Roommates

Posted on 25 Jul 2014 @ 10:08pm by Petty Officer 3rd Class Vermeer Talbot
Edited on on 25 Jul 2014 @ 10:54pm

1,667 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Episode 06 - Legend of Souls
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 5, private quarters
Timeline: MD7 1900 hours

[ON]

Finally returning to her room, T'Vanna noticed that there were belongings there that really did not belong to her. She stared at them for a while, shaking her head. She'd been under the impression that, due to being verymuch due soon, she'd be having quarters to herself, and her baby. Apparently, the quartermaster had decided otherwise.

The woman shrugged to herself, she didn't really mind so long as whoever was her new roommate, would respect her privacy. Especially, when she had a baby to feed and she had no intention of hiding herself away to even do so to begin with. "Hello?" she called out, peering around the room, taking it all in. "Anyone here?"

"Yeah?" Vermeer Talbot opened the door of the room that was going to be his bedroom, poking his head out. He was shirtless, just in jeans, which was why he was half hiding behind the door.

Arching a slanted eyebrow as she appreciated the view, T'Vanna smiled at him. "So you're my roommate huh?" she queried, approaching the semi closed door and the man behind it, while holding out her hand. "T'Vanna Murray. I just got here earlier today."

He sighed and opened the door, offering his hand to her. "Nice to meet you. Vermeer Talbot. Most call me Ver."

"Like the ancient painter?" T'Vanna asked, taking his hand and shaking it firmly. "I'm in intelligence by the way, what's your perch?"

"Engineering. And yes, just like that one," he said as he smiled to her. "Shouldn't you be...sitting down? I can make tea? A cup of tea, I mean..." he motioned to her belly. "Or am I being really condescending? I don't mean to be..."

"I'd love a cup of tea, thank you." She cast him the brightest smile she could muster, her blue eyes sparkling. "Not condescending at all, a true gentleman is hard to find. Mind you, I don't expect you to be doing things for me now. I can manage just fine so far, but I do appreciate it. So thank you in advance, in case I get to a point where I respond not so nice."

"Hey, don't worry about it," he said and smiled, pulling back into his room. It was...messy, with little electronic things all over the place. And 3D photos of ancient rock bands. He pulled on a tee shirt before moving to the main area. "You settle down, T'Vanna. Any special tea you want?"

"Nah, why don't you surprise me? I don't have any allergies that I'm aware of and I'm in good health despite the bun in the oven. What has your preference?" Her smile brightened even further as she waddled back to the couch and settled herself. "Oh...I do like being on first name basis, especially off duty. Rank stops at the door, agreed?"

"I don't care much for rank on duty either," he confessed with a cheeky smile, getting some peppermint tea for them both. "But I try to be good and stuff like that." He carried the mugs over and sat down, chuckling. "Just a bit of sugar in there to sweeten it."

"Thank you. So...you're a grease monkey huh?" She sipped the tea carefully. "And you're okay with putting up with a wailing baby? They did tell you you'd be rooming with a pregnant woman right?"

"No...no, they didn't," he said and laughed softly, shaking his head. "I...suppose I am convenient babysitter if anything then? Or is this temporary until you've given birth?" he met her eyes and the smile was genuine. He could always remove himself for a day or two if he needed to. Curl up and sleep in a shuttle.

"i don't think this is temporary, sorry. Convenient babysitter, well only if you want to. I have no expectations other than that it really would be helpful." She smirked back at him. "Could always wear earplugs though..."

"I sleep like the dead," he admitted and sipped his tea, his eyes warm. "I think I will be okay. I hope so anyway! And you can tell me to bugger off too if you want to."

"This is your home as much as it's mine. We'll make do and I'm sure we can find some suitable arrangements should the need arise, right?" She sat up a little. "Have you eaten yet? Otherwise I'll see about dinner tonight, can't have you do everything for me."

"I've actually eaten," he said as he smiled weakly. "Sorry...I'm really bad for eating constantly. I can keep you company though, we have to get used to each other a bit."

"That much is true and I'll admit that I haven't been in close proximity of a male since well...getting pregnant. Not solitary company I mean...but you do make cute company. If I can say so, you have a most charming smile."

