Posted by Ensign Kastarak (Doctor) in Main SIM: Shore Leave - Risian Beach

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Umbri Zayne (Weapons Officer) in Main SIM: Shore Leave - Risian Beach

Posted by Ensign Kastarak (Doctor) in Main SIM: Shore Leave - Risian Beach
Posted by… suppressed (9) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(Snip!)

“Yes, of course,” nodded Kastarak, and turned to the bartender. “Please make that a pot with two cups instead. Risan tea, if you have – if that is alright with T’Aria? I thought we could try something local, knowing that both you and I take olfactory and gustatory satisfaction from tea.”

In his mind, he wanted to underscore that enjoyment from taste, smell and flavour was not an emotion, but rather a way to be kind to one’s body. Evolutionary speaking, things that are tasteful or well-fragrant would mean that they would be edible and nutritious to Vulcans. Of course that is not fully the case, but logically (or so Kastarak hoped), it was nothing wrong, culturally speaking, from enjoying a cup of tea, nor articulating that such enjoyment existed and was valid, no matter how purged the emotions inside were.

T’Aria found traces of a culture woven into every blend. Maize silk and plomeek revealed a propensity for using every part of a plant, where bergamot oil infused into black tea exposed another’s colonial and trade-based history. Ingredients reflected the people, but fragrances reflected the land. Redspice reminded her of the Voroth Sea in its musk, but silk transported her to oceans of swaying grasses of yellow and white. It was strange and thought-provoking to consider the origins of a tea – how it spoke of a people’s history, values and homeland.

For T’Aria, it was a way to connect with others.

“Naturally,” T’Aria bowed her head in approval. “We have access to Vulcan and Earth teas whenever we wish. It would be imprudent of us to deny an opportunity to try a new blend.”

Lucian thought for a moment. Tea wasn’t really what he wanted at the moment. He wasn’t much of a drinker, either, but he supposed one drink couldn’t hurt. He was on vacation after all, and his roommate said he just had to try a Risian Mai Tai. ‘Oh, what the heck? I’ll give it a shot,’ he thought. Turning back to the drink provider, he placed in his order. “My roommate said the Mai Tais on Risa are pretty great. So I guess I’ll take one of those,” he said. “You got it!” said the bartender.

NE Lucian Vyctor, Security Officer

“I understand it is customary for folks to engage ‘fun’ activities during shore leave,” T’Aria nodded to Vyktor and Kastarak, “do either of you have plans for your time off?”

— T’Aria

Lucian shrugged. “I prefer swimming in an indoor setting, so I’ll likely just be hanging out here, reading,” he said. Lieutenant (j.g.) Zayne had recently recommended an old Earth trilogy called All Souls, which began with a book called A Discovery of Witches. Lucian was a total sucker for stories involving magic.

NE Lucian Vyctor, Security Officer

“I have yet to read fiction, I am not sure it is my – using human expressions – cup of tea,” he said, raising the cup of tea in his hand. “I have decided not to do any studying or medical reading, however, though I have downloaded a book on Risan history. Fascinating history with the terraforming, and what society not too long ago here was like. And how it’s changed.”

“Lucian, pray tell, what is the synopsis of the All Souls trilogy?”

“We will have to discuss your findings when you have finished,” T’Aria offered Kastarak, “and Lucian… I am also curious about this ‘All Souls’ Triology.”

“And you, T’Aria?”

He led T’Aria and Lucian to a small beach sofa group further up on the beach, where they could sit and chat.

– Ensign Kastarak (Dr)

“From what I understand, there are multiple trails that extend into the coastal woodlands.” She bimbled after Lucian and Kastarak, soon settling onto a wooden sofa with a cushion of intriguing design. “I thought I would set out on a hike, perhaps explore some of the medicinal herbs indigenous to Risa.”

“Well, from what Umbri told me, the first book follows Diana Bishop, a history of science professor at Yale University, as she embraces her magical blood after finding a long-thought-lost manuscript, and engages in a forbidden romance with a charming vampire, Matthew Clairmont. It was published back in the 21st century, 2011 to be exact,” said Lucian.

NE Lucian Vyctor, Security Officer

Kastarak did not understand what Mr Vyctor was saying. Most of the words were fine, but he appeared to lack context.

“I am curious,” said Kastarak as he took a sip from his tea, “What is a vampire? What is magical blood? Is there a difference between magic and superstition?”

