Homework (Open thread)

[Lorut Vila]

Vila smiled.

Tank you for help.

Vila nodded. "You're welcome," she said, watching him carefully settle in. She listened as Ramort made a suggestion that Fvienne choose his own story to hear.

How about this: You choose the story you want to hear, then eat your food and once you are finished the story you picked yourself, we will tell you?

"In the meantime, I can tell you some things about my home planet. Have you ever heard of Bajor?" She asked the little boy. She had no idea what the curriculum was for the children these days-Vila had only had one single opportunity to research it, and that was many years ago. "Dr. Ramort, a choice like that might be a bit overwhelming for a young child," she said. She looked to the boy. He seemed smart, and having a Romulan father no doubt meant that the kid could weed through bs quickly, but still. He was only four. "You don't have children?" She asked James.

She turned to Fvienn then. "Seems like your father is returning. Better choose fast!" She said, her voice raising an octave, excitedly. 

[Rayek trLhoell]

Commander Rayek tr'Lhoell
and NPC Fvienn tr'Lhoell

[USS Discovery-B - Deck 6 - Officer's Mess]

[USS Discovery | Deck 6 | Officers Mess]

"How about this: You choose the story you want to hear, then eat your food and once you are finished the story you picked yourself, we will tell you?"

Vila smiled.

Vila nodded. "You're welcome," she said, watching him carefully settle in. She listened as Ramort made a suggestion that Fvienne choose his own story to hear.

"In the meantime, I can tell you some things about my home planet. Have you ever heard of Bajor?" She asked the little boy. She had no idea what the curriculum was for the children these days-Vila had only had one single opportunity to research it, and that was many years ago. "Dr. Ramort, a choice like that might be a bit overwhelming for a young child," she said. She looked to the boy. He seemed smart, and having a Romulan father no doubt meant that the kid could weed through bs quickly, but still. He was only four. "You don't have children?" She asked James.

While Rayek was at the replicator getting Fvienn's order, as well as his own, he glanced back towards the table.  The two officers seeming to be doing well keeping Fvienn engaged in conversation.  Hmm. Perhaps he should make these outings a weekly thing.  Though, hopefully next time, Tess would join them.

Though he saw and spoke to his wife daily, something was clearly changing between them since her miscarriage and her distance even when present worried him.  He knew she was seeing a counselor, much like he was, but his suggestions to go together were dismissed - Tess wasn't ready.

These thoughts occupied him so much that the replicated food was momentarily forgotten.
.
.
.
Meanwhile, at the table, Fvienn considered the man's offer.  Pick his own story?  But how was he to know what adventures they'd had?  Just as he was about to ask it they had a story about pirates or dinosaurs, the woman spoke and suggested a story about Bajor.

Eneh had been teaching him about planets that Fvienn had relatives on... Ba'ku, Earth and what was once Romulus, and even where they once had a home - Meridian; but he hadn't heard of Bajor yet.  Fvienn shook his head in answer to her last question of whether he heard of the planet, however before he could answer aloud, she urged a quick reply.

She turned to Fvienn then. "Seems like your father is returning. Better choose fast!" She said, her voice raising an octave, excitedly.

The little boy glanced back to see that Eneh was returning with the food.  Undeterred to get the best story, Fvienn looked to the woman and questioned first. "Does it have pirates or dinosaurs?"

[T'Rea]

While Rayek was at the replicator getting Fvienn's order, as well as his own, he glanced back towards the table.  The two officers seeming to be doing well keeping Fvienn engaged in conversation.  Hmm. Perhaps he should make these outings a weekly thing.  Though, hopefully next time, Tess would join them.

Though he saw and spoke to his wife daily, something was clearly changing between them since her miscarriage and her distance even when present worried him.  He knew she was seeing a counselor, much like he was, but his suggestions to go together were dismissed - Tess wasn't ready.

These thoughts occupied him so much that the replicated food was momentarily forgotten.

