Posted by Ensign Kastarak (Doctor) in Deck 6 – Trying to blend in (Tag: Zayne, Sega’a)

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Umbri Zayne (Weapons Officer) in Deck 6 – Trying to blend in (Tag: Zayne, Sega’a)

Posted by Ensign Kastarak (Doctor) in Deck 6 – Trying to blend in (Tag: Zayne, Sega’a)

(snip!)

“Any advice is welcome.”, Kastarak said while gesturing to Umbri to sit down. “I’ve worn uniform, one way or another, almost all the time since leaving Vulcan.”

He paused.

“And you remember what I wore when I was in gym. It is not appropriate for a vacation resort, for the beach. I need all the advice I can. Let’s see what Sega’a might bring. I think he and I might be the same size in clothes....”

Kastarak was suddenly deep in thought, and then he turned back to Umbri.

“What is the purpose of being on the beach? Why do people do it? What do they get out from that? What should I wear? What should I do?”

– Ens/Dr Kastarak

Umbri could tell that Kastarak was confused by the concept. So they tried their best to give a logical answer. “In a way, being at the beach is a great way to be social and interact with other people. As for what you should wear, I’d say wear whatever makes you comfortable. Don’t worry about what other people might think. The same thing goes for what you should do. You don’t have to do anything that you don’t want to. No one is going to judge you, and if they do, ignore them,” they said.

Lieutenant (j.g.) Umbri Zayne, Weapons Officer

While Umbri was speaking, Kastarak was preparing the tea. Now was the best time for it, it had steeped perfectly well. He poured his guest a cup, and then one for him, leaving Sega’a’s cup empty for now. He did not remove Sega’a’s cup, he still wanted him to come and expected him to do so. He gave no indication that he was missing him, however.

“You provide rich information,” he said, commenting on Umbri’s lecture. In one way, he found comfort in their preaching that whatever would be comfortable for him would be the best attire, but at the same time, he wanted to challenge himself – that was the purpose of this experiment of fitting in. “What would be most comfortable for you, when being on the beach?”

Kastarak had so many questions. He wondered also about swimming. Do people go swimming? Is it expected? He knew how to swim, but he had never swum out in nature before, only in a swimming pool, but only rarely. He did find much logic to its exercise – sure, it was good exercise, but it appeared to him as if it was a lot of effort necessary to make it so. As such, he preferred other methods of exercise, such as martial arts and calisthenics, which he could practise on his own, wherever he found himself. He was unsure whether he could swim with big waves rushing on. All those questions, however, were left un-asked.

– Ensign/Dr Kastarak

Sega’a was running late… and by ‘running’, he was dashing through the corridors with trousers and collared shirts and shoes flailing like a cape behind him. “Sorry!” He sidestepped a passing Ensign, accidentally smacking another with a sleeve. “Coming through!” He wiggled between a pair of engineers exchanging goods between Jefferies tubes. “Ooph!” Sega’a yanked his cloak close to his chest and twisted around an Andorian glued to a finicky commpanel, barely missing her antennae. “Pardon me!”

No, no, no… he sped up to catch the turbolift doors before they sealed behind a medical officer, whose face contorted in utter confusion. Frankly, he couldn’t blame them. He’d also be confused if a massive Orion barged into the turbolift with dappled cloths and a wild look in his eyes. “Uh…” Sega’a stumbled to the wall and made a quick glance at the chronometer, “deck six!”

The turbolift all but crept to its destination, producing clicks and groans that had Sega’a praying it wouldn’t decide to malfunction then and there. He narrowly awaited the doors to hiss open before he leapt from its belly with a flighty farewell to his 10-second companion and darted down the hall. Fewer people dotted this deck, making it easier to locate and pursue Kastarak’s door. He halted heartbeats later and jabbed the chime before he could bother catching his breath. 18:14. He was late. But he hoped fashionably so.

— Sega’a