<div align="center"><strong>-=Simeon Gaorong - last call - Eavesdown Docks, aboard The Gamble=-</strong></div><br/>Among the philosophies of efficiency there were generally two schools of thought: multitasking and minimalism. The former school espoused the notion that maximum efficiency is achieved through accomplishment of as many tasks as possible at the same time. Surely the most efficient way to unload a cargo bay was to take as many items out per load as possible, the best way to assault a fortified position was to attack from many directions at once, and so on. By contrast, the minimalist approach would look at these tasks in a way that cut out all that was unnecessary and focused solely on the core of the effort needed for success. Why waste energy moving everything at once when you will move faster and tire slower taking things out in an orderly fashion suited to the space? Why waste munitions and personnel in a grand attack when you could focus your assault on the weakest point of your enemy's defenses?<br/><br/>Of these two Si had always followed the latter course. He was not needed in the hustle and bustle of social activities throughout the cargo bay, nor would his input have added significantly to the various exchanges taking place. Indeed, even Dani seemed to overcome her want of a safe anchor, if only for a short time, and following in her wake would only have weakened the gesture of parting from his company for that brief spell. While he had many options to act, most seemed less preferable to follow than not acting, so he did not act.<br/><br/>That is not to say the man was idle all this time. Observation is itself an action, an important one for purposes of gathering information and assessing change. Granted in this instance little change was taking place, but the addition of a new crew member and, far more interesting than that, Dani's small step toward extending her boundaries beyond the ship's hull was worthy enough of note to spend some time storing away. Most of the rest he could dismiss as readily as it came: Miss Little and Vincent were still very much in need of maturation, but they had plenty of time yet to gather it; Lex was, as ever, a gentleman; the Captain was the Captain; and Miss Dearing seemed very much herself. Up until that smile.<br/><br/>There had been times during Si's short stay aboard The Gamble that he had wondered as to the cause of Sasha's predilections, but he would never ask outright. "Rude" did not begin to describe how gauche such an inquiry would be. Not asking was not the same as not thinking about it, though, which he did fairly often after interacting with the young lady. Despite how little she chose to flaunt it - would that Mae would learn a little of that discretion, not that the First Officer's current attire showed much - the woman was quite striking in addition to having health and intelligence at her disposal, so what caused her to be so withdrawn and aggressively anti-emotion so much of the time? She was not an impassive person, that much was not hard to tell, yet she did not feel at ease with herself, or so the surface would suggest. A person was not born that way; a person must be made so. What went into the making, that was the mystery unasked.<br/><br/>But this smile, it brought hope with it. Hope of healing. Or perhaps only a glimpse of what had been before whatever it was took place. Either way, a moment of sincere attachment to a feeling other than anger or determination visible on Sasha's face filled the older man with optimistic vigor. He would not ruin the moment by reflecting her smile with one of his own - gods knew how she might wall herself off if someone so much as<em>suggested</em>they saw her being happy - but it was a difficulty to maintain his stoic facade in approaching the First Officer following the crew's various assignments. "Well then, Miss Dearing, I believe it is our turn for a walk on the docks, one which I must say I will find the more enjoyable for being in your company. Shall we?"