[USS Charon, recreation deck]
It was rather late in the ship's evening and Sakarra knew all too well that she was overdue for some rest. But for some reason she did not want to go back to her quarters just yet, and she had long ago learned to listen to this inner voice, illogical as that might seem to one unfamiliar with the Vulcan soul.
Sitting on a chair in a remote corner, she let her gaze wander over what was left of the buffet and the crew people still lingering here. They were surprisingly numerous, standing and chatting or perched on any surface available that was not too hot for such purposes, even leaning against the walls or in the case of one Caitian officer, sprawled out on the floor. There were old-fashioned chess games going on, subspace mechanics were discussed and still Betty could be seen bustling about, preparing food for whoever might desire a 'midnight snack'. The friendly cook had urged Sakarra to at least give some of the vegetables a try and although the corn cobs had been rather agreeable, eating them had proved quite a challenge.
Sitting on a chair in a remote corner, she let her gaze wander over what was left of the buffet and the crew people still lingering here. They were surprisingly numerous, standing and chatting or perched on any surface available that was not too hot for such purposes, even leaning against the walls or in the case of one Caitian officer, sprawled out on the floor. There were old-fashioned chess games going on, subspace mechanics were discussed and still Betty could be seen bustling about, preparing food for whoever might desire a 'midnight snack'. The friendly cook had urged Sakarra to at least give some of the vegetables a try and although the corn cobs had been rather agreeable, eating them had proved quite a challenge.
"Why'd you stop playing? That was nice. Whatever it was."
"Falor's Journey" the young half-Vulcan murmured, tilting her head at the human standing before her.
"Ah, I heard of that. Isn't that pretty long?"
Sakarra shifted the ka'athyra on her lap a little and nodded. "By Terran standards, I should say it is, yes."
"Anyways, thanks for bringing your lyre, if I'd had to listen to George playing 'Sweet Home Alabama' one more time, I'd have gone wacko."
"You are welcome" she replied in the appropriate phrase, silently adding 'wacko' to her list of interesting nonsensical words.
As the fair haired human walked off, she retuned the strings of her instrument and then noticed yet another person approaching her.
"Good evening, Commander Jennings."
"Falor's Journey" the young half-Vulcan murmured, tilting her head at the human standing before her.
"Ah, I heard of that. Isn't that pretty long?"
Sakarra shifted the ka'athyra on her lap a little and nodded. "By Terran standards, I should say it is, yes."
"Anyways, thanks for bringing your lyre, if I'd had to listen to George playing 'Sweet Home Alabama' one more time, I'd have gone wacko."
"You are welcome" she replied in the appropriate phrase, silently adding 'wacko' to her list of interesting nonsensical words.
As the fair haired human walked off, she retuned the strings of her instrument and then noticed yet another person approaching her.
"Good evening, Commander Jennings."
The counselor offered her a subdued smile and a nod of his head as he stopped, "Good evening. I hope you find yourself well tonight?"
"As well as can be expected, certainly." In fact, she rather suspected that considering recent events the head of the counseling department might be in need of some R&R himself.
Indicating one of the odd-looking chairs stacked by the wall, the young woman made a small, inviting gesture "Will you join me, Commander? Betty is most skilled at making Vulcan spice tea, however she continuously points out that she is 'tired of going through all the fuss for only one glass'."
What Sakarra pointedly refrained from mentioning was that the counselor looked mildly fatigued - at least to someone in close enough proximity - and if he insisted on keeping appraised of the crew's mental status, he might as well do it sitting down with a soothing cup of hot tea.
Indicating one of the odd-looking chairs stacked by the wall, the young woman made a small, inviting gesture "Will you join me, Commander? Betty is most skilled at making Vulcan spice tea, however she continuously points out that she is 'tired of going through all the fuss for only one glass'."
What Sakarra pointedly refrained from mentioning was that the counselor looked mildly fatigued - at least to someone in close enough proximity - and if he insisted on keeping appraised of the crew's mental status, he might as well do it sitting down with a soothing cup of hot tea.
Offering her a pleasant nod, Paul moved to take the indicated seat, "Why thank you. In fact, I believe I would love a good cup of tea right now."
Not surprisingly, Charon's cook had already assessed the situation and bustled back towards her makeshift kitchen with a rather satisfied expression on her face. Sakarra suspected that Betty had made it one of her 'pet projects' to get the young Vulcan woman to socialize more and therefore was pleased to see her efforts had not entirely been in vain.
Leaning her head thoughtfully against the lyre, the dark haired young woman let her level gaze rest on the Commander for a few seconds.
"When last we spoke you indicated the crew's well being included your own. However, it is my impression you may have neglected the latter somewhat."
"When last we spoke you indicated the crew's well being included your own. However, it is my impression you may have neglected the latter somewhat."
It was completely true. Since the events leading to their current situation the Counselor himself had spoken to very few about his own needs and concerns. Most of his time had been spent in sessions with various crew members. He had, on only one occasion, sat down and spoken with one of his own staff.
