Ensign Tho’Bi & PNPC Tony Leone - A Large Dog Panting

[Tobi]

((CREW QUARTERS, USS ARTEMIS-A))

Any further conversation was interrupted by the steady low hum of anti-gravity emitters mixed with the tinny buzz of overheard music through headphones. A replacement doorframe glided into view from around the corner of the sparsely lit corridor. The two pieces of frame sat up a standard issue cargo sled, operated by a burly, squat human with thinning slick-back dark hair and dark eyes. Dressed in the gold of Ops/Engineering, with the rank of Crewman Third Class, he wore an oversized pair of headphones over his ears. His footfall and shoulder bump in time to the tinny buzzy rendering of upbeat music.

The Crewman Third Class tapped the outer shell of headphones. The music stopped. He gestured dramatically towards the clearly still emotional Andorian.

Leone: ::with bravado:: O! Looks like she already showed you the door! You still need this?

A heavy thumb gestured in the direction of the replacement doorframe. 

Tho’Bi: ::quiet friendly:: You're funny, Tony.

Leone: I deliver spare parts all day… What else am I gonna be?

The Andorian unloaded the replacement doorframe from off the sled.

Leone: ::to Vailani:: Look at that. He unloads the sled. I like this kid.

The Bajoran said nothing, but simply shook her head.

After loading the damaged doorframe onto the sled, the Andorian Engineer turned to the human Crewman. 

Tho’Bi: Thank you, Crewman. 

Leone: ::to Tho’Bi:: Aye, Aye. Ensign Romeo! ::to Vailani:: LTV ::nods::

With a tap of a heavy finger, the music started again. The burly Crewman made his way down the corridor with a broken doorframe on a cargo sled, footfalling and shoulder bumping in time to the tinny buzz headphones on his head.

The Andorian Engineer began attaching the new doorframe by lining up first the inside and then outside frames.

Tho’Bi: ::quiet:: Thank you, Lieutenant. 

He began to attach the bolts to the inside of the frames.

Tho’Bi: Thank you for listening. 

Vailani: Who was that?! Do you know who his superior officer is?! 

Click. The first bolt locked into place. The Andorian turned to the Bajoran. The sudden outburst had thrown him a little. He was still trying to collect himself together. He eyes darted in the direction Crewman Leone had been and then back to the Lieutenant. 

Tho’Bi: ::quiet:: Tony… Crewman Third Class Tony Leone. He's stationed on Deep Space 224.

Vailani: I don’t know where to start. The fact that he was sauntering around this ship with those death traps on his head while operating an anti-grav unit - a first year cadet would know better than that. His language. I don’t even know what Romeo is but I know I don’t like it. It sounds disgusting. I don't appreciate it. 

It was a lot to take in for the systematic-thinking of an Engineer. The young Ensign did his best to address the Lieutenant's points in order.

Tho’Bi: ::slow deliberate:: He listens to a type of music called, Jon Bon, on his headphones ::tilts head - more hesitant:: Ro-Romeo is a… ro-romantic character ::tilts head over way:: from an old Earth story.

Green eyes stared at him. Several steps closer. Green eyes locked on dark blue.

Vailani: I don’t know what you are about Tho’Bi? I barely know you but I like to think you want to do well here and somehow I don’t know what well is to you? Laying on the floor in my quarters? Bumbling around, falling over, and muttering to yourself? And now this? Hanging out with some rude dockie like your one of the boys. It’s :: beat :: you know what, I don't care. You’ll be who you are going to be. 

With a dismissive wave of the hand, the Bajoran made for her quarters, only to be blocked by the still mid-repair door. Her cheeks a noticeable red, the Bajoran turned to face him again.

Vailani: That was supposed to be a dramatic exit :: then :: What do you have to say for yourself? 

Arms crossed. The Lieutenant waited.

Contorted blue. The young Andorian's facial muscles strained against themselves as they grappled with averting a smile.  

Tho'Bi: ::bitten down:: Sorry. ::smiles breaks out:: I am sorry ::smile squeezed:: that you could not make ::smile breaks out:: your dramatic ex-

The Andorian’s speech collapsed into a series of breathy laughs that might, for all the quadrant, be a large dog panting.

Vailani: Response 

TAG/TBC

((OOC: Cargo Sled as described on Memory Alpha:

https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Anti-grav_sled ))

————————————

PNPC Crewman Third Class Tony Leone 

SB224 

Simmed By Tho’Bi 

And...

Ensign Tho’Bi

Engineering

USS Artemis-A

A240203T11