Tucker wasn't exactly the most observant member of Archer's crew when it came to the more blatantly obvious stuff, but he did have a knack for noticing tiny, practically indiscernible details about certain things and sometimes certain people. It was his Engineer's intuition. He'd catch on to Elizabeth's nervousness right off the bat, as well as her attempt to conceal it behind that demure guise she wore as the ship's new therapist.
He'd quickly serve up his own plate, piling it high with a variety of fare that generally spoke of his southern roots. Potatoes, mashed, mixed vegetables and a huge protein synthesized slab of meat covered in hickory smoked barbecue sauce. For dessert he'd have key lime pie and to drink Trip favorably selected an ice cold glass of sweet tea.
He had chosen a table set as far apart from the crew as he could muster and waited until Elizabeth sat down first -- out of respect, of course. When she asked him, the commander couldn't help but laugh. "Seems the Cap'm's a li'l more hesitant than you thought he might be. I mean, I s'pose I can understand why, but I dunno if I was able to reassure 'im or not. I'm pretty confident that Rustov'll take good care of the place while I'm gone, but," he'd pause, adding in a shrug for emphasis, "he isn't guaranteein' me anythin' just yet."
He waits for her to sit and she does, smiling to him. Seriously, manners like that are not normal anymore and she really wishes they were. When he does answer her question, he sounds uncertain if his help will be allowed to be loaned out and Elizabeth genuinely feels bad for getting his hopes up if that were the case.
"Oh, I'm sorry," she replies regretfully, "If I thought my opinion would at all sway the Captain, I'd say something, but I'm fairly certain it won't be of much help to you."
The shrink has no place making comments about the general functionality of the crew and ship, but she is very sad that he doesn't get to do something that is clearly important to him. He likes to help people and that is abundantly clear. She hopes that he gets to feel like he can help in some way, even if it isn't a short leave from the Enterprise.
"Maybe there's some other way you can help?" she offers. She has no idea what they would be.
Manners were a tedious practice of an antiquated etiquette often used before equality between a man, a woman and an otherworldly being became so prevalent. However, Trip was brought up a certain way and it was relatively difficult to shuck his upbringing out the air-lock simply to acknowledge views that have long since changed. It was one of the old-fashioned quirks that made him who he was.
"Nah," he'd wave it off, throwing a leg over the back of the chair and settling in to ogle the steaming deliciousness. "Don't worry 'bout it. I'm not givin' up just yet." He'd shoot her a confident grin before stabbing a carrot with a fork and popping it into his mouth.
The commander made mental notes of his own, gauging Elizabeth and her reaction to a crew that he himself had plenty of time to familiarize with. He wanted to make the transition a little easier on her, but he wasn't entirely sure where to begin.
He'd pause in mid-bite, his fork suspended in the air while he deliberated a response. "Well, 'M not entirely sure, but I imagine I could think of somethin'. It's not like I'd be useful doin' everythin' through the comm though. We'll see. No use worryin' over it now. I have my hopes that the Cap'm'll pull through for me."
For a moment he'd fall silent, cutting his meat with a certain eagerness of someone who thoroughly enjoyed his protein and chewing while he formulated a way to help ease her nerves a bit. "You likin' yer quarters all right?"
Ever the optimist, he seemed sure he'd get to do something and sure that the Captain would let him. Elizabeth is happy to see someone who is so willing to help and if he is sure he can make it happen, she doesn't want to let anything get in the way. She's sure the good captain of the Nova would be more than happy with a little help. Even if it really is just a little bit of help.
Elizabeth knows when she's being studied, but she lets herself relax into his company and proceeds to eat a little bit at a time, getting used to having something like cafeteria food. This whole experience is throwing her off, unable to really get her bearings because it's nothing she's ever experienced before. It doesn't help that everything seems to be such tight, crowded spaces despite going out into the vastness of open space.
And then he goes on to ask that. "Uh," she starts, taking another bite before looking up, "they're fine. I'm getting used to the idea of quarters. And corridors. And a mess hall. I'm really not too keen on space travel, so this is going to be requiring personal growth on my part. Everyone else seems to be better at this than me."
