Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Erin Hazen (Science Officer) in 6-Forward Lounge (open for all)

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Paris Carisi (Chief of Security) in 6-Forward Lounge (open for all)

Posted by Ensign Jazzin Lauren (Medical Officer) in 6-Forward Lounge (open for all)
Posted by… suppressed (4) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Sporting a pink Delta Delta Delta top and a pair of jeans, Erin sat alone at one of the tables. Her red hair framed her face perfectly as she turned a half drank glass in her hands. She looked around at the officers in the lounge — it was already deep into the evening hours and no one had struck a conversation with her.

Back in Los Angeles, Erin knew that the flirty glances she had cast around the room would have already landed her a date, or at least some cute guy for her to have some fun with. However, tonight she was having no luck.

Was that a normal occurrence on Starfleet vessels? She had thought that her experience on board the Dresden had been due to the fact that every crew member on board seemed to be afraid of her sister… and even then she had had Alex, even if that hadn’t turned out exactly as she had expected.

Taking a small sip of her drink, Erin glanced once more around the room. Her mind went to Gavin for a moment, wondering if he was the cause of her lack of success. There was something about him… something she had never felt before. Could other people see it?

Shaking her thoughts away, Erin’s eyes returned to the crew around the room.

Lt. (j.g.) Hazen, Science

Tucked away in his little corner, Jazzin was tapping at his PaDD when his dark eyes fell across the singular figure of Lieutenant Hazen. He regarded her for a moment. She seemed lost in thought, but glanced around now and then.

He wasn’t about to read her mind; telepaths had some decorum … or at least he did. But he could sense something through the bustle of thoughts and emotions … not quite loneliness … but she seemed a social creature, and seeing her sit alone …

Lauren tapped at the PaDD, closing his report for the day and grabbed his drink. Making his way over to where the young woman sat, he inclined his head as he approached. “Good evening, Lieutenant.” He said, a little formally, but not wanting to be too familiar in case she was anything like his boss, where rank and position were very important. “I was just finishing my work and saw you sat; though I might offer you some Betazoid beer.” He gave a slight smile. “Small warning; we aren’t a drinking species so it’s basically soda.” He gave a shrug, wondering what her response would be.

Ens. Lauren
Doctor

“Good evening, doctor!” Erin uttered excitedly with a matching smile. One did not need to be a Betazoid to read the expression clearly in her face — relief. “I must say I did not expect to see you here. Honestly, I didn’t take you for the drinking type.” She laughed. “Although, judging by your opinion of Betazoid beer, I might be right!”

As the Doctor began to chat to the red head sitting alone the doors to the lounge opened and Mason came through, it was late and after shift he had found himself idle. Never a good combination the Executive Officer had decided to visit the lounge for a drink and to wind down. First he had stopped by his quarters and changed, simple off duty clothing and a dark jacket with deep pockets in which he kept his left hand tucked away casually.

He moved to the bar where the Bolian bartender saw his approach, and without need for direction had Mason’s latest drink of choice ready for him. Lagavulin Scotch Whiskey but now the 10 year aged variety, not 16 year. It was a vintage a friend had preferred, and Mason had decided to give it a chance to grow on him as well. Mason smiled and gave the Bolian a salute with his glass, then sipped it lightly as he looked around the room for a familiar face. That, he doubted he would find at this hour and he wasn’t surprised when that held true. He did note the pair at one of the tables, the young red headed woman with pale freckled skin and green eyes, and a man who he seemed to recall as being the unusual combination of Betazoid and Trill from the files.

Not worrying if they noticed his glance towards them Mason instead smiled a welcome, if they noted him at all, then pushed himself off from his lean against the bar with hand still in the pocket and the other holding his drink low, and walked to the lonely sofa on the opposite side of the room from where Lauren had earlier been sitting. Here, he placed his drink down on the side table then relaxed into the seat, ankle crossed over his knee as he took the PaDD that held the song choices for the area he was in and flicked through the options while he retrieved his drink and sipped, the backdrop of the stars out the window beside him. Making his selection he put down the PaDD and lay his arm across the back of the sofa, left hand hanging casually down out of view while his other held his drink and he looked absently at the points of light beyond the window. An old song, Luther Vandross’ ‘Take You Out’ began to play quietly in the background.

