Aerosmith continued to play in the background, the near-banshee like voice of Steven Tyler filling the confines of the Holographic venue with relative ease and stirring up the crowd into a near frenzy of activity. The same was true of Kate, whose slender form continued to sway and gyrate in accordance with the swelling tones of Joe Perry’s guitar, and the frantic beat of the Joey Kramer’s drums. Having closed the distance between herself and Tessa, she grinned with playfulness as her fellow blonde went along and similar started to get into the feel of the moment. “Dance! Let’s dance!” She hollered out, looking back over her jacketed shoulder in an alluring manner to the systems engineer who was still a pace or two distant from the two blondes. “C’mon Scruffy, show us what you got!” she teased, the hand that had found it’s place behind the small of Tessa’s back beckoning her to make for the nearby dancefloor where hundreds of simulated and real party-goers who’d already given into the throes of energetic music.
-
He smiled at the compliment Lauren tossed his way on her way out, but it was Tessa and Kate teasing each other that caught him by surprise. He kept control and, other than a moment of a shocked expression, managed to keep from getting too flustered. He followed them onto the dancefloor, his eyes briefly scanning the crowd to get a sense of the style of 'dance' being done. His first instinct was to stay a couple paces behind so as not to interfere with what was going on between them, but the look Kate threw him, and the synthehol, bolstered his resolve and he walked up behind them, a hand finding the outside of each of their waists as they walked onto the floor. The holodeck safeties might have been keeping the volume of music below what would cause damage to their ears, but it definitely became more of a full-body experience as they got closer to the stage.
-
Tessa laughed as she began to get into the 'sweet emotions' played by Aerosmith. Being one for fun retorts threw it out. In their inebriated state, anything was comical. "Hey, enjoying these sweet emotions guys? Hic!" She laughed a little harder while tearing up the dance floor. Her cream colored dress began getting in her way more as she tried to shake her bottom, so she hiked it up, tying it around her waist as a dress shirt from the front. It clearly strained the fabric holding in her ample chest. Below the now tied up dress, she had planned ahead and had red legging shorts beneath. Despite them being good for this kind of environment, they also accentuated her posterior while allowing her to cut a rug. "Like the quick wardrobe change?" She yelled overhead while throwing her hands into the air before she twirled around, now directed away from her friends. Dizziness hit her briefly as she attempted to correct herself as she backed into Scruffy by accident. "Oops", she giggled while jumping back into the fray. It had been a long time...well not that long, but long enough since she'd been able to really let loose with good friends.
-
Kate giggled when she saw the confident smile crossing Scruffy’s face after Lauren had imparted some words prior to leaving, finding it truly hilariously endearing how she, Tessa, and now their busty crimson-haired friend had all playfully teased the handsome man. Other women might’ve felt a pang of jealousy, seeing how he reacted, but Kate wasn’t of the sort, instead finding herself feeling an odd sense of pride in knowing her friend was eliciting an appropriate amount of attention from the fairer sex, her own included. “Quite the ladies man, eh Scruffy?” she shouted back at him with a wink as he closed the distance, his hands finding either side of hers and Tessa’s waists as they led him out onto the dancefloor, her attention quickly turning back to Tessa, and how she might play off of the other blondes movements in the moment. “Wooooo! Yeah!” she howled between bouts of genuine laughter as the Lone Wolf hiked up her skirt so that she might be a little freer to enjoy some dancing, catching a bit of inspiration in the process. “Good idea!” She said, her hips continuing to sway in accordance with the swinging chords of guitar as she deliberately backed herself into Scruffy, only to shrug her shoulders in such a manner that her leather jacket began slipping down them, a glance cast back at him that she’d wanted his help removing the garment, all part of her continued flirtatiously tinted teasing.
