The Aftermath

[logical_hobgoblin]

Spock is not pleased.

Pike is not pleased.

There might not be yelling, but the silence is deafening.

Spock has been decontaminated and taken out of the suit, but he's still locked behind an airtight barrier to ensure he's not still able to infect anyone else with whatever it is he came into contact with on the planet. So far, he's not exhibiting any symptoms, but it's unknown whether that's due to humanoid biology, or Vulcanoid biology, or because the virus is ineffectual in an oxygen atmosphere.

Despite all the people poking and prodding at him, he's still working away silently on his PADD, filling out reports. He might as well make use of his time.

Comments

[theoriginalcaptain]

"About as difficult as a Vulcan sitting in a chair meant for humans."

[logical_hobgoblin]

Spock opens his mouth to reply, but then pauses. "Is that a joke?" He's not sure if they should literally be comparing the two difficulties or not. He suspects not.

[theoriginalcaptain]

"Yes, Spock, a joke." He smiles. Spock actually heard humor! "But also a reminder that the ship should fit the crew, not the other way around."

[logical_hobgoblin]

"This new chair will be a large, and appreciated, step towards that. I do not know how the ship will accommodate my pointed ears and devil tail, however," he says seriously.

[theoriginalcaptain]

"I'm sure something could be figured out." They do have Caitians and other tailed in the Federation, it only makes sense that they would have specialized chairs as well. ...Alright, he may be considering this a little too seriously, but this is what makes him the captain he is. He takes everything seriously.

[logical_hobgoblin]

"Perhaps a hole in the seat of the chair," Spock suggests, since Pike seems to be studiously considering the possibility. "Much like the garments of tailed species have a hole in the trousers to accommodate the extra limb."

[theoriginalcaptain]

"See? A simple solution. Hooves only need a different kind of flooring, and devil ears.... I don't imagine they need much accommodation."

[logical_hobgoblin]

"There would be fundamental difficulties if species that required substantially different temperatures or atmospheres were chosen to serve on board your vessel."

[theoriginalcaptain]

"Theoretically, that's why like species are grouped together. Doesn't really work to have humanoids working alongside, for example, merpeople."

Pike has actually met such people. Lovely people, but it'd be impractical to have them on a spaceship together.

[logical_hobgoblin]

"It would be incredibly difficult for merpeople to achieve spaceflight regardless of the species they grouped with." Spock thinks designing a spaceship that would maintain, filter, and function with a water-filled interior would be nearly impossible. Nearly.

[theoriginalcaptain]

"So's faster than light travel, if you asked someone a hundred years ago." Deep down, Pike's an optimist. But only when it comes to spaceship design, because that kind of thing fascinates him.

[logical_hobgoblin]

"If we discover a species that has managed this, I will take special interest." He's not saying they're not out there, just that the odds of them existing are very low.

[theoriginalcaptain]

And then he drains his martini and sets the empty glass aside because fuck it. "So I was reading the Vulcan text you gave me - thank you again for that, by the way - and I think you may have made a mistake in the translation."

[logical_hobgoblin]

Spock isn't prepared for the sudden shift in the conversation. Taking his cue from Pike, he puts the pick back into the martini and sets it on the desk. "What has led you to draw that conclusion?"

[theoriginalcaptain]

"Well, I was reading about Surak and how he drank blood....?" It's ridiculous to think that Spock made a mistake, but it's even more ridiculous to think that this wasn't one.

[logical_hobgoblin]

Spock calmly nods. Although he is gratified that he did not actually make a mistake, that particular passage is... not the finest moment in Vulcan history.

"Indeed. There are no sources of water in the Forge. It was a land decimated by nuclear attacks. The whole area was radioactive. His only option for short-term survival was to drink the blood of the dead for its water content."

[theoriginalcaptain]

".....oh."

Yes, this is Pike mentally going 'shitshitshit Vulcans are vampires' but again, that can't possibly be true. There must be more to it.

"And.... it stayed back at the Forge, yes? There's not some... Vulcan ritual where they literally follow in Surak's footsteps?"

[logical_hobgoblin]

Spock blinks at him, and somehow that single action manages to convey that, in this moment, he thinks Pike is an idiot. "No, Captain, of course not. Such a thing would be barbaric and unnecessary."

[theoriginalcaptain]

Pike laughs, more to relieve tension than because of any humor in the situation - which is actually pretty hilarious, from an outsider perspective. "I'm just making sure there won't be any cultural misunderstandings."