JP: Ensign Morro Caras & Lieutenant JG Sevantha Saa, Gwen'ora Tasen - Cultural Exchange

[Morro Caras]

((Private Quarters, Deck 12, USS Astraeus))

With the way the conversation was going, Gwen moved to one of the larger plants in the room that was within view of the PADD and leaned her back against the pot after sitting. The leaves that showed above the plant were large leaves with red spiny flowers. Another of her seeds was obtained during her time at the academy. 

Saa: You were wonderfully kind a the the time, a fantastic dancer, and a great distraction from Lorian so I will entertain your request because you were willing to go through all that effort find me after I left you without a word the next morning due to being late for my exams… but this is not out of an owed debt. ::Reaching up she tucked a piece of blonde behind her ear:: Am I being clear?

Finally Sevantha decided to take a seat on the corner of the bed, waiting for his response, rather pleased she was capable of being so direct. Betazoid culture was an honest one, something that was difficult to adapt to when she came to earth, and this man clearly came from the part of Orion culture that was mired in dishonesty and manipulation. Luckily, she was more then prepped for that thought dismantling. 

Caras: I am a bit confused. Did you think that if I asked if you wanted “comfort” that evening, that it meant that it was just a fling? When I asked that I was offering my services as a Pleasure Seeker. A trained member of the guild of Orions that helps others find their pleasure. To get them to release or forget things that consume them. Most of the time it is through acts of romance, and intimacy. Have you had a lot of other dates that contain a massage, prepping a bath, and singing?

Caras winced a little at that last part. The singing part he was never good at. That was always Z’mat. He did hum for Sevantha that evening though from what he could remember. He was mildly drunk, but he was excited that someone had actually taken him up on being comforted.

Tasen: I will be honest, this is helping give me a direct view into Orion culture…but why would it immediately be assumed to be a transaction and not a fling? If you were not clear with the transaction payment prior to…activities? 

Caras: Look. I might have been drunk and automatically assumed that is what you wanted, but how often does someone ask you if you want comfort? That is a common staple in aspects of my culture and it sometimes comes with a high price tag. Because the United Federation doesn’t have currency, almost everything at the academy was done via favor. Unless for some reason you needed non-replicated resources. I have no use for Latinum, my post is in the gamma quadrant.

Sevantha bit the inside of her lip, annoyed and offended, yet there was an aspect found the entire failure of cultural exchange a horribly interesting study of how the man’s mind work and just how differently she had view the entire night.

Saa: …It is both a Terran and Betazoid habit to ask people if they’re upset and try to cheer them up. ::She explained the first part of this:: without a price tag. Being someone who can hear the thoughts of others as well as feel their emotional state, my people see it more a responsibility to take care of one another, a morality thing, it only sometimes involves intimacy.

Sevantha took a deep breath then shook her head.

Saa: You did assume that was what I wanted at the time… ::She placed her hand on her hip as if to offer him a little leeway with the next bit of information:: Which, yes, I did want a distraction but I wouldn’t have if there was a unspoken price tag attached.

Caras: Look. Maybe you don’t see that kind of payment, but I do. It was a lot of work! I set my heart into making sure you forgot about that guy because that is what a pleasure seeker does. Devotes his thoughts and actions to the person who needs comfort for the evening. Most people, particularly around StarFleet are so stuck up they don’t understand what they need or want or what could take their mind off of what ails them, you barely spoke, so i assumed you just wanted to be pampered.

Saa: First off, I had no standing knowledge you were a pleasure seeker, and presumed you acting in the capacity of just any starfleet cadet in the club, having fun… wanting a hook-up. Thats the sort of thing you need to be up front with someone… though. ::She paused considering it:: The fact you never thought about it once does say its just engrained conditioning however which makes this an impasse. 

Saa: oO I swear, if he uses the words he pitied me in this conversation, I’m going to make it the night to try Blood Wine or Romulan Ale. Oo

Tasen: oO Sevan, I don’t know if I want more of a crash course in Orion pleasure culture. I’ve got soooo many questions after this call is over…Oo

Saa: oO Bloodwine it is.Oo

Gwen thought aloud in the confines of her own mind, knowing her roomie would catch them at this point as she lowered her head to look at her own PADD, choosing to try and become just a listener in the conversation to provide silent commentary. 

Caras: ::he turned his attention to Gwen:: Ms. Tasen does that not sound like a good evening? How would you ever find anyone who would do those things for you otherwise? And for free? If you did not have a romantic partner? How do things like that work in your culture?

