Pre-Collaboration

Novgorod Station > Shuttle Bay
Rita made her way through the group with her own drink in hand. Mostly just mingling and listening to what people are talking about. It seemed the Botanist was one of the quiet types in crowds.

Well that is until her eyes settled on Dr. Eldon Blaire and she smiled and made her way a bit closer to him.

"So.." Rita smiled and looked at the others before nodding slowly, "I guess I won't have to send the paper too far for you to read Huh?"

Eldon saw Rita approaching and respectfully broke away from a journalist that was asking him a list of boring predictable questions. Welcoming her with a smile and a gleam in his eyes, he replied... "Not far at all. I'm looking forward to reading it."

He took a moment to glance at the other visible crew members around them, then at the proximity of others close to them. In a lower voice, he asked... "What do you hope we'll discover out there?"

"Anything sentient." Rita said quietly and chuckled, "Which I realize is broad, but think how interesting it would be to meet an alien life form..."

Rita sipped her drink lightly and then shrugged, "After that I could settle for a lab full of specimens that no one has discovered before to finish out my paper with. I could use one or two more that have... unique properties to study."

Eldon nodded in agreement with the things she said, and caught that pause before 'unique properties'. Interesting... "What sort of unique properties are you interested in? Just anything new, or something in particular?"

Rita thought for a moment and shrugged again, "Honestly anything that would be different then what we are used to. Alien fly traps that sing would be cool, but if we don't find that, and we find something that emits Helium instead of Oxygen... well it would be useful."

Rita looked around and then lowered her voice before taking a half step closer to Blaire. "You are welcome to... observe me... in the lab any time..." She gave him a wink, "You know. To ensure the integrity of the paper and all." She nodded to validate her point about how its important to observe the scientific method.

"Of course. I'd be happy to.", Eldon said in an equally low voice, and indeed he looked happy with the prospect of close supervision.

"...and I could really use your help with all manner of tasks around the lab. Even things that can be handled solo could be performed much better with us working together. You're smart, enthusiastic... a great asset. I appreciate everything you bring to the table."

Rita nodded with a soft smile on her face. "Who knew drinks at a bar would lead to such... good things."

"Yeah... who knew?", he replied, with a similar smile on his face.

She looked around again before continuing; her voice returning to a normalish volume, "So what are you hoping to find out there?"

The shift to normal conversation was smooth, but Blaire didn't raise his voice much in response to her question, and his smile faded.

"I agree with what your hopes are, but with the additional caveat that I hope what we find is beneficial for mankind.. that it can't be weaponized. I hope to expand our knowledge of the cosmos and ourselves with what we find, in ways that benefit far more than they harm. That's what I want."

Rita nodded at his words, "Why do you think I went botany? Normally plants aren't converted into weapons, Medicine yes, but weapons rarely." She smiled at him and leaned over to lightly bump his shoulder with her own playfully. "So um. What kind of... experiments have you thought about doing out there? I assume there is going to be run-of-the-mill, but collaboration wise, how soon will you want my help?" Rita gives him a wink with the question.

"Oh, quite soon, and often. One area we can assist each other is with sterilization protocols. While scrubbing up before and after sensitive lab work, we could help each other get as clean as possible. And if we shower together, we can get twice as clean with the same amount of water. Whenever either of us is feeling dirty, we should address it together immediately." He said this in a flat, matter of fact way, then winked as the corners of his mouth curl upwards.

Rita smiled at this and nodded again simply, "Sterile lab is needed greatly in this environment. I will happily help you out when we get on the ship and underway if you would like?" Rita gave a wink to him and offered a small salute to him, "Here is to a successful tour..."

"I would very much like that... yes." Eldon returned the salute crisply. "To a successful and memorable tour."

*CLINK*