Hot Dogs and Philosophy Pt.4
Posted on Tue Jun 30, 2026 @ 6:20pm by Lieutenant Commander Curtis Thibideaux
1,173 words; about a 6 minute read
Mission:
Jubilee
Location: Brother Boyle's Hotdog Bus. The Promenade
Timeline: First few days of Jubilee
T'Lul answered Curtis as she primly tucked a napkin into her top to try and protect it from getting messy, as well as putting another on her lap to protect against spillage. "I do not believe that humans are as predictable as some would expect. While there is a strong probability of predicting actions based on prior conduct, any trained detective could do the same. However, it is the smaller actions that are more unpredictable. Why was your name Murphy? Did it have anything to do with a famous human law?" she wondered. "Also, you did not answer what you would like me to call you. I believe your enthusiasm at showing me the proper way to eat these dogs overwhelmed you slightly."
Following that statement, T'Lul put her arms apart as directed, leaned over the tray and took a larger bite, making certain to consume all of the condiments at once. She chewed it thoughtfully, while allowing some mustard to linger slightly over her right lip and to the side of her nose. After she swallowed, she commented, "Would it be appropriate for me to wipe your face? It is becoming a colorful portrait."
"If I get to be too much of a mess, please feel free," Curtis said with a smile after he chewed through his fries. Swallowed. Then took a swig of grape soda. "And you're extremely well read on human adages. Yes, anytime I touched flight instruments I always seemed to have some sort of trouble or get injured. Perhaps it was pride that caught up with me since I always considered myself an excellent pilot. Especially when I was younger."
Positioning his hotdog laden tray for another bite, he looked up and met her eyes and said, "As to what you should call me. Well, part of me wants to ask which you'd like. I typically go by Curtis so it's comfortable. Curt always seem very abrupt. Do I seem like a Curt?"
Leaving that question, he assumed the position and got another bite of his dog.
T'Lul felt stupid that she did not recognize the shortening of his name also meant abrupt speech. "No, you are too loquacious to be a Curt," T'Lul concluded. "Curtis it is, then." She considered him for a moment, "I do attempt to understand humans and all cultures so I can assist them. It is part of my job," she replied, lifting her chin in the air slightly.
The Vulcan then caught herself and then took another bite of the veggie dog, followed by a long swig of her licorice drink.
His last bite had left more of the dog's dressing on him than before and he used a thumb to squeegee off the worst and a couple of napkins to finish getting the worst off. Looking at the Vulcan, he said, "Is that the only reason? I get wanting to be good at your job and that requires being informed." His eyes twinkled slightly as he decided to push a little. "By that I mean, different species learn differently as well. Study can only get you so far in my experience. I'm a hands on and visual kind of learner. Tech journals and field reports are ok, but I find if I can watch something or work with someone side by side, then I pick things up quicker."
After a few more fries he said, "It's like that with people, Files only hold so much. Maybe what I'm trying to get to is, do you only define yourself by your work? Are you an observer or an active part in your own story?"
"Both," T'Lul answered simply, as she took a swig of her licorice drink. "It is important to observe so one can understand. It also is important to act. It can occasionally be difficult to determine which is appropriate, especially with my topic of study."
After another swig of his grape soda, Curtis grinned and said, "And which particular topic is that? Dashing, good looking Lieutenant Commanders in Strategic Operations?"
One end of T'Lul's mouth slightly moved upwards. "No, Curtis. My unpopular dissertation. There was a reason that I was encouraged to go to Starfleet."
"Me too," Curtis said as he weighed his hunger versus the last couple bites of his hotdog. "Well. Sort of. What was your unpopular topic, if I may ask?"
Having served back to T'lul, he picked up the last of his dog, hunched over his tray and took another good bite.
"My dissertation had the audacity to suggest that the Vulcans blindly following logic as their sole methodology would render Vulcans to becoming, essentially, lesser computers, which is not logical. After all, a computer can process faster than any living being. Therefore, logically emotions should be considered as having some importance to the continued development of our species and Surak's teachings have a logical flaw or the interpretation of his teachings have been misconstrued."
T'Lul tilted her head, considering Curtis' demeanor as she revealed this information. "Vulcans, as I am certain you are aware, do have emotions. They are suppressed and considered an embarrassment in our society. Thus, it is unsurprising that are some that suggest my desire is really to make Vulcans into Romulans." She tilted her head in the other direction and her brows furrowed slightly. "That, however, is inaccurate. I am content with being Vulcan. I merely suggest that Surak's teachings can be reconciled with emotions in some greater way."
She leaned back and revealed, "With so many half-Vulcans that have arrived, I have been busy with interviewing many of them and accumulating data to help forward my theories."
Curtis chewed and processed. He'd heard the comments on her of course. He was tapped into security and had the ear of a couple of the station's chiefs. Senior enlisted and non-com's were among the biggest gossips in the fleet. An ear in the goat locker, suitably greased with a few giftsmade sure he heard a lot of what the rumor mill generated.
"The few Vulcans I've spoken to mostly seemed to want to deny the emotion parts, so I applaud you for open mindedness there. Honestly, you wouldn't be a good counselor if you didn't. The ability to relate and not just clinically asses makes all the difference." Picking out a napkin, he wiped at his mouth. Took another drink from his soda and met her eyes again. "The logical question from there would be, while studying a subject is all well and good, doesn't experiencing subject matter make for better analysis? Subjectivity being a concern, but emotions are all very personal and those of us who wrestle with them routinely find them to be slightly different from one person to the next."
Looking her over again with a glance, he asked, "Are you going to attempt to explore emotions yourself?"
A joint post by:
Lieutenant Commander Curtis Thibideax
Strategic Operations Officer
DS5
Lieutenant T'Lul
Chief Counselor
Deep Space 5
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