[USS Discovery | Deck 6 | Officer's Mess]
T'Rea had not felt like eating dinner tonight. But if Turak were here her bondmate would have certainly told her such a reaction was disproportional and perhaps even accused her of self-destructive tendencies--so despite the fact that she was not hungry, she had forced herself to leave her quarters for one of the mess halls. The "Officer's" Mess was usually a bit quieter and thus preferable, but the default menu options also differed from what she was accustomed to in the so-called enlisted mess. That meant that she had been standing in front of one of the replicators for an inordinate amount of time.

The First Officer's arrival to the mess was surprising in and of itself. His arrival with a young child was enough to have her forgetting about meal choices entirely as she watched the pair's interactions with Ramort and Lorut (she was new and had not realized he had family aboard). If she had not been hungry before, that state was only exacerbated by the young boy's endearing displays, and now, despite everything--despite the fact that she had never been so much as introduced to the Discovery's First Officer, despite the fact that she had never even spoken face to face with a Romulan before--she found herself turning to Rayek at the replicator beside her own. "It is a special age," she murmured softly with a subtle nod back in Fvienn's direction. "Change is the essential process of all existence, but--it goes so quickly when they are small." Her side ached with memories of Yiluv, which would no longer change, and could no longer be added to.

[Lorut Vila]

Vila laughed. "Unfortunately, it does not have either dinosaurs, nor pirates," she said. "Bajor doesn't have either of those," she said. Well. You could, sort of, categorize the Cardassians and the Occupation as piracy, but this boy was probably too young to hear about that. She had been too young to LIVE it, but here they were.

"Perhaps the Lieutenant has something like that," she said. Too bad that damned hologram had gone off with...what was her name? Gerritsen? to the new Starbase. She didn't blame the woman-she'd have left too, if given the opportunity, after Frontier Day. But Vila had been "reminded" that ship duty offered more stimulation, something the Bajoran desperately needed.

"I take it you like dinosaurs. What's your favorite?" She asked, grateful for the distraction from the adults-and possible danger-lurking around. She didn't realize she had relaxed slightly, her shoulders rounded and her face lit up, as compared to her usual composure of sitting ramrod straight, staring. Her ability to interact with others had been stifled, both due to circumstances and trauma responses, so the fact that she had calmed even a smidge was a victory.

[Rayek trLhoell]

Commander Rayek tr'Lhoell
and NPC Fvienn tr'Lhoell

[USS Discovery-B - Deck 6 - Officer's Mess]

[USS Discovery | Deck 6 | Officer's Mess]

She found herself turning to Rayek at the replicator beside her own. "It is a special age," she murmured softly with a subtle nod back in Fvienn's direction. "Change is the essential process of all existence, but--it goes so quickly when they are small." Her side ached with memories of Yiluv, which would no longer change, and could no longer be added to.

Rayek's attention shifted from his inner thoughts to the Vulcan that had approached the replicator. Over 15 years spent among the Federation hadn't fully overcome his initial trained reaction to what had once been a hated enemy.  The frown of distaste lasted only a fraction of a second before the Romulan officer smoothed his features into a more appropriate expression.

The Vulcan's words were surprisingly heartfelt and seemingly wistful for a species known for its emotionless logic.
"Yes, it does.  I missed an entire year of my son's early life due to Romulan obligation.  It is a decision I regret and would change now if I could," he stated a little too openly, while he searched his memory for the crewman's name.  She was the new to the science department, he recalled, helped by the color of her uniform.  The name T'Rea came to mind as he gathered his order from the replicator and gestured for her to go next.

"Please, join our table if you wish, Miss T'Rea." he offered before beginning to head back to the table lest his son's patience wear thin and a tantrum ensue.
.
.
.

Vila laughed. "Unfortunately, it does not have either dinosaurs, nor pirates," she said. "Bajor doesn't have either of those," she said. Well. You could, sort of, categorize the Cardassians and the Occupation as piracy, but this boy was probably too young to hear about that. She had been too young to LIVE it, but here they were.

"Perhaps the Lieutenant has something like that," she said. Too bad that damned hologram had gone off with...what was her name? Gerritsen? to the new Starbase. She didn't blame the woman-she'd have left too, if given the opportunity, after Frontier Day. But Vila had been "reminded" that ship duty offered more stimulation, something the Bajoran desperately needed.