-
Scruffy could only shrug at Kate's teasing as they walked onto the dancefloor and he let them go as they started to move to the music. He couldn't take his eyes off Tessa as she hiked up her skirt, revealing her dancer's physique, and started to spin with the melody. Fortunately, that means he wasn't caught off-guard when she lost her balance and stumbled into him. His strong hands catching her bare shoulders. He threw her a wink when she looked up at him and said, "Don't worry, I've got you covered," before letting her bound back into the crowd of holographic revelers. He was a little more surprised when Kate sashayed her way into Scruffy, but he laughed in good humor at it. When she shrugged her shoulders and her jacket began slipping, Scruffy raised one eyebrow but did the gentlemanly thing and caught her coat, holding it for her to slide out of should she wish to join Tessa in freedom of movement.
-
She watched as Kate laughed and howled about her hiking up her skirt for a better dancing scenario. A smile crawled across her lips. Scruffy's eyes clearly watching her every move. Not that she could blame him she thought almost not realizing how it must look. She swayed her hips back and forth as the music continued to play loudly overhead and in front of them on stage. She'd heard them before but not to this extent. Someone from her Academy days listened to the Classic Rock music surrounding them. Tessa watched as Scruffy performed the gentlemanly duties of holding Kate's jacket as it slipped off with her movements. Lance was unsure what was playing out but just rolled with it. As she would normally do in the cockpit of her Valkyrie. "What say we have a little more fun?" She winked at Kate nudging her head to Scruffy's direction.
-
Kate on the other hand knew most of these songs rather well, her taste in music running about as wide in range as one might imagine, but Aerosmith specifically was one she particularly enjoyed. The pseudo-glamrock group was just the sort of loud and obnoxious noise she’d add to her lounging about playlist, thrown on in her quarters when doing exactly that, much to the chagrin of her neighbors. With Scruffy acting his gentlemanly part, allowing Kate to slip her slender form out from under the jacket, she turned back to glance over her bare shoulder to him, a broad alluring grin across her face as she reached out to grab it and then toss into the crowd haphazardly. The fun that she and Tessa were having at his expense, though she doubted he would complain, had been tremendous, and as her fellow blonde closed in, nudging her head toward the man with devious intent in mind, Kate could only reciprocate. “Yeah, I think that’s in order.” She said simply, taking after Tessa’s lead in the moment, seeing what the pilot had up her sleeve to further their fun.
-
Scruffy was definitely caught off guard by Kate taking the jacket from him. And when she tossed it into the crowd, a momentary frown crossed his face. Well, I guess it can be retrieved when the program is deactivated. Still, he couldn't help but give a broad smile as he saw the two women turn toward him, even though he couldn't hear what they were saying to each other. He stood tall, foot tapping and head bobbing to the music.
-
Tessa wondered if the discarded jacket mattered when the program was shut down but the thought quickly faded into the ether as she continued her motions of fluidic dance moves. Her hips swayed to and fro as she glanced at Scruffy, while beside Kate. She locked eyes with the other blonde woman before she heard Kate respond in agreement. She moved in closer to the man as she pulled Kate with her. Brushing the hair from her face back over her ear she bumped into a holographic person and fell through him. Landing on her bottom, her legs outstretched as she just laid there for a moment before climbing back to her feet. "Oops!" she said with a wide grin. "Guess I've had a bit too much of..." She tried to remember the drink it was but her thoughts were fuzzy on the matter. She simply waived her hand back and forth in finishing her current thought. "Whatever that drink was." She giggled and nuzzled up against the other two as she grabbed them around their waists, swaying their hips together side to side.
-
Finding her place at Tessa’s side once more, slender hips moving in concert with her blonde counterpart’s more curvaceous offerings, Kate too closed in on Scruffy. Her attention turned to him, she let her exotically hued eyes alluringly trail down over his form as she drew nearer, her body coming into contact with is as she spun round intending to coax Tessa into joining her in a dance against him. However, when she reached out to find her friend, she discovered that the Lone Wolf had evidently lost her balance and managed to fall through one of the holographically projected randoms all around them. Were she not mildly intoxicated, Kate might’ve been surprised about the hard-light projectors allowing such an occurrence, instead she reacted with some semblance of amusement, extending a hand to try and help poor Tessa back to her feet. “Oh... oh no, Tessa! C’mere babe!” she said, pulling the pilot back into close proximity with herself and Scruffy, an arm wrapping around her back in a show of comfort and familiarity. “It was whiskey!” She answered, giggling as Tessa nuzzled against the two of them so cutely, eliciting Kate to cast an amused glance toward the systems engineer.
