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Mariachi and Migraines

Posted on Fri May 2nd, 2025 @ 1:19pm by Lieutenant Xavier & Lieutenant JG T'Avia Espinosa

1,221 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Preservation Instinct
Location: USS Ontario | Deck 02 | Crew Quarters
Timeline: Current

ON:

The festive music playing throughout deck 2 of the Ontario was coming from one person, one source as background to the clattering coming from Lieutenant Junior Grade T’Avia’s quarters. A Vulcan by heritage but Earth-born and spirited in her own right, she moved with a rare energy not often seen in officers of her ancestry.

She crouched near an open crate, pulling out a bright woven serape and tossing it across the back of her couch with a flourish. The fabric landed with a thump, knocking over a nearby photo frame that skittered across the desk. “Perfect,” she said under her breath, completely unbothered by the noise.

A small wooden carving of Quetzalcoatl followed next carefully placed on a shelf beside a painted Dia de los Muertos skull. On the walls, she mounted vibrant papel picado banners, their delicate paper fluttering in the recycled air currents. She hummed the tune something upbeat and undeniably mariachi as she tapped a rhythm against the desk while unboxing more decorations not realizing that others may not be so pleased about her vivacious music or thuds.


Xavier's day started out normal. He'd walked around the room assigned to him getting to know it. Everything was cold and sterile which was okay with him but the luxury they had sprung for had been the carpet with the generous underpadding. It was new, the pungent, but not unpleasant, chemical smell told him it was new.

The tile in the bathroom was grey with teal accenting that was perfect. Of course he had a sonic shower but there were holodecks and a holosuite he could book to run his bubble bath program. He was having a perfectly meditative walk about waiting for his stuff to arrive when all of a sudden the walls shook with a Gods awful sound. He groaned. "This could not be happening!"

Sighing he tried to calm himself. "It's okay. They probably don't realize that their music is loud. Just go over and say something."

Closing his eyes he took a moment to compose himself and headed over. It was right next door so it didn't take long and after a few more breaths he pressed the chime.

T'Avia realized when the chime cut in and paused her music momentarily that she probably had it too loud and immediately called for the computer to decrease the volume by ten percent. Busted she thought.

She proceeded towards the door and opened it expecting someone...anyone but not HIM. "Oh come on. I know you got addicted to me, but stalking? That's too far" quipped T'Avia.

"Did you get lost? They announced bordering for you, IKS Fek'lhr?"

Xavier flushed, he was screaming internally, but recovered quickly squaring his shoulders and schooling his features. "With your taste in music and your attitude you are best suited for the Fek'lhr. I was not stalking you but you insist on bulldozing your way onto my ship."

"Your ship?" T'Avia scoffed. "Did you purchase or inherit the Ontario? I don't think so. Logically, we appear to both be assigned to the Ontario. I will keep my unsavory music from your pointed perverted ears, but if we are going to be shipmates...and worse, neighbors, then we need to establish ground rules and set boundaries."

He sighed and pressed his lips together. "Your insults are ... well part of your upbringing but I would kindly ask you to refrain from spewing them."

"Don't give me a reason to and I won't," quipped T'Avia. "Now, my eyeliner obsessed shipmate..." she smirked. "Depending which shift I'm assigned, I prefer to be asleep by zero hundred hours. I know I do not need to be concerned about having company over, but do keep any nocturnal activities to a minimal."

He snorted. "I'm more worried about your activities then mine. Both night and day. Keep the music down. The entire ship does not need to hear it."

"It's illogical to make assumptions," retorted T'Avia. She called for the computer to end the music. "Better? Does the sound of your breathing help calm you down?" He would not need to worry about her activities because she was going to be too busy on the bridge and elsewhere as Acting Chief Science Officer to be of any concern to what she suspected was a lower decker.

He sighed. "Listening to music is fine but...just keep it lower. I will try not to practice my violin when you are in your quarters as a... courtesy as well."

She chuckled and shook her head. "Violinist. Of course. That makes a lot of sense" she commented. "It's fine. I actually like the violin. It's a....dainty instrument. Very demure."

He shrugged. "It has a soothing sound. I...do not like noise." He studied her. "What are the other rules?"

"Don't embarrass me in front of the crew. I have a very important job aboard the Ontario, and I can't be associated with lower deck shenanigans."

"I'm a department head. If anyone is embarrassing." He shook his head. No, he couldn't say it. He looked up and noticed her rank pips. "Oh Lieutenant Junior Grade are you?"

"Provisional," she replied "but yes, and what do you mean? You're a department head?!" She wanted to shriek but maintained her composure as best as possible. "WHAT department?"

"Lieutenant, full Lieutenant Xavier. Chief Flight Control Officer." He gave a bow. "And you are Junior Lieutenant...?"

"Chief Science Officer T'Avia," she replied. "You can pull rank all you want if it makes you feel better, but I'm on loan to Starfleet, and you aren't navigating anywhere if I don't do my job well."

He raised an eyebrow. "True but if you don't do your job well then you will simply become expendable. Logic." He sighed. "Out of all the ships. What are the odds that I would encounter....you." He sighed. "Fine, I have a rule."

"Expendable?" She scoffed. "You're on an Ambassador class starship as Chief Flight Control Officer. You're a dime a dozen, just a pretty face at a console on the bridge. They haven't even had a Chief Flight Control Officer in months here."

"A pretty face? Ah I see you suffer from hallucinations. I am not a pretty face. " He shrugged. He wasn't comfortable with compliments they made him uncomfortable. "If we cannot co-exist properly perhaps a professional relationship is called for."

She gave a dismissive gesture. "Nonsense. We're getting along fine, not everything is sunshine and rainbows like your romance novels." She punched him in the shoulder playfully. "Lighten up, buttercup."

"What is a buttercup?"

She shrugged. "I don't know...some sort of yellow wildflower. I don't do flowers. Not unless they are useful like attracting butterflies."

"I see." He paused. "Why butterflies?" He pointed to her tattoo.

She did not feel the need to disclose personal decisions. "Why the eyeliner?"

He shrugged. "It enhances the eyes. I have one good feature and I shall display it." He sighed. "Well then I shall let you..." He looked past her at the splash of colours. "I shall let you keep coloring your world. I must go pick up my pets on the station from quarantine."

"Enjoy" she replied simply.

-----

Lieutenant Xavier
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Ontario

&

Lieutenant JG T'Avia
Acting Chief Science Officer
USS Ontario

 

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