Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Umbri Hawkins (Acting Weapons Officer) in Side Sim: Reunion with Old Friends (TAG Kastarak, T’Aria, and Sega’a)

Posted by Ensign Kastarak (Doctor / Counsellor) in Side Sim: Reunion with Old Friends (TAG Kastarak, T’Aria, and Sega’a)

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Umbri Hawkins (Acting Weapons Officer) in Side Sim: Reunion with Old Friends (TAG Kastarak, T’Aria, and Sega’a)
Posted by… suppressed (8) by the Post Ghost! 👻
True to their word, Umbri planned on having a little get-together with Ensign Kastarak, Commander T’Aria, and Sega’a in their quarters to celebrate their return to the USS Chernov. After sending out the invitations detailing that it was a casual affair, Umbri got to work tidying up their quarters (mainly getting all the dust off since like the Captain said, no one had touched it while they were away). Then, they got changed into their favorite outfit (https://urstyle.fashion/styles/3404958) settled down on the couch with a good book (OOC: It’s Embracing Your Inner Critic by Hal Stone & Sidra Stone. One of the books that get me through life.), and waited for the guests to arrive.

Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Umbri Hawkins, Acting Weapons Officer

When Kastarak received Umbri’s invitation, he felt a warmness in his gut. He would be reunited with Umbri. He read the fine print of the invitation – casual affair - which meant that he could not wear his uniform. He would normally wear it – what else would or could he wear? It would be illogical to have a variety of clothes in his quarters when most of the time he would wear his uniform or other Star Fleet-issued wear. But he needed to honour his friend.

He was wondering he could borrow any clothes. He thought first of Nurse Sutalo, but Sutalo was much shorter. Any of Sutalo’s shirts or trousers would not fit him. Should he ask Blaze? Blaze always looked dapper. But his rapport with Blaze wasn’t as good, Kastarak reckoned, to ask for a shirt and trousers at a random time on the ship. Maybe Pawl? Pawl was a bit more broad-shouldered than Kastarak, but then his shirts would definitely fit Kastarak, even a bit loosely. But it was informal after all. But it was not long ago he had an intense psychological evaluation with Pawl, and it might be a bit ethically complicated to ask for such a strange favour. He could ask Sega’a, but he had understood that Sega’a’s outfits were not as aesthetically pleasing as one might hope, and Kastarak would thus most likely be uncomfortable wearing any of Sega’a’s clothing. There was also the issue of any of Sega’a’s clothes still having the scent of Sega’a on them…

Kastarak felt some heat rising to his head, his breathing getting faster along with his heart bear. It is illogical to get anxiety over clothes, he told himself, purged all emotions and decided to figure something out.

Now serene, he devised a plan of action. Non-Vulcans always expect oddness from Vulcans. This could be an advantage. He walked out of his quarters. It was around lunch hour, so there were people walking around in the corridors. He scanned them up and down, trying to find someone with a similar build as himself.

Finally, he found one. A human crewman, a red-shirt – what was his name again? He had never actually spoken to him, but he had seen him in Sickbay at some point. Oh yes, Crewman Armin Hasanbegović, that’s it.

“Mr Hasanbegović,” Kastarak stopped, and saw the expected surprise on Hasanbegović’s face.

“S-sir?”

“Might I ask a favour? It’s of private character, and you have every right to decline.”

Kastarak noticed signs of curiosity in Hasanbegović’s face.

“You might ask…” he had replied.

“Do you have a shirt I could borrow? And trousers? I’ve been invited to an informal gathering, and all I have is uniforms or private formalwear. I notice we’re of similar build. I would of course return them disinfected.”

Kastarak noticed how Hasanbegović’s eyes grew larger. Two seconds later, Hasanbegović laughed.

“This is an odd request, sir,” Armin Hasanbegović continued to smile. “But it’s such a fun one, why not? Come with me to my quarters now?”

“Most certainly, I appreciate this gesture, Mr Hasanbegović,” replied Kastarak.

He followed Hasanbegović to the lower decks. It’s not often that Kastarak would frequent them. Last he had been there was when there had been a case of alleged cardiac arrest (actual panic attack) among one of the crewwomen. He followed Hasanbegović to Hasanbegović’s quarters. It looked similar to Kastarak’s, only slightly smaller. Hasanbegović shared it with crewman Tkar, an Andorian warp technician, who said hello without any any enthusiasm. Kastarak returned the greeting with similar engagement.

Meanwhile, Hasanbegović rummaged through his wardrobe. He found a light-blue button-up shirt. “How about this one?”

Kastarak touched it. It had an interesting, new texture to it. “The texture… this textile is a material I’ve not experienced before. What is it?”

“It’s linen, from the flower flax on Earth. Do you like it?”

“Yes, it seems light.”

“Try it on.” Armin handed Kastarak the shirt and looked at Kastarak.

“Here?” Kastarak was perplexed. Change in front of Armin?

