Dancing to the Tune

Posted on Thu Apr 6th, 2017 @ 6:16pm by Lieutenant Commander Eneas Clio & Maica III 47

Mission: Death is in the Details
Location: Officer Quarters

It had been quite some time since Clio had danced for any reason. She wasn't a social dancer, and that left her skills a bit rusty. So while she certainly wasn't ashamed of her body, she opted to practice alone in her cabin before moving into more public areas. Or, heaven forbid, trying to teach the other women how to dance like an Orion slave girl. She wasn't sure she could pick the dance up again, let alone teach it.

Knowing that a degree of authenticity in practice would later lead to a better performance, Clio swapped out her uniform for a barely-long-enough crop top and form-fitting shorts before turning on the music file she'd selected. After just listening for a moment to find the underlying rhythms, she gingerly started her practice, hoping not to make a fool of herself later.

Suddenly there came a ringing from her door - the door chime was going off in a strange manner.

"What in the hell?" Distracted by the very odd sound of the door chime, Clio misjudged a step and found herself plunked down on her rear like a clumsy child. "Oof. Computer, pause music." Scrambling to her feet, she went to the door to inspect the noise-making panel. It wasn't the normal sound the device made, and she tapped it gently, though she wasn't sure what that would accomplish. "Uh... come in?"

That was what Maica III had been waiting for so she materialized into the middle of Clio's quarters dressed in a bronze styled Orion bikini. "Madame Commander," she began, bowing gracefully. "I come to offer my services to you and yours in dance dance preparations."

Unprepared for someone to suddenly materialize inside her cabin, Clio spun away from the door and skittered backward a bit before fully realizing that the green woman standing before her was non-threatening. "Have you... been watching me?"

"Not at all," Maica replied as she posed like a swan. "I merely wrote an algorithm into the computer to alert me to the most opportune time to offer my services to you. If you feel like you're being watched, then blame the internal sensors."

"How the devil did you even know to offer any services? I don't think we've even met... and here you are... randomly appearing in my cabin..." Clio wasn't entirely sure if this woman was flesh or hologram, but at least this was a peaceful encounter. She supposed it could be worse.

"My apologies then. I presumed my reputation preceded me when it seems it does not." Bowing again, Maica III introduced herself. "I am the sentient photonically generated entity Maica three, fork forty seven, consort and wife to Captain Enalia Telvan and ship's masseuse. A pleasure to meet you, Madame Commander Eneas Clio. Enalia has bid me offer my services as they are to you for training for an upcoming mission involving traditional Orion dance styles. Henceforth, my services are yours to do with as you please." Finishing her introduction, she bowed gracefully for a third time.

"Maica..." That was a name that Clio had heard a few times, but she didn't think this particular Maica was the one the others on the Katana had spoken about. "And of course. Enalia sent you... I should have guessed. I suppose she would have figured out eventually that I'm a little... rusty when it comes to pretending to be an Orion woman."

Maica III chuckled softly. "That possibility may have been brought up, yes. With your ears and complexion, with a few olive highlights in your hair and cheeks, you could pass for one of the Orions from the southern Islands, at least. Cool weather and long winters, but a plentiful fishing season, they tended to live long and rugged lives. Their dance styles are also somewhat similar to those from ancient Earth or ancient Trill - what was once called belly dancing. I can teach you those skills if you so please, but it won't be easy. Another option is the more traditional dance of the era."

Unfamiliar with the diversity of Orion culture, Clio took a moment to let that sink in. "Actually, that might be easier for me. My own people have a variation on what humans call belly dance, and the bright green Orion makeup usually looks at least a little fake with my complexion. Why don't we try it?"

Maica's pleasant smile widened into a grin that was either seductive or predatory. "Computer, I need makeup kit thirty three alpha." After a chirrup and a few seconds, the replicator spit out the requested makeup kit. and Maica took it and handed it to Clio. Just light dusting over the cheekbones and eyes. You'll also have to do anywhere else your flesh is a bit pale, like over your hip bones and your collar bones. As for the dance, do you want to start practicing that now?"

"Yes. I'm sure I can pull it off, but practice is pretty important for something like this." Taking the makeup kit, Clio opened it briefly to find the tones within were vaguely similar to shades and tints she already wore. Setting it down on the table, she carefully closed the box back up. "We have different evolutionary backgrounds, so really I'm glad you're here. You'll see the small things that would otherwise give me away."

"You are most welcome," Maica III replied, bringing her arms up into a 'genie's dance' pose, her belly shimmying and swaying as if with a life all its own. "I've also heard that you'll all have to use Klingon-Orion language sleep training devices. I'll have to tweak yours of the southern islands, but it won't be too different. Just some grammar differences, for the most part."

