Ic Arbrell
Science
[TI33] [TI33]
Posts: 161 Likes: 21
Rank: Ensign
Position: Quantum Physicist
Species: Betazoid
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Post by Ic Arbrell on Jun 18, 2021 15:33:39 GMT
[some hallway, Front Ear] When the turbolift door opened and the two people ahead of him filtered into the hall, Ic followed. There was purpose in their feet and their hands and their minds, duty to return to on the way back from the holosuites. They led him with the routine at the end of their route, diagnostic this, analysis that. Amid the color of his own mind, however, their details remained fuzzy and dull. He was far too busy in the soft details of a bright teal fantasy to notice he’d lost track of himself, and had stepped off onto the wrong deck. He didn’t even know who these people were, nor had he noticed the yellow of their uniforms. To Ic, right now, everything looked a certain shade of blue. Out the window, even the security nodes wore this impossible haze. The engineers walked faster than he did, leaving the ensign quickly behind with only his sighs and dreamy smile for company. Somewhere else on the station, someone was selecting flowers for her girlfriend, someone else landed a successful flirtation, and another couple finally scheduled a date. He knew it was foolish to wish this way, in one’s own department, hell, in Starfleet at all, but what were his options? It wasn’t like he could just Vulcan his feelings awa— SMACK!The impact with another body brought him around. Biting his tongue, doubly so. Too shocked to begin his profuse apologies just yet (he’d have to go through a brief stage of paralytic embarrassment first anyway), he stared back at his unfortunate victim, subconsciously bracing for second impact. It hit the moment he saw her ears. Oh, no. Not again.
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Enola
Intelligence
[TI39]
Posts: 341 Likes: 4
Rank: Ensign
Species: Romulan-Vulcan
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Post by Enola on Jun 18, 2021 18:04:59 GMT
[Enola - walking through some hallways, Front Ear] Unlike usual, Enola traversed the space station not with her eyes on the way, but with her eyes on her PADD. After she had finished her duty, a few errands of personal nature followed and now she just wanted to go to her quarters to meditate and clear her mind. With a few commands, she checked if new messages had arrived and shortly after closed her mailbox to finish her work with the PADD.
She was about to put the PADD away when she bumped into what felt like another person (what else could it be?). She stopped automatically. What the hell was that? With a wave of her hand, she tried to stop the person who had accidentally run into her from bouncing agains anything else "Sorry, Are you all right?"
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Ic Arbrell
Science
[TI33] [TI33]
Posts: 161 Likes: 21
Rank: Ensign
Position: Quantum Physicist
Species: Betazoid
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Post by Ic Arbrell on Jun 21, 2021 0:30:36 GMT
[hallway, Front Ear] Though his feet kept him mostly steady, his stance faltered in delayed assessment, unsure of himself, in the path of her moving hand as if she guided him magnetically. Having no sense of her but the gentle intention of keeping him upright, he relied entirely on instinct. It made a sudden bubble around them as he cleaved to the dullness of her with a vague smile. The rest of the station’s noise in his bones seemed to slow and blur, but only just. This was just about the nicest any Vulcan had ever been to him, and he liked her already. Ic gasped softly when she spoke to him, though, not having anticipated an apology. Not in a million years. “No, it’s my fault,” he corrected her quickly, “I should be paying attention. I’m sorry, I was—” Ic gestured with wriggling fingertips like a flight of feathers around his right temple, indicating (admitting) the distance of his mind. It was probably a stupid thing to do, but Ic wasn’t exactly known for having any wisdom to speak of off-duty. His eyes wandered to her uniform, the color, her pips. He smiled a bit more broadly now, crossing his arms over his chest to hold it in. If she was this nice, maybe she had a brother, seeing as how his current prospects were tenuous at one extreme, and void at the other. In fact— “Serendipity: I’ve been thinking about switching divisions. Are there any openings in Intelligence? I mean, I’m a physicist, but I can learn anything.”If he was going to be a screw-up, he might as well use it for good, right?
