((Look, nothing horrible happened and I’m writing an entry! Backdated to Thursday, while Katriel is on the Sutherland.))
The doors of 4-Forward swished open and Katriel, dressed more casually now in jeans and her one of her favorite jackets, stepped in with a PADD tucked under one arm. For the most part, the lounge of the U.S.S. Sutherland was fairly standard and Katriel quickly staked out a quiet, out-of-the-way table that suited her.
It might seem odd that the counselor so often chose to bring her work out to public venues, opening herself to potential distraction. But in actuality, Katriel found recreational lounges to often be the best places to get things done. Since these areas were so frequently saturated with the relaxed emotions of other patrons, Katriel could often siphon off that feeling into her own mood, making herself more productive. It didn’t always work out that way, of course, but it was often enough that she still continued to risk bringing her work out.
So that was why she found herself in the Sutherland’s lounge, with a PADD full of reports and briefs that she had copied from Argo’s counseling department. There was a great deal she needed to review before the ship returned and she’d prefer not to waste any time playing catch-up when they arrived. That she might also be able to repay a favor to Commander Dae while she was here was just the icing on the proverbial cake.
About four briefs and fifty minutes later, the doors swished apart and a trio of Ensigns slogged into the lounge. The counselor’s glance flicked up immediately and tracked their progress as they wearily moved from the doorway to their favored table, where the promptly flopped down and started engaging in half-hearted small talk.
From her table, Katriel observed their flagging postures and unhappy countenances. All three, she could see and feel, had their minds on Casperia. One couldn’t stop feeling angry at the Casperia Air tourline, he was so certain that the whole incident could have been prevented if the pilot of the cruiser had paid even a hair more attention during his morning briefings. Another couldn’t get the images of the countless rows of body bags out of her head. Eventually the three couldn’t even fake interest in conversation anymore and the table fell silent as they stared out at the stars.
Katriel waited a moment or two longer before picking up her things. She called for a new tea and made her way over to the Ensigns’ table.
“Hello,” she greeted calmly, when none of them noticed her approach. Three pairs of eyes snapped to her in startlement and one of them, a male Ktarian, stood up abruptly.
“Lieutenant Sedai.”
“Just Katriel is fine, I’m not on duty and neither are any of you.” Katriel nodded in approval as the ensign slowly moved to sit again. “May I join you?”