Trills and Tea (Part 2)

Posted on 13 Jan 2013 @ 4:22pm by Lieutenant Kiri Cho & Lieutenant Lilou Zaren
Edited on on 13 Jan 2013 @ 4:39pm

2,908 words; about a 15 minute read

Mission: Episode 02 - Resupply
Location: USS Galileo: Deck 2, Messhall
Timeline: MD15 - 1620 hrs

[Continued]

Lilou held Kiri's gaze for a long beat, feeling for that extended moment as though they were confederates, both desperately trying to stay above water as the sea of 'what is normal' battered their tiny, sinking 'what does this mean' dingy. Empathy, Lilou thought with a small, thoughtful twist of her brows, is a bitch. "There's too wide a variety of definitions, I think."

"Yes," Kiri nodded and enjoyed the agreement. No one else seemed so share her thoughts on how hard it is, or how complex. It made her smile, to talk about these things was good, "I think mine is different from most peoples," Though she wasn't all that sure what hers was still.

"Mine, too," Lilou agreed. "But since the definition is never officially taught to my knowledge, I'm forced to assume that everyone has a different definition. Just as when saying the word 'chair' or 'pet', everyone has a different image in their head." His nostrils flickered with the thought, "Disorganized."

"Friendship isn't a fact," Kiri didn't think she was very good at talking about things like this, "A chair is a chair but feelings aren't quantifiable," But surely this was already well known, "I agree though, I would like it more organised." That everything was clear and everyone could know where they stood.

"A chair is a chair, yes. But a chair to you and a chair to me might be different things when we first think of them. Ask a room full of people to draw a 'pet', and you'll see hundreds of species, colors, shapes, and sizes. Same with flowers, horizons, etc. It's the idea of the thing, isn't it?" Lilou asked. "And all of those things are the sort a person is able to see. To take that 'idea of a thing' and try to label something that is invisible and, moreso, in a constant state of flux, is an impossible task."

"No?" Kiri didn't think they were talking about the same things. There were thousands and millions of facts about the universe, everything followed rules, mathematics and theory. At least until something new was discovered, never the less a chair was required to have legs, a seat, a back, to be stable. These were facts about chairs, there were no facts like that about friendship. There was no mathematics she knew, no laws that really stood true, it was chaos. "What do you feel is an estimate of requirements for friendship?" This was a new topic for her to talk about and there was something to learn here.

Lilou thought about Kestra, the only person who'd ever decidedly labeled themselves as a friend to her. "Loyalty, I suppose," she mused. "Integrity? A general willingness to converse without necessarily wanting or needing anything from the other." She frowned, "I'm not sure. The whole idea is rather amorphous to me. What do you think?"

"Trust, care, love, to understand you, to want to spend time with you and make you happy," Kiri sounded rather wistful before fixing her face in a mask, "At least that is what I would like." Really Kiri had only had one friend and she wasn't really sure that Sellen ever understood her. Brayden had, but he had broken her trust, proved he didn't care and made her very unhappy.

"Care, I understand. That's an action. And understanding... perhaps. Although how one complex mind can actually understand another entirely is beyond me. At least an attempt at understanding, yes. But 'love'? Isn't that as complicated a concept as 'friendship'? Terrible things have been done throughout the universe in the name of 'love'. I don't think it means what it's supposed to." She tugged her ear thoughtfully. "It would have to be an action, too, I think. To love actively. Not to poke at it the way people do with the word 'friend', placing it on whoever they like without actually doing anything about it." She sighed. "I'm unsure about the whole thing, to be honest. Maybe I've forgotten how to trust people."

Taking so much so frankly was rather comforting for Kiri, to her it showed a little bit of trust and that was nice. More than anything though it was a comfort to know that she wasn't alone in having problems in this regard. Still Kiri was idealistic when it came to love, that it was pure and great and the best of feelings. "Yes, you are right," Smiling she took a sip of her tea, "I think I find it hard to trust people as well."

"Mm," Lilou hummed, still scowling thoughtfully into her tea. "Bloody frustrating, isn't it?"

It wasn't the words Kiri would have chosen but she nodded in agreement, "Yes." Looking into her own tea with for a moment she decided to be blunt, "I would like to develop trust with you?" They had done something well together in the shuttle bay, Kiri liked talking to her even if they didn't agree all the time. Plus even if she was half Trill it seemed right that she should try and make friends with others like herself.

Lilou glanced up, curious, "How would you suggest we go about that?"

"I'm not sure," Kiri didn't know how she built trust with anyone it just sort of happened, "But we could spend some time together." That seemed to be a requirement of it working, she trusted people she spent time with more in general.

"Doing what?" Lilou asked, interested.