"I take it you like dinosaurs. What's your favorite?" She asked, grateful for the distraction from the adults-and possible danger-lurking around. She didn't realize she had relaxed slightly, her shoulders rounded and her face lit up, as compared to her usual composure of sitting ramrod straight, staring. Her ability to interact with others had been stifled, both due to circumstances and trauma responses, so the fact that she had calmed even a smidge was a victory.

"I like felociraptors - like STEVE and EVIE" he answered.  Reminded of the little dinosaur holograms, Fvienn craned his head to peer around the the room looking for the black and purple dinosaur.  Not seeing her, he turned towards his approaching father and asked, "You call over EVIE to play?"

[Lorut Vila]

Vila smiled.

"Velociraptors?" She asked. Luckily, the Bajoran had a passing interest in dinosaurs, too, and could at least give him a few facts.

"My favorite are Spinosaurus," she said. The largest and fiercest of dinosaurs from Ancient Sol? Of course she'd like that.

"What do you like about Velociraptors?" She asked the boy. "I have met Steve but not this Evie," she said. "Were you scared when you first saw them?" She was doing her best to engage the young boy in a conversation, but was glad to see his father returning.

"Commander," she nodded once. She didn't recognize the woman who tagged along. She nodded once, though, to her, too. It was getting a little TOO crowded and she swallowed audibly.

"Mr. Fvienn," she said. "Your father has returned with your dinner," she said. "Remember what the Lieutenant said!!" She said. She was done with her dry sandwich, but picked up her fork to attempt the salad. Human food was strange and she should've stuck to some of her favorites. 

[T'Rea]

Rayek's attention shifted from his inner thoughts to the Vulcan that had approached the replicator. Over 15 years spent among the Federation hadn't fully overcome his initial trained reaction to what had once been a hated enemy.  The frown of distaste lasted only a fraction of a second before the Romulan officer smoothed his features into a more appropriate expression.

The Vulcan's words were surprisingly heartfelt and seemingly wistful for a species known for its emotionless logic.
"Yes, it does.  I missed an entire year of my son's early life due to Romulan obligation.  It is a decision I regret and would change now if I could," he stated a little too openly, while he searched his memory for the crewman's name.  She was the new to the science department, he recalled, helped by the color of her uniform.  The name T'Rea came to mind as he gathered his order from the replicator and gestured for her to go next.

"Please, join our table if you wish, Miss T'Rea." he offered before beginning to head back to the table lest his son's patience wear thin and a tantrum ensue.

[USS Discovery | Deck 6 | Officer's Mess]
T'Rea raised a single sharp eyebrown at the open but vague reference to 'Romulan obligation'. What kind of obligation could a Starfleet officer openly have to a hostile government? She made no attempt to hide her disapproval--of both the allusion to such an obligation and of the apparently-resulting abandonment of his own son. She did, however, see the wisdom in not verbally expressing such thoughts to his face, and carefully held her tongue.

She stepped forward to the replicator when he had removed his order, "Thank you, but if you will insist on invoking the human convention of formal address, the correct version of it would be Mrs." she corrected him in a carefully neutral tone as he retreated.

She had come here seeking solitude and sustenance, not companionship. And certainly not companionship with the Romulan First Officer of all people. And yet--it would certainly be considered rude to ignore his offer to join his table in favor of an empty table. And his child's animated exclamations were going to be impossible to ignore no matter where she sat. She ordered pok tar from the replicator and when it arrived quietly took a seat at the end of the Romulan's table. At least Ramort was a familiar face from within her own department. Accordingly, she offer him a silent nod of greeting.

[Lorut Vila]

Vila stiffened. There were now Too Many People. Apparently, Rena could sense the panic setting in, because the Betazoid's voice came trilling soothingly into her ear. "It's ok, Vila. It's just one other person. Try to stick it out for five more minutes. YOu're doing well. The little boy seems to like you," she said. Vila sighed, but smiled a tight smile.

"Hello," she said to T'Rea. "I am Lorut Vila," she said, using her full formal Bajoran name. She put her head down to eat some more. 

[Rayek trLhoell]

Commander Rayek tr'Lhoell
and NPC Fvienn tr'Lhoell

[USS Discovery-B - Deck 6 - Officer's Mess]

Vila smiled.

