Girl Talk

Posted on Sat Aug 14th, 2021 @ 10:31am by Lieutenant Amanda Rose & Lieutenant JG Elizabeth Stone

2,896 words; about a 14 minute read

Mission: Out of Time
Location: Siren's Quarters
Timeline: [backpost]

Amanda asked the computer where Lieutenant Stone was after obtaining two of the same "froo froo" drinks that they had from last time. Specifically seeking her out, Amanda made a beeline towards her.

=^= Lieutenant Stone is in her quarters =^=

The chime of her door surprised Siren. Nobody ever visited her quarters announced. She put a hand on the heavy bag to stop it's slight swaying. "Come in!" She called out, not bothering to pull a top on over her sports bra.

Upon arrival, Siren could see that Amanda's eyes were glassy. "I brought the froo froo drinks...."

Siren looked over the obviously upset counselor. But why in the world had the woman decided she was the one to turn to? "Ummm, come in." She took one of the drinks. "How many have you had already?" She asked, wondering if she needed to get a bucket already.

"Just one," Amanda admitted. "I might need coffee after this one.... I don't know. I don't often drink things with real alcohol...." She came into Siren's quarters. "Do you mind? If you mind, I can go back to my quarters.... I don't want to be any trouble."

Siren sighed, but waved her towards the couch. "It's fine. Just don't puke on my couch." She went and got a glass of water, and a bowl of chips, with a side of salsa and brought it back to the coffee table. She sat next to Amanda, then surprisingly kindly asked. "What happened?"

Amanda sat down on the couch and asked Siren mournfully, "What's wrong with me? I mean, what is wrong with me?! Am I so despicable? So undesirable?"

"No, but your worth is not determined by what some man thinks of you." She said, just a bit bitterly. "If he didn't appreciate what he had then he can go fuck himself." Siren shoved the bowl of chips towards her.

Amanda grabbed a handful of chips and stuffed them in her mouth. While she was chewing, Amanda bawled, "Not one...Twoooo!" she wailed. Turning to Siren with a mouthful of chips showing in her puffed cheeks. "What's wrong with me? I'm a nice person, aren't I?"

"A little too nice I think." Siren wasn't bothered by the poor table manners, and even joined Amanda in shoving a handful of chips into her mouth. "What happen?" She asked again. She was more than happy to go punch whoever needed it, right in the face.

"Now that I think about it, it was three...." Amanda told Siren, her eyes getting wider. "Oh my God. I must be horrid! If I'm too nice, maybe I'm just hideous to look at! Oh, God!"

"Snap out of it!" Siren yelled at her. "You are a fucking counselor. You know good and well you are not defined by what some man or hell, all of them thinks of you!" She reiterated. "Don't make me shove an affirmation notebook in your face." Siren grabbed a tissue and shoved it at Amanda. Now blow your nose, and get over yourself."

Amanda took the proffered tissue and blew her nose. She sniffed a few times and said softly. "I am a counselor. But I'm also a woman." A tear fell gently from her right eye. "You're not used to this at all, are you?" She sighed. "Maybe we should call Arin...? Do you think she could help us both?"

"No. I'm sorry. You're right. I'm shit at this. I should be getting ice cream, right?" Siren hopped up to do just that. "Chocolate?" She asked.

Amanda nodded vigorously. Nothing soothed emotions like chocolate and it was good for the endorphins, as well. "Thank you," Amanda replied between sniffs. "That'd be perfect."

Siren hurried to the replicator, then returned with two large bowls of chocolate ice cream. "Here." She offered the bowl. Siren didn't like to dwell on it, but she thought back to Paul, and what she wished somebody would have said to her. "Men are pigs, and you deserve better."

"I mean, they can be..." Amanda said through half sobs and eating a hefty spoonful of chocolate ice cream. "But, I mean, I always seem to find men that are attracted to other people or want other people rather than me. So, obviously, there's something wrong with me. What do they see in others that isn't in me? I mean, I'm a good person! I think I am...."

"You are a good person, but maybe you are attracted to the wrong kind of man. You know wham bam thank you ma'am, and move on to the next notch in the bedpost types. That's not your fault. You need a better class of man." There, that sounded much more supportive. Siren was proud of herself, and it was even true.

"Well, I don't think that any of them were like that. I mean, I left Avenger. The Captain was so involved with the XO both business and personally that he never noticed me. It was like I was invisible," Amanda moaned, now taking a drink of the froo froo drink and washing it down with another scoop of ice cream. "And here, I thought the Captain was interested in me and then once again, off with the XO...." Amanda coughed and then sniffed. "If that was not bad enough..." Amanda choked on her words. She nearly forgot that Siren was close personal friends with Percy. She shouldn't talk about him with her. Why had she come here? Did she really have nobody else to talk to?

