A Welcome Interruption

Posted on 22 Mar 2015 @ 7:10pm by Petty Officer 1st Class Pieter Van Zyl Ph.D. & Lieutenant Prudence Devin Ph.D.

2,224 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Episode 08 - NIMBUS
Location: USS Galileo, Deck 7, Callisto bar
Timeline: MD -02, 2200hrs

[ON]

Pieter didn't frequent the Lounge, unless he was being dragged there by Tyrion, which seemed to happen quite a lot lately. Apparently, his amorous nature being given a steady supply of contact with Kot had made Pieter's roommate a lot more agreeable and outgoing. It was something Pieter still couldn't get used to and wasn't sure he liked. He was a man who treasured his time, and preferred to spend it alone rather than just with anyone. Long winded conversations and big groups sapped his energy and were a struggle for Pieter to maintain and deal with on the best of days. It was simply difficult to find someone you constantly enjoyed speaking to.

But, with Tyrion preparing for his shift, Pieter felt like doing something besides lazing around his quarters. He didn't have any scheduled talks with his family for the night, and there was nothing else to do besides feed Harry and be on his way to something else. That something else, he decided, was a quiet drink at the Lounge.

Sitting at a table, alone, Prudence was savouring what she would call a 'stiff drink'. Before her she had PADDs...various medical developments since she had trained within medicine all those years ago. She was catching up, getting her head around the practicing side of it again. She had tried to do this in her quarters, but the recent influx of people who needed serious counselling...Oren, Ellsworth, Drusilla...it had made her quarters too full of her own thoughts with nothing to distract. So she was here to have her ears filled with chatter. It was...good. And it was why she was here, in a civilian outfit of a skirt, blouse and heels. Because that too felt good, to make a distinct separation between on duty and off.

Pieter himself was dressed in civilian clothes as well, a rare sight as he'd always been most comfortable in his uniform. At this point, after so many years in Starfleet, it felt almost like a second skin. Now, dressed in simple black slacks and a deep red button down, Pieter walked over to the bar, ordering himself a glass of red wine. Waiting for it, Pieter took a moment to look around and immediately spotted Prudence, her nose stuck in a paDD. Smirking a bit, he nodded his thanks to the bartender before making his way to her table, coming to a stop a few feet away.

"If even I think you're working too hard, you may be in trouble," he told her, picking up his glass from the nearby table he'd placed it on to speak.

She looked at him and smiled warmly, motioning for him to join her. "I am helping out in sickbay during these war games," she said, her eyes on his face. "And my medical training was a long time ago. I needed a refresher. It's good to see you here, Pieter, how have you been?"

"Not bad," he replying, sitting down on the chair besides he, his back to the wall. "Happy the shoreleave is over," Pieter admitted, looking down at the paDD then back at her face. He thought it was admirable of her to wish to help out in Sickbay during NIMBUS. Pieter himself wasn't sure what he would be doing yet. The idea of just staying in Science seemed like the more boring option when he could just as well request to help out in Engineering.

"Are you settling in well? I can't imagine your workload," he commented.

"I am settling in very well," she said softly, sipping her drink as she held his eyes. With Pieter's situation, she wanted him to see her speak. Besides, there were far worse faces to watch as one talked. Pieter was a handsome man, but she doubted he was aware of it. "My workload is...more than I anticipated, but that is hardly a bad thing. It is an extraordinary crew."

"They are a good crew," Pieter agreed. "But I think they need more discipline. This is a military vessel, not a Risian cruise ship." Finishing the sentence, he took up his glass and had another drink.

She smiled gently, watching him with warmth. "I think we are...an organisation which needs a rank structure. I believe the chain of command and the rules and regulations are here to help us. I do not think we are military...but we are still bound by those rules. And I think some members of the crew forget that," she said...half agreeing, but also softening it with her personal opinion and how she viewed it. "It is different than a civilian vessel."

"I've never been on a civilian vessel," Pieter replied with a shake of his head. In his mind, civilians had no business being on a Starfleet vessel. There were a liability and they didn't sign up to be soldiers, so if the ship ever ran into trouble or conflict, they were easy targets. "I think the lines get blurry here because it is such a small crew," Pieter hypothesized.

"Maybe," she said with a soft chuckle, leaning closer. "But it is the fact it is a small crew that makes the bonds so strong. You know you are right in your beliefs, for you. And you act according to it. I know you get frustrated by others who do not...but you can't change them. Just remain true to yourself, Pieter."

"I do," Pieter said with a confident look on his face. "My roommate's in love." He rolled his eyes, but his expression was fond. Despite how silly he thought it was from afar, Pieter was happy for Tyrion, even if he knew that his relationship with Kot wouldn't last. Not that he would ever tell him that. It was one of the reasons he was glad Tyrion didn't much like using his Betazoid telepathy. "He's also not the only one on board, so maybe the bonds are getting a little too strong."

"Love...isn't always a good thing," Prudence said softly, glancing into her drink. "It makes people do stupid things." She remembered herself, young, in love. How oblivious she had been to life. And as she got older, she had seen things differently. She was a selfish person, uncompromising. It was how it was for her.

"It really does," Pieter nodded in agreement. Love came with some difficulty for Pieter, probably because he wasn't a very open person, emotionally. But the few times he had been in love were bittersweet and he remembered them well despite the problems. "What's the most stupid thing you've done for love?" he asked suddenly, curious. Somehow he couldn't imagine Prudence as a lovesick girl, pining over some boy. Or girl, he corrected. After all, he didn't know anything about her personal life beyond a few facts one could read in a personnel file.