"Velociraptors?" She asked. Luckily, the Bajoran had a passing interest in dinosaurs, too, and could at least give him a few facts.

"My favorite are Spinosaurus," she said. The largest and fiercest of dinosaurs from Ancient Sol? Of course she'd like that.

"What do you like about Velociraptors?" She asked the boy. "I have met Steve but not this Evie," she said. "Were you scared when you first saw them?" She was doing her best to engage the young boy in a conversation, but was glad to see his father returning.

While he waited for his Fathers's answer to his questionFvienn nodded at her repeating of his answer, then tilted his head to the side trying to recall the name Spinosaurus.   His eneh had taught him that the dinosaurs were named for their features mostly so spinosaurus were named for having spines.   He grinned having pictured the large fan-spined dinosaur that was considered fiercer than a T. rex.

"I like their claws!" he exclaimed, before shaking his head at her asking if he was scared when meeting the two holographic Velociraptors.  "Nuh-uh, I bigger.  I chase."
.
.

[USS Discovery | Deck 6 | Officer's Mess]
T'Rea raised a single sharp eyebrown at the open but vague reference to 'Romulan obligation'.

She stepped forward to the replicator when he had removed his order, "Thank you, but if you will insist on invoking the human convention of formal address, the correct version of it would be Mrs." she corrected him in a carefully neutral tone as he retreated.

Rayek noted the raised eyebrow at his statement. It was obvious from that one reaction that the Vulcan crewman hadn't done any background search on him.   Perhaps it was just him who did that sort of research on his peers and superiors?

He had just turned away, headed back to the table, when the Crewman corrected him on his courtesy title for her.  Her tone was neutral, a fact which was annoying to him because it gave him nothing to gauge her words by.  From his experience with Vulcans, a correction was never just merely a simple correction.  There was always a hint superiority - like they never would have made a mistake like that.

He looked back and acknowledged the correction with a slight head nod.  "Mrs. T'Rea then, unless you prefer me to call you by rank."

Rayek turned back towards the table just in time to hear his son ask him to call Evie over.  Rayek barely kept himself from sighing at the request.

"Perhaps later.... but for now we are here to eat." He knew if the holographic dinosaur were to show up any interest his son had in eating would be lost.  Even fries wouldn't hold his attention then.

Rayek set the two plates with the chicken, vegetables and fries in front of his son and then ushered his son back down into his seat.  "Sit and eat. he ordered as he demonstrated for his son how to cut the chicken with the knife provided.  Then handed over the utensils.

"Commander," she nodded once. She didn't recognize the woman who tagged along. She nodded once, though, to her, too. It was getting a little TOO crowded and she swallowed audibly.

"Mr. Fvienn," she said. "Your father has returned with your dinner," she said. "Remember what the Lieutenant said!!" She said. She was done with her dry sandwich, but picked up her fork to attempt the salad. Human food was strange and she should've stuck to some of her favorites.

With thoughts of playing with Evie still buzzing in his head, it took a moment for Fvienn to recall what the Lieutanant had said.  Oh yeah, a story after he ate!  Fvienn picked up his fork and started to eat.

[Lorut Vila]

Lorut smiled.

I like their claws!..Nuh-uh, I bigger. I chase.

"Well, that's good," she said. Much better reaction than HERS, the first time she'd "met" Steve. She'd pulled a phaser and very nearly fired on Kinley, too. How was she supposed to know it was a hologram? "It's brave that you don't think they're scary. I did, the first time I saw Steve. We don't have dinosaurs on the planet where I am from," she said. '

Vila was never happier to see the Commander than she was in that moment. That meant that they were inching closer to the end of this forced torture session. Ok, maybe she was being a little dramatic, but she was always just one-thing-going-wrong away from the edge.

Vila turned to the Vulcan. "Lorut Vila," she said, by way of greeting. She still needed to work on some things. She fell silent then, and ate a bit more. In her ear, Rena chided her gently about her greeting. Still, she gave the Vulcan a tight smile. It was the best that Campbell was going to get from the Bajoran today. She was growing tired, antsy, and overwhelmed. Still, she had the motivation of the child to "set the example for" so she fought the urge to stand up.