Cmdr Black, XO

Contrarily to her sister, Hazen was a social butterfly. However, there were a few tics here and there that she had picked up from Molly over the years. One of them was to constantly scan the room regardless of having company in front of her. While in college, she had found that such tactics would get her better chances of taking someone home for the evening with her, and eventually it had become a habit.

Her eyes had followed the black haired man as he walked into the lounge and mindlessly acknowledged him with a smile of her own. Being so new to the Asimov, Erin had no idea who is was.

Turning back to Lauren, she continued. Her smile never disappearing. “I’m not a big drinker myself. I do it mostly for social purposes…” She eyed her glass suspiciously. “To be honest I am not even sure what I am drinking… some sort of beer I think… I just ordered whatever the crew seemed to like the most. But I would gladly trade it for your beer offer.” She said with a wink. “I’m always up for trying new things!”

“Coming right up.” He grabbed another tall glass of the cloudy, sweet smelling beer, and returned to the table. “I hope you like it.”

“So, what brings you here this evening? Somehow I doubt that the crew lounge is the most conducive environment to work in…”

Lt. (j.g.) Hazen, Science

Getting comfortable, Jazzin put his PaDD down on the table and took a sip of his beer. “Well, I’m still getting used to the ship. Being an empath in Sickbay has its ups, but it’s a high pressure environment. Sometimes, it’s nice to be around people who are relaxed and at ease.” He shrugged. “It calms me down, and all I’m doing is writing my medical notes for the shift; nothing too strenuous.”

“I can’t even begin to imagine.” Erin said. “Sometimes I feel like I can’t silence my own thoughts, let alone being able to read the ones of the people around me… especially in Sickbay… I don’t envy you, doctor…” The sympathy was genuine.

“What about you, Lieutenant?” He said, remember to use rank, even if they were off duty. “You have quite the … effervescent personality,” he grinned. “I never thought I’d see you sat alone in a ship’s lounge?”

“Erin, please.” The smile returned to her face. “None of that Lieutenant nonsense I earned my rank by taking classes rather than hours of service. I feel like I probably shouldn’t have it.” She smiled brighter and then laughed. “That’s a first! No one has called my personality effervescent before, but I guess you could say that…” She took a sip of her drink before continuing. “Just like you I’m still getting used to the ship. It seems that it’s harder to find company on this lounge than on campus at UCLA.” It didn’t cross through Erin’s mind the possibility that Lauren might not know what the acronym stood for. “But you know what they say… better alone than in bad company. And I think I quite lucked out tonight.” The tone was flirty but as an empath, the doctor would be able to sense the same underlying guilt he had picked up on before.

Jazzin laughed. “You’re quite charming!” He said, taking a sip his beer. He looked around at her comment. “I take it this … UCLA, was it? Was a training facility or school? Either way, I get what you mean. In medical school we were all in it together, so I had no shortage of people around me. It’s strange even on a Starship this size you can feel a little … outside of things.” He could sense something about her … everyone had their secrets, and Betazoids knew not to pry, but one could no ‘turn off’ one’s empathic senses, and he glanced her way. “You remind me of my ex … in a good way,” he added that last part quickly. “Ollie was the life of the party …” he took another sip. “Even if there was something bothering him, you’d almost never know,” he smiled. “Unless you just happened to be a Betazoid.”

He wasn’t going to outright ask her anything; some non-telepathic species were uncomfortable knowing their emotions could be so easily read, but he also wanted to provide her with the opportunity to talk, if she wanted.

As he sipped his beer, the Betazoid felt attention on him … or at least on him and Hazel. He glanced around and made eye contact with a man sitting just where he himself had been sat. The man gave a cordial smile, which Jazzin returned, but quickly turned to Hazel. “That’s Commander Black!” He said, in hushed tones. He had made it a point to try and memorise the faces of all the command staff to save on any faux pas he might inadvertently cause. “He’s the XO … and he smiled at us.” He gave her a lost look. “Do we … should we … do something about it? Would that seem desperate? Or rude? Do you …” He closed his mouth. “I’m rambling. I’m sorry.”

