Judith Eastman
Civilian
Grandma
Posts: 2,593 Likes: 84
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Civil Servant
Species: Human
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Post by Judith Eastman on Sept 24, 2021 4:57:56 GMT
[Capt. Judith Eastman(-Williams), PhD & Max Williams - Blue Beta Bar & Grill]Max took his reading glasses out of Judy's handbag. He knew the menu by heart, but it was still instinctive to read it while thinking about different options. "Unfortunately, that is a rather common reaction. As Captain, I'm in a position of great power, so people find me rather intimidating... despite my efforts."Max looked up from the menu, over his readers. "I think the wings would be a great choice."They were also, as it were, finger foods, which certainly didn't hurt.
Tag Left Ear to-Ennien
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Left Ear to-Ennien
Medical
Posts: 229 Likes: 3
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Cadet/civilian healer
Species: Sivaoan
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Post by Left Ear to-Ennien on Sept 27, 2021 16:26:44 GMT
[ Brave Tongue to-Srallansre and Berry to-Vensre - Front Ear Station - Blue Beta] Brave Tongue nodded in understanding as he glanced over the menu's pictures. Some of the foods looked quite interesting. He hoped they'd have opportunities to return and try more. ' These would be wings of some sort of animal?' he asked curiously as the server returned with their waters. ' The wings would be a great choice,' she said. ' And yes, they're chicken wings. I can have them put together a sampler platter with some different sauces for you to try, if you like.' ' That sounds fine to me.' Brave Tongue looked to Judy and Max to contribute their own thoughts on the matter. Berry had been looking carefully at each of the pictures on the menu and spoke up, pointing at a milkshake. ' Can I have one of these, too? It looks interesting,' she asked, looking up at Brave Tongue. ' What do you think?' he asked Judy. Tag Judith Eastman
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Judith Eastman
Civilian
Grandma
Posts: 2,593 Likes: 84
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Civil Servant
Species: Human
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Post by Judith Eastman on Sept 27, 2021 23:34:49 GMT
[Capt. Judith Eastman(-Williams), PhD & Max Williams - Blue Beta Bar & Grill]"Well, milkshakes are quite sweet, so I'd recommend you wait with that until after the wings are finished," Judy answered. "As for the wings, I think the sampler would be good. Gives you a nice variety of tastes."Max could discern from Judy's use of the second person that she was less eager for wings today. "Judy and I will share the Niçoise salad, please," he requested. She (who wasn't even aware of the hint she had given) thought this was an awfully good idea, and turned to him with an appreciative smile. "We've been together for so long that sometimes, Max can read my mind," Judy commented, only half-joking, mostly for the benefit of their guests.
Tag Left Ear to-Ennien
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Left Ear to-Ennien
Medical
Posts: 229 Likes: 3
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Cadet/civilian healer
Species: Sivaoan
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Post by Left Ear to-Ennien on Oct 12, 2021 16:06:32 GMT
[ Brave Tongue to-Srallansre and Berry to-Vensre - Front Ear Station - Blue Beta] ' Niçoise salad,' the server murmured as she tapped it into her PADD. ' Perfect, and if you still want that milkshake when you finish your wings, let me know and I'll get it for you,' she told Berry with a wink. ' I'll get these into the kitchen right away.' The server left and Brave Tongue glanced between Max and Judy curiously. ' Left Ear has spoken of both of you fondly in her messages. I must confess that I found the idea of your relationships strange, but I can see how it could be beneficial and desirable.' He was about to go on and finally ask how Left Ear was doing when Berry touched his arm. ' Brave Tongue, what did it mean when she closed her eye at me?' The child stabbed her short tail in the direction of the server as she disappeared into the kitchen. Tag Judith Eastman
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Judith Eastman
Civilian
Grandma
Posts: 2,593 Likes: 84
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Civil Servant
Species: Human
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Post by Judith Eastman on Oct 16, 2021 1:48:45 GMT
[Capt. Judith Eastman(-Williams), PhD & Max Williams - Blue Beta]"Well, it is a strange idea on the surface level, but a very sound one," Judy said on the topic of monogamy. It was an unnatural structure, one that took effort to make work (especially over the course of decades), but one that worked well for many. As for the wink... "That gesture is called a 'wink'. It can mean any number of things, but it is friendly," Max explained
Tag Left Ear to-Ennien
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Left Ear to-Ennien
Medical
Posts: 229 Likes: 3
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Cadet/civilian healer
Species: Sivaoan
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Post by Left Ear to-Ennien on Oct 19, 2021 16:27:32 GMT
