Old Fashioned Counseling

Posted on Mon Oct 16th, 2023 @ 1:50pm by Lieutenant JG Koaruh Avestro

0 words; about a 1 minute read

Mission: Year One: Whispers in the Wind
Location: DMZ, USS Moore
Timeline: MD 008 - 2130 hours

The DMZ: the name of the crew lounge and a place that Lily hadn't gone to before. She'd come across it on the deck listings and she wanted to go get a drink and maybe this was the place to do so. Besides, who knows what they served there. Maybe she needed slight amount of Dutch courage, before she sought out a meeting with the Counselor? Nah, maybe she just wanted to see who was there and then move on to the counselor's office. Either way, whatever her reasons were, Lily headed towards the DMZ.

Stepping inside, Lily was amazed at the place, it was lovely, then her eyes were drawn towards something. A foosball table! Almost of their own volition, her feet took Lily there. For a few long moments she just stared at the table, then tentatively reached out and touched the table. running her hand along the side to the side bars with the little figures attached to the steel rods. Taking hold of two of them, Lily moved them back and forth testing the glide, and the maneuverablity of the twist. A memory bubbled up from the depths of her mind, that of her adopted sister and friend, Annabelle. Annabelle with beautiful blond hair, a long time friend.

So Lily care to take me on, one on one? Annabelle had asked with a challenging grin and Lily had agreed with a matching grin of her own. Lily could still see her friend that day, and that game was quite the blast. A quiet chuckle with a tint of nostalgia and a wave of sadness all rolled into one. Giving herself a mental shake, Lily turned away from the foosball table and approached the bar. She ordered a Pimm's Cup watching as the ingredients were put together; mint, orange and strawberries with a cucumber garnish. She took the drink and went to find a table to watch those that were there, enjoying the flavor of lemonade that was included in the drink.

Koaruh always enjoyed the DMZ. The feelings, emotions and thoughts would wash over him like a cool breeze on a hot day. Everyone was hiding something, even the most carefree soul had their troubles and where as Betazoids were not allowed to enter a mind without consent, Koaruh often skimmed that rule.

"You know, most people come to the DMZ to properly drink..." Koaruh almost glided up next to Lily. He didn't know who she was but her feelings struck him from across the room and he often zoned in on those he felt the draw from.

Lily hadn't heard the man come sit next to her. She was in mid drink and turned to look at him over the rim of the glass. She almost choked on the mouthful she had. Quickly lowering the glass, she held up her index finger asking for a moment, while she stifled a cough. Her eyes were watering due to the alcohol content of the drink went semi up her nose. She quickly grabbed the napkin and covered her mouth.

She gasped out, her words slightly muffled, "You surprised me!"

"Shouldn't be so jumpy then." Koaruh sat down. "I mean I do like a bit of Terran gin and mixed with all that fruit makes it delicious but its ruined by mint." he commented on her drink. "Do you usually drink fruity drinks?" he asked.

"Not not usually. Usually I like to drink herbal teas. Just today, it is a little bit wanting something a wee bit stronger than herbal tea. And this fits the bill." Lily picking up the cucumber slice and popping it into her mouth, getting a satisfied crunch from the slice.

"Tough day?" he asked.

"Possibly." Lily answered being somewhat coy. She pulled out the mint and chewed on it next, enjoying the coolness from the herb. Something she normally did when it came to the herb. Once it was done she took a sip of her drink. She lowered her glass having a bit of a smile. "Oh gosh, I don't recall when the last time I had this. It been way too long." she experiencing the sheer pleasure of the flavors from the drink.

Koaruh scrunched up his nose when he saw her eat the mint leaf. He never understood the herb, and he liked most Human foods and spices. "Should let your hair down more Doc." he commented. "The DMZ is always a fun place to come and forget your troubles, even if it is only for a few hours."

"I can see that it can be. Including the foosball table over there. That brought up memories from days gone past. A mixture of fondness as well as sadness. " She got a better look at the man beside her, and took notice of his eyes. A Betazoid, it didn't bother her that he was one. She wasn't going to hide her feelings, though won't be crying in her cup either. Lily wasn't drunk enough to do that. And even then, she'd just do that in her own quarters where she could be private.

"Today's the day I lost a dear friend of mine. I hadn't realized that until I saw the foosball table. And so I am here sipping a drink with alcohol in it, feeling morose and feeling blue. Just a wee bit of dutch courage before I go see one of the ship's counselors." Lily added.

Koaruh had sensed her sadness from across the room. As her eyes set on the scenes around them and more so on the fooseball table where he'd lost many a strip of latinum, especially of late. "I am sorry you lost your friend." he said with genuine understanding. "The loss of a friend, a loved one, is something that never leaves us I feel but I often try and think of the positive times I had with them and that I was glad to have known them when they were alive. People that affect us deeply have had great impact on our lives and I am grateful to have had that in my life."