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Enola
Intelligence
[TI39]
Posts: 341 Likes: 4
Rank: Ensign
Species: Romulan-Vulcan
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Post by Enola on Jun 21, 2021 13:28:41 GMT
[Ensign Enola - hallway, Front Ear] Enola waited a moment until the Betazoid could stand on his own feet again without swaying, and then let him go. Several people had run into her before, though none had been this confused. "Absent?" she asked, tried to help him find the words as he gestured wildly. In her world, it didn't matter who accidentally bumped into whom. At his statement that he was thinking about changing departments, she raised her eyebrow to her hairline. There were a handful of possibilities as to what he meant: he really wanted to change departments (unlikely), he wanted to be funny (more likely, though jokes of any kind never worked on Vulcans), or he wanted to engage her in conversation (most likely). The corners of her mouth indicated a slight upward movement when she looked very closely. But again, meditation was the anchor. It wasn't really worth mentioning that Enola had no sense of humor. "Physicist? What specialty?" she asked instead, having no idea how to respond to his statement and the question that came with it.
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Ic Arbrell
Science
[TI33] [TI33]
Posts: 161 Likes: 21
Rank: Ensign
Position: Quantum Physicist
Species: Betazoid
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Post by Ic Arbrell on Jun 26, 2021 15:48:54 GMT
[hallway, Front Ear] “Yep. That.” 'Absent.' But very present somewhere else, someone had once said— though if it was in their head or out loud, he couldn’t really recall. Either way, it was all best left at that. Except— He wanted to tell her everything, but he absolutely should not. He wanted to tell her about his horrible crush on a commanding officer that made working in science and having a relationship completely impossible, but the upfront strategy of trying to relate had gotten him in trouble before. Time and time again. Ic had promised himself he would stop unloading all at once every little piece of information related to his interest now that he’d graduated to this new chapter of his life. It was a fresh start. No one knew him for the intrusively outgoing yet absurdly skittish cadet he had just been for the last six years. No one knew him at all. It was a double-edged sword he didn’t aim to be wounded by again. Already, Ic could feel the sharpened blade against his guts. Her logical perspective would comfort him and set him on a right path soon enough. He hoped, anyway. Shifting on his feet, struggling in his mind, he just answered her question. “Oh, you know, some quantum, a little bit particle,” he said, nodding as if he was obliged to agree with himself. In a way, he did, because no one else understood his humor, and validation was stronger than nuclear fusion when it came to powering Ic Arbrell. He’d studied astrophysics, too, but they hadn’t hired him for that, and he would probably have already asked for a transfer if they did. “So, um, what area of Intelligence are you in? Is there a whole lot of use for spies out here? Wait, you’re not a spy, are you?”Oh no. The leading questions again— this was a bad idea. ( Not everything that pops into your head is as brilliant as your work, Ic.) Unless she wasn’t a spy, of course, but— ?! He held his breath. He made kind of an awful person, but he would be a great spy. Of course, that would also ruin his chances with— “My name’s Ic, by the way.”
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Enola
Intelligence
[TI39]
Posts: 341 Likes: 4
Rank: Ensign
Species: Romulan-Vulcan
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Post by Enola on Jun 27, 2021 15:11:19 GMT
[Ensign Enola - hallway, Front Ear]
Enola watched as the Betazoid still swayed slowly on his feet. Was there really anything wrong with him? But she saw no reason to hold him again. At least not until he fell down again. "I see," she answered in a neutral tone of voice, without judging his activity. She didn't sound bored or interested. It was a normal job like hers. She briefly considered which question to answer first. "no, I'm not a spy," she answered factually, then turned to the next question. "The exact number of departments is secret," she muttered. Why do you think the intelligence was called intelligence? "But I work in the department for public affairs and information". "My name is Enola. Nice to meet you," she replied, and despite the slight strain in her features, she meant it. But she wasn't really in the mood for small talk in the hallway right now, besides the fact that Vulcans didn't have small talk in their blood. So it would be up to Ic to continue the conversation
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Ic Arbrell
Science
[TI33] [TI33]
Posts: 161 Likes: 21
Rank: Ensign
Position: Quantum Physicist
Species: Betazoid
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Post by Ic Arbrell on Jun 30, 2021 0:03:06 GMT
[hallway, Front Ear] A modest smile tugged at his mouth a little at a time, word after word, until breaking on her last. He made a third tally on his mental scoreboard of Friends Made On Front Ear, and filled his chest with victorious breath. “It’s nice to meet you, too, Enola. You’re really nice,” he said somewhat plainly, almost shy to openly admit. He didn’t have a very good bead on how she might take compliments yet. Yet, he thought with brave naivete, as if already planning to make a habit of her. Yet always sounded like promises or threats or dares, even if they were all empty already, by the very nature of the undefined future. Anyway, he liked the way that her department sounded. Altruistic. Magnanimous, maybe. Nice. Of course it aligned with the needs of the many, as it should, but in reality, there were not so many who offered their time to everyone else. Ic wasn’t even sure he could do that, but perhaps because he already did. He decided it was best that neither of them were spies. They’d probably actually be pretty bad at it together. “Sorry to keep you,” he shrugged. “But if I have to leave Sciences for some reason, maybe we can hang out. Or not. Or we can but I’m still in Sciences. Up to you. I promise it won’t be all small talk, either..! Maybe you should write a PSA, The Hazards of Chit-Chat: Small Talk Kills. Or vice versa. I don't know. Either way.”(Walk away, Ic. Just walk away. But paying attention this time, maybe?)
