Ensign T’Fearne - Caught Between Logic & Instinct
teayl.thorn
((Musashi Lounge, Level B, Battle Module, USS Ronin))
T’Fearne’s fingers hovered near the side of Evinrude’s head for a moment, before she tapped it lightly with a single knuckle. At the same time, she rapped her knuckles on the dark counter. The hollow echo punctuated the moment between them with a rhythmic beat.
Evinrude: Are you...saying my head is hollow?
T'Fearne: It’s percussive realignment. If you have any more self-doubts, feel free to come see me and I will repeat the procedure for you. Or you could just find the nearest bulkhead and—what is the human phrase “knock yourself out”? :: dry tone, but with a playful eye glint::
The words came out with a teasing edge, but as she spoke, Evinrude’s hand reached out and settled gently on top of hers. She felt an almost static shock as his hand closed over hers on the countertop. His skin a few degrees warmer than hers. His emotions suddenly became much louder and brighter through physical contact. There was amusement, playfulness, and appreciation even.
Evinrude: You can holster that weapon, ::he said, eyes flicking downward to indicate her hand.:: No more realignment needed...for now.
Looking down at his hand as he released hers and then gazing back into his green, smiling eyes, she felt the appreciation slip into something else, something more complicated. Attraction perhaps. Was it his or hers, or both?
oO No, Fea. :: chiding inwardly:: Don’t read into that! Oo
She tried not to see or feel whatever he was radiating emotionally at that moment. It was his private feelings. Intellectual, she knew that just because a person felt a particular way for a moment and had a flash of attraction for another didn’t really mean anything, and perhaps it meant even less aboard a starship posted to the frontier. Perhaps her paracortex wasn’t even picking up the emotions properly. It had been increasingly unreliable as her range had grown since the battle at DS33.
oO Coward. Oo
Her Betazoid instincts urged her to explore the spark of attraction. Her Vulcan logic surfaced in opposition with measured thoughts of duty, and emotional entanglements were distractions. She sighed inwardly, pushing the mental tug-of-war of her nature back to the far corners of her mind. She had chosen Starfleet to serve, to protect, not to indulge in personal feelings. She focused on Evinrude, the person, their conversation, and an offer of friendship was what was truly needed here.
She felt the urge to flex her hand as his touch had left her bones tingling. To conceal the urge to move, she casually raised her hand to her mouth and blew on her nails, as if cooling an overheated phaser, before pretending to stow her "weapon" in an imaginary thigh holster.
T'Fearne: There, It’s deactivated for now, but if you ever need a hand, let me know. Unless you prefer the bulkhead…?
She arched an eyebrow.
Evinrude: No no, I would prefer not to visit Doctor Bulkhead. ::He smiled.:: I already have a specialist in percussive realignment, should future sessions be needed. Thank you, T'Fearne.
She nodded in acknowledgment, her tone shifting to something more sincere.
T'Fearne: It’s my pleasure. And as for settling in aboard the Ronin, I know what it’s like to be new here. As a security officer, it’s part of my job to ensure the safety of the crew—but as a fellow member of the crew, just let me know if you need anything getting settled.
Evinrude: Well, I think it shows a lot about your character that you would use your limited free time before a duty shift this way. Even after a minor medical emergency.
Embarrassment flared, and she felt the ear tips going green at the thought of having to show up for duty with blue lips for a week. She hoped people would think it was a bold cosmetic choice. Forging on.
T'Fearne: For the tour and the dining spot? It’s my pleasure. Showing someone part of what makes serving aboard the Ronin worthwhile is the least I can do. And I could say the same for you, Evinrude. Thank you for your quick thinking and your company earlier, even though sickbay was... uncomfortable for you.
The appreciation seemed to affect him in a similar way that his had affected her. She thought it was appropriate, and a smile pulled at her lips.
She felt her treacherous hybrid heart beating a little faster despite her resolution to ignore any feelings of attraction. There was something happening between them, and she could feel herself affected by the feedback loop of his attraction, mixing with her own appreciation for his swift response to what could have been an evolving emergency situation.
