1st Story - Ten Forward

[goldencobra]

One minute, Henry had been sitting on a bus to Boston, the next, he was standing in a room with lots of other people having experienced a large flash of light. Looking around, he realised he had no idea where this place was. It wasn't in the book, it hadn't been described by his father and he certainly wasn't back in Storybrooke.

Glad that he still had his bag, he clutched it tightly and moved to stand in a corner out of the way. Closing his eyes for a moment, to stop himself from panicking, he took some deep breaths before opening them again and taking a proper look at his surroundings.

First thing he noticed was the bar. It spanned the length between the two sets of doors and behind it was a smiling woman. On the other side of the room were...well they looked like windows but all he could see out of them were white dots on a black background. And between them, only chairs and tables, people and drinks. And no one he immediately recognised either.

Moving towards the strange windows, he touched one, unsure if he wanted to believe what he thought he saw. They looked like...stars.

Comments

[abyssum_invocat]

Sitting just in front of one of those wide, strange windows on the stars is a girl about Henry's age. She's quiet, steadily marking dots on several long strips of punch-card paper, with a music box mechanism beside them on the table.

It's clear she's writing something involved, by the sheer length of it, but the melody's not obvious just yet. It probably wouldn't be to anyone not an opera fan, but don't blame her for that. It's what she's grown up with. But sooner or later even the most studious eyes need a break, and while Sinthia rubs hers she lifts her head back up, catching sight of Henry.

Well. Someone her age wouldn't be bad, she supposed. She doesn't know quite what to do with the idea, but it's worth exploring. Maybe.

"You don't have to stand in the corners."

[goldencobra]

Hearing the voice of someone his own age, he turns and tries to give a polite smile. But considering his situation, it's understandable that it he fails. Instead, he looks a little sheepish that she called him out for his corner standing and just shrugged.

"Not sure what to do. Do you know where we are?"

[abyssum_invocat]

"We're on a starship," she says. "The Enterprise. We're...a long way from Earth."

Sinthia tries for a smile at Henry and tilts her head to invite him over, sending her hair swinging around her jaw. "You can come over and sit with me if you want to. So you can read your book."

[goldencobra]

Staring at her a little, because where were they if they were a long way from Earth, and was this another land or just far in terms physical distance, he managed a small nod. The book was tucked under his arm and he followed her to the table, sitting on one end so he was out of her way. His bag was now on his lap, hoarding it like a prized possession, as if scared someone might steal it. After a moment, he spoke again, still quite unsure but glad not to be alone.

"So...what's your name?"

Sorry, misfire account!

[abyssum_invocat]

"Sinthia," she says. "What's yours?"

She gathers up the punch-sheets and her mechanism, and makes room for him at the table when he sits. "Are you okay?"

No worries~

[goldencobra]

"Henry. Henry Gold."

He shrugged, hugging his bag a little and while his book was on the table he didn't open it.

"I was on my way to Boston. How do I get back?"

[abyssum_invocat]

"I don't know if there's a way to get back," she says. "I haven't figured out how to get back to where I'm from either."

[a_quick_study]

It's almost always busy in the bar.

That's what makes it such an interesting place. If you notice things, like Jonas does, you can sit off to one side, apparently engrossed in a history of the Federation on the PADD from your room, glancing up, occasionally, and still getting a feel of what's happening.

Which is why he spends a lot of time sitting in the bar, working his way through some of the more interesting varieties of tea he's discovered, and observing.

He doesn't have much of an aim yet, except for learning what he can about this place and the people in it, which for now, might be enough.

He misses the boy's sudden appearance, but he doesn't miss seeing him move across to the windows, staring at the still stars outside.

"Hi," Jonas says, softly, from his table not so far away from the boy. "Are you okay?"

[goldencobra]

After talking to Sinthia, Henry had gone back to staring at the stars. He was still still trying to decide if he should leave and go find his father who had the room number for. Of course, part of him wanted to but at the same time, considering everything that had happened in the past year or indeed in the past twenty-four hours, he wasn't entirely sure he wanted to just turn up on the man's proverbial doorstep. He wasn't the son the man wanted after all.

A voice brought the boy out of his thoughts and he turned to it's source, shrugging in answer. He didn't want to lie and say he was okay and he couldn't say no without being rude. So a shrug was his best bet. How could he be okay after being pulled from his home without warning and thrust into the future? Even if his father was here, that didn't make it any better. And whatever magic had been cast to make this happen must have an enormous price to go along with it, something Henry didn't want to pay.

[a_quick_study]

A shrug is hardly an endorsement of the situation. The kid seems quiet, thoughtful, and Jonas isn't sure whether he should interrupt. But at the same time ... this place is a little overwhelming. Even to Jonas, who's at least used to the idea of space travel and the possibility of being beamed somewhere without any warning.

What would a small boy make of it?

"You know, it's okay not to be okay. This place ... it's a little crazy."

[goldencobra]

Henry nodded at that. The man was right. This place was a little crazy. Or perhaps a lot crazy.

