Ensign Tho’Bi - Protracted Shatner

[Tobi]

((Elysium - Deck 6 - USS Artemis-A))

Yeoman: Advocate Chavrainne, would you please accompany me? We have a place of honor for you at the center table.

The Yeoman's words brought the young Engineer's enthusiastic technological musings to a sudden halt. …at least for the time being.

They were soon seated around a long table laden with dishes from across the multitude of cultures and worlds that made up The Federation. The air shuddered with heat haze, pooled into localised pockets up and down the elongated table; while a dizzying array of flavors, drifted through the environmentally controlled airflow. 

In an act of quiet elegance, practiced to the point of second nature, the Boraxian Advocate produced a slender hexagonal scanning device and swept it across the assortment of dishes. 

Munro: :: good humoured :: You have to be cautious. 

No sooner had it appeared, the scanner was gone.

Munro: :: joke :: I bring a tricorder to every dinner party.  

Unsure of what seemed to be a private joke, the Andorian Ensign simply smiled and shot a quick glance in the direction of the still frustrated, civilian server, still struggling with the errant replicator. 

Chavrainne: ::softly, as if sharing a secret:: Captain… Ensign Tho’Bi… Tell me – which of these offerings is your least favorite, and why?

Munro: Taste is subjective, Advocate. My preferences are my own. As are yours. 

Tho’Bi: ::quiet hushed:: Though it is not a matter of …least favorite. 

The young Andorian gestured towards a large, round, cylinder of many layers; rich brown liquid oozed out between layers of soft dark textures, cratered with air pockets; shards of brittle dark rose up from deep brown waves, suspended in motion, and crafted across the top of the squat cylinder.

Tho'Bi: …my people can not eat this ::gestures:: it is toxic to us… but, it is a favorite of the great many species, including humans, who originate from the same world as ::gestures:: chocolate. 

The young Andorian's tales of chocolate intolerance were, like his technological musings, brought to a sudden halt by the arrival of Luirétt. 

Munro: Welcome, Luirétt, it is very nice to see you again :: pause as she remembers :: Seen and known :: nods :: 

The Acting-Captain then turned to the young Ensign. 

Munro: This is Ensign Tho’Bi, he spent some time on the colony ship with Dariell. 

Tho’Bi: ::bows head:: Seen and known. 

Luirétt: You are seen and known, my friends. Thank you for allowing my fellow Yurum the chance to participate today. ::gentle smile:: It is an experience they shall never forget. ::looks to Chavrainne:: Advocate Chavrainne, it has been too long since last we had the chance to meet.

The Yurum seated themself, they looked a little swallowed up by the sheer size of the table and the cornucopia of dishes.

Munro: Will VahlJean be joining us?

Chavrainne: Response

Luirétt: Unfortunately, Vahljeahn chose to stay on New Hope to continue damage control. There’s still many issues that require correction ahead of the conclusion of these talks.

Munro: That’s unfortunate. I have heard so much about them, I had wanted to put a face to the name, as we humans say. My species has another rather colourful expression that I hope you won’t mind I use here :: beat :: Let’s get this show on the road. 

Tho'Bi: I grew up around humans and know many of their expressions… but they always seem to have many more. On my people's world, they say, Lex n’thas hlashren …it means, ::beat:: the ice will not get any warmer.

Chavrainne: Response

Luirétt: You are quite right. But I must apologize, my late appearance disrupted the conversation. Please, continue.

Munro: No apology required, Luirétt. This spread is known on Earth, and even as far reaching as my homeworld on the frontiers of space, ‘family style’ :: she looks to both Boraxians :: It’s meant to convey a coming together of loved ones at the end of a hard day. 

The Acting-Captain allowed herself a sigh and smiled at the Boraxian Advocate. 

Munro: And it’s safe to say we’ve had a hard day. 

Tho'Bi: ::Absent Mindly Nodding:: I was nearly crushed by purple fruit.

Luirétt/Chavrainne: Response

Munro: I think the idea was that you would share ideas, thoughts, and experiences. The roots of our lives :: beat :: In my home, my mother shunned technology. She was a botanist and had rarely left our homeworld. She likes to be in nature. It’s all she’s ever known. My father was an engineer, brought up around machines in luxurious cities where no one wanted for anything. They couldn’t be more different if you tried - and they tried. Yet, they came together each night, and they listened to each other. They didn’t compromise who they were to do that. They cared for each other enough to listen, to be heard, and to be vulnerable enough to bring a part of themselves to the table. 

Tho'Bi: My Mother is of the Ucalnath Clan. They are fighters. Traditional. My Father is of the Birev Clan. They are Engineers. ::smiles:: And yet it is my Mother who is the Engineer ::smile fades:: while my Father pursues a career in command. 

It was as though a shadow fell across the young Andorian, his dark blue eyes scanned an horizon unseen by those around him, existing as it did, entirely in the projection of his own memories. 

Luirétt/Chavrainne: Response

Munro: I’ve spent time with Advocate Chavrainne and with Luirétt. Ensign Tho’Bi is only just meeting both of you for the first time. Some might even say that you couldn’t be more different if you tried. I disagree with that. I think :: shakes her head :: I know you both care deeply about your people and the future of your society that hinges on this moment. Are you going to be brave and lay something on the table? To listen and to be heard?

Another awkward silence followed. Protracted Shatner. Once again, the young Ensign attempted to fix the silence. 

Tho'Bi: Even in his confession of sabotage, Kalpadu made much of his work in the Seedery. He cared deeply for the Yurum. His actions were not of malice, but of love. 

Munro/Luirétt/Chavrainne: Response

Tho'Bi: I… I believe his actions were not just guided by tradition… but by a genuine fear of… out here.  

Munro/Luirétt/Chavrainne: Response

Tho'Bi: I apologise if my words are unclear… what I mean to say is… Kalpadu spoke of his family building the first Seederies in cargo bays. I think he wanted to save the Yurum from the dangers of… the… the first steps into space.

Munro/Luirétt/Chavrainne: Response

Tags/TBC

((OOC: With Liv's blessing, changed ‘VahlJean’ to ‘Dariell’ in reference to Tho’Bi’s time spent on board ‘New Hope’.))

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Ensign Tho’Bi

Engineering

USS Artemis-A

A240203T11