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Hoshi
She’d already set her outfit for the evening on and beside the bed - a dress she’d bought a few months prior while shopping with Janelle and Liz, wedge heels, and a matching lingerie set with an adorable bra and truly minuscule knickers. The knickers looked amazing on but required some preparation given how little of herself they covered, and that was her first task. Applying the depilatory cream with care, she was confident the remaining triangle would be entirely covered, and leaned against the wall to wait. Several minutes later she wiped the cream away with its plastic scraper, then carefully sponged over the now-bare skin with a soft wet cloth. Seated on the stool by the vanity, she took out her finest pair of scissors and trimmed the remainder - a far more comfortable compromise than total deforestation. She smirked to herself as she recalled the Australian euphemism for pubic hair, her ‘map of Tassie’ now rather smaller than it had been. Satisfied, she collected the knickers to confirm her success, then removed them once more before moving on to the next task.
With the same cream efficiently applied to her underarms she switched to the one designed for larger less-sensitive areas, thoroughly covering both legs from ankle to upper thigh as she sang along with the playlist she’d selected. Hair effectively banished, she adjusted the shower until the water ran comfortably warm, and stepped in. Shampooing her hair took little enough time, and she switched off the flow after rinsing thoroughly. Squeezing the excess water from her hair she then slathered it with the rich coconut mask which kept it soft and healthy, coiling it neatly on top of her head. With a dribble of water she rinsed her hands, then grabbed the tub of exfoliant, gently massaging it into knees, elbows, heels, and any other place that was feeling a little less than ideally smooth. With that done the water flowed once more, rinsing the gentle scrub from her skin before washing everything from the shoulders down with her favourite milk and honey shower cream. Having rinsed the mask from her hair, her face was then gently cleansed with a foaming aloe wash, and all felt clean and fresh.
Stepping from the shower she quickly wrapped herself in one large, fluffy towel, then sat on the stool to dry her hair with another, hanging her head between her knees as she worked along the lengths with care. No longer dripping, she twirled the towel around her head and fetched the bottle of body lotion, allowing the towel around herself to fall open as she applied it all the way from toes to shoulders. Wrapped snugly once more, she switched to the face cream, smoothing it over neck and décolletage as well before setting it aside. Hanging the towel from her hair on the rack, she took out the large round brush and blow dryer, setting soft, loose waves into her long black tresses as they dried. With the front clipped carefully back from her face, she moved onto make-up. T’Pol was unlikely to bother with more than a lightly-tinted lip balm, and neither Malcolm nor Trip were prone to such things outside of costuming for away missions and Halloween celebrations, so Hoshi kept her own look simple as a result. Mascara, eye liner, and her favourite red lipstick were more than enough for an evening with people she knew so well.
Moving from the bathroom to the bedroom she dressed - the bra far more flattering than those issued by Starfleet, and the dress covering a good deal less than her uniform. Sitting to fasten the buckles of the ankle straps on her shoes, she rose once more to make final adjustments to her hair. Removing the clip, she used a smaller round brush with the dryer to frame her face, then admired the completed look in the full-length mirror. Spritzing perfume in front of herself she walked through it - a technique that ensured a more even distribution than direct application. Realising her near-omission, she pulled on the genuinely tiny knickers, trying to think of things other than their removal at the end of a very pleasant evening.
Malcolm
He still wasn’t entirely sure how he’d been talked into going out for dinner on the first full day of shore leave, but Hoshi’s pleading look, Trip’s “aw, come on, Mal,” and T’Pol’s quiet “I will also be in attendance” were apparently a more potent combination than he’d realised. He could faintly hear music coming from nearby, and if he were to hazard a guess that was likely Hoshi, enjoying herself as she readied for the group’s evening out. Assessing the options in his wardrobe, Malcolm selected the soft grey trousers and a button-down shirt the greyish-green of eucalyptus leaves. He’d been told more than once that it suited him, and T’Pol at her most observant had remarked how it matched his eyes. Trip had grinned at that, asking when their science officer had looked closely enough to know the colour, and her retort that she knew the specific shade of blue that made up his own irises had been sufficient to silence him - no small feat, when it came to Trip.
Deciding he’d best start his own preparations, Malcolm quickly stripped and made his way to the bathroom, looking forward to taking a shower with hot water not limited by a timer. With tea tree oil shampoo and conditioner, a moisturising body wash infused with shea, and the gentle cream cleanser Hoshi had recommended for his face he was soon clean, and a matter of minutes later he was also dry, barring his hair. Having noticed the slight stubble on his cheeks as he bathed, he fetched his shaver, running it carefully over the required areas before rinsing his face once more. A cursory smear of moisturiser to avoid being nagged about wrinkles satisfied that need, and a few drops of argan oil serum was more than adequate for his hair. Combing it neatly into place, he gave a quick nod to the mirror. Charcoal socks and his good black shoes completed the look alongside the trousers and shirt, with comfortable underwear in black rather than Starfleet blue beneath. With a sigh he fetched the cologne, applying the smallest possible dab of fragrance to his pulse points. If this were indeed a ‘special evening out’ he didn’t want to be on the receiving end of complaints at his lack of effort, nor did he wish to overtax T’Pol’s nasal tolerance. Compromises must be made, and this was one.
