Posted by Ensign Jazzin Lauren (Medical Officer) in 6-Forward Lounge (open for all)
Snip

Jazzin laughed. “You’re quite charming!” He said, taking a sip his beer. He looked around at her comment. “I take it this … UCLA, was it? Was a training facility or school? Either way, I get what you mean. In medical school we were all in it together, so I had no shortage of people around me. It’s strange even on a Starship this size you can feel a little … outside of things.” He could sense something about her … everyone had their secrets, and Betazoids knew not to pry, but one could no ‘turn off’ one’s empathic senses, and he glanced her way. “You remind me of my ex … in a good way,” he added that last part quickly. “Ollie was the life of the party …” he took another sip. “Even if there was something bothering him, you’d almost never know,” he smiled. “Unless you just happened to be a Betazoid.”

He wasn’t going to outright ask her anything; some non-telepathic species were uncomfortable knowing their emotions could be so easily read, but he also wanted to provide her with the opportunity to talk, if she wanted.

Erin laughed joyfully. “Why thank you.” She said with a smile at the charming compliment. “And you are full of surprises! You’ve never heard of Cheerleading and UCLA…! How is that possible?” She joked. It was though somehow apparent that Erin couldn’t really fathom that even people from other places wouldn’t have heard of the places that were so familiar to her. “UCLA is a university in California, Earth. The best one if I may say so myself. Don’t let those kids from USC tell you otherwise.” She said with a wink.

She took a sip of her beer before continuing. “Seems like Ollie was an interesting guy.” She smiled. “I’m sorry it didn’t work out between you two…” Her tone was sympathetic. She chuckled at the comment on being a Betazoid. “I never met a lot of Betazoids. I guess to you we’re just an open book, huh?” Even though the question could be considered impolite, her curiosity was genuine.

It wasn’t the first time that question had been asked. He smiled. “Even on Betazed there are rules about going around reading people’s thoughts. Everyone has things they chose not to share with the universe; we have to respect that.” He sipped his drink. “But we are open to emotions; that’s not something we can switch off. I suppose it’s why most Betazoids in Starfleet choose to go through the Counselling Academy before they enter active service. Even without the training, people often turn to us to talk to, because they know we’ll usually understand a little of what they are feeling.”

As he sipped his beer, the Betazoid felt attention on him … or at least on him and Hazel. He glanced around and made eye contact with a man sitting just where he himself had been sat. The man gave a cordial smile, which Jazzin returned, but quickly turned to Hazel. “That’s Commander Black!” He said, in hushed tones. He had made it a point to try and memorise the faces of all the command staff to save on any faux pas he might inadvertently cause. “He’s the XO … and he smiled at us.” He gave her a lost look. “Do we … should we … do something about it? Would that seem desperate? Or rude? Do you …” He closed his mouth. “I’m rambling. I’m sorry.”

Ens. Lauren
Doctor

Hazen watched the interaction between the two officers, half awestruck and half in disbelief, wondering why she had been so nervous at the mention of the XO’s presence after what they were witnessing. She shook her head.

Turing back to Lauren, Erin said “Looks like someone really likes pizza…” There was a smirk on her lips and her eyes glistened slightly as she tried to hold her laughter. She wondered whether her companion understood what was going on – or whether he may sense it. “I… I would suggest we probably leave them alone… I wouldn’t want to intrude in their ‘dinner’.” The stress on the word was slightly suggestive. “So, what do you usually do for fun around the ship?”

Lt. (j.g.) Hazen, Science

Jazzin looked back from the scene between this newcomer and the XO with a short, quiet laugh. “Yes, I think … I have a feeling that our presence wouldn’t …” he shrugged with glint in his eye. “I think the Commander this ‘dinner’ covered.”

Tugging at the colour of his uniform, Jazzin wished he had changed after his shift, but he was enjoying Hazel’s company and wasn’t about to skip out any time soon. “To be honest, I’ve not done much in the way of ‘fun’ since I’ve been here.” He said. “I’ve been to the holodeck only once, and that was to be given a lesson by the Chief Medical Officer. When I’m not working, I go to the gym, study, and endure endless calls from my parents asking me how I’m doing.” He grinned. “They’re … protective! But, I’m sure once I get to know people outside of the ‘office’, that’ll change. What about yourself?”