[Rayek trLhoell]

Commander Rayek tr'Lhoell
and NPC Fvienn tr'Lhoell

[USS Discovery-B - Deck 6 - Officer's Mess]

Fvienn, of course, started first with his fries. A fact that had Rayek concerned that the boy would just fill up on the starchy food and ignore the chicken and vegetables.  Rather than direct Fvienn to eat a little of everything, Rayek attempted to lead by example.  He took a scoop of vegetables - carrots and peas, and as he ate he made a point of making a contented 'Mmm' sound to encourage his son to eat something other than fries.  It was a bit embarrassing to do so around his juniors but it worked at home to get Fvienn's attention on the preferred food.  Fvienn was still very impressionable.

Fvienn looked over to his father at the sound, and watched him take another bite of the vegetables.  Wanting to be like his Dad, Fvienn took a small scoop of the same and ate it.  It was good... but not fries-good.  Still to please his eneh, Fvienn made the same 'Mmm' noise.

Rayek smiled and nodded his approval.

With his attention on getting his son to eat something other than fries it took a moment for Rayek to catch up on the conversation.

"Romulus also did not have dinosaurs. Nor to my knowledge, did Ba'ku or Meridian." he informed his son.  "They appear to be an Earth-centric species."

[T'Rea]

Rayek noted the raised eyebrow at his statement. It was obvious from that one reaction that the Vulcan crewman hadn't done any background search on him.  Perhaps it was just him who did that sort of research on his peers and superiors?

He had just turned away, headed back to the table, when the Crewman corrected him on his courtesy title for her.  Her tone was neutral, a fact which was annoying to him because it gave him nothing to gauge her words by.  From his experience with Vulcans, a correction was never just merely a simple correction.  There was always a hint superiority - like they never would have made a mistake like that.

He looked back and acknowledged the correction with a slight head nod.  "Mrs. T'Rea then, unless you prefer me to call you by rank."

She would--as a matter of fact--have preferred if he used her rank, but there seemed no point to delay his return to his son just to say as much, and as she made her way from the replicator to the table she found herself musing over his comment about Romulan obligations once again.

She briefly considered if his own reference to the topic could be considered justifiable cause to look for alternative sources of information on the topic under the precepts of Surak's Silences, but quickly discarded the idea. She was inclined by upbringing to the more strict interpretation of the Ralash-Fam'eslar, and this was even more true when it came to sources of personal information that were not themselves rooted in the Vulcan culture which had emerged after the Awakening. As Surak taught, 'Unless there is great need, a Vulcan must not intrude into the personal matters of another.'  After all, what, if not adherence to such principles of mutual respect and responsibility differentiated a Vulcan from a Romulan?

Vila turned to the Vulcan. "Lorut Vila," she said, by way of greeting. She still needed to work on some things. She fell silent then, and ate a bit more. In her ear, Rena chided her gently about her greeting. Still, she gave the Vulcan a tight smile. It was the best that Campbell was going to get from the Bajoran today. She was growing tired, antsy, and overwhelmed. Still, she had the motivation of the child to "set the example for" so she fought the urge to stand up

"Crewman T'Rea," she introduced herself to the Bajoran with a touch to her own chest (and a slightly passive aggressive use of her rank very much intended for the the Commander's ears. "It is a pleasure to meet you. I hope I'm not interrupting." Though, by the nature of the conversation coming from the first officer's young son it seemed it would be hard to be more of an interruption than Fvienn already was... Yiluv had once been as enthusiastic about the creatures adapted to survive in Vulcan's most volcanic regions as Fvienn seemed to be of old Earth creatures.

She hesitated before starting to eat--she needed no introduction to Lt. Ramort, but the same was not true for the table's youngest occupant, "Jolan tru; hello. My name is T'Rea. May I have the honor to know your name?" Aside from the languages in question, she greeted him in the same matter as she would have greeted a Vulcan child.