T’Pol
With guest quarters neighbouring Hoshi’s, T’Pol could hear the music that came through the wall, and the voice of their communications officer joining in. The volume was not especially loud, and those with less sensitive hearing may have struggled to hear, but to her each sound was distinct, as was the obvious joy with which it was accompanied. Being the middle of the afternoon she did not begrudge such indulgence, and allowed the sound to wash over her as she soaked in the claw-footed bathtub. An indulgence of her own, she relished the opportunity to remain submerged in the gently fragranced hot water, allowing the muscular tension of recent weeks to melt away. Upon further reflection she concluded that her tolerance of the music was in no small part due to the source of the water’s fragrance. A nourishing oil from a plant found only on Vulcan, she’d been surprised by the gift on her last birthday, along with the revelation that Ambassador Soval had participated in its procurement. If she were Human, she might describe her present circumstances as heavenly.
Towelling herself dry after finally emerging from the tub, she appreciated how soft her skin now felt, and heaved a gentle sigh. Combing her hair neatly into place, she then made her way to the bedroom. Knowing their plans for the evening, she selected a pair of dark purple trousers - tailored to flatter her figure while fitting less snugly than her uniform, and cropped below the knee. A lighter purple top with built-in bust support was chosen to accompany them, along with low-heeled shoes in black, and soft lace underwear which very nearly matched the top in colour. Tucking a small case into each pocket of her trousers, she applied tinted lip balm, and was ready to depart.
Trip
Trip sat with one foot on the edge of the bed, the bin beneath his toes as he trimmed the nails. Things had been so busy in engineering lately he hadn’t had the chance to look after himself properly, and he’d managed to put a hole through his socks as a result. That wouldn’t do now that they were finally on shore leave - it was time to get his own appearance looking as good as the ship. The final nail clipped, he grabbed the file and smoothed any sharp edges before doing a final check of his fingernails. He didn’t think of himself as an especially vain man, but he still wanted to look nice for the night out with T’Pol, Malcolm, and Hoshi. Hoshi had organised the restaurant for dinner - some place with a menu they’d all enjoy - and he’d arranged tickets for the entertainment after. He was pretty sure Malcolm would get a big kick out of it, but he was a little worried about T’Pol and Hoshi, so he’d given them the heads-up to bring ear plugs. He knew T’Pol wouldn’t forget.
Showering, he used his favourite soap, which smelled of Florida peaches. He knew some people thought it was kind of girly, but it reminded him of home, so he couldn’t bring himself to give a damn - and who decided what were ‘girly’ smells anyway? Janelle smelled of plasma coolant more often than not, and Mike didn’t seem to mind in the slightest. His shampoo and conditioner smelled of peaches too, and by the time he was done he was almost as fragrant as an orchard - one benefit of which was not needing any cologne that might set off T’Pol’s sensitive nose. Shaving carefully, he checked his nose and ears for any sprouting hairs, and was grateful that the Tucker family curse hadn’t come to call just yet. Working an unscented balm through his hair, he styled it to look as though it hadn’t been styled at all - which took more work than a lot of people realised - and smiled at the result.
Making his way to the bedroom, he applied the special face cream Hoshi had found when she realised he still suffered from acne, and smiled again at the thought of her persistence. She’d done her research, found exactly the thing that would make his skin finally calm down, and then badgered him into using it until he realised it worked. The rest of him got a thorough lick of moisture, and then he looked in the wardrobe. What in the blazes was he supposed to wear that was practical for post-dinner, but wouldn’t tip Malcolm off during the meal? The navy slacks were pretty versatile, they might work… and maybe the shirt T’Pol said matched his eyes? She was way too observant for her own good - both she and Hoshi noticed things others missed, and Malcolm was the same at least as far as threats to security went, which had both pros and cons. It was hard to surprise any of them, and Trip was a big fan of initiating pleasant surprises. Selecting the navy slacks, blue button-down, comfy jocks that were basically the same as Starfleet’s but not bright blue, socks that matched the shirt, and the nice-but-not-too-nice shoes, he figured he’d look pretty decent by the time he was done. Finally dressed, he double-checked his hair and looked at the clock on the wall. Five minutes until he was supposed to meet the others - perfect timing! The night was off to a good start, and he hoped it would continue.