Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Joseph Rainns (Incoming Chief of Security) in Holodeck Gathering

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Tandra Mika (Incoming Chief Medical Officer) in Holodeck Gathering

Posted by Cadet Aili McMorran (Scientist) in Holodeck Gathering
Posted by… suppressed (12) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

Ashlyn had no intention of joining the social gathering on the holodeck, however, her superiors had other plans. “Go be social and build some trust, no one likes to work with the paranoid.” At least they gave her a PaDD that had basic information on the other cadets so she wouldn’t be going in blind. Even if she didn’t interact with anyone, observing them in a social setting would at least give her a better idea of who she was dealing with.

The holodeck doors slid open to admit the next member to join the gathering, standing at five foot even with short brunette hair, Ashlyn’s choice of off duty clothing was eye-catching. The design itself is simple, but what stands out are the seams and shapes being done with EL tape set to have a vibrant violet glow against the black fabric. The sigils represented the different races that are part of the Federation with a large Federation logo on the back. A display of creativity for the other cadets, Ashlyn moved to a seat in a corner of the room where she sat with a PaDD in one hand and a water bottle in the other. The cadet’s eyes travel over the crowd and return to the PaDD frequently as she identified people.

-Cadet Ashlyn Trenton

“SO.” Kast said, rubbing his hands together as if initiating a conspiracy or plotting an evil plan. “Who’s been given their roommate assignments?”

Cadet Satyol, Scientist

“Roommates? No one told me about any roommates.” Greiss’s brow slanted into an inquisitive posture. “Then again, I never asked.” he directed his attention to the bartender. “Karvino juice, please. Chilled, but with no ice.” he returned his gaze back to Saytol. “I hope my roommate is good with density relay circuits, whoever they are.”

~Cadet Winston Greiss, Engineer

McMorran was slouched over the bar as Rainns responded to her query, looking up at him with eyebrows raised. She held this posture and expression as he went on. “Fair enough. It’s not the greatest, to me.” She matched his inspection of his glass by swirling her drink in hersbefore again looking up to meet his gaze as he asked his question. “I do, I do, certainly. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t.” Aili tilted her head. “I also enjoy poking fun at myself. I mean, what good scientist doesn’t enjoy speaking incomprehensibly?”, she continued, the corner of her mouth curling into a smile. “How are you having fun around these parts? Any advise? I’m very much still finding my feet.”

Cadet McMorran - Science

OOC: Fixed the split, I hope

While McMoran had been talking, Rainns looked at the holodeck entrance as he heard the door opening. Rainns eyes widened ever so slightly as he watched a small woman who came in wearing a unique outfit out of the corner of his and took a mental note of her presence. She seemed to be on edge, and in Rainns opinion, slightly attractive. He then turned his attention back to the cadet he was conversing with, pausing to answer her question. “I find,” he said in a reflective tone. “That the best way to engage in your duties and responsibilities is to consider the impact of your work and keep in mind the good fortune you have to be able to serve in such an extraordinary organization as starfleet. We get to trail blaze, help people, meet species that we never could before, and just be a force for good on a galactic level. ” Rainns took another sip of his drink. “In my opinion, there is no better way to spend your time.”

Cadet Joseph Rainns- Security

“I don’t think we have roommates on this ship, but I don’t think I’d mind that,” said Mika, in response to Kast’s statement.

She turned as the holodeck doors opened once more, and Cadet Trenton headed in, wearing a… somewhat odd, but alright looking, casual outfit. “Hey, Trenton! Why don’t you come join us over here?” She called to the other Cadet, waving her over as Trenton took a seat in the corner, seeming to observe everyone. She remembered her name from when they had met before - that was one of the reasons Mika liked her job so much. Her smile was an obnoxiously friendly, kind one. “We don’t bite, I promise!”

It would be okay to Mika if Trenton did not wish to join them, preferring her corner - Mika knew she had those days too, and she also recalled how painfully shy Trenton had been. But she couldn’t not offer. Mika firmly believed in making sure everyone felt comfortable and included.

~ Cadet Tandra Mika, Doctor

Kast blinked at that. “…that’s..I get a whole room to myself?” He looked…unsettled at the implication of that, and had to sit back down.

Cadet Satyol, Scientist

Cadet McMorran’s eyes widened as Rainns unloaded his response. “Wow”. She paused to raise her finger, before dropping it into a point at the other cadet. “You’re the philosopher of the crew!” Aili nodded as she continued: “A pleasure to have found you.” It was then that Aili overheard the discussion of room sharing and turned to say her piece, waving to Mika as she did so. “I’ve spent days setting up my quarters. Things are never quite right. Please tell me it isn’t just me who has that problem?”

Ashlyn froze in place when she was called by her last name like someone had shined a spotlight on her and announced that she was present. The wheels turned for an appropriate response. When she settled on one, a sly grin crept onto her usually stony face, “What if I want you to?” The ‘shy’ cadet collected her things and put on one really brave act as she joined the doctor at the bar. “Besides, Miss Mika, we’re off duty. Call me Ash or Ashlyn, whichever you are most comfortable with.” Ashlyn took a long sip from her water bottle, being sure to watch Cadet Mika carefully doing her best to hide her discomfort.

• Cadet Ashlyn Trenton

Mika’s grin only widened, as she shook her head. “Alright, Ash. You can call me Tandra if you want. I usually just stick with Mika ‘round here, though.”

Mika seemed quite relaxed just then, and genuinely friendly. “So. How’re you finding life on the ship so far?” She asked Ashlyn.