[James Ramort]

Commander Rayek tr'Lhoell
and NPC Fvienn tr'Lhoell

[USS Discovery-B - Deck 6 - Officer's Mess]

Fvienn, of course, started first with his fries. A fact that had Rayek concerned that the boy would just fill up on the starchy food and ignore the chicken and vegetables.  Rather than direct Fvienn to eat a little of everything, Rayek attempted to lead by example.  He took a scoop of vegetables - carrots and peas, and as he ate he made a point of making a contented 'Mmm' sound to encourage his son to eat something other than fries.  It was a bit embarrassing to do so around his juniors but it worked at home to get Fvienn's attention on the preferred food.  Fvienn was still very impressionable.

Fvienn looked over to his father at the sound, and watched him take another bite of the vegetables.  Wanting to be like his Dad, Fvienn took a small scoop of the same and ate it.  It was good... but not fries-good.  Still to please his eneh, Fvienn made the same 'Mmm' noise.

Rayek smiled and nodded his approval.

With his attention on getting his son to eat something other than fries it took a moment for Rayek to catch up on the conversation.

"Romulus also did not have dinosaurs. Nor to my knowledge, did Ba'ku or Meridian." he informed his son.  "They appear to be an Earth-centric species."

[USS Discovery | Deck 6 | Officers Mess]

It didn't slip Ramorts attention how the little boy tried to imitate his fathers eating of the food. Even going as far as audibly expressing how much he enjoyed it. His face though betraying his real thoughts. He had to commend him for the effort though. Being able to put a face up when confronted with disliked food at his age was a sign of his intelligence and strong will.

"Indeen, Dinosaurs originated on earth. They evolved over a timespan of millions of years so there were a lot of different Dinosaurs around. Some of their descendants are even around today all around earth!"

Hoping the boy wouldn't press him about what kind of descendats those were exactly, last he wanted to find some images of comodo dragons that didn't look scary.

[...]
"Crewman T'Rea," she introduced herself to the Bajoran with a touch to her own chest (and a slightly passive aggressive use of her rank very much intended for the the Commander's ears. "It is a pleasure to meet you. I hope I'm not interrupting." Though, by the nature of the conversation coming from the first officer's young son it seemed it would be hard to be more of an interruption than Fvienn already was... Yiluv had once been as enthusiastic about the creatures adapted to survive in Vulcan's most volcanic regions as Fvienn seemed to be of old Earth creatures.

She hesitated before starting to eat--she needed no introduction to Lt. Ramort, but the same was not true for the table's youngest occupant, "Jolan tru; hello. My name is T'Rea. May I have the honor to know your name?" Aside from the languages in question, she greeted him in the same matter as she would have greeted a Vulcan child.

The appearence of Crewman T'Rea surprised Ramort for a second. But given there was no major issue with her presence here and the Commander personally invited her to the table, he sparred no more thoughts to the matter.

"Greetings Crewman T'Rea, how nice you could join us. I hope you found something nice in the culinary databank?"

Getting back to his own dish, he finally finished his soup, it had got somewhat cold over the course of their discussion, but it still tasted great.

[Lorut Vila]

Vila heard the counselor's voice in her ear once more.

Breathe, Vila. One-two-three-four. 

She closed her eyes briefly, and did a few quick rounds of the box breathing exercises that the counselor had taught her. It DID help, sometimes, in most situations. This was the case now. Indeed, she was calmer now; the new arrivals back to the table had only shook her a moment.

"Lt. Nice to meet you," she said. She smiled tightly, but a quick glance to her right flank said that the child had settled in with his father, and was eating. Good. Another glance around the room told her it was still safe. Everyone remained in their clusters, conversations and laughter and general merriment going on. No one had stood, nor come or gone, in the last few moments since her last visual sweep.

A quiet "mmm" sound from the Commander had her nearly bust out in laughter, but she was able to catch herself in time. It was just a ridiculous sound coming from a Romulan, one that the Bajoran had never really gotten used to despite living with a Human for the entirety of her marriage. However, she recognized the subtle urge to get the child to eat something other than the potatoes. She had a vague memory of her own parents doing something similar, but Vila had been much less compliant, even at age four or five, and it took much more than gentle coaching to get her to do something she didn't want to. The later traumas would only make that part of her personality worsen.

