Lt. Cmdr. Rebecca Iko -- Tonight's program
Rebecca Iko
Iko: Robbie, where’s your favourite place?
Robin opened her mouth to answer, but then had to think about it. Bec beamed. oO Made ya think. Oo
Hopper: Well, hmm. I mean, my go-to answer is the botany lab – but I’ve already recommended that one to both Aitas and Ensign Bryn, so I kinda feel like that’s a bit of a cop out. ::Rolling her eyes:: Ugh, okay, I have my answer. It’s cheesy, so forgive me for being sentimental. I’m going to say The Cellar – the Ancillary Support Section, tucked right under the SRC.
Iko: So that’s where you’d go hide…
Bryn: Wait, why is that cheesy?
Robin blushed slightly. Bec let her explain.
Hopper: It’s where Nathan – ::explaining, for Bryn:: my big lunk of a husband – and I first met… He was working on rebuilding a McCall class shuttle from scrap and I volunteered to help with the operating system. We didn’t really ‘get together’ for a while after that, but we did spend a lot of time down there getting to know each other.
Aitas: I see no flaw in being fond of somewhere where you ‘got to know’ someone important to you.
Bryn: Definitely. That’s so cute. What does your husband do on the ship? Is he an Engineer? Mechanic?
Robin chuckled slightly, and with a smile Bec rolled her eyes at the Mechanic idea. She could see Nath going on about that too.
Hopper: At the time, he was an Engineer. An Ensign as well, like yourself, Saelis. For a while he was Amity’s Chief of Operations before being transferred to the USS Shelby as its Chief Engineer… at Ambassador Turnbull’s request.
Iko: ::quietly mumbling:: Turnbull just about turned Amity upside down-
Hopper: Okay, your minute is up, Bec! Answer time.
Do you know what would have been smart? Actually taking this time to think of an answer.
Bryn: Yes! ::she turned, enthusiastic:: What’s your favorite part?
Iko: Uhhhh… Blue Gums in Peace Park.
Robin clicked her tongue in appreciation of Bec’s answer (honestly, there were few ‘wrong’ answers, she supposed to the question at hand).
Aitas: ::lightly:: There are far more perilous games to play out there.
Bryn: Yeah. Like Amity Bingo, I’ve heard.
Hopper: ::Eyebrows raised:: Amity what now?
Bec furrowed her brow.
Hopper: Bec, do you know anything about that?
She looked at Robin. Then furrowed her brow more.
Iko: I blame Kaito or Wong.
Those were her two educated guesses of mischief makers. And this did sound like mischief.
Aitas: Oh, the thing with such games is that any question you ask is likely to be turned right back on you. Unless it’s a reporter, in which case, well…
Had some rando from the FDC literally had a meeting with Bec a few months ago on press etiquette and how she needed to actually tell them (or at least, FNS) stuff when asked? Maybe.
Hopper: ::Inquisitively:: In which case…? ::Chuckling:: In my experience, the press is always looking for the story in-between the lines of whatever we say. Sometimes that’s negative, sometimes it’s positive, but it’s rarely straightforward… Have you been keeping all the straight-shooting journalists corralled somewhere, Aitas?
Iko: I swear they always twist what I’m trying to say into what I’m not trying to say.
Bryn: Wait, do we even have reporters all the way out here?
Robin nodded emphatically, and took another large sip of her drink.
Aitas: We do have a small contingent of them aboard Amity. Some more insistent than others.
Hopper: There are a number of Federation News Service reporters who rotate in and out periodically, I guess to keep perspectives fresh – and also since civilian operators rarely like to be this far from home for an extended period of time… There are also a few independents, including some who are locals. ::Rolling her eyes:: If you get cornered by a Mr. Summerside, don’t give him anything of substance unless you want it distorted.
Iko: He hasn’t been too bad lately though.
By that Bec just meant she hadn’t heard much complaints. Or heard anything really.
Bryn: Fascinating. Is there an Amity Times? Maybe I should read it to catch up with things.
