driftfleet | A Tourist's guide to a February Mingle

Why would I want to stay in one place, when there's so much else to see out there? Earth isn't a mystery anymore. But the universe? The universe has endless potential. There will always be something new, something different, something amazing.

If you want to grow, eventually you have to leave home.

[ she's more subdued. she smiles, but it's more distant and not with her usual chipperness ]

Yeah, you're right.

_{[ He notices the change. It's so at odds with how she's been talking
to him. He cocks his head slightly, curious. ]}

Did I say something to upset you?

No, no, of course not. My parents died when I was really young and I had to go live with another family, that's all. Talking about home and Earth just made me think of that, I guess.

[ no mention of it being on, you know, another planet ]

Oh. I'm sorry. I kind of understand - my father died when I was born, and my mom wasn't around much, so I ended up living with my uncle.

_{[ That he had hated every minute of it went unsaid. She didn't need to
be weighed down with that particular knowledge. ]}

Don't get me wrong. Earth will always be my home planet. It's just... not where I want to spend my life, is all.

It's fine, I understand.

I think, for me, it's the people I have there more than anything else.

[ she continues in her calm, wistful fashion ]

Maybe that's why I don't feel the need to stay on Earth. All the people I need - they're on my ship. The crew's my family.

_{[ And he missed them terribly, even only a few days absent from them.
He missed the quiet, serious presence of Spock, the charming calm of Uhura,
Chekov's boyish excitement, Sulu's natural grace at the controls, McCoy's
growling grumbles. The noises of his home were absent and they ran sharply
in his ears now, louder for their absence. ]}

And maybe that's what's really important.

[ she smiles warmly ]

What's your crew family like?

Like any family - frustrating, infuriating, funny, and warm all at the same time. They're good people. The best people. I couldn't do what I do without them.

_{[ He smiles and makes for the coffee maker - which despite his
technological advantages, would forever be one of the hardest things to
master. Like someone else's shower. ]}

[ she's noticing that ]

Would you like some help with that?

[ will move to help him if he indicates she can ]

What are their names? Some of them, anyway. I probably don't need the whole roster.

No, no, I should figure this out. If I can't figure out the coffee maker, that's not a good sign on my prospects of getting home, is it?

_{[ He is going to conquer this thing like a proper Star Fleet captain!
]}

Names, huh? There's Spock, and Bones - real name Leonard McCoy, Uhura, Chekov, Sulu, Scotty....

If you say so. But remember, my actual job is figuring out coffee for important people.

Well, there's certainly a variety! [ (of names) ]

I hope that some of your friends show up for you, or that you're released back to them soon.

Come on, that can't be your real job. You seem far to competent for that.

_{[ No, really, you do. You need to breathe more, but she didn't seem
like the sort to just play coffee gofer either. ]}

Thanks. I hope so too. Do you have any friends from your home here?

I'm a personal assistant for a very powerful woman. It's a very challenging job, but making sure her coffee is perfect is part of that.

[ shrugs ]

I think if I were to just describe it, it wouldn't sound as fulfilling as it is.

[ she's casual talking about her job but when the topic turns to friends, she does the restrained smile thing again ]

And no, no one's shown up yet. But there's always hope? Winn would probably think it was really cool. Alex would get to work trying to figure out how to get us home, and James would probably want to document everything and get in trouble.

_{[ He glanced to her in time to catch the restrained smile, surprised
at how easily she shifts expressions, though he's known for the same thing.
Was talking of home that painful for her? She seemed a sweet girl, one who
valued her friends and family deeply from the basic conversation they've
been sharing. ]}

You'll get home to them.

_{[ It's said softly, but with an assuredness that is undeniable. He
says it like it will happen, that he will make it happen. ]}

[ she smiles warmly ]

Thanks. I will too, and I'll have a good opportunity to make new friends in the interim.

You will too.

_{[ He chuckles. ]}

Don't worry about me. I've never had trouble making friends - or getting into trouble, as it happens.

The coffee maker on the other hand...

Is clearly put here as a test of our worthiness to serve on this vessel.

_{[ That sounded totally legit, right Kara? ]}

[ not in the least. she's entertained ]

Look, you're from like way in the future. I think you'd be excused for not knowing a thing or two about coffee makers.

_{[ He looks at her. ]}

What makes you think we don't have coffee makers in the future?

_{[ They did, but they were more like replicators half the time. Just
poke a button and tada! Coffee. ]}

[ a very serious look ]

Starbucks isn't just going to let the future happen without some sort of corporate coffee revolution. Come on.

_{[ He blinked at her, hand still on the coffee maker like he was
keeping it in place. ]}

What's Starbucks?

You don't have Starbucks? Wow.

They're just a mega popular coffee shop chain. They've kind of revolutionized society's relationship with coffee. I just figured they'd invent something new and evolve with the times.

[ shrugs. who knows ]

Hmmm, well, maybe they didn't make it through some of the socio-economic changes that happened. We still have coffee, but I usually got mine from this place called Brewsky's. They had the best triple espresso shot for the all nighters.

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