(no subject)

[doctor_lawson]

((Set after this))

Deb woke up, groggy. She remembered enough to remember having sedate herself. She sat up slowly, a hand on her head. Hangovers weren't nearly as bad as waking up after a chemically induced nap. She always wondered if it was worse because they didn't knock her out right away.

But at sticking herself in the neck seemed to do what she had set out. She didn't feel completely insane anymore and she was back in her room.

Great, Deb thought, They had to drag the crazy, babbling Romulan back to her room. That must've been a bloody sight. Of course, Klingons were known for being strong bastards, likely able to carry her easier than any human could.

"Computer, lights," Deb said, rubbing her nose. Her quarters seemed a bit dim, but she could see. Progress, she supposed. She stood up, sighing, tying her thick brown hair up in a ponytail without so much as a glance in the mirror. There was no way she was fit to report for duty at the moment. She didn't have any appointments today so it wouldn't be too much trouble to tell the chief medical officer that she'd stay on call but would prefer a day to herself due to personal issues.

If they protested she could claim Romulans got monthly periods. It wasn't like they knew any better. She tapped the screen and the place holder picture of her smiling with her great-nieces and nephews as they dressed her up like an elf evaporated to a single message.

Call us.

Deb sat down, more like fell into the chair in front of the small screen. And here she was sure they wouldn't want a damn thing to do with her again. Ever. She wouldn't blame them in the slightest. Deb took a moment to swallow the lump her throat, before having the computer attempt to open a visual channel.

She was sure they were just going to let her down face to face.

Comments

[privateproperty]

Dahlfes stood up from what she was working on on the floor and took the call. "Hello, Deb. How are you feeling?"

[doctor_lawson]

Like I've been hit by a cruiser, Deb thought to herself but put a smile on her face anyway, "Better. No longer babbling like a bloody loon, anyway," she said. It was true, at least.

[qeylis_mindu]

"That's good to hear." Kri'Stak responds, from where he's settled in - letting Dahlfes be front and center, doing most of the talking, but he's there, and listening at least.

[privateproperty]

"So, of course we're hoping this will make it easier to have informative conversations... is there anything you'd like to ask to start with, Deb?"

[doctor_lawson]

"Well I suppose I'd like to apologize," Deb said, trying to look as dignified as possible, which was extremely hard to do with bed head and a crinkled uniform, "for acting like a total drongo," she said, slipping into heavy Australian slang, the last word meaning idiot.

She couldn't remember most of what she had said and when that was the case it tended to be pretty horrific.

[privateproperty]

"You apologized already, and as the Klingons say, it is Not Worth Remembering. No damage done." The floor had cleaned.
"Not to get ahead of ourselves, but do you think you'd like to come over on Tuesday?"

[doctor_lawson]

She had? Her recall of the visit was really muddled so she decided to just take their word for it. She remembered the emotions, but for the life of her she could hardly recall anything she had said.

"I... Yes, I'd like that."

[privateproperty]

"Good. I can give the two of you a little time alone. But only a little; I can serve as Fire Extinguisher." Orion Yrevish borrows heavily from Earth English, but only in some of the weirdest and most archaic ways.
"We'll work this out."

[doctor_lawson]

"Fire Extinguisher?" Deb asked, confused. Normally things like this didn't involve fires. Normally.

There was a first time for everything.

[privateproperty]

"I will ask that the sex not go on too long, for health reasons," Dahlfes clarifies.

[doctor_lawson]

"I'm tougher than a human woman my size," Deb pointed out.

[privateproperty]

And Dahlfes takes what she wants to say about the implications that statement makes about both Dahlfes's intelligence and Orion physical capabilities, boxes it up, and buries it in the figurative ground. Because she likes Deb. Because she strongly suspects Deb would be horrified to know how that had sounded to Dahlfes, and the Orion doesn't want that.