-
Scruffy almost moved forward to help Tessa when he saw her fall, but Kate moved just a hair faster than him. He looked around a moment, wondering if the number of holographic characters was more than the holodeck could strictly keep track of, leaving some proximity fields from kicking in to simulate collisions. Still, he wrapped his own arm around Tessa when Kate brought her back over, smiling down at her as she nuzzled against his shoulder. He couldn't help a chuckle from escaping his lips as the consequences of the drinks started to hit them. "Maybe we should find somewhere to sit for a minute? Let you get your feet back under you?"
-
Taking their lead, she allowed them to help her find a seat. "Welp, I guess I wuz moore tipsy than I sthought." A stifled giggle escaped her lips, as she was lowered to the nearest chair. Her blonde hair covered her face somewhat as she leaned back and then forward again. "Propablee a good thing this chair is here. It likes kissing my ass I think. My butt seemz styck ti it, a little." She hiccuped and laughed again. "Katee, that's sum good stuff youz got there darlin'. Howlee smokes I'm more trash'd then I thought." Her hand brushed the hair in front of her face so she could see their smiles looking back at her.
-
Though she too was a little tipsy from the synthehol starting to run through her system, Kate wasn’t nearly to the degree in which Tessa had so quickly found herself. It was amusing to the slender blonde, who watched with joviality evident in her face as Tessa struggled to steady herself, needing desperately to cling unto both Kate and Scruffy in order to remain upright. The suggestion that maybe they should find a place to sit for a little while, so that their friend might recover, made plenty of sense and without having to voice her approval, she pointed in the direction of an alcove of couches and chairs that ran along the periphery of the venue. “C’mon, we can hang there for a bit!” she hollered to Scruffy, hoping he’d take heed of her example and help to lead Tessa over. Once they were near, having passed through the raucous crowd of holographic partygoers all around, she’d helped settle Tessa into a comfy cushioned chair, before straightening herself upright, a wayward glance cast back at Scruffy before she smiled down to the tipsier blonde. “Yeah, evidently a little too good.” She teased, spinning round so that she might plop her own behind down unto the cushioned chair next to Tessa, an arm wrapping around her to hold the pilot close as she peered back up at the man still standing before them.
-
Scruffy shook his head with a grin at Tessa's antics. When Kate led them over to a seat that clearly wasn't big enough for the three of them, he was thrown off-balance, mentally and figuratively, when Kate spun around and planted herself tight against Tessa, holding her close so they could both fit on the cushioned chair. He rolled his eyes when Kate gazed up at him. "I'll just get some water then. Be right back. Try not to get into any more trouble," he said with a chuckle, walking off toward the nearest bartender.
-
Tessa's vision was blurred somewhat as she glanced around the room. "I thinkz I ben not drunkz more of thiat stuffs. Ima lights wait since that crush, Imean crash. hehe." She said as she shook her head. Kate holding her close and up definitely helped. Leaning over she smelled her friend's hair and neck. "Yousa smelled good Katee." She giggled a little as she attempted to straighten up. Rubbing her eyes and pulling her hair back. "I cand wait until wees go to the holo deck again to play hehe." She couldn't say anything properly and so she felt funny talking but it was still humorous to her. She held onto Kate as she whispered in her ear, "Mybe fun to note thiz drinks fur later."
-
Kate continued to giggle gleefully as she held Tessa close, her eyes fixated on Scruffy as he excused himself to be the more responsible member of their trio, fetching some water for the tipsier blonde’s benefit. When Tessa started to speak, her words thoroughly slurred due to the apparent intoxication, Kate afforded her an amused glance before she felt compelled by Tessa’s cuteness and planted a soft kiss on her cheek. “Yeah, I think you’ve had your fair share of whisky for the night, babe.” Shaking her head, she let out a content little sight after. “Oh, we’re definitely going back soon, you better believe it. And uhh, I think we’ll need to invite Scruffy too, yeah? You can give him a wild ride, the way you gave me.” Winking wryly at Tessa, Kate peered back to see if said systems engineer had returned.
