Spock was a great many things, some of them even negative (i.e. kind of an asshole to that Ensign in Tactical), but the man was rarely late
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Pike decided to attend the party. Starfleet sent him out here to see how the officers handled themselves, so he might as well see what all the fuss was about.
He was smart enough to leave the uniform in the closet and instead went with civilian clothes. He got himself a glass of scotch and positioned himself near the edge of things. He didn't want to interfere with the crew's fun.
Who on the ship didn't know who the man near the edge of the gathering was? Any person would have to live under a rock or on Delta Vega not to know who the Admiral was. Even in her Cadet years, though, Tonia was still sort of a small town girl at heart and while the party was nice a little breather was warranted.
Drink in hand the Yeoman made her way over giving the older man a warm smile of greeting. "Good evening, sir. Enjoying the party so far?"
"Barrows, sir. Tonia Barrows." Looking about she pulled over a chair sliding in to it with a sigh. "And probably not. I usually end up getting stuck at my station going through paperwork before it gets sent out to Command." With a wry little smile she eyed her drink carefully. "Very fast paced job and the like."
Pausing only once the Yeoman seemed to consider her words slightly before saying them. "It's good to see you back on the ship, sir."
Pike laughed a little. He hated paperwork as much as the next person, and was really surprised that a paperless society could still manage to generate so much of it.
"I'm glad to be back. The last time was far too short."
"As my Nannan used to say, lache pas la patate." Raising her glass a little she took a drink of the whiskey before, a light blush forming on her cheeks. "I'm sure your stay will be longer this time? Sure everyone would be thankful for whatever words of wisdom you might have."
It wasn't like any of them had ever been on a fully functional ship until Vulcan had been attacked.
"I plan to be here at least a little longer." He hadn't decided what to do about Starfleet's offer yet. It was definitely something he planned to bring up to Kirk at his earliest opportunity.
"As far as my words of wisdom are concerned, I'm not sure how many people here would like to hear them."
Tonia blinked once or twice before letting a brow slowly arch upward. "Why would you say that? I bet you'd be pleasantly surprised how many people would listen." She knew she would- he was a man with experience under his belt from being in Starfleet for so long. Anything would be welcomed to help the crew manage to get through another mission without... as much damage. Sure it was bound to happen all things considered but, well...
"Every Captain has their own way of doing things. I know Captain Kirk's methods differ from mine."
Pike didn't want Kirk to think Starfleet or worse, that Pike himself, didn't trust him. The opposite was true, especially after the Narada. A long stay could give that appearance.
They had all been graduated faster than previous years. It could easily be considered a continued educational program if Kirk wanted to look at it that way. However, Tonia gave a little frown. "Leap before looking? He's a good Captain though. Braver than I would be in a situation like that." On she couldn't leap without looking. What was at the bottom would always be running through her mind.
Swirling the drink left in her glass she studied it carefully. "It's good to see everyone starting to, I don't know, loosen up again."
"Easier can sometimes be harder," Tonia replied almost bashfully. Course with Command it was hard telling how things would turn out in the end if they loosened up enough. Really the thought made her inwardly laugh just a tad.
Looking back to Pike, Tonia let the smile grow a little more. "Maybe you can teach them a thing or two?"
The laugh that managed to bubble up was enough to get the Yeoman to quickly covering it with a drink from her glass. "Just remember to take pictures, sir. There is no proof any of it happened without it!"
Tonia couldn't help but smile almost shyly behind the glass we well. It was different seeing someone of such a rank be not so Admiraly. Sometimes people could seem to be above the others with their ranks, which was acceptable at times, but it was always reassuring seeing a more human side to them.
Pike laughed, "I have this feeling even with a party most of them would still be too boring to warrant pictures."
He still wasn't comfortable with the Admiral title, and he was the low man on the totem pole when it came to higher duty. Pike'd still rather be on a starship someplace than a Starbase or worse yet, a planet.
He was like some of the other people in the crew- when stuck on ground for to long they got antsy. Having metal under their feet and space about them was more comforting than, say, fresh air over recycled systems and the hum of engines over sounds of the ocean. Tonia liked the ship but she also liked being planet side for periods of time.
It was good to see the Admiral laughing as well. So, casually turning in her chair toward him, she hooked an arm behind the back of her chair idly letting her right foot bounce. "Oh they can't be that bad now can they? Surely they would be able to loosen up enough for some interesting stories."
He was smart enough to leave the uniform in the closet and instead went with civilian clothes. He got himself a glass of scotch and positioned himself near the edge of things. He didn't want to interfere with the crew's fun.
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Drink in hand the Yeoman made her way over giving the older man a warm smile of greeting. "Good evening, sir. Enjoying the party so far?"
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Pausing only once the Yeoman seemed to consider her words slightly before saying them. "It's good to see you back on the ship, sir."
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"I'm glad to be back. The last time was far too short."
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It wasn't like any of them had ever been on a fully functional ship until Vulcan had been attacked.
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"As far as my words of wisdom are concerned, I'm not sure how many people here would like to hear them."
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Pike didn't want Kirk to think Starfleet or worse, that Pike himself, didn't trust him. The opposite was true, especially after the Narada. A long stay could give that appearance.
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Swirling the drink left in her glass she studied it carefully. "It's good to see everyone starting to, I don't know, loosen up again."
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The thought of that damned slug made him down the rest of his drink.
"Now if we could get the rest of Command to loosen up just as much, things would be a lot easier."
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Looking back to Pike, Tonia let the smile grow a little more. "Maybe you can teach them a thing or two?"
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"I'm going to try like hell. It would make meetings more fun."
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Tonia couldn't help but smile almost shyly behind the glass we well. It was different seeing someone of such a rank be not so Admiraly. Sometimes people could seem to be above the others with their ranks, which was acceptable at times, but it was always reassuring seeing a more human side to them.
Reply
He still wasn't comfortable with the Admiral title, and he was the low man on the totem pole when it came to higher duty. Pike'd still rather be on a starship someplace than a Starbase or worse yet, a planet.
Reply
It was good to see the Admiral laughing as well. So, casually turning in her chair toward him, she hooked an arm behind the back of her chair idly letting her right foot bounce. "Oh they can't be that bad now can they? Surely they would be able to loosen up enough for some interesting stories."
Reply
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