Ensign Jackson Tanner - I'm a poet and I didn't know it
Jackson Tanner
((The Ruddy Targ, City, Denali Station))
Looking around at the group, Jackson matched their looks of interest with his own eagerness for what was being proposed. While Jackson wasn’t long an Ensign himself, he had a few things he could likely share with a brand new first day Ensign. And even if he didn’t, he was sure he could learn something from the broader group.
Tanner: Well, it’s probably that I feel like I don’t have much to offer at the moment, but I can see how this has merit as time goes on. ::Pausing to clarify.:: Particularly for any new Ensigns that arrive.
ch’Clex: ::with a subtle note of humor:: We could always call it something cryptic like ‘Project Lower Decks.’ That might pique too much interest, though.
West: Well we can't call ourselves the Lower Decks... Maybe by whatever shift we get? like the A-Team?
Mosfer then gestured for West to pause when the waiter appeared, ordering drinks for the whole booth.
Mosfer: Drinks for everyone!
Jackson understood the new to throw energy at a new prospect and endeavour and the Ensign he’d only just met, was really hitting the mark with it.
ch’Clex: ::politely:: Thank you. If you have Andorian spice tea, I’d appreciate a refill.
Raising his glass, Jackson indicated he would have another of the same.
Rian/West: Response
Mosfer: Actually, it already has a name - and an acronym!
The Ensign paused again, before continuing.
Mosfer: The Junior Officer Protection Association - JOPA for short.
Tanner: JOPA. Easy to remember at least.
Rian/West: Response
ch’Clex: ::considering the acronym:: JOPA... it’s got a nice ring to it. If it builds camaraderie and mutual support, I’m all for it.
Helping himself to the potatoes that came on the round of food, Jackson set it down and watched it steam as the Ensign continued.
Mosfer: There are actually other chapters, but we have to be careful. The first rule of JOPA is - Don’t talk about JOPA. The second rule is don’t talk about what happens in JOPA. And, if someone overhears you and asks what JOPA is, you can tell them it’s the Junior Officer Poetry Association.
Tanner: ::Laughing:: Haha, I like it.
Jackson wasn’t sure the secrecy was needed but it sure made it feel more exclusive and important. What they were doing wasn’t going to be a problem, but it did make sense that perhaps senior officers would prefer if they didn’t get together and talk about how they might not be the most people people. In any case, Jackson broke open his potato and smiled at the prospect of being part of a secret group.
Mosfer: Now… we should of course go over all the rules. There aren’t many, but there are a couple more. And we should go over the requirements for membership.
Tanner: The meaty bit.
Rian/West: Response
ch’Clex: ::quiet, antennae tilting forward:: I’m looking forward to hearing them. Count me in, Mosfer. Let’s see how we can shape JOPA here on Denali.
Mosfer: I’m glad you are all willing!
JOPA was off to a great start, but it was only a start. They had some things to do before they could really call it established - not to mention, they had to work on initiation procedures.
Initiation procedures caused Jackson to wince a little. This was inevitably going to require some sort of outrageous task to be completed, or some extroverted display. Not wanting to be the negative guy of the group, Jackson bit his tongue in cautious optimism.
Rian/West: Response
ch’Clex: ::setting his appetizer aside, leaning forward with antennae slightly raised:: One question occurs to me. If we run into disagreements among ourselves, how do we handle them? I’d like to avoid misunderstandings that could undermine this organization before it’s fully formed.
Mosfer: Basically, I think we should handle it like we normally should. Talk to people, communicate. If we can’t clear up the problem, go to a neutral third party and have someone mediate.
Tanner: Hopefully collectively we can help each other with that.
They wouldn’t be much of a group if they could not resolve conflict or support each other through an issue.
ch’Clex/Rian/West: Response
Mosfer: Right, now for the initiation rules.
Once again, a broad grin spread over Mosfer’s face as he looked from person to person.
Mosfer: Every new initiate has to pull a prank on a senior officer. It has to be a harmless prank, but a prank nonetheless. For instance, I heard rumours that someone on another ship put devices in their captain’s office that exploded with glitter when he entered. That sort of thing.
Tanner: Oh. ::Looking around at the faces of the group.:: What on earth am I going to do..
Jackson liked to have fun, but he never really did find pranks to be all that amusing. Inevitably someone tends to go through a period of frustration, annoyance, anger and wonder. If you were lucky, the person only found you once those feelings subsided. Jackson would need to consider this carefully.
ch’Clex/Rian/West: Response
Mosfer: Most recently, a couple of ensigns managed to hack into the system and make it so that whenever the Director of Intelligence used a replicator, it would only replicate hot baked potatoes!
Even he could see the humour in that.
Mosfer: But it’s important that you don’t get caught. Oh, and you can work together to pull one prank, especially since this is a new thing here. And since it’s new, I can help you plan, but you have to pull it off on your own.
ch’Clex/Rian/West: Response
Tanner: Pranks aren’t really my thing to come up with, but I could likely help someone pull it off. In any case, it sounds like it could be fun. ::The door deliberately slightly ajar on whether he was all in on this.::
Looking around at the group, he didn’t really know them all that well, and felt like that was one of the first hurdles the group needed to cover off on sooner rather than later.
ch’Clex/Rian/West: Response
Tanner: Are there any other requirements and do we need any more than us to get started?
There were a lot of Ensigns and junior staff getting around the station that they could draw from. Jackson wasn’t sure just how big this group needed to be, or wanted to be but he could see merit in it both being larger, and in it being small also. Perhaps they could help out other Ensigns without them actively being a member. It wasn’t lost on Jackson that he answered roughly his own question.
ch’Clex/Rian/West/Mosfer: Response
tag/tbc
Ensign Jackson Tanner
Engineering Officer
Denali Station
V238010KT0