Ensign Richard Matthews - Why am I Like This?
Matthew Gough
((Deck 4, Crew Mess, USS Khitomer))
Semara: ::A polite nod:: Ensign Mathews, how good of you to join us...
But of course, it was always a treat when Richard joined the party. Or something.
Matthews: Semara! And person I sort of know but don't actually know. ::He grinned:: Sorry, I'm too tired to try and be polite and catch your name in conversation. I do remember you. but for the life of me I can't remember your name. Sorry. ::He waved:: Richard, by the way, if you're thinking 'oh my god who is this weirdo.' as most tend to do.
Semara: Richards, meet Lieutenant Commander Thelan Valeris. He's our newest engineer, and a big part a' our escape from the nebula.
Valeris? Why had he been thinking the name Valerius? Richard frowned, then gave a little shake of his head. Whatever. He thought as he plopped down in an empty seat.
Valeris: I wouldn't say a big part.
Matthews: ::Unwrapping his straw and sticking it in his milkshake:: Don't anyone mention to Thalia that my meal is cake and milkshakes please. She's insisting I eat healthy stuff after the run in with the bug people. Dunno why.
Semara: It has to do with how the gut biome responds to...
oO Nnnnnnoooooooooooooo don’t ruin this for me! Not you, giver of the best baked goods Oo
And really, ‘giver of the best baked goods’ was way better than any of Semara’s other titles. She could not just throw that away.
He could work shop it!
Semara: Nevermind. ::Beat, the best smile she could muster:: It's just good to see you back safely and still with your appetite.
oO If I ever turn down food, know I have been replaced and save me Oo
Valeris: Yeah, it's good to see you on your feet.
Matthews: ::Taking a good long sip making little noises of appreciation when the shake hit his tastebuds:: Please tell me we're talking about something fun and not work related. Ras had me running scans this morning. and looking over what the Velithari was sending to us. Which you can imagine. Was not fun for me.
Semara: I'd expect not. ::Beat:: Unfortunately, I must disappoint you, Richard. We were talkin' about the SDA. ::A polite half-smile to Valeris:: However, if you'd prefer to change the topic?
Valeris: ::Shrugging:: I'm good either way. I'm not quite done with the SDA repairs, but like I said, I'm more than happy to answer questions. ::Looking to Matthews:: Or we could find a more casual topic.
Matthews: I caught a little of it. I was subtly trying to change the subject from boring things to fun things.
Semara: No, no. Far be it from me to spoil shore leave fun. ::Beat:: Got any plans? ::Beat:: It's been a while since we all played poker together.
A feeling of, he wouldn’t quite call it evilness, but on the spectrum of light and dark, he’d say the feeling was a darker grey, bubbled up inside him. And Richard little out a mean little chuckle. It was so fun to watch some of the crew who had the telepathic gifts play games like poker. People for some reason tend to forget it.
Last time they played, he was pretty sure Michaels had teamed up with Semara for an unholy alliance.
Oh gods he needed Semara on his team for a game of charades.
Valeris: Junior Officers running poker games now? ::chuckling:: Where was that when I was a lower decker?
Matthews: You weren’t hanging with the cool kids. Sorry to break it to you. But hey! You know us now. ::He glanced between the two of them:: If I got a game of strip poker going. Could I count on you guys to help me make sure a few hunks lose? Maybe? No? Aw dang.
Semara: And you commander? I pray I ain't been so rude as to take you from some much-deserved time away from the ship?.
Valeris: No. Not really. I haven't officially started my shore leave yet. Still got a lot to do.
Matthews: Again, Ras has been making me work even though my delicate sensibilities demand I be sent to the nearest seaside cottage to recuperate from my troubles. Preferably one by a beach. Basically beach holodeck retreat in my future.
Valeris: What about you, Lieutenant? I'm sure your shoreleave plans aren't all report follow-ups, right?
Semara: Response
Valeris: I'm actually really curious about something. Is being blonde and Betazoid on a list of positive hiring points for Intelligence?
Richard blinked, say what now? His eyes darted to Semara, who yes, fit that bill. Did everyone know about her switch? Had that been announced? It was hard to keep track of those things. As for it being a requirement, the blond betazoid thing, while he didn’t really know the main crew of the 118 now. He kept in contact with a few of the support staff after coming back. He didn’t think their intel was betazoid. He was also going grey.
Matthews: ::He let out a long drawn out, sort of questioning:: No?
Semara: Response
Valeris: No reason. Just legitimately curious.
Matthews: Are you trying to switch duty posts already? ::Frowning:: don’t die your hair, dark and sexy looks good on you. ::He rolled his eyes up like he was trying to look up at his own hair:: I’ve been thinking of a change though. Blond? Or some other color? Not departments, I just mean hair color. Though, new shirts, new wardrobes. There’s a thought.
Semara/Valeris: Response
Matthews: Don’t mind me, even I think I’ve been a little more out of it lately. Don’t tell the undercover councils at the bar.
Semara/Valeris: Response
Matthews: Never mind. Wait so, what are you doing Valeris? I never found out about the pink filament things. Was that all taken care of? ::He glance between the two and mumbled before sipping his drink:: That’s not . . . really work related. It’s more finding out what happened while I was out. Okay it’s work related I’m a hypocrite. Don’t act surprised, you can read my thoughts.
As an afterthought he added.
Matthews: I am so, so sorry for my thoughts by the way.
He tried to not think of the fantasy of Semara waltzing into the room with hunky betazoid men following her. Carrying trays of her baked goods and treats. Dressed for a wedding they were catering for.
Ah, a betazoid wedding.
Matthews: How come this always happens around telepaths. I’m head empty most of the time I swear . . . no wait, that’s not what I meant.
Semara/Valeris: Response
TAGS/TBC
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Science Officer
USS Khitomer (NCC-62400)
A238908RM0