Lt Alex Storm - Were You Born to Fly?
Karen Morris
(( Molly Malone’s Irish Pub – First Promenade, Deck 225, Deep Space 224 ))
Before Meris, Alex had never met a J’naii. She didn’t know if Meris was typical of their species or not. Talking with Meris was like … talking to a teenage sibling. You can greatly enjoy their company, but sometimes, obvious things that most people implicitly understood had to be explained, like why people may not want you to put your fingers in their dipping sauces. In some ways, it was kind of endearing.
Storm: Let me ask you this, Meris. Are you in Starfleet - not just to fly starships - but to integrate into the life of the ship?
Meris: ::nodding with certainty:: It is certainly my desire to integrate into the life of the ship so that I might more fully observe the personalities and cultures of my crewmates. This will, in turn, make my report back to the homeworld far more complete.
Storm: While you should always be yourself, the more you understand how most humanoids think and see things, the easier it will be for you to become a part of the rest of the crew. But, if you decide that you still want to dip your fingers into the sauces... it would be most polite to ask for your own sauces.
Meris: ::nodding again, less emphatically:: I understand, Lieutenant Storm. I will try to better understand and respect such customs so that I do not give offense. And perhaps, in the process, I might learn which customs are flexible... and which are like the rules of flight – non-negotiable.
Storm: That sounds very wise. ::Alex pushed the honey mustard back over to Meris.:: But since you’ve already enjoyed this one. You can feel free to finish it off while I have another chicken wing.
Alex picked up a second chicken wing and dipped it in the spicy sauce before she devoured it.
Meris: Thank you for sharing your chicken's wings with me, Lieutenant. I will resist sauce fingers for now, but there are no promises about dessert.
The Betazoid wiped her mouth and hands on her napkin before smiling at the J’naii’s statement about dessert.
Storm: That’s fair.
Meris: May I ask, Lieutenant, what your assignment is aboard the USS Artemis? And how long have you been stationed aboard? I do not recognize your image from the review of the ship's duty roster which I performed while en route to Deep Space 224.
Alex took a sip of her FlavorCracker. Once again, after a two second delay of taking a sip of the drink and holding it in her mouth, the blandness exploded into a rich flavor which she savored before swallowing. The tactical officer crossed her legs and held her drink in her lap as she noticed Meris had turned their focus on her. She swiveled her barstool in their direction to answer their question.
Storm: You probably didn’t see me because I’m still new here - like you. Today’s my first day, and I’m a tactical officer. What about you, Meris? You’re wearing red. Are you a helms…person?
Meris: Response: ?
The tactical officer nodded as she listened. One thing she had noticed about Meris is that there didn’t seem to be any subtext. Their words seemed to match the feelings that they projected as they spoke. People like that were few and far between. That impressed the tactical officer.
Storm: Were you born to fly - if you know what I mean - or is flying what you were best at in your Academy aptitudes?
Meris: Response
Alex uncrossed her legs and leaned forward slightly. She hoped it would communicate her genuine interest in what she was going to ask.
Storm: I’ve never really known any J'naii. I've only ever interacted with one other J'naii, Meris. Why don’t you tell me a little about your people? I’d be interested to learn about them through your eyes.
Meris: Response.
~*~
Tags / TBC
~*~
Lt Alex Storm
Tactical Officer
USS Artemis
O240103SK2