Star Trek: Starbase 777 - for-the-record

Standing somewhere in the back of the shop Evoras was looking through records and doing her best to give off ‘I’m busy, but don’t need your assistance’ vibes. She was still in her uniform from her shift that had ended about an hour ago, but was wearing a poncho with a hood over it, because she had been cold and she couldn’t simply raise the temperature of public spaces by the approximately 15° she would like them to be warmer. The reasonable thing might have been staying in her quarters, which would have negated this conflict altogether, but she was in need of a present for a friend of hers. It was almost not worth the energy cost to travel that far only to return two days later, she mused as she pulled out a record and flipped it over. After staring at it for a few moments, she had to admit that she had no idea what the music in her hands was exactly and whether it was something her friend might find pleasant. Her personal music expertise began and ended with Vulcan children's songs, specifically the ones from the red desert, most of the credit for that going to her mother of course, and if you were being generous with some old songs about the mountains there, that she had learned from her father. The record in her hands was Klingon, which quite decidedly did not fall into that category. Yes, she had heard some Klingon music before, but that was during a mandatory class on cultures that she was certain would have been far more engaging if the lecturer had been replaced with a statue.

K'tehka was ambling about through the station's shopping plaza when a shop window covered in posters caught his eye. He walked toward it and peered inside, noting the rows upon rows of shelves lined with music albums. As he approached, he could hear a low melody coming from inside the store, some sort of soft lilting tune he couldn't place. 'Interesting,' he thought to himself, and he strode into the shop, heavy booted footsteps clunking as he walked. He was hard to miss, a hulking mass of a man with big fluffy salt and pepper hair, and even fluffier furs adoring his shoulders and boots. He smelled of well oiled leathers and some sort of earthy spiced cologne. It was evident he cared much about his grooming, in a Klingon way. He was very proud and it showed. K'tehka waved at the shopkeep and greeted them in Klingon, voice booming, "nuqneH, shopkeep! Can you point me in the direction of any Klingon operas?" They pointed toward the back, where K'tehka headed immediately, finding himself just a few feet from a woman who didn't seem like she wanted to be bothered. Naturally, he ignored that social cue and pointed to the album she was holding. "That's a classic! You have good taste." A giant smile appeared on his bearded face, and he half turned to rifle through some of the albums on the shelf in front of him.

Evoras, despite being almost the same height as K’tehka, was less broad. Her hair was as usual for her braided into a single long braid. In general she looked very neat, even if the somewhat worn out poncho didn’t quite fit together with the uniform she wore underneath. It had a faded looking light green colour and appeared to have been carefully mended with small colourful fabric flowers more than a few times. Despite hearing someone approach she did not immediately look up, because she perhaps foolishly did not expect to be addressed. Careful not to appear startled by the fact that he had decided to speak to her, she slowly turned to look at him and raised her eyebrow once she’d processed what he had just said. Her eyes flicked back down to the record she was holding. The title didn’t mean anything to her. “It is? That is good to know. I am afraid I picked it up entirely coincidentally.” Perhaps it was not what she was looking for then, if it really was a classic odds were her friend already knew it. She put it back, between the exact two records she had taken it from, before hesitantly pulling out another record. The cover was in shades of grey, but the font was a bright neon yellow that she disliked instantly. Glancing back towards the person that’d just talked to her she decided she might as well ask for a second opinion seeing as hers was entirely uninformed. “Do you have any recommendations that are perhaps less well known? Only if it is not a bother of course.”

K’tehka turned his head back toward the woman in the poncho, noting its intricate patchwork and faded color. It seemed to be a well loved article of clothing. He wondered idly what kind of stories it told, before turning his attention back to the woman. After all, she had asked him a question. “Ah, yes. The first one you picked up is a high drama about two star crossed lovers, fighting between warring houses!” He raised a large hand to his beard, round fingers with short nail-beds that brushed his cropped peppery facial hair thoughtfully. He seemed to consider her question for a moment, before letting out a raucous, “Aha!” and pointing to an album in the mix where she had just pulled the second one from. “There!” He gestured for her to grab it. He was a Klingon, and very expressive, but he would not encroach on a stranger’s personal space. At least not immediately or without some indication that it might be welcome. “I suppose how well known the opera is might be dependent upon how well versed one is in the canon, eh? May I ask who you are buying for? Obviously someone who has some knowledge then? Are they older, younger? There are many particulars that we must consider in order to find something…niche!” He laughed heartily. “But that one, with the monk on it and the caves, that one is not as well known as the first one or the one you are currently holding.” He nodded, waiting for her to unearth the third album. (edited)

Star crossed lovers… Well her friend definitely knew that one then. She personally did not really understand the appeal of that particular trope, at least not in most renditions of it that she had been persuaded to consume, Evoras slowly reached for the record he pointed at and returned the one she had been holding to its previous place. “My purchase is meant to be a present for a friend. I do not exactly have a list of all the music they are acquainted with.” She raised an eyebrow. “They are 44 and at least somewhat familiar with Klingon music, although as far as I am aware they mostly focus on other cultures. Which in part is why I opted for it. This way my chances of finding and purchasing something they do not already possess is marginally better.” Turning the record with the monk around in her hands, she inspected it despite not knowing what half the descriptors on the packaging meant. “And you would say this one is good?” She paused and tilted her head to the side. That had not come out the way she had intended it to, perhaps she was more tired than she had thought. “I appreciate the assistance. Apologies if that sounded like I was doubting your judgement. What is this one about?”