As he rested his chin on the elbow he had propped on the bench, T’Fearne chose to lean back a little, subconsciously giving herself some distance from the source of her distraction and inwardly trying to maintain her emotional equilibrium. This wasn’t why she had accepted a commission, she had made a commitment to herself to focus on duty in service of protecting others.
Evinrude: You know, I was going to remind you that you agreed to swap stories...what was your life like before joining Starfleet?
The question was simple enough, but it cut through her thoughts. Before Starfleet... That had been complicated. Before she could respond, the crewman arrived with their food, and the rich aroma that rose from the dishes was intense and mouthwatering. The salmon and eggroll still sizzling slightly on the plates.
The dish Evinrude had ordered was something she hadn’t tried yet, and she observed it with slightly more caution due to recent events. The smaller plate held a bed of bright green spade-shaped leaves with serrated edges, under two pieces of raw fish that was a gradient of delicate coral pink. Evinrude moved the sashimi closer to T’Fearne, an unspoken invitation to share.
Evinrude: One of my favorites, ::he added, indicating that the tuna was to share.::
T'Fearne::: Joking:: Should I get the tricorder out?
Instead, she ignored the lavender-haired Lieutenant Avae’s medical advice, picked up the chopsticks, and carefully selected a piece of tuna. Dipping it in the sauce, she popped it into her mouth. The taste was richer than she expected, denser and more satisfying to bite than the salmon she was used to. She chewed until the sashimi was gone.
T'Fearne: That is good! I’ll probably add this to the dishes I usually order. :: taking a sip of water before answering his previous question:: You know what the Academy can be like but before Starfleet? I was still in security, just with the 3Betazoid Defense Force. More like a crewman first-class—basic security roles like crowd control at events, customs at travel ports, the occasional low-level bodyguard detail and cargo transport guard duty. A lot of standing around and watching...
Evinrude: Response
T'Fearne: Like you, I’m a bit older than the typical first-year-ensign, I’m 28 federation standard cycles. I guess I had only half figured out what I wanted to do at that point, and Starfleet offered me a chance to do something more…something worthy. It took me a while to realise it at the Academy, but they made me feel welcome.
She picked up a piece of the seared salmon with her chopsticks and popped it into her mouth. The balance of citrus and subtle spice at a perfect level to enhance but not overwhelm the buttery flavour of the salmon. She closed her eyes briefly, savouring the moment.
Evinrude: Response
She blinked in acknowledgement. His being slightly older, too, due to his alternative career interest, was something that they had in common. Bringing prior career skills to the academy was something that had worked in her favour whereas his additional experience seemed to be part of the hindrance he experienced rejoining.
T'Fearne::: Matter of factly:: I did a year in the 1High Security Prison on 2Darona.
Evinrude: Response
She had popped another bite of breakfast in her mouth and was chewing when Evinrude’s words and emotional reaction to her statement registered. T’Fearne swallowed her last bite of eggroll quickly, realizing the implications of her words.
T'Fearne: Apologies. I meant I worked as a guard at the prison on Darona for a year-long posting. I wasn’t an inmate. I doubt I would be able to serve in Starfleet if I had a criminal record on a federation world.
Evinrude: Response
T'Fearne: It’s a part of my past that led me to here and now. We can share more about ourselves another time. For now, though... I need to get to my duty station on time. :: standing and offering a firm handshake:: It was good to meet you, Ensign Evinrude. Enjoy the rest of your meal. I hope you get some rest before your next shift.
Evinrude: Response
She turned and strode from the Musashi Lounge, heading to the security complex. Meeting the crew one by one helped reduce the turmoil of her Betazoid abilities, and the enormity of emotions thrumming through her and around the ship on a daily basis made her feel something new. Each crew member was a unique thread in the larger tapestry of the Ronin, and she was beginning to feel a sense of belonging—of community. If nothing else, she hoped Evinrude would feel included and welcomed aboard. She would do her best and whatever her CO ordered to keep the crew safe.
Her duty would always come first. But maybe, just maybe, there was room for something more in the future.
[Tag/ End Sceene for T’Fearne]
((OOC: 1High Security Prison on 2Darona - A.K.A. Beta Veldonna VI, the sixth planet in the Betazed System, 3Betazoid Defense Force. This was a fun one, thanks Keric!))
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Security Officer
USS Ronin - NCC-34523
R240107T14