Joint Personal Log | Cmdr PontBrillant & LtCmdr Neyes | "Observations"

Posted on Fri Sep 19th, 2014 @ 10:05pm by Commander Tristan Neyes PhD. & Vlimar PontBrillant
Edited on on Fri Sep 19th, 2014 @ 10:13pm

1,392 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Are You Touched?
Location: Deck 1 - Observation Lounge

=/\= Observation Lounge =/\=

Vlimar entered the lounge, needing a fresh perspective. Angered, frustrated with the situation of Mikkal, the Qo'noS nightmare stop and, of course, his own personal issues, he needed time to stare at the emptiness of space, hopefully by himself, at the Observation Lounge. Already thinking about a musical playlist, he entered the lounge, heading directly towards his favourite back, on the left side, back against the wall, offering a fantastic view of the viewport.

Neyes' fingers danced on a PaDD, the gentle trill of the device nearly drowned in the impressive quiet of the lounge. He'd been impressed by many of the areas on the Discovery Class ship, but none such as this. The Trill obviously didn't have such massive vessels, but places for calm reflection and study were frequent and welcome aboard their ships. He was thankful such a place was available for him to work in. The calm air suited his post-vacation activities.

Lost in his work, he didn't even notice the man approach his seat.

Vlimar noticed the man sitting at his regular table, adopting the position he usually adopt. Jealousy, of sort, was felt in the heart of the Commander, even though he was willing to let the transgression go.

"Quite the spot, isn't?", he declared as he looked around for a similar accommodation.

Tristan looked up to meet eyes with the Commander PontBrillant. He was an impressive looking gentleman, with a more classical federation air about him. Something about him called to Tristan, and his posture was that of a man accustomed to confidence. Neyes smiled and held out a hand to the seat across from him.

"That is why I chose it," Tristan replied, "how are you this evening, Commander?"

Vlimar smiled and immediately took the seat in front of the man. He looked at him, obviously knowing the face, trying to associate it with the name. "Dr. Neyes?", he finally said, the name coming to his mind.

"Please," Tristan scoffed, "Counselor. Doctor is so clinical." He noted the man's accent, and despite his lack of skill with common Federation languages, he recognized it from their former headquarters. "You must be Commander Vlimar PontBrillant. Please forgive me if I butchered your name, I am... new to all this."

Noting the lack of response to his question, Tristan set his PaDD down and prepared to offer his full attention to the new company. It hadn't been a common occurrence so far to have anyone come up and greet him so openly. Whispers in passing and a distant glance from the Captain had become his atmosphere on board. He welcomed the conversation, honestly. "Can I get you a drink?"

Vlimar smiled. "Why not? A single malt, straight please.", he stated, looking for a waiter.

Waving, Neyes simply stood and grabbed the drink and one for himself at the bar. Normally he didn't drink at all, but in some cases it was necessary when meeting new faces. He turned back and made his way with the drinks, "There you are."

Tristan sat himself back down and took a sip of his brandy. "Replicated." He said aloud.

Vlimar nodded. "They usually are.", he claimed, taking a sip of his scotch. He shifted in his seat to better observe the man he had in front of him. From appearance, he seem to be a athletic trill male, intellectual and quite on the listening side. Possibly a trait acquired as one would train as a counselor. He smiled and asked: "Tell me about yourself, Counselor.", obviously reversing the roles.

"There's not much to tell really," Neyes set down his glass. Bending the spoken word required skill, and Tristan had honed it into a finely crafted tool. If need be a weapon, but not regularly, and certainly never with a member of the crew. When the time came for someone to learn about him, he had become quite adept at narrowing the conversation. "I went into protective custody after my parents were killed by Ferengi extremists, learned the healing arts of the mind, and now... I've been joined with Neyes... and this crew. It's all been quite an adventure the last few weeks.

"I also enjoy a good brandy." Tristan added with a playful wink, raising his glass to the Commander. "And you? If I had to guess I would say you're the life of the party. There's already been talk about the infamous PontBrillant." Neyes glossed over the whispers of rumored relations between him and the Captain. Yet another thing which continually flashed forward in his mind. A quick image of him and Rochelle would pop in and out, and had since the man sat down.

"Am I right?" Neyes asked.

Vlimar answered by a smile. "Life of the party? Hardly...", he replied, softly. "I wouldn't go ahead and believe all the rumours floating around, dear counsellor.", he added, prior to taking a sip of his dark bronze drink, letting it linger in his mouth, enjoying the taste, as artificial as it was, and setting the glass back on the table.

"Rumors are something everyone must deal with on a ship. Even on a Discovery class, one of the biggest in the fleet, we aren't safe from the lingering attention of our fellows." Tristan said with a smirk, looking at Vlimar as he spoke. The man was already the talk of the ship, and a burgeoning topic of interest among staff in every department. It was difficult to escape rumors, and Neyes suspected Vlimar didn't care or mind if anyone was talking about him. "Whether I believe them or not hardly matters."

Vlimar nodded. "I have very little interest in rumours, unless it involves an imminent threat to this ship.", he stated, raising his glass to the counsellor. "To the Vindicator?", he asked.

"To the Vindicator." He tipped his glass against Vlimar's. Tristan wasn't quite sure what to make of the man. He was certainly one of the older members of the senior staff, and that in itself put Vlimar in a different situation than most. The older generations of Starfleet officers had taken a hard hit in the battle of Sol, and now younger men and women were constantly taking top spots in the fleet. Neyes wondered what really concerned the man sitting before him. Was he consumed with his own interests? Certainly Vlimar had either taken the opportunity to sit and talk to Tristan to get to know a new face, or to tell him it was 'his' spot on the observation deck.

"So what interests a man like you then, Mr. PontBrillant?" Neyes prodded.

"Simple things, really. I am quite too young to retire, quite too old to have grand ambitions...", he responded, taking a small sip of his scotch, putting back on the table in front of him. "What do you think a man like me would be interested in, counsellor?", he asked, grinning.

Tristan knew the answer to that already, and he was certainly not going to entertain some ill-conceived conversation steeped in the rumors of the ship. There was no positive to this conversation beyond empty platitudes and common small-talk. Vlimar answered a question with a non-answer and another question, which only told the 850 year old Neyes that it was an exchange he was going to tire of very quickly. It was no secret the security/ops officer had taken an intense interest in the Captain, and the greatest lie of all was pretending that didn't bother the young Trill. For the sake of face, however, Tristan didn't miss a beat in replying in his normal friendly and respectful manner.

"I suppose you'd need to come to a session for me to find out." Tristan smiled, "Either myself or another counselling staffer would be happy to schedule one for you." Neyes took one last quick sip of his drink and left it on the table as he rose. "Please enjoy the view, Commander. If you'll excuse me."

Vlimar nodded, slightly raising his glass. He observed the counsellor leave with a neutral expression. As he left the room entirely, Vlimar downed the scotch and stood. He looked around the window and decided, in the end, to leave the area, having lost the desire to stay.

=/\= END LOG =/\=

Commander Vlimar PontBrillant
Strategic Operations Commander
USS Vindicator

Lt. Commander Tristan Neyes, PhD.
Chief Counseling Officer
USS Vindicator

 

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