tampered | (open)

(open)

When: 19th
Rating: TBC
Characters: You!
Summary: A shindig at the beach for the best navigator in Starfleet.
Log:

[ OOC: Feel free to assume your character has received an invite to the party via their inbox or word of mouth for Chekov's birthday! Everyone is welcome ~~except you, Khan~~ and presents are mandatory for the Enterprise's young navigator. Please tag under either section to keep the party somewhat ordered, and have fun! ]

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[ The attention to detail is definitely an impressive aspect, and it's what Harry really notices. Even if he's not done nor past struggles, the effort's definitely worth noting. ]

Oh, I don't know. Sculpture's never really been my artistic expression of choice - let alone with sand. Somehow I doubt I'd do anything other than embarrass myself alongside all this.

[Pavel does nothing halfway. Like, unless he's distracted halfway through a project. But the effort is always set at maximum. He gives the domes a rest to begin applying carefully selected rocks to the sand church's ornate face.]

Possible embarrassment is no reason to avoid something. I think that the only ones who are serious about this are Kirk and Spock. They are preparing for a crew-against-crew sandcastle-building fight to the death, but they are always like that--competitive, I mean. No one else is competing, only having fun.

[ There's a small laugh there, slightly nervous. ]

Of course not, it's just never been something I was particularly driven towards. It's been a long time since I've even tried to build a sand castle at all. My parents did take me to the beach, now and again, but... well, that was years ago. When I was a kid.

[ It's also been years since he's even seen them, but that's another matter entirely. Or maybe it's not. ]

I guess I could give it a shot, though.

[Chekov doesn't understand Harry's nervousness. He isn't nervous. In fact, Harry makes him a good deal less nervous than everyone else here from their world (with the exceptions of Sulu and, usually, Uhura). Unfortunately for Harry, this lack of nervousness makes Chekov chattier than he would be around their superiors.]

It has been years for me, also. My papa used to take me to Kotlin Island, in the Neva Bay, before his working season became too busy. It wasn't very warm--twenty degrees at the warmest, because it was only early summer--and I was unappreciative of his critiques of my architectural skills, but I enjoyed it, and this reminds me of that.

[He gives his sand church another once-over and, deciding that he doesn't really want to fight with the cupolas, moves to a new patch of wet sand, gesturing for Harry to come along.]

Yes, please give it a shot? If you don't enjoy it, you can go. I will even help destroy any evidence that you tried and failed horribly.

[ Nervous is Harry's default operating mode - it's certainly his reaction to the competitive commanding officers of the Enterprise wanting to take on his crew in some kind of sand battle. The chattiness, though, doesn't bother him at all - Chekov certainly isn't the source of any of it. ]

It's always kind of nice, having something to make you think of home. I know it helps me out, to feel some kind of connection when I'm nowhere near it.

[ He follows the gesture, and gives a more amused, open laugh. ]

I appreciate that. Definitely can't have anyone stumbling across it and discovering that sand is my own true weakness.

[Kirk likes to make everything a competition. He seems to think that it boosts morale or something, or encourages people to work harder. Or maybe he just gets bored and does it to entertain himself. The captain never means anything by it, and he's a gracious winner and loser.]

What kinds of things make you feel this connection? Here, or in space.

[Pavel starts in on a new and less ambitious castle.]

I do what I can for my friends.

Well, there's my clarinet - my parents always loved to see me play, so practicing it... I don't know. It's silly, but I always feel like I'm making them proud somehow, even though they're not there.

[ And he sets to starting to form the sand, a little uncertain at first as he hasn't quite settled on what he's aiming for. ]

There are little things, too. Something I'll see, or somebody will say, that makes me think of home.

Clarinet? No, I understand that! My mother had me play piano for a time and she wanted me to do that professionally, and after her death, I would sometimes play because I thought that it would make her happy.

[He's glad to find someone who does something similarly illogical. This sand castle is definitely taking on the general shape of the Winter Palace...]

Are you homesick, ever?

[ He gives a little nod of his head. ]

Yeah. Sometimes.

[ Almost constantly, really. The word "obsessed" could easily be applied to the way Harry views their journey back to Earth. He doesn't let himself doubt that they'll make it, which is no easy task. ]

We're too far out to have regular communications - we've managed to get some messages back and forth, but it's been years since I've spoken to them.

[That was a bad question to ask during a relatively lighthearted conversation. Being lost in the Delta quadrant is considerably different from going on a five-year mission where communication will be possible and return is as certain as it can be.]

Ai, sorry. That must be difficult, if you are close to your parents still.

No... hey, it's all right. We'll make it back.

[ Harry manages a smile there - specifically because he doesn't let himself doubt that. ]

Your crew, from what I have seen, is exceptional. If there is a way back, you will find it.

[Pavel might be a generally cheerful person, but he doesn't believe in optimism. In Harry's place, he would likely accept that the chances of returning home are slim and adapt to the situation. He would still try to get home, of course, but failure wouldn't be disappointing and success would be a very pleasant surprise.]

You are living with both of your commanding officers, correct?

Yeah... I think they are, too. It'd be great if you could meet more of them, really, but I wouldn't necessarily wish being stuck here on them.

[ Harry's a unique sort. Some would call him naive or gullible. Some would not be wrong to do so. ]

Yeah. I am.

Whether you would wish it or not, it may happen. I would be happy to meet them.

[People would call Chekov naive, too. Maybe they're naive in different ways. Whatever--Pavel obviously pities Harry for his living situation.]

That sounds miserable.

[ He can't help but laugh at that. ]

It can be a little awkward.

I would not be able to tolerate it. I respect and like my superiors, but living with them--

[He makes a face of disdain that sums up his feelings more accurately than any English he knows.]

Are you allowed to move elsewhere?

[ That face gets another laugh. ]

I'm not sure. There hasn't really been any explicit order on it, it's just... how things worked out when I got here.

Ah. If you require somewhere else to live, I have a large home that has been left to me and no one--other than Everett--to share it with. No one in my crew was eager to live in a magic cottage, but maybe you can appreciate it.

[Magic cottage, Harry. Oh, the eyebrow-lifts Chekov received when he tried to explain his home to his crewmates.]

A magic cottage?

[ He certainly seems to be intrigued by it. ]

I'll definitely think about that. I think it might be a good idea for me to get some more space of my own, really.

Yes, magic. Do you believe me?

This is what I think. The rest of my crew live very close together and I think it makes them behave strangely.

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