Capt. Lia Rouiancet: Relaxation, Time, Fruit

[Tony Colella]

(( Promenade, Deep Space 9 ))

This time, Lia was determined not to spend her entire leave period on the Butler. She was even more tempted because she hadn't been aboard for the ship's trips through time, so it wasn't like she needed to spend time away after being cooped up again -- and really, the Butler was so spacious that it was barely being cooped up, not at all like serving on an old Oberth-class or something.

Even so, Lia had dragged herself over to DS9 after she'd heard Avander's report and welcomed the new and returning officers aboard. She didn't have a specific idea regarding what she was going to do, but she was sure she'd run into someone she knew, or possibly several someones, and it wasn't going to take a kidnapping from Lhandon to get her to enjoy herself this time.

Yet even as she walked the Promenade, she realized that she was striding along as if she had somewhere to be, and she forced herself to slow to a stroll. She did see plenty of familiar faces, but she also saw more unfamiliar ones, and once she slowed her pace (and backtracked more than once), she also saw the stalls and stores she'd otherwise have rushed right by. The Lurian milliner was new, she was sure, especially since it seemed like she was sharing half a store with the cobbler. She also would've remembered the enticingly sour-sweet smells coming from the food stall that advertised itself as "authentically equatorial Tellar" in its offerings. A longstanding food feud, maybe.

In fact, she was so concerned with the journey that she almost ran down several passersby. True, she was moving very slowly, but she still would've rather avoided a collision -- which is why, when she finally ran into someone, her first thought was disappointment that she hadn't continued to avoid her fellow shoppers and sightseers.

She also managed, somehow, to push the person into a fruit stand. She was already apologizing when she realized she knew the man she'd knocked to the ground.

Rouiancet: I'm so sorry-- Josh?

Herrick: (blinking for a few moments) Captain?

Lia had been about to run after the moba fruit that had spilled off the cart (and further apologize to the stallkeeper, who was glaring very pointedly), but Josh sprang up to partial attention, and she froze. That was far more respect than she felt she deserved in the moment, and it also didn't seem like it would've been his regular reaction. Was something wrong?

Rouiancet: Are you okay? (beat) Will you help me grab those (indicating the fruit) before the fruitmonger has us thrown off the station?

Well, her. He'd only been in the wrong place at the wrong time. However, he didn't move at all, so she repeated,

Rouiancet: Are you okay?

Herrick: It’s been a while…

Not that long. She cocked her head, now very confused.

Rouiancet: What do you mean?

Herrick: I was, how you say, a victim or temporal circumstances. (beat) How about your time away?

Rouiancet: The leadership summit was fine, but--

She waved a hand, dismissing its importance. As she did so, the fruitmonger very significantly cleared her throat, and Lia picked up the scattered moba as she continued to speak.

Rouiancet: --what do you mean, a victim of temporal circumstances? (lower) Avander told me about the time travel. Something more than that?

Herrick: Response

She chewed on that for a moment as she returned the fruit to the stall, and turned to continue her stroll with Josh, continuing to try and parse what he said.

Rouiancet: How long has it been, subjective?

Herrick: Response

Lia goggled at him. She couldn't help it.

Rouiancet: What have you been doing?

Herrick: Response

Tags! and TBC!

--

Captain Lia Rouiancet

Commanding Officer

USS Octavia E. Butler

V238208LV0

she/her/hers (this character)