"I don't really know," Kiri had tried before to bring this up but didn't get much of an answer then either, "Um, well you said about simulations, or well, is there anything else you like?"

Taking another long sip of her tea, Lilou considered this. "I like to run," she offered. "Perhaps... would you like to use the holodeck? We could go to Trill." She frowned, finishing her tea and pouring another cup. Maybe that had been too much. She should have just let the other woman decide; she'd been doing a good enough job so far.

Kiri didn't really like running, or anything that would get her hot. Trill was something he had avoided, fearing that it would be yet another place she wouldn't fit in. Lilou hadn't been there either though and it wouldn't be the real place, "It would be nice to go to a holodeck of Trill."

"Perhaps, there, we will find more answers to your questions about the joining," Lilou added. "When last I went..." she trailed off, thinking again of Will. She hadn't known him that long. Why did thinking about him make her hurt this much? "When last I went, I didn't ask any questions. Just... looked. I would like to know more."

"Me too," Kiri managed a nervous smile, glad it was working. Taking another sip of her tea she added, "Have you ever eaten Trill food?" It seemed that there might be a lot to do on the holodeck in the next few weeks.

"That, I have done," Lilou asserted with a small smile. "My father keeps a rather extensive portion of the arboretum on the research station for Trill plants. You haven't?"

"No," Kiri shook her head, she gathered that it was as varied in styles as human food but she had never tried any of it. "I know I should have but, I, haven't." It didn't seem right to talk about how afraid she had been of it she'd been as a child.

"I don't know that you 'should have' necessarily, but it is good. Syto beans, especially."

"What are they like?" While she was still wary Kiri was quite interested.

"Soft, sweet but not too sweet. When they're pan fried, they get crispy on the outside, and caramelized. With just a hint of tartness, like a really crispy apple, as an after taste." Lilou sipped her tea. "My father used to make mashes of them in the mornings."

"I don't know about apple flavours but Chinese cooking has lots of beans," Kiri felt compelled to say, "That sounds nice though."

"We'll see, I guess, in the holodeck." Lilou carefully nibbled the other half of her apple slice.

Kiri took note of that and nodded as an answer, "Do you like apples?" Well it was fairly clear she didn't dislike them but did she like them as much as Kiri liked limes?

Lilou looked at the apple between her fingers, then up at Kiri. "Ah... yes?" she glanced down at her plate, "Did you want one?"

"Um," Offers like that always threw Kiri was she meant to say yes or no? Was she being polite by saying yes or selfish, did she even want an apple? Trying hard to figure it out she furrowed her brow as she answered, "I, yes, if you are sure?"

"Go ahead," Lilou nodded, pleased that she'd been able to do something right. Pouring a fresh cup of her tea, she eyed the liquid. Now what, she wondered. She'd come with a purpose, then gotten side-tracked, and now she was sitting here sharing tea-snacks and completely without anything to say.

Making sure she took the smallest apple Kiri held it in both hands, "Thank you," Sharing food was something important to her, it was a sign of respect in her culture though she wasn't in most. Smiling she watched Peers for a moment, "Do you have much more work to do?"

"Always," Lilou said, cheered by the broached topic. "Don't you?"

"Yes," Kiri nodded. There was always a massive amount of work she could be doing but she was still meant to be taking some time off. "I meant, for the ship's launch is there much more to do?" She'd been so focused on the sensors she hadn't been in the loop with all the other changes.

"We're getting to the end of it. You may have noticed there are no longer gaping holes in the sides of the ship. So that's an improvement. We should be ready for the departure right on schedule." Lilou wound her fingers around her tea cup. "Did you take any leave time?"

"Yes," Kiri had almost forgotten that Peers hadn't been at any of the events, "Most of the crew went to the beach a few days ago. I've been out to do a few things on the colony," Overall it had all been nice, nothing too bad had happened but not as much as she'd have wanted happened either. She'd hoped that the events would have helped her make friends and while it had, she didn't feel much richer for it. "Did you get a chance to leave?"

Lilou shook her head with a shrug, "I wouldn't have gone very far from the ship anyway. Shipyards tend to keep me occupied more than beaches." She sipped, "Was it... fun?"

"Yes," Kiri smiled, "It was nice to do things with other people, it was quite different from duty." She was also slightly concerned, was Peers acting like she used to? "Do you not like doing things like that?"

"Things with other people?" Lilou clarified. "I... hm. I don't dislike it. I'm just never quite sure how to go about it."

"Nor am I, I just tried and it seemed to work," Kiri had organised both a trip for a small group of friends and the beach visit for the entire ship. She'd invited Peers to the former but hadn't gotten a reply, "Would you like to come with me next time?"

