1LT Arturo Maxwell - Why So Busy?

[Iain Turnbull]

((Writer’s Room, USS OEB))

PADD in hand, Max stepped aside lightly as another member of the crew came out of the door he was heading for. Pausing a moment at the threshold, he finished watching the short video message from his mother even as he still privately marvelled at the almost polite greeting and “How are you?” from his sister as she had passed by the screen.

Maxwell: oO Miss you Mama Oo

Putting the PADD in its belt-holster, Max stepped into the Writers Room and made for the bar.

Koryan: Come on in. Care for a drink?

Yinn: My four favorite words!

Having entered what appeared to be moments before him, Max wandered up to the bar beside Yinn. Claiming a stool as his own Max sat, arms resting lightly on the bartop.

Maxwell: Aye, that'd be grand.

Koryan: What can I get you three? 

Yinn: Human ouzo, please.

Raising an eyebrow, Max let off a half-grin.

Ouzo was pretty potent, but then again he figured Klingon/Bolian physiology would be able to handle it rather well. Tonight was a cusual drink for him though, with no shirtless table dancing planned. He supressed a smirk at the memory of Alora's horrified amusement in a SanFran District bar after one of their evening classes.

Maxwell: Scotch please, Koryan.

Koryan: Have you met?

Max gave a light shake of the head.

Publically they hadn't socialised much, and he wasn't going advertise JOPA either.

Yinn: We were on Cheyd'lang at the same time, but in all the chaos, we didn't really get to talk. 

Maxwell: Aye, we've really had much time tae talk. Yinn, right?

Yinn: The one and only. Or two. It's funny, my brains started working in sync almost immediately, so the hardest part is just knowing how to talk about myself. oOFor me and everyone else. Loq had had to re-explain their situation so many times, it felt like they had an easier time adjusting than anyone else on the ship.Oo 

Max nodded. Aye, the two of them.

He furrowed his brow as he thought for a moment.

Maxwell: And... Loq too, right?

Koryan: Response

Yinn: I'm also in the gym right now, practicing with a bat'leth. I think that's been the biggest adjustment; that one body is much weaker than the other, and one's more agile. A Bolian's life begins when we first touch the ocean, and now part of me can barely swim. And of course a Klingon who can't swing a bat'leth is no Klingon at all. 

Now Max let out a broader smile.

I'm fair pally with a guy that's a dab hand with a Bat'leth. He's aboard the Butler as well if you wanted a sparring partner?

Koryan: Response

Loq downed their drink and motioned for a refill.

Yinn: I normally don't like to take breaks from work, but Counselor Salo says I'm using that as an excuse to avoid learning how to adjust socially. I keep telling her I never took breaks before either! 

Koryan: Response

Maxwell: I could name a fair few officers that you have tae drag away from their stations tae be honest.

He thought for a moment of Sal, how he was always busy. Even on leave and away from his office, work always seemed to find him. Max had done his own fair share of being too busy for his own good when he'd become Chief of Tactical. To the point that his aide had ensured there was clean clothes and a spare uniform in his bottom desk drawer. And there was always a blanket and a pillow on the sofa in his old office too.

Koryan/Yinn: Response

Taking a sip of his scotch, Max gave a light shake of the head and paired it with a grin.

Maxwell: Oh no, none ae that. That's what the senior officers are for.

Koryan/Yinn: Response

--

1st Lieutenant Arturo Maxwell.

Marine Officer, 4/73 Marines.

USS Octavia E Butler: NCC-82850.

O239311AM0