Stargazing

Posted on Tue Sep 6th, 2022 @ 4:29am by Lieutenant JG Summer Wyse & Lieutenant JG Rafe Hunnicutt

2,115 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: The devil wears tripolymer
Location: Crew Lounge, Deck 3

One of the places that Lieutenant Junior Grade Rafe Hunnicutt was getting to know intimately was the crew lounge. It has a lot of positive attributes. It had a lounge. There were chairs. There was even drinks, if you wanted. Synth ones, of course, although Rafe had a theory the good stuff was kept under the bar, with a straw for anyone with the rank of Commander and above. Still, the beer tasted like beer, and had the additional benefit that he could shake his head and have any effects shaken out of his brain with little to no effort.

It wasn't overly crowded tonight, although Rafe was pretty sure you couldn't really call anything night or day out here. This shift then. That worked. He looked around again, his eyes falling on a brunette sitting alone, facing the stars. Everyone else seemed to be in pairs, or groups, so Rafe dismissed them and walked over to her. He had been on the ship long enough to know some faces, and within his own department there were even names attached to those faces. The rest was a little bit more blurry. She was beautiful, at least he thought so. Dark hair, and as he came closer he saw the dark eyes of a Betazoid.

Betazoids were the sort of fascinating species where you both liked them, and also worried about them peeking into your mind. And some minds were as dark and damp as an underwater cave, but Rafe was always of the conviction that a Betazoid didn't exactly enjoy dipping into the general public's brains. He knew he wouldn't have liked it.

He gave a smile as he stepped into her line of sight, a disarming smile that he tended to use. The downside of being tall for a human was that you always ended up trying to counter it with something else. Aggressive looking people would do anything to look softer. Tall people would stoop a little, or smile. He was a smiler. Stooping hurt his neck. Not to mention his back. And the bit below too. And potentially his knees. "Hi," he said, meeting her eyes. "Can I join you? I think they have a minimum two people per table rule for the next 60 seconds, and I don't fancy my chances over at table eight. They look like they bite."

Summer grinned as she looked at the man who was talking to her. “Oh they don’t bite, they might chew a little though!” She motioned to the spare seats. “Sure grab a seat. I’m Summer Wyse, the shrink who looks after everyone on this ship.” She smiled as she picked up her glass and sipped her drink.

"Shrink huh?" he sat down across from her, holding her eyes as he did it. His expression was still cheery, and there hadn't been a flicker of change when he had learned what she did for a living. "Well I am Rafe Hunnicutt, what passes as an engineer here. So if I need a head sorted out, and you need a warp core or engine sorted out, we both know who to call."

Summer smiled. “It’s nice to meet you Rafe. I don’t believe you’ve graced my office for a psych evaluation yet, but I’ll let you off that one today. I will need you to drop by though.”

"Aw doc..." Hunnicutt put on his best whiny voice. "If I can't talk to the voices in my head, who can I talk to?" he stopped, before giving a more serious nod. "Received and understood. It is on my list. But my list keeps getting misplaced, and then I forget to put it on the next list. Rinse and repeat."

She couldn’t help but grin at that response. “Well that’s one of the more unique excuses I’ve had. Let’s make sure your list is more engrained in your brain, then you won’t forget to visit me!”

"I'll get my embroidery kit, sew it onto my pillow. Has to been mirrored though, I expect to see it on my face in the morning," Hunnicutt replied easily, before chuckling. "I have a lot list of excuses. I minored in Excuses at the Academy..." he took a sip of his beer, watching her. "Although I am going to guess if I use too many, you'll team up with the nurses and I'll wake up in your office."

“If you use too many I’ll have to make it an order.” Summer grinned. “Trust me you don’t want me to have to order you to turn up. You’d have to go on my naughty list, it’s different to Santa’s list there’s no presents involved.”

"Does it come with three hypos a day and a padded room?" he asked innocently, before he chuckled. "It's good to know where I stand. And I suspect, I'll stand in your office in a few days having my eval. Spoiler alert, I am just the right amount of not all there to stay in Starfleet."

“I’ll remember that!” Summer grinned a wry grin. “Just for reference, that makes two of us. It’s easier to hide when you’re the head shrink.”

"I knew I went into the wrong specialism," he said, his eyes warm as he leant closer, lowering his voice as if confessing a secret. "I did consider psychiatry, but I was worried they'd see right through me. I thought about medicine too, but my mother is a surgeon and I wasn't ready for that insanity. So I went to Engineering instead, because I look good in gold. Also, when the warp core talks back, you ignore it. And then, if it keeps talking, you eject it."

Summer couldn’t help but laugh. “I love your sense of humour I really do!” She gave him a more curious look. “But I have to wonder what you’re trying to keep buried underneath.”

"Oh, it'll be something sexily mysterious and just enough tormented to make you care," Hunnicutt said easily, but the smile was now a little softer. She was a Betazoid, and he knew better than to lie. "Nothing interesting, I'm afraid. A dash of self sabotage, a little soupçon of denial, and just enough compensating for other people to keep me semi-conscious at night. But all those mysteries will be unravelled in our psych. Do you provide cuddly toys, or should I bring my own cry cushion?"