She finished her drink in one fell swoop, then set the glass on the table giving a slight burp. "However there is a memory that I have to confront and accept it happened, acknowledge it but then bury it back beneath the dirt I piled over it. Once a year I indulge mourning, then I put it away. I know that something that happened ten years ago, perhaps shouldn't mourn for something that happened so long ago. However when a person was right at almost ground zero of a friend dying. That isn't something that can be completely buried." Lily paused, "And now I am oversharing."

"You don't have to apologise for expressing how you feel. I think maybe if you change the word from mourning to honouring then maybe it would feel better. Mourning happens when someone passes and can last a while. A totally normal process, but over time when you remember the person for who they were and your fond memories of them I believe that it changes." he sat down next to her slowly. "I saw you smile, a small one but it was there. When you think of them you are sad but its mixed with shades of happiness. Would you like another?" he referred to her drink.

"Oh I don't want another one of those, and you are right in saying to turn mourning into honouring. Perhaps it is just today that I'm feeling, a little off balance. You know, there were three drinks Annabelle loved, Triple Sec Sidecar, Long Island Tea, the third one... I don't really want to say as it is a little bit sassy and saucy." Lily giving a bit of a laugh. Her cheeks turning a bright pink. The drink she didn't want to say the name, as at times it could be used as a pick up line. It was called Between the Sheets. There were a few times when Annabelle used it as a signal to her fiance' to retire for the evening, leaving Lily to her own devices with her own boyfriend.

Funny memories bubbled up, and Lily giggled quietly, then looked at the man who had joined her. "Talking to you is being helpful, and thank you, it is driving away the dark demons that were sitting at my feet staring at me."

"Ah come one now. You can't say the other two and then hold out on me on the third, especially when you say its saucy." Koaruh leaned in subconsciously, his body language opening up as he really wanted to hear what the third drink was. He could tell it was something she found a little embarrassing, or maybe it would be in new company.

"And you're welcome. Demons are nasty things and should very much be chased away. I'll let you in on a little secret..." he whispered and leaned in further. "Demons are afraid of Betazoids... shhh." he joked to lighten the mood a little.

That produced another sunny smile from Lily, as she heard his 'secret' she turned her head in order to return the whisper to him, in his ear. "Well, the third drink, is called 'Between the Sheets' "her breath actually minty fresh with a hint of citrus. "See why I said it was a bit sassy and saucy." Her face turning to a darker hue of pink. "My did my friend like to flirt via drinks."

"Oh! She's trying to seduce me!" Koaruh shouted playfully. No-one really listened but he found it funny, even if it was only to himself. "I do love an inventive flirt." he admitted. "Did you ever try it?" he asked both flirting and asking the real question.

Lily could feel her cheeks warm up again. "Now stop that." playfully batting at his shoulder. "As to your question. Yes I have flirted using alcoholic drinks, especially with my former boyfriend. My friend Annabelle had introduced me to that art of flirting. She said at that time you can always pick up on whoever was looking for some action by what they are drinking. She told me that most men look really good drinking a bourbon or scotch. Anyhow before I go way into that side of things, there was one she had me try back then, and it was an interesting name, called Bit of Tongue. Then it moved on to French Kiss, Hanky Panky, Afternoon Delight." Lily paused there to catch her breath. "You may have guessed, Annabelle had dated someone who was a bartender. Hence my knowledge of drinks, as the names were really interesting. Now I am in the mood for another drink. An Old fashioned."

"Well who doesn't love a French Kiss, then some Hanky Panky and Afternoon Delight. All sounds like a fine day out to me." he smiled as his mind cast to more sordid thoughts. "I heave heard Humans talk of an Old Fashioned, but have never had one, or know what it is?" he half asked.

"I like it as it has a hint of orange to it, if you like the taste of citrus. The ingredients are, bourbon or rye, bitters which can be made from orange peels, and sugar with an orange peel as a garnish. It can be classified as sort of medicinal with the bitters added in." Lily giving a slight laugh.

"Almost sounds like you made that up yourself. You know everything off hand so quickly." Koaruh acknowledged the woman's memory of the drink.

"I am into herbal medicine besides the modern day medicine. My mother is a natureopathic doctor who specializes in both oriental medicine and well some call it normal medicine. Not everyone can handle medicines we have today. So herb wise, in order to help someone be they Betazed, Orion, Andorian or any of the other races out there. She has studied on the herbs that are native to the various species. As she said and I have said before. At times the pure natural forms of an herb is better than the derivative." She utilized the order form via padd to request an old fashioned. "Any sort of drink you like to imbibe?"

