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Hiro Jones

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    Secret Admirer?

    in Appreciations

    Posted

    This JP was wonderful in so many ways. From @Dekas getting all flustered or miming the cartoonishness of @Quentin Beck, to @Karrod Niac trying to keep his cool (only somewhat successfully), I had a really fun time with this 2-parter. Here are both parts, combined for your reading pleasure:

    Quote

    ((Captain’s Ready Room, Deck 3, USS Ronin))

     

    Dekas didn’t know why he’d been called to the Captain’s office. He couldn’t recall anything in particular he’d done that was above the norm, or very far below it. And it almost felt a little awkward at that moment if only because he was out of uniform during his off hours, and his choice in fashion did lean a little bit into athleisure, and crop top territory. One of the few times he’d chosen pants instead of a skirt out of uniform. Still. Not the most professional when going to talk to the Captain. 

     

     

    Dekas: ::quietly to himself:: I wonder if this is because of my slightly excessive use of the replicator for that many pillows and blankets earlier this week?

     

     

    It was a little weird to call him to the office for, yet he couldn’t think of anything else it would be. But he didn’t think the amount of comfort items replicated was that ludicrous this time. Those thoughts stopped as he stepped into the room, and the door slid shut behind him.

     

     

    Was that a bouquet of… millet on captain’s desk? Fancy millet by the looks of it.

     

     

    In the shape of a heart. 

     

     

    He’d long since learned that, in general, most adult humanoids considered hearts as a means to suggest that they didn’t just like you, they like liked you.

     

     

    He looked back and forth between the bouquet and Karrod for a few seconds. Completely misunderstanding its presence in the first moment or two. A brief feeling of confusion mixed with maybe flattery? Or at the very least some show of an interesting sense of humor from the Captain. A sense of humor based on recent stressors and very weird coping mechanisms, possibly, but a sense of humor nonetheless.

     

     

    It was a sense of humor he could easily meet.

     

     

    Dekas: ::he clicked his beak in amusement:: Oh, Karrod, if I’d known this was how you felt I would have changed into something classier. You caught me in the clothes I wear to chase people around the Catamaran to get them to show up for counseling. I’ve never seen a Vulcan run so fast in my life. You know how they are. ::he shook his head:: I fear the day that Vulcan might be Alieth.

     

     

    He shrugged casually as if that were a normal conversation topic. Though he was mostly kidding. 

     

     

    (Mostly.)

     

     

    Karrod was deeply confused by how his day was going.  When he decided to swing by his office on the way back from the officers gym he hadn’t expected to find a profession of romance written out on his desk where a much overdue crew evaluation report was supposed to be.   He certainly hadn’t understood why anyone would go to the trouble of making it in the first place or why that unnamed suitor had decided to craft it out of what the computer told him was, in effect, fancy bird food.  He’d called Counselor Dekas to his office to ask about his insights into the crew and who among them may have done this…and why.  But, as he listened to the Counselor he felt his confusion growing even deeper.  

     

     

    Niac: Ah, Counselor, I think there’s been a misunderstanding…uh…I didn’t arrange…::He extended an arm towards his desk::...this display.  I had hoped you might have some insight into who did.  

     

     

    Dekas: Ah, that makes more sense. ::he gave the millet bouquet a look over:: Well, it is clever whoever sent it. It is decently arranged, can’t fault them for the attempt. But it wasn’t me. Not that I wouldn’t do something like this. I just don’t think they did enough research on Aurelians. 

     

     

    Karrod huffed out a small laugh through his nose.  

     

     

    Niac:  Points for artistry but not for accuracy, Counselor?  Pretty much rules out our science team.  Although you never can quite be sure with Vulcans sometimes.  Out of curiosity, what would it have looked like if you put it together?  I have to admit, my own knowledge of Aurelians is pretty limited.  

     

     

    Dekas: Well, if I’d sent something it wouldn’t have been heart-shaped. While we have half-adopted the symbol from terrans for certain things, it’s not what we typically use for romantic courting gifts. I would have gone for something more personal, there would have been a nice letter… and it would have been a lot prettier. Maybe involve some angel hair vines, and baby’s breath. Or something even nicer. Because someone with your charming good looks deserves something beautiful. ::a pause, somehow thoughtful:: What’s your favorite color, I’ll definitely send you something beautiful… 

     

     

    Karrod had begun to walk up the short stairs to the replicator in the small sitting area above his desk but came to a complete and abrupt halt at ‘charming good looks,’ his confusion and incredulity competing for the lionshare of his attention.  Within, Niac was strangely delighted by this turn of events and Karrod sensed a profound impression of amusement.  

