[sb118-khitomer] Lieutenant (JG) Ezra Zerva - A Mother And Sons Duty To Starfleet.
BC Cooper
(( Ventral Ring Beta Module, No Leaf Unturned Tea Shop, Deep Space 33 ))
Semara: Goodness! :: Voice dropping :: I had no idea you were such a lady's man, Ezra! :: A grin pretending to be watching warily :: I'll hafta make sure I keep an eye on you for any ungentlemanly moves…
Ezra tried his best not to laugh, smile or grin at her statement.
Zerva: I know I have this suave reputation of dating multiple people, using my, how does the rumor go? My charming good looks and flashy smile ::shakes his head with a low laugh and then shrugs:: I don’t really see it. I’m just me, being myself. I’m not acting any different. It might explain why I get along so well with other people? ::quick thought:: Well, there’s technically four ::chuckling:: if you count that one date I had with a fellow cadet at Starfleet Academy that didn’t work out.
Semara: :: A laugh :: Four! Ezra, you sly fox... Color me impressed.
There she was, eying him with a giant grin as she took another sip of tea. It was infectious, but in the best way. It could make anyone blush. But that’s not what drew him to their working relationship. It was everything else. Her southern hospitality, her knowledge in the sciences, the way she solved problems and found solutions, her natural born leadership, the way she cared about everyone she knew, the way she listened and gave advice without judgement. And then there was the food. The home baked goods. So good. It was enough for anyone to feel right at home and relaxed. He guessed that’s why he got along with her so well. Why they made a good working team. One that grew over the time they’ve spent together. Two nebulas in three missions, by his count. Proving one could have both a working relationship and become friends with someone without making it weird. Ezra noted, she would make a great ship's counselor.
oO I can see why, Ras really likes you. Oo
Ezra gave an innocent, warning look as he raised his hands,
Zerva: ::hands raised:: Hey, you opened this can of worms, not me.
Waitress: Can I get either of you anything else?
Zerva: No, thank you.
Semara: This'll be perfect, thank you!
Semara flashed a smile for gratitude towards the waitress, before settling in on her chair.
Semara: So, you were sayin'?
Zerva: Okay, so Is’Kah. I first met her when we were kids. My mother’s job as a security officer in Starfleet, had taken us from Trillus to Vulcan when I was five. We spent a couple of years on Vulcan. During my time there I got to know a lot of customs of the Vulcan people. I even learned some of their language. Having that experience on Vulcan has helped in some ways with Lera. I learned some things on Vulcan about their people and both of us growing up on earth, I think gave us a place to start.
As he spoke, Ezra’s eyes watched as Semara neatly parted her muffin into quarters with a knife on her plate.
Semara: :: A little chuckle :: You ain't gotta stand on etiquette with me, Ezra. Please. Eat however makes you happy. I've dined with Klingons on several occasions - I doubt you can shock me.
His face was like a deer caught in headlights as he was caught. Ezra decided to do what he normally did. He pulled the muffin apart in half, separating the top from the bottom. Then he used the butter knife to place a small amount of butter upon both halves.
Zerva: ::smiling:: Thanks. I appreciate it. I just didn’t want to jump right in without first making sure
Semara chuckled and grinned at Ezra as she chewed. She took a sip of tea before returning to the prior subject.
Semara: I didn't know you grew up on Vulcan, and then Earth. I mean, I knew, but it's the first you've really told me about it. :: Beat :: I'm sure movin' around like that ain't easy.
It wasn’t easy, but Vulcan and Earth were not the only places he spent his childhood.
Zerva: Well technically, Vulcan and like 8 or 9 other planets, and then Earth. I lost count. But each of those planets in between I didn’t stay for more than two, maybe three months at most, tops ::beat:: And yeah, it’s hard to make friends and feel like you have a home when you’re moving about a lot. ::takes a small bite of his muffin:: Being a Starfleet Brat will do that to yeah.
He took a small bite from his muffin and sipped on some of his tea, while Semara spoke.
Semara: :: A little nod with a twisting, sympathetic smile :: Your and my childhood were real different. :: Beat :: I s'pose I was lucky, growin' up in a paradise folks go to visit when they get tired a' their own perfect planets. We saw near on everyone from everywhere, felt like - includin' a fair few Starfleet-sorts on shore leave or visitin' for a conference. And some Vulcans. :: Beat :: Still, the only Vulcan I learned was pretty much "Dif-Tor heh Smusma!" and "Sochya eh Dif!" :: A soft chuckle. :: You're fortunate, in your own way, to a' seen their culture up-close. It's quite beautiful, and surprisin'ly spiritual for such a logical sort.
Ezra recognized those two Vulcan phrases right away. He quickly thought of another one he knew.
Zerva: Everyone knows those. One of my personal favorites is ::beat:: Nash-veh ma vesh' — heh kwon-sum dungau nam-tor — ish-veh katravahsu. Which translates into, I have been — and always shall be — your friend. ::smiles::
Ezra gave a wide smile as he ended that phrase. He meant it, just like he meant it with Richard and Ras, even if he didn’t come right out and say to them aloud.
Semara: If you don't mind my askin'... Was your mama how you ended up in Starfleet?
Semara took another small piece of her muffin, carefully munching on it after inquiring about his mother. A subject he didn’t always enjoy chatting about. He held in a sigh that wanted to escape. Instead he focused on the question at hand.
Zerva: Yes. And no. It’s complicated.
This time, he was unable to hold it in. It was a soft sigh, just barely audible, but enough for anyone at the table who was tuned in to the conversation to hear it. He continued, picking apart his muffin top.
Zerva: My mother was always going on about the ::making quotations with his fingers:: The safety and security of the Federation and Starfleet ::rolling his eyes:: It’s important to be sure, that one would feel a sense of duty in their job to be the best at what they do. She drilled that into our minds as kids. Like I had no choice in the matter.
Semara: Response
Zerva: I remember the day like it was yesterday when I told my family I made the decision to go to Starfleet Academy. I broke it to my brother and sister first to soften the blow. I made everyone’s favorite food for breakfast. ::beat:: It almost worked, except for my mother. Can you believe she tried to talk me out of it? Warning me about the dangers and what I might face and see out here?
Semara: Response
Zerva: She did her best, but I was determined to show her just how much her constantly going on about work was driving me to follow her. I wanted to prove to myself and her that I’d be better at it then she was in her own job. ::takes a nibble of his muffin:: My siblings thought I was crazy to follow in her footsteps. They didn’t want to be a part of that after hearing about her work all their life. It’s how she used it as an excuse to always be at work and never there like most mothers. We couldn’t even have a dog, much less, any… other…
Ezra’s words trailed off as his eyes left the table and stared straight at the entrance into the tea shop.
Semara: Response
Ezra got up out of his seat.
Zerva: ::standing up:: I saw him. I know I did. I…I could feel it. ::whispering:: Like he was here in the room. ::sharp whisper:: It’s got to be him!
Semara: Response
Ezra began to move towards the exit of the tea ship as he spoke.
Zerva: ::whispering back to Semara:: Dex ::beat, voice raised:: Dex Lyr!!
Semara: Response
Tags/TBC
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Lieutenant (JG) Ezra Zerva
Security Officer
USS Khitomer (NCC-62400)
A240101EZ2