Lt. JG D'Cyra Varati - Lunchtime!
D'Cyra Varati
((Main Entrance Area, Level 9, SRC))
Varati: Anyway... time is running out. Lt. Taelon is looking for a suitable gift for his daughter, and honestly... ::sighs:: that's why this whole thing has gotten so complicated – I'm also looking for a gemstone for my friend – but that has to remain a secret. He only has that awful Marine signet ring... :: rolls her eyes::
Niev flinched slightly... oh no - let's not burst the bubble now!
Varati: He's actually a down-to-earth guy. But he also has this other side... ::looks knowingly at Annamae:: you know, something crazy... I don't know, well, maybe something like you! – Oh, it's so difficult. And with the blood... that might not be so fitting for a Marine. Something unusual, yes...
Annamae raised an eyebrow… Hopefully she didn't suspect anything as they became increasingly entangled in contradictions.
Galanis: I believe Lieutenant Commander Taelon said this was for his daughter’s mother. Not quite the same, though easily misheard.
She furrowed her eyebrow again. Now there was a question about who the gemstone was for?
Barberra: Is someone getting married or something? There’s a lot of focus on this gemstone for... whoever it’s for. Who exactly is it for, Commander?
Taelon: Response
Varati: Well, hmmm, that's something to think about. It's really difficult... don't laugh. Niev, Annamae: what gemstone would you give your friends? Tell me, if it's so easy?!
Galanis: I suppose that depends entirely on the resilience of the friend in question.
Barberra: Hmm, respectfully Lieutenant Galanis, I say dictate the terms. Test their resilience, see if they are true friends or not. That’s what friends are for, right? Putting up with you annoying them.
Taelon: Response
Galanis: Crucially, whatever stone I’d choose would require no bodily fluids to acquire, that’s for certain.
Barberra: Oh. Well, you had me at ::showing up cut finger:: blood, but... hey, everyone’s different I guess.
Oh dear, this was threatening to go wrong again... At least they had already received one answer; perhaps they could coax another one out of Annamae before the situation got too out of hand.
Varati: Yes, as I said, it's a very specific selection... when you know someone for a long time and they're close, and it's appropriate to the circumstances. But especially in Starfleet, with its many different races and contacts, you have to be a bit more careful about what might be considered offensive and what isn't...
Taelon: Response
Galanis: Officer Barberra, since you were so decisive about the blood oath... if you had to choose a stone without a biological component, which one would it be?
Barberra: ::Matter of factly:: Amber.
Thanks, Niev. Another point for the team. That's something we could start working with. Annamae’s eyes moved up and left.
Barberra: But with a prehistoric mosquito stuck in it. With dinosaur blood in *that*, which *technically* is still blood, I know, but it’s hidden. Besides, if you get bored, you could extract the blood, and create a dinosaur clone using cells from say... ::lifting finger:: the koalas from Peace Park. Hellooooo Koaloraptor.
Now D’Cyra had to smile herself... Amber with an encased insect - yes, that was perfectly fine, beautiful and special enough. But Annamae had once again gone way too far... never mind, this was all about unbridled creativity.
Varati: Indeed, three wishes at once; and all in a completely natural gemstone, what more could you want? oO Okay, no koala-dinosaurs. Oo
Taelon: Response
Galanis: It’d be prudent to consider there are psychological components to reviews. Commander Taelon could be taking notes on your answer already.
Barberra: Ah, ha! A test! I knew it. Besides, every review so far has had an asterisk of some sort next to my psychological notes. I’d be disappointed if it didn’t, so... ::shrug:: And Commander Taelon, for those notes, it’s spelt K-O-A-L-O-R-A-P-T-E-R. That middle “O” is very important. Makes it sound meaner. ::Pleased sigh, deadpan:: A pet koala-dinosaur cross would be the best.
Who was putting whom to the test here... Annamae's imagination seemed to know no bounds.
Varati: A test?! … Ah, yes, indeed! Very well observed, Chief Petty Officer! If things continue like this, nothing will stand in the way of a brilliant career here on board and later at the academy... You just proved your expertise and potential in the last mission.
Taelon/Galanis: Response
The Chief Petty Officer stood at relaxed attention, placing her hands by her sides… What would happen next?
Barberra: Being possessed by that life form *wasn’t* my highlight. ::Genuine smile forming:: Being promoted to Chief Petty Officer by Rivi Vataix was. ::Smiles bigger, eye down-left:: Probably my best moment in my career.
Annamae smiled for a little while longer, before it seemed to disappear from one moment to the next.
Barberra: ::Deadpan expression:: That’s as about as sentimental as I get.
Certainly, Rivi's presence and aura had been special. And even though D’Cyra never found out what happened, or rather, didn't happen, during the Hirogen attack, Rivi had had a significant influence on events.
So it was perfectly understandable that Annamae was equally impressed by this woman. But back to the here and now.
Varati: Yes, we all held Ambassador Vataix in high regard. It is a great pity that she has returned to Betazed. Hopefully we will see her again one day. ::looks to Taelon and Niev:: I think we agree if...
D’Cyra wasn't a Betazoid, but she hoped that Taelon and Niev would recognize the situation and steer the conversation to a harmless, sober level. Annamae wanted an assessment, so she should get one.
Taelon/Galanis: Response
Barberra: ::Inspecting finger:: The bleeding’s stopped, we’re good. How am I doing on my test so far, Sirs?
Okay, somehow they had managed to involve Annamae in their game after all, just in a completely different way than expected.
Varati: As I said, we still need to compile the various reports from last year – what a mess! And our individual assessments aren't complete yet either. But we didn't want to leave you in the dark... it's just taking a little longer this year. oO Isn't that right, Lieutenant? Oo
Her primary expression was a challenging look at Taelon, urging him to simply agree.
Taelon/Galanis: Response
Varati: ::to Annamae:: And thank you again for helping us with our personal matters, we really appreciate it.
She gave the Chief Petty Officer a genuine and warm smile. All's well that ends well.
Barberra/Galanis/Taelon: Response
D’Cyra glanced sideways at her PADD... Oh dear, it's already so late! The whole orchestration had taken much longer than expected.
Varati: Okay, so we've sorted everything out for now? ::looks around questioningly:: Please excuse me, I have a lunch date and I'm running late… And I have to wash my hands beforehand!
D’Cyra smiled and nodded to the others, then headed for the exit.
oO Phew, that had been a difficult birth... Oo but at least they had gotten some valuable answers for Bec. Hopefully, she could make use of them.
Barberra/Galanis/Taelon: Response
End of scene for Varati
--