"I've done sleep training before. It's actually the best way to learn a new language." Watching Maica III for a few moments, Clio attempted to mimic her. But where Maica III's body moved effortlessly, Clio's did not. It seemed knowing the basic elements of belly dance wasn't quite enough. Despite her usual grace, Clio felt stiff and clumsy.

Pausing in her own dance, Maica motioned towards Clio's head and belly. "Mind if I touch you? I know a few pressure points that'll help loosen you up."

"Touch is not a thing that bothers me. My people are very tactile, and I've experienced the power found in both our healing arts and reiki." Clio wasn't sure if Maica would know what reiki was, but she hoped that would get the point across. "Please, if you have any ideas to help I am open to them."

"Excellent. As a holographic life form, I can't do proper Reiki, but I can do something similar. This may feel a bit odd..." Wiggling her fingers, Maica's form shimmered slightly and she literally reached just barely inside of the base of Clio's skull and exerted just a minute amount of force there, then moved to several points down her spine, doing the same. She then moved to the muscles on the front of Clio's belly and applied a bit of internal pressure at their nerve centers as well. Finishing up, she wiggled her fingers again, re-solidifying her form. "That should give your muscle control much more flow and relax you properly."

"Okay, you're right. That feels weird." It was indeed an odd sensation to have someone's holographic fingers reach inside your body. Painless but odd. Still, Clio was willing to try odd things if they meant success. "Let me try again." Standing still, she didn't feel any different, but when she started to dance she did feel looser and more fluid. While she wasn't on Maica's level of skill, she at least felt more natural!

"Excellent!" Maica exclaimed before resuming her dance. "Now try adding a bit more hip shimmy. You want your butt to wiggle just a bit."

"I'm not sure how wiggly my butt is." Clio couldn't help giggling a little at such non-technical talk, though she did try to follow Maica's instructions.

"You're well toned, but if you do a slight lift at the end of each shimmy, you'll get the wiggle and the movement you want in your belly." Maica demonstrated with a somewhat exaggerated flair.

That made sense enough, so Clio tried it, with somewhat favorable results. She'd never thought she could be too fit to do something convincingly, but she'd never had to really convince someone she was Orion either. "This is harder than it looks."

"It's good exercise too," Maica commented. "Practice this just 30 minutes a day and you'll be a pro within a week."

"Thirty minutes a day isn't bad." It certainly was good exercise, as Clio found she was already starting to sweat. And she could think of other situations such a dance might be useful in.

"You'll be pretty sore tomorrow so I recommend a nice liniment oil to help with that. Just keep up with practice though. I can give you recommendations for outfits as well, if you like. The Orions of the southern islands tend to wear more fur based outfits and slightly less skimpy than their northern counterparts. And you'll need to be able to trill your tongue to call your pet polar bear."

"I keep plenty of liniment and ointments around. I train hard, so I have a nice selection of different types. As for calling the polar bear..." Clio had no earthly idea if there were even polar bears on Orion to begin with, but she was willing to play along. "I'll figure it out. Might not be perfect, but these people will likely have no idea how it's supposed to sound anyway."

Maica chuckled softly. "This is true. As long as you get close, you'll be fine. Most would rather not stick around to see if a three ton saber-toothed demon bear covered in white fur actually shows up."

"Sounds like my kind of pet. I thought about asking Enalia if she'd let me have a vivver cat, but since they're known for attacking and eating people..." Clio shrugged a bit. "Anyway, I really appreciate your help. Even if these guys have never seen a southern Orion, I want it to look good."

"You are very welcome," Maica replied with another graceful bow. "As for a vivver cat, why not have a holographic one? I can have a holomatrix replicated for you in a few days and it can interface with the ship wide holoemitters."

"That might actually be a good idea. At least a hologram can be programmed with safeties." Clio thought about it for a moment, realizing how that would eliminate the problem of the cat attacking the crew. "That would be awesome."

Maica bowed again. "Madame Commander, I shall craft for you a vivver cat and an orion polar bear for your new holomatrix. The best you've ever seen of each. Is there anything else you desire of me?"

"I don't think I need anything else, but please. Stop calling me 'madam.' My name is Clio." Clio smiled a bit, appreciative of the respect Maica had shown her but not feeling truly worthy of it.

"Commander Clio, it is then," Maica replied with a smile and another bow. "If you need anything at all, please do not hesitate to ask. For now though, I must take my leave and allow you to practice in private."

Not long ago, she might have corrected someone for 'Commander Clio', but Clio had since given up on that front. "I'll call if I need you. Thanks, Maica."

With another bow and a smile, Maica vanished into thin air.

As Maica disappeared, Clio went back to her practice, focusing more on her hips and letting the rest fall into place. She had a lot of work to do before the ship went back in time.