Lt Ross - Welcome
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Hannah S
Sep 21, 2025, 10:20:18 AM (3 days ago) Sep 21
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((The I’vish Gallery, Shi’Kahr District, Starbase 118))
Who would have guessed how easy it was to entangle him in a serious art discourse? Ross found himself in academic conversation of unknown scales - and something about it was incredibly thrilling to him.
Ross: I guess that's what I see... Inside that weird donut. How about you, Mrs. cosmic grandeur?
Lyra's eyes brightened at the joking challenge in his voice and she turned back to the painting. She stood up a little straighter as if she were squaring up against it, and dramatically swished her curls back over her shoulders.
Ross grinned at the sight of her bracing for the challenge. His gaze lingered on her for a second before he turned back to the infamous painting.
Voss: What do I see inside the weird donut? Well to me, Pekev’s work always aims for the undercurrent. The primordial force that rumbles underneath and inside everything - that emanates between us and the world, compounding and growing with everything it touches. ::gesturing to the large swathes of dark, twisting sand:: And it isn’t a passive process. It shakes us, unmoors us, sets us adrift as we fight against it. ::pointing to the white spines next:: Desperate lashes against what we perceive as our enemy, because we don’t understand it. Because we don’t ::taking a few steps back:: have the perspective we need to see the pattern. If we can take a breath, if we can trust in the world around us, we see it isn’t a fight, but a dance. There’s give and take and push and pull, not to hurt us, but to move us. To place us where we’re meant to be. ::She shot him a grin:: Is that grand enough?
He touched his chest in a dramatic gesture.
Ross: That just shook my perception of everything. ::he grinned:: Spoken like a true artist.
Voss: ::giggling:: Wouldn’t my parents be proud? Or hey, you know, maybe it really is a profound, cosmic donut and it’s a sign that we need to go back for more snacks. I think all artistic interpretations are valid.
He nodded, delighted by the outcome of this little detour.
Ross: Don't mind if we do.
They started back toward the appetizers, when suddenly the crowd began to move in a different direction. Ross turned his had and caught Gogi, moving toward the platform stage at the back of the room. When he turned back to Lyra, her face had lost all color.
Voss: Oh four, I’m not going to have to say something, am I? Lieutenant Marsh said the new ensigns might be introduced and I don’t… what am I supposed to do? Wave? Say hi? Salute? I’ve never even met Commander Fairhug!
He smiled, remembering the torture of these first few ceremonies all too well. To be precise they hadn't stopped bothering him until very recently. But that wouldn't help her at all, would it? Just wait one or two years, and you won't feel like throwing up anymore.
Ross: Ah, it's not as bad as it sounds. Just wave, say 'Hi', say 'Thank you', have another drink.
She still looked a little green around the gills as they headed toward the seats by the stage. Before they reached their destination though, she touched his arm to stop him for a moment.
Voss: Hey, I… I just wanted to say thanks. For coming over to talk to me. :she looked bashful:: I’m kind of abjectly terrible at striking up conversations, so… I really appreciate it. And I probably/definitely owe you donuts now, so hopefully a win-win for everyone?
A bright smile tugged at his lips.
Ross: No - thank you for putting up with my small-talk. It was really nice to meet you, Lyra. I'll ring you up about that cooking-class! ::he pointed at her like a warning:: It's great to have you here. I'm sure you'll love it.
Ross: I guess that's what I see... Inside that weird donut. How about you, Mrs. cosmic grandeur?
Lyra's eyes brightened at the joking challenge in his voice and she turned back to the painting. She stood up a little straighter as if she were squaring up against it, and dramatically swished her curls back over her shoulders.
Ross grinned at the sight of her bracing for the challenge. His gaze lingered on her for a second before he turned back to the infamous painting.
Voss: What do I see inside the weird donut? Well to me, Pekev’s work always aims for the undercurrent. The primordial force that rumbles underneath and inside everything - that emanates between us and the world, compounding and growing with everything it touches. ::gesturing to the large swathes of dark, twisting sand:: And it isn’t a passive process. It shakes us, unmoors us, sets us adrift as we fight against it. ::pointing to the white spines next:: Desperate lashes against what we perceive as our enemy, because we don’t understand it. Because we don’t ::taking a few steps back:: have the perspective we need to see the pattern. If we can take a breath, if we can trust in the world around us, we see it isn’t a fight, but a dance. There’s give and take and push and pull, not to hurt us, but to move us. To place us where we’re meant to be. ::She shot him a grin:: Is that grand enough?
He touched his chest in a dramatic gesture.
Ross: That just shook my perception of everything. ::he grinned:: Spoken like a true artist.
Voss: ::giggling:: Wouldn’t my parents be proud? Or hey, you know, maybe it really is a profound, cosmic donut and it’s a sign that we need to go back for more snacks. I think all artistic interpretations are valid.
He nodded, delighted by the outcome of this little detour.
Ross: Don't mind if we do.
They started back toward the appetizers, when suddenly the crowd began to move in a different direction. Ross turned his had and caught Gogi, moving toward the platform stage at the back of the room. When he turned back to Lyra, her face had lost all color.
Voss: Oh four, I’m not going to have to say something, am I? Lieutenant Marsh said the new ensigns might be introduced and I don’t… what am I supposed to do? Wave? Say hi? Salute? I’ve never even met Commander Fairhug!
He smiled, remembering the torture of these first few ceremonies all too well. To be precise they hadn't stopped bothering him until very recently. But that wouldn't help her at all, would it? Just wait one or two years, and you won't feel like throwing up anymore.
Ross: Ah, it's not as bad as it sounds. Just wave, say 'Hi', say 'Thank you', have another drink.
She still looked a little green around the gills as they headed toward the seats by the stage. Before they reached their destination though, she touched his arm to stop him for a moment.
Voss: Hey, I… I just wanted to say thanks. For coming over to talk to me. :she looked bashful:: I’m kind of abjectly terrible at striking up conversations, so… I really appreciate it. And I probably/definitely owe you donuts now, so hopefully a win-win for everyone?
A bright smile tugged at his lips.
Ross: No - thank you for putting up with my small-talk. It was really nice to meet you, Lyra. I'll ring you up about that cooking-class! ::he pointed at her like a warning:: It's great to have you here. I'm sure you'll love it.
Maybe he had longed for a pep talk like this, back when he had arrived on base, overwhelmed, nervous and anxious - and maybe he still did sometimes. Maybe this had been one of those nights where a good conversation and a genuine connection could rewire his brain in ways that made life seem actually bearable. They shared a smile - and maybe also a feeling of companionship that he had been looking for for a while now.
End of Scene for Ross
(OOC: What a lovely first run-in! Thanks so much, I'm excited for everything to come :) )
-- ***
Lieutenant Evan Ross
Intelligence Officer
StarBase 118 Ops
O240009ER2
Lieutenant Evan Ross
Intelligence Officer
StarBase 118 Ops
O240009ER2
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