It was all an awkward affair, dinner was taken within the large room which coupled up as the kitchen. There were odd snippets of conversations which didn't really go much further than the occasional one sentence reply. Meredith didn't hang around for too long before excusing herself, more like silently standing, and walking away, but even without her presence, not many seemed too up for a lighthearted chit-chat.

They were all going to be lumbered with each other. Sure, they had all just met in a way; they had met before but all very briefly. Some things would be in common too, two scientists, a biologist and a geologist. How could they not find something random to talk about was a mystery. Kate Ford, being the medical officer present on the ship seemed to really try and get conversations going, especially with Elizabeth Shaw. The two women soon sparked up quite the chatter, finally actual sound was in the room. And with them two starting to loosen up and properly get to know each other, everyone else jumped on board.

David sat watching everyone curiously, it was odd, only moments ago it was all awkward silence. And now it was loud laughing, ridiculous topics of conversations, and general joking about. It was like they had all known each other for years. It was interesting really how little time it seemed to take them all to get along swimmingly. He didn't get involved in any of the conversations; mainly because no one included him. He just silently sat beside Minerva, she for one was currently chatting away to Chance. David narrowed his eyes slightly, that pilot really was paying too much attention to her for his liking. He tilted his head slightly, listening into their conversation. It was something stupid about ridiculous situations he had found himself in, all thanks to their Captain. Janek, although not sitting immediately close by seemed to hear and piped up to disagree, all the while pointing a finger while the other hand held tightly onto a glass. There was some alcohol present on the ship, not much but it didn't take much for someone to sniff it out and crack it open.

All in all, David was a little bored. He wasn't expecting anything less than this. After all, he was just the mission attendant. He was a glorified nurse and personal assistant essentially. No one would want to really have a chat with him, and this moment was evidence of that. He sat looking down at his lap, just listening to the different topics being spoken around him. Life experiences, adventures, all this, that and the other was being thrown about, as far as everyone probably saw it; David didn't have any of these, what with being a synthetic who appeared to be stuck with the two daughters of Peter Weyland, and Weyland himself.

"You look sad," a quiet voice piped up beside him. David's eyes slowly opened as he sat back up straight, not realising he was slightly slouching in his chair, he turned and looked down at Minerva. She had turned in her seat, turning her back on the pilot who was now trying to defuse a bickering disagreement between his pilot companions.

She looked worried, David smiled slowly. Not really over finally having someone to talk to, let alone that person being her, more rather over the fact that he was trying to reassure he wasn't sad. The best way to do that was to do the opposite, so he smiled. A small part of him was also rather glad to see that despite over all the other conversations she could've just got involved in, she opted to turn to him. Not that David expected otherwise. Whatever topic Chance was trying to amaze her with was short-lived because he knew Minerva would always end up back talking to him the most. Really, the sooner the pilot got that, the better David would probably feel.

"I am not," David replied finally. His smile slipped away as he flicked his eyes sidelong to look around the table. "I am merely listening." He said as his eyes slid back to her. He smiled again, "People, and what they're choosing to talk about, is all very interesting and curious to listen to."

Minerva frowned, looking slightly worried as he said this. She knew what he was like. David was all manner of things, sneaky was something which Minerva wasn't a fan of when it came to him. She could see him clearly gauging everyone, basing opinions of them on what they're saying by sitting there so quiet. Unless he moved, or spoke, David did sort of blend and fade into the background. The sudden fluid movement of him shifting in his chair and turning to look at her had a few crew members suddenly looking over, but they didn't outwardly speak to him. David didn't particularly mind being ignored, being unseen and forgotten about was irritating, he could admit, but really...he was still here for a reason, and that was to look out for them. They could ignore him, but they needed him. And he could very well figure out who was likely to do something stupid, all thanks to the interesting tales they were coming out with right now.

"You're not joining in." Minerva stated with a frown.

David smiled and shook his head, he looked at her a little condescendingly. "No one has an interest in talking to me. I'm just the onboard help."

Minerva frowned more, where he was suddenly getting all this blunt drama from, she didn't know but it was annoying. "If you give people a chance, they can surprise you."

David narrowed his eyes, "I'm uncertain whether I like surprises."

Minerva shook her head, "Try...try, David." She patted his hand gently, his hands were just resting against his knees. Feeling her hand on top of his, he went to move his other to cup hers, but she moved it before he could. This warranted a frown from him, and a sigh from her. She really didn't want the crew to suspect some oddity between them thanks to small gestures.

"What do you expect to find?" Both of them looked up at the sound of Millburn's slightly sarcastic sounding tone. Sure, they'd have a proper, formal meeting about this all again, because that's what they'd all need after awaking from hypersleep; a meeting. But, it would happen. But Millburn being Millburn couldn't help it. "A whole thriving civilisation?" He continued on, watching as both Elizabeth and Charlie just lowered their glasses, exchanged a look before looking at the biologist.

"Answers." Was Elizabeth's rather simple reply. It seemed like she had to answer this question a few times, by different people. It had got old, quickly. She didn't feel like she'd need to constantly justify her reasons, her findings, her whole body of work.

Millburn let out a laugh, not one of humour, more of a sarcastic snort. "Want to be welcomed into the family?"

"Isn't it fair for us to know where we came from?" Elizabeth questioned back. Most people seemed happy to just muddle along without putting much thought into the origin of mankind.