But he mustn't forget his manners. And he held out his hand, albeit sadly. "Henry Gold. Nice to meet you, mister."

[a_quick_study]

"Hi," he says, approaching close enough to shake the boy's hand. "I'm Jonas. Jonas Quinn."

The kid looks sad, eyes solemn, an impression only added to by the fact that he's all alone in a big, crowded room, with the vastness of space just out the window.

"You know, I know somebody called Gold here already. He a relative of yours?"

[goldencobra]

Henry shakes his hand politely and nods at the question.

"Yeah. He's my dad."

[tea_earlgrey_hot]

A man in command red enters Ten Forward tonight. He has asked Guinan to keep him apprised of any changes as they happen, and not very long ago she contacted him to let him know the number of new visitors had suddenly begun to increase again.

He pauses a few feet inside the room, shoulders straight, striking an imposing figure, and takes a careful look around the room. There are indeed many faces here tonight he does not recognize, but gratefully their luck seems to be holding in that no one is yet causing trouble.

He purses his lips, and moves forward, unwittingly walking in the direction of the young boy.

[goldencobra]

Henry hadn't quite figured out what the colours meant but he noted the man's age and the pips about his collar. He had more than anyone else in uniform and could only assume it meant he was a higher rank than the others. The names of the ranks had been thrown about between people and while Henry didn't know the other exactly, he had a rough idea by who was called what and how many pips they had.

It wasn't long before someone called the man Captain and Henry wrote that down instantly. And as he walked towards him, Henry made an effort to smile at the man. He wouldn't say anything or draw attention to himself, but a small boy with a backpack and a notebook might be interesting enough for the captain to say something instead.

[tea_earlgrey_hot]

... More children. Naturally, if this is of Q's devising, then clearly he is trying to drive Picard to his wit's end; however, unlike the small girl he encountered earlier, this one seems calm and reserved. Two traits he can respect in youths, for whom he has no skill or diplomacy in handling.

This is why he looks uncomfortable when they make eye contact, and the boy smiles at him. It occurs to him that he should probably acknowledge him, but ... he is a child. Picard clears his throat, smiles as genuinely as he can muster, and offers a curt nod.

"Young man," he greets, hoping the boy will leave it at that.

[goldencobra]

Henry can see how uncomfortable he is and he does his best not to laugh even if his smile grows slightly.

"Captain." He nods back, still writing in his notebook. Every little detail was important. "Nice ship you've got here. I'm sorry to have just dropped in."

[tea_earlgrey_hot]

He hasn't the slightest clue what to do about that smile. Were Henry a cadet, this would be a different story.

"Yes, well," he mutters, lips pulling into an approximation of a smile. He glances away, hands forming loose fists. "You are not the first. I can't say many have kept notes, however."

[goldencobra]

"I've noticed that. Most of the people who should be here have uniforms like yours. I've calculated..." He flicks through the pages until he finds what he's looking for, the number of people without uniforms. This includes those who should and shouldn't be here. "...people without them. But since that includes Guinan, it's not accurate to how many people shouldn't be here."

He stops and looks up. "Notes help quantify your surroundings. At least to me." They certainly helped when he got all that information about the curse. Writing and rewriting so he could assimilate it better.

[she_listens]

The smiling woman is still behind the bar when Henry eventually makes his way to her, asking if they take credit cards.

"Credit cards?"

That's an awfully grown-up question, even if it is a few centuries outdated.

"No," she chuckles. "But you don't need them. I'll be happy to get you whatever you want."

[goldencobra]

He'd been in the room for a while and had watched the smiling woman behind the bar along with everyone else. His notes included her and and since he saw no currency, he'd asked about credit cards. The idea of getting something for nothing was alien to Henry (no pun intended).

"Wait, for free?" He looked incredulous at the woman.

"O-Okay then. Can I get some hot cocoa with cinnamon on top?"

This place couldn't any good if they didn't make a good cocoa.

[she_listens]

Guinan grins, and in a teasing voice says:

"Unless you have something you'd like to trade. For instance, can you teach me how to dance?"

Her eyes sparkle with laughter, like catching starlight in two deep wells.

"One hot cocoa with cinnamon, coming right up. Would you like whipped cream?"

[goldencobra]

Henry looked a little worried for a moment but smiled again after he realised she was joking.

"Yes please." He replied. That was how he had it back home anyway.

[she_listens]

Guinan nods, tucking a smile into her left cheek as she turns away. She had a feeling, but it always pays to ask.

When she returns, she's carrying a clear mug filled with rich hot chocolate and a good dollop of whipped cream, with just the right amount of cinnamon dusted on top.

"There you go."

She sticks close, but not so close he'll feel like she's hovering.

"How long have you been on the Enterprise?"

[goldencobra]

Henry didn't answer the question right away. He was getting stuck into his drink and trying to decide if it was better or worse than Granny's. It wasn't bad but nothing really beat home made.

Eventually however, he did answer. But by this time he'd gotten cream all over his face. "Um...a few hours I think."