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Enola
Intelligence
[TI39]
Posts: 341 Likes: 4
Rank: Ensign
Species: Romulan-Vulcan
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Post by Enola on Jun 30, 2021 4:29:09 GMT
[Ensign Enola - hallways, Front Ear]
The corners of Enola's mouth again suggested a shallow upward movement, and she noted the comment with a small nod, wondering if he was still confused, or this was his normal state. A scientific paper on the dangers of small talk? Enola was actually pretty sure that small talk had no dangers (except that it could make situations more awkward, at least for Vulcans, such as now). Besides, she would need help from science for a doctoral dissertation. Now was probably a good time for Romulans to smile. And to express a smile at the sight of which others only wanted to run. But Enola tried not to let on. It was the first lesson her father taught her: she had to be in control of her emotions on her own, and not just rely on meditation. Enola pondered for a moment what would be smarter now. Maybe the Betazoid should just lie down and sleep. Or meditate. Speaking of meditating. A brief period of deliberation settled on her features before she answered completely matter-of-factly. "Perhaps you would like to meditate with me? It might help you sort yourself." The sentence was rattled off simply and logically, making her interests clear before he thought anything wrong. Ic Arbrell
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Ic Arbrell
Science
[TI33] [TI33]
Posts: 161 Likes: 21
Rank: Ensign
Position: Quantum Physicist
Species: Betazoid
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Post by Ic Arbrell on Jun 30, 2021 16:29:22 GMT
[hallway, Front Ear] She was smiling. Okay, she wasn’t really, but it was kind of almost and he would have sworn, just sworn that maybe she even wanted to, which, for a Vulcan was probably the best reaction he’d ever gotten from anyone since Lt. Com. Sendak, the whole reason he’d fallen in love with their culture in the first place, spoke telepathically to him when he was little. Enola was smiling, and he felt a little bad to have made her do it (but the same time, not really). He also felt a little bad nudging her up to second best friend, because it wasn’t Unique’s fault it couldn’t hang out anywhere but the park, but neither of them needed to know that. But even through all this, he worked and struggled to keep his own expression as steady as possible, reminded all too strongly in the quirk of her lips that he was supposed to be practicing this, too. For her sake. And for everyone else’s around him, really. It was otherwise just so easy to forget, and to feel. And then it seemed she’d paused— maybe to find a way to excuse herself politely, after he’d given her an out— and Ic prepared himself to figure out what deck he actually landed on, checking the walls for signs or numbers. He was shocked to hear what Enola said when she finally spoke again, and he glanced back to her with wide eyes. Sort himself?(The first jab of emotions came like a blade against his throat and up through his tongue to pin it against remark. Sort yourself, Ic, as if it were possible. Organize your thoughts and your feelings and your file names, don’t just keysmash or call it ILoveYouAGraviton and hope the file size and timestamp can help you distinguish the simulation of your mother from the real-time ripening avocado—} Sort himself. The Vulcan way. And wasn’t that, that invitation, what he’d been craving all along? Was it not this exact introduction to being better what he’d always wanted? His heart fluttered like a tattered flag, and he couldn’t help himself but to smile. “That would be awesome. Are you on Deck 12, too? Well, not right now, but your quarters. I've tried once before, but everyone is so loud, you know?”
