Christine read the message on her PADD over three times before laying it down on the table and pacing across the room.
She didn't want to go. She didn't want to see him, them, the three of them together.
Yet at the same time...she did. It would hurt, it would be terribly awkward, she knew. But...the captain had invited her. He wouldn't have, if he thought it would be too uncomfortable. And she did miss seeing familiar faces. She'd managed to keep busy here, find a place for herself, even begun to make friends. And yet despite that, she still missed her own Enterprise, her own Sickbay. Working with her own Doctor McCoy. And as accommodating as everyone had been, as welcome as they tried to make her, they could never replace that.
When the time came, Christine put up her hair, smoothed down her skirt and made her way to the captain's quarters. She pressed the doorchime.
Jim gave the command to open the door, and then remembered to set it to open automatically. He smiled at Chapel, friendly and reassuring and captainly.
"Nurse Chapel," he said cordially, ushering her in. "Thank you for coming." He knew this would be uncomfortable for her, but they were part of the same crew. Even if she did not stay long, he needed everyone to at least make a showing, in the hopes they would still be a crew when it came time to return.
Jim had a balance to maintain tonight. He knew Spock was uncomfortable, but he could not be the physical comfort he wished to be, knowing what he did about Chapel's feelings. She would not see him touch Spock inappropriately, or make reference to their relationship--it was one of the reasons he'd held this here, in his quarters, rather than Spock's slightly roomier ones.
"Captain," Christine replied, swallowing her anxious feelings and smiling in greeting. She'd managed to work alongside Spock for years despite everything; surely she could survive this one night.
"Thank you for having us, Captain. It was so kind of you to offer." She followed his lead, entering the room and looking around to see who else had arrived so far.
"Not at all," he said, smiling. "It can be even more isolating, having a great many strangers surrounding one." He and Chapel had never been closed--he had had a lot to contend with, on the Enterprise, and perhaps she in some way had sensed what was to come between him and Spock. He hoped she did not hold it against him; at the same time, it was what it was, and he would not blame her.
"It seems the young Scotty has sent up a tray of delicacies for us," he said. "Feel free to partake. I just wanted to give us a chance to stay... a crew. As much as we can."
Scotty got the message, but he didn't go; he couldn't quite pull out of the mental nosedive he was in, and he hadn't been a social critter to begin with. But he sent along a gift for the get-together; a couple yeomen brought a tray of sandwiches, some cookies, a fresh baked dutch apple pie, a fresh thermos of coffee and a salad especially for Spock. Each was marked and labelled and none of it was replicated.
Private message to Mr. Scott from Jim Kirkoriginal_fineSeptember 12 2009, 22:02:46 UTC
Scotty--
Thank you so much for your contribution to our little party tonight. It was much appreciated, as have your other efforts. You seem to come through at exactly the right moment every time.
Please let me know if you ever need anything. Even if it's just to ask questions about my Enterprise.
Your friend, Jim
PS - The apple pie, especially, was excellent. And I do believe Spock enjoyed his salad very much.
Re: Private message to Mr. Scott from Jim KirkallmhadadhSeptember 12 2009, 22:44:31 UTC
Captain:
Anything you could tell me about your Enterprise would be entirely welcome; I only wish I would have had a chance to learn about her over time, but would be glad for any information you could give me now.
And if you need anything from the galley at any point, just let me know.
Spock was an ambassador's son. While Vulcan youth were not expected to mingle much with adults on Vulcan, he had often been expected to accompany his parents on shared diplomatic excursions. The portrait of their family had been fascinating to many and Sarek had taught Spock many of the finer points of negotiating social situations.
Which was not to say Spock actually enjoyed any of it. He waited, with Jim, for Jim's guests to arrive and engaged in the meaningless social small talk that seemed to soothe humans in such events - a thing many of his shipmates had seen only rarely.
At least there was another salad - though it was illogical to take comfort in food, Spock circled closer to the snack table and stole another bit of sash-savas from the bowl.
As Jim greeted his quests, taking care not to disturb the sensibilities of those who'd probably rather not see the two of them fawning over each other, Jim sent constant reassurance to Spock. He wasn't sure how much Spock was receiving, how open he would be to Jim's mind. Or how efficient he himself was at projecting such things. But he would try.
Thank you, Spock. He hoped Spock could hear him. We need this--the crew needs this. You're not required to stay any longer than you like. I merely wanted everyone to remember we're a crew. A family. I know this isn't your style.
If Jim's intention was to make her feel more included, inviting Marlena to a gathering that was mostly his own crew was not entirely helpful. Still, she enjoys his company, and would like to get to know the rest of his crew better. So she put her hair up and fixed her makeup and headed down to his quarters.
The door opened when she approached it, and she stepped inside.
Mingling. Jim was making conversation in the corner but Spock had not yet settled for such in-depth interaction. Jim had assured him he could leave but Spock had just as great a sense of duty to his crewmates.
