(no subject)

[betashiftblues]

Now getting lost is one thing.

The base this blue humanoid gentleman hails from currently is dense and very easy to get turned around in. Every third street curves over another or the building you wanted was on the underside of some other arch and it can just be a mess trying to get around Yorktown. Norn would be just fine if he was simply a little bit lost. That's a sad way of life for the Andorian.

But to get so lost that he can no longer see the other arching streets of the base? So lost he feels like he's stepped into a Vulcan shop for how high the temperatures have risen? How there's actual humidity leaving the air heavy? It almost feels like he's no longer on the base.

Oh. Oh no.

Luckily there's a very helpful if not garishly dressed human on a screen in the Plaza. It doesn't help the man in a simple red and black uniform to get back home, but knowing there is a system in place quells the panic for the time being. He takes a seat on an unoccupied couch and props his chin in one equally blue hand while watching the denizens of the Nexus wander around. His antennae perk up ever so slightly once he's made up his mind. The next person he sees he'll ask.

"Have you ever broken a rule by...by accident? How did you handle it or the aftermath?" Norn is pretty sure this counts as some kind of leaving his post. Even though he's speaking directly at someone his voice is a quiet hush. Like he might fear being overheard or maybe his internal volume button doesn't go past five.

Comments

[sweetcandygirl]

"I break rules all the time. By accident. On purpose." The response comes from a very colorfully-dressed woman. Harley Quinn is wearing sparkling red shorts, fishnet stockings, a ripped T-shirt, and a large leather jacket.

"I sort-of don't handle it. But maybe I should..." She thinks on that.

[betashiftblues]

Maybe this wasn't such a good idea. Bothering someone who looks to be busy, and someone who without any prompting outs themselves as a trouble maker. They certainly don't seem ill accustomed to being around a non human which is something. He's been getting quite a few stares from people for a bit now.

"H-how are you not being punished for that? There's...there's no consequences for your actions?"

[sweetcandygirl]

"I sort-of ignore the consequences, so they have trouble making them stick."

Harley twirls her pink ponytail. "But that is me."

"What's gottcha worried?"

[betashiftblues]

"So you're..." What, a criminal? Is he going to be in trouble just for being seen with her? The alien's shoulders both rise in clear tension and more than a little bit of fear.

"I...I'm not supposed to be here."

[sweetcandygirl]

Harley sees the tension in his shoulders. And sighs.

"Yes." She answers his unasked question. "I was."

"Did you get lost? We could try to find your way home." Despite how he seems hesitant to be around her, Harley still wants to help him.

[betashiftblues]

"...Are you some kind of telepath? I didn't think humans had that ability."

The Andorian's antennae twitch ever so slightly one direction and then the other. He doesn't really talk to people much. Listening is usually more of his job. He's very very good at that.

"I...I did. I thought I was heading toward the place I'm working for the time being but..." He sighs and tries not to turn into a stuttery mess. "I must have taken a wrong turn somewhere and I'm not even sure where 'here' is. The screen human said a meeting place between worlds but that....isn't...very helpful."

[boldygoing]

Seeing a Starfleet uniform in these parts is rare. Seeing a Starfleet uniform that's not being worn by the handsomest captain this side of the Plaza, that's even rarer.

Speaking of which, here he is, still clad in shipboard gold and with a somewhat absent frown on his face. A fluffy, half-grown orange kitten lounges in his arms, its rumbling purr almost loud enough to draw attention from passersby. Jim is lightly shaken out of his thoughts at the sight of a familiar uniform, and after a moment's pause to make sure it's no one he recognizes, he approaches.

"Pretty sure everyone's broken a rule on accident sometime." Hmm. Maybe not Vulcans, actually, now that he thinks about it. "Depends on how big of a rule, I guess."

[betashiftblues]

If Norn had been paying attention to something other than the cacophony of voices and sounds and strangeness in the Plaza he definitely wouldn't have stopped someone wearing a Starfleet uniform when he's pretty sure he's in quite a bit of trouble as it is for this unscheduled outing.

