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Lay of the Land - Corridors (Tag Forgrave)

Posted Sept. 26, 2020, 3:48 p.m. by Lieutenant Junior Grade Issac Forgrave (Chief of Security) (William Deaton)

Posted by Lieutenant Bethany Kovra Gadi (Counselor) in Lay of the Land - Corridors (Tag Forgrave)

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Issac Forgrave (Chief of Security) in Lay of the Land - Corridors (Tag Forgrave)

She’d been on ships before, of course, but not for long. She was mostly stationed at star bases or command. She’d been stationed to a hospital ship temporarily for a special team once. That was the longest stint she’d been on a ship. So, with no pressing matters, Bethany set off across the ship. Get a lay of where you are, Girl. Doesn’t matter why you are there, no need to get lost. And it helps you find short cuts later. F’actar, the half Vulcan, half Klingon was always about finding short cuts. Of course she was pretty sure this piece of advice was because she had a habit of hiding ‘surprises’ for people where ever she went. But it wasn’t a bad idea. She was going to be here for awhile, if the Captain and Cmdr didn’t find a reason to kick her off.

She didn’t have a destination in mind, she got off randomly on deck 10. She noted the deck number and began to walk, looking to see what was there. ‘Oh wonderful,’ she thought as she passed the Brig. ‘Not the the first place I wanted to see.’ She laughed and kept walking finding nothing more than the computer cores and the security chief’s office.
Lt. Gadi, CNS

As if on cue; a man stepped out of the security chief’s office. A shaved head and thick mustache made for a distinctive appearance; if Lt. Gadi had had the opportunity to skim the personnel files, he’d be readily identifiable as Issac Forgrave, Security Chief. “Can I help you, Ma’am?” His tone was welcoming; but there was a note of caution in his voice and posture. As he took in the woman before him and her uniform, he relaxed slightly - until he registered the distinctive eyes of a Betazoid.

Issac Forgrave, CoS

Bethany paused in her little stroll. She held out her hand, “Lt. Bethany Gadi. New ship’s counselor. Just taking a stroll Lt. Trying to learn my way around.” She scanned her memory quickly trying to place the face. She’d only committed senior staff so far and so luckily she recognized the security chief. The caution in his stance didn’t surprise her, it was his job. He seemed to relax, but it did not fail her notice that when his gaze landed on her eyes that the caution returned. She grinned mischievously, “Something wrong Lt.?” She was never too serious to laugh at herself or the situation she found herself to be in.
Lt. Gadi, CNS

“Lt. Issac Forgrave; Security Chief. Pleased to meet ya, Ma’am.” Issac’s voice came out in a thick southern drawl as he shook the counselor’s hand. Despite his words, his tone and posture continued to be standoffish. At her question; he froze, standing stock still. With her empathy, she would be able to pick up a turmoil of emotions; surprise, confusion, discomfort, resignation, and shame, to name a few.

He had no way of knowing for sure, but her question seemed to be phrased as such to give him an avenue of escape; a way to explain away his behavior and avoid offense. But that would be false - and I can be better than that. “I suppose depending on how ya’d care ta define it, something is the matter. You make me uncomfortable - your being a Betazoid… well, ta speak plain, the idea of a telepath makes my skin crawl. I reckon that ain’t a knock against you personally - I don’t know ya as of yet. And I suppose I’ve gone and colored yer impression ‘a me awful quick; but that’s a failing on my part, not yours; Ma’am.” His voice was steady; words coming out clear and empty of malice, if somewhat quietly. Issac’s gaze was firm as he plainly admitted his feelings; watching her face and posture closely to gauge her reaction.

Issac Forgrave, CoS

His watchful gaze would tell him that Bethany was perfectly relaxed, but she still had that mischievous grin on her face and not offended by his assessment at all. “It’s a pleasure to meet you Lt. Forgrave. And if I may speak as plainly.” She motioned down the corridor, inviting him to keep walking with her. “my question stemmed from the fact that when you noticed my eyes your body posture changed. Your posture had relaxed taking in my uniform and then instantly became cautious again when you looked me in the eye.” Bethany shrugs. “It wasn’t hard to determine why. It happens all the time.” She turns her head as she walks to look at him. “I am only half Betazoid which means I only have empathy at my disposal, IF I choose to use it. But if you simply choose to not let me feel what you feel, I could not.” She shrugs, “It’s a simple enough mental discipline to learn. I could certainly explain the technique to you if you wanted to learn if you don’t already know.” She neither let on if she felt his emotions or not. Simply responding to his words. “Your accent, southern North American contenent isn’t it? My mother is from a very small, but beautiful place there. Valle Crucis, North Carolina.”
Lt. Gadi, CNS

Well, she don’t seem mad at me, so that’s a good start… Issac nodded; “Please do - plain speak is uh, my preference, if ya couldn’t tell - don’t see much point to mincing words.” Issac shrugged and joined her, meandering down the hallway. He nodded in response to her assessment - it was pretty well dead-on. Well, she is a counselor… It’d be a bit odd if she couldn’t get an idea of someone’s attitude. “Hmmm; seems straightforwards enough. I’ll admit ta not being all that knowledgeable about betazoids.” Issac pulled a face, continuing. “Grew up on stories of betazoids invadin’ minds and whatnot; controlling people. Got older and learned that was nonsense; but childhood fears seem ta have a way of stickin’ around.”

