JP: Ensign Nemes, Ensign T’Fearne, Ensign Syrex & Ensign Evinrude: ((Backsim)) JOPA - Truth or Consequences [Part 2]
teayl.thorn
((2000 Hours - Sybil’s quarters, Deck 8, USS Ronin))
Alyndra picked up the stolen bottle of Picard wine, placed it on it’s side, and gave it a spin. T’Fearne was not well versed in alcohol types as they had a limited effect on her, but the bottle gradually gathering a static charge from spinning on the carpet looked rare and vintage. With a lazy arc, it landed with the neck pointing at Tess.
Syrex: Ok, so now I ask Tess, Truth or dare?
Evinrude: ::He eyed the bottle, first wondering what its purpose would be, but then spying the label.:: Wait, where did you find a bottle of– ::He shook his head.:: Nevermind, I don’t want to know. Uhhh, I choose…truth!
Syrex: Ok. Have you ever fancied anyone onboard the ship? Remember! You have to be honest!
Tess stopped cold. If he had been drinking something, he might have spit it out.
Evinrude: oO Right to the big league questions, I see… Oo
He eyed the shots of tequila in the center of the room, but otherwise looked at no one else but Alyndra. He tried to keep his emotions calm, but was feeling very…put on the spot, to say the least. Finally, he replied truthfully.
Evinrude: Yes, I have. I mean, I still do.
He let that sit for a beat, then smiled and reached for the bottle of wine.
Evinrude: My turn to spin? ::he asked, breaking into a laugh.::
He knew it was a technicality, and wondered if they would let it go.
T’Fearne quietly let out the breath she had accidentally been holding. She couldn’t help but remember that flash of possibly mutual attraction she sensed when they first met.
Syrex: I know that breath ::points at T’Fearne::! I’m not convinced you were telling the truth! oO I’ve seen the way you look at Beck… Oo
Evinrude: No, no, I answered truthfully! It was a yes or no question!
T’Fearne::: Trying to distract her roommate by feigning intense interest in the rules:: Ah, sooo, it can be just a yes—no question? But if we want to extract more useful data, the questions should be more precise, yes?
Nemes: Yes, exactly. Yes-no-questions are not really that much fun.
Evinrude: Alright then, next time someone can ask me that…if they want to use their question on such mundane information, ::he added teasingly, giving the wine bottle a spin.::
The Picard landed on Alyndra. Tess, eyes sparkling, carefully scooted away from the circle to pour himself a beverage, smugly taking his time deliberating over which bottle to try first. He opted for the prosecco one of them had left on the desk.
Syrex: oO Oh that’s just typical Oo
Evinrude: Okay, Alyndra, ::he said, retaking his seat and scooting in close. He sipped his wine with satisfaction, delaying the moment even further..:: Truth or dare?
Alyndra crossed her arms sassily. Her fingers winding up her arm before interlocking as her chin rested carefully on the newly made platform.
Syrex: Truth. oO Your move, Evinrude Oo
The security officer leaned across to Sybil and murmured another question for clarification.
T’Fearne: What is the point of choosing the beverage or answering an undetermined question before hearing the contents of the question? Surely it would be more prudent to decide this after hearing what the question is?
Nemes: Then all the fun would be gone. The whole thing is based on the fact that you don't know what to expect. ::grinning:: As Starfleet officers, the unknown shouldn't scare us.
Tess grinned and waved away their suggestions and concerns.
Evinrude: Oh don’t worry, I won’t escalate things…we haven’t had enough to drink! ::He grinned, stalling for time. Truth was, he didn’t have a good question.:: Alright, answer me this: do you think Quentin Beck is sexy?
Syrex: ::Chokes on her own spit::Do you ::Coughs:: actually want to know that?
T’Fearne::: single raised eyebrow at Tess:: That is you “not” escalating things? Don’t switch Ops for the diplomatic division just yet.
Sybil nodded and grinned at Evinrude.
Nemes: Seriously, Tess. That’s your first question?
Evinrude: You’re right, that’s a wasted question—we already know the truth. ::Tess ran his hand through his hair, and then his face lit up. A real idea had struck, and his expression turned serious.:: Okay okay, this one’s real: do you want to undergo the joining ceremony?
Tess pointed at his stomach, as if that were a necessary addition to explaining what he meant.
Syrex: ::Smirks:: Ah Grasshopper… You should’ve stuck with the other question. Yes, I do. I am only waiting for a field docent before I can be given the “green-light” for joining.
The operations ensign smiled and nodded, happy to have learned something. He settled comfortably back into his chair.
Evinrude: Hey, I’m not always ‘mister flirty jokes’. Sometimes I want to know about the people I’m learning to call friends! ::He pointed at the bottle.:: Your spin again, Syrex.
Alyndra smiled, she was happy to have made another friend on-board. For every passing day, this ship was feeling more and more like home.
Syrex: Hey now! Maybe Sybil or Fearne want a go! ::Gazes to the other women::
Wanting to redeem her initial fumbled attempt now that she had observed a pattern of questions from Tess and Alyndra. T’Fearne put a hand on the bottle, picking up a slight static shock from the spun glass.
T’Fearne: What if we take turns to spin? That way everyone asks a question.
