Deveraux, following the copmuters directions, eventually found his way to Tarik's quarters. He rang the chime and was invited in. "Tarik mon amis, ow would you feel about comin on a good ol fasioned pub crawl?"
"A pub crawl?
"An Earth custom. We go round every pub we can until we can drink no more. Zhen we come home and sleep it off"
"I don't know if now is the time to do this. I mean, everyone has just been through a major battle. Civilians are only just returning, and besides, I am really concerned about Kassia. I should go and be with her in case she wakes up."
"Tarik, Tarik. Come and enjoy yourself. Ya need to enjoy yourself."
"I dont know"
"Some osers will be zere. Don't be such a panzzy!"
Tarik couldn't really refuse now. Even though he still was thinking about Kassia, he thought the odd drink couldn't hurt. He could drop by at the infirmary after he'd had a few.
On the way to the first pub, with pauls persuasion techniques, the two managed to round up Garek and Alistair. All though like Tarik, they weren't to keen on going out partying. They had other things on their mind.
The first pub came and the group had a few drinks. Although they were hardly the most active group there. Cherrin was still thinking about all the casualties, Tarik was worried about Kassia and Garek was trying to plan out his repair schedule for the next day.
"Come on you guyz! What ze ell is up with you ah? "Where is your sense of fun ah?" Deveraux asked as the third pub failed to show any sign of improvement on the groups mood.
"I should go see Kassia" said Tarik standing and necking down the rest of his ale. "It's been fun"
"I should be going too. I got so many repairs o organise tomorrow, I could do with an early night and no hangover" said Garek leaving with Tarik.
"Ow about you doc? Is you gonna be leavin me all alone too?" asked Paul
"Well, I really ought to be..."
"That's the spirit" said Paul necking down the last of his pint and dragging Alistair out of the bar.
"Paul... I, I really shouldn't"
"Yeah you should" Paul had had considerably more than any of the others and was already swaying as he walked.
"No Paul!" said Cherrin throwing him against the bulkhead. "No more, I'm through!"and walked off down the promenade.
Paul pulled himself to his feet and got his bearings. "Oo needs em anywayz?" he said allowed as he stumbled forward. He headed further down until he found a night club. He figured that mingling in a club was better than drinking alone in a pub. He headed in and even though there were few civilians on the statino, the place was packed. Must be celebrating ze victory he thought to himself. He headed across the dance floor to the bar where he sat down and ordered a large bottle of lager. He sat down on a stool and swiveled around to face the dance floor, almost slipping off as he spun. Further down the bar, he caught site of Captain Wallace. What ze ell? he thought to himself. He quickly got up and took a seat next to him.
"Good evening Captain" he said. Wallace spun round to meet him and it was clear that he had had just as much to drink as Paul, maybe even more. "Oping to get lucky sir?"
"Now what kind of example would I be setting ot my crew if I were to do that?"
Deveraux looked at him blankly not knowing whether to believe him or not.
"Of course I am!" The two laughed. Pauls topped as he caught sight of a woman passing. He followed her as she passed bye.
"Watch zis" he said turning back to Wallace. He got up and followed the woman for a bit before resting his hand on her shoulder to get her attention.
Wallace watched intently from his stool taking a swig of his beer every now and again. Paul seemed to be going well. He had been speaking to her for a while now and she wsa laughing so she seemed to be enjoying herself. Wallace smiled as he watched Deveraux flirting and then suddenly, completely out of the blue.. SLAP! The womans hand came down on Pauls face knocking him to the floor. Wallace burst out laughing and spilled his bottle all over himself. Paul caught site of this and started laughing too. Wallace ordered a replacement drink as Paul returned to his stool.
"What happened?" he asked
"She does not like my idea of a good time" repolied Paul.
"And what would that be?" Paul tapped his nose and grinned. The two laughed again as only drunken men do and continued to drink. It wasn't long before Wallace decided to try his luck. "Excuse me?" he said to a passing woman. "Would you like to come back to my place?" She ignored him and walked on. "How about you?" he asked the next woman to pass by. A rather large man then came up to him and grabbed him by the shirt. "Stay away from my girl!" he said pushing Wallace back against the bar. Paul was laughing hysterically unable to contain himself. When Wallace looked at him witha glare and he stopped. Wallace, determined not to be beaten walked out into a clear spot and shouted at the top of his voice "WHO WANTS TO SHARE THE BED OF A STARFLEET CAPTAIN?!?" He got a lot of laughs but still no luck. He returned to his stool and continued drinking. A few hours and a lot of failed attempts later, the two headed out onto the dance floor. They began dancing and edging their way towards a few women who always seemed to edge themselves further away the further they got.
They were about to give up and head home when they struck it lucky. Two women, possibly sisters approached the two staggering men and asked for a dance. They looked at each other, smiled and headed back onto the dance floor.
"Paul Deveraux right?" shouted the woman over the music
"Yeah, wot of it?" he shouted back.
"I'm a great admirer of your work! I've read all your papers on the ruins of..."
Paul put his finger to her lips to quiet her. "Enough of zat crap! We are not ere to talk about zat stuff. We are ere to get laid no?"
The woman stood there and thught for a minute. She grabbed Pauls hand and pulled him towards the exit of the club. Paul turned to Wallace with a huge grin on his face. Wallace looked at him jealously and continued chatting up is partner.
Paul was dragged out of the club and they headed toward his quarters. They stumbled in laughing and joking and fel onto Pauls huge sofa against the window. They looked at each other and slowly began to kiss. Quickly it progressed and they were soon stripping each others clothes off.
Next morning, Deveraux woke upon the floor of his living room. What ze ell am I doing down ere? he thought. Then the night before suddenly came back to him.. or at least some parts of it. He looked around for the woman from the night before but she was no where to be seen nor were her clothes.
"Ello?" he shouted. "Ello?" It was clear that she had left sometime during the night. Paul got up and headed ot the replicator. He ordered some anti-intoxicant and swallowed it down. It was then that he noticed apiece of paper on his coffee table. He picked it up and read it
Paul,
Last night was great, I had a lot of fun, but I hope you understant why I can't stick around after what I tell you now. You are a Starfleet officer. Starfleet I don't mix well with. It would have only caused trouble for the both of us. It's a shame. I really liked you... cute too. But I guess a Starfleet officer and a smuggler could never hit it off. Maybe I'lls ee you again some time, but for now,
Goodbye xx
[Captain Wallace to Lieutenant Deveraux]
"Go ahead Captain"
[What exactly did we do last night?]
"Don't ask mon amis... Don't ask"