Toga! Toga! Toga!

Posted on Oct 18, 2017 @ 12:22am by Iphigenia Bonviva
Edited on on Oct 18, 2017 @ 12:23am

Mission: Fear Itself

"Toga! Toga! Toga!"
cont'd from Shawn's "Jiggety-Jig"
=/\=
Location: USS PHOENIX
Scene: Vulgar Tribble

Standing at the doorway of The Vulgar Tribble, Michael Kane looked at the construction (via what he suspected and hoped were mini-holograms) of ancient Roman theatre in The Vulgar tribble. Instinctively he knew he was in his ship, but the look of the walls were suddenly of gray and tan bricks that swept up into sweeping arches. Along the side he saw where the crew could sit on low couches, groups of which circled around low tables. The bar still remained and with stools for those who wanted to stand or sit up for a less formal eating.


Not that he approved of using ship materials this way, but if he had, this was not...too bad.

Seeing the Bynares who usually hovered around The Vulgar Tribble, Captain Kane asked them, “Where is Miss Bonviva?”

Calvin and Hobbes chattered amongst themselves before they each pointed in an opposite direction and then walked off still chattering. That frustrating encounter left the CO wondering why the entire ship could be afraid of him but why it stopped at The Vulgar Tribble. He turned his head to the left. No Iphigenia Bonviva. Turned his head to the right. No Iphigenia Bonviva. Clearly no Iphgenia Bonviva in front of him and she hadn’t been behind him….

“HEY CAP’N!”

Stifling the frustrated sigh that always was bubbling in the back of his throat when anyone in the blasted family was around, Michael Kane looked *up* to see the barkeep/chef swinging from some contraption on the ceiling, smiling merrily. “What can I do ya for?” she asked.

“I’m not having a conversation,” he maintained at his normal, quite low tone, “while you are dangling up there.”

“Why?” Iphie asked, swinging. Brightening up she asked, “Is it because you want a turn?”

“No.”

“Spoilsport,” she replied sticking out a tongue. Using what appeared to be an old-fashioned system of rope and pulleys she lowered herself down low enough until she could leap to the floor. Once she was closer to him it was clear she was draped not in her typical chef jacket and slacks but in a white toga that had a gold belt and broach at the shoulders, while her typical multi-colored hair was pulled back into nearly respectable braids. “Ok, we’re even now. ‘Sup?”

So. Many. Problems. With. That. Statement.

There was no integer in the universe that Kane could count to bring himself to calm but he would try.

Iphie stared at Michael for the moments it took him to consider how to calm down, and judging by the way she stared at him (actually she was counting his wrinkles but even she wouldn’t say that) she finally gathered something wrong. “I got it.”

Slowly Kane felt some tension release. He could do this; he could work with anyone if they realized their mistakes; not everyone was perfect--

“‘Sup, sir.”

A wise man once said there were things to fight about, and things to let go. Michael Turlough Kane wasn’t sure which category this fell into but he let it go anyway. “Miss Bonviva,” he began again. “I’ve heard from the crew, and I can gather from being here, that you intend this evening to be some kind of bacchanalia.”

“Gesundheit,” Iphie replied. When Kane stared hard at her, Iphie tapped her toes in glee. “Come on not even a little giggle at that? Homie, it’s me.” When Kane kept up the icy glare she grinned back at him until she replied. “I promise not to have a violent initiations here. Ha-ha! I do know what it means,” she grinned.

Kane didn’t show how impressed he was; instead he asked. “Why even have a theme?”

“Why not?” Iphie replied.

“I’m not having this discussion,” Kane replied.

“Good we’re settled,” Iphie nodded. “Roman night stays.” When Kane raised his brow at her she gave her best imitation of a glare back. “It’s a night where we celebrate our current triumphs with a nod to the ancient past. And why not go back to the past that was known for prowess?”

Kane raised a brow at that. “Really? You plan on educating people on this.”

“No,” Iphie scoffed. Walking over to the bar she grabbed a glass of mulled wine and offered some to Kane who shook his head. “I’m not *boring*. But if I was I could talk about fearsome the Roman empire was that they could galavant around and say “I am a citizen of Rome”. Homie, they could do that anywhere, and know what would happen? NOTHING. That’s like booku power.” After sipping the wine she said, “But I won’t say all that.”

“Civus Romanus,” Kane murmured.

“Gesundheit,” Iphie repeated. When Kane gave her what could only be described as an annoyed look she shrugged. “Xana made sure I actually went to school when I lived with her. Some of it may have stuck sadly.”

