for ZEX, it's time to par-tay

[bornsnarky]

[standing at the bar, yanking on the collar of this damn dress uniform]

[reeeeeeally hoping these Thraddash people don't approach me, surely there're enough interesting people around here that I can just get convivially drunk with Scotty and ZEX and Uhura]

[I can see Jim in the corner being all charming and shit, and there're a couple more being entertained by Chekov and Gaila, excellent, maybe I can get out of this formal reception with my sanity relatively intact]

[then a gravelly voice behind me says he'll buy me a drink]

[...turning]

Ah. Um. Thanks, I guess. I'm Leonard McCoy.


[he says he knows]

Comments

[bornsnarky]

[raising my glass] And that's the important thing.

[zexyandiknowit]

[Finds his own glass and clinks it together with McCoy's before taking a long pull]

[bornsnarky]

[putting my glass back down on the table, pleasantly buzzed]

[zexyandiknowit]

[Lean ♥]

This is nice.

[bornsnarky]

You're a damn sight more comfortable than those... those gropers.

[zexyandiknowit]

[lol]

They were a bit forward, weren't they?

[bornsnarky]

Couldn't keep their hands to themselves. Sheesh.

[zexyandiknowit]

[Nods sagely]

At least there were not many women among them. They are rather worse.

[bornsnarky]

[an aggrieved squeak] Sheesh, is nothing sacred? Though I guess I should expect that, given Chris and Nyota.

[zexyandiknowit]

Chris?--Nurse Chapel. She is forward?

[bornsnarky]

Only when she thinks the result'll amuse her.

[zexyandiknowit]

...

I readily believe this. How long have you known her?

[bornsnarky]

Head nurse in my sickbay needs to be able to hold her own. Unfortunately she's damn good at her job.

Ah, six, seven years? On and off, though. She left Georgia before I did, went into space with her fiance, then joined Starfleet and ended up on Enterprise.

[zexyandiknowit]

Have you been friends, this whole time? She is a bit... well.

Women with senses of humor, you know.

[bornsnarky]

Yeah, and despite what she might tell you, I wrote to her plenty.

What do you mean?

[zexyandiknowit]

Hee! Understood.

...The word may be "intimidating," to be frank with you.

[bornsnarky]

[sits up straight, turns to face you]
[blearily good humoured fascination on my face]

All women? Or just human women?

[zexyandiknowit]

All women with senses of humor. Humor involves wit and understanding, and a sort of--general knowledge of things. I have already met so many brilliant women that when they are also funny, I am a bit confused as to how this can be allowed.

[bornsnarky]

...huh.

That apply to men as well? Are VUX men generally funnier than women or something?

[zexyandiknowit]

Not at all. Men in general are just a bit less intelligent, I think.

...Is this a cultural thing? I have not examined it as such.

[bornsnarky]

[snorts] Ah, I get it. So it's okay if a man's funny, 'cos we're all stupid?

[torn between tipsily unfocused outrage and laughing my ass off, because I thought only I was this bad with people skills]

[zexyandiknowit]

No offense intended to doctors and the like, obviously.

Is this strange? This is strange, isn't it?

[bornsnarky]

There are stupid doctors.

'sunusual. But general respect for women's a good idea in itself. Especially if you don't want to get your ass pinched.

[zexyandiknowit]

While I would not mind that, exactly, I believe I understand.

[Siiigh and lean] You are not a stupid doctor. This is what matters. And you see now how I am not very good at this, actually, I have just been very lucky.

[bornsnarky]

[arm around you comfortably]

The butt pinching probably ain't the worse part. Just watch that you don't profess too much surprise at a woman being smart and funny, 'kay? I prefer you whole.

You are good at it. You're allowed to mess up. Once or twice.