On The Promenade

Posted on 13 Jan 2024 @ 9:15pm by Lieutenant JG Lisald Vaat & Lieutenant JG Kaelyth Solmarr

1,206 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Shoreleave
Location: Promenade, DS9
Timeline: After Reporting

Kaelyth left the captain's office. He would need to report to others, the Executive Officer Commander Bast, and the Chief Engineer whom he would serve under, Lieutenant Hartley. And while he looked forward to meeting with them, he also recognized the fact that they were on shore leave and was reticent to disturb them immediately. So, having looked at the time, he had decided to go back to the Promenade and get some lunch. To that end, he had returned to the Promenade on Deep Space 9 and was considering his options.

Lisald, on the other hand, was still working on getting all the necessary paperwork signed off and shopping complete before heading to Bajor on one of the transports, and thus, was not looking where he was going. Surprised enough to yelp out, Lisald tumbled to the deck when he walked, headlong, into a bulkhead. He thought he had been left center of the cavernous walkway when he tumbled to the ground. Looking up, it wasn't, in fact, a bulkhead, but a venerable mountain of a man. Lisald thought this guy was easily the size of his late friend, Jin'Tok, maybe even bigger. Yet, he was not Klingon.

Kaelyth had been paying such close attention to his choices of menu that he had not registered the man approaching until said individual ran into him. And while that collision did not knock Kaelyth off his feet, it did startle him slightly. He, therefore, dodged a pace in the other direction out of sheer reflex and looked over to see who had collided with him.

He had to look down, however, as apparently he was the proverbial immovable object in this case. Not having met this man before, he did not immediately recognize him. However, Kaelyth was not a rude individual, so he offered his hand to help the other to his feet. "Are you all right?" he asked with genuine kind concern.

"Yes, I am fine, thank you," he said, taking the proffered hand and getting back to his feet. The man was strong, pulling up the Bajoran with ease. "Bless the Prophets, you are -huge-," Vaat emphasized, not with malice. "I am so sorry I walked right into you. Are you ok?"

Kaelyth smiled kindly. The Bajoran -- he recognized the man's species by the nose ridges -- did not weigh enough to be difficult for him to lift. "You are welcome," he answered the gratitude, chuckling then at the comment about his size. He probably did seem large to the much smaller man before him. And then, there was the added weight of the shaelyth binding his DNA together making him heavier than a person of his build normally would be. "It is all right," he said in reference to the apology. "Besides, I believe that ended more badly for you than it did for me, yes?" he added with a soft chuckle to indicate that he was attempting humor. He then nodded more seriously. "I am well, thank you."

The trained Speaker in him then reminded him that it would be rude not to introduce himself. "I am Kaelyth Solmarr. I am to be the new Assistant Chief of Engineering for the USS Cygnus." As he said all of that, he held out his hand in the gesture that he had learned in the Academy was common and considered proper greeting in the Federation.

"Get out of here," Lisald exclaimed, a bit loud in his excitement, taking the hand and shaking it wildly. "I am Lisald Vaat, and I serve on the USS Cygnus as well! I am the Anthropologist and Archaeologist for the ship! How cool is that?! Have you met anyone aboard yet? Lieutenant Hartley is an absolute gem of a human being, you will like her."

Vaat's words seemed to Kaelyth to come in a rush, one thought chasing right behind the last. Human idioms were difficult for Kaelyth to interpret at times, and this man seemed to like them, two of them used in a short span. And he was excitable apparently, Kaelyth noted to himself.

Smiling, he shook the other man's hand then released it. The first reaction to his greeting had puzzled him for a moment. Did the man want him to leave? That seemed not to be the case, though, as the statemen that followed that one was a return of his own introduction. Kaelyth noted the name and specialties. People who followed those specialties were usually either historian types or explorers... or both. He was curious to know which this man was.

Immediately following that, however, was another confusing statement. Kaelyth had learned in his time at the Academy that 'cool' was more often a reference to something being good than it was a reference to the weather, and by context, it seemed that was the case here as well. He had no answer for that, however, so he focused on what followed.

That next question he did have an answer for. And the statement following it Kaelyth noted and stored away for later reference. After all, he did need to meet with the woman eventually given that he would be working directly with her. So when Vaat finished speaking, Kaelyth responded.

"I am pleased to meet you, Lisald Vaat. So far, aside from you, I have only met the captain. Though, I had decided to meet with the Executive Officer and then Lieutenant Hartley after lunch." He considered his companion for a moment then offered, "If you have not eaten and wish to, you may accompany me. We can continue to converse as well."

"Oh," Lisald said, his face falling. "I'd love to, but I'm actually about to head to Bajor with Al, er....Lieutenant Spangler, the Chief Science Officer. However, I'd love to maybe have lunch with you once we get back. There are a few places on the ship we could. Like maybe Ten-Forward, or this new place going in now, called Fat Alice's. Interested?"

Kaelyth noticed the disappointment and felt it was genuine. He gave Lisald a look that said he was not offended by the refusal. At the suggestion, he smiled. "Of course. Either is fine with me." Though the name of the second place sounded a bit rude to him, as if it was unsulting the place's owner. But he had seen many such names since coming to the Federation, so it did not bother him as it once had. "When you wish to, simply call me or send me a message," he invited with a smile.

Lisald smiled brightly almost as quickly as his face had fallen only moments ago. "Great! I will be on Bajor for a few days, but as soon as we get back, and as soon as things settle from getting back under way, I will reach out. I really look forward to it! Until then," he said, waving enthusiastically as he walked away.

Kaelyth smiled in return -- the young man was excitable, but his smile was infectious. "I also look forward to it. Be safe," he offered his wishes before Lisald moved off. Kaelyth then turned and continued with his search through his lunch options.

 

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