[JP] PNPC Nadevia Virtavi-Yaros & Ensign Marcus Forza - Opening Pandora's Box (Part 2)
LT Gila Sadar
(( Aurora Apex Bar - Earth Spacedock, Sol System))
Marcus knew if he was to continue this conversation comfortably, he may need to have some liquid courage. Unlike when on the Khitomer, this was a real drink, not that synthehol stuff. His hope was that this drink would make him feel a tad more comfortable.
Forza: ::inhaling his drink:: Okay well I mean it has, ::pause:: I have thought about my future in Starfleet. Sure. But I haven’t really thought about relationships all that much. ::signaling the bartender:: Another one please? Same thing as last time.
The fact that Ensign Forza still tolerated her presence, even if it was only by a narrow and inebriated margin, was a victory. Nadevia figured it was definitely more owing to Ensign Forza’s general unease with the conversation rather than her dazzling personality, but whatever was the root cause of her continued opportunity to recruit him onto the platform, she wouldn’t be opposed. While the Ensign may think her a meddling (and odd) busybody at this moment - and to be fair, she was quite frankly both of those things - she was of the utmost certainty that he would come to appreciate her efforts on his behalf in the future.
If she did not believe so with every fibre of her being, she would have been unable to continue this career.
Forza: Well I mean, how would this work anyway?
What a delightful young Human!
Nadevia readily produced a PADD from somewhere within the large skirt of her vibrant dress, reaching it across the table to the Ensign.
Virtavi-Yaros: A Starflirt profile is, in all honesty, a dreadfully simple affair. As with all true connections, matches on our platform are best conducted in person, face-to-face. Hence, all that is truly needed for the initial profile is but an outline of your core personality traits and wherein your interests lie for any potential matches. Do you desire like-minded acquaintances of similar rank with whom to appreciate this first leg of your careers as Starfleet officers, or perhaps a dependable mentor-figure whose experience and knowledge could help guide you upon the proper path? Officers who seek more tender meetings also seek both momentary diversions to sweeten their daily lives with excitement and unpredictability, or potential partners-in-life to be more permanent additions to their lives. Starflirt provides options for all, regardless of sex, gender, creed or career ambitions, so there is no reason to present yourself as anything but your truest self.
Forza: ::raising his eyebrow:: Oh. That doesn’t sound that bad at all actually. So, when it comes to creating a profile, basically just be honest about yourself?
Virtavi-Yaros: Oh, Starflirt considers transparency to be the foremost ingredient in any successful match, regardless of its nature. False pretenses or veiled intentions are naught but sources of discomfort and unpleasantry, and shall lead to naught but associations of ill repute.
Forza: ::picking up the PADD:: Right, makes sense.
Marcus took the PADD and looked closely at it. He saw all the workings of one of those old dating profile things back in Twenty-First and Twentieth century Earth. Okay well it looked like a standard profile set up, but given what he was just told, he assumed dating. Did he really even want to date? Sure that wasn’t the sole purpose of Starflirt, but even still, did he want to try and meet people who are possibly half a galaxy away?
Virtavi-Yaros: If you need any suggestions, I am here to provide my assistance, but I do think there’s value to you making the first earnest attempt on your own. It will deliver that vital sense of honesty that purveyors of your profile will resonate with.
Again the bartender brought him his drink. And yet again, Marcus was grateful. He would have to list out things he liked to do, his personality. These were things that he had a very difficult time describing to himself, let alone anyone on subspace.
Forza: ::putting in his name and other basic answers to basic questions:: Okay so, you’re telling me that I just put all this in.
Virtavi-Yaros: Indeed. The profile is your personal window into Starflirt’s database, so it is set up to allow you the fullest freedom in personalizing your approach, but my recommendation is to begin with a shallow framework and then peruse some fellow officers’ profiles to set up a sample size with which to adjust your own expectations and intentions. Starflirt provides a variety of measures for our Flirters to ensure that they meet with people of a like-minded disposition or outlook, but for first-time registrations, my personal experience is to start simple. That way, you are free to make further amendments at your leisure.
oO Also prevents Flirters from losing interest due to information overload... Oo
Forza: ::sipping his drink:: You sure got a lot to say. I see we’ve done this plenty of times?
Virtavi-Yaros: It is my occupation, and though I realize this may be presumptuous of me to utter so by my own volition, I consider myself quite proficient at it. ::smile as she sips her swillwine:: As improperly coined as it is, Starflirt is truly just a modern mirror for the ship-wide Bulletin Board that Starfleet used in the early 22nd century.
Forza: Wait, Starfleet had something similar? ::chuckling:: That’s pretty interesting actually.
Nadevia smiled at the sound of the Ensign’s laugh. She was familiar with old Earthen saying ‘liquid courage’. Perhaps this was what was at work now, but she was relieved he was starting to feel more comfortable with the situation.
Virtavi-Yaros: Being a Starfleet Officer is not solely an occupation, but a lifestyle that one chooses to lead in the pursuit of greatness. It is an admirable vocation, but one that tends to isolate you from the galaxy at large. ::looks at her glass:: I am of the opinion that space is sufficiently empty without adding loneliness into the equation.