Yet here's a command officer turning round and...and that startled yelp definitely didn't come from the young cat in Jim's arms.

"C-c-captain?! I was--that is--I mean--!" Oh no oh nooooo this is the worst thing. He's going to be kicked out and shipped back home and. And. Wait just a minute. "What's that on your face?"

[boldygoing]

Recognition of his rank - and face, probably - was expected, but the sheer panic that crosses the Andorian's face was not. Jim's own troubles are immediately shoved to the back burner, casual curiosity sharpening to a single focus, and even the kneazle turns his head to regard the blue man with an inquisitive mrrp?

Mrrp indeed. Maybe he hasn't served with enough humans to know what the hell a beard is, but why would he look so frightened? Jim throws a quick glance to the Andorian's sleeves. One stripe, okay. "...it's a beard, lieutenant. Most male humans can grow one."

[betashiftblues]

The Andorian continues to gape at him for several long seconds. Does the captain really not recognize him? Does he really think the comms lieutenant slept through his basic xenobiology classes? It's equal parts distressing and kind of offensive, but here he was ten seconds ago being afraid he'd be recognized.

It's a complicated sort of day all around.

"...I know what a beard is, sir."

[boldygoing]

Okay, Jim's 'something is hinky' alarm is getting louder the longer the lieutenant stares at him like he's got three heads. "Then... why'd you ask?"

In his arms, Zunar looks up at him contemplatively and gently pats at the captain's chin with one paw. Yep, definitely just a beard.

[conjuredskies]

Starfleet uniforms have a way of making Felix's head turn these days, never mind when he spots one in the Nexus. That's a benefit in this case, because if he weren't looking directly at the... Andorian, he thinks? Then he would probably have missed that soft question. And Norn likely wouldn't have addressed him either, but Felix doesn't realize that yet. He's wearing his 'Earth casual' clothes from Jim's world, which makes him one of the least-unfamiliar looking people around.

"Certainly!" Of course Felix is giving him a grin. "It's bound to happen every once in a while. Generally my first step is to make sure no-one notices. Really, if there's no harm done then why bother anyone over it?"

[betashiftblues]

Why does everyone seem happy about this conundrum of his? Doesn't anyone around here care about the laws that are in place?

Is this some kind of dimension full of miscreants?

"I..." If he can get back before anyone notices he's been gone that would be ideal. That's actually a really good point. Honor dictates he'd have to tell someone, his commanding officer even. But that prospect is very intimidating. He might just be better off getting back as quickly as he can. "I seem to have taken a wrong turn and I'm needed for a staff meeting..."

[conjuredskies]

It's a wild and lawless place, lieutenant. Open trafficking in contraband! Thieves and vandalism! People putting their feet on the tables!

Generally not all at once, though, so he'll have a little time to acclimate. Felix will help.

"Oh, I see. This is your first visit, is it? The Nexus tends to take people unawares that way. Nothing to worry about." Well, that staff meeting is a small complication, if only because this fellow looks worried about it. And there's that 'we don't tell Starfleet about this' thing he's discussed with Jim before. Hmm.

"Well, let's see. Where were you meant to be?"

[betashiftblues]

He wouldn't mind so terribly much if it wasn't his problem. Norn still isn't completely up to speed on where 'here' even is. It's definitely not Yorktown though and he knows he didn't step into a transport station before arriving here. Everything past that is the uncomfortably kind of 'sir we're about to have a spacetime anomaly' hazy though.

Norn's heard all about those. He'd rather not be involved. Too bad he's on rather the wrong ship for that.

"...My ship, well. We don't have a ship strictly speaking a-at the moment but. My crew have been using one of the Starfleet office briefing rooms for planning out itineraries and...and other work. The captain is holding several meetings today, one for each shift."

[conjuredskies]

"You don't have a ship...?" Wait. How many crews without ships does Starfleet have at a given time? True, their wrecks sound far more survivable than those back home - they have escape pods, whatever those are, and such - but still. And that schedule for today sounds... strikingly familiar.

"Which, ah, which captain would that be?"

