Posted by Lieutenant Kusinut “Ember” Sutalo (Diplomatic Relations Officer) in Holodeck 1 - Marshall/Sutalo Dinner

Posted by Lieutenant Kusinut “Ember” Sutalo (Diplomatic Relations Officer) in Holodeck 1 - Marshall/Sutalo Dinner

Posted by Lieutenant Drake Marshall (Surgery and Emergency Medicine) in Holodeck 1 - Marshall/Sutalo Dinner
Posted by… suppressed (9) by the Post Ghost! 👻

“When the most excitement you get out of your evening is an emergency call, or a consult for your old friend; you definitely need to make a change.” She bit a piece out of a potato wedge, gently shaking her head. Even their joy was synthetic; carved by hundreds of holo-emitters spewing out different wave-lengths of light to create the illusion of France. “I’m not much better, honestly. Most of my evening is spent sending communiques to clients about the next step in their trial, or conversing with new members of the Federation. That’s always interesting–but still, the conversation is split by billions of miles of space’s dark abyss.”

“Having someone to enjoy time with makes it easier. It’s difficult to remember to find joy in life, when you’re living in solitude.” It seemed ironic that one could be lonely on a starship, where hundreds of people lived in close quarters with one another. No, it wasn’t loneliness. She had people she spoke with; aquaintances, coleagues. It wasn’t as if she spent her days wallowing in the desire to find more for herself..she simply didn’t have the time. It was a common theme for most, especially those in the medical field, whose time is split between patients and paperwork.

“How do you feel about hiking?” Ember asked, out of the blue. “Or anything outdoors, really.”

Ember Sutalo

I grew up in Manhattan, there wasn’t a lot of hiking around. When I was 15, my class went on a trip to the Grand Canyon. One of the boys wanted to repel into the canyon. People who find me arrogant now should go back and visit grade school me. Naturally, I took it upon myself to repel down faster. So, I’m not exactly outdoorsy, but sufficiently motivated I’ll make do. At my heart though - I’m what you might call one’a them city slickers.” He smiled. “Let me guess, Oregon hiking trail aficionado?”

-Drake Marshall

“At least you would have beat him to it.” Ember’s expression flickered with brief amusement as she pondered what Drake would have been like at 15. “Cities can be nice.. if you know where to go. Sadly, I lack that intuition.” She laughed, “I wish! Sure, I spent most of my summers exploring Oregonian terrain, but my scars and history of bug bites and stings would beg to differ on the ‘aficionado’ status.” She turned over her hands, displaying a triad of scars dressing the palm of her left hand. “Rocks and I don’t tend to get along well.”

Ember Sutalo

“Ah. That’s why I don’t hike now. My hands are my life.” He looked at her hand and couldn’t help himself. “If you wanted, I could get rid of your scars. Scar tissue is easy to remove, depending on the depth of the remaining damage, a dermal regenerator or dermaline gel. Wouldn’t take more than a few minutes, unless the scars have a sentimental value.” He met her eyes. “Force of habit. Always have to save the day. Even if it doesn’t necessarily need saving. Even if you’re already perfect.” It had been a long time since Drake had been with someone who, after getting to know who he was, didn’t hate him. A long time indeed.

-Drake Marshall

“Unlike the rest of us, you would be ruined without your hands.” She peered at them, as if inspecting them. “Perhaps you could stand to lose one of them, if you’re as competent a surgeon as you present yourself.”

“I could probably get by with one prosthesis. Though I’d rather not find out.”

“I kept them as a reminder of my clumsiness; an encouragement to be a little more careful on away missions. Especially with young, overzealous ensigns.” Ember rolled her eyes. She loved working with new officers, but sometimes their overbearing personalities sent her for a loop. “Although, I’m not in security anymore. So, it might be time to have them removed.”

“No, it’s all right. You’re a doctor, your job is to save lives..and sometimes your patients’ aesthetic.” She smiled to hide the blush that crept to her cheeks behind soft pink lips. “Aren’t you a little bit of everything? Intelligent, confident and charming–I never would have guessed.”

Ember Sutalo

“Most people wouldn’t. Most meet me in sickbay when I’m at my worst. God help the nurses whose first encounters with me are in operating rooms. And you, the former security officer who sees the best in me. Aren’t we an odd pair? The diplomat and the surgeon.”

-Drake Marshall

“Call me insane, but the image does intrigue me.” She imagined his presence in the sickbay, as Nurses cowered in hopes of avoiding his wrath (or so she assumed they saw it). It amused her, but then she was an ex-security officer; discipline and demand were a part of the job. “It’s the oddities that last. On the outside we’re from separate worlds, but delve deeper and we’re not so different from each other. After all, diplomats and surgeons require similar qualities: diligence, skill, endurance and the determination to stand up and fight for what is right either for your patient or for your purpose.” She paused, taking a sip. “Although, being a surgeon is much harder than being a diplomat.”

Ember Sutalo

“Perhaps on a technical level, but I don’t often need communication skills. Something diplomats possess in spades. Unlike surgeons, most people diplomats work with are conscious. And want something.” He took a sip of his drink. “So. Let’s say the impossible happens. You get real, honest to god leave. Where do you go?”

-Drake Marshall

“Away.” Ember replied, smoothly. “I don’t want to go back to where I started. I’d rather keep progressing forwards.” She clarified. “I wouldn’t seek another diplomacy job, nor security; they’d be in my past. Perhaps I’d try something new,” she bit her lip in thought, “maybe travel. I’ve got more than enough saved up..I could ditch Starfleet and begin a new chapter in life–exploring whatever’s out there–my people’s history, even.” She shrugged, her sentences fragmented in the spitball effect. “All I know is..I don’t want to spend my life stuck in the same, monotonous cycle like a lot of folks do.”

“What about you?” Ember asked, plucking another wedge from her plate. “Where would you go if Ogawa was no longer an option?”

Ember Sutalo

Drake thought for a moment. “I might leave Starfleet entirely. Find someplace where I can practice medicine with less… bureaucracy everywhere. Start a clinic for difficult cases.” He sat back. “Do some work without senior officers breathing down my neck.”

-Drake Marshall

OOC: Bumping this for myself. Hopefully I’ll get to this by tonight. Thanks for your patience! :)
Trin

“Wouldn’t that be a dream come true?” Ember huffed, rhetorically. “As much as I respect the order and organization of rank, the constant micromanagement is vexing–and that’s from the perspective of a law officer. I couldn’t imagine it from a medical.”

“Oh how my superior officers would love to get rid of me.”

“Would you go back to Earth to start your clinic?” She asked, curiously. Ember knew well the resentment many held for the planet, and yet she found most could not escape the looming sense of home written between the lines.

Ember Sutalo

“Hm.” Drake pondered. “Interesting question. I’m not sure. Probably somewhere central in the quadrant. Fewer people die en route that way. There’s a certain amount of pragmatism required in medicine.” Drake shook his head. “But, I don’t know where I’d be without the work I’ve done here. So, who knows?”

-Drake Marshall