Comments | to_boldlygo: Finer Things Club

helmsman_hikaru in to_boldlygo

Finer Things Club

Jul 21, 2010 23:11

Who: Sulu, his kotatsu, and whoever joins him
What: Scrapbooking, flowerpressing, swordfighting
Where: Botany Lab gardens

Hikaru had rediscovered his kotatsu while cleaning out storage bins and, like he often did with things rediscovered, decided to put it to some use. Setting it up in a cool part of the garden area of the botany lab, he figured he'd ( Read more... )

character: charlene masters, character: hikaru sulu, character: mars difalco, character: spock

Comments 33

master_charm July 22 2010, 04:29:18 UTC

While Charlene never considered herself much of a nature person, she was perfectly capable of appreciating the beauty of botanical gardens. After spending so much time around the stark monotones of the ship, some greenery was indeed a sight for sore eyes. This prompted her to make an impulsive visit to the botany lab after a dreadfully long shift in the geology lab.

Just a quick peek wouldn't hurt, she thought to herself, walking through the door. It didn't really surprise her to find Sulu there (after all, it was common knowledge the man practically lived in the botany lab) but his table/comforter contraption wasn't something she was used to seeing. "Hello, Mr. Sulu," she greeted with a smile. "You look rather comfy right now."

helmsman_hikaru July 22 2010, 06:01:10 UTC

Hikaru watched the doorway in mild suspense until Charlene's face came around the corner. With 1,000 guesses, he wouldn't have guessed it would be her visiting his lab. Often the only common ground between rockhounds and gardeners was often the earth, which was quite a few lightyears away at this point. She seemed amused by his kotatsu, and he couldn't blame her.

"Hello, Miss Masters!" he replied, doing his best to act like having a kotatsu in the lab was normal. "Yes, I...I am rather comfy. I would stand and greet you properly, but really, it's so comfy," he added, only half-joking. It was that comfortable. "You're welcome to have a seat, if you like."

"So what brings a you by the lab?"

master_charm July 22 2010, 18:38:40 UTC

"Well if it's really that comfy, I can't blame you," Charlene quipped. Her eyes and smile widened slightly in excitement when he offered her a seat. It wasn't everyday that she was given the chance to use something like this.

"Thank you, Mr. Sulu! After standing on my feet all day, a seat is most appreciated," she said with a grateful smile. Settling under the covers, she didn't expect the toasty heat to come from the table. "Is there a heater under here?"

Realizing that she didn't answer his question, she added, "Ah sorry. Well I just came here on impulse. I like looking at the plants here. It's a nice break from all the machinery of the ship. Not that technology is bad. It's just nice to see some green for a change. Now I'm rambling. What are you doing with all these pics and crafts?"

helmsman_hikaru July 22 2010, 23:33:42 UTC

"Uh, yes, there's a heater built into the table. Probably should've mentioned that..." Hikaru answered.

"Oh, I totally understand," he replied with a sympathetic smile. "I honestly don't know how you engine room crew can stand being cooped up like that week after week!"

Idly pushing the photos around his workspace, he explained,"These are just some photos I took on shore leave. I'm just...getting them ready for my scrapbook..." Hikaru suddenly realized the kotastu wasn't the only strange thing about this scene. He brandished his scissors and grinned wryly in acknowledgment of this fact.

Thread 10

goldenpilot July 22 2010, 04:47:09 UTC

Mars flipped through some files on her PADD and realized she needed them to be signed off by Mr. Sulu. Surprisingly, neither of them were at the helm during this shift, and she realized the only place she'd find him (at least he's predictable) was in the botany lab. She had to admit, it had been a really long while since she had visited him down there and was remotely interested in what was growing.

"Mr. Sulu..." She called out at the door to find him with Charlene Masters at a table. It appeared they were sharing a blanket at the table too. "Oh! Is that one of those tables with a heater?" She was oddly drawn to it's convenience and well, cute-ness.

helmsman_hikaru July 22 2010, 06:21:40 UTC

Engaged in conversation with Charlene, Hikaru didn't hear Mars approaching until she addressed him.

"Oh! Hey, Mars!" He was feeling less self-conscious about the kotatsu since he wasn't the only one using it now. "It is, indeed. Would you like to join us?"