[readvondaniken]

"Me? Break rules?" Palmer smirks, a little arrogantly. He is a rule-breaker by nature. He'd been a gang member once, for goodness sakes, and while reformed he is not ashamed of his past. Anyway, he believes breaking rules isn't always a bad thing. "Only all the time, and not by accident. Well, more when I was a bit younger. Mostly I tried to make sure I wasn't there when the fallout happened, y'know?"

A few days in jail made an impression on teenage Palmer, even if it only made him decide not to get caught next time he caused trouble.

[betashiftblues]

This seems to be a trend running throughout humans who visit this place. Still, it's nice not to see them staring in fear or concern about his appearance. When he read this place was a meeting place of worlds and times, the Andorian sort of assumed that would mean a lot of individuals who would not be used to seeing folk from other worlds.

It's a bit refreshing to be wrong in this case.

But it still puts him in a den of makra with little more than his wits to defend himself with.

"Running away is certainly A Plan of action, I suppose. But suppose there was nowhere to run to. What would you do then?"

[readvondaniken]

Palmer shrugs - he'd never been in a situation where there was nowhere to run, and that isn't a place where he really wants to be. His answers to potential threats are running, then hiding, and, if there's no other option, fighting. Palmer isn't above a brawl if one is the only option, although he's a mellow guy at heart. He hadn't lived this long without knowing how to throw a punch.

"If I can't run..." Palmer thought about his answer. "Guess I'd have to fight back. Assumin' it's something I can fight."

If he couldn't even fight, he genuinely has no idea what else he could do in response.

[betashiftblues]

The fight or flight response. How institutionally primitive. It startles a surprised chuckle out of the quiet Andorian though. He's quick to bring a hand up to cover his mouth as though he'd said something wrong immediately after.

"I'm not looking to fight my fleet, I don't think. I am in a place I should not be but it is by accident. I hardly want to run from them or fight them. Getting back should be my primary objective. Explaining things I suppose will have to come next."

[readvondaniken]

Palmer doesn't take the response badly. After all, he's used to being laughed at, and the stranger's friendly. He laughs himself, a short chuckle to clear the air and to show there are no hard feelings.

"A fleet?" He listens to the stranger's story, shaking his head. "You're in charge of a fleet?" His mouth almost hangs open. He had already guessed the stranger is an alien, but hadn't nailed him as a captain. "And you're lost, I guess."

[bestworstfriend]

Ozu really isn't used to blue people, or horned people, but he is taking his time to get used to the Nexus - since it doesn't seem like he can get back home, anyway. And it's probably for the best that he doesn't go back right now...

Which, speak of the devil. He's getting pretty used to rolling with strange sights now, so when the person who looks like a Blue Oni speaks up, Ozu stops, leaning on his crutch, and smiles at him.

"I try to break rules on purpose whenever I can," he says cheerfully. "But if it's an accident, maybe you could try apologizing? Personally, I usually try to avoid any aftermath, I don't like it when things get complicated."

[betashiftblues]

"...Are you okay?"

Is this person perhaps half-Vulcan like one of his commanding officers is? It hardly matters one way or another. To be using an old fashioned crutch seems inefficient and worrisome for the healing of whatever ailment causes need for it in the first place. The Andorian's own question is pushed aside for the moment as he studies this newcomer.

"Do you need....medical attention?"

[bestworstfriend]

"I'm okay!" Ozu reassured, waving his free hand. "I've already been to the hospital. Unless there are more advanced ways of healing broken bones here, but people would probably have a lot of questions back home if I was suddenly healed like that."

Not that it wasn't tempting now that the idea had been planted in his head. He had a pretty "deal with the consequences, if there are any, later" approach, one that sometimes bit him in the ass.

[betashiftblues]

"W-well, I don't see a medical station nearby. An osteogen would help....but we don't seem to have access to one. I'm sorry, sir."

So long as the man seems to be alright Norn doesn't feel too bad but it's rather strange to see people in such primitive means of treating wounds. This place certainly does take all kinds.

"May I ask...where you're from?"