Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Kara Iliana (Chief Science Officer) in 17/18 Forward-Lunch Break (Ranlei & Kara)

Posted by Ensign Ranlei (Engineering Officer) in 17/18 Forward-Lunch Break (Ranlei & Kara)

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Kara Iliana (Chief Science Officer) in 17/18 Forward-Lunch Break (Ranlei & Kara)
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Ranlei had a way of gliding into a room as if she was seeking attention. She wasn’t really aware she did it, it seemed instinctual. But that she liked attention was undeniable. She smiled waved or otherwise everyone that made a effort to be friendly. The subdued whisperers she didn’t seem to notice at all. She made her way to a replicator and ordered some form of salad and a coffee before heading for a unoccupied table.

Ensign Ranlei. Engineer.

As the CMO’s party seemed deeply engrossed in conversation, Iliana gave them a courteous smile as she looked for another table. As she stood, she was taken aback by the sight of an Orion officer, sitting down at a nearby table. She hadn’t had much interaction with their race, but whether it was scientific curiosity or just nosiness, Kara went up to greet the newcomer. She smiled as she approached and stuck out her hand, a little awkwardly.

“Hi, I’m Lt (jg) Kara, Chief Science Officer, I don’t believe we’ve met?” she asked, knowing full well that she would have remembered if they had. “Would you like some company?” she ventured as she hovered next to the empty chair opposite Ranlei.

Lt (jg) Kara (CSO)

Ranlei blinked at the woman officer in blue. She stood and shook the offered hand. It had been a long time since any woman had willingly come near her as even with the pheremones neutralized the belief they would get a headache was often enough to cause them one. She swallowed the bite of salad in her mouth and replied. “Ranlei sir. Engineer.”, and waited for the senior to sit before resuming her seat.

Ensign Ranlei. Engineer.

Kara smiled as she took a seat next to the young engineer. “Pleasure to meet you Ensign, I take it you’re new here as well?” she asked as she sipped the drink she had brought with her. “How are you finding it so far?” she asked curiously, aware that the Ensign had not arrived on board under the best circumstances.

Lt (jg) Kara (CSO)

“Very new Lt. Only been here since yesterday. If this is your reserved table I didn’t know. I can move , no offence meant. ” Ranlei said shyly. Her experiance of other women ha2d never gone smoothlyand the kinder they seemed the more the eventual mockery, insult or degredation stung. So Ranlei turned “, “”, she asked ” , to the only tool she knew worked on most women. “I am sorry Lt. But are you not afraid you’ll get a migrane if your near me? “, her Germanic accent always got worse when she was nervious and it was fairly thick now.

Ensign Ranlei Engineer.

Iliana smiled warmly as she tapped the ridges on her nose, pointing out that she was Bajoran. “I don’t know whether it’s my race or just me but your pheromones have little effect on me Ensign, at least they haven’t in the past,” she said with a grin as she beckoned over a waiter. “Coffee, extra strong, extra sweet please?” she asked. The waiter nodded and scurried off. “Please, stay, I don’t know many people here yet,” she replied softly as Ranlei made a move to get up. As she looked at the young Orion, she thought she saw the same hint of loneliness in her eyes that Iliana had grown up with. Having spent the first part of her life in a concentration camp and then being adopted into a human family after the death of her parents, Iliana had spent most of her life on the edge looking in. She had been an angry and bitter youth and she wasn’t really used to having friends which is why she had devoted herself to science instead.

She got the impression that Ranlei had not had the easiest ride in life either. She had heard about Ranlei’s arrival on the ship which she would not have wished on anyone, but more than that, she sensed a kindred spirit in the young woman. “Can I get you another drink?” Kara asked warmly, keen to make a new friend.

Lt (jg) Kara (CSO)

Ranlei was speechless for a moment, her jaw may even of hung open. When the surprise passed she took a sip of her soycaf and shook her head, ” No,
I don’t need another thank you. Ensign Ranlie Greene Maam. Though I don’t answer to Greene if someone uses it as it was some idiots idea of a joke when child services named me. “, she said in a rather small voice with a German accent.
.
After a pause she said, “To be honest the pheremones are neutralised by the medication they give me and I wear a lotion as well that is designed to kill off any odd millionth of a fraction that might escape the pills. I get a subcutonus time difused tablet injected every six months as well. It’s less effective but it largely eliminates the side effects of the daily pill. Works a lot like the common birth control injections most female starfleet officers get twice a year. So even if you were a spiecies with hypersensatine ability to smell My pheremones would not effect you. But many women still get headaches near me simply because they believe they will get a headache. The third year psychologists at the academy wrote a paper. Nor do I effect men in any manner not typical of the reaction of any man to a woman. So no I won’t steal anyones husband or boyfriend just by standing in the same room. Unless that man was prone to cheating anyways. In which case I have less use for them than their spouce of girlfriend has. I don’t fall for the bad boy type”, she said in the same shy quiet tone with a hint of reciting a well practiced faq answer as it was in fact what most women confronted her about when women would even approach her. She took a bite of her rsalad , chewed, swallowed and waited for a responce checking a copper bracelet she wore with a single green indicator light checking and playing with the bracelet seemed to be a nervious habit with her.

Ensign Ranlei. Engineering.