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Enola
Intelligence
[TI39]
Posts: 341 Likes: 4
Rank: Ensign
Species: Romulan-Vulcan
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Post by Enola on Jun 30, 2021 18:07:33 GMT
[Ensign Enola - hallways, Front Ear]
"I'm on Deck 14," she quickly corrected him.
At the moment she heard his confirmation, she gave further instructions. She didn't think it was necessary for them to continue small-talking, so she continued with more information. "Deck 14 quarters number 17! Put on something comfortable.". She would do the same. Enola didn't assume Ic would enter in Vulcan meditation garb, but no one would meditate in uniform. Since Vulcans usually meditated for a little over four hours, it would be extremely uncomfortable to sit there in uniform the whole time. Of course, she would not tie Ic to a chair and force him to meditate with her the entire time. She was also curious to see how the Betazoid would handle this meditation session.
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Ic Arbrell
Science
[TI33] [TI33]
Posts: 161 Likes: 21
Rank: Ensign
Position: Quantum Physicist
Species: Betazoid
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Post by Ic Arbrell on Jul 2, 2021 0:22:36 GMT
[hallway, Front Ear] “14-17,” he repeated, “Gotcha. Too bad it’s not 13-17, ‘cause if I was going to be there in 23 minutes, which I would be, by my estimation, that would b—” Ic stopped before fully nerding out about prime numbers, pressing his mouth into a flat and lipless line. She would probably uninvite him if he said another word. “Well, we’ll do 30 minutes, that’s three and nine then and we’re going to put all our feelings in a little cube at that time.”Maybe a big cube, though. “Okay see you then Enola you’re the best!”And off he went, glad as soon as he got back to the turbolift that he had given himself the extra seven minutes. Ic would need the lead time to prepare, and he was pretty sure Enola would, too. He set a timer on his communicator before asking for Deck 12.
[Deck 14, Room 17 - Enola’s Quarters, Front Ear — 0:29:57 later] In a Galaxyvision t-shirt and nondescript black stretch pants, he chimed the door. “Sorry I’m ear— wait, nevermind,” he added quietly, and turned the chirping timer off.
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Enola
Intelligence
[TI39]
Posts: 341 Likes: 4
Rank: Ensign
Species: Romulan-Vulcan
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Post by Enola on Jul 2, 2021 20:50:08 GMT
[Ensign Enola - hallways -> quarters ]
Enola refrained from raising her eyebrow again. She was really curious how the Betazoid would do under meditation. "See you later," . With that, she too turned around, and made her way to her quarters.
Arriving in her quarters, the first thing she did was to take off her uniform jacket and fold it, before gathering her clothes from the closet and disappearing into the bathroom shortly after. After about ten minutes she came out fully changed again, wearing a comfortable Vulcan garment, although actually no garment looked really comfortable on Vulcans. She still had eight minutes until the Betazoid would arrive here, if he was on time. Considering the time she had left, she brewed herself a Vulcan spice tea. Unreplicated, of course. A niche in her quarters was almost a treasure trove of unreplicated dishes and drinks, though all were Vulcan or Romulan. Enola waited about five minutes and then pulled the tea bag, which emitted a very strong aroma, from the ornately decorated teapot. She retrieved two cups from the cupboard (she wasn't sure if Ic liked spice tea, but it would at least be friendly to offer him a cup as well). Just at that moment, the doorbell rang. "Come in," she said, glancing once through the door at the Betazoid to see if he'd actually changed (of course), and then she eyed his clothes. It was...acceptable. Slowly she poured tea into the one cup and then glanced at him again. "Would you also like a cup of Vulcan spice tea before we start?"