     

     

    The feathers around his beak suddenly fluffed up with mild embarrassment, considering that sending a beautiful thing to him was connected to the phrase “romantic courting gifts”. He immediately knew it was awkward so he kept talking, and truly digging himself an even more awkward grave where he stood.

     

     

    Dekas: ::with a voice crack, almost unsure::…Platonically? ::he cleared his throat, and with forced certainty:: Platonically. Obviously. Professional working relationship. And besides I’d never send you something in that way. ::he should have stopped there, but it felt somehow rude and somehow disingenuous to end the sentiment like that:: Or well, I would, because Captain, you’re a catch. I’m-I’m sure you know that. If someone hasn’t told you that, they should. We-we barely know each other. I.. but I wouldn’t… send something like that without having asked you to dinner first. I just… ::slight laughter as he kept on digging, and talking faster:: I mean do you want to grab dinner some time, actually? I’m sure it would be nice. Or not! I don’t know why I said that.

     

     

    Karrod wondered if Counselor Dekas realized he was speaking faster and louder with each word, or if he noticed that his…plumage had lofted out quite so much.  Karrod pretended not to notice and knew he was failing to do so convincingly.  

     

     

    oO Well, Karrod does have pretty eyes, and Trill spots are always nice. Mm… ::mental record scratch noise:: No, no! Back up. Absolutely not. Quick, think counselor thoughts! Uh… alright and how do you feel about that? Wow. You better hope the Captain likes ‘em stupid. Why are you the counselor again? Ahh! Oo

     

     

    God help any passing telepaths with their guard down. 

     

     

    Clearing his throat loudly in the hopes of breaking the Counselor out of whatever fugue state he’d fallen into, Karrod gestured towards his now artfully rearranged desk.  The millet now bore a surprisingly accurate resemblance to the Counselors features, a remarkable feat considering the medium and how quickly he’d done it.  

     

     

    Niac: Counselor…uh…Commander…uh….Dekas.  ::He huffed out a breath and tried to start over.:: I’m…flattered, but I think we’ve gotten a bit off topic.  Since you’ve made a compelling case for why you didn’t do this, do you have any idea who might have?  And more importantly, why?  As much as I’d like to blame her, this doesn’t quite feel like Ensign Vailani’s style to me.  She strikes me more as a ‘photon grenade in the sonic shower’ sort of prankster.

     

     

    To Karrod’s credit it did break him out of his mortified fugue state with sudden snort.   

     

    Dekas: Well now I have to go through the list of ensigns in my head. Let’s see… there is the one doctor. Beck? He strikes me as oddly mischievous, has a certain glint in his eye, and he isn’t the biggest fan of me so there would be a motive to perhaps embarrass me a bit? But in his defense… he is also terribly allergic to me. I’m pretty sure the last time I passed him in a corridor on accident he sneezed so hard his mustache flew a full three inches off his face before he noticed it flying away and smacked it back on.

     

     

    Dekas then proceeded to pantomime the smack and subsequent ‘stunned stumble backward’, struggling in the process not to laugh.

     

     

    Karrod attempted to maintain his air of Captain’s dignity but failed entirely at the animated display of projectile facial hair and, much to his chagrin, snorted loudly.

     

     

    And it took everything in Dekas not to show the deep and inherent satisfaction he got out of making the Captain laugh even if only slightly. What could he say? It felt nice to put a smile on people’s faces. The fact Karrod was also beautiful was just a bonus.

     

     

    Niac: Remind me to write you a recommendation to Starfleet Intelligence, they’d appreciate a keen insight into a person like that.  And those stiffcollars could use a bit of levity in their ranks.  

     

     

    Dekas: Oh, the retaliation of literally just sending me over to sickbay to say hi would be too real. Too easy. So I’m not sure he’d actually risk it. 