“Yes? Oh yes, you Vulcans are prude. I’ll turn.”

“I am not prude,” Kastarak replied, and took off his uniform top and put on the shirt. The buttons, in a “bluer shade of blue”, were odd. He didn’t need help buttoning them, but they were odd, and it felt strange buttoning the myriad of them. Why did humans persist in using this kind of unnecessary clothing item? Why couldn’t they just use robes?

“Looking good, my man,” replied Armin with a smile. “You were right, we’re similarly sized!”

Armin then tossed Kastarak a pair of dark-blue chinos. “How about these?”

Kastarak didn’t bat an eye, and quickly changed into the trousers. They fit perfectly.

“Very handsome, doctor Vulcan!” Armin cheered.

“Are you gonna cosplay a human?” said Tkar disengaged, looking up from his padd. “Give me a smile.”

Kastarak ignored Tkar. “Thank you, Mr Hasanbegović, may I borrow these now and then return them tomorrow?”

“But of course. Call me Armin, by the way. If you’re gonna wear my clothes, we might as well be on a first-name basis.”

“Thank you, Armin,. I am Kastarak.”

“I know… Everyone knows you…” Armin smiled.

....

An hour later, Kastarak left his quarters and headed up to Umbri’s. As soon as he saw them, he felt a lightness in himself.

“Peace and long life, it is agreeable to finally see you again,” he said, noticing a sense of warmth in his voice he had not expected.

– Kastarak

OOC: Tried to dress Kastarak in the clothes you dressed him up in for that lovely avatar you created for him! <3

OOC: Aw, thanks!

IC:
Umbri opened the door to see Kastarak surprisingly out of uniform. They had seen him out of uniform while on Risa, but never on the ship. Nevertheless, they were unbelievably happy to see their friend. “Kastarak! It’s been too long! Please, come in!” they said, gesturing into their quarters. They went to the replicator, making themselves a mango iced tea with a bag of salted peanuts. “Can I get you anything to eat or drink?” they asked.

Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Umbri Hawkins, Acting Weapons Officer

Kastarak noticed the happiness in Umbri; it gave him a sense of comfort and serenity. All was well.

“Indeed, it has,” he said as flatly as he would normally do as a response to Umbri’s “it’s been too long”

“Tea, thank you,” he asked, and when noticing the iced tea in Umbri’s hand, “hot”, he clarified.

Umbri nodded, making tea for Kastarak and handing it to him.

“Thank you,” he said, as he took the cup with both his hands.

“What is it you’re nibbling on?” he asked curiously about the peanuts. It was something he had never seen before. They were covered in crystals. Sugar? Salt? Something else? What was the purpose of it? Could it be supplements? Did Umbri look paler than usual? Were they anaemic?

He got a grip of himself and went out of doctor’s mode. This was a time of friendliness, not doctor–patient relations.

– Kastarak (off duty)

Seeing the gears turn in Kastarak’s head, Umbri laughed a little. “Don’t worry, I’m fine. It’s just salted peanuts, an Earth snack. I’m trying to eat healthier, and this is one of the things a lot of experts on Earth recommend. I’m certainly doing a lot better than when I was a child. I used to be a really picky eater,” they said, sitting down across from Kastarak.

Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Umbri Hawkins, Acting Weapons Officer

They used to be a picky eater. They’re trying to eat healthier. Did they not eat healthy before? What is healthier? Why do they need protein and salt? He started thinig again. In humans, hyponatraemia – or deficiency of sodium in blood – is characterized by decreased ability to think, headaches, nausea, poor balance, confusion, seizures, and coma. A differential diagnosis might be high protein content in the blood.

No, the Umbri did not show any symptoms of hyponatraemia. Good.

He needed to snap out of his doctor mode.

He took a sip of his tea. It was too hot still.

“Trying to eat healthier? How are you feeling?” he asked.

– Ensign/Dr Kastarak (off duty tho!)

“I’m feeling fine. I just have to maintain a certain physique as a security officer. I also have to make sure I stay in shape because the job can involve a lot of moving around at times,” they said. They were laughing in their head. Kastarak was clearly trying to get out of doctor mode.

Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Umbri Hawkins, Acting Weapons Officer

“I am satisfied hearing that”, Kastarak replied while taking another sip of his tea. “I understand you have been reassigned weapons officer. What have you been up since last I saw you on Risa?”

— Kastarak

Umbri smiled. “So much has happened. Soon after I got home, I got a call from my parents saying they were in San Francisco and wanted to meet up. So I met up with them, and they apologized for cutting me off and wanted to welcome me back into the family. It surprised me and it was emotional but in a good way. I never thought that day would come. They told me they had moved to San Francisco to be in a more liberal mindset. I took back my birth surname, Hawkins, but kept the name Umbri. Soon after that, I enrolled in an outpatient program at a mental health facility in San Francisco to work on myself. I didn’t want to do anything rash like resigning from Starfleet until I had a clear head. And yes, I was considering resigning for a time because I felt like I wasn’t good enough. But I got the help I needed and I decided I wanted to come back to the Chernov. I contacted Captain Taggart, and he enthusiastically accepted my request. And after getting myself back in shape thanks to some of the staff at the Academy, here I am,” Umbri paused, taking a sip of their drink. “It feels good to be back. I missed this place so much. I missed the crew which I had come to call my family. I’m sorry I didn’t say goodbye to you before I left. There was just a lot going on,” they said, smiling sadly.

Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Umbri Hawkins, Acting Weapons Officer

After listening to Umbri, Kastarak paused for a moment, trying to find a way to convey his thoughts.

“That you chose to share this with me honours me. I am grateful for our intimacy of minds – a relationship which we have built over time. I understand, to a degree, the significance of your change of surname, and your reunion with your original family. Apologies are unnecessary for my part, though if it should console you, consider yourself forgiven for any trespasses against me. The path which you have trod on has been a difficult one. I am honoured to have joined you on the way, if only for a short walk. I am honoured, once again, that you have invited me to walk along with you for yet another while on your path. Perhaps, you might wish to walk alongside me, as well, as I walk my own path?”

It was unlike Kastarak to speak in metaphors, but he thought it would be the best way to reach Umbri. They had an interest in fine literature, and such literature, especially from Earth, had a tendency to be filled with metaphors and similes. The cultural conventions of the English language (or Federation Standard as it was sometimes Earth-centrically termed) made it difficult to speak too plainly. Moreover, the language lacked the appropriate words for the conciseness and precision required. Perhaps Umbri had understood what he had meant and what he had implied.

– Kastarak

Umbri tilted their head to the side. “I’m not sure I grasp what you mean, Kastarak. It almost sounds like you want to begin a relationship as partners, which I wouldn’t be opposed to,” they said. Hearing what they said out loud, Umbri got a little flustered. They really hoped they didn’t interpret Kastarak the wrong way.

Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Umbri Hawkins, Acting Weapons Officer

Soon, a series of knocks reverberated from the corridor in the thump, thump, thump of eager green knuckles connecting with the soft metal of their quarters’ door.

Sega’a smoothed the wrinkles adorning his shirt – a button-up painted with muted greys and blues to resemble ripples in their abstractness – and stepped back, narrowly missing the Vulcan behind him. He’d nearly forgotten she was there. On that thought, maybe he should pretend to bump into her. Would that earn him a grumble? An irked remark about how he should ‘pay closer attention’? Anything would be better than the silence he endured since their “hi”/”hello” exchange in the turbolift. Sega’a shifted between his feet and caught his companion’s tepid expression in his periphery. He thought not to test his luck, but the stillness made everything louder. His heartbeat, the blood rushing through his veins, the thoughts running rampant in his mind… everything.

He didn’t mind the noise, really, but he wished something less repetitive would fill the silence.

Though quiet and deceivingly indifferent, T’Aria was not unaware of his discomfort. He rocked and fiddled with his rings, rolling them between his thumb and second finger until the sensation lost its appeal, and they settled on his other hand. He was nervous. Why? She was under the impression he felt close to Umbri. They shared a friendship. Would it not evoke feelings of joy to see them again? T’Aria searched his face for any indication of his emotional state. Perhaps it was not anxiety she sensed but excitement. They were both aroused states marked by a rise in cortisol levels. Increased heart rate, perspiration, breath rate, stimming… he exhibited signs of both. Was he experiencing anxiety and excitement? He must have known she was watching, because she found herself confronted by a pair of eager green eyes and an unnervingly bright grin before she could assess him.

Sooner than risking his disappointment by averting her gaze to a rather fascinating spot on the bulkhead, T’Aria made use of the only conversation point that came to mind: “Why did you knock?”

Her question disrupted his thoughts, including the ones intended to nag her for the conversation she readily provided, but he quickly regained his composure.

Sega’a raised an accusing eyebrow and assessed her with an up-and-down glance he learned from another yeoman, “how else would I let Umbri know we’re here?”

“The chime serves that precise function,” T’Aria ignored his look and tucked in the cuff of her rust-coloured sleeve. “Why risk them mistaking your knock as background noise?”

“The chime is impersonal and boring,” he shrugged and stole a careful glance at the door to see if someone had yet answered, “I want Umbri to think ‘Hey! That must be Sega’a’ when I knock.”

“Yet, they invited you.” T’Aria understood his point, but the conversation seemed to detract from his thoughts, anxious or otherwise. “And, they could request the computer inform them of their visitor.”

“Ma’am…” Sega’a huffed, “I’m starting to think you like to argue for the sake of arguing.”

T’Aria stiffened her stance as if offended by his assessment, but her cocked eyebrow and almost amused look (if not for her otherwise impassive face) said otherwise, “perhaps.”

Sega’a laughed.

— Sega’a

— T’Aria