skyofdiamonds | [text]/[action]

I understand I've missed the pilgrimage. When is the next? I'm eager to return to my duties life.

[It's total bullshit but hey, T'Pol knows how to do as she's told.]

[She had dreamed twice in her entire life, but apparently that was just another lie. She said little when she was escorted to her new quarters, asking only necessary questions. There's no doubt in her mind that this is a ruse of some kind, a trick. A hostile alien must have taken over the ship, possibly even entered their minds. Her body was on Enterprise, and her consciousness must return to it.

That made more sense than this.

When she was alone, she found the picture in her room. A party, it seemed, possibly for her. But it wasn't the smile on her face that was most disconcerting: it was the ears. They were curved, round, and her face was flushed red. It was the most unsettling - and disgusting thing she'd seen in a very long time.

She would play along, though: and then she'd find a way to free herself. Leaving the room - and the picture - T'Pol slipped her key card into her pocket and began her exploration. There was much to learn, and more to observe.]

((OOC: Tooootally open for spam anywhere around the Cave! She's wandering all over.))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I think that would be for the best. [That, at least, was true: she avoided Reed on the best of days, on the ship. Studying Trip's unmarked face for some hint, T'Pol hesitated before continuing. Perhaps compassion was the key here?]

Why did he attack you again?

I have no frickin' idea. [And Trip honestly didn't, his frustration showing.] He just did and goddamnit he was smilin' too.

[What he'd hated more was how he shied away from his Malcolm that next couple times he saw him, which he knew hurt his friend's feelings but he couldn't help himself.]

[She was hardly surprised to hear that; the entire ship knew about the enmity Tucker and Reed held for each other. But this Tucker - this projection of Tucker - clearly did not. And it clearly bothered him. Glancing at his wounded arm, she wondered if she should reach out and offer some comfort - but she couldn't imagine any version of her finding that acceptable.]

Is Captain Archer here as well? [She realized, belatedly, that perhaps he was not a captain in Trip's memories; it was so recent for her, after all.]

[She would have been right and it would have made him suspicious. Of what though, that he wouldn't be certain.

His face fell as she asked after the captain.]

No, the Cap'n ain't here. It's just Malcolm, his evil twin, me and now you. [Then he had a thought.] I came just after the mission in the Expanse [His voice was noticeably tight and he didn't look at her.] Malcolm is from a couple years after that. What's the last thing you remember from home?

[It was logical for him to ask such a question; she couldn't say she expected him to, though. As clear as it was that their worlds paralleled each other, she didn't know the details, and that could cause a problem. So she hesitated a moment, then tilted her head slightly to the side.]

Some time after we returned from the Expanse. [She wondered if they had destroyed the Xindi, too.]

[Of course she was from after the Expanse. He knew from Malcolm that they did finally get home alright but there was so much he wanted to ask her...but none of it was anything he was sure he wanted to know the answer too. A simple one couldn't hurt, right?]

So, you're from after me. Did we...what did we do about, ya know, you an' me?

[It probably wasn't the time or place for the question but he had to know if they were going to be here together.]

[Her eyes widened fractionally for just a moment. What did they do? That was a fine question, but a better one, she thought, was what 'you and me' was there? T'Pol shifted, and crossed her arms. If this was a trap, who would benefit from it? Tucker had told no one about her pon farr, if she could trust his word. Who needed information like this?

A number of people came to mind, people who would try to hold this over her head, probably in an attempt to shame her. But shame was an emotion.] I don't see the logic in having this conversation. It would...spoil your future.

[He didn't know what answer he'd been hoping for but a non answer was still a disappointment that he tried to hide, though he wasn't sure how successful he was.

Was she not saying anything because nothing else happened? He couldn't help but wonder...]

Alright. I guess we better get you settled then. Where they have ya workin'?

[She wouldn't be where she was in the Empire if she hadn't learned how to read emotions. Disappointment wasn't one she came across as often as, say, anger, but she still saw it on his face.

Curious. A part of her wanted to ruin the cover she was slowly building and ask what had happened between him and the other T'Pol. Had she experienced that accidental pon farr as well, simply later in the timeline? Perhaps they had entered into some kind of physical arrangement, while they'd judged their lives to be in danger.

But no; that would be unwise.]

The Guard Force, until I return to the surface.

[It was better that T'Pol didn't. With everything else going on, Trip really didn't want to go into the situation with his T'Pol. It would just...hurt too much, especially after finding out that this T'Pol wasn't his.]

Shame ya missed our Mal. I think that's what they had him doin' too. I'm a glorified repair man, or least I was until this happened. [He raised his arm that was in a cast for emphasis.]

[She eyed the cast, mulled over 'our Mal,' and the possibility that anyone could be friendly with Reed and not suffer for it. But then, she could say the same of Tucker.]

A shame, [she agreed, though it was toneless. Even if his Reed wasn't as crazy, she didn't think she cared to study the differences.] Do you have an estimate on when your arm will be healed?