     

     

    Niac: Hmm fair enough.  I wouldn’t put something like this past Alieth but I have a hard time seeing her working in birdseed…unless that’s exactly why she did it?  Those Vulcans, don’t buy that logic act for a minute, Counselor.  They’re a wonderful, frighteningly intelligent and quietly mischievous lot in my experience.  But if not her, who else?

     

     

    Dekas hadn’t even considered Alieth as a possibility. But maybe… No. She presumably had a classier way of doing things like this if she even did.

     

     

    Dekas: I’ve heard there’s a strange gossip circle in the lower decks. I have no idea how far that extends, but I’m sure that means there’s an unexpected number of possibilities. And that’s if they let you in on it. I don’t know why they’d go further than just casual gossip, but maybe a few of the stranger people got assigned here by accident. I’m pretty sure a few of those are on every ship if you look closely enough.

     

     

    Niac: Well I suppose the more alarming prospect is that there’s more than one suspect.  A conspiracy aboard ship.  We’ll have to get a tribunal started right away, full on drumhead.  Do you know any classically attractive older legal minds we could bring aboard to administer it by any chance?

     

     

    Now it was his turn to snort.  

     

     

    Dekas: That would be convenient. But alas. Unless you have specific experience in law. ::a beat, followed by a flattering if slightly impulsive thought:: Although, even if you did, I’d say you’re more the ruggedly attractive sort. Terribly handsome, certainly, but maybe not quite what you’re looking for.

     

     

    Niac: Damn, it was a long shot anyway. Besides, I don’t want to have to spend the next week pretending I remember all the basic interstellar law courses I took at the Academy. I swear, it’s like the JAG corp doesn’t even exist.

     

     

    Dekas: ::with a deeply amused sigh:: Unfortunately for us, this isn’t one of those overly specific episode plot points that they’d show up for. Not enough moral quandary.

     

     

    Dekas looked to the side and gave a quick wink to an invisible audience.

     

     

    Glancing behind himself along the Counselors line of sight Karrod could find no one for him to wink at beyond the viewport, shrugged, and moved on with his speculation.  

     

     

    Niac: I’ve got a tricorder around here somewhere but that seems too much like cheating.  I feel like between the two of us we can figure this out.  

     

     

    Karrod had to admit to himself he hadn’t yet completely removed the Counselor from his list of suspects.  The confusion and surprise Dekas displayed could’ve simply been the perfect cover.  

     

     

    Dekas: Honestly, I’m surprised that they chose millet of all things. It is extremely specific to birds as a choice. I’d maybe say it was Om-Zora, except he’d never send me something like this on purpose and he’s known me for many years, let alone the Captain of a ship that he doesn’t even know at all beyond maybe passing glances at best. And he has no reason to engage in hijinks. He’s too serious. Always has been. ::using a very serious, and somehow mocking deeper monotone:: It would be “illogical”.

     

     

    Chuckling as he moved towards his replicator, Karrod summoned himself a Gavalin tea that had long been a favorite of Rostil’s without consciously considering it.  When the beverage whirred into existence and Karrod took his first sniff, his nose crinkled disdainfully at the overwhelmingly aromatic bouquet.  

     

     

    Niac: Ugh…now I know what would happen if I put a bunch of flowers in a blender.  Anyway…who does that leave us with?  Breen infiltrator?  Changeling?  Maybe it’s the Suliban.  They haven’t been heard from in ages…could’ve been playing the long game on us.  

     

     

    Dekas: Do you think it’s JOPA? I don’t know much about it generally, but I have heard they do pranks sometimes. This one might be a bit strange even for them, though. I don’t know who’s even part of it, really. ::it was about then that he really noticed the odd resemblance to himself in the millet:: And I don’t know if any of them have looked this closely at me before.

     

     

    oO Should I be concerned about someone with a secret obsession, actually??? No, it’s probably fine. Probably. Oo

     

     

    Taking his barely palatable drink with him back to his desk Karrod sat, stood, brushed some loose millet off his chair and uniform pants, then sat again.  

     

     

    Niac: JOPA?  Oh, I wouldn’t know about that Counselor.  How is the Captain supposed to know about a secret organization of junior officers aboard his own ship?  It’s a secret, or so I may have heard.  Perhaps you’ll have to ask around a bit…but keep it subtle.  Don’t want the crew thinking you’re informing on them.

