Valhalla Deliver Us: Part 1/2

Posted on Sun Jun 22nd, 2025 @ 3:55pm by Petty Officer 1st Class Gabriel Stark & Petty Officer 3rd Class Constantin Vansen & Civilian Riku Saito

2,273 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: To Boldly Go
Location: Valhalla Bar, USS Fenrir
Timeline: Day 10 - after the crew board Fenrir

ON:

Constantin Vansen had not always understood bars. To be fair to him, he hadn't realised they even existed until he had come to Earth as a teenager. Now, he felt like a native. The Valhalla was one of those bars he liked, where yes, sure, it was Starfleet through and through, until someone who actually went to bars sat down and went 'let's change this'...and so it was!

The music wasn't too loud either, which meant that Vansen had a chance to sit at the bar and listen to conversations around him. He was new, he hadn't...really made friends yet. And it was something he wanted. He liked people. He liked interacting with them, building friendships. He did wear his uniform though, even if many here didn't. He hadn't...really understood yet why people didn't. It was clothes, there...well, okay, some clothes looked better than others. He tugged the cuffs of his Starfleet issued jumpsuit down, finding them a bit short on his wrists. He had forgotten to tie his hair back properly, so it hang down, brushing against his stubbled jaw. Forgotten to shave too. All in all, a great start. He looked down at the menu in front of him, reading the names but not understanding them. Drinks. It was just drinks, why was it difficult?

In direct contrast, Gabriel Stark strolled into the bar like he owned it. He had no such qualms about discarding his uniform, clad in black denims and a dark red silk shirt. As he walked towards the bar, he had the slightest sway to his step in time with the music that was playing. He half leant over the bar, waving his hand to the bartender as he grinned. "Hey Riku, how about a Zombie?" he chuckled as he hopped up onto the stool.

Riku looked at him, giving him a small, almost patient smile. "I can do that," he said and moved to line up the bottles of synthol he needed for it. "You're becoming a regular, Stark. I like that, means I won't be bored."

"You can count on that," Gabriel assured with a soft laugh, his gaze falling on the man sitting next to him. He tilted his head as he took in the profile; he seemed to be studying the menu like it was an Academy textbook. "None of it will kill you," he assured with a gentle, teasing voice.

"I..." he looked at Gabriel and smiled, shaking his head as he met his eyes. "I'm sure it won't, I just..." he looked down at the menu. "I have no idea what all of this is. I usually end up with beer..." he glanced at him and made a face. "I just want to try something new."

"Ah, well you're in luck, because I am the resident expert in bar menus..." Gabriel offered his hand to him with a small, playful smile. His dark hair was cropped short, and his equally dark eyes were warm as he took the other man in. "Gabriel Stark, Security and recreation expert..."

"Constantin Vansen, Operations and...menu-illiterate," Constantin said, looking at him, taking in his features. Dark eyes, dark hair, beautiful clear pale skin. Cheekbones that could cut glass and a smile that made his own appear. Slender too, the sort that spoke of movement. Security. Yes, he could see that. Not the sort of Security where you did a double-handed hit, the sort that moved quickly and got things done. And the voice too, warm and soothing, but also with a...clarity. Stunning, he thought and then chuckled at himself, a blush coming to him despite his best effort. "So I need all the help I can get, Gabriel."

"Well, wouldn't you know, that's the other thing I'm great at," Gabriel teased softly, enjoying that he'd managed to make the man smile when he'd seemed so earnest when he'd approached. He was clearly used to talking to strangers, relaxed and confident as he settled in beside him. "What are you into, Constantin? Fancy something strong and powerful or are you after a sweet and lingering experience?"

"Oh..." Constantin looked thoughtful, clearly taking the question serious. His eyes went to Gabriel's, searching them for a moment before he smiled. "Sweet and lingering, perhaps. I have a sweet tooth..." he gave a small nod, with warmth. The teasing felt good, warm, and it was that which made him inch a little closer. "I don't mind some sharpness though. I just don't like being knocked out..." he added the last teasingly.

"Oh, I can sympathise with that one," Gabriel admitted with a soft laugh as he cast his eye over the menu for him. And if he were being honest, he'd lost count of the amount of times he'd drunk himself to the point of blackout, only to awake the next day confused, feeling terrible and, more often than not, in a strange place. But Constantin didn't have to know that. "Here..." he finally tapped the menu with a tempting smile. "Betazed Illusion..." he decided for them, motioning Riku over with a grin. "Hey Riku, two Betazed Illusions please."

Riku chuckled softly as he made his way over to them, casting aside the Zombie he had been making and taking down a cocktail shaker, followed by four bottles of liquors. His black hair was twisted loosely up into a bun out of the way, and his high cheek bones made his smile seem even more knowing. "Well, at least I will not have to be afraid for my job," he said lightly as he started to pour. "I have a feeling you will be keeping us in business, Gabriel."

Constantin smiled as he looked at Riku, then at Gabriel. Who had to be one of the most alive people he had ever encountered. He just seemed to breathe energy. Something ethereal almost, as if he was floating through the universe...via the cocktails by the looks of it. The smile too was just wicked. "He might not be the only one," he said with a small chuckle, looking over at Riku. "If I enjoy the drink, you'll see a lot more of me here."

"You hear that, Riku? No pressure..." Gabriel grinned as he leant casually forward on the bar to watch the man work, smiling with appreciation at the quick, delicate hands.

Riku shook his head with the slightest roll of his eyes, but his smile was good natured as he carefully poured the purple, shimmering liquid into two glasses before adding two small golden sticks next to the glasses. He hesitated, glancing between the two men, getting the impression that Gabriel would want to take it from there. "Enjoy, gentlemen."

