#* verse; tba.

[quantumstarpaths]

@hoovedroyal said: < been a while since we last spoken.>

So it had been. It wasn't Regulus' fault, and Paul wasn't going to stand here and say it was. He had a well known habit of not talking to people, of losing himself in his work to the point that the social aspect of his day to day life withered until it consisted only of those interactions that were required. He was working on it, in no small part thanks to the very subtle suggestion that he would be quickly finding himself single if he didn't. Hugh always did know just what to say.

"I've been busy," he said, the same explanation that had been offered countless times over his life. "I am busy." Not added to excuse, to send him away, but only to add something. "What they don't tell you when Starfleet recruits you with its shiny stories about saving the day is just how much work it takes to do that." Not that he'd worked any less before Starfleet, but it was someone to complain about.

[quantumstarpaths]

@hoovedrycal said: " It is called morphing, it is an ability that we Cervids have."

Blue eyes widened as he looked at the other, a small smile pulling at his lips. He knew he shouldn't treat the other as though he were a science experiment, but there was certainly something fascinating about this ability, and Paul was unable to help himself when there was something fascinating.

"Morphing..." He turned the word over in his mind. It certainly made enough sense, and was easy enough to figure out. "How does it work?"

[quantumstarpaths]

@healstars

"Hand me that," he says, head down, entirely focused on what it is he's doing. So focused that it takes him a moment to realize what it is he's asked. And who he's asked. Eyebrows furrow, both due to the fact that he's going to have to pull himself away from his task as well as the simple fact that he's asked a hoofed animal to give him something. His head raises, then, and he completes the task himself.

"...Never mind."

[quantumstarpaths]

@notofthisxworld

Despite a non-insignificant role in the current Starfleet roster, Discovery did not tend to attract the attention of ambassadors. Maybe because it was a secret, or because of its position in the war, but for the cutting edge that they fly on, no one seemed either welcome or interested in coming on board. Which didn't bother Paul, not at all.

What bothered him was when it was announced that there would be an ambassador. That someone would be coming onto the ship, and that he would be expected to meet them. He didn't like having to meet people, especially people that he knew that he was going to have to explain his work to. People tended not to understand, and it frustrated him. That, and he'd never been a people person.

But that didn't matter, did it? Because the woman was coming, whether he liked it or not. And come she did, being led into the test bay, where Paul was frowning at the screen of his console. The drive's performance wasn't where he wanted it to be, and this wasn't a good time. But Starfleet had never worried about what worked for him.

Names were exchanged, and Paul glanced to the woman, lips pursing in as close to a smile as she was going to get. "Is there any chance the tour can wait?"

[quantumstarpaths]

@healstars said: "You find this funny, do you?"

"No," he answered, shaking his head, a small, thoughtful tilt to it. There was no indication that he meant anything else, and, really, he didn't.

He'd heard a lot about his sense of humor over the years, about how he wasn't really as funny as he seemed to think he was, which he'd always ruffled his feathers at, but of course they were right. His jokes were dry and flat, usually unintelligible to anyone without a PhD, but he liked it. He kept himself entertained, and that had to count for something. But it didn't seem that that was the opinion shared by everyone. He could, however, control himself. And, really, he wasn't in the habit of laughing at other people's expense.

[quantumstarpaths]

@lookedinfinite said: ❛ Nobody gets away with anything. Not really. ❜

↣ THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER

He looked at her for a moment, not in judgement, but thought. He'd seen a lot of people try to get away with things, but, as he thought, it did seem that they hadn't gotten away with it. Justice had been served, right? But he didn't know if that was what she meant. Did she mean it through society, or through fate? One Paul could get behind, but the other, not so much.

"It doesn't stop them from trying, though, does it?"