Ensign Jania Nis - We're completely, utterly normal, we swear
Jania Nis
((Senior Officer’s Mess, Deck 2, U.S.S. Octavia E. Butler))
Lahl: And that’s about the basics for me.
Kimonzi turned to look at Caras, who had yet to share. Avander turned, with the others, to face the (in many ways) greenest ensign.
Caras: ::swallowing:: Ah, I’m sorry, It’s just I haven’t eaten anything all day. Busy shift and all.
Jania felt the same way, but she was too busy eating to acknowledge his sentiment.
Caras: I’m Ensign Morro Caras. I’m an Orion ::looking down at himself:: and I joined StarFleet because they really helped me out and granted me asylum. They protected me and my sister from some people who wanted us dead. They did it all for free and they did it with great loss to themselves. I’m not sure If I joined to pay them back, or If I joined to make sure that there were more people like them in the galaxy.
Jania finally stopped eating long enough to hear what was being said. She took a deep breath. While many found her Starfleet 'origin' story to be intense, it was a single rough moment in an otherwise golden childhood full of laughter and love, and it was hard to imagine an upbringing where she and her brothers were on the run.
Promontory: Well, (beat) we all come from somewhere!
Lahl: Oh yeah, there’s no one single way to be here.
Nis: We're sorry to hear how rough that must have been for you and your sister.
Caras: Ah yes, I didn’t mean to make it sound so grave. I’m honestly very glad to be here and glad to have the vocation that I do have.
Promontory: We’re glad to have you. (looking around) All of you. I’ve read the mission reports and I’m very impressed with your first showing. Fine additions to the crew all around!
Lahl: Thank you sir.
Nis: We just did our job.
But she smiled pridefully and blushed a little.
Caras: What about you Commander? Why did the Captain tell you she picked you as her first officer?
Promontory: (nodding solemnly) I believe it was because of my great hair.
Again Jania stared at the handsome face of Commander Promontory, feeling like a schoolgirl with a crush.
Lahl: How very droll Commander.
Nis: It is really great. Wait, is that really why you . . . Starfleet doesn't really promote based on hair right?
She instinctively tried to fix her own hair, which was messy since she'd been too busy working before this meeting to spend time doing anything with it.
oO Jania, you dummy, it's sarcasm. Oo
Caras: Response
Promontory: So… anyone have any big plans for Port Coray or Deep Space 14? You got to enjoy your leave while you can.
Lahl: I’m sure my time on Port Coray will be uneventful. For Deep Space 14, I’m hoping to get some work in on Parrises Squares.
Nis: Oh, we'd love to, but we keep getting dragged into medical emergencies. The Butler goes hard, shore leave or not. We'd love to see Deep Space 14, though. The arboretum sounds wonderful, and I've been wanting to try the food at Souv-lucky Day.
She cringed, staring at Lahl. This food was fairly well-known to be trashy tourist fare. And the use of I was no accident; Nis had no interest in the faux-Greek Terran food made by cooks who had never even seen Earth. But Lahl was in a new person, and Kimonzi certainly didn't seem as fancy--or uptight--as Lahl's old host could be.
Lahl: Response
Caras: Response
Promontory: I took out the Gamma Flyer with Roger Hartmann—we just had to give this ring another buzz and see how it compared to Denali Station.
Nis and Lahl reached for some cheeses at the same time.
Lahl: That sounds interesting.
Caras: Response
Nis: What is it like? We heard they needed Starfleet's help keeping the tech going.
Lahl: At the very least, from my time on the ring, it seemed very advanced, and very, very, old.
Nis: One of Nis's former hosts was an archaeologist, and I think she'd say the technical term for its age was 'old as balls.'
Promontory/Caras: Response
Lahl: What is your plan for Port Coray or DS14 Commander? Anything fun?
Promontory/Caras: Response
Nis: If you do get the chance, let us know and we'd love to come along. Unless anyone gets hurt in Port Coray. Then we'll be . . . on the ship, probably. Please don't get hurt on Port Coray.
Lahl: I see, makes sense. New question for the group, what is everyone’s family situations? If you’re willing to share. I have one brother.
Nis: Is he joined?
Lahl: Response
Nis: My brothers aren't--they're kind of jealous, but usually in a playful way. They've always been playful, like that time they locked me in the basement for three hours. Very playful. :: She glanced at the table, resentful at the memory of slamming her fists against the basement door while they flickered the lights and shouted about ghosts down there :: Anyway, we're pretty middle class. Nis has had a couple of hosts who were, like, really rich, but not us. We're normal.
Promontory/Caras: Response
Nis: Oh, we didn't mean other situations are, like, ab-- uh . . . :: Eats some more cheese. :: Right.
She sank into her chair and let the others talk. Keeping her mouth shut for a moment was probably best.
Promontory/Lahl/Caras: Response
Tags/TBC
Ensign Jania Nis
Medical Officer
USS Octavia E. Butler NCC-82850
O240108JN2