poly_chromatic | personal log stardate -309930.10400811775

Entry tags:

star trek xi - nyota uhura

personal log stardate -309930.10400811775

[video]

[Uhura gives the camera a tight-lipped smile. She's dressed in an obnoxious red, white, and blue sweater, with an obscenely big American flagpin, and...holy shit, is that an eagle on her shoulder, trying to eat her hair?]

In honor of today's curse, I'll be offering free lessons on Earth's history, with a special focus on the era of the American Empire.

[Because bitch, she knows why this eagle is here and City you are not as cute as you think you are.]

I hope nobody's allergic to birds.

[ooc: She's at the Welcome Center for anyone who wants to action!]

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[There is a Welcome Center, and no one told Charles?! For shame. Either way somewhere between Uhura's put out expression, an eagle, and an offer of free lessons on Earth's history, Charles' interested was piqued, so here he is.

Because what, exactly, is the era of the Amerian Empire? Charles wants to know!

Thus: he's arrived at the Welcome Center, hands in pants pockets, looking around with curious interest before he turns to Uhura, smiles...and promptly gets into a staring contest with the eagle on her shoulder.

He stares. It stares back. Charles' right eyebrow threatens to climb into his hairline and stay there. Eventually he breaks eye contact, scratches at his temple, clears his throat and smiles again.]

I heard something about free history lessons, am I in the right place?

[Uhura is trying to distract that damn eagle with bits of ham and it's not working. Thank goodness Charles arrives to distract her.]

Yes you are. [bright smile] Welcome! I'm Nyota. [She holds her hand out to shake his.]

Don't mind this one. [Gesturing to the eagle] He's fairly well behaved.

[Of course Charles shakes her hand back.] Charles! It's lovely to meet you. [With that out of the way he can sit down and nod to the eagle. Who is still staring.

Might have something to do with being a telepath, who knows?] I promise I won't incite him. I'll be honest, I was drawn to your offer of a free history lesson not just for a love of history but also because the term 'era of the American Empire' is completely new to me.

I was hoping you could clarify.

[Don't mind him responding with voice instead of video. So many issues, so little desire to confront them.]

The curse has to do with birds? [Color him confused.] Does this mean you advise staying indoors today?

[The eagle is kinda creeped out by you, dude. But Uhura is chill. She smiles dryly at his question and leans forward in her seat.]

It's not a term you'll find in history books. But it refers roughly to the period of time from the early 1800's to through the late 21st century, when the United States of America expanded and began asserting power over other countries across the globe.

I should probably ask first, where are you from? [You can't assume everyone that looks human is from Earth. Particularly here.]

[Extensions of the soul, hypothetical or otherwise, probably wouldn't be fond of people who can answer questions without asking. Or something.

Charles' smile isn't dry, though.] Interesting! New York, actually, but my knowledge of history ends roughly in 1962. Does that have some impact on the lesson or is there some other aspect I'm not aware of?

Oh, I forgot to mention when we spoke last. Sometimes there are weekends where people get hit with all different kinds of curses. My curse is making a terrible joke on my name. I think you should be safe enough outside. As safe as anyone is, at least.

I see. [But now he's curious,] I didn't know Nyota had to do with eagles. Or is it more the country you mentioned?

[long suffering sigh -- not at you, Zel.]

My name means "freedom". The United States of America liked to pretend they invented the word.

[Still do, in a way, if you look at the history textbooks. It amazes her sometimes how little some of her American classmates knew about their own history.]

Ah. [He's never heard of the country, but the concept is universal. Nothing is as pure as it sounds.]

Freedom is a good thing to be named for.

It's called the American Empire, where you're from? Not the United States?

[There is an eagle in here. That's okay, of course, but... why.

No, with the outfit? It kind of makes sense.]

Uhura...? Where'd you get the eagle?

[He's trying not to smile too much. It's not Uhura's fault that she's in that sweater, surely.]

I never knew you were so patriotic, Uhura.

Context is important. We have people from all different times and worlds here. A lot of them have never heard of the United States before.

I love my name. I was born on the anniversary of my country's first democratic elections after the end of Apartheid.

No, it was called the United States of America. They never acknowledged that they were building an empire.

[Uhura sighs heavily.]

Curse.

[It explains everything.]

[Ha. Ha. Ha. Chekov. You're so cute.]

I love my country. The United States of America? Is not my country.

Oh. Okay.

[She starts to return to her business before it occurs to her that it's a slightly odd combination of accessories for a curse.]

Does your curse have anything to do with the Fourth of July?

[Yes, he is. That's why you don't want to kill him, Uhura.]

What is your country?

[She doesn't have an accent and the topic of home has never come up between them (which does not keep Chekov from referencing Russia whenever he can). It strikes him, briefly, that he knows very little about her.]

[Up go the eyebrows again.] Well, I'd realized we had people from different points in times but not different...worlds. [That would complicate things, clearly, so Charles nods.]

[More words that are foreign to him, but he can infer enough.] It's a nice name. And it suits you. [She's smart and articulate and confident; 'freedom' is perfect for her. Though he flushes a bit for thinking so about someone he barely knows, and is glad of the audio feed.] ...Probably.

The City's having a little fun at the expense of my name. It means "freedom".

I'm from the Republic of Mozambique. It's down by the Indian Ocean, in Southeast Africa.

Thank you. [The slight tint of awkwardness is kind of adorable.]

What about your name?

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personal log stardate -309930.10400811775

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