(( Bridge - Deck 1, USS Artemis-A ))
Tarsan: Oh uh... does she prefer sir, ma'am, or Captain? Or something else?
K'Wara: Do you know, I’ve never thought to ask her. ::grin:: In my experience, no Captain will ever object to being called Captain, so if you want to be on the absolute safe side, there’s your answer.
Tarsan: Right. Captain. I can do that...
Gavrin hung back awkwardly as Tamio activated the door chime,
K'Wara: Captain, I've brought Ensign Tarsan.
MacKenzie: Let loose the dogs.
The door slid open, Tamio stepping to the side to let Gavrin enter the room ahead of them. He nodded, stepping in and pausing to wait for Tamio. Who didn't come all the way in. Gavrin hesitated briefly before standing to attention.
K’Wara: Welcome aboard, Ensign Tarsan.
Tarsan: Permission to come aboard Captain. Well. Uh. I'm already aboard.
MacKenzie: ::to Tarsan, nodding slowly:: I gathered that... ::to K'Wara:: I'm assuming this isn't meant to be an all day affair... That'll be all, Lieutenant.
K'Wara: Of course, Captain. Just a momentary distraction, I assure you. ::winks at Tarsan and mouths:: Good luck.
Tarsan: ::internally panicking:: oO No wait, don't go! Don't leave me! Oo ::gathering his thoughts together again:: Thank you, Lieutenant Commander!
Tamio left and the door shut behind them, Gavrin's attention immediately switching back to the Captain.
MacKenzie: So, Ensign Tarsan. Tell me a little bit about yourself.
Tarsan: Oh, uh. Well. I was born on Betazed. I have uh, a family. ::fumbling:: Parents, I mean. I wasn't born in a tube. ::nervously laughing before continuing:: Well anyway, I went to Starfleet Academy and...
Gavrin continued with a dry, boring retelling of his Starfleet training, though faltered after a moment as he saw the unhappiness clear in the Captain's face. He stomped down on the temptation to reach for her thoughts and find out how he'd managed to displease her already. His shoulders started creeping upwards again. She raised a hand to stop him before he could get to a full listing of his grades.
MacKenzie: Why don't you try skipping over the info I can read about in your record and give me something a little more interesting?
Okay, that was better than he thought. She just didn't want to hear about stuff that she already had access to. Gavrin straightened, forcing his shoulders back down.
Tarsan: Well. Uh... I blew up one of the physics labs at the Academy? I mixed up my protons with my anti-protons and ... boom!
Gavrin was desperately trying to pump the brakes on his own mouth, but it was too late. This was clearly not the anecdote to share with the Captain of the ship of his first posting as..
MacKenzie: And you're in the... engineering department? How's that been going so far?
Yup. Exactly that. As an engineer. Gavrin could feel his posture drooping. Clearly the Captain was concerned about a repeat performance.
Tarsan: Well that was my first year, don't worry, Captain, I won't blow anything up here! And I've not done so in uh.. the fifteen minutes I've been aboard. So that's good, right?
MacKenzie: response
Tarsan: Ah, not at all, I have my anti and regular matter all squared away now!
MacKenzie: response
Tarsan: Yes, Captain. Lieutenant Commander K'Wara was just telling me about some of the opportunities for leave down on Rylor.
MacKenzie: response
TBC/TAG
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Ensign Gavrin Tarsan
Engineering Officer
USS Artemis-A
A240303GT2