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Post by Pili al-Faisal on Dec 31, 2011 18:56:35 GMT -5
He sat down with her, watching as she poured some tea, gracing him with one of her beautiful smiles. He smiled back, already enjoying her company and hoped that this would be the start of many more breakfasts together. ================== Pili took a sip of tea before helping herself to the hummus and Eish Masri. She then looked directly at her fellow crewmate. She knew that her nervousness was starting to show outwardly, because her pronunciation of Standard was becoming more and more heavily accented with each passing word. "Thank you for the breakfast ... it is most appreciated," she said. She hadn't eaten traditional Levantine fare, at least not this much, since she'd joined the crew of the New York. "However," she continued, "why did you ask me to join you this morning?"The question was both innocently child-like and simultaneously loaded with innuendo. Pili asked the question in total innocence; someone else may have asked with the latter option in mind. |
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Post by Lt David Suder on Dec 31, 2011 21:37:03 GMT -5
He reached for some pita bread and some soup, then felt her eyes on him as he dipped some bread in the soup. her mind working in concert with the warp drive, it seemed. He felt she has many questions that she wants to ask.
Her nervousness escalated, as did her native accent. He had a little trouble following what she is saying but he found that he liked her earthen accent, finding it to be one of her more attractive qualities.
He smiled at her again as she thanked and appreciated the breakfast that he set out, but he waited to respond, sensing that there is an addition to her comment coming..
..arriving when she asked why had he asked her to join him this morning. He sensed no ill will or hidden question behind the innocent sounding question. She is curious and hopefully he will satisfy her as well as quench his own "I wanted to." he answered truthfully "I would like to get to know you more then just on an intellectual level. Just like I am curious as to what helped you to decide to join Star Fleet?" He then ate his dipped piece of bread, listening for her answer
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Post by Pili al-Faisal on Dec 31, 2011 22:11:02 GMT -5
"I would like to get to know you more then just on an intellectual level. Just like I am curious as to what helped you to decide to join Star Fleet?" He then ate his dipped piece of bread, listening for her answer. ========================= More than on an intellectual level?! What does that mean, exactly!? she thought to herself. Does that mean he wants to be friends with me? Does it mean something else?She stilled her thoughts by taking another sip of tea, and concentrated on his question, rather than his prior declaration. "The short answer is that while working on Phase Four of the Metaphasic Shield Program under Dr. T’Pan, on Vulcan, I learned very quickly that researchers aren't at the forefront of what actually happens out here." She gestured with her free hand, and continued. "I could have requested permission to be an official observer on a starship mission, but you probably already know that is a lengthy process full of red tape. I didn't want to waste half my life researching someone else's secondhand accounts of events. I'm a scientist ... not an archaeologist." Pili then looked directly at him. "... and what of you? Why did you join Starfleet?" She hesitated a moment before asking her next question. "... and why did you decide to become a tactical officer?" The fact that Lieutenant Suder was a Betazoid tactical officer hadn't escaped her notice.
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Post by Lt David Suder on Jan 2, 2012 13:26:54 GMT -5
She wondered what he meant by "knowing her more then on an intellectual level. That part came through as clear as if she had verbalized the question, wondering if he wanted to be friends or more then friends. He dipped his bread into the soup again to avoid her gaze, assuming that she would know that he could read her mind, bearing in mind, it is not intentional
Her mind seem to clear as she went to answer his inquiry. When she mentioned the Metaphasic Shield Program, he looked back up into her eyes, interest filling his own twin orbs. He always had an interest in Metaphasic shielding, thinking it would revolutionize both shield technology and scientific knowledge. He offered her a nod, agreeing to both comments, that researchers aren't usually in the field to test their inventions in person and that being assigned to a starship as an observer took too much beaurocratic red tape and basically took too much time, adding a knowing smile when she commented that she didn't want to waste half her life, researching someone else's comments, observations and data. He couldn't blame her for that. That sounded awfully boring when you could be doing the research yourself.
