Posted by Ensign Juliet Anders (Security Officer / RTF) in Side sim - ((during YEAR OF HELL)) Dinner for two (Mackenzie)

Posted by Captain Conrad Mackenzie (Commanding Officer) in Side sim - ((during YEAR OF HELL)) Dinner for two (Mackenzie)

Posted by Ensign Juliet Anders (Security Officer / RTF) in Side sim - ((during YEAR OF HELL)) Dinner for two (Mackenzie)
Posted by… suppressed (6) by the Post Ghost! 👻

SNIP

Conrad went back around the table to take his own seat. He shook his head lightly as he smiled softly at Jewels. “No I didn’t look into your records. I felt that there wasn’t really a reason that I needed to. For one we were travelling companions just for a bit and the second reason was because a woman is allowed some mystery.” He looked at the food on his plate as he picked up a fork and knife. “This looks fantastic.”

CO Mackenzie

Juliet laughed. “Careful, Sir,” she said to tease him. “Someone would think you weren’t a Fleet Mechanic thing like most Captains.” Taking a sip of the wine, she then set her glass down. “Thank you,” she responded to the compliment.

After a bit she took a deep breath. “Well you might as well know. I was busted from Lieutenant to Ensign at my last assignment before coming to the Leviathan the first time. My team…,” she paused a moment to think how to phrase it, “misbehaved.” A small laugh rolled up her throat and she bit it back. “Ok, they did more than misbehave. But despite bit being a part of it, or even knowing about a lot of it, as their Team Leader, I got the brunt of the punishment. I had assumed I’d been sent to the Levi because that’s where everyone knows the misfits go. RTF doesn’t have a high survival rate when it comes to anomalous encounters. I just figured they didn’t wanna kick me out so they sent me here to disappear. But the Levi’s RTF are not the usual crew. They are well trained, worked well together, and most have more anonymous encounters under their belts than should be possible.” She at her fork friend and looked up at him for the first time since she’s started talking. “When I was sent to be security at the station, I thought maybe I was given a second chance. But worth no promotion and ‘grunt work’ basically being my job, I guess not. And now I’m back,” she smiled, though it didn’t quite fill her eyes, “so I’ve given up guessing and just go where I’m told and do as I’m supposed to. I’ll either live out my last career years as an Ensign or I’ll get promoted again, someday. But it’s not worth stressing over anymore. So I’d rather concentrate on a nice dinner with you and not worry about tomorrow.” She say back to and picked up her fork, her usual smiling self once more.

Juliet
RTF
((Misfit))

Conrad listened to Juliet’s story quietly while he tucked into his dinner. “I’m honored that you shared your story with me and that you came by to have dinner. I hope that this evening is a happy one that blows away all of your worries.” He smiled back at Jewels while lifting his glass of wine for a toast. “To a nice dinner and fantastic company.”

CO Mackenzie

Juliet raised her glass to his in a toast and winked. “Worries, what worries?” She laughed and took a sip before seeing the glass down. “Well, now that I’ve spilled my guts of non glory to you, tell me about yourself. I know you can’t divulge what you’re doing on the ship. But it’s love to know more about you. I’ve enjoyed your company thus far. Don’t see a reason that we can’t continue.” She took a bite of her chicken and let him think about what he’d impart to her. She was prepared for pretty much anything. But mostly because she figured it would all be classified.

Juliet
RTF

“Oh well, my cover story is still the same.” Conrad said as he winked back after drinking some of his wine. “I’m just hitching a ride for a bit. Starfleet didn’t see fit to allocate me anything faster than a shuttle to Deep Space 13, but I got a hold of some of my contacts to see if I was going near any of our starships. As luck would have it, the Leviathan was along the way and you were heading back with a shuttle. Of course they wouldn’t tell me precisely the route or time estimates, but it beats being in a shuttle for over a week.” He grinned at the thought of dodging that unpleasantness. “As for why they had me going to Deep Space 13, well it’s meant to be a bit of diplomacy with some intelligence gathering. Nothing vital mind you, but the Federation needs the cogs to keep turning in the wheel.”

CO Mackenzie

Juliet laughed. “Oh yes, have to keep things running. And no worries. I know the ‘hitching the ride’ is a cover story. Anyone who has a brain cell will know that. But to be honest, on a ship like this, no one will question it beyond that.” She was silent for a moment and finished another bite before she continued. “I admit, I’m intrigued. Who wouldn’t be. But probably because there are things in my background many don’t know.” She wasn’t sure about telling him, but she wanted him to know. “I doubt you’ll hear it from anyone else.” She looked at her fork then back up at him and tried to smile. “I’m a Betazed. CO and Medical Chief are aware. And I told the XO and the old RTF Commander.” She laughed lightly, “Guess I should tell the new Commander, huh?” It occurred to her that there was a lot she’d have to do in the morning. Rechecking in hadn’t occurred to her till just now.