Seeing no objection, spinning the bottle with a precise flick. The glass tinkled softly against the carpet. It ended its spin pointing mostly in Tess’s direction as the liquid inside continued to swirl.
T’Fearne: Truth or Dare, Evinrude?
The operations officer’s breathing quickened; he wondered if she would ask the more complete version of Alyndra’s question.
Evinrude: ::He met T’Fearne’s eyes and calmly intoned,:: Truth.
The Vulcazoid had been thinking carefully about what kind of information she wanted an opportunity to ask, without the social pressure of it being a strictly appropriate question. She asked something that she had wanted to ask another officer, but hadn’t been able to find a way to broach the topic.
T’Fearne: If you have ever thought about quitting Starfleet, what made you think that?
Tess seemed to relax at that. T’Fearne already knew a version of that answer, learned back when they had shared a meal at the Musashi lounge. He opted to answer from a different perspective.
Evinrude: Well, you already know I…sort of quit, once. But, were I to quit Starfleet again? ::He pondered how to phrase things.:: I might quit if…someone or some thing would be greatly affected by my death. It would feel…selfish to keep living such a dangerous life.
The group had fallen silent, after Evinrude’s answer. He took a long, introspective pull of the sparkling wine.
T’Fearne: Thank you for sharing that. :: catching Tess’s eyes:: I will try to ask questions for fun next time. oO Not ones that are so sad. Perhaps I should ask why he smells like confectionery. Oo
The human game appeared to be harder to grasp for the Vulcazoid, though Tess had no problem with their game turning into a more serious question and answer session; it might break some ice and take them to cathartic places. But, he didn’t want anyone to feel uncomfortable, and felt responsible for dampening spirits with his serious answer to T’Fearne’s question.
Evinrude: Aww, hey I think you’ve got the hang of it. That was a good question! ::He looked around at the others, showing his open hands in a diplomatic gesture, and smiled.:: I think my answer brought down the mood a little, I’ll be more charming next time.
As Sybil hadn’t had a chance to ask a question, T’Fearne pushed the bottle within easy reach of the woman.
Sybil, who was still sitting cross-legged on her bed, leant forwards slightly and gave the bottle a push so that it spun round. As fate would have it, the bottle stopped with its neck pointing towards herself.
Nemes: Oh, wait. Erm ::slightly nervous and grinning sheepishly:: Does that even count? Or should I ask myself a question?
Syrex: Maybe it’s a cursed spin? Does that mean we get three chances to pick on you rather than you picking on one of us?
T’Fearne: Perhaps you could take a consequence and reveal a truth?
Evinrude: ::Laughing.:: You’re a bunch of bullies! Sybil, don’t listen to them - we can pick one together. ::He dramatically pointed at Syrex and T’Fearne.:: Like. A. Team.
Nemes: Erm, okay. I’m fine with that. ::smirking:: But you have to decide on one question, not three. … ::she looked at the others to make sure that they agreed:: Truth then.
The choice for that option did not sound very convincing, rather more like a question. But here she was facing the unavoidable.
Syrex: Oh come on! How are we gonna agree? It took us like a week to settle on where to meet! Well… I’d quite like to know… Your… Oh, this is harder than it looks! Someone else pick one!
With a melodramatic why me look and a grin, Tess sighed.
Evinrude: Fiiiine. ::He turned to Sybil, and stared into her eyes, his “thinking” face resembling something out of a pulp detective novel.:: Sybil. If you had to be…genetically merged with a member of the Ronin crew, in an unfortunate but ultimately survivable transporter accident…who would you like your other half to be?
That was perhaps the most creative question of the evening.
T’Fearne::: slanted brows rising:: that is an interesting question. There are many logistics to consider. :: calling attention to the silliest:: What would your chosen name be, if this were to occur?
Syrex: Oooo yes! That’s so fun!
Sybil smirked. This question wasn't half as unpleasant as it could have been.
Nemes: Well, these are two questions… but okay. Well, erm ::her eyes wandering across the room:: That‘s tricky. I think I‘d choose Commander Alieth.
T’Fearne: Fascinating. What criteria did you base your decision on?
Nemes: There's something so mysterious about her and if we were both connected I'd find out more about her... Oh erm and as a name... I don't know... Sybilieth?
Sybil had to smile at her own suggestion.
Nemes: But I don‘t think that I‘d be the one to choose the name if that accident happened with her.
That got a laugh out of Evinrude. He hadn’t yet met their on-leave Chief Science Officer, but based on what he had heard, any officer merged with her would instantly become more effective, more intimidating, and would definitely need to give over the right to choose their new “merged” name to the portion that used to be Alieth.
After everyone had a go on the bottle of fate, the tool turned it’s handle to Alyndra once again. Truths had been revealed, maybe now was a time for dares? The only person who knew was the wind, and there isn’t much of that in space…
[TBC in Part 3]
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*Ensign Sybil Nemes*
Science Officer
USS Ronin
D239009VD0
&
Security Officer
USS Ronin - NCC-34523
R240107T14
&
Ensign Alyndra Syrex
Medical Officer
USS Ronin (NCC-34523)
R240107AS3
&
Ensign Tess Evinrude
Operations Officer
USS Ronin
R240111TE1