"Of course. That's not the health I'm talking about. This is a matter of ... watering down the wine, as it were, to prevent a ... Romulan romantic addiction. Because while not being able to function without Kri'Stak is a condition with which I can very much sympathize, Deb, I'd prefer you weren't consigned to it until the two of you have had a chance to actually get to know each other as people."

[doctor_lawson]

"Oh," Deb said, sheepishly. "I, um, understand." Less time of her going crazy was a good thing, after all. She shifted a bit, "How much do you know about Romulan biology, exactly?"

[privateproperty]

"I had top marks in the course in my hutch. So a good deal, and very little, at the same time. I am not a doctor. But I know that you were 'acting like a drongo' because your body and brain do not match your mind. You cannot handle the Human way or the Romulan way entirely, so we are figuring something out."

[doctor_lawson]

"I suppose what they taught you would've been akin to a sex ed course," Deb mused, "And that little is still more than I know," Deb said.

"Which means you can tell me what's going on more than I know what's going on," she said.

[privateproperty]

"Yes." And apparently, it was time to tell it again. "Your body and brain have seized upon what they think is your first good opportunity to get married. While we like you, the first officer and I feel that letting it happen would be a bit ...soon ... and would like to buy a little time and draw things out."

[doctor_lawson]

"More than fair," Deb said, looking down a bit sheepishly. Yeah, marriage. And her. There was something she had been pretty sure was never going to happen.

"So if this is a biological symptom it can also be medicated - like with the tea," she said. And possibly in other ways. Chemical imbalances in the brain were what she dealt with. It was poetic justice in a way. A psychiatrist laid low by her own brain functions. Brain functions that weren't documented or even known about.

Though she wondered, "Maybe I can look into treatments for the Vulcan Pon Farr when no mates are readily available. Biologically we're similar enough that there should be something."

[privateproperty]

"I'll be happy to make you more, and I'm sure you'll have all kinds of medical ideas."

Dahlfes's face is pleasantly blank at the mention of Vulcans. "I'm afraid I wouldn't know."
A pause.
"Do you like music, Deb?"

[doctor_lawson]

"I'll try not to decorate a floor with it this time," Deb said, "Yes, I do like music. I have quite a few playlists for my quarters, actually. Why?"

[privateproperty]

"I was about to play. If you like, you could stay on when we're done talking? Just to still sort of ... 'hang out'? No necessity, of course."

[doctor_lawson]

"Oh! Yes, I would like that. I assume you'll be playing something traditionally klingon?" Deb asked.

[privateproperty]

Dahlfes smiles. "Quite Klingon. Although relatively obscure and modern. It is only from around 200 years ago."

[qeylis_mindu]

"In addition, Doctor, while I do have an interest in seeing where things go, there are certain very critical matters which much be discussed before we go too much further. Hence part of the need for caution." Typically, he hates caution - but this is one of those rare times.

"Meanwhile, Dahlfes has gotten very good with many ballads."

[doctor_lawson]

"What critical matters would these be?" Deb asked, raising an arched eyebrow.

[privateproperty]

"...That was a heck of a sedative."

[doctor_lawson]

"I wasn't as... exact with the computer as I should've been," Deb said sheepishly, "Also, extremely strong emotions can interfere with long term memory formation in Romulans. This is documented."

[qeylis_mindu]

"Apparently. And specifically, the fact that most of my assignments, this one included, are efforts by elements within the Empire to be rid of me. They may have some contact within the Romulan Empire as well. Any involvement with me may be a life and death matter above and beyond the risks inherent in this mission. Likewise, if I am successful in my mission, eventually, I will hold a place within a Klingon great house. While it is too early to know what may come, that would put you, and any offspring, at considerable risk on a regular basis. I know you can handle yourself, having seen it. This is not putting that down in any way. But challenges may come from even more trained people who do have Romulan levels of strength... or, given the Romulans and certain elements... from poisons, assassins, snipers, traps, or worst of all, politics. I wanted to make certain you knew what you were getting into."

