Ensign Imril - Of Hand Shakes And Hellos
Chris Taylor
(( Elysium – Main Lounge, Deck 6 – USS Artemis-A ))
Ollie raised a toast to Imril, leaving the engineer feeling slightly embarrassed. But not so much that they couldn’t raise their own glass in a reflected toast or keep up their end of the conversation.
Imril: How long have you been aboard the Artemis?
The lieutenant chuckled softly and set down his glass. His eyes wandered to the swirling coffee foam. He let out a sigh and then turned back to Imril before he responded.
Bergmen: Just a couple of weeks longer than you. I think... it will be a year next month? ::chuckles:: Ah… But fifteen years in uniform before that. ::gestures to his chest:: I enlisted in ‘85 after Mars was attacked… grew through the ranks, became NCO while traveling the quadrant, from post to post… Assignment to assignment… Until I earned a commission last year, and here I am. ::sigh turn to short burst of laugh:: So technically, we both have the same experience with being an officer. ::nods:: Yeah.
Bergmen leaned back in his chair, and looked off into the room's shadows, to something only he could see.
Bergmen: Funny thing, when I think about it now. I didn’t see you actually off work… Or drills… Even that shore leave we were off on Kahines with doctor Sadar was technically work. ::gaze back:: How do you blow steam? Did you make any friends onboard?
Imril’s answer came after a significant pause of reflection. Because They had to admit to themself that they didn't entirely like the answer.
Imril: Yes, of course. But maybe -- no, definitely -- not as close as some of the ones I had at the Academy. There’s always so much to do. There was a lot to do back then, too. If I’m honest, most of my Academy friends came out of spending time in study groups.
Even the Engineering club that Imril had joined -- and seen partly cut down on Frontier Day -- was a study group of sports.
Imril: But the fact is, I enjoy the workload. And I suspect I’m not the only one. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen you out of uniform, wherever it is that I see you.
It was an observation, nothing more. Imril hoped that the superior officer didn’t take offense to it.
The lieutenant straightened and rested his elbows on the table, supporting his chin as he listened to Imril's words.
Bergmen: Touché. There's no shame in admitting that my record isn't much better… ::blink eye on Imril:: Workaholic to workaholic. ::sigh:: Do you know what? Let’s forget about those pips on our necks. Ollie, nice to meet you. ::extend his soft hand over the table, smiling::
Forgetting about pips wasn't something Imril was particularly good at. But then, it had been less than a year still since getting their first and only one. Bergem had more distance in that regard. But hand shaking they could do well enough. They extended their own to complete the action.
Imril: ::Smiling:: Imril. Well met.
Bergman: Response
As they pulled their hand back, to wrap around their cup once more, Imril thought back to when they saw Major Oolwi and General Kexxin shake hands with the Captain and then each other. The proliferation of the gesture to a new world.
Imril: Do people shake hands on Gideon? Or is that something we both picked up from being in Starfleet?
Bergman: Response
Imril pulled loose another chunk of muffin to savor as they pondered a follow-up question.
Imril: Of all the ways you’ve seen people from other cultures greet others, what’s your favorite?
Bergman: Response
TAG/TBC
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Ensign Imril
Engineering Officer
USS Artemis-A
A240110I12