The start of.....something?

Posted on Mon Jun 5th, 2017 @ 2:01am by Commander Bertrand Cuprum & Lieutenant Sara'draphia T'eseri

Mission: Awakening
Location: Various

Sitting in her quarters, Sara was reading over what information she could on mating rituals for Federation Species. She was surprised how such an advanced society like the Federation still had social taboos when it came to intimacy. Not only that, but every species had a different take on those taboos. Choosing to go with the Human culture's way of things, Sara quickly replicated a dozen red roses, a bottle of wine that the database said was popular on earth and a box of confectionery that was called 'Chocolate'.

Although the database said that only one of these was required, Sara decided to cover all of her bases. Getting dressed in one of her Nissari style dresses, she made her way to where the computer had indicated Bertrand currently was.

Surprisingly, he was in his quarters. Bertrand tended to spend very little time in his room, since he rarely slept and tended to find ways to be busy. It was such a waste. Since his promotion his quarters had been moved and he now held one of the more impressive rooms on the ship.

When she arrived at the door and rang the chime she got a sharp, "What? Who is it and what do you want?" yelled at her through the door.

"It's Sara, Dr T'eseri from sickbay. I was wondering if I could speek with you?" Sara replied, a little surprised by the agressive responce to the door chime.

There was a sound of hasty shuffling and possible a movement of furniture before the door opened to show Bertrand.

He was a mess, more so than usual. His uniform was undone, his hair was wet as if he had just run it under water and his breath smelt strongly of alcohol.

"Sara, I..." His eyes traveled over her form and the presents she has bought with her. His brain tried desperately to unravel the clues but just left him more confused. "Come in... I..."

He stepped aside to let the doctor through.

The room looked as disheveled as the man. There were piles of stuff brought in and dumped just inside the door. Old uniforms were piled next to the reclamation unit, next to a pile of plates, just left on the floor. There was a bottle of some clear coloured liquid on the table, but no sign of a glass. through the open door she could see his bed was unmade.

Bertrand made a spirited attempt to pick up a pile of PADDs which had been on the couch. Looking around he could find no where else to put them, so rested them on the floor near the couch.

"Please. Have a seat. Can I... get you anything?"

Looking around at the appalling state of Bertrand's quarters, Sara was unsure what to say. She'd never seen a room as disheveled like this before. To her, there was no reason for it. "Um.....Commander, how can you live in this.........state?" She asked, turning to face him, "as chief medical officer, I cannot permit you to live in such squalor."

Bertrand looked amused, "Cannot permit? That sounds like you are overstepping your role of CMO, there doctor."

He waves his hand expansively, "It's not that bad. You know, you bring stuff back with you and think, I'll get to that later, but then something else comes up, and you have another armload, and then another. It's not like I am even in my room much."

He straightens, as much as he is able and puts on a serious face, "What do you prescribe for your patient, then, doctor?"

"I would recommend that you sleep in another set of quarters for a week, returning her a few hours a day to start cleaning" Sara said, walking over to the replicator and placing the chocolates and wine in the receptacle, "I believe we won't be needing these, it would seem you've had quite enough alcohol" she said, triggering the return protocol before turning around.

Bert made a disappointed noise as the wine was reclaimed. "I'm Betazoid. We're part amphibian, so I can drink like a fish, no offense."

"Now, as for me overstepping my authority, I am the Chief Medical Officer on this ship and I am responsible for the health and well being of everyone on board. This means that I cannot ignore a situation such as this."

"Squalor isn't the same as dirt, doctor," Bertrand grumbled. "Being messy, doesn't mean you aren't clean. And a few hours cleaning a day? Where am I supposed to find that time? Not to mention needing to sleep somewhere else. Who am I supposed to kick out of their room? Or are you suggesting I share wi...oh!"

Bertrand's alcohol slowed brain began to pick up the signals that had been urgently trying to get his attention. Chocolates, wine, dress, late night visit, sleeping in other quarters.

"Are you... are you trying to be coy?" he hazarded.

Sara looked at Bertrand with a quizzical expression, "I'm afraid I don't know that expression. What does it mean, 'trying to be coy'?" She asked. It was clear that he was inebriated and not thinking straight, perhaps the best thing for him right now was to take him to sickbay and let the alcohol work its way out of his system

"Human term," Bertrand answered, "and not something I have mastered or had much experience with. Something to do with saying one thing and meaning something else. Why the hell can't they just say what they mean. It would have made being a JAG officer so much easier."

Sara nodded, "I agree, it seems to be a particular problem with Humans. They are one of the few race that I have had trouble understanding. They can change so quickly from one moment to another and than tell you that they are fine. It can get infuriating"

He dropped onto the couch and indicated for Sara to sit if she wanted to.

"How are you holding up?"

Deciding to take a seat next to Bertrand, Sara looked over at him, "Can I trust that what I say here with you will be held in confidence?"

Bertrand snorted, "Unless it is confession to a criminal activity, then sure."

Taking a slow breath in, Sara chose to trust him, "it has been rather difficult for me since I left my people and started this assignment" she explained, before she stood up and started to potter around, cleaning up a few things, "you Federation Species are so different and strange to me. I have yet to find someone who I can speak like this to. The reason I do so now is that I know you probably won't remember most of this when the alcohol has worked its way out of your system."

Bertrand pulled a face, "I'm not THAT far gone, Sara. It's half a bottle..." he hesitated. "Not counting the other half the Captain confiscated earlier. Still for me, that is really only warming up."

He sat forward, "But you have found someone you can speak to. What is it you are trying to say?"

Turning to face Bartrand, Sara was about to open up to him, but than decided not to. His judgment was clearly hindered by the alcohol he had already consumed. Quickly standing up, she shook her head, "No, first I will help you get better, than we can talk more openly," she said, reaching down and taking the half empty bottle. "You've already told me that the Captain has already taken a bottle from you, so I shall do the same. For the rest of the night, I recommend water and some food containing starch. I understand a vegetable called potato is an excellent source."

Bertrand got to his feet. He was irritable now, and lashed out verbally, "Fine. I am surrounded by people who keep stealing my drinks. I shall go to 10 forward and have a meal with water. Then I'll find you in your quarters and we can do whatever it is YOU want to do."

Bertrand stormed from his room, not bothering to do up his uniform.

Standing where she stood in his quarters for a few moments, Sara tried to figure out where she went wrong. It was true that she was no psychologist, but she didn't expect a reaction like that from an inebriated person. Perhaps it didn't help that the scope of her experience with drunk people were either Klingon or Nissari.

Taking one last look around the apartment, Sara decided it would be better for her to leave before she started to tidy up someone else's quarters. She'd been told that such a gesture could be considered an invasion of privacy.

Bertrand was half way to ten forward before he cooled down enough to realize how rude he had been. He turned on his heel but by the time he got back to his quarters they were empty.

He stood at the door and shook his head.

"You really are the biggest idiot in uniform, Cuprum," he chastised himself.

END:

Commander Bertrand Cuprum
XO

Lieutenant Sara'draphia T'eseri
Chief of Medicine.