Don't touch me there

Posted on Thu Jul 18th, 2024 @ 8:57am by Lieutenant Darru & Ensign Mercy Mourne

Mission: Remnant
Location: Personal Quarters
Timeline: 404
4198 words - 8.4 OF Standard Post Measure

It had been two days since their late-night research session which had ended in Mercy obliviously drawing up memories. Since then every time she had said hello or good-bye she had repeated that same gesture. Completely unaware of the implications or the impact. Despite the late nights and near-constant work, Mercy had still found time to complete one of the books he lent her, so she had come to his quarters, once again in her comfiest clothes. She knocked quietly.

Darru glanced up from looking over data at the knock surprised that it was a knock instead of the chime but either way rose as he called out - come in. He had been bringing work back to his quarters as it was hard to work in the lab with so many humans sometimes but it was also Ensign Mourne to deal with. He knew the human would be mortified when it came out what the gesture was but if he could limit his interactions it would be a lot less for her and the memories that she had stirred. But there she was in his quarters making it impossible. "Good Evening Ensign?" He questioned. He was dressed more informally with half his uniform undone and tied around his middle but it was not much more informal as everything else spoke of the fact he had been busy looking through the scans from the day.

Mercy smiled as she stepped inside, completely oblivious to the turmoil she had caused. “Sorry to interrupt you sir, I just wanted to give you this.” She offered him one of the books he leant her. “Thank you for letting me borrow it. I still haven’t started the others yet because of the extra shifts we’ve been doing, but if you need them back sooner I can bring them to you.” She looked around, surprised he seemed to be working in his quarters.

“Is everything alright sir?” Mercy could be oblivious in many ways, but her social anxiety meant she was often sensitive to subtle changes in people’s behaviour. “I was…” she had been about to say she was looking forward to his company on the late shift but then she suddenly realised that might be overstepping some boundary in their professional relationship. Perhaps she had already been overstepping by chatting too much when they worked? “Uhm… if there is anything I can do to help, you know I will be happy to. And if my chatter is too distracting I can always work more quietly so you don’t need to hide in here.” She gave him a self-deprecating grin, hoping it would help ease whatever had caused the change. “Apologies if that is why you chose to work here and not in the lab.”

The man looked at the woman and then at his desk. “I would not exactly call me being here hiding. There is limited space at the moment and I have the ability to work from this space.” The man explained tidying a couple of PADDs into a pile from where he had been going through them. “So you do not need to apologise.” He knew humans could worry unnecessarily but he had not considered she would read him so well.

Mercy flushed slightly, realising that in her worry she may have misconstrued her Lieutenant’s motives. The poor man clearly just wanted a little peace and here she was, picking at him with her anxiety. Despite Darru’s reassurances the tension did not leave her shoulders. “Ah, right sorry, I didn’t mean, of course you were just being considerate and leaving space for those who need it more. I should..” She glances at the door, then back to the Lieutenant. She probably should leave but she had missed the Lieutenants presence more than she had expected. “Have you had dinner yet sir?”

Darru looked at the woman unsure as he heard her stumbling through things. "I have not Ensign. I did not realise it was quite as late as dinner." He admitted having been going over the items and not having thought much about it all if he was honest. He wanted to offer more reassurance that it was him and not her but it was pointless to try he was not built for those type of words right there and then.

“Would you…” Mercy could feel her cheeks flush slightly, and it made her drop her gaze and hide behind her hair. “Would you care to join me for dinner? Or I could go and bring you something if you prefer to eat alone, but really you should eat something.” She stuttered out the awkward offer, wishing she had his book in her hands still. Suddenly not sure why to do with them, she fiddled with her nails a second and then shoved them into her pockets. “I was on the way there myself so it wouldn’t be out of my way.”

The man looked down at himself in half his uniform and started to untie the arms around his waist to shove his arms inside. Why was she acting shy? She was normally flustered yes but embarrassed was a new emotion that he did not quite know how to react to. "I will join you. Thank you for the invitation." He indicated that she could leave first.

Mercy looked up suddenly, surprised he would in fact join her. She blinked at him as she tried to decide if that was a good or something to be terrified of. “Oh really? Well that would be nice. I always think meals taste better in company. I know it is purely psychological but still…” She took a couple of steps towards the door, jumping slightly when she bumped the panel and it opened as if by magic. She let out a slightly strained laugh at her own clumsiness she then gestured for Darru to lead the way.