Juliet
RTF

“Empath or telepath?” Conrad asked casually while taking her revelation in stride. “I imagine you will have a few things to discuss with the Commander, but he didn’t seem like an unreasonable man from the brief interaction I had with him.” He set his fork down as he had finished demolishing his food and picked up his wine glass to peer into the color of it. His eyes lifted from viewing the glass to looking Jewels in her eyes. “Thank you for the disclosure Jewels. You didn’t need to do so but I do appreciate it.”

CO Mackenzie

“Both actually,” she said, relaxing a bit when she realized he wasn’t upset. “I suppress the empathy quite a bit, though. This isn’t the type of ship you wanna feel emotions on.” Juliet laughed lightly. “And I don’t read thoughts without permission. Unless they’re assumed directly at me, I don’t even pay much attention. And even then it’s got to be a harsh, usually strongly malicious thought. I’ve learned to keep it well under wraps.”

She finished her last bite and leaned back holding her nearly empty wine glass. “Spec Ops changed my eyes so they weren’t a dead give away with my hair. Before things went… sideways, I was often used to read targets before we hit them. I could tell if they were on alert, who was sleeping, and if hostages were present. I’ve also stood guard at many high level, classified meetings to be able to tell if folks were letting in negotiations and such.”

Realizing she was talking, she blushed and looked down before taking a sip of the wine. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to blather like that. But I didn’t want you to think I was hiding anything from you, or that I was compromising you, either.” She downed the last of the wine and set her glass down embarrassed before looking back up and trying to change the subject. The last thing she wanted the Captain to think was that she was unstable and drunk on her abilities. “So what do you plan to do to fill the boredom during the trip?” The stern of the glass was rolling back and forth absently between her fingers.

Juliet
RTF

Conrad chuckled kindly at Jules’ embarrassed blushing. “I don’t mind if you were take a peek at my thoughts. I like to think that what you see is what you get. If I were to be upset about something or someone you wouldn’t need to read my mind to know it. Which is also true if I like someone or a situation, though diplomatically I’ve had to learn decorum. Can’t exactly gush over a job well done on the bridge when you’re in a call with Romulans or Klingons.” He leaned back in his seat and thought over her question. “I imagine I’m going to be doing a lot of reading, broken up with some trips to the gym to keep from getting fat or sloppy. I know I’m not exactly old for a Captain in Starfleet but I find maintaining a physique ready for anything is getting harder as I get older. My metabolism isn’t what it once was.”

CO Mackenzie

Juliet smiled and cocked her head to the side. “Reading and working out, huh? I fear my literary collection is rather small. And most of that is tactical. But if it’s a partner you ever want to have, instead of a holo or bag, lemme know. I’m happy to work out with you. No idea what my schedule will be like. I haven’t actually officially checked in, yet, either. But I am sure I will be available in mornings or evenings if you wish. Otherwise, I can suggest a couple others on the ship you might enjoy as partners, if you are comfortable with me.” She wasn’t sure why he wouldn’t be. But something in her gut told her that getting tangled with him, as she had in her dreams one night in the shuttle, wasn’t happening. So better to not appear as eager as she knew she was.

Glancing at her glass, she sat up and lifted it towards him with a grin. “Any of that wine left?”

Juliet
RTF/Security

“I can’t say I’m interested in getting to know all that many people on the ship. I saw how insular some were when we boarded and it was made clear that I can’t just wander about as I please. Which is fine with me as I’m just here to pass through.” Conrad’s smile had a twinge of sadness to it, but it left as quickly as it came. “I would be delighted to spar with you and get put through my paces. I’m sure you’ve got me beat on technique hands down, so I’ll have to step up with stamina and power.”

He leaned forward to pick up the wine bottle to give it a quick shake. “Should be just enough.” He said as he filled her glass half way and then emptied the rest into his own.

CO Mackenzie

Juliet nodded thanks for the wine and laughed. “I think you’re giving me more credit than I deserve. And I’m sorry you’ve already felt that tension towards outsiders already. It’s nothing personal, really. Just that this crew is aware they’re ‘expendable’. So they’ve learned to be a well oiled machine capable of surviving on their own.” She sighed, still leaving in her elbow on the table as she looked at her glass. “Outsiders are unknowns. And, unfortunately, we’re both in that boat. While they know what I’m capable of push comes to shove, they don’t know that about you.”

She looked up, smiling softly. “Are you a pampered brass chest who couldn’t find the door to his own quarters if lights went out? Someone needs not just rescuing, but escorting and babying as well? Or are you worse? A gung-ho militant who’s gonna expect everyone to duck-n-cover and run while you handle everything single handedly? They deal with anomalies and have learned to be cautious till they know what they’re dealing with. And right now… you’re an anomaly.”

