(Untitled)

[lt_mcgivers]

Who: Marla McGivers and anyone who wants to run into her
Where: Mess hall
What: Marla's actually out and about. It's a miracle

Comments

[ensign_singh]

Sanjay was starving, and sore, but that's because the antihistamine he took the previous night acted quicker than he expected and he fell asleep at his desk. Trying to work all around these tribbles was becoming beyond frustrating, and at this point he wouldn't mind if they contracted a virus and died.

He waited through the line, and scouted out a free table over in the corner and began heading towards that way when he noticed a girl with said creature on her shoulder along his path. "Y-you let him sit on you!?" He stopped mid-stride giving quite the dumbfounded look at Marla.

[ensign_singh]

He nodded, and pushed himself to eat the mashed potato on his plate. "Seems like many people double in tasks in engineering as well as their specialties. I'd like to try other things, but I doubt I'd be of much use anywhere else."

The mental image of him knocking over her stacks of books and files came largely to mind, or him fretting over threats from other nations during video conferences on the bridge was another fleeting thought. "...Yeah, I'd be pretty much worthless outside the engineering room. I rarely leave it as it is, but still."

[lt_mcgivers]

"Mostly I just monitor computer readouts when I'm down there, but... I don't know. It's kind of boring when that's all there is to do." And that was, of course, the sole reason she was learning about repairing those consoles. It was not at all an excuse to spend more time with the one person she really considered a friend on the ship. Not at all.

"If you don't mind me asking, what do you specialize in?" That was a good question to ask, right? Maybe she wasn't as bad at this whole 'having a conversation' thing as she thought...

[ensign_singh]

"I-I have a mechanical engineering degree, but before you ask, I'm not a lieutenant because I declined the rank... I don't have any specialty per say, but I am typically in charge of the piping network and making sure they're staying functional. I've, uh, helped the chief of engineering on a couple things here and there."

He pursed his lips in thought, he pretty much had a routine each shift that didn't deviate too often. She couldn't be possibly interested in the workings of the engineering department. Most people typically zoned out when he tried explaining projects to them.

[lt_mcgivers]

"You help Mr. Scott?" Marla replied, looking around as if mentioning the man's name were enough to summon his presence. The only time she'd really ever interacted with the Chief of Engineering was when he'd yelled at her for not paying attention while she was at her post, which - in her opinion - had been terribly unfair of him, because she'd only looked away for a second, really. (In actuality, no yelling had taken place, but Marla had a tendency to take even mild rebuke terribly personally.)

"Isn't he... I mean... he's a little overbearing, isn't he?" Once again she looked around, just in case. The Chief of Engineering moved through the engine room like lightning (or at least, Marla thought he did), and there was no telling where he'd show up next - and never mind that they were in the mess hall, not the engine room.

[ensign_singh]

Sanjay too looked around, trying to figure out what it was that Marla was looking for. He noticed her voice becoming softer, then he realized...

"Mr. Scott? Overbearing?" He leaned back and scratched at his chin in slight amusement. He could see where she got that idea, he could come off as high-strung to those not accustomed to him.

"N-not at all! He's just... got alot to worry about. I mean, he's in charge of a space ship, and it's functioning depends on him and all..."

[lt_mcgivers]

No matter what Sanjay said about Mr. Scott, it wasn't going to change Marla's mind about the man. "He just... he got really upset with me because I wasn't paying attention to my station for literally about two seconds." Once again she looked around... just in case. "I know he doesn't want anything to happen to his precious ship, but it's not like my job is absolutely vital, you know?"

Marla didn't just dislike being on the Enterprise. She hated being on the Enterprise. She hated being out in space, and most of all, she hated the fact that she was obligated to stay on until her five years were up. She'd much rather have some nice office job back at Starfleet Command.

[ensign_singh]

Crossing his arms over his chest, Sanjay still had a gentle amused smirk on his face. "R-really, he's not all that bad. I'm sure he meant well... for being cross. N-not that you did anything wrong, of course!"

He doubted where they placed her was vital by any means. He took note that she must be a sensitive person, but an interesting one at that.

"He probably had alot going on that day." Which when he thought about it, was every day for the Chief. "But... I doubt he holds grudges or anything like that."

[lt_mcgivers]

"He... he scares me," Marla admitted quietly, turning her attention back down to her salad, her cheeks flushing a bright red. "I'm... I'm actually really, really glad that I don't have to work in the engine room very much."

That was a lie, at least partially. On the one hand, she was glad that she didn't have to worry about getting snapped at again. On the other hand, Keenser worked in engineering, and Marla didn't really see him very much as it was. But maybe learning about the consoles some more would help that. At least having a friend made being on the ship more bearable.

[ensign_singh]

He noticed her blush and leaned forward, palms on the edge of the table. "R-really, he's not bad! You just happened to have him on a bad day."

He thought for a moment before continuing, "I imagine next to the bridge, the ship's hull is the most hectic place. It can be pretty scary for those that aren't used to it... I admit I was pretty worried when I first entered it."

Sanjay was at a loss of what comforting words should be spoken, and hoped he was a little helpful.

[lt_mcgivers]

It didn't matter what Sanjay said; nothing was going to convince Marla that the Chief of Engineering was anything other than a tyrannical maniac who shouted at people for next to no reason at all. And never mind that Marla knew Dr. Dehner and had eventually gotten around to reading the engagement announcement. Why anyone would like Mr. Scott was beyond her.

Granted, she knew she was probably being a bit unfair, but Marla was content to just stay as far away from Mr. Scott as was humanly possibly. (And not at all because Mr. Scott happened to be played by the same mun. Nope. Not at all.)

"See? That's why I like my office better. It's quiet, and I'm usually the only one there, and no one's yelling about things, and... and sometimes I can forget just for a little bit that I'm stuck out in space."