"Perhaps," Lilou agreed. "If I can leave Engineering for any length of time." She wrinkled her nose. "I'm glad you were successful in your attempt to cultivate a group of people for thing-doing."

Kiri almost giggled, thing-doing, "Thank you," There had been some changes to the ship since she last checked but, "Do you not have an assistant yet?" Kiri did everything she could to make Maenad's work easier.

"I've only had this job two weeks and the only person I would like as my assistant won't agree to be my assistant because he likes being a wastrel, so no. No assistant." Lilou grumbled in the back of her throat. "I do have an apprentice officer. Which is not at all the same thing."

"I see," Maybe the Science Department was just lucky, still it was a shame that Lilou couldn't leave the ship, "I'm not very good with most Engineering things, other than computers. If you wanted any help though with anything like administration I could find some time."

Lilou lifted her brows, "Where would you find that time? You work as much as I do."

"I could rearrange some things, or ask one of the other members of the department to carry out some duties," Even Kiri had some time to do her own thing during the day, even if it was work of her own choice, "Or we could do it over a meal."

"If it gets too much, I'll try to remember that," Lilou agreed, then paused. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Kiri smiled that being thanked, it was nice to do things for people, "Do you think we could have a meal together sometime anyway, we could have some Trill food?"

"That would be pleasant," Lilou inclined her head. "And Chinese," she added.

"Okay," That brought a bigger smile to Kiri, it started to feel that make she was making friends with Peers, "When you get a chance."

"And you."

Taking a small bite out of the apple Kiri couldn't help but notice how much fun she was having. At least right now she didn't seem to worry so much about what Peers thought of her. Rather it seemed rather natural, more so than anyone else she was with. Was it because they were Trill, because they had similar problems, because were fairly honest with each other? To that end she said with a full toothy smile, "I like talking with you, I really enjoy it."

Lilou glanced up, caught sight of Kiri's bright smile, and experienced a strange sensation as her face tried to match the expression. She'd never smiled that big in her life; even when she laughed, she tended to keep her lips closer together. She laughed out loud, once, then ducked her head. "Agreed."

Now she felt warm inside, very happy. A breathy almost laugh escaped her in turn as she turned her gaze to her tea. Finishing the rest of it Kiri took another bite of the apple, keeping a thin smile on her face. Everything regarding Liyar seemed much brighter now, everything seemed much brighter. Even the possible problems with Maenad didn't seem to matter, since she could still make friends without failing completely. Maybe she should share something else, silence did hang for a while. A happy silence though, "I, my parents adopted a little girl two weeks ago, so I have a new sister."

"Oh?" Lilou asked. "Have you seen her? Vid conference or anything?"

"I've seen a picture, and sent some messages, I haven't spoken to her yet." That was part of the downside of living somewhere with limited technology, plus Kiri was sure they were busy.

"What's that like?" Lilou asked. "Having a sister? Not seeing her?"

"I don't know," Kiri paused and looked at the apple, "I don't really know her very well so it's not difficult not seeing her. I don't really know how to be a sister or a little girl. I'm sure she is happy with my parents so I don't worry but I'd like to make her happy."

Lilou tilted her head. Making people happy... she thought, curious. "Twice." She shrugged and went back to her tea, "Your only sibling?"

Kiri looked confused at first before answering, "Yes," Falling silent she watched and thought about what some of the others had said about it.

"I have none," Lilou said. "Does it... Does it feel any different? When she's a relative stranger? Forgive me, it might be too personal."

"Not yet," Kiri felt slightly ashamed of that, "It doesn't feel like I'm her sister, I didn't grow up with her so I think it is different."

"I don't know what having a sister is supposed to feel like," Lilou shrugged. "If she is adopted, is she Trill? Or Terran? Or...?"

"She is Terran," Kiri smiled but this time it was more forced. One of the silly things that worried her was that her human parents would love a human child more than they loved her.

"As are your parents, if I remember correctly," Lilou smartly and ignorantly hit the nail on the head. She hadn't really had a point in asking, more curiosity and an urge to say something. "How old is she?"

"Nine," Kiri couldn't really remember what she was like at nine, other than the fact she spend most of her time working in her room, "I was thinking of replicating her a gift."

"Yes?" Nine. What would it like to suddenly belong to a new family at nine? "Like what?"

"I wasn't sure," Kiri had tried to think about it but she didn't think that Sarah would like mathematical charts or a computer, "Maybe a toy animal." She liked them when she was a child, she still liked them.

"What sort? A Tribble?"

[TBC]
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Lieutenant (JG) Kiri Cho
Assistant Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo

ENS Lilou Peers
Chief Engineering Officer
USS Galileo

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