– Kastarak

Lucian laughed. “Oh, gosh. You must be extremely confused. Sorry about that. So a vampire is a creature from Earth mythology that needs human or animal blood to survive. It has fangs that are used for sucking the blood out of a being. They can also use their blood-sucking abilities to turn a human into a vampire. They’re strictly nocturnal, meaning they sleep during the day and come out during the night. And that’s only scratching the surface of the different superstitions surrounding vampires. I’d be happy to recommend some books on vampires if you’re interested,” Lucian paused, turning his attention to the magic part of Kastarak’s inquiry.

Kastarak wouldn’t have used the words “extremely confused”, but he realised that Lucian had fully grasped Kastarak’s difficulties in understanding Lucian’s words. When Lucian spoke of vampires, it intrigued Kastarak. He thought about vampires’ physiology, how blood (with all its nutrients) would be important for this creature’s survival, like food, he thought. He knew of some species (none sentient, however) who lived off other creatures’ blood; he remembered too well how annoyed his human study friends were while on a field trip to the Amazon back in Star Fleet Academy, when all the humans were bitten constantly by mosquitoes. Apparently his own copper-based blood was of no interest whatsoever to the little winged insects buzzing around them.

“So they’re like nocturnal mosquitoes?” Kastarak said, noting a sense of pride in himself for making a human-centric connection to show that he grasped the situation. He decided to immediately purge that emotion – it was hardly appropriate and not at all logical. He did however imagine the vampires looking like gigantic mosquitoes – perhaps the size of a dog or even a horse, buzzing around, and trying to find people and animals to procure blood from.

“What do they look like? I understand they have the capacity of emotion, sentience even perhaps, as you hinted towards a human–vampire romance. At the same time, they seem somewhat dangerous. Surely, if they’re too hungry they might cause haemorrhage in the donor. That seems ethically difficult to navigate for all parties involved.”

“Magical blood, in this case, basically just means that a person is a witch and has the ability to cast magical spells. As far as the difference between magic and superstition, the two subjects have intertwined with each other throughout human history. Case in point, the Salem Witch Trials, which were a series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts between February 1692 and May 1693. A lot of people were wrongly accused of being witches when there really wasn’t any magic to begin with. It was all a huge case of mass hysteria. Magic, witches, wizards, warlocks, etc. have been used throughout a wide variety of fictional mediums on Earth. Harry Potter, Dungeons & Dragons, and The Lord of the Rings are a few notable examples. Again, I’d be happy to point you in the right direction if you’d like to learn more. But that’s basically the short answer to your inquiry,” Lucian finished. He forgot how much fun it was to talk about things like that.

NE Lucian Vyctor, Security Officer

T’Aria sensed the faint chirp of her communicator and snatched it from where it was tucked in her bag. Silently, as not to disturb Lucian and Kastarak, she rose and moved far enough that they could tune out her voice. There was no reason to interrupt their discussion for something as potentially routine as a DH check-in. They were due.

Kastarak had heard of Massachusetts, but not of the Salem Witch Trials.

“Massachusetts? That’s somewhere in north America, I believe? Are you from there?” He decided that asking a question might help digest the rest of Lucian’s description. There was so much that Kastarak did not understand – magic, witches, wizards, warlocks, Harry Potter, dungeons, a lord of the rings. Were Harry Potter and the Lord of the Rings perhaps figures of human mythology – of some import to Earth’s religion? It did not make sense. On one hand, Earth had a myriad of religions, but Kastarak had only been slightly exposed to Christianity – due to its cultural influence on the Americas and Europe, as well the formation of the United Earth Government. He remembered that the very name of the city in which he lived, San Fransisco, was the name of a Christian holy figure. “San” was apparently Spanish (or was it some other language?) for “holy”. He wondered whether this Fransisco of yore might have lived in California, perhaps he was a proselytiser, a native saint, bringing the Spanish invaders into the Christian fold.

But no, that wouldn’t make sense. Surely Christianity came to the Americas from Europe, not the other way around? He was utterly confused.

“This is fascinating, Mr Vyktor. I am intrigued by all the things I do not understand, and their influence on Earth culture. I am struggling to digest what you have said. Are the lord of the rings and Harry Potter figures from Christian mythology? Or perhaps some other religion?”

– Ensign Kastarak (MO)

[O]Attention all senior staff! Report to my location via the coords I’ll send to you first thing in the morning![O]

“Copy, sir…” T’Aria furrowed her eyebrows but chose not to speculate until she knew the facts, “shall I alert remaining crew to standby?”

— T’Aria