New Faces

Posted on Sun Mar 28th, 2021 @ 10:06pm by Lieutenant JG Ovrora Sh'rholok & Ensign Sturnack & Ensign T'Varis

Mission: The Relics of Isonzo
Location: 7-11
Summary:
Timeline: Mission Day 2 at 0700

[7-11 Mess Hall]
[MD2 - 0700 Hours]

7-11 was, unsurprisingly, quieter than normal at 0700 hours. It was easy to see, at only a glance, how many people were either deployed for the away team or redistributed to different duty shifts to cover the absence of senior staff. Ovrora made her way into the room, selecting a bowl of oatmeal-like substance and a cup of coffee with enough cream to sufficiently change it's color from brown to tan. She stood midway through waiting for Sturnack to catch up with her before settling on a table.

As she waited, tray in hand, her eyes lit on a pair of pointed ears poking clear of dark hair that she did not recognize. Waving for Sturnack to follow, and assuming he would see her wave, she made her way over to the newcomer who appeared to be eating alone.

"Mind if we join you?" she said realizing as she did so that it wasn't entirely clear at a glance who we actually was.

"I assume by 'we' you mean you and your companion who trails after you like a lost targ?" T'Varis's tone was light, almost teasing. "Please, feel free... I'm afraid I don't know the crew--I just arrived before we were... Tossed adrift."

Ovrora raised her right eyebrow in a distinctly Vulcanoid reaction. Her accompanying smile, however, threw the effect askew resulting in an odd mixture of seriousness and humor on her azure complexion. Tossing a glance behind her she noted that Sturnack did appear to be on his way over, but wasn't exactly sure she would have characterized his approach as trailing. Tucking that away for later consideration she set her tray down across from the newcomer.

"Ovrora Sh'rholok," she said by way of introduction, "Astrophysics."

"T'Varis, Security... And a Vulcan, obviously..." She gave the Andorian a look. "Forgive me--once, I encountered an Aenar, and she wasn't entirely sure if I was Rigelian or Vulcan."

The Andorian woman let out a light chuckle then gestured broadly to herself. "Too blue to be Aenar," she responded by way of explanation. "So you're safe here."

Small talk. Sturnack professed to be emotionless; the epitome of Vulcan calm. But in truth, the young engineer saw little point in needless prattle and bordered on despising the practice. Of course, he'd never admit such to be an emotion -- not even to himself. Instead, the Vulcan simply gave himself over to the mirage that small talk was the logical enemy of efficiency. And yet, here Ovrora was forcing him to interact with others yet again. And -- as not at all a surprise -- she did so without even asking for his consent to sit them down with someone Sturnack did not know.

"Greetings," the Vulcan nodded to the other, lowering himself to sit at the table. His posture was rigid and closed off, even for a member of his austere race. "I am Ensign Sturnack. Engineering officer," he reached up to gently touch the shining badge on his chest. Borne across its face was the circular symbol of the department, along with one raised bump to signify his rank. He said nothing more, choosing instead to begin eating the soup he'd selected from the food dispenser. Time was, after all, limited -- he was due on the Bridge soon.

"And you'll have to forgive him as well," Ovrora added after Sturnack's extremely sparse interaction. Aware that she was in the company of two Vulcans and therefore outnumbered in her tendency toward emotion she suppressed the urge to roll her eyes. "He's not usually much of one for the pleasantries."

Pausing, she dipped her spoon into the mixture of grain and milk, pleasantly surprised to find that there was a layer of fruit along the bottom, and popped the concoction into her mouth. She flipped the pursed her lips as she pulled the spoon clear, ensuring that the implement was all but clean as she returned it to the bowl for another bite. This was good. She would have to remember it for future breakfasts.

"So," she continued after her third spoonful, "What made you decide to join our merry band?" She gestured broadly at the room as she said it as though doing so might encompass the whole of the crew.

"I needed a transfer, as some of my male colleagues on the Zheng He were... Less than appropriate... I did not anticipate dealing with a crisis my first day, but I am ready for the challenge." T'Varis turned to Sturnak, speaking in Vulcan. "I understand your lack of interaction, but you must acknowledge your emotions, and the need for socialization, even as you seek to control both. I am willing to assist you on this manner, but if you do not, I will be as persistent as a sehlat.." She turned her head back to Ovora. "Forgive me--I was attempting to engage our stone-faced dining companion, with less than success."

Ovrora's face was unreadable during the rapid switch from Standard to Vulcan. One of the benefits of being best friends with a Vulcan was the opportunity, over their Academy years, to visit her friend's homeworld. As a cadet, Ovrora had been concerned that Sturnack's peers and family would feel comfortable discussing--and honestly disparaging--her while she stood there. So, she had picked up some basic Vulcan along the way. She would never consider herself fluent, but she knew enough to gather the basic subject of what T'Varis had said and felt her hackles rise slightly in protectiveness for her friend.

"My Vulcan is a bit rusty, but I would assume Sturnack's emotional state is his own business." She looked to her friend then hoping to get some read on his reaction. It would be out of character for the man to simply acquiesce to inquiries about his emotional control, but it had been some years since she had been around Sturnack and other Vulcans.

"Forgive me--I meant no disrespect to either of you. I have found myself intrigued by emotions for a long time, likely as a result of my own upbringing, which was... Rather harsh, even by Vulcan standards. I am perhaps more ready to admit emotion and socialize than other Vulcans."

