who cares

[mentr-carol]

Not a good shot, are you?

[She had plans to test out her railgun in the range today, but well. Weapons in the hands of amateurs were cringe-worthy. Still, she took out her gun, not looking at the other woman - she was here to experiment, not to make friends. Not that there were friends to make.]

Don’t close your eyes when you shoot. Your sense of balance decreases when you close your eyes. Also, put your left leg forward and your right back - you want a balanced stance. 

[mentr-linda]

Not yet. [She stared down at the pistol, standing like the other woman told her to--she already felt a little less shaky, albeit not by much.]

It still freaks me out when I shoot it. I don't mean to close my eyes. How do you not do that? 

[She didn't want to start a conversation, but didn't feel comfortable talking to anyone else that had shown up on the range--mostly all men, all scrutinizing. A yeoman carrying a gun like she was going to do something with it. What a joke.] 

[mentr-rhysarchive]

[Rhys smirked, pleased with the way things had worked out. For him, at least, but hey, Linda didn’t look much too upset either. His arms crossed in front of his chest, he cocked his head, eyes on the target that now had a hole on it.]

Pretty cool indeed. You should try it again, practice makes perfect and all. Just for shits and giggles. Also, because you entertain me.

[mentr-linda]

[As soon as the words left his mouth, her excitement flickered. Slowly, she turned around, the pistol at her side—she wasn’t going to point it at him, but it gave her a sense of power.]

Let me make one thing clear. [She stepped closer to him, hoping and waiting to feel fear emanating from him.] I’m not here for your entertainment. And acting like a smug asshole is not going to get you where you want with me. It’s only adding you to the list of scumbags I’m learning to pick off with this thing.

[Despite her words, she was eerily calm. Fuck this guy. Fuck this guy. Fuck this guy.] Try that on some other dumb yeoman.

[mentr-rhysarchive]

[The glare only made his smile grow.] Alright. Since you insist so much. Honestly, you talk a lot, like, let me speak eh?

Well, you’ve got the pose alright. Quite cute on you might I add, [he smirked, shifting his weight on his feet then reaching out to grab her hands.]  Now put your support hand as high as possible on the grip with the thumb pointing…there we go. Yeah, look at your hands, fitting, like a puzzle.

Why do you want to learn how to use one of these? Self-defense? You planning on shooting at Mr. Spock next time you see him?

[mentr-linda]

Self-defense. Because I don't know how. [She stood still, gritting his teeth at his commentary but remaining composed. She wasn't sure what it was that didn't get the message across--leave me alone--but either he couldn't take a hint or was bothering her on purpose.]

I wouldn't shoot Mr. Spock. I think he's okay. I'll shoot the next person that calls me cute, though.

[And with that, she took a steadying breath, and shot again, still seeming a little startled at the kick, minor as it was.

Then, carefully, she moved away from him, leaning over the railing and squinting to see--ohmyGod she'd actually done it. Linda did her best to conceal her excitement, biting on the inside of her cheeks to stifle a smile.]

...Cool.

[mentr-rhysarchive]

[Oh man. Oh man, he couldn’t believe his eyes.]

Fair suck of the sav! Well he-llo miss Linda Evres, [he whistled], I didn’t know you came around here, [of course not, by the way she was holding the weapon and the shots that were missing the target by a lot. Obviously she had no idea of how to shoot.] 

Your aiming’s a bit off, eh? Don’t worry though, she’ll be right. [A pause as he approached, his own phaser resting against his hip. Nothing nor anyone was forcing him to. But hey, why not, shooting was fun and he was bored, bored bored bored.] If you let me help you. What do you say, Linda?  

Ya up for it?

[mentr-linda]

[She allowed herself a quick glare at him--nothing more, not a retort, because she knew that was what he wanted, then kicked idly at the ground.]

I don't. That's why I'm here.

[She stayed where she was standing, looking between him and the rest of the range. He wasn't going to leave her alone no matter what, and maybe asking for actual guidance wouldn't have been a terrible idea.] Yeah. Sure.

[mentr-linda]

[For the first time in forever, she'd taken her sisters' advice to heart. 

"Carry a weapon,” Chamilla had said, "if you're going on that thing. Don't be caught dead without one, or you will be caught dead."

Of course she had one already, standard issue from the Empire. Linda had protested on account of it being a placebo, its kill probably only good for vermin and the stun no more than a shove. If she’d held out for a few more years, she could have become an officer, gotten one of those little daggers they carried around and had showed off to her hours before. They had it easy. 

“That’s not what matters,” Amara had chimed in, all smiles on the screen of her PADD, sitting behind her sister. Chamilla was the one who worked in tactical, so if the second oldest supported the endeavor, she knew it was for real. “It’s how you use it.” 

“And if you know how to use it.” 

She had told them she didn’t, and they had her secure a spot on the range in one of the lower decks, just for a few hours of practice. 

Hour two and still nothing doing. Her subpar eyesight and lack of hand-eye coordination had finally gotten to her—things that she knew didn’t really matter, except for this one hypothetical scenario she suspected her sisters gave to her just to get her worked up. Just to fuck with her.]

Damn it.

[mentr-rhysarchive]

No no no no, you said you’d make sure he got it. You’re used to him, no? Good luck with that, [he stepped back and held a hand out, refusing to take the PADD back.] 

Fuck professionalism in the arse. Leave that to the high Command and their lovely little charades, Miss Linda Evres.

That’s a very nice name by the way, bloody hell. I promise I won’t. On duty. [He winked.]

[mentr-linda]

Okay, okay, God. [She took the PADD back and set it on her desk.] What is it even supposed to be, anyway?