[ Brave Tongue to-Srallansre and Berry to-Vensre - Front Ear Station - Blue Beta] Berry tried to copy the expression but ended up squinting both eyes until she could barely see the humans across the table. Brave Tongue looped his tail affectionately around the small Sivaoan's middle and took a deep breath. ' So how is Left Ear doing? She's been exuberant in her messages. She was always curious growing up and did better than many of our people do of adapting to living on Eeiauo. [ Cadet Left Ear to-Ennien - Personal Quarters] Left Ear was curled in a tight ball tucked entirely under her blankets on her standard-issue Starfleet bed. The blankets were brightly-colored usefuls, but this failed to raise the Sivaoan's mood. The only part of her visible was the long, multi-color tail trailing to the floor. Ever since her latest experience on Serenity, she'd barely been able to make herself go to the infirmary or even do her reading for her classes with the captain. Despite the fact that she'd done it to save her patients and crewmates, Left Ear was troubled by her own capacity for violence. All she could see, hear, taste was the gush of blood as she'd ripped out the throat of the Klingon who had threatened those under her protection. Tag Judith Eastman
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Judith Eastman
Civilian
Grandma
Posts: 2,593 Likes: 84
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Civil Servant
Species: Human
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Post by Judith Eastman on Oct 20, 2021 17:36:32 GMT
[Capt. Judith Eastman(-Williams), PhD & Max Williams - Blue Beta]"She's doing quite well," Judy answered. "She's getting on with her studies, and she's fitting in."It wasn't a perfect thing, but it was going quite well indeed. The Cadet was integrating into the station society and learning, at her pace, how to work within the fleet - with all the wonders and horrors that that included.
Tag Left Ear to-Ennien
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Left Ear to-Ennien
Medical
Posts: 229 Likes: 3
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Cadet/civilian healer
Species: Sivaoan
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Post by Left Ear to-Ennien on Oct 25, 2021 18:16:03 GMT
[ Brave Tongue to-Srallansre and Berry to-Vensre - Front Ear Station - Blue Beta] Brave Tongue's head tilted as Judy spoke. He wasn't particularly familiar with Human scents, and beyond that, they varied so much from person to person; but Judy's words didn't seem to quite match what he was getting from his nose. It wasn't that she was lying, but perhaps not telling him everything. The Sivaoan hesitated to mention it, his natural inclination to protect Berry. Sivaoans were very permissive in general with their children, but adults did protect them from topics that were deemed to be beyond them. But the very circumstances which led to the first Federation-Sivaoan encounter had been an impactful lesson for many Sivaoans. Left Ear was Berry's sister and she deserved to know if something was wrong with her. ' Is there something you're not saying?' Brave Tongue asked bluntly. Tag Judith Eastman
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Judith Eastman
Civilian
Grandma
Posts: 2,593 Likes: 84
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Civil Servant
Species: Human
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Post by Judith Eastman on Oct 26, 2021 15:39:30 GMT
[Capt. Judith Eastman(-Williams), PhD & Max Williams - Blue Beta]Judy sighed. "As a Captain, there are some things I am obliged, by nature of my job, not to say. I have to be confidential."Even if it was with a crewmate's own family, Judy was obliged to be confidential. "As a mother myself, I think you should catch up with Left Ear yourself. Some things are best said directly."If Judy were to get in the business of spreading deeply personal information about, she wouldn't be trusted with it.
Tag Left Ear to-Ennien
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Left Ear to-Ennien
Medical
Posts: 229 Likes: 3
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Cadet/civilian healer
Species: Sivaoan
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Post by Left Ear to-Ennien on Oct 28, 2021 17:28:27 GMT
[ Brave Tongue to-Srallansre and Berry to-Vensre - Front Ear Station - Blue Beta] The elder Sivaoan's head tilted further, confused and troubled by Judy's words. It sounded as if something were very wrong with Left Ear, but he couldn't understand why the captain couldn't explain what was going on. Sivaoans were very open with one another for the most part, especially within a family. Before Brave Tongue could say anything else, the server returned with their food. She set a bowl with Judy and Max's salad between them, along with an extra bowl so they could dole out their portions if they chose. Between the Sivaoans, she set a truly massive platter heaped with boneless wings. Along the edge were half a dozen cups with a variety of sauces. She explained that they were arranged from mildest to spiciest and briefly described the flavor of each before setting empty plates in front of each and backing away. After a brief thanks, Brave Tongue returned his intense gaze to Judy, ignoring the food for the moment. ' Should we call for her?' In his mind, it would be best to confront whatever the matter was immediately. Berry was aware of Brave Tongue's tension and concern for her sister, but at that moment, the young Sivaoan was more interested in food and reached for one of the chicken wings, dipping it in the ranch sauce and popping it into her mouth whole. Tag Judith Eastman
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Judith Eastman
Civilian
Grandma
Posts: 2,593 Likes: 84
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Civil Servant
Species: Human
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Post by Judith Eastman on Oct 31, 2021 23:33:02 GMT
[Capt. Judith Eastman(-Williams), PhD & Max Williams - Blue Beta]It was at about this point that Judy remembered just how fundamentally different Sivaoan culture was from humanity, and certainly from the fleet's institutional culture. "In our culture, there's a degree of compartmentalization. Not everything you tell your boss, your family is supposed to hear, and vice versa," she explained. "However, I suppose we should go about this in the Sivaoan way, with a bit less... stuffiness, shouldn't we?"This was, markedly, neither a "yes" nor a "no".
