Cross Corridors
Posted on Sat Nov 27th, 2010 @ 3:26pm by Captain Elsie Halliwell & Lieutenant JG Lucy Carter
1,057 words; about a 5 minute read
Mission:
Structured Shoreleave - Marchwiel
Location: Main Corridor, Deck 5
Timeline: Current
Cuthbell Arixen strolled down one of the longer corridors on Deck Five, attempting to casually and covertly search for the office of the chief counsellor. At an intersection, he stopped, leisurely ambled over to the darkened, powered-down wall display and activated it.
“So, I’m here,� he mumbled to himself, tracing the trajectory with his finger, “but I need to be… here.�
He knew that, as a Cadet, being unable to follow simple instructions such as a ship’s layout might be frowned upon by his superiors… he just hoped that none of the senior staff would hear wind of it. As he stood, seemingly in his own world, the glass reflection of a fair-haired woman loomed up over his shoulder.
"Can I help you, Cadet?" Ship's Counsellor Lucy Carter was always friendly, especially to newcomers. She never saw any point in ever being less than pleasant to everyone. After all, she wanted to help people, not be the cause of anxiety.
“Yeah,� he said, merely glancing at her as he rubbed at the back of his neck still concentrating on the readout. “If you don’t mind.� He flashed a genuine smile in her direction and caught sight of her fully. He couldn’t help but instantly become nervous… “I – I, uh, I’m looking for the counsellor’s office.�
Lucy smiled wryly and looked at the ship's map. "Well we are...here" (she pointed at their current location) “and to find the ship's counsellor, you need to go ...." (she lifted her finger off the display and made as if she was searching for somewhere, before replacing it in exactly the same position) "...here." She kept her finger in place and looked at him sideways, still smiling. He continued to look at the map, not quite understanding what she had done.
Maria Traho came round the corner and noticed the two of them together. She checked her jacket zip was low, swept her hair over one shoulder and catwalked up to them. "Who's this, then, Luce?" She didn't bother waiting for an answer before extending the back of her hand to the cadet. "I don't think you've had the pleasure Mr.....?"
He continued to still gaze at Lucy and merely flicked Maria a look as she spoke. Suddenly coming to his senses, he seemed to shake his head and fall from his entrancement. “I’m… I’m Cadet Arixen. Well, Cuthbell. And I’m looking for the counsellor’s office.�
"Well, Cuthbell, it's very nice to meet you." Maria let her untouched hand drop to her side then said, "So how can I help? Coming on board for the first time can be a little overwhelming!"
“Well,� he said with a mock expression of confusion lining his young, freckled face, “I’m looking for the counsellor’s office. This ship is so confusing to navigate.�
Maria this time took a step that brought her much closer to the cadet than was commonly decent. By doing this she deliberately blocked his view to Lucy, who took a step back, embarrassed at the clear violation of personal space. Maria gazed into his eyes and looked slowly at his lips. She found him quite divine. "I am quite sure I can show all the sights you need to see." She looked up at him through her long eyelashes and blinked once.
“Then,� he replied, shooting a questioning looking to Lucy through Maria’s hair, “how about we start with you telling me where the counsellor’s office is?� It was strange, really, he thought. He’s stipulated his desire to locate the counsellor three times now, and despite him regarding the nurse directly on each exchange, she didn’t really seem to listen. As she loomed ever closer to his own strong and athletic frame, he found himself pushed back up against the screen he was so recently facing.
Lucy was no longer shocked by her friend's very forward behaviour but could not quite see through Maria's flowing, treacle hair to make out if he was enjoying it or not. "Well Cadet, I'll leave you to make an appointment with me," she said, bending sideways to see if she could see him. She smiled as she did so.
Maria ignored her and continues to prey on the young man. She now rested a hand on the console above his head so that her chest pressed slightly into his. She flicked her hair again and sighed. "I'm so bored, Cuthbert. Why don't we go and have some fun in the holodeck? Oh!" Her commbadge dropped to the floor and she bent down to pick it up. Very slowly.
Cuthbell now seemed completely ignorant of Maria (and her antics) and seemed to look right through her. “Oh,� he stammered, tilting his own head to face Lucy’s. “I – I had no idea that you were the ship’s counsellor. How, um, how does now suit you?� He knew that the captain had ordered strict R’ & R’ over the week but he would have grasped at anything to not only get out of the lingering clutches of Maria, but also to get to know the beautiful visage now stood just a step away a little more.
He smiled ashamedly at her and, as he attempted to step around the nurse, seemed to bump Maria unintentionally with his wide shoulder.
Maria stumbled forward but did not lose her balance. She retrieved her commbadge and drew herself up to her full height, pushing out her chest as she did so. Widening her eyes and opening her lips slightly was a well practised move she often employed but on this occasion only the bulkhead took any notice. Her expression changed to one of annoyance as she glanced behind her to see Lucy and Cuthbell walking away together. Without her. She pursed her lips. It was not often that she failed to make the impression she wanted.
OFF:
Lucy Carter
Ship’s Counsellor
USS Ranger
Maria Traho
Medical Nurse
USS Ranger
AND
Cuthbell Arixen
Resident Trainee Cadet
USS Ranger
(Played by Shaunanigans)
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