Date: 31 May 2013 04:05 Title: Moving Day
That was refreshingly sweet - just the right amount of nervousness and bravado for each of them.
John strikes me as the extrovert of the group - one who can easily make friends and talk to others. Remarkable in a way for a guy who's come from a neglectful background. On the other hand it was probably a defense mechanism while growing up - either reach out and be part of something or be dragged down into the morass that was his family life.
Poor Icheb - it's proving a struggle already and he hasn't even made it to his dorm yet. The difficulties he is facing remind me so much of my favorite character - Spock. Not really at home anywhere and hoping that Starfleet will provide him with the sense of belonging he seeks.
But I must admit, it was Maren's bit that made me grin from ear to ear - waiting patiently to be noticed by the girls handing out room assignments who were more interested in flirting with the plebe guys. Noticing that the Vulcan was doing his job with an air of detached indifference, despite girls fawning over him. This bit of confidence was quickly overshadowed by nervousness as she found her assigned room full of a lot more people than just her new roommate.
How quickly she falls back on the comfortable, and familiar - worrying about the door; knowing it's only a matter of time before it breaks. Unpacking all her tools from home - something familiar and reassuring since she left her family behind? And offering to fix the door that the others seemed not to realize would break if propped open too long.
It seems like so far, J.Q. is the only one who's gotten off to a smooth start.
I love these three already. :D
Date: 31 May 2013 03:13 Title: Moving Day
Damn, I want more Seven and Icheb scenes and interaction. Just something tragic and poignany about that relationship when you write them. Something very real. And alas he could do with Seven's support how very maternal of her to want to offer it to him. And how very him to turn it down. (Two drones walking around would not exactly have gone down well anyway)
The looks and whispered comments are to be expected but that doesn't excuse it and it but begins to point out the troubles and grief Icheb is going to face. It is going to be a long road and journey through the Academy for him.
Date: 31 May 2013 03:10 Title: Moving Day
Maren's first day is different to JQs. He finds a perfect room mate but Maren has perhaps the polar opposite to herself. Rach is 'popular' and seems to not quite appreciate the proper function of things. Propping the door open with the suitcase is endemic of that and goes to show how it runs completely counter to her own way of thinking. Maren's about order and function in many ways. Things work and things break and things that break can be fixed.
It's a rather positive outlook on life. sums her up in many ways. Also means she's going to stick things out, work at fixing the problem and not bailing out but of course not bailing out can mean getting hurt more in the long run too.
And of course, we see the rather prude or sheltered Maren here. Just what kind of life has she led up until now? Absorbed in mechanics and theories and her family boys probably did not feature highly on her radar. Yet she can sense and see it in others about her in the Academy so she's not some oddity. But I dare say the probability of it happening to her, of falling for a boy in the Academy has probably never entered into her equation of the parameters of the experience.
Date: 31 May 2013 03:04 Title: Moving Day
Loving JQ's first day. After the previous chapter and the previous chapter of his life for he seems already to have closed it and moved on. The Academy is a place of new chances and starts. He's got the universe waiting for him. He's going to enjoy this to the full. A life of no real responsibilities of not looking after other people's shit. Music. Fun. Ladies.
Cue the carefree, skirt chasing JQ. Ok, he was already probably a lot of those things but I think he's now at the Academy and yeah this is his chance to just have and enjoy his own life.
Loved the split scene set up by the way. Nicely done. And of course the little nod to Carmichael Hall - that a funngunner call out?
Date: 28 May 2013 00:35 Title: Moving Day
Alright, looks like we've got our nerd, jock and outsides all assembled in one place. Now to kick of the tale in which these unlikely heroes become fast friends and something more. Looking forward to it.
Date: 27 May 2013 23:39 Title: Moving Day
So! John is in his element. Far as he's concerned, he's died and gone to heaven. And he has been reborn, it seems. This is clearly the best day so far of his life. He is ready to go.
Maren, I love the having to walk in on what's almost a party already, when all she wants to do is unpack. Right now, the relationship with Rachel has the potential to be uneven at best, and downright difficult - maybe - at worst. It looks like a personality mismatch and that could mean misery for our gal.
Icheb, it makes sense that he'd be rooming alone, for his own safety, but it's another way to underscore his isolation. He's reminiscent of James Meredith at the University of Mississippi in 1962.
Date: 27 May 2013 15:15 Title: Moving Day
Both scenes with Icheb were touching and heartbreaking. I can't imagine how difficult it must be for him to be not only faced with this new place, and yet to also be such an outcast because of something he has absolutely no control over. I am totally with Stef on this one - these cadets are jerks! I hope either John or Maren will soon have his back...
The interaction with Seven was great too, really showed how complex their relationship has become. I love the idea of this almost superhuman character having a total out-of-it moment with the padd. Worked really well.
And then we see John, already ready to rule the roost. I will be interested to see if or when you bring him down a peg or two, although at the same time after the life he has led up until now it would also be nice to see him enjoying this a moment. I will be interested to see whichever way you decide to take it.
And Maren. Your final line for her was killer. And talk about being prepared! I think she will do fine at the Academy, although she may struggle with the popularity of her roommate. Introvert meet extrovert much?! :)
As usual, a great piece. Can't wait for you to update. Morrrrre! :)
Date: 26 May 2013 08:27 Title: Moving Day
Where to start...
Icheb. I still want to protect him like a Mama tiger. I can only feel too keenly his hurt and confusion about being such a spectacle. I mean, I get that Starfleet's kneejerk about the Borg, but not one person in that whole group went, "Hey, no. Stop that." I'm honestly disappointed in this Starfleet. What a bunch of jerks.
His scene with Seven was darling, though. That he was holding his PADD and didn't realize it. That she was amused and loving, though so subtly. That he has to do this alone.
John made me smile. He and Cor would get along very well, I think. They can both be utter dogs, and both of them attract people like honey just by a charming smile, a shiny personality and blond hair. ;) But, John was hurt. Cor got lucky. I like his interaction with his new roommate, too. And the injection of some pop culture into that universe. God knows, it needs it!
And finally, Maren. So collected, so together, and if John reminds me of Corry, Maren reminds me of a well-socialized, female version of Scotty. Always prepared, can see the breakage coming, a little shy around crowds, but utterly competent and ready to fix what gets broken along the way. She keeps on shining, and I love the ending; excellent work, all around.
Date: 26 May 2013 07:55 Title: Moving Day
I loved this Icheb/Seven interaction. You perfectly captured their nuanced, mother/son relationship that so often is difficult to perceive in most cases. Both Icheb and Seven operate in small movements, small things, that really matter. For this one it was just the looks and the movements that spoke volumes.
But poor Icheb. He picked up on all the things the people were saying about him and he’s got to feel horrible about it. Those cadets, understandably, don’t view the Borg in a very good way. Who can blame them? Hell, with all the shit the AQ puts up from the Borg I can’t. But they should at least have the decency to do it away from him. But I guess Icheb’s super sensitive hearing would pick it up anyway.
Then we have John, who’s breezing in here and already looks to assume BMOC status. Dude’s good looking, has a way with the ladies, and is in with an awesome roommate. John has lucked out and it’s good of him that he has, considering all the craptastic crap he’s had to put up with his entire life.
Then Maren. Oh, sweet Maren. She notices JQ straight out, gets assigned a roommate, has the name trigger an engineering memory (Bynars! I love those guys) and then gets stuck with the most popular girl in school (or she looks like it) who is not that well-schooled in engineering (doorjam suitcase fail). I love that Maren has brought every PADD in existence to school with her. She’d make the Boy Scouts blush.
Awesome job. Looking forward to more.