Millburn's eyes narrowed slowly, and then he turned and looked at David. He looked mildly confused, being suddenly bought into what seemed to be an argument disguised as a discussion, was certainly not what he expected, or wanted. "Tell me, do you think it brings anything to your life, knowing where you come from?" Millburn's mind just wasn't programmed it appeared to accept possibilities. As a biologist it was presumed that whatever he learned to become one, was it. Nothing else could be accepted. He had his own thoughts and feelings on the matter of origin, and it wasn't coming, or at least ending with some great aliens in space. He was curious, hence why he asked David. Considering he was surrounded by the race who created him, he wished to use him as an example.

An example was something that David wasn't exactly pleased with as he frowned slowly. "I find that it doesn't change my day to day business." He replied rather blandly, it seemed to be the answer Millburn was expecting, or wanting. Mainly because he threw his hands in the air and looked rather smugly to the two scientists. He totally missed the look which Minerva sent in David's direction. He just continued to sit and look blankly straight ahead of him, she was concerned. Being put on the spot, or at least put on the spot and slightly patronised as this all moment felt like, was something which didn't sit well.

Seems everyone was back to trying to get their own views in on this origin discussion, Minerva reached under the table and held onto his hand. He blinked and robotically turned his head slowly to look at her. "Want to go?" She whispered, be fair, she felt like she had zero input to have here. When it came to wherever everyone came from was something which conflicted her, a lot.

"What about you?" Minerva looked up, seeing as how Millburn was now talking and addressing her.

"Me?" She questioned confused. She didn't quite understand why she was needed in this discussion.

"You're the daughter of the man who put this whole thing together." Millburn stated, as if anyone could possibly forget who her father was. "Surely you have some opinion? Did you think your old man was crazy for thinking this little adventure up? Or was you on his side?"

"Meredith thought he was being...erratic, perhaps. She doesn't wholly care really. She's just making sure everything goes right. Or if it goes wrong, so she can irritatingly rub it in. I, however, see the point...my father is one for wanting to know all. Well, maybe knowing all is not correct. But despite being an inventor, everything he's done, he's also a dreamer. Which I guess everyone is, to a point. He's made so many things possible, it's only natural to want to know where he, and everyone else, has come from." Minerva said, casually shrugging now and again as she leaned her arms against the table and rested her chin in her palms. "People look to the stars for answers, and all that..." She trailed off quietly with another shrug as she pushed back in her chair. Faking a yawn, she stretched as she stood. "As much as I love a deep rooted discussion on origins, I am shattered. Night, everyone." She waved loosely as she turned and looked at David, "Come along, David. Let's double check the shields, hm?" He instantly moved, having a way out without looking rude. Not that he particularly cared if he came across rude.

They both exited the room, listening to the chatter which had picked back up again. Exchanging a look they both shook their heads and sighed quietly. "I think they're going to be at it all night."

"I dearly hope not," Minerva said while wrapping her cardigan around herself as they walked down the long stretching, clinically white corridor. "I mean, they've got to be reasonably level, on the side of vitals, for the sake of going to sleep tomorrow." Minerva looked up at David with a small smile. "Tomorrow is going to be really rubbish."

David walked silently beside her as they walked into the bridge. Both stopped and looked at the large windows which wrapped around the front of the ship. Beyond the glass was the vast darkness of space, coupled with all the shining stars which pinpricked the black blanket of the night sky. He was thinking of a response, other than the obvious before flicking his eyes down as Minerva hopped from one foot to the other as she basically skipped down to the main controls.

"Twinkle, twinkle, little star. How I wonder what you are. Up above the world so high. Like a diamond in the sky. Twinkle, twinkle, little star. How I wonder what you are." Minerva seemed quite content in singing her little childish rhyme while twiddling her fingers in the air before finding the shield controls.

"When the blazing sun is gone. When there's nothing he shines upon. Then you show your little light. Twinkle, twinkle, through the night. Twinkle, twinkle, little star. How I wonder what you are." Minerva let out a quiet laugh, a content little sound as she smiled widely up at David as he easily managed to continue it on. He leaned over her shoulder and pressed a button, hearing the groan of machinery, they both looked up.

From the sides, the shields were starting to move out of their housings to protect the windows. "In the dark blue sky so deep. Through my curtains often peep. For you never close your eyes. Til the morning sun does rise. Twinkle, twinkle, little star. How I wonder what you are." Minerva basically whispered as the light which was coming from space before them was slowly, dwindling away as the shields properly encased the window, and the view was gone. Tilting her head, she looked to the blonde who was still basically leaning against her back and over her shoulder. She raised an eyebrow at him, David just looked down at her simply. "That songs sort of dark, actually."

He raised an eyebrow of his own and nodded slowly. "It's probably a metaphor."

"I don't think I like metaphors."

"Yes, I don't think I like them much either." David agreed with a nod of his head.

Minerva leaned back against him, seems he hadn't yet moved. David looked back down at her, she tilted her head against his shoulder and smiled. "Want to go watch something?"

David smiled, "Yes." He did indeed. Frowning suddenly he pushed her gently away, Minerva turned and looked at him fully.

"What?" Minerva asked, seeing his thoughtful expression caused her to get curious.

"Popcorn."

Minerva's eyes widened, "You'd need to sneak pass everyone."

David looked down at the ground before turning and looking back to the door. He flicked his eyes back to Minerva, "I don't think they will pay much mind to me."

Minerva frowned at that, she didn't quite appreciate how in the background David made himself to be. "You're on popcorn duty then, and I'll go find something to watch." Minerva said, "Deal?"

David nodded, "Deal." He turned and started to walk away, Minerva walked after him. Reaching the door they looked at each other before turning and walking in different directions. Minerva walked off whistling quietly to herself, David just walked away quietly and silently as he made his way back to the kitchen.

——

(Edited: 15/June/2021)