TEXT; UN: J.SHEPPARD

[impavid]

Alright, new pop quiz. When you think of home, what do you think of?

[ Open question, which he's not going to expand on unless prompted -- though really he's curious about something specific. Do people consider Olympia or Wyver their home now? Maybe the Natha station? Or do they think of home worlds they've been told no longer exist? ]

Comments

[directives]

I haven't been swimming in years, unless you count holographic pools on the holodeck. It wasn't practical during away missions for a variety of reasons.

[ toxic chemical make ups, native fauna, not a recreational practice the populations of certain worlds observed, etc. ]

[impavid]

[ Do not worry, Janeway, this enthusiastic Californian man has got your back. ]

They've got a great beach near Olympia! Flona cove. Nice sand, great waves, or some lagoons back off the beach if you prefer not to hit the waves.

[directives]

[ one day she needs to tell him a good chunk of that state toppled off into the pacific ocean long before she was born, but that's a tale for another time. ]

Is there anything to watch out for in those waves, or is the sun's rays be the only thing I should be concerning myself with?

[impavid]

That and other people. There are some extremely friendly people here.

[directives]

Define "friendly."

[impavid]

The kind of friendly that deserves a sleazy backing track.

[directives]

Or a couple of black eyes and broken arms.

[ sleazy backtrack assholes try that with her and they'll find themselves introduced to a couple helpings of combat training. ]

[impavid]

Depends on the individual, but I've learned that a lot of cultural events here involve... everyone being encouraged to be more friendly. There's also a whole village where nudity is seemingly a thing.

[directives]

I see. I have nothing against the practices of other cultures as long as that encouragement doesn't become a requirement.

[impavid]

I feel the same. I've feigned interest in a lot of local variations on the harvest festival thing, but this is the first place where apparently being fed wine mouth to mouth is a thing and I'm not a fan. I prefer to go on a date first.

[directives]

At least buy someone dinner first.

I assure you, I've participated in far stranger rituals where my enthusiasm was anything but genuine, but put on enthusiastically on display nevertheless. Sometimes diplomatic relations involve feigning interest in things you would rather not be involved in.

[impavid]

Were you force fed wine too?

I wouldn't have minded if it was in a glass.

[directives]

No, but I'm quite fond of bloodwine, as long as it's a good vintage, and have participated in my fair share of bloodletting rituals.

[ #klingons ]

[impavid]

[ Oooh, saucy, but possibly... unsanitary? ]

What's bloodwine!

[directives]

A type of wine made from fermented berries, sugar, and blood -- though that isn't nearly as horrifying as it sounds. It's a staple among the Klingons of Qo'nos and highly symbolic to their warriors. To refuse a glass before, in the midst of, or following a battle would be a great insult.

[impavid]

Have they heard of blood borne viruses?

[directives]

Necessary precautions are taken.

[impavid]

Not to be a downer but where I'm from, there are still lethal blood borne viruses in existence so forgive me for showing some caution.

[directives]

Blood borne pathogens aren't always transmittable between varying species, and the medical advancements of the 24th century have come a long way.

[ the only "super power" she entered this world with was having been vaccinated against an array of things human beings usually find themselves plagued with. ]

[impavid]

[ 24th Century! Wow, he feels... old fashioned. ]

Well, I'm barely out of the twentieth century so you could probably teach me a thing or two.

[directives]

[ she won't tell him that she once referred to having to use a keyboard interface as "stone knives and bear skins" while attempting to touch type — something someone from her century never had to sit down and learn. ]

As long as you repay the favor. I'm sure there's as much I could learn from your century as you could from mine.

[impavid]

I might have a few tricks up my sleeve. What's it like? The twenty-fourth century.

[ Since he's not exactly going to see it on earth, given that earth is... you know. ]

[directives]

That depends on what you're hoping I compare it to.

[impavid]

Nothing. Don't compare it, just tell me about it. What you like, what you don't like, that kinda thing.