The woman who walked through the door could not said to be a crewmate in the usual sense.
"Lieutenant." Spock offered her the formal greeting. "Live long and prosper."
"Peace and long life," she responded automatically, returning the gesture, almost before she noticed who she was talking to. When she did, she smiled. "Spock. It is agreeable to see you again."
He looked all right without the goatee, she decided.
Jim watched Marlena enter, greeting her with a look even as he allowed Spock to take point on this one. He had no authority over her, and she hadn't been required to come; he had meant it purely at her discretion. But he hope she had a pleasant time, nonetheless. Tensions seemed high, and while he had no expectation that a "party" like this would necessarily lessen them, it was important that they all remember they were in this together. And had one another.
Riley really wasn't good with these social gathering things- at least, not without the aid of alcohol. Still, he decided to go. Even if he made an ass of himself, it'd look better than not showing up at all, and he couldn't disappoint his captain, who had undoubtedly worked hard to prepare this little get-together.
He plastered on his best fake smile to greet his captain and friend.
Jim greeted Riley warmly. But the Lieutenant's smile wasn't enough to fool him.
"Mr. Riley. I'm pleased you could make it," he said. "It's... easy to get lost among all these strangers. I thought an evening of familiar faces might be welcome." He was doing his best to make no one feel obligated. He gestured towards the table. "Can I get you anything?"
Riley relaxed a little and smiled a bit more genuinely. "Good idea." He glanced around the room. Maybe Hikaru would be there. He hadn't yet decided whether that would be a good thing or a bad thing. "Where might I find the alcohol?"
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She didn't want to go. She didn't want to see him, them, the three of them together.
Yet at the same time...she did. It would hurt, it would be terribly awkward, she knew. But...the captain had invited her. He wouldn't have, if he thought it would be too uncomfortable. And she did miss seeing familiar faces. She'd managed to keep busy here, find a place for herself, even begun to make friends. And yet despite that, she still missed her own Enterprise, her own Sickbay. Working with her own Doctor McCoy. And as accommodating as everyone had been, as welcome as they tried to make her, they could never replace that.
When the time came, Christine put up her hair, smoothed down her skirt and made her way to the captain's quarters. She pressed the doorchime.
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"Nurse Chapel," he said cordially, ushering her in. "Thank you for coming." He knew this would be uncomfortable for her, but they were part of the same crew. Even if she did not stay long, he needed everyone to at least make a showing, in the hopes they would still be a crew when it came time to return.
Jim had a balance to maintain tonight. He knew Spock was uncomfortable, but he could not be the physical comfort he wished to be, knowing what he did about Chapel's feelings. She would not see him touch Spock inappropriately, or make reference to their relationship--it was one of the reasons he'd held this here, in his quarters, rather than Spock's slightly roomier ones.
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"Thank you for having us, Captain. It was so kind of you to offer." She followed his lead, entering the room and looking around to see who else had arrived so far.
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"It seems the young Scotty has sent up a tray of delicacies for us," he said. "Feel free to partake. I just wanted to give us a chance to stay... a crew. As much as we can."
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Just a note: Have a good time. -The galley
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Thank you so much for your contribution to our little party tonight. It was much appreciated, as have your other efforts. You seem to come through at exactly the right moment every time.
Please let me know if you ever need anything. Even if it's just to ask questions about my Enterprise.
Your friend,
Jim
PS - The apple pie, especially, was excellent. And I do believe Spock enjoyed his salad very much.
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Anything you could tell me about your Enterprise would be entirely welcome; I only wish I would have had a chance to learn about her over time, but would be glad for any information you could give me now.
And if you need anything from the galley at any point, just let me know.
-Scott
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Which was not to say Spock actually enjoyed any of it. He waited, with Jim, for Jim's guests to arrive and engaged in the meaningless social small talk that seemed to soothe humans in such events - a thing many of his shipmates had seen only rarely.
At least there was another salad - though it was illogical to take comfort in food, Spock circled closer to the snack table and stole another bit of sash-savas from the bowl.
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Thank you, Spock. He hoped Spock could hear him. We need this--the crew needs this. You're not required to stay any longer than you like. I merely wanted everyone to remember we're a crew. A family. I know this isn't your style.
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They are my crewmates as well, Jim.
Glad was not the word but Spock was pleased to see so many familiar faces in the room.
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Yes, yes they are.
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The door opened when she approached it, and she stepped inside.
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The woman who walked through the door could not said to be a crewmate in the usual sense.
"Lieutenant." Spock offered her the formal greeting. "Live long and prosper."
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He looked all right without the goatee, she decided.
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He plastered on his best fake smile to greet his captain and friend.
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"Mr. Riley. I'm pleased you could make it," he said. "It's... easy to get lost among all these strangers. I thought an evening of familiar faces might be welcome." He was doing his best to make no one feel obligated. He gestured towards the table. "Can I get you anything?"
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"I hope something there suits," he said. He then pointed out the people there whom Riley might not know.
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