meanwhile. . .

“Hey Barkeep! Throw some of your best Corellian ale my way. I think that’ll be enough to loosen me up.”

Just as Danni took a seat at the counter, the bartender slid her drink along the counter and into her awaiting hand perfectly. With a quick wink, she raised her glass in appreciation to the man behind the counter before turning her attention elsewhere.

The next few moments she had were spent by herself, sitting with her back towards the bar. . . just watching. Her eye’s dance with, around, and through the party goers before her; just studying, it almost felt like she was on the job. The thought it made her smile; which swiftly switched to a smirk when she spotted a dance circle forming.

She finished her drink quickly and laid it on the counter, leaving a few credits behind as a tip. Standing, she briskly pushed her way through the crowd. There wasn’t a chance she would miss out on a little dancing fun.