     

     

    He’d apparently done well enough at that, considering he was already in the know that someone had plans for the Captain. Not that he was going to tell him that. What was said in a counseling session was left there. 

     

     

    Dekas: ::with amusement:: Of course. I can be subtle.

     

     

    The irony of how unsubtly colorful and talkative he could be, was not lost on him.

     

     

    Niac:  That said if you find the culprit please let them know I’m quite flattered, mildly alarmed and that the straightest route to my heart is found at the bottom of a bottle of Aldebran whiskey.  I expect all shrines and or effigies of me in the future to contain at least one good bottle, otherwise what’s even the point?  

     

     

    Dekas: If they admit to the deed, I will inform them of such. ::a beat, and a shockingly straight face:: And hey, I’ll make sure my own future shrines to you include one. Maybe even two.

     

     

    Karrod let out a genuine laugh as he brushed aside some of the millet to get at a stray padd.  

     

     

    Niac:  The burdens of command, Counselor, come in many forms.  Although this may hold the distinction of being the strangest one this ship has seen.  Thank you for taking the time to investigate.  Speaking of…do you, uh…want…::He gestured with his padd towards the increasingly haphazard pile::...this?  I suppose you could replicate a bucket…

     

     

    Dekas: For sure. I’ll find the next person’s doorstep to put this on. Confuse them even more. Anything else?

     

     

    Karrod laughed again and leaned back in his chair, carefully putting his feet up to avoid disrupting the unusual shipboard art installation.  

     

     

    Niac:  Oh, I think that’ll be all for now, Counselor.  Dekas: Marvelous! Hopefully the next time we see each other it’s a lot less weird. Or weirder, I wouldn’t mind. ::a wink and a click of the beak:: Have a good rest of your day, Karrod.

     

     

     

    [End]

     

     

     

    —

     

    Lt. Commander Dekas
    Chief Counselor
    USS Ronin
    J239802D12
    Pronouns: They/she (player), He/him (character)

    &

    Commander Karrod Niac
    Commanding Officer
    USS Ronin - NCC-34523
    V239509GT0

     

     

     

     

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    Fun With Mushrooms

    in Appreciations

    Posted

    This made me snort. I always appreciate being made to sound like a mirthful pig. lol Nice one, @VLen Kel

    Quote

    V'Len was having fun with mushrooms.  Not in the normal sense that humans would think someone was "having fun with mushrooms".   As a mycologist V'Len found it very relaxing to sift through his collection of fungal species he'd accumulated on his journey.  Each one was a memory or perhaps a postcard from a place he'd been or heard about.

     

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    In Case You Aren't Yet Acquainted

    in Appreciations

    Posted

    There are many reasons you should all be aware of LtJG @Jovenan. The thought that goes into developing not only her character, but the periphery details that make the character and her developmental process so incredibly believable are astounding to me at times. I'm often struck first in awe, followed by inspiration and aspiration by these sims.

    In the sim linked below, she uses the Edo language to flesh out a particularly tangled bit of plot while pulling us readers deeper into the richness of the universe being built here. Not for my sake or even hers, but for your own, give it a read.

    You're a freaking legend, Jo. ❤️

    https://groups.google.com/g/sb118-artemis/c/Q_AcRthh46Q/m/RZq8BhflBQAJ

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    They Watched

    in 2023

    Posted

       They watched. They had seen the first photons whizzing away from that tiny point so full of potential for so long. They smiled as electrons nudged their way into existence and laughed as the protons, neutrons, and electrons (though they called them by other names) coalesced into matter. That matter joined together to form substances that still spread far away from their place of birth, changing and growing as they zoomed along.

       They watched nebulae, the great glowing wombs in the dark reaches continued the work, turned matter to energy to matter, shaped matter into stars, then lovingly setting them along a course that would bring new experiences and planets into their orbits. The planets themselves would continue the work in their own way, nurturing all that they touched. On many planets, the spark of life rose out of this tender lineage.