[doctor_lawson]

"Well," Deb said with a smirk, "I have always wanted to learn more about the culture that I came from. Assassination attempts sounds like a great chance. And while that may be a bit sarcasm now I'll be completely honest: let them come at me. If nothing else, it will keep life interesting," Deb said.

[privateproperty]

Dahlfes smiles thinly. "Though I know it is otherwise, I begin to suspect Orions are the only species who plan for a long, prosperous retirement." And Dahlfes has by now decided against planning her own, in any traditional Orion fashion.

[qeylis_mindu]

"I believe humans and Vulcans do as well, but who understands them?" he replies with a small smirk. "As for an interesting life, Doctor, be assured, that is likely. Perhaps also a short one - but always interesting."

[doctor_lawson]

"I was raised by them and I have no idea what they're thinking half the time," Deb said with a short grin. That didn't mean she hated her human family, she adored everyone of them. She simply was never quite as like them as she felt she should have been.

"Anyway, I can at least promise that I will have to be drug into hell kicking and screaming, so not as short as all that."

[privateproperty]

"Okay. So, we have a plan to keep the biological issues from escalating until you're both comfortable, and now you're a little more aware of the more life-or-death circumstances, and we all agree that humans, while nice, are insane." Dahlfes is going to consider this a much more helpful start than previous.

[qeylis_mindu]

"Agreed, humans are insane. And it does sound like a good plan."

[privateproperty]

And Dahlfes smiles. "Then if I may play, Master?"

Once given permission, Dahlfes kneels and takes up her instrument. It takes a little tweaking to arrange Klingon ballads for Orion strings, but she's had a lot of practice, and is quite good at the percussion bits, too.

'He lived within the quieter days, which fill not Sto'vo'kor
But Su, the son of Voloh, led his house as if at war
And a brace of sneering cousins fell as duelists, each the same
For he was the son of Voloh, and his mother was no shame'


The song goes on further into the meat of the story. Or, perhaps, the blood of it, more fittingly. Some time after this minor historical figure had secured his succession against all local challengers, his House had been targeted for a coup by outsiders. This, obviously, lead to the completely single-handed slaughter of scores upon scores of Klingons -- some with notably-connected names, even, not that this is unusual in a Klingon song -- outside the family compound.

'And he always knew the enemy a breath before they came
For he was the son of Voloh, and his mother was no shame
He died at dawn, his House secure, and family left to say
That Su, the son of Voloh, picked a very fitting day.'

[doctor_lawson]

"A good klingon story," Deb said, after all it ended in death, "You have a very good voice."

[qeylis_mindu]

As Deb will doubtless learn, all the good Klingon stories end in death. The tragedies end with quiet deaths in bed, in total contrast to human happily ever afters.

"One of the best." he agrees.

[privateproperty]

Dahlfes practically glows. "Thank you."

[doctor_lawson]

"It will be interesting to hear more of them," Deb said, and perhaps ask about Romulan songs later, of which she only had the barest hint of memories.

[qeylis_mindu]

"Her rendition of Kahless and Lukara is breathtaking." he acknowledges. "You will have the opportunity to hear more, no doubt."

[privateproperty]

Kri'Stak's praising her abilities still gives her butterflies.

"I would be very happy to, whenever is convenient," Dahlfes says gladly.

A breath. "Is there anything else we need to discuss before Tuesday?"

[doctor_lawson]

"Nope, unless there's any medical precautions I need to take for things of a physical nature, but I should be fine," Deb said the last with a crooked grin.

She was a tough girl. Besides, the rough play was fun.

[qeylis_mindu]

"Nothing I am aware of, but Dahlfes would know best." he implies 'as usual' by his tone. "We will see you Tuesday."

[privateproperty]

"Only the usual sort," Dahlfes says, trusting Deb to be up to date on all the more typical, human-like things. "Be well until then."