(BACKSIM)JP: and Lt Silveira & Samantha Richards - Cross Quadrant Challenges

[Beky Stjohn]

OOC: This happens during shore leave after Frontier Day, before the Artemis returning to duty.

IC:

((USS Artemis, deck 6, Elysium))

It was one of those days that felt like everything went wrong. 

Vitor almost stormed into the Elysium as he walked in. Delays and misdelivered materials had ruined his roster schedule, and he really needed a break. 

He was still fuming when he noticed someone in civilian clothes. He narrowed his eyes trying to recognize who it was,  but with his curiosity spiked he walked towards her.

The first thing that came to his mind, and only because of the hair, was that she was related to Zie. 

oO Maybe if that's Zie sister I should tell Talos. Oo

As he got closer the resemblance wasn't that big after all.

Silveira: Family, reporter or something else? 

S. Richards: Huh? ::turning to face the unfamiliar voice:: Me? I’m one of the Amity hitchhikers. Civilian. ::smiling:: I’m just here checking in on a friend. 

Truth be told Sam was working up the courage to go check on Robin. She wasn’t looking forward to seeing someone she cared about in a bad state, so she found herself with a drink at Elysium. 

Vitor smiled, reaching out with his hand. 

Silveira: Vitor Silveira, your friendly Chief Tactical Officer. But feel free to call me Sil or Vitor as you prefer. We usually don't have civilians on board so I wonder where you would fit in. Just being curious. 

S. Richards: Y’know what they say about curiosity right? ::whispering:: it killed the cat. 

Shaking her head and chuckling Sam returned the handshake.  The calming yet silly presence of the man reminded her of Nathan. 

Silveira: Well, I am no cat. I'm either a pig, a rabbit or a monkey. My grandmother is the one that knows my Chinese Zodiac animal. ::Vitor shrugged:: I don’t really believe those things. It's kinda why I am not superstitious. 

S. Richards: Not superstitious? Why not? ::laughing:: sounds boring. 

Vitor opened his arms, with that “isn't it obvious” look and tip of the head. 

Silveira: Because it brings bad luck, obviously. 

Sam laughed again and gestured for him to take a seat. 

S. Richards: I’m Sam by the way. 

Taking a sip of her drink she took a good look at the man with dark hair and bright eyes. She had been feeling particularly lonely after the Frontier Day events and welcomed some company. 

Vitor nodded and took the offered seat.

Silveira: It’s a pleasure to meet you Sam.

S. Richards: So, Sil, what brings you here? ::glancing around:: I don’t see any need for tactical, so that couldn’t be why you walked in here with that grumpy look on your face. 

Vitor shrugged and rolled his eyes. They had all been busy with repairs and recovery, and now the supply. 

Silveira: It’s been one of those days. The dread Rs. Repair, refit, resupply…  ::he lost his smile for a moment.:: Frontier Day really…

Sam gave him a knowing look. Recent events had shaken everyone to their core and finding even a small bit of respite was all anyone really wanted. 

S. Richards: Let's talk about something fun. I don’t know about you, but if I keep talking about what happened, I might actually explode. 

Vitor’s smile returned and morphed to his trademark grin.

Silveira: My dear I had enough explosions for the next few months. But you are totally right, something fun it is then. So… Have you heard that shuttle joke?

S. Richards: My brother is slightly obsessed with shuttles. ::chuckling:: So I’ve heard a few, but let's see what you’ve got. 

Vitor raised his hand to call the server’s attention and raised his voice slightly.

Silveira: Peach Ice Tea. ::He leaned a bit forward so he didn’t speak too loudly.:: Last time I told this joke was years ago. My then Captain didn’t think it was funny.

S. Richards: ::Raising one eyebrow:: Lets see if I have a better sense of humor than your previous Captain. 

Vitor winked and began speaking.

Silveira: OK, so, a Vulcan, a Klingon, a Bajoran and a Cardassian are on a damaged shuttle, free falling in the atmosphere and full of children. The pilot warns them that 3 of them have to jump to their deaths for the others to save themselves. The Vulcan stands by the doorway and jumps off shouting: “For Vulcan logic. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one.” The Klingon jumps and shouts: “A glorious Klingon death”. Then the Bajoran walks to the door and shouts: “For Bajor:” And kicks the Cardassian out of the shuttle.

Sam was mid-drink as Sil dropped the punch line, causing her to cover her mouth to prevent it from spraying out of her nose as she laughed. 

S. Richards: ::coughing and laughing:: Well, that’s a new one! I’m definitely going to have to remember to share with Nathan. 

She shook her head trying to still recover from the unexpected laugh. 

S. Richards: When you aren’t dealing with explosions and telling silly jokes, what do you do for fun?

Vitor smiled at her reaction and leaned back.

Silveira: Oh I am sure I am pretty boring. You just covered all the bases. How about you?

S. Richards: Nice try, but I asked you first. ::playfully nudging him with her elbow:: You worried about little old civilian me getting a hold of your tactical secrets? 

Jokingly, Sam rolled her eyes at him. 

Vitor shrugged and raised his hands.

