Lt JG Tess Evinrude - Evinrude, His Tea Spilled

[Tess Evinrude]

((Clean Hall Lounge, Deck 6, USS Ronin))

Evinrude: Hm, I've been there. Distance is...hard. Differences in paths...

This was starting to touch on something personal but, again, Tess was saved by the bird.

Evinrude: ::To Zeyva, upon seeing the next dish.:: Oh! You have outdone yourself!

Om-Zora: Thank you, Zeyva.

Robin and Om-Zora whispered something to each other, so Tess politely busied himself with observing the meal.

Robin: ::Whispering:: I knew you cared. Let your guard down more often

Quentin seemed mesmerized as Zevya laid out the main course in front of them, expertly dressing up each serving with masterful plating.

Beck: C'est magnifique.

Evinrude: ::Nodding with a "not bad" look to his face.:: Oui, très bon...

Om-Zora spoke up louder, answering a previous question.

Om-Zora: We met in the science labs. I was attempting to sort out how to “carbon date” a fossil that isn’t carbon-based. Something of a souvenir from the time in my career that I spent on a Vulcan science ship.

Robin: Ironic, as in the past few weeks he’s become my rock.

Robin chuckled and Quentin and Tess smiled.

Beck: Carbon dating led to carbird dating, huh?

He chuckled stupidly at what he seemed to think was a joke.

Evinrude: That's...actually very sweet. ::He turned to Quentin.:: Not your joke. That was...unpalatable.

Om-Zora: We didn’t really figure out how to do that. But she was… helpful.

Evinrude was rather surprised at the intimate turn this conversation was taking. He hadn't been around many officers like this, sharing their realities.

oO I've been...all business, I guess, since joining up. Oo

It was a refreshing change of pace.

Robin: Thank you, you were helpful too.

Beck: You guys are so cute, I think I might throw up.

Om-Zora gave him a brief, but withering look.

Om-Zora: Throwing up at dinner? That kind of behavior is only appropriate if you have a baby with you. Or, I suppose, as practice for having one, you may just be planning to pre-chew Evinrude’s food and share. I can’t fault you for proper avian etiquette. Congratulations.

Tess closed his eyes and actually held his head in his hands for a moment.

oO I'm not even going to dignify that with a response... Oo

Bending down closer to his plate like this had the side effect of makinge his appetite stronger.

Robin: So tell me, Commander Beck, Mister Evinrude. Why is it that my mother is insistent you’re a couple?

Beck: Beats me. Rumors run like wildfire 'round these parts, though apart from having coffee together one morning, I don't particularly recall being out and about together. Maybe she thinks I'm someone else. While I do find Tess charming, I don't really see it.

While Tess considered the question, Om-Zora found a moment to pour himself another drink.

Evinrude: Honestly? I have no idea. She...seemed to want to do something nice for me? As "reward" for helping with the Clean Hall, here. ::He paused a moment, considering, and turned to Quentin with a shrug and a smile.:: You've been a good mentor to me, Commander. And a friend. I think...she confused that for attraction? Sorry to disappoint buddy, but I don't see my feelings being anything but platonic.

Robin laughed slightly, as he rolled his eyes.

Robin: You don’t see that huh? Or at least enough to dispel the rumours. It honestly sounds like an academy mantra, “Oh my partner serves on another ship”.

His eyes glimmered with amusement at that before he shrugged.

Beck: Every relationship is different, and I imagine there are more than a few out there who do use that as a cover to hide who they might actually be seeing. I would say, though, that 'partner' doesn't quite cover it.

Evinrude: Not to mention, hiding who you're seeing on a ship like this feels...to me...prudent? Rumors can do serious harm in a...sealed environment. ::He chuckled, continuing.:: And, if I were seeing a superior officer, I think I'd want to keep that hidden.

Robin/Zevya: Response

Beck: Have you ever heard the Vulcan term t'hy'la?

Evinrude shook his head, and Om-Zora took a sip from the drink he’d just poured for himself. Tess took the opportunity to do the same, curious to learn about the term. There was a certain half-Vulcan that he also found himself curious about too, adding another element of curiosity to the culture lesson.

Robin/Zevya: Response

Beck: That is one translation, yes, but is very rough. It can mean lover, but it also means friend, brother or sister… basically, it is a word they use to describe a deep bond that is something different from a typical friendship.

Robin/Zevya: Response

Evinrude: Is it always used for connections with a romantic edge? Or can it be for a platonic connection as well?

Om-Zora: Yes, Doctor. Give us your knowledge.

oO Was that sarcasm? Oo

Beck nodded slowly.

Beck: It's kind of hard to explain without oversimplification. And it's also something Vulcans generally don't discuss with non-Vulcans, as it implies deep emotion.

Robin/Zevya: Response

Evinrude: So, one's...t'hy'la. Are you...bound for life, so to speak? Like a traditional earth marriage?

Tess' own parents weren't married, and the ceremony held no particular significance, but he did find many cultures' rites of bonding to be admirable, significant.

oO Something I might want, someday? Oo

Beck paused for a moment to take another swig from his glass, swirling it a moment.

Beck: I don't think there is any obligation considered, as it would be possible to have that kind of connection with more than one person, but, at least from my experience, it is something Vulcans do consider quite sacred.

Om-Zora: Indeed. I would hope your Vulcan partner is fine with you sharing something sacred, then. I always found the Vulcans around me got a little… uncomfortable when I found things out and asked about it, and they weren’t always comfortable with the sharing, either. With some exceptions. They are fascinating people in how much they can contradict themselves at times.

That was the single longest sentence Evinrude had ever heard Om-Zora say, whether duty related or otherwise. It was nice to see him open up.

Robin/Zevya/Beck: Response

Evinrude: No, I'm serious...thanks for sharing. ::Tess smiled, a genuine gesture.::

Om-Zora: What about you, Neverrude, as I’ve heard Zeyva call you before, you seemed ready to say something about your feelings earlier. Why don’t you do that?

oO The bird's tact could use some work... Oo

Evinrude: ::With a grin, he shook his head, speaking quietly at first, with a glance at Zeyva bustling away.:: Why does she call me that? ::He shrugged.:: Anyway, I was...well, I was going to elaborate on distance. In relationships. ::He took a long pull of wine, finishing his glass.:: It's feeling more distant by the lightyear, to be honest, but my last relationship ended because I chose Starfleet.

Robin/Zevya/Beck: Response

Evinrude: Nothing like that, I-- ::He nodded, appreciating the fresh pour.:: Thank you! I...yeah, nothing like that. She didn't straight up say, "Me or Starfleet." She just...well, my new path in life didn't fit with her goals. We talked through that, several times...and she ended things.

Robin/Zevya/Beck: Response

Evinrude: I don't blame her. What I do feel guilty about, though, is leaving behind the projects we were working on. We, along with some friends, made holo-novels. ::He glanced at Beck.:: I actually took a...gap year, after the Academy, and it turned into a few years. Starfleet...didn't like that.

Robin/Zevya/Beck: Response

[Tags/TBC]

--

Lieutenant J.G. Tess Evinrude

[he/him]

Operations Officer

USS Ronin

R240111TE1