"If that wasn't bad enough..." Siren prompted. She would circle back around to the whole Captain issue in a moment.

"I'm sorry," Amanda started to rise. "I forgot something. I really should get back to it. I've said too much, as it is.... I.... Thank you, Siren. I appreciate you trying."

Siren nodded. "Ok. Sorry I suck at this. Just, don't drink alone?" Siren requested.

"You don't," Amanda replied comfortingly. "You were getting much better. Just, I don't want to put you in an awkward position. I can't do that to a friend."

Siren completely misconstrued what Amanda meant. "Well it was already awkward, and I'm not interested in the Captain, and friend?" She chuckled. "You really have had one too many, I clearly make a lousy friend."

"No! It has to do with Percy!" Amanda responded before she could gather her senses. She collapsed back onto the couch with her eyes open wide in terror and her hand firmly clasped over her mouth.

"Oh. What did Percy do? I think he swings the other way, but maybe's he's bi. I didn't ask. Do I need to yank on his dreads?" Siren asked.

"Yes," Amanda replied. "That'd probably be good for him," she mumbled. "I was in a budding relationship with Yiv but Percy thoroughly confused him and apparently knew of my interest in him, so jumped in front. Worse, he stalked Yiv when I thought Yiv sent me flowers, could not leave Yiv and me alone in my office, barged in my office and then ate the flowers! Such audacity!" She balled her open fist up pathetically. "If I had a mean bone in my body, I'd punch him right in his snout!"

"What a dick move. Men always thinking with their little brain. Bros before hoes. We are going to need more ice cream." Siren marched over to just replicate a half gallon. "You might be too nice to punch him in the snout, but there is always the classic itching powder in the boxers." Siren offered with a grin.

Uncontrollably, Amanda started giggling. Some of the froo froo drink dribbled out of the side of her mouth flew from her mouth as she had just taken another sip when Siren made her comment. "It is a nice thought. I really can't do it, though.... Besides, I really like Yiv. I was supposed to meet with him tonight but after this event, I...I just couldn't. I mean, I know Efrosians often do not limit themselves to one partner. But I thought.... God.... I'm just so stupid, aren't I?" Her eyes looked at Siren beggingly.

"I mean, how is it that I'm so good at giving advice, but I'm so bad when it comes to my own life? It is like everything that I know goes right out the window."

"It happens to the best of us. You aren't stupid, unless you go back for more of the same. You're just soft hearted, and some day you'll meet somebody worth it. You aren't the one that cheated and tried to back stab, so it's not your issue, it's theirs."

Defending Yiv and the Captain, "We never really said that we were dating, so it isn't cheating. I mean, Yiv didn't even realize that I was interested in him. I don't know how he couldn't have known. I made him danishes in my quarters. I took interest in his flowers.... I mean, how could he not have known? And as to Percy, well...." She shivered. "I mean, that sort of behavior is so unhealthy.... You don't need to be a counselor to know that, right?"

"It's very juvenile. Something you do at 16 before you know any better. I wish I had some actual advice for you, but I've given up on relationships. Why can't men just communicate in more than grunts and grabby hands?" She smiled. "It's definitely NOT you."

"If it isn't me, then why do I keep getting the short end of the stick, Siren? Why can't I just be more like you and give up and just enjoy physical pleasure? Huh? Maybe I need a doctor to examine my DNA." She shook her head. "And you know what sucks? I still want Yiv. I want to go over there tonight and enjoy dinner with him. But how can I?"

Ouch, that hurt. Siren knew Amanda hadn't meant it in a mean way, but it still stung none the less. But Amanda was drunk, and hurting, so Siren wouldn't hold it against her. She was trying, but was losing patience with the woman. "Because life isn't fair." She more or less barked, though she hadn't meant it to come out quite so harshly. "And the sooner you grow a pair and realize that, the less you'll be a weepy mess." She felt immediately contrite, and right on the tail of her rant added. "Shit, sorry. Sorry, I know I suck at this. Ummm, maybe wait until you're not snotty and tipsy and talk with Yiv? Maybe it's all just miscommunication?"

"It isn't a miscommunication," Amanda replied definitively. "I'm sorry that I'm such a mess. You're a good friend. Maybe I can learn from you," she continued with a heavy sniff.

"I wouldn't recommend that." Siren smiled. She offered Amanda another tissue. "What about a movie? We can watch some sappy rom com and hell we've had ice cream, we might as well have popcorn too."

"Popcorn would be good," Amanda replied, a small twinkle returning to her eye. "You wouldn't happen to have an oversized blanket, would you?"