-
The feeling swirled in Tessa's head as she felt some level of gravity level her eyes and thoughts. She hoped her speech would stop slurring but that was an eventuality. She watched Scruffy run off to fetch water for her inebriated self. The light peck on the cheek made Tessa's face glow red. The heat filling her face as she enjoyed it, or was it the beverage bringing it out of her? She couldn't be sure but she did know that she liked the gesture...quite a bit actually. When Kate's mentioning of bringing Scruffy along on their next adventure she nodded her head, like an old earthan toy called a bobble head which caused a smile to creep up her lips. "I thinkz zhats a great idere thare." She laughed a little loudly with a hearty giggle as she caught the last bit of 'give him a wild ride, the way you gave me.' "I mozt zertainly will!" She looked Kate in the face and saw her wink at the subtle but not so subtle thought. Looking the other blonde in the face, she reach in with her hand and pulled Kate forward as she connected her soft, plump, wet lips on Kate's. Locked together she took in the feeling and adrenaline of it all before she released the other woman back to her seat. Tessa licked her lips and noted the flavor of whatever lip application her friend had on, despite being unable to place it. She broke into a giggle again. "I think we'll have a lot of fun on the holodeck next time." She said elbowing the good doctor beside her with over exaggerated winking.
-
Peering out into the void of the holographic crowd for their wayward companion gone to fetch water, Kate caught glimpse of the bobbing head that belonged to her blonde counterpart out of her periphery. Giggling again, Kate hoped Scruffy would return sooner, rather than later so that they might start sobering up the Lone Wolf in their midst, at least to a degree in which she could better enjoy and remember the night. “You think he got lo--“ she started to ask, though was cut off as Tessa pulled her in to lock lips more directly, a tingle of excitement running up Kate’s neck at the sudden yet welcome show of affection they began to share. Letting her own inhibitions melt away a little, Kate leant into the kiss, tilting the pate of her head so that she could reciprocate the sentiment, a hint of tongue slipping through her own lips to tease at Tessa’s before they broke apart, a bit of lingering on her part as the hand which had been behind Tessa’s right shoulder ran down the length of her arm. Brought back to the reality of their whereabouts by the sounds of rock music in the background, Kate cleared her throat audibly before smiling serenely, a faint hue of blush to her normally pale complexion. “Yeah... definitely, totally. I mean, umm... I bet he’ll get a real kick out of us... umm, I mean, it. For sure!” Tearing her gaze away from Tessa’s, Kate once more looked about to see if Scruffy was within vicinity once more. “I mean, I know I will.” She added under her breath, barely loud enough that Tessa might hear.
-
The man in question was just coming back with a pair of tall cups of water, clearing the crowd just in time to see the two ladies he was keeping company locked in, what seemed to be, quite the kiss. He stopped in his tracks, from a combination of shock, curiosity, and consideration. It was only when he saw Kate begin to look around that he resumed, making sure he was mid-stride when they finally made eye-contact again. Walking up to the cushioned seat that had squeezed the two ladies so close together, he cleared his throat (more for his own sake, since the music covered any small noises he made) and greeted them. "Hey there. I got you each some water. Sorry it took so long, but I figured I should drink mine first rather than try to balance three cups."
-
Reaching her arm forward, Tessa took a big gulp of the water. Her wits slowly coming back to her as she sat back against Kate. Exhaling a relaxed state of air from her lungs, she leaned forward. Still very drunk but the water was helping. "Thankz Scruffy!" she said patting him on the shoulder and rubbing it softly as she drank it up. "You guyz are my best friens." Glancing down she realized she'd spilled some water on her top and saw that part of the crease was near transparent. "Well, isn't that just dandy. Will just have to take it off then." Clearly not clear minded she attempted to take her top off but struggled with much difficulty as it remained on. Her elbows and chest mostly preventing the action. "Guess not," she giggled. "So what d'you guys wanna do?"