"I am sure there have been studies over it that agree," Darru answered keeping things purely factual as that seemed where she was comfortable enough to speak properly. He led the way to the turbolift allowing the silence to wash over here for a moment before he turned to look down at the human. "Have you had a... good day?" He had seen others ask that question and it seemed a good a way to bridge awkward gaps.

Mercy chuckled, not sure if Darru intended to be funny, but it was kind of amusing how accurate that statement was. “Probably, there’s usually a study out there about most aspects of human lives. I sometimes think we like to study ourselves as much as we do the rest of the universe. If not a little more.”

As they got to the lift she leaned across him to call for it, seemingly not bothered by the invasion of his personal space. Over the last few days she had spent so much time in close quaters with people in the lab she was starting not to notice such things. “A good day?” She asks a little bemused. Usually his questions weren’t so.. well, so human.

“Yes, I think so. To be honest, I haven’t really stopped to think about it. I’ve been so busy with all the data from the extra scans that I’ve hardly had a moment to think. Plus everyone else is working so hard.” She reached up for a moment, pressing her hand over her heart and she did a quick internal check. “But yes, I think it was good. Seeing everyone pull together in a time of crisis can be very humbling. Although, I am looking forward to not having to worry about it, and possibly for the chance to relax a little when it’s over. How about you? How’s your day been?” She then grinned. “My friends back home would ask each other, how’s your head, how’s your heart? You know if we wanted to check in on how someone was really feeling. Would stop us from giving a default ‘fine’ as an answer.”

The man nodded stepping into the lift. He stayed quiet allowing what she was saying to wash over him and allow himself to process what she was saying. It was such a human approach to life but it made sense for the species that launched themselves into space the way that they had. "Humans have a way of pulling together when things are against them." He said finally. "Vulcans would do it because it was logical but you do it because it is right."

The statement brought a smile to Mercy’s lips, and she found, without really meaning to, that she stood a little straighter too. “One could say sir that for us it is a logical choice. Curiosity and community were key factors in our success as a species. Although they express themselves emotionally they serve a very logical purpose in our continued survival.” She tilted her head. “Although I think your way of describing it is much more poetic, makes us sound quite noble really.” She grinned and then looked from him to the doors as they swished open. “I do notice though that you quite neatly side stepped my question about how you are doing.” She didn’t press him further, just pointed out what she noticed, a very gentle prodding and nothing more.

The man had no answer for how he was doing as the doors to the mess swished open and people came out. He stepped aside to let them pass before catching up with the woman. "I am as fine as I can be given the situation that we currently face." He assured as he joined the queue and set about grabbing some food from the limited options they now had.

Mercy opted for whatever option was hot. Since the briefing she had made a conscious effort to use less energy, even going so far as to switch the heating in her quarters down. “Is it just the fuel crisis occupying your mind?” She then added a drink to her tray before opting to pick a table tucked away in a corner where they could talk in relative quiet. “That’s fair enough if it is, it’s rather all consuming. I’ve been finding myself waking in the night with a little worry. I actually wanted to ask you a small favour really.” She gives him an apologetic smile as she slides into a seat. “Although I asked you to dinner more because I wanted to make sure you were eating. I know you don’t need to sleep as much as the rest of us, but no need to completely neglect all your-“ she broke off as her brain stuttered over what she had been about to say, quickly changing tracks before she could say something embarrassing. “No need to neglect your stomach.” There, much better than telling him not to neglect all his physical needs. Mercy gave herself a mental pat on the back for saving herself from that awkwardness at least.

The man grabbed soup, bread and a vegetable selection to make it something more. He followed to a seat and sat down with his back to the window before thinking about how to answer. He was not going to just come out and tell her without destroying the relationship he had built. "Yes, work is occupying me." He assured quickly. "I just get involved." He added tucking into the food.

“Well, that’s understandable. Have you always found that to be true? Getting so involved with your work I mean?” Mercy asked just before she took a bite of her food. A moment later she sucked in a sharp breath of air when she realised it was scalding hot still, grabbing for her water so she could take a gulp and soothe the burning inside her mouth. God dammit why could she never look cool in front of Darru?

The man pretended he did not notice how she panicked and went for her drink to cool whatever she had eaten that was too hot. He looked away as if he had been looking elsewhere around the room and nodded. "Yes I do get involved. My... It was was worse when I worked for the Vulcan Science Academy. Genetics is very different."

“Academic environments are very absorbing.” Mercy said with a smile once she was able to get control of her now burnt tongue. “After I graduated the Starfleet Academy I stayed a year or so to assist a professor there with research. Sometimes I wish I had stayed. Do you ever miss the Vulcan Science Academy? Or anything about your home?” She knew she was probing, all be it gently.