She ate more of her salad; maybe the boy seeing the other adults also enjoying vegetables would get through. She didn't know. As much as she had once longed, and had nearly become, a mother, it hadn't been her lot in life in the end. She supposed, in hindsight, that might've been a good thing-she was far too gone in her own illnesses to have been a proper parent.

"Indeed," she said. "Crocodiles, and Alligators, for example. Earthen birds are also related to the Dinosaurs," she said. That was the limit of her knowledge on the large lizards, though, so she hoped that Fvienne wouldn't press her.

"So if Romulus, and Bajor, and all those other places didn't have such large creatures, I suppose your father is right. They're a Sol-centric species," she said. "Crewman T'Rea. What kind of science do you specialize in?" She asked the woman, recognizing the blue of her uniform as a science one. Certainly, they were a better color than her own gold. The ugly yellow tunic was one of the banes of Vila's existence.

[James Ramort]

Vila heard the counselor's voice in her ear once more.

Breathe, Vila. One-two-three-four.

She closed her eyes briefly, and did a few quick rounds of the box breathing exercises that the counselor had taught her. It DID help, sometimes, in most situations. This was the case now. Indeed, she was calmer now; the new arrivals back to the table had only shook her a moment.

"Lt. Nice to meet you," she said. She smiled tightly, but a quick glance to her right flank said that the child had settled in with his father, and was eating. Good. Another glance around the room told her it was still safe. Everyone remained in their clusters, conversations and laughter and general merriment going on. No one had stood, nor come or gone, in the last few moments since her last visual sweep.

A quiet "mmm" sound from the Commander had her nearly bust out in laughter, but she was able to catch herself in time. It was just a ridiculous sound coming from a Romulan, one that the Bajoran had never really gotten used to despite living with a Human for the entirety of her marriage. However, she recognized the subtle urge to get the child to eat something other than the potatoes. She had a vague memory of her own parents doing something similar, but Vila had been much less compliant, even at age four or five, and it took much more than gentle coaching to get her to do something she didn't want to. The later traumas would only make that part of her personality worsen.

She ate more of her salad; maybe the boy seeing the other adults also enjoying vegetables would get through. She didn't know. As much as she had once longed, and had nearly become, a mother, it hadn't been her lot in life in the end. She supposed, in hindsight, that might've been a good thing-she was far too gone in her own illnesses to have been a proper parent.

"Indeed," she said. "Crocodiles, and Alligators, for example. Earthen birds are also related to the Dinosaurs," she said. That was the limit of her knowledge on the large lizards, though, so she hoped that Fvienne wouldn't press her.

"So if Romulus, and Bajor, and all those other places didn't have such large creatures, I suppose your father is right. They're a Sol-centric species," she said. "Crewman T'Rea. What kind of science do you specialize in?" She asked the woman, recognizing the blue of her uniform as a science one. Certainly, they were a better color than her own gold. The ugly yellow tunic was one of the banes of Vila's existence.

[USS Discovery | Deck 6 | Officers Mess]

She mentioned the Birds.... oh no.

Of course he knew that birds were the most common clade of Dinosaurs alive today, if one wanted to call them that. But the boy probably didn't know that. And the Commander had picked out a chicken dish for him. And chickens were birds.

Usually Ramort was not one to pray but maybe he should start now. If Fvienns Brain made the connection between what he just learned from and what was in front of him on his plate..
He had to come up with something to distract from this situation and fast at that. Best something that featured neither food nor birds to prevent the Commanders son from making any connection.

Setting aside the spoon he had used for his soup he looked over to the Bajoran woman, hoping she would pick up the hint and dropping the matter of Birds. He there noticed a strange expression around her eyes. It was obvious something was up and she didn't seem to be too comfortable in this situation but he had no idea what might have caused it.

Still needing to defuse the situation he did the first thing that came to his mind. Shifting the Focus to another kind of prehistoric creature might do the trick. And if it could manage to shift Lorut Vila's thoughts from whatever was brewing inside her, all the better.

"I am sure many other planets have interesting prehistoric animals too. Maybe even something similar to Dinosaurs. Say does Bajor has anything similar. Were there found any traces of some terrestrial landstriders for example?"