SIM:German Galven - The Opposite of Social Distancing

((Main Science Office, StarBase 118))

German had been reading the newest reports from Alora and Kudon's algorithm project and was pleasantly surprised and impressed how well they worked together on getting the algorithmic data translated and sent to the Klingons. He normally would've worked alongside them, but with all the PADDs that accumulated on his desk, he needed to get those done for Nijil to sign and approve.

Once he updated the team's mission report and signed off on it, he sent it via email to the XO's office and then went down to the science department to express his gratitude to Alora and then to engineering to do the same with Kudon.

When he walked into the room, he saw a few plants on the windowsill and smirked. Yeah, Alora had definitely been making some rather interesting improvements to the office which was even more endearing about her personality. He saw her sitting at the desk in the chair swiveled around with her back behind him.

Galven: Excuse me, miss?

Around that chair twirled, once, twice, then she stopped to face him.

DeVeau: Hi!

Alora pressed her hands against the arms of the chair so that German could have it back.

Galven: ::raises his hand:: No need to get up. ::chuckles and smiles:: I can sit over here. I just came to tell you how incredible you and Kudon did regarding the 'Death Fog" project.

German sat down in the chair on the opposite side of the desk. Ever since Alora had been posted on the starbase, he wanted to give her the amount of respect she deserved because even though they were both the same rank, she had more tenure. Which the least he could do was let her work in his office.

DeVeau: Thank you. Kudon’s crazy smart - and definitely passionate about his work. He’s easy to work with.

Alora motioned to the area surrounding them.

DeVeau: Thank you, too, for letting me use your office. Let me know when you want it back.

Galven: ::rolls his eyes, smirks:: It's been a relief off my shoulders since I have two offices. I can't really be in both places at once unless I time travel back and forth between offices. ::The thought made him start to laugh::

Deveau: Well, I won’t complain about you letting me use it. What’s so funny?

Galven: I tend to make temporal scientist jokes at my own expense. That way other people can laugh and feel more comfortable around me. ::runs his hand through his hair:: My line of work tends to make others feel uneasy.

Not Alora. Could German help her? Alora wasn’t sure what sort of clearance he had, so she couldn’t divulge information. Commander Foster, however, would know - and surely, if he thought German could be helpful in figuring out a cure, he would conscript the Denobulan in the endeavour.

DeVeau: It’s a shame none of my jokes ever get such a reaction.

Galven: What do you mean? I've laughed at a few already.

DeVeau: I’m pretty bad at telling them. Sometimes I don’t get them, then people have to explain them, and it ruins the joke. For them. Not necessarily for me.

Galven: Believe me, it took a long while until I finally figured out a way to gain back my sense of humor.

DeVeau: Gained /back/? What do you mean?

He leaned back in his chair and heavily sighed. His own past had gotten the best of him a few times. He glanced over her shoulder out the window and stood up to adjust the holo-view which could be changed to any kind of skyline, city, planet, and then some. When he punched in his passcode, the view changed into his family's home and front yard.

Galven: Are you busy at all right now? It's a fairly long story.

DeVeau: Well, you’re the Chief. You scheduled me. I believe my shift technically ends in…::Alora tapped her triPADD:: Five minutes.

Galven: Well, it's either I tell it here or we can go out and get something to eat. ::turns around, looking befuddled:: I mean, err.. a social… gathering, like… two individuals… Hmm.

DeVeau: Well, if my boss is willing to let me off five minutes early, we could go get something for dinner, but I don’t know if he will. He’s pretty strict.

Galven: ::feigns shock:: He must sound like an awful person to work for. Although, I have a feeling he would let you get off work early this one time. ::winks::

DeVeau: Well, if you’re sure he won’t mind…

Alora pushed herself to her feet. She was curious about the story German was going to tell, and she didn’t mind taking the time to sit and listen.

DeVeau: What do you feel like?

Good question. He thought about the places he hadn’t been to as often as he’d like. There was one particular place that he fancied and the food was always really good. He stood up and started to walk towards the door.