K'tehka nodded, a curious look crossing his features. "Hmmm," he hummed thoughtfully. "Do not worry, I am not insulted!" He laughed heartily and pointed at some of the writing in Klingonese on the album that Evoras was holding in her hands, taking a step closer to gesture more specifically. "Yes, I think that one is good. It is by a more obscure composer, and is an arrangement that tells the story of the Clerics of Boreth and their devotion to Kahless." He nodded matter of factly, as if what he had said explained it all. Of course, he would elaborate if asked. "There are not many copies of that one in circulation. It would be a unique addition to your friend's collection, at the very least." He stroked his beard idly with his free hand. "Though, if they are not much into Klingon opera, and they are somewhat younger, they may enjoy Klingon acid punk? It sounds much too like cacophonous noise to me!" He cackled and shook his head, his hair bouncing from side to side.

Evoras turned the cover over in her hands, once again inspecting it closely, as though what K’tehka had just said made more than the vaguest amount of sense to her. “I believe they would prefer this.” Her friend would have been disappointed, but not surprised, at her getting them ‘cacophonous noise’. After all, according to them, her taste in music was completely nonsensical with no regard whatsoever for quality. Perhaps she should buy herself Klingon acid punk to test whether it was good music to draw to. On occasion it was good to have background noise and she had found that while she was always tempted to listen closely to conversations, the same did not apply to lyrics. “Thank you for the assistance.” She nodded her head towards him. “What did you come here looking for? It is unlikely that I will be able to return the favour in kind, but perhaps I saw something while looking through the shop. My memory is more adequate.”

“Ah, well it IS a good find. I have a copy back home on Q’onoS that I was not able to bring with me when I moved to this Starbase. I hope they will enjoy it, and if they have an eclectic taste like you say, then I think they will!” K’tehka smiled brightly. “You are most welcome.” He listened and a thoughtful look crossed his features. He considered Evoras’ question for a moment. “I recently made a move to this Starbase. I was looking for a new beginning, somewhere to lay my head and have fun in my later years.” He laughed heartily, a hand resting on his round belly. “So I came here to replace some possessions, make my new quarters a bit more like a home!” He looked at Evoras and offered a large hand to shake. “I am K’tehka, son of Th’omon. It is a pleasure to meet you!”

“I do not frequent the shops here but if you are looking for any specific items I can attempt to point you into the right direction. One way or another if one looks for long enough it’s possible to find an impressive arrangement of things. I hope your quarters and the starbase as a whole has met your expectations so far.” Evoras stopped herself from jokingly remarking on how it was a good place to live aside from the bomb threats and the power outages et cetera. She had no interest in scaring or throwing K’tehka off. The offered hand caught her off guard, even though it shouldn’t have by all accounts, with how many times she’s been in this exact situation before. She searched her pockets for gloves but was relieved when she found she had none on her at the moment. Instead she nodded her head in greeting and raised her hand to a ta’al. “Evoras. The sentiment is returned in kind.”

"Oh right! Excuse me for the mistake." K'tehka nodded back to Evoras, happy to have learned her name and officially greeted her now. "Sometimes I forget proper etiquette. It is good to meet you, Evoras." He smiled again, hoping he hadn't offended her too much. He really should have known by now that not everyone shakes hands or is open to touching. He felt a bit bad about it but was grateful Evoras handled the awkwardness with such grace and tact! "As for the Starbase, my quarters, and the shops - I have not explored much. I do not think that I am looking for anything in particular, and I am having a glorious time here so far. Maybe I would be interested in some plants from Q'onoS, some books, records to play while I piddle about here and there. Maybe some produce? The replicator is standard but I prefer fresh food, especially when it comes to Klingon food..." He trailed off, thinking now about all of the things he could fill his little quarters with. "How long have you lived here? Are you an officer on board or a civilian, if you do not mind me asking?" He smiled happily at her and thumbed through some records in front of him idly as he waited for her reply.

