[JP] Lieutenant JG Charlotte Brexis & Lieutenant Commander Thelan Valeris - Unstoppable Force, Immovable Object Part 1
Charlotte Brexis
((Tucker Station Shipyards))
Her boots hit the ground with a soft sound as she paced around the station. As Charlotte walked through one of the terminals, she felt a presence. Unmistakably Betazoid, but something was different. There was a tightness when she tried to brush up against his senses. Her curiosity was too strong. She pinpointed the man and walked toward him. Typically she would stay out of others' minds, but even with her mental barriers in place, sensing another Betazoid was like second nature.
Laying back across several chairs in one of the terminal areas of Tucker Shipyards, Thelan dozed in and out while waiting for his transport to DS33. After having spent the last few weeks on a shakedown cruise for a new vessel, he was looking forward to finally getting a more permanent assignment. But first, he needed a little shut-eye.
Brexis: How can someone sit next to you if you’re taking up all the spaces.
But the shut-eye would have to wait.
Valeris: It’s intentional.
She folded her arms across her chest and gave him a look, diving directly into her reason for interrupting his nap.
Brexis: Why are you so closed off? ::Tapping her head even though he’s not looking:: I’ve never felt a Betazoid like that before.
Opening his eyes and sitting up, Thelan looked up at the woman who had been speaking with him. A shorter, blonde haired Betazoid girl. Rather pretty, as far as Betazoids went.
Valeris: Why are you trying to read me anyway?
She planted herself next to him and tilted her head to the side.
Brexis: Because you intrigue me. ::Beat:: And you’re cute.
Valeris: I shouldn’t intrigue you.
She narrowed her eyes at him.
Brexis: That’s weird. You know that right?
Valeris: Is it?
Brexis: ::Nodding her head:: Yep.
Leaning back, Thelan raised an eyebrow. He had never met someone who was bold enough to say that his being closed off was weird.
Valeris: Enlighten me.
Brexis: We are meant to be open. ::Gesturing between the two of them:: people like us. I’ve never met a Betazoid whose mind felt so… cold.
She wasn’t trying to push him too hard, but it was not only fascinating, but it was so far removed from someone of her own species.
Valeris: That’s the issue with a lot of Betazoids. Always too open. There are hardly any secrets. Barely any privacy.
Brexis: Is there a need for privacy though? ::Genuinely trying to understand:: It just doesn’t really make sense.
Her head tilted a little to get a better look at him.
Valeris: No offense.
Brexis: None taken. ::Scooting closer to him and getting uncomfortably close to his face:: Let me in.
Unfortunately for this man, Charlotte didn’t have a problem being intrusive and attempting to push her way in. Thelan, however, was having none of it.
Valeris: You’re gonna need to scoot back a bit.
Brexis: Shhhh. Just open up. Let me in your head.
Never before had she tried so hard to read someone, but something inside of her just wouldn’t let it go.
Valeris: ::A solid, stern tone:: No.
Brexis: ~~ Please?~~
Thelan stood up and moved away himself, keeping his back to Charlotte. He had never met someone so hell bent on getting to read him.
Valeris: You don’t take no for an answer, do you?
Brexis: ::Shaking her head and smiling:: Nope. I sure don’t. So you may as well just relent and let me in.
Turning back around to face Charlotte, Thelan crossed his arms.
Valeris: If you want me to open up, it’s going to take more than just throwing on some charm.
She stood up and held her hand out, waiting for him to take it in his.
Brexis: Looks like we are going to go get drinks.
Looking down at her hand, Thelan kept his arms crossed. He knew the ploy. Betazoids were telepathic and empathic. One touch and she could gain the access to his head that she seemed to so desire. He wasn’t going to fall for it.
Valeris: I will never say no to drinks. But don’t expect anything.
Brexis:That’s weird ::Chuckling:: Normally I’m the one saying that to people. By the way, my name is Charlotte.
Thelan stared at her for a moment, weighing his options. Give a fake name and hope that something doesn’t slip and get away with anonymity? Or just tell her.
Valeris: ::Grunting slightly:: Thelan.
She stood there still holding her hand out, not taking no for an answer. But no continued to be the answer from the man.
Valeris: Are you expecting something?
Brexis: Why are you so stubborn?
Thelan shrugged, tilting his head to the side slightly.
Valeris: Why are you so pushy?
Brexis: Do you always act like this when a pretty girl talks to you? Or am I special?