“Oh don’t worry I’ve got plenty of cosy cushions, blankets, cuddly toys, and boxes of tissues!” Summer smiled warmly. “For what it’s worth I don’t go around prying into people’s thoughts, that’s considered a definite no, no. I can sense your emotions regardless, that’s what I go on when I talk to people.”

"And you can tell a lie," he said, giving her a small, playful smile. "I had a Betazoid school teacher once. I know all your tricks. Besides...lying isn't something I am good at. Suppressing, teasing, pranks, jokes, mild panic...sure, I got those skills. But good to know about the tissues, I get allergic about a lot of things. Report filings, evals, dress uniforms...makes my nose run."

“I don’t lie, at least I do my best not to” Summer gave an honest smile. “If I lie whose going to trust me? Trust is all important for someone in my line of work.”

"It's a rare commodity. And sometimes, a bit of a dangerous one," Hunnicutt said gently, before he looked at her. "So what brings you to the glamour of the lounge today? The beautiful stars, the dashing company, the illusion of us drinking happy-juice?"

“Just a break really” Summer smiled as she shrugged her shoulders. “I have to be at an away team update meeting shortly, I was just taking advantage of the in-between time. Helps me to clear my head.”

"Away team. Now that is a duty and a half," he said, watching her eyes for a moment. "You know, I always thought a counsellor should always be on a way teams. Much more useful than a diplomat half the time."

“Well Counsellor’s generally are trained in diplomacy, so we can help when required. It’s part of the training you get at the university on Betazed.” She paused to sip some more of her drink. “It obviously depends on the circumstances as to whether or not a Counsellor is chosen to go along.”

"I don't know, a level head able to understand the other side of the story seems an asset to me," Hunnicutt said, before a small smile came to him. "Of course, it does help if they're beautiful. From a strictly...objective point of view. I'd take you with me on any away team."

Summer couldn’t help but blush. “Thank you for the compliment. It’s always nice to get compliments. Generally one mention of being a Counsellor and people turn around and head the other way.”

"Oh, I am not much for that. I'd trip over something if I tried to avoid everyone who might at some point make me feel uncomfortable doing their jobs," he said lightly, raising an eyebrow almost playfully. "Besides, for a face like yours, I'd risk the occasional humiliation and emotional gushing."

“You are full of charm I’ll give you that!” She grinned. “It’s a good job Commander Acevedo isn’t here to hear you, he'd be thinking you were charming his girl.”

"I'm happy to charm him too, I've never discriminated," Hunnicutt said playfully, winking as he sat back. "You two been together long? Should I start getting monogrammed handkerchiefs as presents? Having said that, then you're always doomed to be around people with the same initials. Forever."

Summer laughed, Rafe’s humour was like a breath of fresh air. “We haven’t been together that long, it’s a slow dating process to make sure we’re serious about each other. I’ll let you know if there’s ever need for a wedding gift!”

"You know where to find me, I am a good party finisher, although never been good at planning," he said, taking another swig of his drink. "Dating on senior level must be a lot of stress. Not surprised it takes a while to do a little...tango. You start off slow, with a waltz, and then work your way through the ballrooms to the Latin."

“Yeah... something like that” Summer nodded and gulped down the rest of her drink. “To be honest I don’t think I’ve ever met a man whose taken a longer route through romance. Not that I’ve been with a lot of men!” She paused. “Why am I telling you this?”

"It's the puppy dog eyes, and you know how to throw a dog a bone," Hunnicutt said, before he chuckled at himself. "Because I'm non-threatening. So you can tell me stuff. It's an instinct thing, you know I won't turn it back on you. Well, some say instinct, I suspect you know my emotions."

Summer nodded. “Very true. It’s easier to talk to people you don’t know that well sometimes, helps develop friendships.” She smiled warmly. “If you ever need a friendly ear, off record of course, you know where to find me.”

"You know...same goes to you. I have two, they stick out a bit and they've not bitten anyone," he said, a small smile curling his lips as he watched her. She was genuine. He respected that, and found himself liking her. "I've heard it can be isolating being the one that everyone goes for for their troubles. So if you ever need someone else to listen, I promise you can put a sock in my mouth to shut me up and tell me your troubles."

Summer grinned. “That’s very kind of you, thank you! But I think the sock is going a little too far.”

"I am sure we can find another gag if needed," he said, smiling quickly before he took another sip of his drink. "As you might notice, I'm still learning to keep quiet."

“Better than being too quiet!” Summer sipped the last of her drink. “Guess I’d better be getting back to it.”

"And I'll get into your office, professionally of course, as soon as you got an opening," he said, giving a small smile at the idea. "It's been a pleasure talking to you."

“Likewise” Summer nodded in affirmation. “I’ll see you soon.” With that she headed on her way.

{OFF}

 

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