Tag Left Ear to-Ennien
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Left Ear to-Ennien
Medical
Posts: 229 Likes: 3
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Cadet/civilian healer
Species: Sivaoan
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Post by Left Ear to-Ennien on Nov 4, 2021 16:24:35 GMT
[ Brave Tongue to-Srallansre and Berry to-Vensre - Front Ear Station - Blue Beta] ' Your culture can be very confusing,' Brave Tongue said mildly. Instead of responding further, the Sivaoan turned his attention to the food and dipped a boneless wing into the sauce that the server had indicated was the spiciest and ate it whole. The chunks of meat were rather small for the Sivaoans to be able to eat them in smaller bites. Brave Tongue seemed to be in deep thought as he chewed. ' We would be more direct,' he said finally. ' In most circumstances. I'm not certain I'm understanding the nuances of what you're saying, but it sounds like there is a serious issue. And perhaps it should be addressed privately?' His ears and whiskers pricked forward with the question. Meanwhile, Berry was making her way along the sauces, dipping a wing in each before chomping it. The fur on her hands was getting a little saucy, though she was trying to be careful. Without looking down, Brave Tongue pushed the tray a little closer to her so the younger Sivaoan wouldn't have to reach as far. Tag Judith EastmanTag Judith Eastman
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Judith Eastman
Civilian
Grandma
Posts: 2,593 Likes: 84
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Civil Servant
Species: Human
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Post by Judith Eastman on Nov 10, 2021 1:49:27 GMT
[Capt. Judith Eastman(-Williams), PhD & Max Williams - Blue Beta]It was becoming more and more apparent to Judy that she was well out of her depth, culturally. Her first instinct, under the circumstances, was to pull back, to apply the Prime Directive a bit more broadly than usual, but then she re-evaluated. But she had a responsibility over her crew that didn't allow such hands-off conduct. "Tell you what? I'm going to speak to her and see where we go from there," she suggested. It seemed like the thing to do.
Tag Left Ear to-Ennien
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Left Ear to-Ennien
Medical
Posts: 229 Likes: 3
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Cadet/civilian healer
Species: Sivaoan
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Post by Left Ear to-Ennien on Nov 10, 2021 18:05:57 GMT
[ Brave Tongue to-Srallansre and Berry to-Vensre - Front Ear Station - Blue Beta] Brave Tongue appreciated Judy's difficulties with how to handle whatever this situation was. As a diplomat himself, he'd had to navigate such waters on many occasions. He dipped his head in agreement with the captain's statement. ' That seems to be the wisest course of action. Perhaps you should tell her that we are here as well. It doesn't sound like us turning up unannounced would be entirely welcome.' ----- [After Dinner] The Sivaoans finished their food with relish, though Brave Tongue was circumspect and slightly impatient to see Left Ear as soon as possible. He couldn't imagine what could be so wrong that Judy was this hesitant to give even a hint as to what it could be. They retired to their hotel to clean up and rest until summoned by Judy or Left Ear. Tag Judith Eastman
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Judith Eastman
Civilian
Grandma
Posts: 2,593 Likes: 84
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Civil Servant
Species: Human
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Post by Judith Eastman on Nov 10, 2021 22:48:39 GMT
[Capt. Judith Eastman(-Williams), PhD - CO's Quarters]By now, Judy was certain that these were billable hours for Starfleet, to add to the already considerable overtime she drew always. =A= "Eastman to Cadet to-Ennien. We need to talk, if you'll come to my quarters." =A= The Captain was seated on her sofa, flanked by the dogs, while Max worked away in the study on his latest project.
Tag Left Ear to-Ennien
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