Thelan had to hold back his laugh. Pushy and presumptuous.
Valeris: ::Chuckling:: People don’t usually talk to me so openly. I guess they find me intimidating. And no, you’re not special. Different? Yes. But I wouldn’t say special.
Brexis: ::Pouting a little bit:: Different? Eh, ::Shrugging:: I’ll take it.
Valeris: ::Shrugging:: I call ‘em like I see ‘em.
Charlotte pursed her lips to the side. She wasn’t going to let him bother her with his attitude. If anyone was the different one in the situation it was him.
Brexis: I’ll get you to open up. Just you wait.
Valeris: ::Holding up a finger:: Drinks first. Then we will see how things go. ::beat:: And you’re buying.
Brexis: Fine. ::Holding out her hand again with a smile:: Let’s go.
Again, Thelan crossed his arms. With a smirk, he shook his head this time to send the point home that she wasn’t going to get his hand.
Valeris: Nice try.
Brexis: ::Shrugging:: It was worth a shot.
Valeris: Uh, huh. ::Gesturing:: Lead the way.
((Tucker Station- The Refit and Refresh Restaurant))
Charlotte led the way into the eclectic style restaurant. Bright red walls with small bits of starships hanging on the walls. Thelan nodded slowly seeing the decorations strewn across the little eatery. Definitely a good place for an Engineer to enjoy a drink.
They found a spot off in a corner of the restaurant, a smaller table tucked away from the chaos of the main room.
Brexis: Are you funner when you’ve had a drink? Or are you just always this grumpy?
Valeris: I guess you will find out, won’t you?
Grabbing the menu PADD, Thelan looked over the long list of available drinks. Several options stood out, but he quickly decided on a simple glass of whiskey before setting the PADD back onto the table and sliding towards Charlotte.
Brexis: I guess I will.
She said it with more attitude than she should have as she selected a Martini off the menu and slid it back to the middle of the table.
Thelan: Well, let’s hear it. What’s your plan to get into my head?
Brexis: Well, I figured we’d start with drinks before I start distracting you by taking off my clothes. ::Smirking:: Are you always this closed off?
There were usually a few drinks down before anyone started talking about taking clothes off. Although, for Betazoids it did tend to come before drinks.
Thelan: I’ll flip the script. Are you usually this pushy and invasive? Or did I catch you on a special occasion?
Charlotte tilted her head and looked towards the bulkhead like she really had to think about her answer.
Brexis: Am I usually this pushy? Yes. Invasive? Also yes.
A look of zero surprise crossed Thelan’s face.
Thelan: Called it.
Brexis: Now, answer my question. ::Waving her hand towards him:: Stop deflecting.
Their drinks were delivered to their table. Charlotte took a sip of hers and licked her lips, enjoying the taste and making a small satisfied sound.
Valeris: Are the sounds really necessary?
Brexis: Is all that deflecting necessary?
Taking a sip of his drink, Thelan made an exaggerated lip smacking noise before setting the glass back down.
Valeris: But deflecting is my favorite thing to do.
Brexis: ::Raising her eyebrow:: I can see that. Why are you so- ::gesturing around wildly:: -whatever this is.
Thelan leaned forward slightly, his face hard and unreadable.
Valeris: You make it sound like I’m trying to hide something.
Brexis: Because you are.
Charlotte leaned forward too, closing up some of the distance between them.
Valeris: No, not hiding.
Brexis: See, here's the strangest part. You don’t feel empty. Like you’re clearly not boring, ::smirking a bit:: you just feel… Locked down.
Thelan remained unmoving, even though the distance between them had narrowed. His face remained stoic as he stared down the woman across from him.
Valeris: Some locks aren’t meant to be jiggled.
Slowly, she let go of her glass and placed her hand on the table, a clear but subtle invitation.
Brexis: Why are you so afraid for someone to see inside? It can’t be that bad.
Holding his ground, but slightly pulling his hands back, Thelan subtly widened the distance between them.
Valeris: I’m not afraid.
Brexis: I guess I just didn’t peg you for a guy that was so scared.
Was she antagonizing him now? Thelan felt a tinge of irritation bubbling in his mind. He couldn’t let her win. He couldn’t let her in.
Valeris: Stay out of my head.
TBC in Part 2
Lieutenant Commander Thelan Valeris
Engineering Officer
USS Khitomer
A239905NR1
&--------------//---------------
Lieutenant JG Charlotte Brexis
Intelligence Officer