Ensign Juliet Banks: Little Gestures
Juliet Banks
((Room 142, Deck 14, USS Khitomer, docked at DS33))
Juliet poked at the curl of plastic with one fingertip and it folded pathetically. She judged its amount of sproing critically, eyes narrowed, and found it wanting. She peeled the bow back off the PADD and threw it in the tray for replicator recycling.
Banks: Hmm.
She looked around at her desk; half a dozen discarded bows littered its surface, all judged inadequately jaunty for the PADD they were meant to adorn. It was possible, she conceded to herself, that she was overthinking this – especially since the bow was only meant to be a fun touch at the last moment. Determined to be reasonable, she picked out the best of the bows – a fun little frill of cream ribbon and shimmery mylar film – stuck it back onto the top left corner of the PADD, and picked up said PADD with the resolve not to overdo things.
oO Be cool, Juliet, this is totally normal, you’re just saying thank you. Oo
Banks: Computer, locate Lieutenant Semara.
Computer: Lieutenant Amelia Semara is in her quarters, compartment 145, deck 14.
Excellent. Juliet had been by the Lieutanant’s quarters twice already, only to find her absent, before she remembered that now she was an Ensign she had permission for location queries via the ship’s computer. Before she could overthink the gift any further, she snagged the PADD and was out the door.
((Corridor outside Room 145, Deck 14, USS Khitomer, docked at DS33))
Juliet touched the door control to signal a visitor, but was still startled when the door slid open shortly afterwards to reveal Semara herself.
Semara: Response
Juliet couldn’t help but smile at the woman; her presence was so warm and friendly.
Banks: Hi, Lieutenant. I hope I’m not interrupting anything – I just wanted to come by and thank you for your help on the bridge the other day. That was actually my first duty shift on the Khitomer, and ::a wry smile:: it was a hell of a first day. Your supportiveness on the bridge – your kindness – made it a lot easier to handle. So… ::proffering the bow-adorned PADD:: just a little thing to say thank you.
Semara: Response
Of course, she should have predicted the invitation to join the Lieutenant, Juliet realised. Semara clearly had exquisite manners, if more formal than Juliet had seen in person before. She’d have to be careful not to impose.
((Amelia’s Quarters, Room 145, Deck 14, USS Khitomer, docked at DS33))
She stepped into the Lieutenant’s quarters and took a seat where Semara had indicated, looking around her a little as she sat. The room was at once a surprise and nothing of the kind – personal possessions everywhere one looked, nothing in disarray but a warm melange of furnishings and treasures that were clearly the embodiment of memories and history for the Lieutenant. If asked about the Lieutenant’s quarters she would never have predicted this, Juliet thought, but all of it seemed exactly in keeping with the woman.
Her first impulse was to explain about the PADD, and why that constituted any kind of thank-you gift, when the thought occurred that for Lieutenant Semara – a being for whom etiquette and hospitality seemed a deeply-ingrained and important part of her – a rush to the social finish line in the interests of not taking up her time wouldn’t actually be a courtesy. So she deliberately relaxed a little into the seat, and turned to offer a smile her hostess.
Banks: You have lovely quarters. ::gesturing appreciatively to the décor:: Meanwhile, I haven’t even managed to find a potplant to make mine look a bit less sterile. ::a grin:: Although in my defense, I tried to go and find one but ended up getting press-ganged into a lunch excursion, and Lieutenant Al’Heem is yet to take me up on my offer to swap manual labour for botanical advice.
Semara: Response
Tags/TBC
Ensign Juliet Banks
HCO Officer
USS Khitomer
K240206JB1