Lieutenant Commander Talia Ohnari ~ Matchmaker, Matchmaker, just shut your dang face hole.
Roxanna Dorion
((Beta Module, Commercial Sector, Roberto’s Robotic Curios, DS33, Alpha Isles))
Poor Lieutenant Charles Matthews. He had somehow had the misfortune to run into Talia as she searched for shiny robotics. Not only was she dragging him through and "Oooh"ing and "Awww!!"ing everything that spun, she was now needling him with surgical precision about his "Almost but not really" relationship with one Doctor Alix Harford, her newest charge.
She was horrible at keeping out of other people's business. Downfall of the physician. Always poking and prodding, and her mind, the mental health was just as important as the physical. The Haliian would owe the man a high priced bottle of liquor as an apology...eventually. Right now her brain was laser focused on this ass backwards timeline, trying to sort it out.
Ohnari: Wait, hold on. That is when you met? And then...what? "Somehow" She's followed you twice??
Numbers appearing in front of her confused face would be fitting.
Charles: Yeah. I graduated before she did. I was sent to the Astraeus. When she graduated, she was sent to Denali. Somehow, she ended up on the Astraeus too. I left it, she ended up here as well… It’s a little weird now you mention it.
A little weird was a massive understatement. If she hadn't spent some time with Dr. Harford, she would seriously question the validity of "happenstance". Laying a hand on the man's shoulder, she locked eyes.
Ohnari: Charles, sweetheart...you're a bit of an idiot. ::holding up a finger to stop the protest:: Look man, if you've truly left those feelings behind? I respect that. However, if you have not welded that door shut....there is no way the Gods would continue to shove the two of you together, across the academy and two whole starships, without something meaning to stick. Even if it's a conversation.
It sometimes happened that Talia's mouth would get away from her, and the empathic senses would slap her back to reality. The rising agitation should have been enough of an indicator. But it wasn't.
Charles: Look… Talia… there is a lot to this that you don’t know. It isn’t black and white. Some of it is pretty damn grey.
Ohnari: Cha-
It seemed the patience balloon had popped, and he deftly escaped her busibody invasion of his personal space. A pang of melancholy hit her. It hurt to sense others hurting. Plus, this one was pretty much on her.
Charles: I’m--- sorry, Doc. I don’t mean to snap.
Ohnari: Charles, I am sorry. Clearly, I overstepped. You would think a Haliian would be better at "reading the room"....I blame the shinies.
No sparkle in the world was responsible. She pushed, and too far. It wasn't appreciated.
Charles: Maybe they’re still there--- the feelings. I don’t know.
Ohnari: I am sorry. For pressing, and for the fact that it still seems to bring you pain. ::sighing mournfully:: I get a little over invested in people I consider friends, comes with the job of asking the uncomfy questions on the regular. More about the burning sensations and why they aren't normal...but that shouldn't be an excuse. Whatever happened between you and Dr. Harford seems to be still pretty fresh.
It was an observation, not an attempt of prying further. Although as soon as the words left her mouth, she worried about the delivery.
Charles: To use your analogy, I held the door open for Alix. At the Academy, we--- you know--- and the next morning I wanted to discuss being more. I opened that door and she walked through it, only the direction was out of my quarters and back to her own dorm. When I left the Astraeus, I decided the past stayed with it. I had to…
Her heart crinkled a bit.
Ohnari: ::rough exhale:: Ouch...that is...wow.
Charles: Response
Ohnari: ::brightening:: Hey that Torado is pretty cute, right? And she didn't run screaming when you threw up breakfast in front of her, considering she's a marine...that probably wasn't anything other than a regular Tuesday. ::bouncing on her toes a bit:: If things with Alix are good and truly uh...finalized...maybe...::catching the look:: You know what? I think I've stepped in it enough already. ::turning suddenly:: Oh look! Marionettes!
Charles: Response
An attempt to stop being a Nosey Nellie was resulting in the two staring at a display of self propelled marionettes, some in Starfleet uniforms.
Ohnari: ::whispering:: Why does it look like the eyes are following you...
Charles: Response
Ohnari: Oh right...uh...mechanics. Heh. Ooh is that a dancing mushroom! I have got to get that for Ras. Have you met our towering Kressari doctor turned scientist? We just collabed on a replacement hand...and I may have made more than a few puppeteer jokes...
And actions. Recalling her forcing his prosthetic to enthusiastically wave towards another officer.
Charles: Response
TAG/TBC
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Lieutenant Commander Talia Ohnari, MD
Chief Medical Officer
USS Khitomer
C239205ME0