[[BACKSIM]] JP: Lt. JG Syrex; Ensigns Nemes, T’Fearne, & Evinrude: In the Mood? [Part 2]
Teayl Thorn
((OOC: Set before the Awards Ceremony where all characters received promotions.))
((1815 Hours - Holosuite 3, Deck 4, USS Ronin))
Sybil hurried through the corridors of the Ronin towards holosuite 3. Whenever crew members came towards her in the corridors, she slowed down a little, nodded to them in a friendly manner, only to dash off again immediately afterwards. A few minutes ago she had received a message from Tess and had run straight from her lab - much to the amazement of some crewmen who had also just started their shift in the lab. The message had been short, but Sybil somehow felt there was a weight to it — pressing, as if every second counted.
When she arrived at the entrance to the holosuite, she did not check on the programme that was running, but just entered to find Tess… and Alyndra and T’Fearne sitting at one of the tables of the Nebraskan Bar looking at her as she stormed in.
Nemes: ::slightly out of breath:: It sounded urgent. ::simply staring at them dumbfounded:: Is everything alright?
At the warm wooden table, already strewn with drinks, Tess, T’Fearne, and Alyndra looked up, various degrees of startled.
T’Fearne: We’re fine. :: glancing toward the door, then back to Sybil :: Did… did you run here, Sybil?
Syrex: It’s not because of that film I showed you is it? The people in WALL-E were in chairs, Sybil. We won’t look like them anytime soon.
Evinrude: ::He appeared a mixture of confused and concerned, and had actually stood from the table in case something was amiss.:: What’s up, Syb?
She made her way to the table where the others were seated, drawing in slow, steady breaths as she caught her breath.
Nemes: God, Tess! … I thought you might be in trouble.
Finally sensing Sybil's tension through her preoccupation with her own small troubles, T’Fearne reached out with a calming gesture. Tess, meanwhile, had leaned back, eyes wide. He’d never seen Sybil this way before.
T’Fearne: :: gently reassuring:: There are currently no threats to life or limb in this simulation. Holodeck safety protocols are definitely fully engaged.
Alyndra shot a glance towards Tess.
Syrex: What exactly did the message say? Hmmm ensign ::Teasingly::?
The ensign was starting to feel a bit defensive. He’d clearly upset a friend, and now Alyndra was pulling her rank routine again.
Evinrude: Hey! Lieutenant, I… ::He forced himself to take a second, starting to realize that perhaps the message he sent when he summoned Sybil was lost on the raised-on-Betazed human.:: …I said that I had a dangerously-high fever, and that I needed help because only one cure existed.
The Vulcazoid cast an admonishing glance his way as she nudged the empty chair out with a foot, invitingly for her friend and resumed sipping her hot coffee. Sybil sat down with a sigh and shook her head, giving Tess a stare that could freeze fire.
Evinrude: ::Under his breath.:: …more cowbell. ::Louder, then, he continued.:: It was just a silly inside joke.
T’Fearne: If looks and emotions could disintegrate Tess, you would be a pile of dust right now. Take a moment if you need, Sybil. :: Looking at the blond scientist with her full attention:: Is there anything else bothering you?
Alyndra’s eye snapped back and forth between her two friends. One red and huffy though excursion, the other with a face getting redder by the minute.
Syrex: Or you know… Is anyone bothering you ::eyes Evinrude::?
Alyndra gave a slight burst of laughter to a deathly quiet room. She soon looked down at her lap, playing with her hands, avoiding eye contact with anyone if she could avoid it. oO If I could cut tension, I’d need a bonesaw Oo.
Nemes: Well, apart from the evaluation of sensor data that no one had had a look at and a pile of PADDs on my desk…
Evinrude: ::He was starting to look apologetic, and less defensive.:: That’s…it sounds like you’ve got a lot on your plate, Syb, I’m sorry. I’ve been excited for this, and you were running late so… ::Finally, Tess held up his hands in surrender.:: …I used humor as my deflector dish. Classic move.
Nemes: Well, you could have said: Hey, Sybil, have you forgotten our meeting today? ::slightly snorting as she had tried to imitate Tess’s voice rather unsuccessfully:: And I would have lied and said: No, of course not. I’m already on my way.
Evinrude: ::Quietly, to no one in particular.:: Is that what I sound like?
T’Fearne: :: shaking her head :: No. :: To Sybil :: Could you at least turn the setting down to stun and holster that glare?
Syrex: Now now, Sybil’s allowed to experience her emotions and express them however she deems healthy.
Alyndra looked towards Sybil hopefully, with a slight reassuring smile.
T’Fearne closed her dark eyes briefly, inhaled the aromatic steam rising from her drink curling around her face, knuckle pressed firmly into the side of her temple as if trying to iron out the tension.
Nemes: Well, maybe… ::glancing at Tess:: Maybe I overreacted.
Although she spoke in a softer tone now, Sybil still sat there stiffly, her jaw tense.
T’Fearne opened her eyes to study her friends and colleagues over the rim of her cup.
