PNPC Ensign Talyra - About Little Furry Critters...
Renée Chalfant
(( Maklau Bay Beach, Risa ))
Talyra was enjoying this conversation far more than what passed for a “security interview” with Is’Kah. Perhaps there was some hope in finding competence and
Talyra: Maybe one day we’ll be able to find out more about what’s outside of this galaxy. I know we have scientists working on looking out more than looking deeper inside, but it’s not a topic that interests me greatly right now.
Stapledon: I can understand that. What else about astronomy and astrophysics interests you?
Talyra: Outside of what I’ve already mentioned with Hobus? Hmm. I haven’t considered it much actually. There is enough to learn about the life cycle of stars and how they can be manipulated that will occupy my time and attention for the time being.
Stapledon: From what I've read astronomy seems to have a lot of interesting findings.
Talyra: ::nods:: True. Do the stars hold any special appeal to you, Lieutenant?
Stapledon: I remember when I was a child and I asked my dad where humans came from one night... He pointed up at the sky toward Sol. It was a star I could barely see just twinkling there.
In spite of herself, Talyra smiled slightly as she nodded in acknowledgement. It wasn’t her father that did that, but her mother. The older Romulan had been struck by a bout of homesickness for Romulus and loved to talk about it with Talyra. So Stapledon was from a human colony. That made sense. She didn’t really know why she tended to assume all humans were from the Sol System.
Talyra: That’s a lovely moment.
Stapledon: I remember being amazed that humans were the only creatures that came from a star in the sky. And then as I grew older and realized that those twinkling stars were actual places I was amazed.
Talyra: Did learning you could visit them yourself take away anything from that?
Stapledon: Sometimes... But where some people thought finding out about what stars were took away their magic for me it opened up something new. Like it was the answer to another "how does this work?" question I was always asking.
Talyra: Interesting. I’m much the same. One of my professors mentioned an insatiable curiosity is at the core of being a scientist and explorer.
She hummed briefly and looked at her PADD for a long moment. Thinking about the Academy caused her to remember something else she was confused about while at the Academy.
Talyra: Maybe you can answer one question I have.
Stapledon: Oh... Is there anything I can do to help?
Talyra: ::nods:: Pets. Humans love keeping little furry things as companions. My roommate had this … puppy, I think she called it? She tried to take it everywhere with her. Where I grew up, we had animals but they served a purpose. What purpose was keeping a noisy little critter serve for humans that it’s seemingly so ingrained in your culture?
Stapledon: Response
The Romulan looked at Stapledon skeptically.
Talyra: Really? That can’t be it.
Stapledon: Response
Talyra: Emotional support? From an animal that cannot talk or do meaningfully … anything besides eat, make noises, and sleep?
Stapledon: Response