~ Cadet Tandra Mika, Doctor

Ashlyn finished another long sip of her water, then spoke the name with exaggeration to sound long syllables as if tasting the sound. “Tan~dra, I like it.” Ashlyn pondered on the question, letting out a low hum in consideration of an answer. “I find it engaging, I look forward to the new challenges I meet and find ways to test the limits of the boundaries of our understanding of how tasks are completed. I can appreciate that variation is welcome as long as the end goal is met and find the library for the holodeck to be rather inclusive for much of what I look forward to practicing. Navigation is easy enough, though I wish I could spend more time in the Jefferies Tubes. Unfortunately, I have to wait a week still to be allowed access to them. The crew is vibrant and ripe for paranoia and suspicion to have a field day, but I’m hoping being here makes that burden a little easier.” Ashlyn took another slow sip of her water, “Tell me something I wouldn’t find in your records if you don’t mind?”

-Cadet Ashlyn Trenton

Aili had failed to notice yet another cadet enter, and was surprised to hear the voice of Trenton from behind. When Aili’s gaze landed on the other cadet, after darting around the room, she let out an audible ‘wow’ in response to Trenton’s choice of fashion. She was rather impressed but mostly confused as to the motivations behind the design and made a mental note to inquire about it later, although the the garments couldn’t possibly have slipped her mind while in her field of vision. Taken aback by the apparent wallflower’s rather forward response to Mika, Aili gulped and turned away, as the other two cadets settled into conversation, with the intent to hide the blush she feared would invade her pale features. Refocussing on her drink, she cursed her awareness of her heartbeat as her anxiety and self-doubt flourished anew. She had been proud of herself having begun forming a bond with Tandra more easily than she had with past acquaintances, but the apparently akward member of the crew seeming so smooth and socially intelligent had punctured her self-esteem significantly.

Cadet McMorran - Science

Rainns smiled, ” I dabble in philosophy, as for my quarters....” he trailed off for a second, noticing the cadet he was talking to was distracted. He studied McMorran’s responses to what she was looking at from across the room. “Hold on one second,” he said, “you set this whole thing up so you could talk to her didn’t you?” Rainns said with a smile on his face motioning towards with mika with his head. “That’s adorable.” He took a sip of his drink, “Although something about it seems to be troubling you.”

Cadet Joseph Rainns- Security

Aili’s jaw fell slightly agape as she processed Rainns’ commentary, her form frozen in place and her gaze fixed dead ahead on a near empty bottle. The cadet’s toes curled at the thought of discussing the lengths she had gone to to meet Mika alone the day before. Nor was she at all keen to discuss what was going on inside her head, having hoped to have left all that behind in the councilor’s office. Increasingly aware that she had to respond in some way, she hoped to truncate her interrogation as greatly as possible. “I… not exactly. No. I wanted to meet all of you.” Aili smiled gently and tilted her head to direct her gaze more in the direction of Rainns, albeit focused on the bar. “She is the one I’ve had a chance to get to know already though. I… think we’re getting along… quite well. I just… hope she does too.” Lifting her head, she dared make eye contact with the man for a split second before again turning away and swigging down the rest of her drink. “In my experience, most philosophers are hopeless romantics. Are you, or do you just ‘dabble’?”, she asked in hopes putting him on the back foot, with a roll of the head which brought her formerly timid gaze to meet Rainns’ with a sense of force, accompanied by a smirk and a raised eyebrow.

Cadet McMorran - Science

“Ah, something not in my records?” Mika frowned, thinking. “Um, well, my parents owned a clothing shop, back on Earth?” She said, finally, having decided what to say. Mika considered herself… somewhat boring, to be honest, and she couldn’t think of anything interesting that Starfleet wouldn’t know about. She overheard part of what Aili was saying, something about… thinking she was getting along well with someone? But Mika did not want to jump to the conclusion that Aili was talking about her, after all, she’d only overheard a few words. So, instead, she turned her attention back to Ashlyn. “What about you? Got any cool talents? Interesting facts? I’d love to hear ‘em!”

~ Cadet Tandra Mika, Doctor

Rainns smiled and put his drink on the bar counter as he watched McMoran stumble over herself in response to his observation. By her reaction he could tell she was caught off guard, and her subsequent answer delivered confirmation to him. When she responded with her own question Rainns smile shifted to one of amusement to one of melancholy. “ I used to be a hopeless romantic, but the real world taught me to be wiser than that.” Memories of his last relationship flooded his mind as he said this, and the pain of the recent loss stung him suddenly. He picked his drink up again, and noticing it was empty, signaled the bartender to refill it. “ Once you give your heart to someone, the only thing worse than them breaking it is when you have to take it back from them, and that’s why I’ve had to do.” As his drink was being refilled, Rainns stared back at McMoran, “how about you? Are you a romantic?” For the first time since he had walked in Rainns was glad he had come, getting into personal and philosophical conversations was how he got to know and trust people, and he enjoyed them.

Cadet Joseph Rainns- Security

Winston, who had been scratching and inspecting the bar as a test of its realism, looked up and furrowed his brow at Rainns. “I don’t think there’s any such thing as a ‘hopeless’ romantic. Everyone has someone, and you can’t just give that chance up just because of a bad experience with another person.” Greiss may have been cowardly, but the one thing he couldn’t stand whatsoever was people giving up on dreams. Tasks or objectives, maybe, but neither hope nor aspiration had he let lay dormant or dismissed from his life, and he would see sure of it that it remained within his fellow crewmates.

~Cadet Winston Greiss, Engineer.