I've journeyed to this place // To study the behavior patterns of the human race
Who: The First Officer, {Open}
Where: Observation Deck
What: Even with meditating, Spock's got a lot on his mind and watching space may help. Or he just wants to be social ( Read more... )
Where: Observation Deck
What: Even with meditating, Spock's got a lot on his mind and watching space may help. Or he just wants to be social ( Read more... )
David was still getting a feel for the ship itself. He wasn't getting lost as much anymore, thankfully. And he hadn't yet gotten called on his stubbornness to give up his suits for a uniform. He figured he retained at least a little neutrality if he didn't wear a uniform. Though perhaps this was rationalizing on his part.
He was surprised, actually, that when he arrived at the observation deck it was the exact place he'd planned on being. He might not have been getting lost anymore but it still usually took a few times before he found where he was intending to go. Spacial perception wasn't a skill he was proficient in.
"Commander," he greeted with a smile. He was familiar with the Vulcan second officer. Events with the Romulans had allowed everyone to become familiar with Commander Spock and Captain James T. Kirk. They were somewhat celebrities of a sort at the Academy. He hadn't formally met either of them yet. At least not in any meaningful sort of way.
He was also familiar with the recent happenings with the Klingon ships. Well, by rumor only. Perhaps he could get some more information on it.
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That is, until the door swished open behind him again. The Vulcan turned his head, expecting to see the Scotsman back for Round Two when his assumption was incorrect. How ironic that the Chief Engineer had been rambling about Klingons and Orions when one of their newest crew members had just entered the observation deck, and was clearly Orion.
Spock got to his feet and nodded at the greeting. "Good evening." He decided to respond with after a moment. "I would include your name in my greeting, but we have not been introduced as of yet.
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And he had to clasp his hands behind him to remind himself that vulcans didn't shake hands. Holding out his hand was David's first response to meeting someone for the first time.
"I'm David. Dr. David Tinny," he said tucking his hands into pockets and then bringing one out to give a vulcan salute, not sure if it was the right action; but it was preferable to inaction. "It's nice to finally meet you, Commander Spock."
He then gestured to the stars. "I'm still having a hard time with seeing stars every time I look out of a view screen or observation deck. Beginning to miss the blue skies and white fluffy clouds on earth." He smiled.
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His eyes were drawn to the almost awkward movement David made to clasp his hands behind his back, like he was trying to keep himself from doing something. Fascinating. This crew member seemed uncertain with what to do with his hands. About to directly ask about that, the man held up the Vulcan salute in greeting instead.
Fascinating turned to interesting. His own hand went up in greeting, fingers spread to make the traditional salute in return and thought of what to say in return that wasn't offensive. Or insulting. "Agreed, Mr. Tinny."
Brown eyes reflected the bright stars as he looked in their direction, taking in the scene before looking at David. "Is this your first prolonged mission in space?"
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He observed Spock observing the stars. He couldn't imagine what it had been like. He also couldn't imagine what Vulcan coping techniques were. Perhaps the calm demeanor of the man belied turmoil. Or perhaps Spock had, in fact, made peace with the tragedy in a very Vulcan way. Regardless, when he looked back at him David nodded emphatically.
"My first mission in space. My first time in space. I was brought on as an extra hand at the academy to help with grief counseling. I never imagined myself here. If this opportunity hadn't come up I'd have been really good with staying in California, marrying, adopting some children, and raising them near the town I grew up in," David said. "But, sometimes life changes. It's still a little surreal. The simulations can't prepare you for the emotional impact of being so far away."
His blue eyes were now locked onto the shifting stars. He looked from point to point, almost trying to count them but never getting far past three.
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He listened to David, coming out of whatever daze he'd let himself fall into. This didn't happen often, thankfully, and the Commander managed to assume what the other had started to talk about that led him to talking about marriage and raising children.
"The simulations are not designed to prepare you for the emotional impact, only designed to prepare you for the situations in general." The Vulcan looked towards David, who was watching the stars. "You state this is your first time in space, yet you are obviously not Human. Were your parents aliens already settled on Earth?"
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