Back To School Special

[poetwarrior]

Storm? What storm? The inside of the library is as cozy as ever, comfortably warm and dry. In one corner of the study area, two aliens have commandeered a low table and some kind of soft, squishy seat that looks much like a couch made out of a giant bean bag. The table is heaped in books and datapads of various academic flavors, and Chanath holds another one of the devices, scrolling slowly through an introduction to warp physics. Unlike her typical manner of dress, the Shontin is wearing a red synthetic outfit tailor-made for her body shape, the golden delta of Starfleet perched on her collar. Her quadrupedal symbiont is sprawled out next to her on his belly, his long tail loosely wrapped around her waist, and between his forepaws is a hardcover book on the subject of basic intergalactic diplomatic techniques. Unlike his host, he wears no uniform, but there is a red band around his neck made of the same material, with Starfleet's symbol on it.

Studying from printed text instead of learning through song and speech is tedious, however, and not at all what they are used to, so it does not take long for Faris' attention to wander, finding people-watching to be of greater interest.

"If given an opportunity to study a new subject, would you take it?" he asks, of those who seem interested in conversation. "What would you wish to learn?"

Comments

[poetwarrior]

"Perhaps," Faris agrees easily. "I was not of age to be concerned about these things when we began our duties as scouts. Now that those days are past, who can say what is to come?" In truth, he is still on the younger side to be thinking about having cubs of his own just yet, but there is no rule that states them to be necessary for romance, surely.

Chanath leans forward eagerly to see the image on the screen, admiring the colorful bouquet that frames Adia's home. "Oh, they are lovely! Such brightness and warmth, like a sunset. And you may see them every day!" What a delightful novelty that is, even now. "I am afraid I do not know much about them," she says, apologetic. "It is a technique for growing food and flowers without a need for earth, and was highly monitored aboard the colony ships to ensure the most efficient growth."

[chiron_survivor]

His comment on his duties has her looking at him thoughtfully. "I didn't think about that," she admits. "That would have kept you away from other people for long intervals." She smiles, a little shyly, and fusses with her knitting needles. "I wanted to do more traveling, so I wasn't exactly thinking about settling down, either. That's why I took the position on the Chiron. And then I met Caspar..." Her smile quirks at the corner. "There's a saying about love finding you when you least expect it. Maybe there's some truth to that."

It is Adia's nature to be modest, but there is an obvious pleasure she takes in hearing her friend gush over her choice in flowers. "Not every day," she points out. "Well, not the tulips, they're only in season in the spring. I try to have some kind of flower in those flowerbeds so long as the weather is warm. Orange tulips are my favorite, though."

She shakes her head. "No, it's okay. It sounds like an interesting style of gardening, but it's not one we need to pursue currently. And I'm guessing it requires quite a bit of water, which we couldn't really afford to spare. Our purification tanks were already running at their limits, and we had the algae vats that needed constant upkeep."