Gabriel smiled his gratitude to the man before carefully taking one of the sticks, his gaze settling back on Constantin...and there was a spark of excitement in his dark eyes now. "See, if you were to drink it now, it would be bitter and you'd be questioning my judgement and thinking who the hell is this idiot anyway, but..." he lifted the gold stick for him to see before carefully waving it over his own drink. The top of the liquid caught fire, burning warmly for a good few seconds before dying down. "...now, it will taste as sweet as honey and as warm as a long summer's night on the lake..." he motioned for him to try it with his own as he smiled almost hopefully to him.

Constantin looked at the glass with anticipation. He took the stick and did the same, gasping as it got set on fire. Fire was still something he was getting used to seeing as a non-negative thing. And this...this was mesmerizing, the blueness of the flame that became paler as it rose. He put the stick down and reached for the glass, finding it cool to the touch. He picked it up and took a sip, a soft moan escaping him at the sweetness and warmth of it. The first layer was...warm, the second cool as the flames hadn't been there long enough to change it. Yet it...tasted different. He put the glass down and looked at Gabriel with awe. "You...are a genius."

Gabriel grinned, clearly pleased at getting the reaction he'd hoped for. He had to lift his hands in a self-effacing manner though, shaking his head with a theatrical sigh. "I would *love* to claim the credit, but I only recommended it, I didn't create it. But it made you smile, so I'm going to claim credit for that at least..."

Constantin laughed as he nodded, watching him for a long moment. "Yes, you did," he said with awe. At how easily the man had been able to do it. With seemingly no effort. "Is this what you do in Security? Recommend cocktails between firefights and arresting people, all whilst keeping people safe on away teams?"

"Listen, alcohol has many uses in an emergency," Gabriel leant in close to lower his voice, suggesting he was sharing a valuable trade secret. "You can diffuse tension...build bridges...clean wounds...it's even saved lives."

There was a look of fascination on Constantin's face as Gabriel spoke, leaning closer as well. "I...don't know about the history of alcohol," he admitted, his voice soft. He sounded almost shy. "Has it saved your life? Gotten you out of sticky situations? I...ask because in my experience, it has gotten me into such situations."

Gabriel's smile softened at the question. The charm and playfulness slipped away and was replaced by a far more natural smile that was gentle and thoughtful. The question had struck a chord, and he couldn't ignore it. It brought honesty to the surface without him even realising it. "No. No, the truth is it's probably been involved in some of the worst and most stupid moments of my life," he admitted with a chuckle.

Constantin laughed softly, grinning as he looked at him. "Glad it isn't just me. I...try and stick to the synth stuff, even if people tell me the real thing is nicer. Just...I like being able to shake it if I have to, you know? Ships don't...always take into account how intoxicated you are before deciding that they want to vent your air." He looked down, almost embarrassed, before he sipped the drink again, sighing at the taste of it. How mellow it now seemed. "Got to admit though, I do...like losing control a little bit on the real stuff."

Gabriel set his chin into his hand as he watched him with...awe? Admiration? One thing was for sure, Constantin was a hell of a lot stronger than he was. "I wish I had your sensible head," he finally chuckled, even as he reached for his drink to sip. "No matter how many times it makes things worse...it still seems like an old reliable."

"People got to people," Constantin said as he smiled, shaking his head. He considered what he said, giving a shake of his head. "It's not sensible. It's just...I know how fragile we are. What's outside and all that." He looked at him before he smiled, his eyes shining with it. "Sort of makes you want to do everything, you know? Try everything, taste everything...live with no regrets. Not that...I don't have regrets. People do. It makes us people."

Gabriel searched his eyes, his own dark eyes glinting with emotion. Oh didn't he just know exactly what he meant. Needing to feel and experience everything. Fill the gaps of silence. Chase the highs, blank out the lows. He bit his nail lightly as the thoughts ran through his mind, thinking on just how much trouble it had brought him in his time. Was he right though? Did the regrets make them people? God, he hoped not. Because he was pretty sure it would be all there was. "Is that why you're here?"

Constantin chuckled at that before he gestured to the viewscreen, with the stars outside. "I'm here because I don't want to be planet bound. Starfleet...was the most sensible option. You have a job, you have a place on a ship...that's what matters to me. Being out here in the black, not...heavy on the planet."

"Heavy?" Gabriel shook his head with confusion, his curiosity getting the better of him even as he motioned for another round of drinks...without asking Constantin.

Constantin watched him before he smiled. This man was a shipmate. And he wanted to be honest. "I was born in zero g. My body can't handle gravity naturally so I am on medication to increase bone density, vascular toughness...all that stuff. I was too old for gene therapy, so rehabilitation and medication."

Gabriel's mouth dropped open with surprise. He hadn't expected that answer, not in a million years. His brain worked overdrive to try and fit what he was saying together, to give it meaning. His exposure to a zero g environment must have been prolonged for it to effect his body that badly. "How?" the question fell out of his mouth before he could stop it. How had a child been exposed to so much physical trauma. He remembered himself, shaking his head with a frown. "Sorry mate," he looked into his glass with disapproval of his own question. "I shouldn't have asked that, it's none of my business."

TBC:

PO3 Constantin Vansen
Operations
USS Fenrir
(PNPC Hanlon)

PO1 Gabriel Stark
Security/Tactical
USS Fenrir
(PNPC Blake)

Riku Saito
Bartender
USS Fenrir
(NPC)

 

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