Ens. Lauren
Doctor

“Oh…” It was as if someone had dropped a bucket of cold water over her head. Her demeanor changed and a much more nervous Erin Hazen emerged. “I… I don’t know… Maybe we should go and say–“

But before Erin could finish her sentence, a newcomer grabbed her attention.

Paris entered the lounge and scanned the room. Life had been so hectic lately. It felt like she did not have a minute for herself. Maybe that was why she was out in public dressed in workout clothes with her hair in a messy bun allowing stray pieces of hair to fall casually about her face. She knew from experience that love in a tub can was hard but her parents had made it work and by damned so would she. Rising on her toes she tried to gain a little extra height as she looked about the room. At 5’4” the inch and a half it did give her didn’t help all that much. Lowering herself down so that both feet were on the ground she blew a stray lock of hair out of her eyes. Paris wasn’t going to troll the ship like a love sick puppy to find him …or was she. Even though they had said good night to each other sometime yesterday the daily life on a starship meant you could be roommates with someone and not see them for a week.

“Carisi,” the bartender called out seeing her at the door. He said nothing else but pointed in a single direction.

As Paris followed where he pointed a smile spread on her face. Bouncing over to the bar she set a cardboard box on the surface and opened the lid. Taking out a slice of pizza, Paris gave him a wink. “Call it a tip,” she smiled and turned back around with the box. Making her way across the room she hung to the sides instead of approaching the coach head on.

Erin’s eyes followed the blonde woman’s path to the bar. Was that… a pizza box?

“Yo I have a pizza here for a Maysoon…Manson…Mason Black,” she said in a thick teenage accent. “You…ah…know where I can find him?”

As her eyes met his it was hard for Paris to stay in her role but far easier than doing what she really wanted to do in that moment. Even though Mason was the XO she doubted they could get away with public nudity if she did what was really on her mind. Instead she resolved to tease him a bit. The clothes would come off soon enough.

“He got a pizza and I have been searching half the ship for him. I say his loss. What about you and I split this. You order me something more redneck like a beer and we get to know each other before we sneak off for a night cap. I’m Dorothy McDoodle and you are,” Paris playfully flirted with him hoping he had the stamina to play along. Mason, like herself had been so busy recently. Hopefully it was time for a little bit of fun.

Lt. Commander. Paris. Carisi. Cos

Hazen watched the interaction between the two officers, half awestruck and half in disbelief, wondering why she had been so nervous at the mention of the XO’s presence after what they were witnessing. She shook her head.

Turing back to Lauren, Erin said “Looks like someone really likes pizza…” There was a smirk on her lips and her eyes glistened slightly as she tried to hold her laughter. She wondered whether her companion understood what was going on – or whether he may sense it. “I… I would suggest we probably leave them alone… I wouldn’t want to intrude in their ‘dinner’.” The stress on the word was slightly suggestive. “So, what do you usually do for fun around the ship?”

Lt. (j.g.) Hazen, Science

Jazzin looked back from the scene between this newcomer and the XO with a short, quiet laugh. “Yes, I think … I have a feeling that our presence wouldn’t …” he shrugged with glint in his eye. “I think the Commander this ‘dinner’ covered.”

Tugging at the colour of his uniform, Jazzin wished he had changed after his shift, but he was enjoying Hazel’s company and wasn’t about to skip out any time soon. “To be honest, I’ve not done much in the way of ‘fun’ since I’ve been here.” He said. “I’ve been to the holodeck only once, and that was to be given a lesson by the Chief Medical Officer. When I’m not working, I go to the gym, study, and endure endless calls from my parents asking me how I’m doing.” He grinned. “They’re … protective! But, I’m sure once I get to know people outside of the ‘office’, that’ll change. What about yourself?”

Ens. Lauren
Doctor