“That they do, and well, to a world that has very little psychic population it’s not that odd to be wary of it.” She would not speculate that those stories probably came from the Betazoid resistance, and so had some merit. Though in times of war people did things they normally would not do. “I prefer to speak frankly, but people don’t always like that in a counselor. So I try to warn them,” she’s laughing at herself, but her tone says it’s all too true.

“I uh, might have ta take ya up on that offer; if nothing else, I know I could stand to watch my temper a bit better.” He was silent for a moment, caught off guard by the sudden change of topic. “Huh; small world I reckon. Valle Crucis…” Issacs face screwed up in recollection and thought. “That’s near Boone, ain’t it? It sounds familiar, though I ain’t never been there. I’m from a near enough area; Asheville. That whole area’s gorgeous; I do miss it at times.” A hint of longing had entered his voice with memories of the past.

Issac Forgrave, CoS

“It is. It’s beautiful. No place like it, that area. Small community. I was born on Betazed. But after the Dominion occupation, my mother begged Dad to take us back to Earth. She didn’t feel safe there anymore. I grew up there on Earth. I miss it. The rivers flowing down the mountain side and the clouds that seem to sit just out of reach.” There is an echoing note of longing in her voice. “I visited Ashville several times. I was little more than fascinated by the Biltmore house. Begged my mom to take me every year.” She continued her walk into the next turbolift and waited to see if he would join her. “I think maybe this time deck 15.”
Lt. Gadi, CNS

“Ha! Yeah; me an’ my folks went to the Biltmore house a few times when I was a kid. It was always just so....” Issac paused, trying to come up with the proper words. “The scale of it was just overwhelming; especially as a kid.” He found himself interested in Gadi’s history - he know some about the Dominion war; but not enough in his mind. He made a note to do some more research; there were a least a few crew members that had been directly affected by it.

Bethany chuckled, “It is certainly massive. Honestly I usually ran through the house, to get through it, and then spend hours wandering the gardens and forested areas. We went mountain biking across the estate once.”

Not having much else going on at the moment; he joined Bethany in the turbolift. It’d be to his benefit to know the counselor better; as well as to try and confront his own prejudices. With a somewhat mischievous grin, Issac commented on her deck selection. “Deck 15, eh? I reckon that’s an interesting place. Seems like it’s a bit different every time I go there.”

Issac Forgrave, CoS

The lift doors closed, =^=Deck 15=^= “Really? Why is that? What’s down there?” she asked. “I’m just picking at random. I always go out of order. Otherwise it’s just an ordered list. Then I have to run through the whole list to remember where things are.” The turbolift doors opened and Bethany stepped out into the deck.
Lt Beathany Hadi, CNS

“I reckon you’ll find out in a moment; though it ain’t nothing dangerous.” Issac paused in thought, head cocked to one side. “Well… it ain’t dangerous ‘less it’s made ta be dangerous.” He unconsciously put a hand to his ribs as some unknown memory passed through his mind. “But I suppose that’s true for most areas of a ship - long as ya use common sense and are careful; you’ll be alright. But as the saying goes, common sense ain’t so common.”

As they exit the elevator, signs would reveal deck 15 to house visitors quarters, as well as holodecks 1-6.

Issac Forgrave, CoS

OOC: So if you want to know about the Dominion occupation: https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/The_Battle_of_Betazed
It is a pretty good summary without having to actually read the book.
IC:
Bethany noticed him touch his ribs, and wondered, but he was the chief of security after all. “Oh if only common sense was something we could hand out like candy, we’d all be okay.” Bethany stepped off the turbolift and read the sign and started laughing. “Oh I would say so Mr. Forgrave. It does indeed change every time you come down here.” Visitor quarters meant new people every time you came down here and the holodecks would ensure that the scenery changed every time. She laid her hand briefly on his arm. “I do believe you have a mischievous streak. I shall have to stay on my toes when you’re around.” And then she winked at him and started walking down the corridor.
Lt. Gadi, CNS

OOC: Thanks, that article is quite helpful!

IC: “I do enjoy making folks use their brains; helps me ta know who’s worth talkin’ to.” While his face remained a deadpan, there was a slight twinkle in his eyes; breaking the aura of stoicism. Issac froze slightly at her touch; it was clearly unexpected. He gently shook his head as she passed; chalking it up to a difference of background or culture - he still wasn’t quite sure what to make of the Betazoid Counselor.

Following her down the corridor, he asked: “So, what brings you to the Dresden? Happenstance, or design?”

Issac Forgrave, CoS


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