The Drinking Contest

Posted on Mon Dec 25th, 2023 @ 4:50am by Lieutenant Commander Kevin Lance

Mission: Christmas Cheer
Location: Earth
Timeline: Current

on:
{Hvalset Fjord, Greenland}

The fire in the Great Hall was sufficiently warm enough to encourage Kevin to shed his outer layers of his cold weather gear. The drinking that had been indulged in at the wreath lighting ceremony earlier began in earnest now. Kevin was seated between Thor and Mira at the head table. The horn of mead was delicious, smooth and mellow, without the gamey aftertaste of Odinskus ale but he found himself missing the brew that had been a staple for more than a year and a half.

Thor engaged him in a discussion about his time as on the diplomatic mission amongst the Odinskus, asking many probing and clarifying questions. He was most interested in the prospect of a lost colony of Norwegians many thousands of light years away. Still the Odinskus were so absurd that they needed to be experienced and Kevin could see that Thor didn’t believe half the things that he was being told.

Telling stories about the Odinskus kept Kevin’s attention from dwelling on his close proximity to Mira, who was seated right next to him. Even so, he frequently found himself stealing a sidelong glance at her, especially when she would laugh.

“Thor,” Mira interrupted at one point, “Odin believes that he can out drink me. I call on you to judge.”

Thor nodded and muttered, “This should be good.” Then louder so the rest of the guests might hear, “ow, no spilling half the drink on yourself, Odin, and don't try to make Mira wear her drink either."

When both contestants indicated their readiness, Thor commanded, “GO!” and the two began quaffing from their enormous pitchers. Kevin looked on the contest with dissatisfaction. Thor leaned over to him and asked, “You disapproval, Lieutenant?”

“Commander Rodale is very capable,” Kevin admitted, “but her ego is always borrowing latinum that her body can’t repay.”

Thor nodded gravely, “I worry that one day she will get herself into a situation that she will not be able to escape from. I wish she would marry one of my sons or nephews.”

“She would never leave Star Fleet.”

“I know,” Thor agreed, “but I would feel much better knowing that there was someone who would always have her back.”

Kevin thought back to the dinner she had shared with Sheris. He shuddered to think what might have happened had he and Rodriguez not been present.

Mira won the drinking contest on a technicality. In his haste to win, Odin has gotten as much on him as in him where as her more methodical pace ensured that not a drop was spilled. Thor, as judge, stepped up to the two contestants and held up Mira’s hand as victor. "She didn't spill any of hers, my friend," He declared, making people laugh.

She put her hand on Kevin’s shoulder to steady herself as she stepped over the bench to seat herself. "No more of that for a while. Don't you people drink coffee or tea?" she asked with another musical laugh that warmed Kevin’s heart.

Kevin reached a hand up to take Mira’s but he was interrupted by a server dropping a large plate of meat between himself and the executive officer. She removed her hand to pick up a fork and attacked the plate with relish. After a moment, a disappointed Kevin did the same.

:off

Lieutenant Kevin Lance
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Chuck Norris