[JP] LT Gila Sadar & PNPC Kolya Aqila - Crossing Cultural Divides, One Step at a Time
LT Gila Sadar
((The Sadar-Aqila Quarters - Compartment 83, Sector 03, Deck 6, USS Artemis-A))
Lyara: And just know, if you need anything we’re one combadge tap away. ::Beat:: Unless it’s a red alert, that’s a little harder.
Aqila: Red alert?
As if Sil-net was able to sense Gila’s growing discomfort, he quickly tried to turn the ominous sounding warning from Ensign Lyara to something arguably less so.
Silveira: But don't worry Kolya, we mostly have boring and quiet missions.
Kolya crossed his arm, and try to invoke the calm of his people yet his nuchal folds flurried in frustration as his question went unanswered. He was desperate to know what a red alert was. It sounded dangerous yet … thrilling. Which of course would mean that such a thing was absolutely forbidden.
Gila noted the flaring motion at the very edge of Kolya’s cheeks, so though she couldn’t tell the degree of his frustration, she knew that this was the emotion that he was experiencing, and she tightened her lips in concern. If there was one area where she and Kolya weren’t alike, it was in temperament. Even as a child, Kolya had shown visible signs of temperament that had elicited numerous undue visits to a physician for mental examinations. It was no surprise that Kolya had now learned to hide it.
Before Gila could decide how to react in order to address her nephew’s change in mood, the door rang, and Gila was forced to leave the small group to greet the newest guest.
Who, as soon as she saw them, Gila was nailed in place with a palpable fear spreading through her body.
MacKenzie: I hope I’m not too late, Doctor.
oO Oh no. No no no no. Captain’s here. CAPTAIN’S HERE. This is not a drill. No no, it’s okay, Gila, you prepared for this. Her favorite foods, you’ve prepared numerous things to talk about that doesn’t relate to you or the very severe indiscretions of the First Officer (also very strongly protected by patient confidentiality)! You’ll be fine! Oo
Sadar: N-N-No, o-of course not, Sir, not at all! Uhh, c-c-come on in.
Gila led Captain MacKenzie further into her quarters, her long limbs moving with a significant stuttering shuffle from discomfort.
Lyara: But you can also ring me if you want to talk about something happier, like your art.
Silveira: Response
Sadar: E-E-Everyone, uhh, th-the, uhh... Th-The Captain’s here.
Kolya took a step back, his eyes widened in apparent terror. A Captain of a Starship was in his home. He looked at the food that had already been laid out. Some of it had been consumed. He looked at his Dona with a rush of anxious frustration. If he had known a captain was attending he would have made sure no one ate until the Captain arrived.
Captain MacKenzie, meanwhile, seemed entirely unaware - or just disinterested - in the very apparent influence her very presence had on the demure Mizarians, and simply extended her hand in a greeting to Kolya.
MacKenzie: You must be Kolya. I’m Captain MacKenzie – welcome aboard the Artemis!
Kolya wasn't sure what to do with the extended hand, but he'd read something about this gesture in his cultural orientation pack. He extended his own arm tentatively.
Aqila: Uhm … eerm … Welcome to our Aailudet, Captain :: bowed head :: I only hope that you can offer your humble forgiveness, we have allowed lessers to eat from the table before your arrival :: casts Gila a concerned look :: It is poor manners for us not to wait for you to indulge before us.
Kolya’s words made Gila realize how far she’d come since she first joined the Artemis. To begin with, calling the other aliens ‘lessers’ compared to the Captain was not incorrect, but amongst most Federation species, would be considered very rude. She’d managed to grow beyond that way of thinking, at least a little. The Captain was the ruling authority, of course, but perhaps due to the Captain’s own efforts to appear less ‘statue-esque’ and more personable, Gila was coming to understand that Captain Addison MacKenzie was simultaneously more and less than her initial understanding of the woman.
Sadar: ::clears throat:: Th-Thank you for joining us, C-Captain.
Lyara: It’s great you could make it Captain! ::Motioning to the table:: There’s even hasperat provided by Dr. Sadar.
Gila nodded eagerly, as if to indicate to the captain that she was free to partake. After all, the more time she spent eating, the less time she spent talking and purposefully making this night more awkward than it had to be.
Silveira: Good to see you, Captain.
MacKenzie: Response
Gila accepted the present with a complicated expression on her face, simultaneously grateful that the Captain had thought to bring anything, guilty that the Captain had thought to bring anything and intensely curious at what the Captain had thought to bring.
Sadar: Oh, uhh... Th-Thank you. I’ll, uhh... I’ll put this away then.
Once Gila came back to the group after putting away the Captain’s gesture, Ensign Lyara retrieved a bottle from the table and started pouring flutes for everyone.
Lyara: I brought a beverage from home to commemorate the Doctor’s new place.
Silveira: Thank you.
Sadar: Oh, uhh- I-I don’t- ::sniffs the glass:: I don’t think this is safe for us to drink. M-Mizarians have, uhh, ‘averse’ reactions to select fruits and berries.
She wasn’t certain the beverage contained any of the troubling fruits were present in this bottle, obviously, but she had learned from experience to not test the Wheel.
MacKenzie: Response
As though recognizing the problem offered by Gila, Ensign Lyara suggested a tactful way to avoid the issue.
Lyara: And for you we can just get some kava juice.
Aqila: Is that safe for me? :: to Gila :: I'd really like to try it?
Gila nodded eagerly.
Sadar: I-I thank that would be safest, yes. I-I’ll get some.
MacKenzie: Response
While Gila went to the replicator to get some safe beverages, she overheard the others speaking of the questionable synthehol behind her.
Silveira: What is this? Spring Wine?
Lyara: Response
MacKenzie: Response
Gila returned, kava juice cups in hand, and handed one of the cups to her nephew.
Sadar: Here Kolya.
Meanwhile, Sil-net was attempting the Spring Wine, clearly not entirely trusting of the contents of his flute. And yet, he seemed pleasantly surprised.
Silveira: Interesting, this is better than the last one I tried.
Lyara: Response
MacKenzie: Response
As the life of every party he attended, Sil-net took it upon himself to call a toast. Gila shuffled slightly, surprised at the gesture, but oddly joyous about it.
Silveira: Let’s have a toast. To Sada and Kolya. Welcome to the crazy family.
Lyara: Response
MacKenzie: Response
Sadar: Th-Thank you. Th-That means, uhh... Th-That means a lot. And thank you for coming. ::to Kolya:: It’s going to be a difficult transition for you, Kolya, but I promise you. Eventually, the Artemis will come to feel like a home... ::clears her throat slightly:: F-For better and for worse.
Aqila: :: puts his hand in hers :: For better and for worse as long as we are together.
End Scene for Gila & Kolya
((( Considering that End of Shoreleave is incoming shortly! Thank you three for joining the housewarming <3 )))
LT Gila Sadar
Medical Officer
USS Artemis-A
A240006GS1
&
Kolya Aqila
Arts Student
USS Artemis-A
As simmed by
Lt.Cdr. Luxa Lorana
Science Officer
USS Ronin
A240004LL1