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Ic Arbrell
Science
[TI33] [TI33]
Posts: 161 Likes: 21
Rank: Ensign
Position: Quantum Physicist
Species: Betazoid
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Post by Ic Arbrell on Jul 14, 2021 0:47:29 GMT
[Ensign Enola’s quarters, Front Ear] He promised himself in the turbolift that he would not express his enthusiasm for this opportunity. He promised himself down the hall that he would not be affectionate to his new friend. He promised himself a very long time ago that if he made friends with a Vulcan willing to teach him, he would honor them fully in that endeavor. And maybe, just maybe, if he could keep all of these promises, Ic Arbrell wouldn’t have to keep promising. Indeed, he probably wouldn’t even be Ic Arbrell anymore, and that would be okay. His entire thirty minutes had been a turbid attempt to downshift, but now that the moment arrived, he could feel his emotions wriggle beneath his skin. The door opened for him with a fragrant welcome and he did his very best not to bounce with the promise promise promise of the experience. Meditation was going to be a very good start. At least, he hoped it would be. He’d heard good things about it, but had never been able to partake; in part because he’d always been so busy, and then, because nothing was ever, ever quiet. Enola, however, was quieter than most (but not as much as most Vulcans), and he hoped, he hoped, he knew they’d be good together. It took all his power not to grin at the offer of tea, but he managed. With wide enchanted eyes and a controlled twitch of his mouth, he did pretty alright with his promises. “If you don’t mind, that actually sounds amazing,” he smiled finally, and scooted shyly toward her to examine the tea set-up. He breathed in the blissful aroma of steeped herbs, promising calm, but— “Holy wands of Rustarte, it’s real, too. That’s fantastic, I’ve only ever had it replicated, but that’s what got me through my Antiparticle Engineering final. Shoot, should I have brought a gift? I’ll just get you more tea sent over. And you can try it with jacarine. It's from Betazed. It’s like a lemon, but better?”(To his credit, he had managed to soothe his zeal to subtle intensity, but there was yet a long way to go.)
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Enola
Intelligence
[TI39]
Posts: 341 Likes: 4
Rank: Ensign
Species: Romulan-Vulcan
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Post by Enola on Jul 15, 2021 15:23:44 GMT
[Ensign Enola - personal quarters]
Enola watched as the Betazoid stepped through the door and came over to her. Hearing his confirmation, she poured the tea into the second cup and held it out to him after setting the teapot down. The tea might still be a bit too warm for Ic, but for her Vulcan taste buds it could have been a bit warmer. But that Vulcans tolerated more warmth than Betazoids was no secret. "Be careful, it's still a little warm," she warned him for safety, although it should be logical to test the temperature first. She took a sip of her tea before responding to his words. "No, a gift is not necessary," she said simply, but listened carefully to his explanation of the Betazoid dish. There had always been something enjoyable about sampling something about the food and drink of other cultures. "I don't know Jaycerine, but it sounds....interesting though," she finally answered, only just managing to keep herself from including the word 'fascinating'. "Do you wish to drink the tea slowly, or should we drink it quickly and then get started?". Well, she didn't really care (like most things) and so she left the decision to him.
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Ic Arbrell
Science
[TI33] [TI33]
Posts: 161 Likes: 21
Rank: Ensign
Position: Quantum Physicist
Species: Betazoid
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Post by Ic Arbrell on Aug 8, 2021 15:46:33 GMT
[Ensign Enola’s quarters, Front Ear] No gift, she said, but Ic already felt indebted. Enola had extended an unnecessary kindness to him despite (or because of?) his oddness with her, and it was no small favor as the Betazoid was concerned. Even if they were friends— and they were now, whether she realized it or not— Ic believed firmly in the principles of balance, of equivalent exchange, of nothing lost from a closed system. He’d been told before that he was a black hole for other people’s energy, and before he had a chance to refute the nonsequitur of this accusation of gravity, he understood their real meaning, and took it to heart where this did not escape, either. Under what circumstance was she not made less for this? It was not logical to give so much of herself for nothing. But the question of adequate reciprocity was one for later. Just as one should not go to the market hungry, he probably should wait to decide on this until after the damage had been done. He looked down into the tea, as if the steeped spices swirled with an oracle’s comfort, and touched the side of the cup to test its heat. Too hot. “If there’s any actual benefit to the tea, I think it’s best done slowly. It’s not magic, is it?” It could have been to him, but he doubted any self-respecting Vulcan would see it that way. “My uncle— he’s a chef— says that anything worth making, or doing in general I guess, is worth enjoying, and nothing is better when seasoned with haste. Or something like that.”He paused ever so briefly, in the way one does when trying to distinguish if they know the song playing faintly above the room’ chatter, and then— “What’s the goal of your meditation, Enola?”
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