Trip could see the uncertainty practically radiating off of her. He'd offer her an awkward smile and a polite cant of the head, unsure of what else he could do or say at the moment. It was easy to tell that the Enterprise's new counselor wasn't in her element here, that Elizabeth Dehner simply did not do space travel. There wasn't much Trip could change about that, but he'd do what he could to make the experience easier on her at least.
"Well, ever'one else was hand-picked for this assignment, 'member? 'Sides, I think, with a li'l time an' effort, you'll grow to like it." He'd take a swig of his sweet tea and move on to spooning the mashed potatoes. "I imagine the hard part's dealin' with the adjustment while still lookin' out for the wellbein' of an otherwise unfamiliar crew. You have my sympathies there, 'specially when dealin' with the Sub-Commander. But if there is anythin' I can do to make your stay a li'l more tolerable, I'd be more than happy to help."
Somehow, even if it's merely some reassurances about the situation at hand, he knows what to say. He's right, everyone was hand picked. This isn't just some motley crew and she is here for a purpose. If she can keep herself focused on that, she won't have time to worry about what is lying ahead for her. She'll have to deal with it as it comes, of course, but that's fine. That's something she can handle. She hopes.
"Yes, well, the Sub-Commander is not exactly under my jurisdiction, but it should be interesting to say the least," she comments. No Vulcan is about to let a human shrink near them. Hell no. However, she still has the rest of the crew who could be just as challenging. She sure hopes not.
"Thank you," she says, glancing down at her lap and then back to him, "you have been a very comforting and familiar face thus far, so I will do my best to refrain from pestering you too much. I'm sure that will quickly wear out my welcome."
She seemed a little more laid back for the moment; a small victory for Commander Tucker. However, Trip made a face at Elizabeth which displayed an open aversion on her commentary toward the ship's resident hardass. "Yer lucky for that. Sub-Commander T'Pol's a whole heck of a lot to deal with, not t'mention all her friends up in the Vulcan High Command." He'd stab another piece of the processed protein-slab ruthlessly and brought it up to his mouth, but before taking the bite he'd add, "I certainly won't be the first to tell yah that it's never pleasant when dealin' with the Vulcans."
The engineer sat and chewed in silence once more. "Cap'm Archer's been takin' the brunt for the most of us though." It wasn't necessarily a statement of paramount importance, but he felt Jonathan Archer, one of his best friends and shipmate, deserved a little credit. Even when he was taking his time authorizing a simple transfer.
"Aw, think nuthin' of it!" He'd wave it off, fork in hand. He didn't want Elizabeth to feel indebted to him or anything, but he certainly welcomed the feeling of acceptance. "So, is there anythin' you wanna ask me or is everythin' else goin' good for you? Got any problems at all -- I'm yer go-to guy." A smile graced his Floridan features.
He is the most consistently cheerful people she's ever met and Elizabeth works really hard at being optimistic and seeing the bright side of things. He's naturally good at it. She thinks it comes from his want to be helpful to others. People who want to help for the sake of it, usually have a little bit of a happier disposition, so she thinks.
"I feel like I have questions I don't know how to ask," she says, taking another bite of her food, slightly distracted by that smile of his. "I'm not used to space travel, which is funny, since I"m out here doing studies of humans and space travel all while, I'm pretty sure I'll be my best test subject. I guess all I can think is how do you get used to it? Pointers?"
Trip wasn't exactly picking up on the lieutenant's impromptu psychological evaluation of him. No, he was far too busy with eating and socializing. The two activities were perhaps one of his more publicly known favorites and that was perfectly fine by him. Any crew member assigned to Enterprise would happily inform inquisitive minds that Charles Tucker III was always about for a rousing conversation, particularly over a piece of pecan pie.
And he made it his own personal goal to get to know everyone on board. And with Elizabeth being the next in line, he was certainly looking forward to making her more than just a mere acquaintance.