Syrex: I’m not sure about that. But I know we are all friends here, forget departments, forget rank. Whatever you need to share, we’ll listen.
Evinrude: I agree with our senior officer on that one, ::Tess said, airquoting the phrase “senior officer.”:: But, I also agree that…perhaps you overreacted? I didn’t expect you to take such a thing seriously, ::he added, tone good-natured.::
Nemes: When I heard the message, I was ::beat, her eyes still on Tess, but softer now:: really worried!
A look of concern was growing on Tess’ face. Had something happened to make his friend feel particularly sensitive?
T’Fearne: Is that all that's bothering you? Or is something else pressing beneath the surface?
Alyndra placed her hand flat on the table, outreached in Sybil’s direction.
Syrex: Please, let us help you. Whatever it is, we have a better chance together, as a family.
Alyndra gulped, hoping that the feeling was at least partially mutual.
Sybil took in a deep breath, then sighed. T’Fearne was half Betazoid, she would surely feel her tension. She had lived on Betazed long enough to know that there was no point in masking her true feelings, and indeed, the security officer's eyes were knowing.
Nemes: My family… again. Honestly, it’s exhausting.
Sybil waved it off with her hand.
T’Fearne: :: gently encouraging :: You can talk to us, Sybil.
Syrex: Whenever you like, we’re always going to be here for you.
Evinrude: ::With a sideways glance at Alyndra.:: Share however much you want. Family stuff is…complex, I know.
Nemes: Turns out my brother, the oh-so-perfect example of a Starfleet officer left Starfleet. ::snapping her fingers:: Just like that. And of course the family universe once again revolves around him.
Sybil’s voice sounded tired, almost mechanical, like a story that had been told too many times. But despite that monotony, only the mention of her brother now made her seethe deep inside.
Alyndra sighed, leaning back in her seat. Her family and Sybil’s family seemed very different, but in the exact same way. Sybil’s family seemed to have a favourite child, who was always put on the centre of the stage. In Alyndra’s family, nobody was the favourite, in fact, it was rare that her parents ever did anything, or had any kind of reaction to their children’s lives. Alyndra joined Starfleet, meh? Voren became the chief engineer of a commune that settled on Denali station? Meh. Tessa enlisted in starfleets security department? Nothing. Topa took a pilgrimage to Bajor and came back with a boyfriend? Well.. that one they did notice, but only because the boyfriend in question was Zaldan, and told them to shove a Horga’hn up their… Well… That one should be self-explanatory.
Nemes: The problem with my family is that everything is always about Starfleet, family honour, achievements and duty … and my brother, of course. And I feel … invisible.
Sybil looked at the others. This was actually the first time ever she spoke about her feelings about her family so openly with friends. No sarcasm, no jokes. Just the plain truth, out in the open.
But once again she waved it off with her hand, with a faint smile appearing on her lips. As if the courage she had just shown to be open had left her as quickly as it had arrived.
Nemes: Ah, just forget that. That's just stupid.
The Vulcazoid gently put a hand on the other woman’s shoulder.
T’Fearne: We see you, Sybil.
Syrex: and we are here to listen to you. With no judgement and nothing but support.
Evinrude: ::Nodding, Tess earnestly agreed.:: Yep. Not stupid at all. It’s unfair to you that they show more interest in his life than in yours. Has this been happening since you were little?
Nemes: Since I was little? This attitude has been a family tradition for generations.
Sybil sighed again and shook her head slightly, her eyes focussed on one of the glasses that stood on the table in front of her. The tiny reflection of her face was vaguely perceptible.
Tess, meanwhile, had raised a perplexed eyebrow. A family tradition of pitting siblings against each other?
Nemes: You’re all so nice, but ::beat:: how can you see me, if I’m not really able to see myself? ::she pointed at the rank pip and the uniform she wore:: Apart from that uniform, that rank, that position… who am I really? I have the feeling that was all that ever mattered to my family…
Alyndra adjusted her gaze, if there was ever a time to use her counselling training, it was now.
Syrex: Sybil, I think I can speak for all of us here, when I say to us, you aren’t a rank, you aren’t a uniform. You are Sybil Nemes, and that’s all you need to be.
Her eyes rested on Alyndra for a moment, thinking about those words.
Nemes: Well ::beat:: I guess, I’ve tried to live my life by the family checklist… reports, ribbons, rank. And I’ve never really learned how to just be Sybil.
Alyndra grinned. Shaking her head.
Syrex: No, this is about you. But you know after that… episode… that Karrod respects you!
Sybil just nodded. Tess narrowed his eyes, wondering why Alyndra was being so…informal with their Captain’s name and opinions.
The Vulcazoid shifted forward, putting her cup down on the table and resting her elbows and her chin on clasped hands. She had seen many people with the opposite problem as Sybil. They thought of themselves too much. Sybil didn’t think of herself enough, it seemed, but for the moment, T’Fearne didn’t know what to do about it. Or if there was anything they could do. It seemed like Sybil’s internal mirror was damaged, and until something was mended or grown past, perhaps she would never see herself. Then what Alyndra had said and the way she said it grabbed her attention.