Galven: Do you like Italian food? There’s this pretty popular place called Piazza di Tre where there’s a unique twist.

Alora followed, nodding in affirmation at the question the Denobulan had posed.

DeVeau: I do indeed. Honestly, there aren’t many foods I don’t like. Coffee is actually something I don’t like. I’m trying to think of something else, but can’t at the moment. So yes, Italian is good.

Galven: Well, then. ::extends his hand and swirls it pointing with all fingers out the door:: After you, Alora.

DeVeau: Such a gentleman.

Alora grinned and passed through the doorway, though she paused so that she could walk alongside her companion rather than lead him onward.

DeVeau: Probably best if you tell me where to go. While I know where the basic sectors are, I don’t know where the specific shops and restaurants are.

Finding Little Risa was easier than finding a smaller restaurant.

Galven: I mean, if I didn’t have this job, I would certainly be a badass tour guide. You can’t deny that after the first one with Sal. ::chuckles::

DeVeau: Nope. I can’t.  ::She paused briefly.:: You call him by his first time. Are y’all friends?

Galven: We're getting better acquainted. He's been an incredible mentor and Commanding Officer.

They both walked into the turbolift and German requested for the desired deck which the computer chirped in confirmation. He turned to continue with what he was saying before.

Galven: It did take some time for me to call him by his first name. He and the rest of the crew were very welcoming when Sheila and I transferred.

DeVeau: He seems nice, though I’ll be honest, I’ll have a difficult time calling him by his first name unless he gives permission. Though...I have called half of my captains by their first names, but we became friends before that happened. One is actually a business partner.

Galven: Oh? Who would that be?

DeVeau: Aaron Kells. We sort of started a business together. He and the manager I put in place kept it going this past year while I was gone.

German arched an eyebrow and was wondering if she was about to talk about what she's actually been doing for the past year. When he looked through her file when she was posted on Ops, there was a lot of redacted information that was classified.

Galven: What type of business would that be?

DeVeau: Trading mostly, delivering goods, but all clean and legitimate.

He smirked, then shook his head. The Denobulan had been the same way during his twenties before Starfleet was even a thought in his mind. German hadn't divulged a lot about what his mother and he did while working in their family's science institute. That's when he thought of a new idea on where to take Alora.

Galven: On second thought, I have a better place in mind.

DeVeau: You do?

That piqued Alora’s curiosity. Not that she minded, she could be quite flexible if need be, it was just unexpected.

DeVeau: Where?

Galven: It's a surprise. ::glances at the panel:: Computer. Stop the turbolift, please.

Computer: Acknowledged.

DeVeau: What kind of surprise?

Galven: ::furrows his brows, smirking:: I'm afraid that's classified, Commander. Need to know basis and such. ::shrugs::

Alora laughed. She’d fed him that line when he’d asked what she’d been doing - and she couldn’t answer that.

DeVeau: You do realise I actually have the same security clearance level as you.

Galven: ::acts surprised:: What? You do? I wouldn’t have guessed… I might have to talk to the Captain about that. ::winks::

Alora just shook her head. She guessed she was going to have to just be patient and wait to see what he was doing.

DeVeau: All right, I’ll just follow your lead.

((Drydock, Deck 453))

German waltzed out of the turbolift, then presented with a wave of his hand as he waited for Alora to come out and stand beside him at the balcony that overlooked one of the many docking bays. At this particular deck stood parked a Galaxy class starship that was being maintenanced on which had been operating in the Trinity Sector and Jenatris Cloud.

Galven: Commander, I present to you the USS Avalon-A. She and her crew were on a three year duty tour.

Alora hesitated as she realised where they were headed. She held back and took a deep breath, then slowly inched her way forward.

DeVeau: Oh yeah? They ending their mission?

Galven: ::shakes his head:: The crew is on shoreleave too. It’s here only for a pit stop. ::turns around and stares longingly:: I was on a ship much like that one almost about a year ago. ::slightly bobs his head in her direction, still looking at the ship:: Have you heard of the Eagle Nebula?