"Pointers, huh?" He'd say, swiveling his fork thoughtfully in the air. "Don't be afraid to talk to folks. Ever'one here is pleasant to get to know. There innit anyone, 'cept maybe, well, Malcom and the Sub-Commander I'd worry 'bout bein' a couple of regular sticks in the mud. Oh, an' you might want to talk with Dr. Phlox. I gotta feelin' the two of you will be workin' together quite a bit." He'd pause and reflect on something she had said just moments before. "Though I gotta admit, you bein' your best test subject is probably the case. Yah might want to be makin' those logs, but I'm pretty sure you already knew that."
Trip moved on to the pie now.
[OOC: Not to worry. If anyone gets it, I know I do. Hah hah...]
Don't be afraid to talk to people. Great. That's going to be really difficult. Oh, talking she can do. Listening she is great at. Outside of her office? It's impossible. She has a really hard time getting to know people outside of professional means. Elizabeth isn't exactly outgoing and she's a bit of a workaholic, which she thinks is a very common situation among a crew dedicated to this kind of thing. She's hoping, more than anything, that she can do her time and get back to something she might be better at. Perhaps on solid ground. Then again, that would mean not getting to have meals with Mr. Tucker, here.
She'll just tuck that thought away to analyze later.
"Yes, I have a meeting with Dr. Phlox. We are going over some profiles together to try and round up who we think would be best as a focus. I'm doing evaluations, but I need a few willing people to come in for weekly sessions and I need a wide variety of personalities and backgrounds to see how things go for them," she explains, "But yes, logs as well. I'm certain I will be a mess by the end of this."
"Well," he began, cutting off an edge of crust from his key lime pie and raising it up to his mouth temptingly. "I bet I could help you there too. I'd be more than willin' to submit myself for evaluation if anythin' and I know a few folks who could really use a listenin' ear. Hoshi Sato's the first name that comes to mind, in fact."
Trip would turn in his seat glancing around the mess hall, recalling the similar schedules he and the communication officer had when it came to their lunch break. He'd scan the many familiar faces gathered around the tables, talking casually, oblivious to his perusing gaze. "Ah! There she is. That one over there --" he'd gesture with a free hand and turn back toward Elizabeth to steal a quick bite of his pie. Once he was finished swallowing, he continued, "When she was first selected to join Enterprise she couldn't be more uncertain of herself. I mean, don't get me wrong, she's gotten a lot better, but I think she'd be a great candidate."
He chuckled, a guilty expression making it's way on to his face. "'Course, I'm sure you could take a gander at your personnel files an' figure all that out, but it ain't that hard for me to notice things 'bout the crew seein' as how I've had the time to get to know 'em. Uh, take Crewman Fuller over there, for example. He's got the social skills of a Klingon before breakfast which is why I think he sticks so close to Lieutenant Reed, another problem child, if you ask me."
He's immediately looking around for candidates, which is not what she meant to do right now, so Elizabeth smiles, ducking down a little as though she has nothing to do with why the chief engineer is scanning the room and pointing at people. She giggles into her glass and looks up at him, eyebrows raised when he's done.
Elizabeth clears her throat a little, "It's like getting all the news on campus about the different cliques." She's smiling, though, because she doesn't remember the last time she was a part of gossip and it's really funny.
"I'll be sure to mark you down as a go, then, for the evaluations," she adds, finishing up her food and pushing the plate a little ways away.
"So, Lieutenant Reed? Are you two close or...?" she's trying to get an idea. He seems to know him well and whatever it is that makes him so cranky. Elizabeth thinks its because he's British, but that is neither here nor there.
Having been so used to the commander's genial antics, his shipmates oftentimes acknowledged Trip's amiable nature as a mere commonalty. It was when said chief engineer seemed particularly cantankerous that they knew better than to address him unless for something critically important. Trip did have quite a reputable temper. But those were rare days and even rarer occasions.
Of course, after realizing how uncomfortable he had just made Elizabeth, Charles hung his head and looked up at her like a scolded dog. "Eh, sorry 'bout that. Just kinda eager to get yah up and runnin'. I know how it is when on a new assignment."
At the mentioning of Malcolm, subconsciously a hand went straight for the back of his neck while he thought carefully about his response. Reed was a touchy subject and one of which he didn't quite know how to sum up in words. After using the pie as a way to stall for time, Trip eventually had to push the empty plate aside and look back at Elizabeth obligingly. "We're, ah, friends, I s'pose? Sometimes we get along, while others? Eh. Not so much."
