Strangers are just friends waiting to happen

Posted on Sun May 3rd, 2020 @ 12:45pm by Lieutenant Commander Shaille Levine & Lieutenant Commander T'se

Mission: Present In The Past
Location: Ships Lounge
Timeline: Prior to Away Team

The lounge was busy, surprisingly so. Given their recent return from shore leave, Shaille had anticipated that it might be a bit quieter, but then again, she also supposed that the jolt back to reality from the luxury that the Dalacari homeworld had offered was likely at least partly the reason for the mass influx of crew hanging out where food and drinks were at least still delivered to your table.

With her order placed, Shaille picked up her drink and took it with her. Now the challenge existed to try and find a table.

Pausing next to the first table that had an empty seat, she offered a quick smile to the unfamiliar face. "Do you mind if I join you? It seems seating is at a premium tonight."

T'se glanced up, her honey-colored eyes holding those of a young woman with hair a vibrant yellow. The Vulcan offered a subtle nod of her head, gesturing to the empty seat across from her, "Please do." As the other woman was seated, T'se took a look around the lounge, observing the activity with a passing interest before returning her attention to her new companion. "I am a new arrival to the Wellington, so I am unable to gauge if this is a customary level of activity; based on your statement; however, I am left to believe not." The Vulcan woman placed the data PADD she was reading aside before reaching for the glass of tea she'd been nursing for the last twenty-minutes or so. "Are you new on board as well?"

Shaille shook her head. "No, I've been here for a bit. Lieutenant Shaille Levine, Security. You must have come aboard while we were at the Dalacari station." She offered a warm smile. "I think it's probably busier tonight because everyone's still in holiday mode after shore leave. So how are you finding the ship so far? Settling in, okay?"

"Indeed," T'se replied softly to the Lieutenant's statement and question. "My travel needs are modest, as the starship supplies most of what I need. However, the living accommodations I was provided are sufficient, albeit decadent." She paused, nodding to a passing crewman before asking, "How long is 'a bit'? How long have you served with the Wellington's security department?"

"I'm not really sure, a couple of years, I guess?" Shaille replied with a shrug. "I came in as Chief of Security, and I've been here ever since. It's been... well, interesting." She laughed softly and shook her head. "But the crew are good people." She paused, taking another sip of her drink. "So, are you here alone, or do you have family here with you?"

When Shaille hinted that the last two years onboard the Wellington were filled with 'interesting' experiences, T'se didn't hold back in offering a knowing expression. There was enough routine to shipboard life to provide a semblance of structure and order, yet was vastly overshadowed by the unknown. Most joined Starfleet because of an unquenchable curiosity, which compelled them to explore the farthest reaches of space in the search to discover this unknown. T'se considered that, perhaps, Shaille was cast from a different mold than that of the quintessential explorer.

"I can appreciate that life on board a starship is far from what one may consider mundane." T'se replied sympathetically, "Your time has surely not been wasted, however." Although declarative, her statement encouraged the young woman to respond honestly.

"In answer to your question; my husband will accompany me during this next tour of duty."

"It's good that he can join you," Shaille said with a smile. "I know a lot of couples end up separated which makes these assignments even harder, so when you're lucky enough to have someone to go home to, to unwind with and just be normal with, it can make a lot of difference." She paused, taking a sip of her drink. "Have the two of you been married long?"

"This will be an experience of trial and error for both Tuvaris and me," T'se confessed after a moment's pause to consider Shaille's words. "This will be the first time in the nineteen years we have been bonded, that he has elected to join me on assignment. However, we both decided that the distance imposed by the Wellington's theater of operations was far too great for him not to be present." She paused once more to take a sip of her beverage before continuing, "Indeed, it will be agreeable to have him near. And yourself? Do you have any family on board with you?"

"Actually, I met my partner here on the Wellington," Shaille replied with a smile. "He's a Ts'usugi Fighter Pilot, assigned to the Wellington. We've been together for about a bit over a year now. Other than that, my family is all back in the Alpha Quadrant. I'm the only one that's ventured this far away."

T'se nodded, "I as well. We are bound for the final frontier, are we not?"

"I guess that's one way to look at it," Shaille replied with a smile. "I don't know about you but..."

Before she could finish her commbadge chirped. "Lieutenant Levine, please report to the security office immediately."

Reaching up, she tapped her commbadge and sighed. "I'm on my way," she said before offering T'se an apologetic smile. "Sorry looks like duty calls. Enjoy your break." Standing up, Shaille cleared her seat before heading for the door.