Silveira: Fine, I cook. For real, although sometimes I have to use replicated ingredients I cook it properly, stove, oven, grill. you name it.

S. Richards: See, that wasn’t so hard was it? 

Vitor nodded. It was nice talking to Sam.

Silveira: No, but I don’t know how high it ranks in “Sam’s scale of Funness”. And from your reaction it's going to be hard to topple the shuttle joke. But I do have very good reviews about my cooking.

S. Richards: Pshh, “Sam’s scale of funness”? ::she laughed:: If only you knew my family… 

The Richards family had always carried a reputation for the wild side of things, whether people thought it was fun or not was up for interpretation. 

S. Richards: ::Raising her eyebrow in his direction:: I do like the sound of a good cooked meal.

Silveira: If we had a free holodeck I would show you. Tell you what, next time I will cook us a meal. What do you say?

Sam grimaced a little bit. 

S. Richards: Unfortunately I don't know if there will be a next time. The Delta quadrant is pretty dang far away from here, I’m not sure how often I plan on coming back this way.

Vitor shrugged and nodded. He had enough friends spread around the quadrants. And he had never been on the Delta. Maybe it was a good reason to visit.

Although his last encounter with Commander Hopper didn’t go that well.

Vitor smiled and leaned forward. Now it was his time to “turn the nail” as he usually said.

Silveira: I can always visit. Now it’s your turn. Tell me what your secret skill is.

S. Richards: ::Taking a sip of her soda:: Alright, fair is fair. It’s not so much of a secret, as something I just don’t tell people, but I am surprisingly good at sewing and costume design.

Usually, Sam didn’t tell people because they asked too many questions about it, but Sil seemed like less of an ask questions kind of guy and more of a go with the flow kind of guy. 

Vitor tipped his head surprised. That was as unusual as cooking. Maybe a bit more.

Silveira: Really?

S. Richards: I had a couple friends in college that needed help designing the wardrobe for a theater class. I reluctantly offered to help and found out I was actually really good at it. ::holding her head up in pride:: I can make anyone look good in a Toga. 

Shaking her head at the thought of how many different types of people and species she had to adjust patterns for to make a toga work. Klingons being especially difficult (typically around the midsection). 

Vitor wrinkled his forehead in surprise. A Toga? Real Toga? A real fabric sewed Toga?

Silveira: Get out of here…

S. Richards: ::Chuckling:: Yeah. I know right? It’s… weird. 

Vitor shook his head and leaned back.

Silveira: No way, you mean you can sew me a Toga? A real one?

Her eyes widened at him when she realized he was serious.

S. Richards: Are you serious right now? You really want me to make you a Toga? 

Vitor grinned and winked at Sam.

Silveira: If you make me one I am going to wear it and send you the picture.

S. Richards: ::Laughing:: Y’know what? Sure. I will make you a Toga. 

The more time that passed, the more Sam realized Sil was in fact, just like Nathan. In the nicest way possible, Sil was quirky. Luckily for him, Sam thought it was endearing. 

Vitor smiled, opened his arms and then winked as he pointed to Sam.

Silveira: That’s what she said. That’s perfect Sam.

A thought occurred to her and she put a halt to the conversation.

S. Richards: ::Holding up her hand:: Wait a second. This isn’t just some kind of weird sex thing right? 

Sam would never yuck someone’s yum, but she wasn’t about to be a costume designer for it, but poking some fun at him in the meantime was pretty fun. 

Vitor raised an eyebrow, surprised and he held up his hands defensively. 

His reply was immediate, not giving him time to properly think about it.

Silveira: No… No, nothing like that…

S. Richards: Oh thank god. That would have made this whole exchange really awkward.

He tipped his head, eyebrows still up as he was still sinking in on what Sam said.

Vitor leaned back as he spoke. 

Silveira: I mean… I hope you're not thinking of that. You are very attractive but… Regrettably I left my days of one night “horizontal tango” behind. No exceptions, not even one as beautiful as yourself so… It’s just the Toga Ma’am…

Sam pursed her lips together to prevent herself from laughing. 

S. Richards: ::Smiling:: It seems we both have jokes don’t we?

She knew it was a bit of a drawn out joke, but she had to top his shuttle joke somehow.

Vitor nodded, relieved that they had settled that.

Silveira: Good. Just making sure we are on the same page. ::He winked:: But I will still brag about having the hottest Seamstress in the Galaxy… ::he raised his finger.:: Once I have my Toga.

S. Richards: Don’t you worry, as soon as I get back to Amity, I will get started on your Toga. ::Holding up her finger:: On the promise that when and if I come back here, you cook for me. 

Vitor opened his arms widely, in his usual theatrical mode as he winked at Sam.

Silveira: I shall set you up a banquet worthy of a Queen… ::he leaned forward raising his finger:: No… An Empress, worthy of an Empress.

Sam let out a genuine laugh, Sil sure was a smooth talker.

He leaned back winking at Sam. That would be a small price to pay for a Toga.

END

Samantha Richards

Civilian Science Liaison

Amity Outpost

A240103SR3

and

Lt. Vitor S. Silveira

Chief Tactical Officer

USS Artemis-A, NCC-81287

O238907VS0