He's Just Not That Into You

[Tachyon 0]

This log takes place directly after the sim on Sunday, October 17.

 

"He's Just Not That Into You"

Joint Log by Cdr. Tandaris Admiran and Lt. Cdr. Marius Tr'Lorin

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Sniffling slightly as tears continued to meander down his face, Tandaris recognized Marius' voice and considered the request for entry. This was not a good time. And if it were something important, something engineering-related, Marius would have attempted to use the communication system rather than come in person. Then Tandaris glanced at his smashed combadge and recalled he had instructed the computer to block incoming calls. Perhaps his predilection for privacy had backfired. . . .

 

The door chimed a second time. Was everyone going to be this persistent in bothering him? Quickly wiping his face dry, Tandaris grunted, "Coming." He carefully crossed his wreckage-strewn quarters and opened the door to see both Marius and the Trill Guardian standing outside.

 

Marius tried to hide his initial shock at Tandy's current condition, then looked back to see the Guardian still standing there. After a moment of awkward hesitation, Marius stepped inside Tandy's room and shuts the door behind him, leaving the Guardian outside. "Sorry . . . didn't know she was still standing there. Are you OK? I saw a lot of damage warnings from your room." He looked at the debris.

 

"I'm fine," Tandaris said. "I just need to do some redecorating." So that was it. Coming to check up on him--his fault, really, for failing to bypass the internal sensors. Tandaris made a mental note to do that next time he chose to destroy his quarters in a fit of rage. "I see you've met my watchdog," he added, gesturing in the direction of the closed door.

 

Marius smirked, still under the impression that the Guardian was a crazy ex. "Does she stalk you that much? When she was begging me to help her inside, she seemed a little . . . eccentric."

 

"I shouldn't have yelled at her," Tandaris said. "It's not her fault. She didn't choose to be sent across the galaxy in order to babysit a crazy joined Trill . . ." he trailed off, frowning, and added, "Don't tell her I said that. I'm still going to pretend to be mad at her, for appearance's sake. But I haven't entirely lost my sense of empathy--yet--and I too know what it's like to be the plaything of the Symbiosis Commission."

 

Now that he was no longer alone in his quarters, Tandaris had to confess he felt better. And he also saw his dramatic redecoration in a new light. This was not the way he should be spending his time. He began, "Maybe . . ." and then paused. Returning to duty, to engineering, probably still wasn't a good idea. Even though this mission was the least taxing they would receive for a while, Tandaris wasn't ready to shoulder the burden of managing a department again. He was having a hard enough time managing his own mind.

 

Finally, Tandaris said, "Maybe you should send her in. This cat-and-mouse game . . . her stalking me as I avoid her . . . it's not working, for either of us. I'm still not convinced she can help me, but maybe if I let her try, she can go back to her superiors and report that she did her best. Hopefully, that will satisfy them." He nodded, content with this plan.

 

This whole misinterpretation just keeps getting better and better. Now with the conception of this being some sort of pre-arranged relationship imposed by some Trill commission Marius was unfamiliar with, he was getting more and more confused. Not that he was going to impose anything himself; he knew enough not to mess with such affairs, especially if there was some cultural policy on the matter. Marius opened the door, and beckoned the Guardian in. "He'll talk to you now. I think."

 

The Guardian looked from Marius to Tandaris, wondering what had transpired. Then she nodded. "Thank you, Commander." She stepped into Tandaris' quarters, giving him a pointed look.

 

"You can go now, Marius," said Tandaris. "And it may not seem like it, but I appreciate that you came down here."

 

Marius shrugged. "No big deal. Hope everything goes well." Marius stepped out of the room. Before the door closed, he glanced back quizzically, then shrugged and took a step down the hallway.

 

They didn't even wait for the door to finish closing before recriminations began flying.