       They watched as lives - these brilliant flashes of existence lit up the planets. They watched as chloroplasts of certain life forms transformed photons from such great distances into food for themselves. They watched as other lifeforms consumed the first, growing strong from the strength garnered from starlight. They watched as these larger lifeforms succumbed to entropy and faded, becoming sustenance for smaller lifeforms, which in turn shared the starlight with the planet.

       They watched as a very few lifeforms gained the ability to dance among the stars themselves. Like the first photons, they sped far and wide from their place of birth, changing and growing as they zoomed along. They watched as the star dancers encountered their cousins among the stars. They watched as the tumultuous choreography of evolution brought new shape to what was and what could be. The star dancers grew, and still they watched. Some, like the lifeforms who shared their starlight, fostered harmony as they shared what they had and grew strong together.

       They watched. Some who once flitted through the stars no longer did. Stars would give what light they had, dim, and collapse, becoming something new. While the light they gave billions of years previously still had yet to meet a curious eye, the once-star inhaled deeply, preparing for its next song. They watched.

       They watched as a life form from a small blue planet, third daughter of a yellow star, looked up and took in the ancient photons meant for no other ends than this, and chloroplast-like, transformed it into dreams. They smiled as the being turned dreams to vision, vision to reality, then lovingly set them along their own courses.

    • Like 12

    Ensign Talia Ohnari — Robotic Gratitude

    in Appreciations

    Posted

    On 5/6/2023 at 4:08 PM, Talia Ohnari said:

    Shoutout to Ensign @Hiro Jones for workshopping the use of Styrolite ❤️

    Gotta give some credit to @Yalu. We recently wrote a JP where Hiro had to encase him in the stuff to rid him of a weird Da'al tick enzyme that was threatening his host-symbiont connection. (Resulted in a really fun acid trip dream quest) But yeah, he put the idea in my head. :)

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    Artemis-cellaneous: Memorable whatevers from The Borderlands

    in Appreciations

    Posted

    @LuxaLorana Came out of the gate strong. One of our newest arrivals, and she's already made me tear up.

    Quote

    May the new dawn be kinder to your people than the last.

    This. This is what did it. I adore this sentiment, the simple poetry, and the hope contained in these few words. It's a sentiment that resonates with my soul, and a blessing/benediction I echo for everyone. May the new dawn be kinder than the last. Nicely done, Ensign. Happy to have you on the Artie.

     

    Original post: https://groups.google.com/g/sb118-artemis/c/K8dwOS7VT8U/m/KYXEAsUbCAAJ

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    The THWACK Heard 'Round Meranuge IV

    in Appreciations

    Posted

    Things have been getting crazy on the Da'al homeworld. Commander @Genkos Adea, under the influence of a mood-altering airborne substance, finally had enough of Jiah Kleebohn's crap. (MNPC played by yours truly, and it's been rough being such a prick to the lovely Artemis, but that's simming for ya) I love how this sim is written for a couple reasons. 1: earlier in the mission, I wrote how Jiah attempted to calm her building rage by clenching and unclenching her fists - willing away the urge to hit somebody. In this post, Adea mirrors that motion so subtly and poetically, it gave me literal chills. 2: The internal struggle of this usually calm, collected, mild-mannered Betazoid is laid out in such a believable progression, when he does finally crack, I cheered out loud before I realized he just clocked my NPC. 😅

    Give it a read, and let Elliot know how much you love his writing: https://groups.google.com/g/sb118-artemis/c/PK8nHXaPrDc/m/zNWSbPedAAAJ

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    Gentle Bespoke Mental Healthcare

    in Appreciations

    Posted

    I really love the way Seta Jinean has taken on the recent flood of counseling sessions she's been fielding. Several of us have sought her out, and in a couple cases officers have been "summoned" to the counseling suite for post-incident check-ins. While Seta can be a bit prickly at times (a creative choice I thoroughly enjoy), her care for her patients is evident in the gentle, guiding methodology that would certainly put me (OOC) at ease and provide a non-confrontational, safe environment. The sim linked below is the end of a session with Commander @Addison MacKenzie and encapsulates nicely the sense of healing patients tend to feel by the time they leave the office.

    https://groups.google.com/g/sb118-excalibur/c/6oH6HOqxYIc/m/9zeBZrQgFwAJ

    Well done, friends. It's an honor to serve (IC) and write (OOC) with you both. :)

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