Forza: That’s actually not a bad outlook on things. I haven’t been posted to my ship very long, but I have noticed just how empty things really can be. ::continues putting in information::
As he gets to a particular section, one that asks him to describe his personality, he stops. How exactly would he describe himself to people? Socially inept? Awkward around strangers? Focusing almost entirely on his career and his future in Starfleet?
Forza: You know Nadevia, I don’t think this would be worthwhile. I mean ::scoffs:: who would want to be friends with or date someone who is almost entirely focused on moving forward?
Nadevia couldn’t not smile at that.
Virtavi-Yaros: Oh, if you realized how common a concern that is among our registered users. Remember, your chosen lifestyle is ‘a lifestyle that one chooses to lead in the pursuit of greatness’. Describing any officer as lacking in ambition would indubitably be false. ::tilts head slightly:: Imagine this from your own perspective. Would you turn away the chance at a friend, because they had goals for their career progression?
Forza: Well I mean ::rocking his head side to side:: no. But how exactly would one maintain any type of new relationship, of any kind for that matter, when you’re light years away?
Virtavi-Yaros: Starflirt provides options to limit your scope to your own operating theatre, or just the Quadrant in which you make your daily life. ::nods slowly:: With how far spread Starfleet’s presence is on the galactic stage in this century, it has reintroduced the concept of ‘distance’ in a way that had been largely ignored since the advent of transporter technology. To some, distance is preferable, with them seeking the exciting experiences or hitherto unknown knowledge from those stationed in far-away regions. To others, however, distance is an obstacle to true connection, and one that cannot be understated.
Within the ancestral memories of the Virtavi-Yaros Dynasty, Nadevia recalled the feeling of isolation that predated reliable transporter technology. The era of uncertainty, where transporters were but a pipe-dream, an utopist’s solution to the insurmountable distances that society now travelled daily. Now that Starfleet had firm footholds in all four known Quadrants, distance was once more something to be considered in the logistical algorithm…
Forza: ::having some more of his drink:: Well ain’t that convenient? ::thinking for a moment::
Virtavi-Yaros: If it is not too forward of me to ask, Ensign, where did you grow up? On Earth? On a Space station?
Marcus took a minute before responding. He hadn’t thought about home all that much. The last time he was actually in his “childhood home”, he was in an argument with his mother. She never agreed with him joining Starfleet, even though she herself was a xenobiologist for it.
Forza: Never really grew up anywhere per se. I was born in South Carolina, on Earth. As I was growing up, my family kept bouncing around Earth until we relocated to a space station. Some time later I was back on Earth, but I rarely stayed in one place. Sooooo, safe to say I was raised on Earth…if that answers your question?
Nadevia fell silent for a few seconds, not long enough for the silence to stretch into uncomfortable territory, but long enough that it would no doubt translate that she was considering his answer. In an era of space travel, the art of maintaining interpersonal relationships was one that had to be carefully cultivated. For children born and raised on Starships or Space Stations, familiar with the rhythm and flow of arrivals and departures, they were accustomed to the flightiness that life in space often mandated. When you likely wouldn’t see the other person for weeks at a time, you learned to appreciate the now, and not think about tomorrow.
For people who predominantly grew up on frontier colonies or enjoyed planet-side upbringings, the theatre of their growth was more static, less fluid. Sometimes, acclimatizing to the uncertainty that accompanied space travel left them feeling adrift or misplaced. An extreme case of ‘homesickness’, if one had to speak in layman’s terms.
Virtavi-Yaros: I shan’t pretend that maintaining relationships, of any kind, isn’t difficult in space. I haven’t seen my twin sister for almost two years, nor have we shared so much as a brief written exchange of pleasantries. However…
Nadevia folded her hands on the table, long and carefully manicured fingers elegantly lacing together in practiced movements.
Virtavi-Yaros: Just because something is difficult, does not have to equal it not being worthwhile. ::wry smile:: Not unlike graduating Starfleet Academy, I should say.
Forza: Ha, yeah that’s true. The Academy definitely wasn’t a walk in the park. ::rapping his fingers on the bar:: You know maybe you’re right Nadevia.
Marcus sat up straight in his stool. Looking around, he couldn’t help but think as to the relationships all of these people around him had. How many of them were posted lifetimes away from each other? How many of them still made it work, regardless of the limitless stars between themselves. Why not give it a chance?
Forza: ::looking back at Nadevia:: Would I be able to complete this at a later time? I did have plans today, well not plans, but intentions. I was going to check out this station and…
Marcus trailed off. Maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad idea to see his home planet. Properly this time.
Virtavi-Yaros: Of course. ::smiles:: Enjoy your stay, Ensign Forza. The rest of your life may be ahead of you, but the roads travelled may yet hold wisdom unlearned.
END SCENE
Ensign Marcus Forza
Tactical Officer
USS Khitomer
K240201MF3
&
Nadevia Virtavi-Yaros
Starflirt Rep
USS Artemis-A
As simmed by
LT Gila Sadar
Medical Officer
USS Artemis-A
A240006GS1