Her attention shifted back to him, she asking him why he joined star fleet. A pause is given before she added why did he became a Tactical officer, of all things. He sort of expected that, since a lot of other people wondered the same thing. He assumed that not many Betazoids would choose Tactical as their choice of posts. He chuckled a bit in humor, answering her query. "It is my way to protect the peace. My father was a resistance member when the Dominion came and occupied Betazed. He is, or was, responsible for many casualties before he was captured by Dominion forces. The last time I saw him, I vowed I would assist those that protected the peace from war and tragedy that occurred on Betazed. I know it is unusual for one such as I to be a Tactical Officer but I feel it is the best way, for me, to protect peace and harmony in the galaxy." He paused to let her absorb that and for him to gauge her reaction, if she has any
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Post by Pili al-Faisal on Jan 2, 2012 15:35:41 GMT -5
Pili noticed the way his eyes lit up when she mentioned her participation in the Metaphasic Shield program; she should have known that as a tactical officer, he would naturally take an interest in such matters. Perhaps we can compare notes at some point, she thought to herself.
She poured herself another cup of tea and addressed him. "It would seem that we have even more in common then than either of us initially thought." She paused, somewhat hesitant to reveal personal information ... but then again, it was a matter of public record anyway, so doing so was of little consequence. "My own father was killed in a terrorist attack two years ago. Whoever was behind it has not claimed responsibility for the attack; therefore, the terrorist cell is still at large," she stated dispassionately. Of course she missed her father ... but pining away for him would accomplish nothing. What was done had been done, and despite their recent foray into time travel, nothing would bring him back.
She helped herself to a bowl of soup as she continued. "I had thought little of the actual ramifications of outright war until this point," she admitted. "I understand the concept, but it always seemed to be some far-off thing ... something you would read about on the news-vid, but not something at your doorstep." Pausing, she explained. "There is a difference between random terrorist acts and outright and constant war."
She looked up at him and took another sip of her tea. It seemed as if they had many things in common; almost as if it were opposite sides of the same coin, so to speak. The similarities between them intrigued her, but she was at a loss as to how to verbalize those thoughts in an appropriate manner.
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Post by Lt David Suder on Jan 3, 2012 13:14:51 GMT -5
His peaked interest with her involvement in the Metaphasic Shielding Project hadn't escaped her interest. Naturally, he would be interested in new shield modifications. Perhaps she could let me in on some of the modifications or perhaps give me some new ideas for shield modifications and re-calibrations, he thought, not knowing her thoughts ran along a similar course
As she poured her another cup of tea, he broke up the rest of the pita bread into his soup. He glanced back up to her as she commented that they could have more in common than they originally thought. He smiled at that. Having things in common between a man and a woman is always good if they desire to be friends... or more
He noted the pause, as if she were hesitant to reveal the next bit of info. His smile faded and a frown replaced it as she revealed that her own father had died at terrorists' hands, the cell responsible had not come forward to claim responsibility of the act. He felt a condolence and a word of sympathy forming in his mind but he stopped it from escaping his mouth. Having a similar event happen to him, he presumed she was tired of hearing any condolences and sympathy and well wishers, but if she needed an ear or a shoulder, he would offer his with no question or asking anything in return. Who knows, maybe they could have a good cry together, he mused with mild amusement.
His attention refocused on her as she continued, mentioning that she thought little of war and how it could effect people and those you love, never thinking it could happen to her. He nodded at that, knowing how she felt. He never thought it would happen to him either, until the Dominion and the Jem'Hadar invaded Betazed. "Yes, there is a difference but I believe it would be the opinion of who you ask whether a person, persons or a group could be considered terrorists or freedom fighters. I too never thought of war until Betazed was invaded and my father went to fight. My mother also wanted to go but then if she did, there would be no one to care for me."
Unconsciously, he took a bite of breaded soup, looking into her eyes as she took another sip of tea. He wondered briefly what she is thinking but then the feelings he got from her seemed to be warming up to him. She seemed less nervous and embarrassed around him, becoming more comfortable and familiar with him
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Post by Pili al-Faisal on Jan 3, 2012 18:33:09 GMT -5
Pili was already done talking about terrorism or war; she was never one to mince words, and her prior lack of socialization was especially evident during times like these. "Do you need a system of measure?" she shot back.
She didn't regret the words, but she was also cognizant enough of herself to realize that she wouldn't have been so bluntly candid had it not been for the fact that she was in fact starting to warm up to this man.
The mere idea itself was both heady and frightening.
She checked her chronometer, and realizing that it was nearly 0800, spoke again. "We are both required to be on duty shortly ... I for one do not intend on being late," she said. She smiled ever-so-slightly as she produced a hair clip from her pocket. She expertly pinned her hair back into the regulation style without the assistance of a mirror, just as she'd done thousands of times before.
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