revivalproject | ( open ) arrival

Entry tags:

( open ) arrival

Who: Garak and YOU!
What: Arrival and exploring the city
When: First few days after his arrival
Where: Some random abandoned buildings and shops, the hotel
Warnings: None expected

I ▹ INFORMATION

[ One thing Garak has learned can be more valuable than virtually anything is information. The bright orb waiting for him upon arrival was useful, but incredibly lacking in many aspects, and Garak finds himself needing more to know what he's dealing with.

Yes, he realizes that a dying species likely had other things to worry about than just how much information they left readily available for others to come, but that doesn't mean some isn't laying around somewhere. He takes to exploring each and every building, pushing through the overgrown plants to step inside, climbing up stairs where he can manage, poking his head into different rooms as he passes them.

He'll approach any computer screen he finds, and he'll promptly open the nearest control panel to try and see what the circuitry looks like, and if there's any chance to get power running through it again. When that fails, he heads back outside and walks towards the outskirts of the city, trying to find whatever path the power might have once followed, hoping to find some sort of energy central.

The same goes for the plumbing system. At least plenty of people seem invested in getting power back up again, but Garak has a feeling they will all be in dire need of a decent bath sooner or later, and things will get rather unbearable if they don't get the plumbing working again.

If he finds anyone else exploring anywhere he happens to go, he'll smile at them, tilting his head all too politely. ] Greetings. May I ask what you're looking for? Perhaps it's the same as I, and we can help each other.

II ▹ CULTURE

[ Garak has found himself a place to sleep in at the rundown hotel. It's far from perfect, and he fully plans on finding something better eventually, but for the moment it has a door, a mostly intact window, and a whole ceiling. The bathroom has a tub that could be filled with water for a bath if need be, and having pushed the bed frame aside, Garak has gathered a few old blankets and sheets to serve as a small bed by a darker, warmer corner of the room.

He's not sleeping currently, however. Door open, he's sitting on those blankets, legs crossed, hunched over what looks like some kind of electronic device in his hands. He runs his fingers over the screen with a frown on his face, tapping and clicking like he's looking for something...

And then music just starts playing. Garak groans, eyes practically rolling back on his head. ] Oh, useless.

((ooc: Garak is new and can be found pretty much all over town, wherever you'd like to run into him I'm game! Feel free to write your own adventure, or friend/ping me @

extreminator if you'd like to plan something out!))

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[ Being in this hotel is like being back in the dorm at college or Starfleet Academy and Bones honestly isn't a fan. Who would be? Especially because the living conditions are awful. He's shuffling down the hall to his squalid room when the music starts, drawing his attention.

It's so strange to hear ancient music here, almost eerie in the ruins of this futuristic hotel. He stops at the door to the room where the music is playing, looking in on the inhabitant. Bones is surprised to find a non-human, one who seems none too pleased that this is what his padd is playing. ]

Hoping for a slow dance? [ He teases. ]

[ Garak turns to meet the source of the voice, brow raising at the comment. He glances briefly to the PADD in his hand, then tips his head. ]

Is this the sort of music humans dance to, then? I wouldn't know. I don't often indulge in your music.

[ He looks the man up and down, studying him. He doesn't recognize the face, but something about him still rings vaguely familiar. ]

Yeah, a really, really long time again. [ Bones moves slowly into Garak's room, hoping he's not intruding. ] It's the kind of music my captain would use to try to charm someone.

[ It's not terrible, but it's so ancient. Bones can see Jim, vintage lover that he is, trying to set the mood with something like this. ]

[ Garak lets out a soft laugh, shaking his head. ] Well, I assure you I am not trying to charm anyone.

[ The thought does intrigue him. Humans are such curious creatures. ] Would your captain succeed in charming anyone with this kind of music, then?

Sadly, he probably would. There are certain kinds of people who eat that stuff up, Jim included. He probably wouldn't even think he was being that cheesy.

[ He'd just see it as enjoying some old music and romancing someone in the process. Of course, the fact that Jim looks like an underwear model and not a creeper probably helps him a lot. ]

Ah, but you would think it to be that... cheesy? So it would not work on you?

[ Each person is different, he supposes. Granted, it makes sense that romantic music would be ideal for romance, but it's curious to learn that not all humans will enjoy it, or be swayed by it. ]

Cheesy. It means like... overly sentimental to the point where it's irritating. [ He hopes that's a good definition. English vocabulary was never his strong suit. ] Probably not, because I don't really think of Jim like that. He's my best friend.

[ While Jim is an undeniably attractive man, Bones feels like what he and Jim have is an emotional bond, not really a sexual one. ]

I know what 'cheesy' means, I'm familiar with some Human slang. But thank you nevertheless.

[ His smile is wide, it somehow manages to look both fake and genuine all at once. He hums at the explanation. ]

Ah, yes, friends. I meant that as a more broad question, whether it's the kind of music that Humans in general enjoy in a romantic sense.

Ah. Maybe some humans. You can slow dance to it at least.

