LtJG Alexander & Cmdr. Blair: Break Time, Part I
Dassa Alexander
OOC: Takes place after Dassa’s “Dinner & Diplomatic Discussions” (To Be Posted Later)
((Mess Hall, USS Gorkon))
::Dassa grimaced as she sat down at a table near the window, setting her tray down and massaging her throbbing temples. She’d been fighting a headache for the better part of the day and no amount of painkillers seemed to be helping. Closing her eyes, she tried to will it away.::
::Taking a break from his preparations for the incoming delegation of Klingon diplomats, Alex decided to head to the mess hall to grab a snack. As he entered the room, Alex spotted Lieutenant Alexander sitting by one of the windows. Alex smiled and made his way towards her.::
Blair: I can see you aren’t any more cut out for diplomacy than the rest of us huh?
Alexander: ::snorts:: That’s an understatement. ::grimaces:: I got stuck greeting the Romulan ambassador this morning with the Captain.
::Alex motioned towards an empty seat.::
Blair: Mind if I join you?
Alexander: ::sighs:: Go for it. Though I’ll warn you I’m probably not spectacular company at the moment.
::Alex smiled. He could understand what Dassa was going through and didn’t want to push things.::
Blair: If you’d rather, I’m happy to grab another table and leave you to your thoughts.
Alexander: ::shakes her head:: You’re fine. I could use the distraction actually. ::pauses:: Rough day for you, too?
::Alex nodded as he sat down.::
Blair: You know what’s more challenging than preparing for a group of Klingon diplomats? ::Alex let the question hang for a moment.:: Preparing for a group of Klingon diplomats and not knowing who’s coming. ::pause:: You’d think that Klingons would be easy, always keep their honor in mind, but when you get to it, it’s not really that easy.
Alexander: ::sighs:: Still...I’d take them over Romulans any day. ::grimaces:: I spent at least an hour and a half with Jansen the other day just trying to get right the basics of conversation in Romulan.
::Alex smiled again.::
Blair: Well that’s something then. The only language besides Federation Standard I’ve been able to master is only useful when programming computers, which will be of little use with any of the delegates.
::Alex let a silence fall over them for a moment before continuing.::
Blair: We are both facing pretty big challenges today, maybe we can help each other?
Alexander: ::sighs:: I’m in. What did you have in mind?
::Alex shrugged.::
Blair: I don’t know, what’s stressing you out the most right now?
Alexander: ::chuckles without humor:: Hard to decide. What about you?
::Alex hadn’t expected the question to be turned around on him so quickly, but didn’t mind.::
Blair: Honestly, it’s my own skills as a diplomat. ::pause:: How am I supposed to work with these delegates when I have no faith in my ability? Put me in an engine room or on the bridge I’m good, put me in a room full of people who all want different things...let’s just say my patience will be spread quite thin.
Alexander: About the only thing keeping me from losing my mind is my empathic abilities. But even those have been sketchy since the Palanon mission.
::Alex nodded.::
Blair: If it helps, I’m more than willing to be an outlet for you to verbalize your frustration. I find it can be useful just to say what’s bothering you.
Alexander: ::sighs:: Aye. Hope you’re ready for an earful and way more personal information about a couple of your colleagues than you ever wanted.
::Alex chose to don a faux confused look.::
Blair: Um did you forget who I spend most of my off duty time with? If I can be a sounding board for Chythar I think I can handle it. ::Alex briefly paused and smiled:: Not that he’s a bother or anything.
Alexander: ::smiles wanly:: Yeah. He’s a good man and a good friend. ::gave drops to her mug of tea and murmurs:: I’ve seen some of Lael’s memories...of over there, I mean. He’s not the same as he was then. ::lifts her eyes and locks her gaze with his:: She shared their first real conversation with me. When they first became friends. ::smiles:: He told her about you. How much he liked you. She offered to help him gain some confidence to woo you so to speak.
::Alex’s first inclination at hearing mention of ‘over there’ was to change the subject, but on hearing the bit about bringing him and Chythar together, Alex’s mind began to change.::
Blair: So I have Lael to thank for Chythar becoming such a prominent figure in my life.
::Alex smiled.::
Blair: I guess I’m indebted to her then.
Alexander: ::grins:: We all are in some way. She can’t help it. ::pauses:: I was ready to give up. Ready to drop out of the Academy and pursue a career as a pediatrician on some backwater planet just to escape the stress. But she pulled me through. She stayed up with me until the early hours I don’t know how many times, coaching me through emotional breakdowns...helping me find the balance again...helping me rebuild my mental shields just in time to go into the fray again the next day.
Blair: She’s definitely a good friend.
::Alex took a moment to eat a few bites of the frozen yogurt he had replicated when he arrived.::
Blair: So not to change the subject from this Lael Rosek appreciation fest, but do you have any advice for dealing with the Klingons? I’ve been in a battlefield with them before, but this is going to be uncharted territory for me.
Alexander: ::stabs at her roast beef and pauses thoughtfully:: I guess the best advice I can offer is try to connect with them warrior to warrior. They have the greatest respect for individuals who are brave and honorable. So maybe try bonding over battle stories.
::Alex nodded as Dassa spoke.::
Blair: I’ll take that to heart.
Alexander: ::nods and pauses:: Have you had any contact with the new ensign...sh’Idrani, I think it is?
---
LtJG Dassa Alexander, ChD, PD, PDS
Medical Officer
USS Gorkon
I238110RH0
&
Commander Alex Blair
Mission Specialist
USS Gorkon
T238906AB0