Prompt: Bender - "So a couple animals didn't die and she got lucky! That's what I call a successful mission." - 'Futurama'
Walking the ship at this late hour, or early hour if you chose to look at it that way, had become a frequent activity of Tuvok's. He found the silence of the near empty corridors and public places on the ship peaceful and it gave him time to reflect on recent events. The most recent events gave him much to reflect on.
Expecting to find it empty Tuvok stepped into the mess hall. The room however, was not empty, and Tuvok paused a few steps in to observe the scene, his eyebrow arching involuntarily.
Commander Chakotay was seated at a table, which wasn't curious in itself. The messhall was after all never off limits to any of the crew. What Tuvok did find intriguing was the Commander's actions. He had a PADD on the table in front of him, right next to a stack of festive paper squares. Every so often, the Commander would turn his attention away from the PADD, pick up a piece of the festive paper, crumple it and then attempt to throw it into one of Neelix's posts sitting on the nearby counter.
"Should I even bother to inquire what you are doing?" Tuvok finally asked, as a ball of paper hit the edge of the pot, bounced away and joined several others on the floor.
"I'm trying to write up my report of our most recent away mission," Chakotay said.
"I fail to see how the paper is involved in that process."
Chakotay smiled. "Back when humans used pen and paper to write things down, they would often crumple up failed attempts of whatever they were trying to write, and toss it into a wastebasket. Throwing a PADD seemed to be a waste of resources, so I'm improvising. I got the wrapping paper off of Ensign Wildman"
"So, each crumpled piece of paper repersents a failed attempt at the report, which seems to mean indicates the process in not going well."
"You could say that."
"What most recent failed attempt did your latest projectile represents?" Tuvok inquired.
"So, a couple of animals didn't die and she got lucky. All in all, a successful mission."
Tuvok nodded, letting the words sink in. "Somehow, I do not think the captain would appreciate that particular entry," he commented.
"Well, at least we're in agreement of that," Chakotay said, sighing as he returned his attention to the PADD.
Deciding it was best to leave the commander to his method of report writing, Tuvok turned and left the mess hall.