T’Fearne: :: Turning to Alyndra :: Care to share with the holodeck how you know that?
Evinrude: And do you know what Karrod thinks of the rest of us?
Alyndra gulped with anxiety. Feeling her neck suddenly become quite hot, she unclipped her jacket, trying to cool down.
Syrex: I kinda… joined…
T’Fearne rolled her wrist in a give motion.
Syrex: …With Niac…
Sybil looked at Tess and T’Fearne. Given their reactions, she was the only one who knew about that as she met Alyndra while she was joined with the symbiont.
Nemes: They had to find a temporary host for the Captain’s symbiont while he underwent surgery.
Evinrude: ::The man stared silently for a moment, then blinked.:: Woah. That’s trust.
T’Fearne: You saved the Captain’s life!
Syrex: and his past… and his future…
T’Fearne: This has caused me no end of curiosity. Do you think your connection, however temporary, changed the way you look at us? Getting an alternative perspective, or is the memory stored in the Niac symbiote?
Alyndra sat back in her seat, looking curiously stern at the group, before she sighed.
Syrex: I… I don’t know. Temporary hosting isn’t something the commission takes lightly, so there’s not much research out there… I know I touched Karrod, I remember everything from him that I remembered, as him, but nothing new is there… So… I hope not. I hope not.
Evinrude: If it makes you feel better, I haven’t noticed any personality changes. ::He took a breath.:: That must have been…scary, Alyndra.
A warm silence followed. Not awkward, just full. Then Tess leaned forward, eyes brightening.
Evinrude: You know…and I say this not entirely selflessly…a lot of this would make for good songwriting fuel.
Sybil turned to Tess, her face caught somewhere between disbelief and genuine interest.
Syrex: I mean… Lyrics are written to express yourself. Maybe this could be good therapy?
Nemes: You think I should write a song about that?
T’Fearne: Pain and sadness are strong emotions. Maybe better to do something about them now before they turn into something that steals from you.
Evinrude: When I write music, I usually have something to express or communicate. A time and place, a cathartic release of a memory…music doesn’t have to be about anything, of course, it’s just what I use to work through feelings. Sometimes. ::He shrugged, suddenly a little self conscious.::
Syrex: Yeah, see ::playfully taps Sybil with her fist:: are you have the best band in town behind you.
A smile lit up Sybil’s face.
Nemes: Yeah. Well, I might come up with lyrics, but someone else has to compose the music.
Evinrude: ::With a small shrug.:: Well, I have been keeping some tablature notes as I noodle around…
T’Fearne: I’d like to. I think I should wait till I’m in a better mood, though.
Syrex: ::jokingly:: I’m not sure I’ll live that long Fea.
T’Fearne sipped from her brew again, toasting Alyndra with her cup in mock agreement. Not rising to the bait. She seemed to have her own troubles weighing on her mind as she absently rocked a knuckle against her temple.
Tess laughed, waving his hands as if to say “no no!”
Evinrude: I absolutely didn’t mean today, here, now. Songwriting is…un-forceable. I have to be in the mood. But maybe…we could have a little jam session?
T’Fearne nodded in agreement.
Nemes: ::nodding emphatically:: Definitely not now.
T’Fearne: Is there something you enjoy that we could do, Sybil? We could play a song you like.
Syrex: I always hold the opinion that a song can turn any frown upside down!
Sybil scratched her right ear. The enthusiasm of Alyndra was once again catchy.
Nemes: Well, okay. Maybe you’re right. Erm… perhaps… D’you know the song Happy Days? It’s quite popular on Betazed. And it always cheers me up.
Tess stood and reached for his guitar case, looking triumphant.
Evinrude: Let’s do it! Last time we were ready to play, Alpha shift got called back to their stations.
T’Fearne: I’m in for just another half hour. Then I have to go.
Alyndra snorted.
Syrex: Surely you mean to have another half an hour before you have to go go?
T’Fearne raised a quizzical brow. Tess had stopped with the instrument case barely open, frozen mid-lift.
Alyndra subtly winked at Tess. Their last private jam session had been quite fun, even if it eventually devolved into them singing hits from Earth's 1980s period.
Sybil had noticed the wink and gave them a scrutinising look.
Nemes: Wait, I think I’ve heard that before. ::she slightly bit her lip as she thought hard to remember:: Isn’t that some music style from earth? Go-go music?
Syrex: ::Under her breath:: I wanna hit that highhhhhhhhhh… yeah yeah yeah
[TBC in Part 3 - JP: Lt. Syrex, Lt. JG’s Nemes, T’Fearne, & Evinrude: The Runabouts]
===============================
Lieutenant JG Alyndra Syrex
Medical Officer
USS Ronin (NCC-34523)
R240107AS3
&
Ensign Sybil Nemes
Science Officer
USS Ronin
D239009VD0
&
Security Officer
USS Ronin - NCC-34523
R240107T14
&
Ensign Tess Evinrude
Operations Officer
USS Ronin
R240111TE1