No, I've noticed that you and Commander Spock watch one another quite often. I suppose if my stare is anything like his, there's another similarity between Vulcans and Romulans that can go in some researcher's notes.
I'm afraid that it's going to take longer than a few months for me to break the habits of a lifetime.
[ he considers changing the subject, then, but.. what does it hurt for him to admit it? ]
It's not just you. I know quite a lot about the Federation and about Starfleet, but it's mostly data. You naturally live very differently from my people.
I mean, it's pretty natural we'd look at each other a lot. There are similarities, but his is also pretty specific. I guess I should clarify, too. When I say "predator stare" it's not implying anything necessarily untoward. More "intense in a way a lot of people have no clue what to do with" than "actively going to unhinge your jaw to eat someone" or whatever.
Luckily, time is a thing we've got.
Ah, a more general "you." I get it. I think it's pretty common for people to be curious and interested in that kind of thing, especially when they're coming from something super different. You ever wanna ask about weird stuff, go ahead. I know some of the crew are still kind of wary but they'll figure themselves out eventually.
Specific to you? I didn't assume you meant literally predatory. I certainly wouldn't be roaming the Enterprise so freely if I were likely to eat one of your crew, I'm sure.
It's natural that they're wary. This ship and this crew have a history with at least one Romulan and his grudge. Knowing that, I don't always know how to express it, but I'm grateful for what you and the commander have done for me.
Pretty singular in that way, yeah. A lot of people get kind of unsettled when they first meet us because they make weird assumptions, hence the reminder that I'm fully aware it's not a literally predatory thing.
We do our best to not give blanket judgements around here even when it's hard. Another thing this crew has in common is a whole hell of a lot of us have spent time not being treated like our own person, so I'd like to think it comes easier to remember that one person's not a monolith.
People love to have all kinds of opinions about what Vulcans are like despite never meeting one, for example. Can't tell you how many people have tried to "explain" to me that my XO hates me. Or plans to kill me. That guy was pretty anxious in general though, he thought a whole lot of wacky shit.
Yeah, we're pretty bad at conformity. More so than most other crews, honestly.
Ah. Yes. I forget at times that Commander Spock is an unusual sight aboard a Starfleet ship. [ particularly now, in this timeline, in which vulcans are the endangered species. ]
He did scream when he first noticed me. He's lucky that I'm not my sister. [ the jibbering weirdo, he means. ]
Considering the various personalities of your command crew, I'm not surprised.
I've been told that more Vulcans join later, in other times. I'm not sure how much that'll happen here, but I hope so. One of the biggest strengths of Starfleet, at least in my opinion, relies on continued diversity.
Have you still been staring at him during this conversation, by the way? He's safe and sound in there or whatever, snug as a bug in a rug, never escaping the brig, etcetera, so if you haven't yet feel free to, uh, do some other leisure activity.
I've got a good crew. Best in the fleet, and that one's not opinion.
I expect that given enough time, there will be others here. Perhaps not in our lifetimes, though.
No. I already got what I wanted out of him. The report should be waiting for you. I didn't torture him. [ .. just in case that was in question. that much was thankfully never part of his duties. ]
Thanks. I'll take a look. [ then: ] Didn't figure you did, but the confirmation's always appreciated.
[ because one, narek really does not seem like the kind of guy one would task with being a torturer, and two, the very very clear and firm chat ANY newcomer gets, especially ones from other timelines, about how we simply do not fucking commit war crimes or any of that nonsense here on the enterprise. ]
Perhaps given enough time, the same thing that happened in my timeline will happen here, and Romulans and Vulcans will begin to find new common ground. I expect they'll need to eventually. Romulus is still doomed, after all.
[ forewarned being forearmed, maybe the senate and praetor here will eventually listen to reason, and begin looking for a new homeworld.. but he's not particularly hopeful, considering. ]
It seemed prudent to put it in writing, so to speak.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
trashtalker) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
bakerstreet2025-05-22 09:00 pm
3 shrug
[ though that could be because of the romulan staring at him like a bug under a glass. ]
help
no subject
[ he says, a lying liar that lies. ]
no subject
[ jim was completely unaffected, however. he's used to the predator stare. ]
no subject
[ completely believable from the tal shiar defector. ]
I watch you to learn.
no subject
There are lots of fun ways to learn that don't involve lengthy stretches of staring, Narek. Such as asking, but like, in a chill way.
[ fighting a losing battle there, probably. and— ]
What do you want to learn about me in particular, anyway?
no subject
I'm afraid that it's going to take longer than a few months for me to break the habits of a lifetime.
[ he considers changing the subject, then, but.. what does it hurt for him to admit it? ]
It's not just you. I know quite a lot about the Federation and about Starfleet, but it's mostly data. You naturally live very differently from my people.
no subject
Luckily, time is a thing we've got.
Ah, a more general "you." I get it. I think it's pretty common for people to be curious and interested in that kind of thing, especially when they're coming from something super different. You ever wanna ask about weird stuff, go ahead. I know some of the crew are still kind of wary but they'll figure themselves out eventually.
no subject
I didn't assume you meant literally predatory. I certainly wouldn't be roaming the Enterprise so freely if I were likely to eat one of your crew, I'm sure.
It's natural that they're wary. This ship and this crew have a history with at least one Romulan and his grudge. Knowing that, I don't always know how to express it, but I'm grateful for what you and the commander have done for me.
no subject
We do our best to not give blanket judgements around here even when it's hard. Another thing this crew has in common is a whole hell of a lot of us have spent time not being treated like our own person, so I'd like to think it comes easier to remember that one person's not a monolith.
no subject
That you prize such individuality at all is still fascinating to see in person. We're encouraged to conform.
[ 'encouraged'. ]
no subject
Yeah, we're pretty bad at conformity. More so than most other crews, honestly.
no subject
He did scream when he first noticed me. He's lucky that I'm not my sister. [ the jibbering weirdo, he means. ]
Considering the various personalities of your command crew, I'm not surprised.
no subject
Have you still been staring at him during this conversation, by the way? He's safe and sound in there or whatever, snug as a bug in a rug, never escaping the brig, etcetera, so if you haven't yet feel free to, uh, do some other leisure activity.
I've got a good crew. Best in the fleet, and that one's not opinion.
no subject
No. I already got what I wanted out of him. The report should be waiting for you.
I didn't torture him. [ .. just in case that was in question. that much was thankfully never part of his duties. ]
no subject
Thanks. I'll take a look. [ then: ] Didn't figure you did, but the confirmation's always appreciated.
[ because one, narek really does not seem like the kind of guy one would task with being a torturer, and two, the very very clear and firm chat ANY newcomer gets, especially ones from other timelines, about how we simply do not fucking commit war crimes or any of that nonsense here on the enterprise. ]
no subject
[ forewarned being forearmed, maybe the senate and praetor here will eventually listen to reason, and begin looking for a new homeworld.. but he's not particularly hopeful, considering. ]
It seemed prudent to put it in writing, so to speak.