"You are quite presumptive of my emotional state," Sturnack replied to T'Varis, post-apology. "While I can appreciate the perspective of your upbringing and its resultant curiosity," the Vulcan said, his right eyebrow arching severely, "I am in no current need of assistance." Whether Sturnack's hubris was such that he dismissed such as a possibility or he simply didn't deign to engage was unclear. Either way, however, it seemed the other child of Vulcan did not wish to continue a discussion in which he was the central topic but not a central player. "Ovrora is quite...fiery," he nodded to his cerulean friend before looking to T'Varis again, "perhaps you will find her a source of fascination?"

"Perhaps..." She picked up a mug in front of her, saluting the two before taking a sip. "Better than the Zheng He. Have you tried this?" she asked, showing the dark liquid within to Ovrora.

Before responding to T'Varis's inquiry Ovrora grinned at Sturnack, tossing her silver hair behind her shoulder in a parody of extreme vanity. "Why, Sturny, if I didn't know better I would say that was a compliment."

Truth be told it felt good to be back to their usual banter--Sturnack's sideways positive comments and her light jabs meant to poke holes in his austere expressions. She couldn't help a warm feeling of comfort that settled onto her face in a genuine smile once her vain façade--well mostly façade--had been dropped.

Turning to inspect the proffered cup she nodded to the woman across the table. "Coffee, yes?" Ovrora had picked up a taste for coffee, or more specifically it's ability to help a person wake up, while in the Academy. She knew that not all species drank it, though, so didn't find the question unusual. "I prefer mine a bit more caramel colored and sweet. Have you tried it that way?"

"Yes, once... It did not go well... Apparently, I am sensitive to both sugar and creamer, though not coffee itself. I felt rather drunk until the effects wore off... My partner at the time could not believe his eyes... He felt very badly about it, although my behavior was highly amusing, even to me."

Ovrora's antennae perked as though she had caught a particularly interesting tidbit. "Drunk? I wouldn't have guessed that particular effect." She turned to her friend who had continued to diligently consume his soup. "Sturny, have you tried it this way and I've just missed the fun or..." she left the thought hang a mischievous look spreading across her azure features.

Returning to the conversation with T'Varis, she continued, "I can't say I had ever heard of that sort of reaction, but I'm glad all is well. Here's to finding a bit of enjoyment in unexpected places." Absent a cup she raised her spoon in the air in a sort of salute, then dipped it back down into the oatmeal to take another bite aware that it would soon be growing cold.

The Vulcan sniffed. "Is that Risian rhubarb in your oatmeal? It is... Rather unmistakable, although what human decided to transplant rhubarb from Earth to Risa I do not know. Also, occasionally, I will add a bit of favinit to my coffee, but not often... Favinit is a stimulant plant native to Vulcan. I believe it is one of the ingredients in a Vulcan mocha, though I only know one human who actually enjoys that particular drink--a Commander Kim."

Ovrora eyed her bowl curiously, "It's.... fruit and such.... whatever fruit the chef decided should go into the oatmeal today, but I suppose Risian rhubarb is a possibility." Shrugging, she ran her spoon along the edge nudging the remaining bites toward the center of the bowl so she could gather them into a full mouthful. Blue fingers held the spoon lightly as she completed the motion with a small flourish to bring the bite to her mouth, dragging the spoon across her lips to clean off any of the warm concoction and then flipping her spoon over to do the same. "I highly recommend it."

"I certainly shall give it a try. I was not feeling like hot food this morning,"--the Vulcan motioned to the fruit, bread, and cheese on her plate--"but I shall try it tomorrow."

As the two woman had chatted -- the Vulcan of the pair far more talkative than Sturnack would expect from one of his race -- the man sitting with them had finished his broth. He'd also consumed a banana, an excellent source of vitamins to begin his day. "It would seem breakfast is quite the potent topic this morning," Sturnack spoke up, his tone indicative of his personal disdain for wasting time and energy on such.

"With my own needs now seen to, I am needed on the Bridge. Ovrora," he nodded to the Andorian. "I will see you after my shift. Try not to start any fights, if that is possible." Was that a...jibe? "Ensign," the Vulcan turned then to T'Varis, "welcome aboard the Ulysses. I am sure we will encounter each other again...soon," Sturnack offered, the placidness of his tone impassive. With that, the Vulcan rose, moving to put his tray into the nearest collection bin before slipping out of the mess hall.

Ovrora grinned after her roommate, a chuckle escaping her despite herself. Turning back to T'Varis she clarified. "I assure you I only start fights some of the time and never in 7-11. At least not physical ones."

She scooped the last of her oatmeal out of the bowl, savoring the last bites and sucking down the remainder of her drink. "Unfortunately I am also due in the science lab. It's bene a pleasure meeting you T'Varis. I'm certain we'll see each other around."

The remaining Vulcan finished her coffee, nodded to Sturnack's retreating back, then turned to the Andorian. "It has been most pleasant meeting you; I hope to see you and Mr. Sturnack again..." She rose, as did Ovrora. "Lieutenant, may I ask a favor? Would you be willing to see if Mr. Sturnack was... What is the human term? ... Hitting on me? It did not seem like it, and I am not interested in him, but men can be rather oblivious to how they come across, or to what might be right under their noses, wouldn't you agree?"

Ovrora chuckled picking up her tray to return to the recycler. "Oblivious, certainly, but I'm not sure I've actually ever seen Sturnack hit on someone. I'm happy to inquire, but can't promise any kind of clarity in the near term. If he is hitting on you it will take a bit of effort to get it out of him."

Still grinning she led the way to the recycler and set her tray and its contents inside. "I'm sure we'll see each other around Ensign. Welcome again."

And with that she turned, thoughts already shifting to the continual uncertainty of the striation pattern Muldowney had presented them with so many weeks ago. Maybe today she would find some clear path forward on that mystery.