She shakes her head, "Nothing to be sorry for. It was unexpected, is all." He doesn't need to feel like he's done something wrong. After all, she's the one who is asking for the gossip. She can't help it. He is so forthcoming about all of this, it seems like he's the right person to go to.
he finishes his food and she's pushed hers away from her as well. He doesn't say much about Mr. Reed and Elizabeth is pushing back the idea that perhaps they are more than they are, even with such different personalities. She's wrong, as he explains their on-again, off-again friendliness and she nods.
"Another subject, maybe," she says, refering back to her need for volunteers. Maybe a change of subject will be better.
"Do you have a favorite place on the ship?" she asks.
Secretly, Trip was a fan of gossip himself, in to all the latest hearsay and he said, she said accounts of the crew, particularly, of course, down in Engineering. For the most part he had to keep up the guise of an exemplary commanding officer, but sometimes it was difficult, especially when he had so much information to offer.
The commander shrugged. Charles was completely fine talking about Malcolm when they were referring to him in his natural state. Anxious, pushy, fastidious, and, of course overbearingly British, but there was that sense of hopeless romanticism that Trip sometimes admired about the tactical officer while others, a sort of prickling resentment resided continuing to drive a wedge between what could be a blossoming camaraderie. Perhaps one of these days, Elizabeth will aid in shedding some light on this baffling conundrum that was Malcolm Reed.
"My favorite spot on the ship, huh?" he'd inquire back at her, knowing the answer already. "Anyone who knows me, knows that my favorite spot is right where I work day in an' day out. Y'know," Trip aimed a well-meaning finger at Elizabeth before continuing, "you might want to find a spot yourself one of these days. Well, when you're finally comfortable with Enterprise and gettin' where yer goin' without usin' the maps, that is. Turns out that havin' a spot, I've learned thanks to Ensign Mayweather, really helps you get your bearings. Great place to think things through -- to be by yourself, if yer lucky."
"I mean the place that you go to for quiet and solitude," she says. She understands the want to be where you like it best and maybe he likes the noise and the people, so she won't discount it if he says that's the case. Even so, she's curious if there's more to it. Somewhere that he hides out. Then again, he may not want to tell her.
She shakes her head, "You don't have to tell me. I understand needing a place of your own to hide out. I might be able to figure it out," she replies, "find somewhere that makes sense for me."
He'd quickly serve up his own plate, piling it high with a variety of fare that generally spoke of his southern roots. Potatoes, mashed, mixed vegetables and a huge protein synthesized slab of meat covered in hickory smoked barbecue sauce. For dessert he'd have key lime pie and to drink Trip favorably selected an ice cold glass of sweet tea.
He had chosen a table set as far apart from the crew as he could muster and waited until Elizabeth sat down first -- out of respect, of course. When she asked him, the commander couldn't help but laugh. "Seems the Cap'm's a li'l more hesitant than you thought he might be. I mean, I s'pose I can understand why, but I dunno if I was able to reassure 'im or not. I'm pretty confident that Rustov'll take good care of the place while I'm gone, but," he'd pause, adding in a shrug for emphasis, "he isn't guaranteein' me anythin' just yet."
Reply
"Oh, I'm sorry," she replies regretfully, "If I thought my opinion would at all sway the Captain, I'd say something, but I'm fairly certain it won't be of much help to you."
The shrink has no place making comments about the general functionality of the crew and ship, but she is very sad that he doesn't get to do something that is clearly important to him. He likes to help people and that is abundantly clear. She hopes that he gets to feel like he can help in some way, even if it isn't a short leave from the Enterprise.
"Maybe there's some other way you can help?" she offers. She has no idea what they would be.
Reply
"Nah," he'd wave it off, throwing a leg over the back of the chair and settling in to ogle the steaming deliciousness. "Don't worry 'bout it. I'm not givin' up just yet." He'd shoot her a confident grin before stabbing a carrot with a fork and popping it into his mouth.