[ Bones isn't really sure how he feels about it personally. He kind of sucks at being romantic. Just ask his ex-wife. He tries, but doesn't really succeed, he feels. Fortunately, he hasn't really had a need to try lately. ]

I'm sorry... I don't mean to ask this so bluntly, but what species are you?

[ He's never come across a humanoid who looks like this before. He wonders if the odd smile is because he's still learning about what normal human interactions are like. ]

Ah, yes. Dance.

[ Not that Cardassians don't dance, but they're generally much more stiff sorts of dancing. Their physical structure doesn't allow for the same kind of speed or flexibility that most Human dances require. ]

You needn't concern yourself, you don't offend me. Often being direct is the best course of action. [ Not that he adheres to it... ] I am a Cardassian. My planet is located on what Humans classify as the Alpha Quadrant. I don't suppose you've heard that terminology before...?

[ It doesn't hurt to ask, now does it? ]

I've heard of it, but we haven't been there yet. You must be from closer to Jadzia's time. [ That makes Bones realize something. ] So you've heard of Starfleet, then? They've made contact with the species on your planet?

Ah, yes. Her and Doctor Bashir's, as a matter of fact. We live aboard the same station, Deep Space Nine.

[ No point in saying they're not there anymore at the point in time Garak's from. Julian and Jadzia don't know, and for now he plans on keeping it that way. ]

It has been a long time since Cardassians have first crossed paths with the Federation. I don't think there is a specific date for when that first happened, as Cardassians were often too... busy with their traveling to always take down notes on events they didn't deem important enough.

[ Garak will always think that underestimating the Federation has been one of the Cardassian Empire's greatest mistakes. ]

Ah, where are my manners? Do forgive me, my name is Garak. [ He offers a hand, smiling. ] A pleasure to make your acquaintance.

I've met Bashir too. Seems like a good guy.

[ Bones genuinely liked the other doctor, even if he had some kind of odd hero-worship of Bones. Despite coming from a place with multiple timelines, it was still strange to meet a person who knew you and everything you had done. ]

Leonard McCoy. [ He shakes Garak's hand. ] Pleased to meet you as well. I'm the CMO on the Starship Enterprise.

He is quite reliable. We have known each other for many years now.

[ Garak leaves it at that, for now. No point in telling this man that Julian may as well be his closest friend, or that he trusts him implicitly. Even if there are things he would never dream to share with the doctor. Matters of his past mostly, of course, they hardly bore any weight. ]

Ah! [ Recognition flashes in his eyes, and his smile widens. ] The famous doctor! Julian has mentioned you on occasion. I suppose I will have the chance to see for myself whether the man lives up to the legend.

Oh, you've heard of me too? [ It's kind of flattering, but also kind of unnerving. What if he can't measure up to whatever that other McCoy did, or whatever image they have in their minds of him. ] Yeah, well... I'm really just a country doctor when it's all said and done.

Only from what Julian has told me. I'm afraid the history of Starfleet isn't part of the Cardassian curriculum.

[ Surprise, surprise. (Well, it may be a surprise to McCoy, since he knows nothing about Cardassians. ]

I find that hard to believe, Doctor. You humans... there is always more to you than meets the eyes.

[ If they're a newly contacted species, then it's not that surprising. Obviously, they wouldn't know much about Starfleet. Bones wonders though how much Garak's species trusts the organization. Not all the beings they've made contact with do.

He shrugs at those words. ]

Maybe so. I've done some things I'm proud of, but also done some things I'm not so proud of. That's pretty much all humans in a nutshell though.

[ Not so newly, as it so happens. It might be that it's different in McCoy's universe, but of course Garak has no way of knowing that they come from different realities. It has been well over a hundred years that Humans have first encountered Cardassians, however. At least in Garak's own universe. ]

Such is the nature with most people, doctor, Human or otherwise. Some of us may be less willing to admit to it, but we all have done things that didn't fill us with a sense of pride. Even if they were necessary at the time.

Well, I didn't want to include your species in it, if you felt differently.

[ He's spent enough time around Spock to know that Vulcans are different from humans. For all he knew, Cardassians felt the same way. ]

I am sure many Cardassians do feel differently, as do other species. But people are people, regardless of how different they like to think they are. To live is often to regret. The things we do, the choices we make.

[ His expression shifts into a smile. ] And to learn from those mistakes, hopefully. Otherwise you will not get very far in life. Quite literally.

[ Well, Bones can't argue much with that. He's always been well aware of the human side of the people he works with, particularly Spock and Jim.

He gives the other man a nod. ]

I probably ought to leave you alone so you can try to get some sleep. [ That was what Bones had been on his way to do before getting distracted by the music. Now he can feel his own exhaustion starting to set in. ]

Ah. Of course, doctor. I won't stall you any longer either.

[ He turns off the music, since he too was planning on settling in for the night, then bows politely at McCoy, smiling. ]

Sleep well. Surely we'll run into one another again soon.

Probably so. [ He nods. There aren't actually that many people here when it comes down to it. ] Have a good night.

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( open ) arrival

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