He chuckled, watching her with warmth. "That's way too nice to be towards a Scotsman. Thank you. But I will be the perfect gentleman. I promise I won't ogle or grope or do anything where I will be accused of sexual harassment! Promise!"

"Nothing wrong with looking,' T'Vanna replied, "I look at you, don't I. No harm in that, but I won't touch you inappropriately either unless invited to do so. Agreed?"

"Very much so, since...well...I am not looking to date anyone anytime soon," he said with an apologetic smile. "Plus side, I won't drag strange women home!"

"I'm not looking to date either," she echoed, "so no offense taken even if you didn't intend any. Aside from the fact that if you do have dates you should feel free to bring them. This is 'our' home, not mine alone."

He chuckled, his eyes gentle. "Maybe, but it's a bit of a different dynamic especially when the little one arrives. I am not bringing anyone not previously approved back once you have the baby. That would just be bad form. Besides! I can go to theirs instead," he said and grinned, his eyes warm.

"Oh true. But you don't need my approval, so long as I have some privacy at times you know..during feeding times." She bared perfect white teeth at him in a wide smile, tucking her hair back behind her ears again. "Ugh I wish that would stay where I put it already...I don't have the patience to groom it hours on end so that it'll stay put for a day."

"Hey, be grateful for hair," he said and smiled gently. "I got to spend some time without any after being turned into a Borg. Now that was not fun."

"Borg huh...that must've been different. I just wish it would stay in place. I can't stand anything chemical to help with it just now." She paused. "When were you Borg. What was it like?"

"I...don't remember much. Just flashes," he said as he met her eyes, with a weak smile. "I sort of just...woke up and was myself. More or less. It was weird."

"That's probably for the best too." She cast him an encouraging yet sympathetic smile. "And you have beautiful hair again, if not a wee grey at the temples."

He touched his temples quickly, as if to check. "I'm blond! I'm...thankfully not ginger..."

"It might suit you all the same." She shrugged. "SO....you think you can solve your little mistery now?" she asked, carefully depositing the purring tribble on the floor so they could eat properly again without the rist of their food getting contaminated with fur.

"I am sure I will be fine," he said as he nodded, watching her. "And I am sure it wil all work out well. Got a good feeling."

"Good, hate for you to have a bad feeling here." Her smile turned into a smirk. "Are you going to eat that?" She gestured at his plate, while hers was all empty now.

He smiled and offered it to her. "Here, help yourself. I did say I ate earlier..."

"Thanks. I'm eating for two, and even biscuits go down well enough. So, what do you do for fun when you're not working?"

"I tinker with stuff," he admitted, sipping his peppermint tea as he watched her eat. "Little inventions, stuff like that."

"Such as? I dig around in dirt....or paddle around in the pool. Sadly, I'm barred from playing velocity at the moment."

"Anything that my imagination likes. Mostly...old fashioned watches. I also tend to be...partial towards music," he said with a small shrug, his eyes warm. "I play the guitar. I like steampunk."

"I have no idea what that is, I'm not very musical I'm afraid but maybe someday, I'd like to learn."

"Do you enjoy listening to music? I think that's sometimes far more relaxing than playing it," Ver admitted with an easy smile, shaking his head.

"Certainly easier than playing but playing is half the fun isn't it? Though I might enjoy listening to you play." Her smile turned a little flirtatious, without intending to be like that.

Ver chuckled softly as he held her eyes, searching them. "Well, my tastes might be different than yours. Time will tell..."

"Who knows. And if so, I better learn to appreciate yours, and you mine otherwise we may end up having a problem. And I'd rather like to avoid that, don't you?"

"I am trying to avoid trouble in general," Ver confessed with a smile, finishing his tea. "Well...I should get myself settled in properly."

"Same here." She set down her tea. "How about breakfast tomorrow morning? We could share it here, just use the replicator."

"Sounds good to me," he said as he stood, nodding gently. "I'll wake you unless you wake me, right?"

"That's a deal." She smirked up at him. "See you later."

OFF:

Ensign T'Vanna Murray
Asst Chief Intelligence Officer

&

Petty Officer 3rd Class Vermeer Talbot
Engineering
USS Galileo
[PNPC Aria Rice]

RSS Feed