“There is no need to apologise. It is evident that you meant no offence and this is far from the first time this has happened to me.” In the great scope of things Evoras had been greeted in far more off putting ways than an offer to shake hands, even if that didn’t change the fact that she thought handshakes odd and uncomfortable. “I am certain you will find there are quite a number of places to explore if one cares for it. Whenever I am on this level I seem to find something new, although that is certainly at least partially because I do not exactly frequent any of the shops. I hope you find what you are looking for even if you are still uncertain what it is.” Looking around at the records without a true goal in mind, she took note of some of the covers, be they an assault on the eye or really quite aesthetically pleasing. She really wasn’t familiar with how or where one might acquire produce on the station. The only times she ate non replicated food were the rare occasions on which she went to a restaurant… and tea every now and then, if that even counted. “The preference for fresh food seems to be somewhat common. I personally do not understand it. Replicated meals are adequate in taste and nutrients…” She was also not a good cook, so her self made meals would likely not be an improvement compared to food from a replicator. “There are a number of restaurants available and whilst I can not speak on the authenticity of the Klingon food they serve, most of them serve food with satisfactory taste.” Raising an eyebrow Evoras pulled up the poncho, revealing more of the uniform she was still wearing underneath. “Science, in case you were wondering. I have been here for almost two and a half years… What do you or did you do for a living?”

He nodded and gave a little grunt in response. He was grateful for her understanding and committed himself to not offering her a hand in the future, assuming they would meet again. He would like that! "This Starbase is quite large. A friend visited here before I did and told me of its size and variety of shops, environments, and people. I am happy to say it has not disappointed me!" He laughed heartily. "Thank you," he said, nodding. He hoped he would find what he wanted as well, though if all of the shops were as eclectic and interesting as this one, he was sure he would find things to adorn his quarters with. "Oh yes, replicated food is adequate, nutritionally, but the taste? Nothing beats fresh gagh or racht!" He grinned at her. "And of course there are other things. Maybe it is all in my head, as they say, but I do find myself happier when I am eating non-replicated foods. Ah well, I can still be grateful that food is at my fingertips whenever I want it! Many years ago, people were not so lucky." It was his turn to raise an eyebrow now, albeit with a smile on his face. "I will have to try some of the Klingon restaurants, then. Thank you for letting me know."

15:21

He nodded and hummed, peering at the blue on her uniform but not intensely. He'd always thought Starfleet Uniforms were...boring. Not enough spikes! Or armor! Though, the KDF didn't put a lot of science officers on board their vessels. A few, here and there, but... His thoughts trailed off and he came back to the moment. "Ah, two and a half years, eh? That is quite a long time. I hope you find your position to be satisfactory," he said, a little glitter in his eyes. "And as for me? Well, mm," he paused for a moment. He didn't really want to tell this random woman he was a former KDF Captain. "Like many Klingon warriors before me I served the Empire, and now I am but a simple man, enjoying the pleasures of a life well-lived." He smiled at Evoras again, his pointy teeth poking out from behind his lips.

“It can take some time to get used to the number of people, tho the process tends to advance quicker for those used to larger towns.” Aside from her days at the academy she has never been in such close vicinity with quite so many people. There was at least one decisive benefit 777 had over any of her other posts however, namely that due to the size of the station wandering around was easier and more interesting. “Perhaps there is some difference, the notion that non replicated food being better is after all widespread. Whether or not that is the case however it is not my place to deny people something that they find joy in. I hope you find somewhere that makes your dishes the way you wish for them to be.” Evoras didn’t mind restaurants and she might admit if asked that the food she ate there was usually better than the one she replicated herself, but she was convinced that that was at least partially due to the fact that she did not tend to replicate herself fancy food. In fact she replicated herself the same four or five meals in rotation most of the time. “My position is indeed satisfactory. The people I work with are on average intelligent and pleasant enough to be around. Without additional context I prefer ships to starbases, but I have no intentions of leaving anytime soon unless I have no other choice.” She had made the mistake of growing attached to both the station and the people. Perhaps some day in a few years she would grow restless, but for now she saw no reason to waste too much, which meant any, time on the thought. At his answer she gave him a small nod of acknowledgement. “In that case I hope you find what you seek. It has been an honour to meet you and I appreciated the help. Since it is not entirely improbable that we might cross paths at some point in the future, I hope that by ten you will have found fitting items to decorate your quarters with.” She turned the record around in her hands and nodded her head again.

The Klingon hummed and nodded as Evoras spoke, taking everything she was saying in with marked curiosity. She was of course the expert on life on this Starbase in this case and he would do well to listen! He smiled and nodded at her. “Thank you for this insight, Evoras. It has been quite enlightening as far as what I may expect to experience on this Starbase. I am looking forward to seeing all that 777 has to offer! Thank you for the well wishes. I hope that your days are filled with honorable pursuits and that you are able to enjoy the things that bring you satisfaction. Until next time!” He chuckled a bit and waved, turning to explore more of the shop’s albums but clearly understanding it was time to part ways.