"I miss the heat but I do not miss anything else. I am challenged and I have always been fascinated by humans so I think I am in the right place." He admitted looking at her wondering what had prompted that question from her. "I have never been as challenged as I have been on this ship and that helped me move on from... from events in my pass."

“Oh I see.” Mercy took a smaller, more careful bite, chewing thoughtfully. “What fascinates you about humans?” She then smiles at the mention of being challenged. “I admire that you see challenge as something that should be sought out. What in your past has it helped you move on from?” She blinked at him innocently, then seems to realise just how personal that might be. Her mind swirled with all sorts of possibilities, scandalous affairs, maybe a brush with the law? “Ah, not that you need to tell me, sorry if I’m being too nosy.”

Darru looked up his mask falling for a moment before he shook his head. She had asked several times now so it only seemed fair to share with someone. “I lost someone.” He admitted quietly. “So getting away from everything was a welcome break. I think that is how you humans put it. “ he set about breaking apart the bread roll that he was using to soak up some of the soup.

“I’m sorry for your loss.” Mercy said, a look of careful sympathy on her face as she placed her utensils down to reach over and gave his arm a friendly, comforting squeeze. Withdrawing she then grabbed a drink. “You mentioned before it was a loss that led you to joining Star Fleet, was it someone close?” She then took a sip, her eyes still watching him carefully. With Darru the emotional signals were often very feint if there at all, so trying to understand what was underneath the stoicism was always challenging.

“I never joined Earth Starfleet. I was onboard as part of the exchange program.” He said buying himself several moments to work on how to explain to the woman. “It was my wife.” He finally admitted moving his hands to accepting her gesture just as she pulled away. He knew to humans he looked barely in his 30’s but he had a good decade or more on most of them.

Mercy choked on her drink as she took a sip. For a few terribly long moments she wheezed as she tried to clear her airways. Wife?! “S-sorry, wrong airway.” She gasped out then took a few moments to recover. “I’m so sorry, I had no idea you were married. That must have been difficult to lose her so young.” Mercy moved her hand back, this time squeezing a little tighter. “What was her name?”

Darru raised an eyebrow at the woman's reaction and looked unsure of how to help her. He glanced down at her hand on his and nodded. "T'linnaan." He said gently thinking about his deceased spouse for a moment. "You would not know unless you have seen my record and I do not even believe Leroux knows. It is not something that I have shared."

“T’linnaan, she had a beautiful name. You must miss her a lot. What… if it’s not too painful what was she like? Or if you would prefer I can change the topic?” Mercy offered the man opposite her with a small smile. “I might be nosy and incorrigible most days but I’d hate to actually pry into something you had difficulty speaking on.”

"It has been five years." He admitted. "She had a beautiful name indeed. It matched her beauty." He admitted closing his eyes to try and think about her for a moment before opening his eyes again. "She was a medic on a Maymora-class ship for the Vuclan Science Council." He did not need to tell her more there and then but he thought of many things he could tell her.

"Five years is not so long, I can understand how you might still find it difficult to speak of her." Mercy seemed to take a few moments considering her next words carefully. "My Grandmother used to say that those we have lost are kept alive in our memories of them, every time we speak about them, they visit with us." Mercy gave the man a sad smile of her own. "She lost her husband ten years ago and she came to live with us after. T'linnaan must have been very caring to be a medic. If you ever want her to visit, I'm happy to listen to your memories of her."

"Maybe another time." He did not want to admit that there and then was the first time he had spoken her name in nearly 4 years. It was not something that Vulcans believed but it was kind of her to offer that. Truly Humans were such a juxtaposition of a species, they were no kind but also so deadly at other times.

“Yes of course, perhaps instead you could help me with something?” Mercy lifted her hand off Darru’s arm with one last quick squeeze. “Would you share something about Vulcan with me? Maybe a custom or tradition your people have? I had been hoping to learn more but admit I am at a bit of a loss as to where to start.” She chose for the moment to keep to herself that her aim was to try and make Darru feel more connected and at home here.

Darru sat back straight and looked around. “We are not meant to eat with our hands.” He said indicating the bread roll. “But I have found that it does not change anything and bread rolls in a soup is quite nice. My species are missing out on this combination. Ensign O’Connery mentioned that people enjoy the little things in life and I guess that this is one of mine now.” It was not white custom or tradition he had kept but it was something.