She smiled gently as she met his eyes, watching him for a long moment. "I got a divorce," she said softly, shaking her head. "Out of love, because I couldn't give him what I thought he needed. Now, I know better. I couldn't give him what he needed because he doesn't know what he needs. What about you, Pieter?"

"I sent a half naked picture of myself to my crush and she sent it to all of her friends," Pieter answered, not in the least embarrassed by the vast difference in maturity between their choices. "I was thirteen."

"Ouch..." she shook her head, grimacing at the cruelty of girls.. "That wasn't nice. I was a horrible teenager...no love, just crushes that I...slept with."

Pieter smirked, taking a drink of his wine. "Well, we were all teenagers once." Of course, Pieter's own puberty hadn't quite gone the way Prudence's had. His mother had died when he was fourteen and the years after he spent preparing to leave for the Academy. He'd gotten his first VOICE back then and that had definitely taken some getting used to.

"Sometimes I think some people on this ship still are," Pieter commented, Ellsworth and Oren going through his mind. It was a struggle for him to accept the fact that the two of them still very much were teenagers.

Prudence reached out, touching his arm for a moment as she smiled. "Eventually, they will grow up. We should make sure they will be...safe, until they get there," she said gently to him before pulling back. "My plant is...doing beautifully, by the way."

"Is it flowering yet?" Pieter asked, leaning forward a bit, genuinely interested. "If it isn't, I could get you a supplement we can put into the soil," he suggested, already thinking a few steps ahead.

"It's opening," she said softly, smiling as she shook her head, clearly happy to talk about it. She did appreciate it. "Slowly, though. I think that is nicer somehow, it taking its time. We're all taking very good care of it...me and the other counsellors."

"What about the others?" Pieter asked, remembering he'd given her four plants.

"In my quarters, all flowering," Prudence said as she held his eyes. She took a moment before adding, "They're all beautiful. I find them so calming. Pampering, almost."

Pieter smiled widely, "Good," he said with a nod. "I'm happy to hear that. Might make a botanist out of you yet."

"I wish I could be good at it," Prudence admitted with a small smile, holding his eyes for a long moment. "Plants are easier than people at times. I enjoy taking care of them."

"You're not a real Botanist until you start talking to them," Pieter replied, not breaking eye contact. It was nice, talking to someone who didn't think plantlife was stupid, or took it for granted like so many people did.

"And do you tell them your problems? Or just happy things?" Prudence asked with interest. "Someone did a study once...one group of flowers got told nice things...the other was shouted at. And it was to see if it made a difference."

"Plants do respond to vibrations, but I think the entire exchange is more for the Botanists benefit than theirs," Pieter revealed, smiling. "I don't talk to them because I can't but most other botanists do. I simply like how therapeutic tending to them is. It's soothing to see that life can exist calmly, without action or noise"

She looked down, nodding gently at the words. "Gardening helps a lot. When I was working as a civilian, we encouraged the patients to work in the communal garden. A project helped."

"Perhaps you could organise something like that here, too," Pieter suggested. It felt like a decent idea. Prudence's patients would have something to do, and the workload of all involved in the Arboretum could be lessened.

"I might recommend it once this training is done," Prudence said and smiled warmly, nodding. "We could always grow some more vegetables. They are always handy. I do miss fresh carrots."

"We could set aside a small plot of land in the Arboretum for it," Pieter suggested, then frowned, remembering the new addition to the crew. "I would need to consult with my new colleague. There's a new botanist on board," he explained.

She nodded, holding his eyes for a moment. "I am sure you can share the work evenly..." she said softly, but she felt for him. It wasn't easy to let go of full control over projects.

"I don't want to share work. I have my projects, he has his. I have a system," Pieter said, a slightly petulant look about him, making him appear years younger than he was.

She smiled gently, holding his eyes for a moment. "Maybe share one project then, out of many?" she said, winking as she touched his arm.

Pieter smile back. "He's very young," he said, the meaning of his words hidden.

"Ah...well, experience will prevail," she said firmly, holding his eyes. "You know you're skilled and knowledgeable. He will learn from you. And if we're lucky, he will be very...mature for his age."

"From your lips to God's ears," Pieter said, shaking his head. He paused for a moment, finishing his drink. "Well, I will not intrude on you any longer." He glanced at the paDD she'd been so focused on earlier.

"It's okay, I rather enjoy interruptions," Prudence said playfully, smiling gently to him. "Especially since all I have done since we got our assignments seem to be reading up on medical protocol. I am glad things have not changed too much over the years."

"You're a capable woman, I'm sure it's nothing you will not be able to adapt to," Pieter assured her with a wide smile. "Don't work too hard," he added with a small wink before standing up to leave.

"I won't...and take care of yourself, Pieter," she said, smiling back and touching his arm, to make him see she meant it.

Smiling, Pieter nodded back in acknowledgement of the intended sentiment and finally stood up. Giving Prudence another small nod, he raised his hand up in goodbye before turning and making his way slowly out of the Lounge.

[OFF]

Lt. Prudence Devin
Chief Counsellor
USS Galileo

&

PO1 Pieter Van Zyl
Botanist
USS Galileo
[PNPC by Idris]

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