She was carrying PADDs and looked like she was on official business, but he didn't see why that should keep her from sitting with them for a spell.

goldenpilot July 23 2010, 03:09:47 UTC

She walked over to an unoccupied section of the table and sat down, drawing the sheet over her legs. "Wow!" No wonder the two looked so pleased.

"Um, I just have some things I need you to sign off of... Did you bring this from home?" He didn't strike her as the traditional type, but this was actually quite nice. She felt like she needed a cup of hot tea to complete the situation, but she wouldn't bug her host about it.

helmsman_hikaru July 23 2010, 05:48:51 UTC

As Mars discovered the wonders of the kotatsu, Hikaru and Charlene shared a look of playful smugness. Wow! was an understatement. Hikaru hadn't been under the kotatsu for 20 minutes, and he was already unable to think of being anywhere else.

"Oh sure, no problem..." he said, taking the PADDs from her and reading over the material before signing it. "Actually, there wasn't enough room in my Starfleet-issue rucksack for a whole kotatsu, so I had to build the table here on the ship. You can't tell from this angle, but it looks like crap. I'm a helmsman, not a carpenter," he added with a grin, handing the PADDs back to Mars.

As he took up his cup of tea (what was time under the kotatsu without tea? or sake...), he saw Mars glancing at it and realized that perhaps his guests would like some. Grabbing a couple clean beakers that happened to be in arms' reach, he apologized for being so rude and offered to share the rest of the pot of tea with them.

Thread 10

vulcancommander July 23 2010, 05:02:54 UTC

It was certainly a surprise to many of the crew members when they caught sight of Commander Spock away from the bridge, labs, or his quarters. He wasn't usually seen this far down in the ship, causing some of the others to watch him walk by. Spock didn't pay any attention to them - he was on his way to the Botany lab to check on some samples that were on the mend after the situation that had caused massive damage to the ship and most of her crew members ( ... )

helmsman_hikaru July 23 2010, 06:26:45 UTC

He should have known from the swift, measured footsteps. The Commander. Of all people, it had to be Mr. Spock. Hikaru was off-duty, so it wasn't as if he were slacking off, but he still felt guilty being found like this by Spock. It wasn't going to win him any promotions anytime soon. He couldn't tell from the Vulcan's address what exactly he thought of the scene-whether he was interested or disapproving.

Summoning what little bit of professionalism the kotatsu hadn't taken from him, Hikaru replied: "Sir. I'm...working on a scrapbook, sir." Great, Hikaru-that's going to make things even better. Spock seemed more interested in the contraption he was occupying his time with, so he continued, at a higher pitch as his anxiety rose, "I...this...is a kotatsu...there's a heating unit under the table." To an eye as discerning as the Vulcan's, the device must be self-explanatory ( ... )

vulcancommander July 23 2010, 06:47:45 UTC

Of course it was Spock. He had a habit of showing up when people least expected him to - or wanted him to anyways. After the ordeal during shore leave about illogical hobbies, the Vulcan had learned to keep his mouth shut about that topic.

At the answer, his brow rose a little, eyes blinking a little. Scrapbooking? Why would one partake in a hobby that required them to make scrap out of ancient texts? A look crossed his face as though he were going to say 'if you say so' before he fixed his facial reading and instead listened to the explanation of the odd table. That was indeed fascinating. He had heard about them, but never seen one before ( ... )

helmsman_hikaru July 24 2010, 06:05:15 UTC

Hikaru felt a bit stung at Spock's phrasing, as if he were insinuating that Sulu's skills were limited to scrapbooking and kotatsu-sitting, but he knew better than to think Spock the passive aggressive type.

"Sure, uh, help yourself, sir. Just...let me know if you need anything..." Hikaru replied, watching the Commander in the hope that this would be over soon. He had no idea what Spock thought of all this, and his own self-censure was becoming unbearable.

Fascinating...? Hikaru breathed a small sigh of relief at the word, one he knew the Vulcan wouldn't use in vain. As Spock cast his gaze over the materials on the table, Hikaru responded: "Uh, yes, sir, thank you, sir. It's just something I do from time to time...I like cutting paper and...you know...gluing it down... I guess it's an art, in a way. And it's relaxing. A relaxing way to organize my memories." I'm rambling now. I'd better stop."Would you like to sit down, sir?" He didn't expect to get an affirmative reply from the never-off-duty Spock, but he thought it would be rude ( ... )

Thread 13