“OH, NO. As far as I’ve been told, brilliant people only need one person to solve the case---” She pauses, wagging a finger at his chest. “---and that’s themselves.” Bringing the hand to her heart with feigned tenderness, Echo takes a step back from the console to give him the floor. Fundamentally, he’s correct. This solution is within reach if they both put their heads together, but there’s no harm in poking fun at his ego in the meantime. 

AN OBJECTIVE FACT. It takes every piece of will power in her body not to mock his confidence for the sake of digging herself a deeper hole; he is brilliant, a type of whiz-kid smart she couldn’t even dream of. She’s always been better talking with her fists, logistically figuring things out through the way of what people seem to call ‘street smarts’ on Earth. The Lieutenant clears her throat, minding herself as she completes the log beneath her fingertips otherwise neglected by the way she stares at her colleague in the hopes of one-upping his zinger.

“--------is that right?” She pauses, gesturing to the screen beneath her. “By all means, Brilliant One, you can figure out what’s wrong and I’ll go take a lunch break.”

“I don’t think anyone has done much research into that particular field. But I didn’t think you were the kind of person to care much about that kind of thing.”

“I’m not going to waste a cup of coffee, just because it’s gone cold.”

“I was not expecting you to actually agree to this, but OK. Just don’t tell anyone else about the plan.”

“I reserve the right to break that silence if the event we’re about to, y’know, die, but otherwise my lips are sealed,” said Vivienne, tone growing a bit hushed. Initiative was in Pavel’s wheelhouse, and risk taking seemed to be on an as needed basis. But, what could have happened that would not only have him crack this sort of plan, but keep it a secret from the Captain of all people? 

“Absolutely no way, Vivienne. You are not coming anywhere near my hair.” //

This felt like such a juxtaposition from the chaos that made up a typical day on the USS Enterprise. The room was quiet, aside from their breathing, a small haven of peace in the midst of the mayhem. Glancing at Vivienne, Pavel noted her peaceful expression before realising that she was probably asleep in his lap, leaving him stuck. Heaving a soft sigh, he lay down on his back and tried to get some sleep himself.

It wasn’t often that Vivienne drifted off, the hectic schedules on the crew members never really left time to do so. If there was any spare time, it wasn’t spent napping. Vivienne had come to Pavel’s quarters after her shift just to blow off steam before training, though by the time she’d awoken, she was sure she’d missed her time. 

It took a moment for Vivienne’s brain to even process someone knocking at her door. Being on shore leave, it was expected that the crew members would catch up on sleep. Though, being sleep averse as she was, Vivienne was wide awake. 

When she answered the door, the surprise was all over her face, quickly pulling her friend inside. He was soaking wet, pale, and-wait, was that blood?