“You can’t force anyone to wear a costume or swing or do anything they don’t want to do,” Kane pointed out.

Iphie rolled her gray eyes. “Again, Cap’n, I’m flattered, but you forget I’m not the one with the pretty shiny jewelry. All I offer is libations and munchies. I can’t make people do anything. They could show up naked and I’d still offer them drinks.”

“Naked?” Kane asked, worry inadvertently momentarily creeping into his voice.

“It was a suggestion for Betazoid appreciation night,” Iphie grinned.


=/\=
TI: Later - festivities under way

“Iphie, what are you giving us all to drink?” Eve asked.

Iphie grinned at the Counselor who was at the bar. “I could tell you or I could just give you more, Woo Woo,” she answered while wiggling her eyebrows.

Eve sighed and pushed her glass across. “It’s not the same as last time.”

Iphie poured the sweetened wine. “It’s not, but I figured I need to keep you all on your toes.”

Kass slid on on over. “Iffy, whatcha got? Who you got on toes? And why’s that?”

“Woo Woo. But it’s not on toes I’d want either of you, unless you like that position,” Iphie said with a wink to the ladies as she got a drink for the Marine. Indicating that some of the appetizers should be coming out including a mushroom puff that she a couple off for Kass and Eve and crab cakes she passed that over.

“Lettme finish this and we’re good--” Kass announced.

Eve laughed at that. “Iphie still has to work tonight.”

The redheaded pilot groaned. “Gimme another drink.”

“You need to balance it out,” Iphie ordered as she passed over some food. She looked as if she was going to say something else but then her bright face fell as she watched her former brother in law walk into the Vulgar Tribble. “We talked about this--”

“Eat my veggies, I know,” Kass grumbled.

Eve watched as she saw Iphie’s face fall. It was common knowledge that Jake divorced Iphie’s sister; what was less understandable why the otherwise cheerful barkeep was venomous towards the nice XO.

“Iphie, the Phoenix is a big ship but not so big that you two can avoid each other forever,” Eve said softly.

Iphie Bonviva said nothing for a long time and then said something after much consideration. “I have no respect for him. Why should I talk to him?”

“Commander Golden-Boy?” Kass scoffed. “You’d be the only one.”

Iphie nibbled her lip as if weighing what to say, closing her eyes for a moment. She knew instinctively she couldn’t mention Xana dying; she couldn’t mention that she herself hadn’t been tested. Opening up her eyes she settled on a half-truth. “My sister is the Councilwoman for Bolarus IX. But even before that she’s been in Federation government. Diplomat This. Ambassador That. She’s been getting death threats for as long as I can remember. And when she had Gene -- that’s Spouse Number 1 -- or Daisy -- that would be Spouse Number 2 -- well then we could rest easy because if something happened to Xana--”

“They would have the kids,” Kass muttered, remembering what happened to her good friend Gene McInnis.

“But Gene died and Daisy went missing and Xana married Jake and we loved him. And then they divorced. Ok, shit happens. Except she’s still the number 1 Bolian target. Eff that. She’s still a target,” Iphie said wiping down the bar, anxious to do something with her hands. Quietly she said, “Xana updated her will after the divorce. Now the kids have to come to me or Horatio, that’s our brother. Because no one -- including my sister -- believes that when she dies. And yes, it will be WHEN,” Iphie said a little too loudly, “that he will be around.”

Eve leaned forward a little, moving aside several crab cakes. “She hasn’t died.”

Kass gave a harder look. “We’re all targets,” she pointed out. “So are those kids’ father.”

The Bolian/Human chef looked down, shame filling her. “I get it. I do. And I don’t want that.” Looking up she said, “But that overbearing, pain in the ass is my sister and she practically raised me. I'm not much but I owe her. I'm trying to be better but I'll step it up. I just know that at the end of the day, when I get my nieces and nephews, it’s because of Jake. Because he picked to be in space and Xana died.” Looking at Eve she sighed, “I’ll talk to him. Maybe. Give me two more drinks. Maybe three.”

=/\=
NRPG: Iphie gave the party a theme (ancient Rome) which you DON'T have to go with. But think of it as a backdrop if it helps. And finally she's got some depth -- motive on why she keeps glaring at Jake!

Shawn: Tag if you want. Up to you if you want a partly soused (mostly soused) Iphie going up to Jake :)
=/\=

Sarah Albertini-Bond
as
Iphie Bonviva
Ancient Roman goddess *aka* barkeep/chef