Ensign Roy Bancroft - Return on Investment
Carter Schimpff
(( Second Promenade, Upper Level, Observation Alcove - Deep Space 224 ))
The upper level of Deep Space 224’s second promenade had the hush of a cathedral at midnight – the kind that only happened when most people were down below, doing whatever it was normal people did with their free time.
Roy Bancroft was not one of those people.
No, he was here. Doing this.
MacKenzie: Is that why they call you crashcart?
Roy almost let himself laugh at that. Almost. It wasn’t ideal that the Captain knew the nickname… but he’d always liked it, and at this point the toothpaste was well out of the tube.
Bancroft: Oh, no ma’am – that particular honorific has a much more frightening origin story. If you ever want to hear it, I recommend bringing tea. Or something stronger.
She took that in with the serene, immovable expression of a sphinx – no twitch, no smile, not even the subtle microexpression that suggested she might one day consider the possibility of being amused.
MacKenzie: I’m a busy person, Ensign… Even if I did have the time, what makes you think I would take any interest in this?
He’d been expecting this – or, at least, hoping to make it this far before the proverbial airlock depressurized.
Time for the pitch.
Bancroft: ::forthright:: I’m relentlessly curious and relentlessly coachable, Captain. I’ll put in the work to absorb everything you teach, then use it to deliver results that reflect well on both of us. In short, mentoring me is an investment with a guaranteed return: your time comes back multiplied in impact, insight, and legacy – for you and for the Artemis.
Several long moments passed in which Roy wondered if MacKenzie had forgotten he was standing there – or was simply weighing the pros and cons of selective amnesia.
Finally, her posture eased by a fraction – a shift in stance so small that it would have been completely invisible to anyone not looking for it.
MacKenzie: And exactly how do you see this working…?
Bancroft: ::measured:: Respectfully, ma’am – on your terms. Whether that’s a standing fifteen minutes on the duty roster, the occasional observation in Sickbay, or simply an unstructured discussion when our paths cross. My only request is the opportunity to learn, improve, and put that improvement to work aboard the Artemis.
He waited, watching her as if the answer might arrive in the set of her shoulders before it reached her mouth.
MacKenzie: Response
Bancroft: ::nodding:: Understood, ma’am. I appreciate your consideration – and apologize for intruding on your personal time. With your permission and my thanks, I’ll leave you in peace.
He hesitated, debating whether the next bit was wise. But then again, she’d find out eventually.
Bancroft: Oh, and… there may be a small decorative bonsai delivered to you in the next day or two. Consider it a thank you for your time ::a beat:: unless you hate bonsais – in which case, I will not rest until I uncover the culprit.
MacKenzie: Response
TAG/End Scene for Bancroft :)
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Ensign Roy Bancroft
Medical Officer
USS Artemis-A
A240205RB1