[She didn't even bother hiding her disdain.] I have to deal with the high command, so I can't stop. And everyone there is on a first-name basis, if you know what I mean.

[Why was it that the conversation had cycled back to gossip and the fact no one aboard could keep it in their pants? Someone would have her head.] Thanks. What do you have to do now, Rhys? Are you really gonna wait around to make sure he gets it?

[mentr-rhysarchive]

What?!

That puts a damper on everything! Jesus Christ. [Rhys couldn’t stop the small laugh that bubbled up his throat.

Despite suddenly feeling very aware that yes, this was the Commander’s yeoman, and that yes okay maybe he was scared because she was right. A bit. There had to be a reason why she kept the spot and was alive, right?

Right. No more dangerous gossip then. Boo.] Ah, a Betazoid. 

I’m curious! I like finding out new stuff everyday. Like a child eager to know more. Why don’t you want to tell me?

[mentr-linda]

[Linda rolled her eyes and smoothed down her skirt, handing the PADD back to him.] Here. He'll probably see it soon.

I'm only half Betazoid, and I was trying not to tell you either of those for professionalism. It's Linda, but you can't call me that on duty, okay? [Or ever. Preferably ever.]

[mentr-rhysarchive]

Pig’s arse, how could you have even survived that? Shit! Ah, I wouldn’t want to be you.

[Rhys did not take his gaze away from her. Instead, he inched closer, eyebrow raising as he tried peeking into the PADD.] Evres, Evres, that’s a pretty strange surname. Rhys. Engineer. Is that magazine really more interesting than whatever happens around? Why won’t you tell me your name?

[mentr-linda]

It was pretty bad. I'm kinda traumatized. [She wrinkled her nose and rested her hand in her chin.] But I shouldn't gossip. Bad stuff happens to people who gossip about the Captain, you know.

[To prove her point, she lowered her voice.] The last time I tried looking for something interesting, I saw the Captain and First Officer boning. That puts a damper on my sense of adventure. Anyway. It's a Betazoid name. Why do you want to know my first name?

[mentr-rhysarchive]

Ace, thanks. [He crossed his arms, leaning against the wall and keeping his eyes on her.] Knew it. Everyone knows, really.

They sent me because I lost a bet and no one wants to be near the Captain, ever. 

And since we’re playing asking game, what’s your name?

[mentr-linda]

Everyone knows, but... [She glanced at him and raised a brow, trying not to smirk.] I've seen it.

I've only been around him when the Commander is there, too. I wish I could do a bet to get out of it. Asshole murder perv.

[She went back to typing, knowing his gaze was on her but choosing to ignore it.] Yeoman Evres. Who are you?

[mentr-rhysarchive]

It was a friendly advice, nothing more, [he smirks.] I’m sure you can handle your job just fine, if you have time to be lazying around.

I was sent to give this to the Captain, actually, [he holds up a PADD.] I figured he’d be around Mr. Spock. I hear they’re close. You just happened to be here, and caught my eye.

[mentr-linda]

[She took the PADD and glanced at it. Boring as hell, like she suspected.] Yeah, okay. I'll just forward it to him. [She pushed the magazine aside, pulled one of her headphones out, and began to type.] They're pretty close, yeah. 

You're not a yeoman. How come they sent you to do this? 

[mentr-rhysarchive]

Oh? Well thank you for telling me. But guess what, I don’t care. I’m not looking for him.

I’m sure that if you looked up from your PADD you’d know where he is, though.  

[mentr-linda]

Yeah. Definitely. Awesome. 

Are you just here to tell me how to do my job, or do you actually need something? 

[mentr-linda]

[Flipping through the magazine on her PADD, Linda could hear someone approach, but didn't bother to look up.]

Don't ask me where the Commander is. Your guess is as good as mine. 

[music-flow]

Visit Original Link

Do I Wanna Know? - Arctic Monkeys

[mentr-linda]

Ever been threatened?

I don't count my mom threatening to have me removed.

Um. The other day outside medbay I saw something shady going down. And the guy saw me and sorta tried to be menacing, like, you didn't see anything, blah blah blah. Whatever. None of my business.

[mentr-linda]

How has a person like you survived so long in a place like this?

Probably because I always look like I'm going to murder someone a thousand times if they talk to me.

God, don't talk to me like I'm some defenseless baby.

[mentr-samarchive]

Not really, [he smirked,] I mean, I’m not gonna fuck a Klingon, you feel? [A pause.] Although— Nah, just kidding.

[At the mention of the First Officer, however, his playful expression vanishes as he curls his lip, almost instinctively.] I dunno which Ktarian kid you’re talking about. But he sounds like a sad little thing. Kudos to you for surviving your awful job, what’s it like being Spock’s personal maid? 

[mentr-linda]

You know you would if you had the chance. If you got past the forehead thing.

I don't know. Wouldn't be too bad if he didn't always look like he freshly murdered someone. But at least he doesn't hand me too much busywork and he isn't a perv. 

[mentr-samarchive]

One: it’s not flattery, it’s the truth. And two: I ain’t horny. I get myself plenty. Like, every day, every night. 

Thanks, [exaggerating a sigh, he leans closer and hugs her, smirking.] I know you love me. But just cause I’m a curious man, who are the other two unlucky bastards?

[mentr-linda]

Oh my God, whatever. "If it's got a pulse", that's your motto, isn't it? 

Not counting my mom? Mr. Spock and that one Ktarian kid. [She wrinkles her nose, folding her arms across her chest.] Both are totally batshit crazy, but at least Mr. Spock doesn't follow me around all the time and look for excuses to grope me, when he's not acting like a total nervous loser.