"Sounds like an impressive woman your mother. I can say I can relate on that but my mother is the overbearing typical vision of an entitled Betazoid. I keep on her good side though." he whispered the last part. "As for drinks... anything wet will do." Koaruh chuckled to himself.

"How about I get you an oldfashioned as well." Lily giving a smile, ordering him one as well. "Oh I realized I've not asked your name. My name is Lily, heh yes I am the newest incarnation of a doctor for this ship." Lily quipped.

The drinks are brought over, one placed in front of the man who joined her and one in front of Lily. Lily picked hers up and tasted it, finding that it was done just right. "oh this one is really good." she remarked, leaning back in her chair.

"Koaruh." he placed his hand over his heart as he introduced himself. "One of the counsellors on board." he added as he accepted his drink. He took a sip of it and it felt like an explosion of taste and the hit from the drink gave him pause. "Wow... that is... something."

"Isn't it?" Lily gave out a chuckle. "And pleasure to meet you, Counselor, though I prefer to call you by name, Koaruh. It has a pleasant sound to it. I also appreciate the fact that you are not overbearing either. I am finding you comfortable to talk with." taking another drink of her old fashioned.

A thoughtful expression appeared, Lily lowered her glass and remarked. "Perhaps I will go watch Phantom of the Opera, once I have a couple more drinks here and remember a good memory of my friend. Of when I watched her on stage in the role of Christine Daae. She sang like an angel. And she had dyed her hair dark brown making the comment of she now felt like more of a sister to me. She had hair of a golden shade of blonde, very beautiful." a misty eyed smile appearing.

"I'll let my mother know you approve of my name. Although inflating that head any more may do some damage to structural integrity fields." he joked. "And I try not to be overbearing... not a good trait when you want people to open up to you." he teased also.

"Your friend sounds like a big loss to the universe." Koaruh commented as he looked down into his glass. "It is a shame that people leave us before their time but I do like to believe things happen for a reason. What that reason is I cannot guess, the Goddesses tend to keep tight lipped on their plans... but what you suggest does sound like a nice way to remember them."

"I do not know what good reason for her to die in an explosion of her cabin." Lily said gruffly. "I saw it happen i was caught in the blast so, why did I survive and she didn't? That question comes up from time to time. I know, I know; it is called survivor's guilt." she slugged back her old fashioned, contemplated another drink. "Perhaps I need to go to my quarters and deal with this for now, and go into meditation." a definite feeling that Lily was starting to raise a wall.

"I didn't say it was a good reason, simply that there is one for why things happen." Koaruh corrected her. "Good, or bad, things happen and their consequences are felt like ripples in water." he sighed as he thought of his own losses in life. "Survivors guilt is common in situations like that. I believe you were just where you were meant to be at the time and that saved your life. Others may say luck played a factor, but I don't believe in such things. Do you find meditation helps calm you? Centre you?" he asked.

"It does help for me to meditate, plus I practice what I suggest to others." Lily thought for a moment, "As for where I was at, you do have a point, I just get lost at times and then someone pulls me away from the slippery slope, of which I am grateful for. Like what you are doing for me now." her face lighting up once more, like the sun peeking out from behind a cloud.

"That's good. I offer meditation as a means of relaxation and calming of the mind. I haven't done it myself for a while but it was used when training the Betazoid mind when we are young." Koaruh smiled. "Well, I am glad I am pulling you back from the precipice of despair."

"Indeed you are." the glass that once held her old fashioned, Lily rotated it once then moved it to one side. "Perhaps two drinks is the maximum for me tonight and I will wait another day to watch Phantom of the Opera. I've got a feel good buzz, not completely from the drinks a good part of it is from you. Which means, I will get some good sleep tonight." She radiated honesty in her statement, and a happy glow as well. " I truly think that Annabelle would have liked you, a lot. Perhaps she in essence, sent you my way. Just to cheer me up, and I thank you."

"Humans say the 'God works in mysterious ways', so maybe you are right in some way. As I said, people are where they are meant to be when they are meant to be there. Just happens I was here for you tonight, and you introduced me to a new drink." Koaruh tipped his glass at her. "I am glad you're in a better mood. Are you heading out now?" he asked.

Another radiant smile which reached her eyes, Lily answered, "Yes, I am going to head out now. Once again, thank you Koaruh it has been a pleasure to meet and converse with you." Lily reaching out and touching Koaruh's hand, giving it a friendly squeeze. She pulled her hand back and placing her hands upon the table top, Lily rose from her chair. "Until we see each other again. Which will probably be more often than not. due to us both in medical."

"I'm looking forward to it already Lily. Just as long as its not a medical emergency." he teased. "Sleep well." he added as she rose to leave.

"Thank you and you as well. " With that Lily left the DMZ definitely having had her spirits lifted.

 

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