Mercy looked down at the bread roll in surprise. “Oh really? I never knew that.” She had a moment of panic, where she thought of all the times she had eaten with her hands in the past. However Darru didn’t seem like he was offended, if anything he seemed to express pleasure. “Why is it that you don’t eat with your hands?”

Darru grew pensive and finally decided to tell her the truth as he saw it. "Hygiene is one but I believe the bigger reason is that it reminds us of the ancient and more "barbaric" beginnings." He admitted. "Civilised beings use utensils but after spending time here and seeing all the cultures on display that is wrong and I have forgone the glove I used to use if it was necessity."

“Interesting, there have been cultures in earth’s history who have thought the same thing, and others who believe the opposite. It’s amazing how food offers an insight into a culture isn’t it?” Mercy smiled and then spooned some of her food into her mouth, chewing thoughtfully and then swallowing. “So you must place civility highly as a social value to have such a cultural taboo about eating with your hands. Are there ways you celebrate such things? Festivals to good manners?” She added the last bit as a teasing example, hoping he would know despite the playfulness she was still genuinely interested.

Darru took several bites of the vegetables on his plate before nodding. "Kal Rekk which is the day of atonement, solitude, and silence. There are several other ones but they are not as well known outside of Vulcan and it has been many years since I have done them." He admitted thinking of the dark times where he had not wanted anything to do with himself and people.

"Kal Rekk?" Mercy repeated the words slowly, doing her best to get the pronunciation right. "Atonement, solitude and silence? Sounds very uhm... sombre. I'm guessing there is not a lot of dancing and singing and partying on Vulcan holidays? Was the chaos we cause on shore leave a bit of a shock to you the first time you saw it?" She grinned, even though she had been known to drink too much and hit the dance floor on shore leave, although usually she just tried to find somewhere quiet with a book or a sketchpad. "Ah speaking of which, do you think when we look for the deuterium we might be able to have some shore leave planetside?"

"Not all festivals or celebrations are designed to be human boisterous." It was a great Earth standard word that he enjoyed being able to use. Darru did not know if that was going to be an option if he was honest. "I am not sure Ensign. There might not be much time or the atmosphere might not be doable for us to leave suits." He said honestly. He hoped there was time but he could not give false hope.

Mercy chuckled and nodded. "Indeed, well, it's difficult for me to offer to celebrate a holiday of solitude with you, but if..." Mercy cleared her throat, suddenly she felt a bubble of nerves, although she wasn't sure why. She took a quick sip of her drink and then continued. "If you ever have other celebrations and you want to share, I would love to celebrate a less boisterous Vulcan holiday with you." She then gives a slightly wistful sigh. "Yeah, best not get wedded to the idea huh? Never know what we will find. And fuel is more important than fun at the moment. Still would nice to know there is something to look forward too."

"I am processing everything right now by just doing the next right thing," Darru advised. It was a logical way of doing things according to him but he also knew that sometimes people did not see it that way.

Looking down at their plates Mercy realised, with some regret they had both finished their meals. Standing up she leaned over the table, brushing her index and middle finger across his hands in a repeat of the gesture from a couple of days ago. Then before he could likely finish processing she had grabbed his empty plates and stacked them with her own. “I know Darru.” One of the rare times she used only his name. She offered what she hoped was a comforting smile.

“I always trust you will do the right thing by others. I’m just trying to make sure someone is looking out for you too. Now I’ll take these plates back, and you are free to go back to hiding in your quaters from the chaos of the Lab, let me warn you though sir. If I haven’t heard from you by tomorrow at dinner I will be swinging by to make sure you have at least eaten.”

Darru made a strangled noise as she did the touch on his hand again and then moved to take his dishes. “ It is undignified for a woman to play servant to a man that is not hers so please do not do that.”

Mercy blushed but then shook her head. “Play servant to a- what? Heavens no, sorry I didn’t mean to overstep. Carrying a colleagues dishes is just a simple act of kindness among humans. I was just trying to be polite! I didn’t mean to… oh Lord I mean I didn’t want to make you uncomfortable by imply- I would never- not that you are not very handsome even by human standards but it’s just- I was just-“ Mercy slapped a hand over her mouth before she could say something she really would regret. “Permission to run and hide sir?” She muttered between her fingers barely able to make eye contact with Darru. If he had thought her undignified before now she looked like a positive wreck.

Darru held up a hand. "I will leave." The man said firmly taking the dishes from her and quickly shoving them in the reclamation before disappearing out of the mess leaving the woman alone with as much confusion as he himself had.