The commander made mental notes of his own, gauging Elizabeth and her reaction to a crew that he himself had plenty of time to familiarize with. He wanted to make the transition a little easier on her, but he wasn't entirely sure where to begin.
He'd pause in mid-bite, his fork suspended in the air while he deliberated a response. "Well, 'M not entirely sure, but I imagine I could think of somethin'. It's not like I'd be useful doin' everythin' through the comm though. We'll see. No use worryin' over it now. I have my hopes that the Cap'm'll pull through for me."
For a moment he'd fall silent, cutting his meat with a certain eagerness of someone who thoroughly enjoyed his protein and chewing while he formulated a way to help ease her nerves a bit. "You likin' yer quarters all right?"
Reply
Elizabeth knows when she's being studied, but she lets herself relax into his company and proceeds to eat a little bit at a time, getting used to having something like cafeteria food. This whole experience is throwing her off, unable to really get her bearings because it's nothing she's ever experienced before. It doesn't help that everything seems to be such tight, crowded spaces despite going out into the vastness of open space.
And then he goes on to ask that. "Uh," she starts, taking another bite before looking up, "they're fine. I'm getting used to the idea of quarters. And corridors. And a mess hall. I'm really not too keen on space travel, so this is going to be requiring personal growth on my part. Everyone else seems to be better at this than me."
Reply
"Well, ever'one else was hand-picked for this assignment, 'member? 'Sides, I think, with a li'l time an' effort, you'll grow to like it." He'd take a swig of his sweet tea and move on to spooning the mashed potatoes. "I imagine the hard part's dealin' with the adjustment while still lookin' out for the wellbein' of an otherwise unfamiliar crew. You have my sympathies there, 'specially when dealin' with the Sub-Commander. But if there is anythin' I can do to make your stay a li'l more tolerable, I'd be more than happy to help."
Reply
"Yes, well, the Sub-Commander is not exactly under my jurisdiction, but it should be interesting to say the least," she comments. No Vulcan is about to let a human shrink near them. Hell no. However, she still has the rest of the crew who could be just as challenging. She sure hopes not.
"Thank you," she says, glancing down at her lap and then back to him, "you have been a very comforting and familiar face thus far, so I will do my best to refrain from pestering you too much. I'm sure that will quickly wear out my welcome."
Reply
The engineer sat and chewed in silence once more. "Cap'm Archer's been takin' the brunt for the most of us though." It wasn't necessarily a statement of paramount importance, but he felt Jonathan Archer, one of his best friends and shipmate, deserved a little credit. Even when he was taking his time authorizing a simple transfer.
"Aw, think nuthin' of it!" He'd wave it off, fork in hand. He didn't want Elizabeth to feel indebted to him or anything, but he certainly welcomed the feeling of acceptance. "So, is there anythin' you wanna ask me or is everythin' else goin' good for you? Got any problems at all -- I'm yer go-to guy." A smile graced his Floridan features.
Reply
"I feel like I have questions I don't know how to ask," she says, taking another bite of her food, slightly distracted by that smile of his. "I'm not used to space travel, which is funny, since I"m out here doing studies of humans and space travel all while, I'm pretty sure I'll be my best test subject. I guess all I can think is how do you get used to it? Pointers?"
ooc: apparently I'm also slow. XD
Reply
And he made it his own personal goal to get to know everyone on board. And with Elizabeth being the next in line, he was certainly looking forward to making her more than just a mere acquaintance.
"Pointers, huh?" He'd say, swiveling his fork thoughtfully in the air. "Don't be afraid to talk to folks. Ever'one here is pleasant to get to know. There innit anyone, 'cept maybe, well, Malcom and the Sub-Commander I'd worry 'bout bein' a couple of regular sticks in the mud. Oh, an' you might want to talk with Dr. Phlox. I gotta feelin' the two of you will be workin' together quite a bit." He'd pause and reflect on something she had said just moments before. "Though I gotta admit, you bein' your best test subject is probably the case. Yah might want to be makin' those logs, but I'm pretty sure you already knew that."
Trip moved on to the pie now.
[OOC: Not to worry. If anyone gets it, I know I do. Hah hah...]
Reply
She'll just tuck that thought away to analyze later.
