Prompt: Kovac - "We only part to meet again." - 'ER'
Arriving at the messhall a little after 0630 hours, Tal spotted Gerron already at a table with Dalby. Cheered by the fact that he was actually there like he said he would be, Tal quickly grabbed what Neelix claimed was breakfast and headed for that table.
"May I join you?" Tal asked, approaching the table.
Though he didn't reply, Tal did notice that Gerron glanced briefly in her direction before looking down once again. Beside him, Dalby waved a hand at the empty chairs across from them.
Accepting the nonverbal invitation, Tal slipped into the chair across from Gerron.
"Seems we only part to meet again," Dalby remarked
Smiling, Tal looked in the older man's direction. "Are you a poet."
Gerron gave a snort of laughter at that comment, which earned him a quick glare from Dalby.
"Hardly," Dalby replied, changing his gaze from Gerron to Tal. His expression softened as he did so. There was something about the young woman's presence that made things seem lighter somehow. "I do enjoy reading though, and that line has stuck with me over the years. Not even sure where I came across it, actually."
"It's a lovely sentiment," Tal said. "And quite appropriate for here on Voyager. All of us are going to keep crossing paths during our journey home," she commented. She changed her gaze over to her fellow Bajoran as she continued. "Though some people seem to have a knack at remaining elusive."
Gerron glanced at her again briefly, before shrugging his shoulders.
"Survival tactics," Gerron replied simply. He offered no further elaboration as he went back to eating his breakfast.
"What about you?" Dalby asked, instinctively trying to pull the attention away from Gerron like he had so many times before. "Any poetic skills."
Tal laughed. "Not hardly," she replied, smiling as she spoke to the gruff engineer. Gerron probably wasn't the only Maquis onboard who could use a friend and perhaps by getting to know Dalby, Gerron would open up more to her. There was clearly some sort of bond between the two of them though Tal wasn't sure what it was. "I do enjoy reading it though. There is something soothing about the flow of the words and the imagery a good poet can create."
"Do you read just Bajoran poetry or poetry from other worlds as well?"
"Well, Bajoran poetry is my favorite. Probably because it's what I grew up on but I have explored other forms since joining Star Fleet. Just one of the many things this career has opened up for me."
"Is that the reason you joined Star Fleet?"
Even as Tal answered Dalby's questioned she was aware of Gerron paying attention to the conversation. Every friendship had to start somewhere and she had a feeling she was getting through to the quiet, withdrawn Bajoran.