She leaned back and took a sip of her wine as she shrugged. “I’m an anomaly as well. No one truly knows anything about me except I’ve been demoted, disgraced, shunned and left the ship. Now I’m back. So we’re in the same boat, I guess.”

Juliet
RTF

Conrad mused over Jewel’s words. “I understand to an extent why the crew is wary of me. I don’t mind. I find that I’ve never had that luxury though. I can’t be guarded against someone right off the bat because they’re new and unknown. I’d spiral into some unseemly paranoia trip if I did. Instead, I have to give everyone I meet the benefit of the doubt and let them prove to me if my trust was misplaced. In this instance I trust you but I’ll stay aloof from the rest because it’s not my ship nor do I want to get close to them. So unless something happens that necessitates me working with the crew, I’ll just do my own thing and not arouse suspicion.”

Juliet sighed. “I wish I had that ability. But ever since I can remember being trained, I’ve been taught to suspect everyone and everything. If go into a situation believing everyone is good, I won’t pick up on the little lie tells and nuances of petty twisting. I was originally meant to be the harmless, innocent, pretty girl in the corner everyone ignored so I could hear and see and sense everything. Then I was taught to lead others into situations I could sense trouble during before they could. I’m settled with being the one everyone gives a wide berth to, though.” She laughed a little and shook her head.

Conrad shrugged lightly. “It’s not that I give trust to everyone, and I’m not naive enough to think everyone is selfless or guileless, but the people I work with need to know that they have my trust and that I have their back. While I’m not an empath or telepath, I think I’ve a good judgement for people’s character. It would just be much too easy to go down the path of perpetual suspicion and I found out I’m just not built for that. As for you ever being harmless or innocent, if I were a suspicious man then you would be my first target. Not just because of what I know of you now, but because I know the ones that are typically ‘assistants’ are more than what they seem.”

He shook his head after having taken a sip of his wine. “We’re not in the same boat. You’re a more known quantity than I am. They at least know you and your work ethic. Everything else comes with time and trust.”

CO Mackenzie

“As for a known quantity, not sure about that. Most still think the kinetic things that happened when I was here last, were from my cousin. I guess, in a way, it’s both good and bad. But next Holo training we run, I’ll have to tell them. No point in them thinking they’re lost because they don’t know I can reach them telepathically. Or get frightened when a voice in their head tells them to duck.”

“Kinetic things?” Conrad asked in confusion. “As for whether you should tell them, that’s a judgement call that you’ll need to make. It could certainly foster more trust if your crewmates know more about you and can coordinate better with what you’re capable of.”

“True. And finding out in a crisis could be more harmful than helpful.” She glanced absently out the window a second as if trying to make a decision. Looking back, she smiled, realizing it had waned. “I think I’ll do just that, and tell them. Maybe sharing abilities would be more beneficial than secrets. Certainly make us more efficient, I think.”

She winked and cocked her head as the edges of her lips curled up. “Just don’t looking for those queues when we’re sparring. No fun if you know it’s coming.” She laughed and blushed a little.

Juliet
RTF

“What, you’re not going to let me have an advantage?” Conrad asked with a grin. “I’m not sure your telepathy would help much in a spar with me if I’m being honest. Much of my technique is instinctual. A lot of practice has honed my muscle memory and autonomic responses. I’m looking forward to putting it to the test though.”

CO Mackenzie

Juliet blushed hard this time and glanced into her glass trying to hide it. “I’d never consider trying to read you, Sir. I have no orders to.” She looked up and shrugged with a crooked smile. “Besides, sometimes it leaks both ways in tense situations. If I tried to read you during a spar, I may accidentally give something away I don’t mean to.” She laughed then.

“Besides, sparring should be instinctual. Your muscles should react to the circumstances, not what’s whispered in your head. Though I admit I’ve used such tactics to my advantage against opponents. Let them accidentally hear my thought of my next move, only to do something completely different. But I’ve only done it when my life or someone else’s was at risk. And I doubt you’d fall for something so obvious anyway. You would know, now anyway, that someone with my training wouldn’t accidentally leak anything.”

Juliet
RTF

Conrad looked to his now empty wine glass before he set it aside. Another bottle was tempting as it would prolong the conversation longer, at least at the table, but decided against getting anymore tipsy. He didn’t want a lapse in judgement with someone who he barely knew and of a significantly lower rank. Ethically that had it’s own problems in case an accusation of abusing rank ever came up. He didn’t think she’d be like that but it was better to be safe for the both of them. Although… she wasn’t in his chain of command and he wouldn’t be here long. He was also picking up on the hints that she found him attractive, if not charming to a degree, and he found himself sharing the attraction.

He shook his head to clear his thoughts before he stood and collected the various dishes to put away. “I’m not pushing you out the door, but I am wanting to clean up this mess a bit. Plus I think I’d rather move to the couch. These chairs aren’t fantastic for longer conversations.”

CO Mackenzie