Ens. Lauren
Doctor

“I completely understand the protective parents calls…” She smiled again. “Well… more like the paranoid sister in my case. But… I get it…” She paused for a moment. “Honestly, I’m still trying to acquaint myself to life on board a starship. I didn’t originally intend to be a Starfleet officer… I wanted to work for the Federation Science Council. Hopefully based on Earth… but well… I guess life changes.” She shrugged while taking another sip of her drink. “I use the Holodeck mostly to keep with my cheering practice… or for long walks in nature.” She smiled. “I also make small terrariums in my free time. I can bring you one if you’d like! I make a lot of them… I’d risk saying I make too many.” The smiled turned apologetical. “So it really wouldn’t be a problem.”

Lt. (j.g.) Hazen, Science

Jazzin smiled. “To be honest, I am not sure what that even means! But if you have anything made by your own hand, I would feel very honoured to be a recipient.” He turned his attention to what she said first. “Is your sister a Starfleet Officer? Is she very protective of you? Being the baby sister, and all?”

Erin laughed. “I’ll definitely bring you one, then!” She took another sip of her beer. “Do you know what an aquarium is? Wait… do you have aquariums in Betazed?” For a moment, she seemed genuinely concerned. Hazen was a Biologist, but she didn’t really know about pet keeping costumes on other planets than her own. “You know… where people keep fish?” There was no scorn or sarcasm in her tone, and Lauren would not be able to sense it coming from her either. Just genuine surprise. “A terrarium is kind of the same thing… you put plants and certain kinds of moulds in a transparent closed compartment, add some moisture, and, depending on how you do it, you can make a self containing ecosystem. It’s pretty cool, in my humble opinion.” She smiled brightly.

“Molly… My sister is the USS Dresden’s Intelligence Officer. We… both of us have a troubled past.” Even though her tone or features didn’t show, Lauren would be able to sense the sadness within her. “I mean… not me and Molly as sisters. We have an awesome relationship.” She smiled proudly. “She’s an awesome human being, much more awesome than she believes to be.” Erin took another sip from her glass. “Our mother died when I was born.” Somehow there was no sadness when she spoke about it. “I don’t remember obviously… I also don’t really miss her since I never knew life with her in it. Molly did though. And she took it upon herself to be that mother figure in my life.” She paused before continuing. “She never really manage it though.” Her bright smile was back. “I mean… she’s six year older than me. And dad was always great back in San Francisco but… I think she still feels responsible for me. Plus, being a spook and all.” Erin laughed again. “Half the crew is terrified of her! That’s why I could never find a date! And that’s also why I could never be stationed there for longer than I was.” Erin shook her head, a half smile still on her lips. “But her paranoia takes her to a whole new level sometimes… also, she can always know where I am. It’s… disconcerting.”

Jazzin wasn’t a counsellor, but he was a doctor, and doctors were trained to listen. “It sounds like an .. interesting relationship!” He said. “I’m sorry about your mother,” he said, though he hadn’t sensed any surface grief on on the matter; perhaps because it had been so long ago. “She sounds … intense.” He said, glancing up at her. “I mean no offence by it, but having a sibling with such a personality and especially the position she was in, I can’t imagine that was always easy for you. Do you find, now that you have changed assignments, that you might be able to relax a little more, maybe finally get the date you should definitely get.” He took a drink and smiled. “Because, though I hardly know you, you do seem like quite the catch!”

“What about you? I’m not sure if I asked you this before, so if I did… I blame your Betazed beer!” She winked. “Any siblings at all?”

Lt. (j.g.) Hazen, Science

Shaking his head, the Betazoid gave a shrug. “My parents had to have specialised treatments to have me; Betazoids and Trill … even half Trill like my father are not reproductively compatible. And plus,” he cast his eyes dawn to his dwindling drink. “The province I grew up in was so tradition that these,” he ran a hand down the Trill markings on his scalp, “were not often recieved very well. Just like in any race, I suppose, there are people who are ‘purists’, and I grew up with a lot of really unpleasant names … mostly ‘mongel’, or half-breed’ … which I am, but they made it into an insult. And plus,” he glanced up at her. “My father is … well, he’s kinda racist. Even being mixed-raced himself, he believed that Betazoids are one of the “best” species in the galaxy, because of our telepathy. It’s a constant battle with him to justify my friendships with people from other races. He wants me to find a nice Betazoid mate, settle down, and dilute my Trill blood as much as possible. I think he’s just so bitter at the cold reception he got on Betazed, and the fact that he doesn’t possess the full range of telepathy.” He smiled at her. “I’m sorry. I don’t want to bore you with family drama … though it seems we have both had a bumpy ride when it comes to our nearest and dearest!”

Ens Lauren
Doctor

Repost now that I am back

Alex