Bec furrowed her brow and looked at Robin, who shook her head.
Hopper: Hmm. Not that I’m aware of. We get a fair amount of space in the monthly FNS coverage – it helps that we’re the only major Starfleet presence in the region. But it’s predominantly high-level reports on what’s happening out here. ::Considering:: I haven’t seen anything entirely focused on Amity, like a– ::searching for the word:: –a newsletter?
Iko: It does seem right up Summerside’s alley though. Wonder if someone can suggest the idea… and make him think he thought of said idea.
Aitas: Response
Pointing a finger at Bryn in a manner she hoped would read invitational, rather than authoritative (as this was definitely not an order), Robin gently suggested…
Hopper: If you have any interest in journalism or writing, Ensign, maybe you should consider starting something up. ::Shrug:: Or even if you just want to be in charge of distribution. That might be more up your alley as an Engineer.
Bryn: You said it, not me. ::she chuckled::
Shaking her head emphatically, but grinning despite herself, Robin flatly refused.
Hopper: Oh no. I have enough PADDwork to do in a typical day. I’m not spending any more time than I absolutely have to on my work devices. The second I finish my daily reports, that PADD gets left in my office and I am off. When you live and work in the same place, it’s very important to maintain those sorts of work-life boundaries, Ensign. Especially as you continue to move up in rank and position.
Bec gave a small smile in agreement. Her own work-life balance was mostly fine, occasionally a report would be brought home to finish writing, but that seldom actually got done while at home anyway.
But looking at Saelis there was a part of Bec, the part that hadn’t gotten used to being a Lieutenant Commander and the larger part that hadn’t gotten used to being second officer, that saw the new Ensign fresh out of the academy and wondered if Bec could live up to the rank and position she held. She didn’t feel she was there yet, even after sitting in on meetings with Wil and Robin for a fair few months, and dealing with all the new PADDwork and technically being the highest ranked officer on the station when Wil and Robin would go off to do things. “Why me?” was a common question that floated through her mind. She’d hoped it’d eventually settle like all the other promotions and becoming department chief had. But it hadn’t yet.
Hopper: There are lots of other fun things to do around here, though. Something for just about anyone, I’d say… Do you have any other hobbies you enjoy, Ensign? ::To the others:: Bec, Aitas?
Aitas: Response
Iko: I managed to pull some strings and get a board breaking rig in the small sort of gym area we’ve got in the Security Centre.
Bec chuckled.
Iko: I taught some of the crewmen, much to the med centre’s dismay.
Especially since said med centre was right next door, watching and screwing up their faces in “that is a bad idea you’re gonna hurt yourself doing that”.
Bryn: Response
Hopper: Well, when I do go out, I’m a sucker for Wet Goods – that’s the local Karaoke bar. They have good curly fries, too… I’ve also organized a Community Gardening initiative in Peace Park – Bec helped me scope the location out in the Mackinac biome… The Science team also has a volleyball league – and I still attend those games even though I am no longer in blue.
Bec appreciated that Robin didn’t include the key detail of climbing and falling out of trees when referencing the community garden scout out.
Iko: Should teach the Security guys Volleyball just to have division verse division matches…
Aitas/Bryn: Response
Raising her mimosa glass, Robin gestured lightly indicating limitless possibilities.
Hopper: If you run out of other ideas, there’s also always the Holodeck. I’ve got a few favourite programs – maybe we should do one together some time.
Aitas/Bryn: Response
Iko: What did you have in mind Robbie?
Aitas/Bryn/Hopper: Response
Bec nodded.
Iko: I mean, I don’t often do programs with characters but that sounds pretty fun.
Aitas/Bryn/Hopper: Response
Iko: Exceptions is watching events that’ve been recorded. Like the footy. Oh, I should see if I can get us a program of the Sydney Mardi-Gras…
Bec looked at everyone, feeling a weird almost embarrassment but not.
Iko: If parades of bright colours, epic costumes and parades sounds like fun to people, that is…
Aitas/Bryn/Hopper: Response
Tag/TBC