Women In the Middle - Part II

Posted on Sun Apr 19, 2026 @ 5:53am by Lieutenant T'Lul & Lieutenant JG Brianthe Oaxaca

1,222 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Jubilee
Location: Arboretum
Timeline: MD01 - late afternoon after Ace Advice

[PREVIOUSLY]

"Okay." Bri got herself a glass of water and sat down. "So, why do you want to know about me?"

[CONTINUED]

The Vulcan considered the question while weighing her requirements of keeping secrets from her patients. "From my observations thus far, you seem like a private person, like you have some sort of pain from your past. You seem to keep a pleasant but quiet social disposition, keeping only to the topic at hand, which also lends me to the conclusion of past pain. Yet, it appears that you radiate a charm that makes people gravitate towards you. Would these be accurate statements?"

T'Lul then paused and added, "If you would like to consider this a private meeting a counseling session, I will keep all of your confidences."

"I don't talk about it, but I guess it's not a secret," Bri began. "But yes, you're right. But why does that bring you here?"

The Vulcan would have smiled if she was human. However, her lips slightly cracked upwards. The other woman had a way of turning the tables and redirecting, again trying not to focus on herself. "Although I attempt to be social, I can have a certain awkwardness, like yourself. Most of my behaviors when relating to non-Vulcans are learned. Unlike you, I lack the charm. I suspect much of that has to do with my suppression of emotions, as I was taught. I do not know how much of that is relevant at the moment. Regardless, as I said at the beginning, I have heard your name more than once in the recent past and that intrigued me."

While Bri was interested in learning more about the Vulcan Counselor, she had one pressing question she wanted answered first. "Who, if I may be blunt, has been talking to you about me?" The only people who really knew her were Alanna, Jason, Paula...and Ace.

"Unfortunately, I cannot reveal that information," T'Lul answered with an apologetic shrug. "Does that make you uncomfortable?" the Vulcan further inquired.

"Why should it?" she countered.

"Answering a question with a question. You are very adept at deflection techniques. May I call you Brianthe?"

Bri laughed again. "Yes, you may. It's true I don't like talking about myself much. I'm really not that interesting--unless you like plants."

"Well, Brianthe, I am certain that you are more interesting than you believe that you are. Also, what is interesting to one being is not interesting to another. I doubt that you find psychology particularly interesting, or talking to various beings and helping all of them find the insight to solve their own problems. Your assistant, however, probably finds you particularly interesting because of your common interests in plants. Hopefully, I made my point." T'Lul finished on that subject before switching to, "So, will you answer my question on whether it makes it uncomfortable for you for others to be talking about you?" T'Lul suspected that she knew the answer, but she wanted Brianthe to verbalize it. She hoped that by doing so, some of the barriers might be broken between them.

"That would depend on why." Bri shrugged. "I mean, if they're talking about the arboretum or plants, I'm fine. If they're talking about my personal life, I'm not." She looked at the counselor for a moment. "Is that what you wanted to know?"

"It is just a confirmation of what I suspected. I doubt anyone is talking about your personal life, though. You are too guarded with it. I certainly have heard a lot about the arboretum and its association with you. That said, I wonder what you consider your personal life. Perhaps you could clarify that for me?"

"No. There are only a handful of people here who know about my personal life. Unless it becomes necessary, I'd like to keep it that way."

"I see," T'Lul said thoughtfully. I wonder what it is that Ace sees in this Brianthe. Matilda seems a lot livelier and proverbially up his alley. This warrants exploration. She remained silent several moments longer. "Until your annual, I cannot require you to talk to me and even then, it is only a check up to see if you are fit to perform your duties, which it appears to me that you are," the Counselor observed. "I apologize if I seem intrusive. My intent is only to assist others and apparently my 'bedside manner,' still needs work."

"I understand that," Bri began. She hesitated for a moment. "But I don't see a reason why knowing my background is pertinent. As I said, I don't generally talk about myself. Not outside of my work here. I honestly don't see why it would matter."

"I can understand why you would not see it. However, I was not inquiring so much about your background as to determining what you view as private. People quantify and qualify personal life differently. Does that include talking about your friends or people you regularly associate with? Does it include your day-to-day activities? Does it include your interests other than plants? You have spoken freely about that interest, but of little else. I admit that I know little of you and you, little of me. So, trying to get to know you when I have initiated the conversation is difficult, especially given your privacy concerns. I would offer to take you to Pierre's Patisserie for some breads or sweets, but I do not know whether you enjoy those, either."

Okay. If the counselor wanted a direct answer, Bri could give her one. Mostly. "I consider my personal life to be private. Or the personal life of my close friends," Bri began. "We've only just met. I don't generally talk about myself or my friends to people who come here asking to know more about me." She cocked her head to one side, watching the counselor for a moment. "You haven't even said why you're really here. Have you honestly come simply to get to know me? Your questions are more inquisitive than conversational, so I have to wonder what you really want to know. So, just ask. I'll tell you if I don't want to answer. Or maybe I'll just tell you what you want to know."

"I apologize," T'Lul started. "I have been told that my bedside manner can be lacking and small talk is not something that Vulcans excel in. We do tend to be much more direct. It is true that I did come here to get to know you, but I also indicated that I have heard much about you lately. Had I not, I would not likely be here," the Vulcan admitted.

"I appreciate your candor and forthrightness," T'Lul admitted. "Unfortunately, I must be more circumspect under the circumstances. Yet, I shall attempt to be more direct in doing so. I first should like to know about your relationship with Matilda Cromwell."

"We met when she came here to look around. She ended up helping us find a way to detect animals that have crept into the arboretum. She's now helping us keep people out during the passing of the comet." She wasn't going to mention Ace because Bri wasn't sure this involved him.

(To be continued...)

Lieutenant JG Brianthe Oaxaca
Botanist
Deep Space 5 & Pangaea

&

Lieutenant T'Lul
Chief Counselor
Deep Space 5

 

RSS Feed