-
Upon noticing Scruffy’s return, no doubt having witnessed what’d just happened between herself and Tessa, Kate felt a sense of awkwardness well up in the pit of her stomach as her face flushed a brighter hue of red. “Oh... hey!” she called out to the systems engineer, affording him a tenuous smile as internally she worried whether she might’ve put a damper on the spirit of the evening by her actions. The dynamic between herself and Tessa, and herself and Scruffy was starting to weigh in her mind, and she wasn’t sure what to make of it, or how to really balance it out. Truthfully, she valued both Tessa and Scruffy as friends, and had at times envisioned herself maybe being something more for either of them, but now, with the both of them, she was unsure as to what would unfold, and if she’d damage her friendships with them by entertaining something more with one or the other. “No... it’s, it’s fine, really. Thanks!” she acknowledged, accepting the offered water, and taking a sip of it, while to her right the Lone Wolf drank more heartily, and broke whatever tension Kate had imagined by continuing to be her silly self. The smile soon returned with more earnestness for Kate, though when her blonde companion began futzing with her dress in an effort to remove it, Kate panicked and reached out to stop her. “No! No... no, umm... that’s, no, not really the place for that, hun.” Glancing to Scruffy once more, she brought one of her delicately slender hands to her forehead in awe of the state in which Tessa was mired, genuinely finding it cute, but at the same time, a little concerned.
-
After handing over the waters, Scruffy looked around a moment before dragging an unoccupied chair over to a moderately close position in front of the one the ladies were nestled in. He could tell that Kate was uncomfortable at the moment, and the way she kept looking between him and Tessa led him to conclude that she felt conflicted. Scruffy gave her his trademark smile and wink before Tessa leaned forward to put her hand on his shoulder, his eyes shifting briefly to the hand squeezing his shoulder without losing any of the warmth in his smile. When Tessa started struggling with her top and Kate flailed to stop her, he couldn't help but laugh. "We can barely tell in this lighting, I'm sure it'll be fine until you get out of here and have more room to move," he offered, his eyes on Kate as he spoke, a slight shrug and nod in response to her dramatic gesture.
-
Tessa felt more clear headed as the slight adrenaline rush and water cleared her capacity to think straight. "Thanks guys. I almost made a big mistake. Granted, I did that in the gym once to show off. I totally rocked it but...at the expense of public decency." She smiled at them and pulled them both close for a hug. "I think I can get up now and back to things if you think I'm ready for it. Just going to stay away from any more drinks." She winked back as she began to pull herself up. Still a little off balanced but overall feeling better on her feet.
-
Casting an amused though still mildly concerned look in Scruffy’s direction, Kate afforded Tessa a hand as they began to rise back to their feet from where they’d been seat for a minute. Clearing her throat audibly, she could sense that Scruffy was attempting to be as accommodating as he could with regard to the shared antics of the pair of blondes, and as such continued to endear himself to Kate in a meaningful manner. In the background, as the dying sounds of Aerosmith faded into the noise of the cheering crowd, Kate peered out to watch as Steven Tyler and the rest escaped the stage, her gaze following on until she spotted Reggie at the bar, alone and seemingly her attention fixated downward at a drink. Furrowing her sharp brow, Kate then looked to both Tessa and Scruffy in an appeal. “Hey, you guys mind if I step away for... like... just a minute? I just want to check in on, Reggie, and see what she thinks about how this whole thing is going, yeah?” Nodding in the direction of the bar, Kate pointed a slender index finger at Scruffy and then to Tessa. “You guys be alright for a bit?” More-so directing her question to the systems-engineer, whom she knew would need to keep a close eye on their wildcard friend, the lone wolf without Kate being there.
-
Scruffy made sure to brace himself, being a solid anchor for Kate and Tessa to stand up. "Yeah, probably a good idea," he joked, responding to Tessa's suggestion that she stay away from further drinking. He saw Kate scan the room, and her eyes go distant. "Yeah, take your time. This is a party, I wouldn't expect to monopolize your time, especially with regards to the other host." He smirked at her pointed finger and his eyes flicked over to Tessa. "Yeah, I think we can take care of ourselves for a few minutes. We'll see about working more of it out of our systems on the dancefloor."