Posted by Captain Emmeline Davis (Commanding Officer) in Nine Forward - Time to relax (Side Sim - Open for all)

Posted by Lieutenant Tija Aizala (Chief Medical Officer) in Nine Forward - Time to relax (Side Sim - Open for all)

Posted by Captain Emmeline Davis (Commanding Officer) in Nine Forward - Time to relax (Side Sim - Open for all)
Posted by… suppressed (3) by the Post Ghost! 👻

<snip>

At the sound of the Captain’s voice multiple things happened simulatiously: the PaDD in Aizala’s hand slipped from her grasp and landed with a clatter on the table; and she turned her head so quickly that Emmy might have been able to hear a faint crack if it wasn’t for the background noise of other people talking. Rubbing her neck and looking rather startled, she replied, “I wasn’t really looking at anything in particular, to be honest. I was just thinking. And apparently very oblivious towards my surroundings.” A soft and slightly embarrassed laugh escaped her lips before she pointed towards the chair across from her. “Would you like to take a seat, Captain?”

~Lt. Tija, Asst. CMO

Emmy’s vision snapped from the CMO to the tumbling PaDD until it clattered on the table. She forced herself to return her eyes to Tija, making eye contact as she knew was appropriate in this situation. She nodded in answer to her question and slid into the chair, sitting upright with her hands folded on the table in front of her. “Thank you,” she responded, simply, not referencing the answer to her previous question. She studied Tija for a few moments and then offered a new query, “what kind of tea is that?”

Davis, CO

“It’s called najarba, or at least that’s what Inuma always called it,” Aizala replied with a soft smile. “It’s a blend of different Bajoran herbs and with a slight modification it’s a mild, but effective muscle relaxant. It taste … I would say like a blend of lemon balm and peppermint, but in the after taste it has some pungency and there is a hint of something like black liquorice.” For a moment or two she looked down at the cup, while different emotions played briefly and not very clearly across her face. Looking up again, she asked, “How are you doing, Captain?”

~Lt. Tija, Asst. CMO

Emmy nodded in affirmation of the information that Tija had provided regarding the tea. Fascinating. “I am doing well,” she responded, looking down at Tija’s cup as well as though she expected the CMO to be staring at something particularly interesting there. She could tell that there were a variety of expressions going across the doctor’s face, but, truly, her ability to identify emotions was not a strength on a good day; she much preferred to ignore the intricacies of feelings and move forward on the black and white nature of behavior and action. “How are you doing, Doctor?”

Davis, CO

The hint of a smile played across her face, as Aizala locked her jade green eyes with the Captain’s brown ones. “I’m doing fine, thank you.” Tapping the PaDD with her left index finger, she continued, “I got a letter from Bajor today and it took me down memory lane.” Not being one to open up easily, it would be anyone’s guess whether those memories were pleasant or unpleasant or maybe a mix of both. After a moment of hesitation, Aizala, added, “Do you have family, Captain? If you don’t mind me asking.”

~Lt. Tija, Asst. CMO

Emmy’s head tilted to the side slightly, the only physical reaction to Tija’s words. She had not provided much details about this letter, although her question might allow Davis to draw the conclusion that it was about the woman’s family. She thought back, trying to figure out what she had read in her personnel file before realizing that her slow answer may be construed as slightly impolite. “My parents are still alive, but I was an only child,” she finally answered. “Do you?”

Davis, CO

Aizala watched the Captain intently, probably more so than would be considered polite. She really wanted to focus on the conversation with the Captain, but found her mind easily drifting off. And focusing her gaze on something or someone had always helped her with her concentration. However, she was also aware of how rude and intrusive most people found it to be stared at. So eventually she lowered her gaze back to her cup and replied, “I guess you could say we are the same in that regard. Though I did have a sister, but I was too young when she died to really remember her.” A sad little smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she said that.

~Lt. Tija, Asst. CMO

Emmy easily met Tija’s gaze, unaware or unconcerned with the social intricacies of proper eye contact. She followed her gaze back to the tea cup. “Is that a relief or a burden?” she inquired, finding herself confused by the facial expression that Tija had adopted. Her own face remained completely neutral, again unaware of how brusque the question might come across, but truly, she wanted to know the information and it didn’t feel necessary to draw out the conversation to obtain it.

Davis, CO

Looking up once again, Aizala pondered Davis’ question for several moments. Eventually she replied, “I’m not entirely sure, to be honest, but both, I guess.” Frowning slightly, she fell silent once more and touched her left thumb to her lips, so that the nail was resting lightly on the crack between her upper and lower incisors. After a few more moments, she lowered her hand somewhat and continued, “I have never actually thought about that question and I’m not sure if I’ll be able to give a clear answer. The whole situation is just too … difficult, I suppose.” All the while the Captain’s brusqueness only partly registered with Aizala. And while it was something she generally didn’t much like in a private conversation, somewhere in the back of her mind and heart she felt that that was what she needed right at this moment. It was almost like an antidote to her brooding and all the emotions bubbling up in her.

~Lt. Tija, Asst. CMO