Siren raised a brow. Her quarters weren't cold. "I can get one." She went to the replicator to grab the requested blanket, and to grab some popcorn. She left both with Amanda, then went and changed into sweats pants and a tank top. "Did you find something to watch?" Curling up on the couch with her legs tucked underneath her and her back smashed into the corner.

Amanda wrapped herself up into the oversized blanket, making it so that only her head showed, except when her hands came out to feed herself. "I think that I did. Something called, 'To be or not to be.' It has to be some sort of play on Shakespeare, right? Might be promising." She looked at Siren getting comfortable and smiled. "Are you comfortable?"

"Yep." Siren popped the p at the end of the word. She happily munched on some popcorn. "You have to promise not to mention that I watched a sappy movie. I do have a rep to maintain." She pressed play. "But this is kinda nice." She admitted. "I mean, not you having guy trouble, just...nevermind."

Amanda giggled. "I won't tell. Counselor-patient privilege, even if I'm not on duty. How's that?" she asked smiling. "And, I know what you mean." She looked seriously at Siren and asked, "You're not used to someone coming to you for help and you have never really reached out for help, have you?"

Siren shrugged. "I don't think I've ever been somebody's first choice for comfort. You've seen how bad I am at it. "And I have, well maybe not reached out for help, but got it anyway." Siren held up her right wrist. "The CMO on my last posting did more than just help with the wrist. But we are watching this stupid movie for you." But she grinned, clearly teasing. "Do we bad mouth men in general now? Or do I need to try and braid your hair?"

Amanda looked at Siren's wrist and nodded. "You're not bad. You're unpracticed. And," she said, her normal cheerful tone, "your heart is in the right place. You're trying and that's what counts. Besides, I don't like to bad mouth anyone. It just isn't in my nature." She looked seriously at Siren and asked, "Why are people just so blind?"

"Oh, let me know if you figure the answer out to that question. I haven't the foggiest idea." She tossed some popcorn into her mouth. The movie was horrid, but she was a bit pleased that Amanda had managed to make 'you suck at this' sound not quite so bad.

"I mean, Siren, people should pay more attention. It is like everyone is in their own bubble, forgetting that others are there and have reactions or feelings. I mean, how could Yiv not notice that I was practically throwing myself at him?"

Siren sat quietly for a moment. Was she supposed to try and actually answer that question? Was it rhetorical? Amanda hadn't liked it when Siren had given her straight answers at the beginning of all this, so she didn't think it would be appreciated now. "Ummm. I don't know."

The Counselor sighed. "I think you might be right. Men are just stupid. So what do you think I should do?"

"Move on? I mean do you really want to be with a man who isn't head over heels for you? Bringing you carnations because you hate the smell of roses, making you a dinner of corn dogs and cajun fries so you can eat in your sweats?" Maybe Siren was projecting a bit, but the point remained. "You shouldn't have to settle, and if the man isn't up to the task, find one who is."

"But Yiv has always been sweet to me...." Her voice lingered and went up and down with a lilt on the word, "me." She then frowned and said, "And I am most disturbed about Percy's behavior. What am I going to do about him? I mean, I should be able to sort this out as the ship's counselor, right?"

Siren scrunched up her nose just a bit at the mention of counselor, a rather stark reminder of the other's woman's role on the ship. "Well my offer of itching powder in his boxer's stands, if I remembered to make it earlier, if not, I'm making it now." Siren teased, but then took the question seriously. "Well, is it affecting either of your professional lives, or is it just personal?"

"It isn't affecting me professionally but I wonder how much of my concern about his behaviors is personal and how much is professional. I see some very disturbing behaviors in him."

"Well you are probably too close to the situation. I had that issue with some pilots, I had to let somebody outside take a look. Maybe pass on your professional concerns to another counselor, and stay out of it. That way you know it's being handled unbiasedly." Siren felt more in her comfort zone talking about crew management issues.

"I can't really talk to the XO about it right now. So, that's why I came to you. For whatever reason, I thought you could help with all of my messes." She scoffed at herself. "Such a joke I am, aren't I?"

Siren gave her a stern look. "Maybe not your personal messes, I have my own thank you very much. I tend to follow the tough love approach, and it's not always appreciated. I don't sugar coat things to make them go down easier. I don't think you are a joke, but I do think you are too wrapped up in the 'drama' of the situation. Finish the vast amount of junk food at your disposal, and sleep on it. You are allowed to cry all your want tonight, but then you suck it up." Siren stated.

Amanda gave Siren a bewildered look at the change in tone. For an answer, she wrapped herself back up in the blanket and put her spoon into the ice cream and swallowed a large spoonful.

Siren let Amanda gorge herself, and settled in to suffer through the epically bad rom com. She better be getting some pretty damn good Karma points for this.

 

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