Caras was a little beside himself. His values and hard work were being challenged. He thought most people in starfleet didn’t even really understand what pampering was. He knew there were holodeck programs, but no one had ever made a pleasure seeker program at the Academy. He checked. Perhaps his skills weren’t as valued. Perhaps he didn’t do very well compared to a hologram. This could ruin him. Maybe not with the guild, they would more than likely turn him in if they ever caught wind of him. This would just ruin his self esteem. Another one of his skills that weren’t valued by those in the federation. Caras as usual let his emotions show through, even though Saa couldn’t read his mind at the moment, she saw the pain on his face coming to terms with his situation.

So much for staying out of the conversation, Gwen raised her gaze as the Orion spoke, pulling the PADD to her chest, thinking over his words.

Tasen: It does sound like a good evening, but in my culture it would be free. Ba’ku are a long living people. For us learning the arts is apart of our culture, we pick what we are good at and study under older Ba’ku who have done it for centuries. Sure…when I say arts I’m thinking of singing, dancing, drawing or painting, and so on…definitely not pleasure making. Though, those of us who are not paired, it is common to enjoy a night with those we think highly of and want that with. For us we have the time to let love grow naturally.

Sevantha gave a nod to Tasen then look to Morro on the tablet.

Saa: In Betazoid culture also, I will say there is difference, we’re more matriarchal in nature, expressions of love are unhindered. My people are honest because we can hear each other’s minds and in the more poetic expression, each other’s hearts… our love, our grief, our anger, we’re from a culture that from early on teaches honest due to the very nature of our interconnectedness. Our actions never come in owing of favors…

She abruptly paused realizing she needed to add context or she’d be lying, there were circumstances but it was among a select group of people usually.

Saa: …unless its among the Houses and the politicians… which my connection to the 7th House is only through parental service and not nobility. ::She sighs:: You were not clear in your words or thoughts of a debt owed, thus it to a Betazoid like myself is seen as dishonesty about the nature of our entanglement.

Caras: Look, those things are well and fine for people who are seeking a romantic partner. There are a lot of people at Starfleet academy that are just looking for experiences and no emotional ties. Most people at the Academy who make close connections regret them after their new post separates them from their romantic partners at the Academy.

Tasen: For the Ba’ku it would always be free. Maybe a verbal agreement of not fleeing at dawn to their own homes, but beyond that. :: Gwen shrugged her shoulders lightly ::

Sevantha winced a little at that comment regarding regret. It struck too close to home with Lorian and probably her own behavior of having left the moring so quickly for exams. She had enjoyed the experience, there was emotion, it just wasn’t the type that formed long standing romantic relationships.

Saa: ~ I am starting to wonder if this isn’t purely Orion culture but an aspect of the culture attached to criminal organizations that require such thought to exist and survive. ~

Saa: Despite this belief of owed favor, which I remain adamant I owe nothing due to the lack of forwardness in regards to the topic ::She attempted to offer him a little grace as she spoke with some warmth::  I did enjoy what occurred and it would explain why you went so out of your way to fully distract me, I am a little disappointed it was not entirely out of honest interest in myself ::She paused before moving on to avoid lingering in that thought:: It did assist my mind disregard a lot of my troubles for the evening…. 

Caras: ::breathing a sigh of relief:: Well at least that was true.

Tasen: oO I feel bad for him…if that has only ever been seen as a transaction. Oo ::Gwen looked briefly over at Sevan before returning her gaze to the PADD on her desk.::

Saa: ~~ It unfortunately fairly common  in the galaxy for Orion’s to be caught up in situations like this, the break-up of the Orion syndicate has slowly improved situations but theres been struggle for them to escape. You will find a number of fairly harmful stereotypes even among Starfleet that view the Orion still as pirates or criminals, and due to select members of the female population capable of emitting powerful pheromones that can have harsh effect on Terran males… theirs a lot of unhealthy sexism present in these view points also. ~~

Tasen: oO That’s…I’ve now got another species I’m curious of…that’s terrible that there is that level of sexism still, especially with how far so many species have come. Oo

Caras: Look, I don't know how they do things where you come from, but most people don’t just devote themselves to a single person for a night wholly and can walk away from it without attachments. If you can find someone who is willing to do that for someone for free. Please let me know. I would very much like to talk to them. But, I have a problem.

[[ TBC soon]]

Lieutenant LG Sevantha Saa

Medical Officer

USS Astraeus 

A240105SS2

and

Ensign Morro Caras

Engineering Officer

USS Octavia E. Butler

O240106MC1

and 

Lieutenant JG Gwen'ora Tasen

Science Officer

USS Astraeus, NCC-70652

A240105GT2