"I think I'm handling things fairly well," he replied, giving a slight shrug. "Given everything that's happened, it's understandable that I haven't made any close acquaintances yet."
"I think I'm handling things fairly well," he replied, giving a slight shrug. "Given everything that's happened, it's understandable that I haven't made any close acquaintances yet."
"Hm." Sakarra certainly was not going to debate a professional on the issue, but from observing healers she knew well, the young woman was aware that more often than not they tended to look after their own health after everyone else's.
When Betty arrived with two steaming mugs of tea and a smile even wider than usual, Sakarra nodded a friendly 'thank you' before returning her attention to the human next to her.
"Given everything that has occurred and the quite natural need of your species to form social bonds - of an astonishing variety, no less - I cannot follow your logic. It has been my understanding that in times of duress humans tend to seek out acquaintances even more fervently, close or otherwise."
When Betty arrived with two steaming mugs of tea and a smile even wider than usual, Sakarra nodded a friendly 'thank you' before returning her attention to the human next to her.
"Given everything that has occurred and the quite natural need of your species to form social bonds - of an astonishing variety, no less - I cannot follow your logic. It has been my understanding that in times of duress humans tend to seek out acquaintances even more fervently, close or otherwise."
She wrapped her fingers around the glass which gave off a most pleasant heat, noting that Betty had brought the counselor's tea in a mug. She wondered briefly whether that was due to a shortage of dishes of so the man would not experience discomfort, and then became aware that he was studying her again with surprisingly intense blue eyes.
Was it so unusual indeed to see a Vulcan leaning her head against her ka'athyra, appreciating the warmth and scent of a simple glass of tea?
Sakarra could not help but quirk a mildly amused brow at the Commander.
"And is 'fairly well' not what one considers a euphemism?"
Was it so unusual indeed to see a Vulcan leaning her head against her ka'athyra, appreciating the warmth and scent of a simple glass of tea?
Sakarra could not help but quirk a mildly amused brow at the Commander.
"And is 'fairly well' not what one considers a euphemism?"
Paul let out a soft chuckle and nodded, "You're very adept in human verbal customs, Lieutenant." He lifted the mug up to his face and, after taking a deep breath from his fumes, took a small sip from its contents. "And you're right again. Relationships and friendships with one another is often vital for esprit de corps; however, given the nature of my own work, I've found it's not as hard to find refuge within one's self than commonly accepted when no one else is available."
Sakarra's brow climbed yet another millimeter at the counselor's first statement; she hardly considered her knowledge of human customs as adequate, although one could not ascribe that fact to a lack of effort.
"As a Vulcan, I cannot argue against the value of seeking peace from within, Commander. Nor against solitude, when sought freely or endured for a logical and beneficial reason. However, …"
It was rather interesting they had arrived at this of all topics. Although from a Vulcan's point of view the Commander was the very image of courtesy and respect, compared to other humans Sakarra had known - granted, not a significant number - he was one to tread very lightly indeed.
It was rather interesting they had arrived at this of all topics. Although from a Vulcan's point of view the Commander was the very image of courtesy and respect, compared to other humans Sakarra had known - granted, not a significant number - he was one to tread very lightly indeed.
"I have been reminded yet again today," she cast a mild glance in Betty's direction and was rewarded by a friendly wave "that a desire to inflict no harm and in turn suffer none can easily make one overly cautious. Therefore, if the sole reason for your seeking refuge within is that you feel no one is available to listen and speak to Paul Jennings rather than the Commander and counselor - I must point out that there is a flaw in your logic. As there was, I will admit, in mine"
There was a small smile in the young woman's dark eyes when she took a sip of her tea, savoring the taste of the non-replicated spices.
"If at any time you feel that acquaintance with another being is vital for Paul Jennings as well, I would be pleased if you decided to share another cup of tea with a Vulcan who has… well, I am not entirely certain what a 'good talking to' is, however I received one earlier today."
There was a small smile in the young woman's dark eyes when she took a sip of her tea, savoring the taste of the non-replicated spices.
"If at any time you feel that acquaintance with another being is vital for Paul Jennings as well, I would be pleased if you decided to share another cup of tea with a Vulcan who has… well, I am not entirely certain what a 'good talking to' is, however I received one earlier today."
As he listened to the young woman, he couldn't help but crack a smile. There was something very...'unique' about her, and she was like no other (part) Vulcan he had ever met. As he lowered the cup after taking another drink, the counselor gave her a nod, "You know, I think I would indeed like that."
It would be nice to spend time with someone who wasn't a patient, someone whom he could relax with. "And don't worry about a 'good talking to,'" he added before taking another drink. "I'm pretty sure I just got one myself."
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[to be continued]
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Commander Paul Jennings
Chief Counselor
USS Charon
Chief Counselor
USS Charon
&
Lieutenant Sakarra Tyrax
Chief Helmsman
Lieutenant Sakarra Tyrax
Chief Helmsman
USS Charon