DeVeau: No. I haven’t.

An inch more. Then more. Finally, she drew alongside German and closed one hand tightly on the railing, trying hard to focus on the ship rather than how far a drop it was.

Galven: Not that many people have. Completely unexplored region. We had just arrived, then…

The words couldn’t come out of his mouth. It was like he didn’t know how to end his sentence. He did a half somber chuckle, then brushed his hand along the railing as he gave one last look at the ship, then started to head over to another area, further down an incline which the path led to the next deck.

Alora followed, keeping a tight hold on that railing. She didn’t move quite as fast or as confident as German, but she tried her best to keep up.

DeVeau: Is this your favourite ship? Do you hope to command it some day?

Galven: I don’t know. There’s so many different classes of starships that any of them would be a humbling opportunity to take command of one day. What about you? ::notices her tight grasp on the railing:: Are you okay?

DeVeau: I’m fine. Just...heights and I don’t get along.

She smiled a little, but kept moving.

DeVeau: Just uh...let me take my time.

Clearing her throat, she tried to straighten up and not let her legs quake so much.

DeVeau: I don’t want command. It’s...just not something I’m aiming for.

Galven: Let’s get you level and over to a deck that’s safer.

German took her hand and held it to help steady Alora in case she lost her balance. He didn’t want her to feel uneasy and wouldn’t be able to experience what he was.

DeVeau: You don’t have to do that.

Though Alora didn’t let go. Honestly, it was nice to have a calming presence there. One of these days, she really needed to work on getting over it, but today was not that day.

Galven: Just don’t look behind you. ::speaks slower, calmer:: Look at me. You’ll be fine. Hey, there’s a food court down at deck 1. ::shares his gaze with hers:: I’ve never been, want to come along?

DeVeau: Yeah, let’s do that.

Her smile broadened a bit and she relaxed, grateful that he was willing to sympathize. As they went lower, she relaxed further, and Alora breathed more easily now that the height was up, and they were down.

((Staff Food Court, Deck 1))

DeVeau: Sorry about that.

Galven: ::waves off:: Oh, don’t you worry. I have plenty of things that cause my own anxiety to flare up. Although, I do have one question…?

DeVeau: Shoot.

Galven: ::tilts his head:: I don’t have my phaser, but even then I wouldn’t--

Alora laughed, finally shaking off the trepidation completely.

DeVeau: No no...not really. It’s a saying. It means, basically, ask me your question.

Galven: Oh! Right. Still quite the alien. ::chuckles:: How are you afraid of heights, but content with flying in a starship? You don’t have to answer nor am I owed one. Only curious.

DeVeau: I know. It seems ironic doesn’t it. Honestly, I try not to think too much about the outside when I’m inside, but...even so, inside a ship, inside a base, I feel like I’m on solid ground.

Alora shrugged slightly. They continued to walk towards the food court as German listened to what she was explaining. Which he could emphasize with.

DeVeau: It’s like...being on the top floor of a building. I’m level, things are solid. Being somewhere and seeing the open and the drop down...I don’t know why, it just messes with me.

Galven: ::nods:: Very understandable. Next time, I’ll let you pick the destination. ::winks, then turns to the many selection of food establishments:: This reminds me of what they used to call a mall back in the late 20th century… There was even one huge mall I read about that had the same name as the country it was in. ::glances to Alora:: I sometimes ramble. Stop me at any moment. ::smirks::

DeVeau: It will not be up very high. Ramble all you want, it’s okay. I don’t know anything about this mall, but I guess it’s just not something that particularly drew my attention. What else did you read about it?

Galven: Well ,it’s not so much a mall. More like an underground food court for Disney character actors.

DeVeau: It sounds very much like the Commercial sector in general. So what do you feel like eating?

Galven: What do you have in mind?

Alora let her eyes roam from place to place, then shook her head.

DeVeau: I’m terrible at choosing.

Galven: Don’t worry. ::glances at Alora:: We can help each other choose.