"Yes, I have a meeting with Dr. Phlox. We are going over some profiles together to try and round up who we think would be best as a focus. I'm doing evaluations, but I need a few willing people to come in for weekly sessions and I need a wide variety of personalities and backgrounds to see how things go for them," she explains, "But yes, logs as well. I'm certain I will be a mess by the end of this."
She's teasing, mostly.
ooc: well thank you for understanding. :)
Reply
Trip would turn in his seat glancing around the mess hall, recalling the similar schedules he and the communication officer had when it came to their lunch break. He'd scan the many familiar faces gathered around the tables, talking casually, oblivious to his perusing gaze. "Ah! There she is. That one over there --" he'd gesture with a free hand and turn back toward Elizabeth to steal a quick bite of his pie. Once he was finished swallowing, he continued, "When she was first selected to join Enterprise she couldn't be more uncertain of herself. I mean, don't get me wrong, she's gotten a lot better, but I think she'd be a great candidate."
He chuckled, a guilty expression making it's way on to his face. "'Course, I'm sure you could take a gander at your personnel files an' figure all that out, but it ain't that hard for me to notice things 'bout the crew seein' as how I've had the time to get to know 'em. Uh, take Crewman Fuller over there, for example. He's got the social skills of a Klingon before breakfast which is why I think he sticks so close to Lieutenant Reed, another problem child, if you ask me."
Reply
Elizabeth clears her throat a little, "It's like getting all the news on campus about the different cliques." She's smiling, though, because she doesn't remember the last time she was a part of gossip and it's really funny.
"I'll be sure to mark you down as a go, then, for the evaluations," she adds, finishing up her food and pushing the plate a little ways away.
"So, Lieutenant Reed? Are you two close or...?" she's trying to get an idea. He seems to know him well and whatever it is that makes him so cranky. Elizabeth thinks its because he's British, but that is neither here nor there.
Reply
Of course, after realizing how uncomfortable he had just made Elizabeth, Charles hung his head and looked up at her like a scolded dog. "Eh, sorry 'bout that. Just kinda eager to get yah up and runnin'. I know how it is when on a new assignment."
At the mentioning of Malcolm, subconsciously a hand went straight for the back of his neck while he thought carefully about his response. Reed was a touchy subject and one of which he didn't quite know how to sum up in words. After using the pie as a way to stall for time, Trip eventually had to push the empty plate aside and look back at Elizabeth obligingly. "We're, ah, friends, I s'pose? Sometimes we get along, while others? Eh. Not so much."
Reply
he finishes his food and she's pushed hers away from her as well. He doesn't say much about Mr. Reed and Elizabeth is pushing back the idea that perhaps they are more than they are, even with such different personalities. She's wrong, as he explains their on-again, off-again friendliness and she nods.
"Another subject, maybe," she says, refering back to her need for volunteers. Maybe a change of subject will be better.
"Do you have a favorite place on the ship?" she asks.
Reply
The commander shrugged. Charles was completely fine talking about Malcolm when they were referring to him in his natural state. Anxious, pushy, fastidious, and, of course overbearingly British, but there was that sense of hopeless romanticism that Trip sometimes admired about the tactical officer while others, a sort of prickling resentment resided continuing to drive a wedge between what could be a blossoming camaraderie. Perhaps one of these days, Elizabeth will aid in shedding some light on this baffling conundrum that was Malcolm Reed.
"My favorite spot on the ship, huh?" he'd inquire back at her, knowing the answer already. "Anyone who knows me, knows that my favorite spot is right where I work day in an' day out. Y'know," Trip aimed a well-meaning finger at Elizabeth before continuing, "you might want to find a spot yourself one of these days. Well, when you're finally comfortable with Enterprise and gettin' where yer goin' without usin' the maps, that is. Turns out that havin' a spot, I've learned thanks to Ensign Mayweather, really helps you get your bearings. Great place to think things through -- to be by yourself, if yer lucky."
Reply
She shakes her head, "You don't have to tell me. I understand needing a place of your own to hide out. I might be able to figure it out," she replies, "find somewhere that makes sense for me."
Reply
Leave a comment