A Yeoman Is Born

Posted on Thu May 14th, 2015 @ 12:33am by Ensign Corrine Steiner & Enlisted Cadet Jasmine [P: Steiner]
Edited on on Sun Jul 12th, 2015 @ 3:52pm

Mission: Blooming Friendships
Location: Quarters, Starbase 332
Timeline: Off duty hours

[ON]

Corrie Steiner sat semi-patiently as her energetic cadet intern worked on her hair. Jasmine wouldn't allow her to look until she was done. Now on a first name basis by the Ensign's request, she fussed over her training boss. "You really do have nice hair, if you'd just take some time to style it."

Corrie closed her eyes and relaxed, reluctantly admitting that the brush felt good. "No time, no energy, no desire."

"Until now."

"Indeed. Things can be different, now." She chuckled lightly, "I bet your instructors wonder if you've gone Awol or were kidnapped by Ferengi."

"Nah! I'm supposed to follow you around in practicum training, and so I do!"

"Jasmine, may I be nosy?"

"Please do!"

"You're not human, are you?"

"Not even close, Corrine. Shokirian... We hail from the Tholian Barrier."

"Tholia? That surprises me." Corrie smiled lightly, "If I may have a turn at being nosy, I'd like to learn more about my playful pest."

"You have that opportunity, if you want it."

"That invitation sounds pregnant with hidden meaning."

Jasmine came around to work on her from the front, but then paused to hold eye contact. "I would like you to take me as your yeoman, if you would have me."

Corrie was minorly suspicious, "Why?"

She offered a kindly smile, shaking her head. "Never before have I seen someone who needs a helper as much as you."

Corrie shook in a chuckle.

Jasmine resumed brushing, "That is what my people do."

"Symbiotic helpers."

"I like you, Corrine Steiner. Somehow your soul touches me."

Corrie sighed tensely, "Jazz... my xenology fails me, here. Are you..." She just came out and said it, "Are proposing a relationship? I mean... something intimate?" She became a little flustered, "By intimate, I mean..."

Jasmine gave a tickled smile, "How eager the human psyche is to ascribe a sexual dynamic to intimate friendship." She touched at her cheeks, "No, Corrine. I'm not." The cadet sat back for a few moments. "I want to be... cup bearer to the queen. I want to lift your burdens. I want to share your pains. I want to be the one who betrays if I stand too far distant, yet is presumptuous if too close. I want to be the one who will never stop believing in you, even when you insist on poor decisions. I would risk your vengeance to stand up to you when you're wrong."

"Wow! That sounds more like a marriage proposal!"

Jasmine stared gently into her eyes, "And like a marriage proposal, my offer is not to be taken lightly. The role of yeoman must be much more than an assigned duty. It must be a devotion."

Corrie shook her head, "Jazz, that makes me nervous, like you're putting me at the center of your world, way out of balance."

She chuckled, "It is the way that all souls were meant to live, but have forgotten."

"What kind of life would you have of your own?"

"The same as many."

"Brave words. I believe that you mean them, but I'm not convinced they're realistic."

"Corrine, Shokirian devotion is not easily given. The only event that I can think of to take me away from you would be if I fell in love and took a mate. In that case, I would have to leave. My devotion must not be divided. But I don't foresee that happening at all, at least not in any near future." She received a long, skeptical stare. "Let me phrase it like this. Would you doubt so much hearing my words coming from a Betazoid."

"Ooh... touché."

Jasmine smiled, "Yeah. What say you?"

She nervously shook her head, "Jazz, I don't live a safe life. I'm hunted."

"So the rumors say. You're in good company. The Federation watches me closely, along with everyone else who comes from the Tholian Barrier. It'll be business as usual for me."

Corrie exhaled a mildly hysterical chuckle, "Okay, okay!" She settled, "To be honest, Ops chiefs aren't assigned yeomen."

Jazz shook her head, "That's regulations talking. I want to hear the queen of improvisation speak."

Corrie laughed, "Alright! You win! I'll put in the request to Captain Von to assign you to me after your cadet training is complete. But your job title can't be yeoman. It must be Personal Pest, First Class!" Both laughed. "I'm probably going to regret this!" She settled, "No. I won't regret it. But I'm sure that I will pay a piper for it!"

Jasmine smiled, "Fair enough!" She playfully pushed, "And yes, you will pay for it!" She swiveled the chair around so that Corrie could look into the mirror.

"Whoah! Not bad, Jazz!" She made little tugs at her hair, "Little bit of chaos, the good kind!"

Jasmine leaned down from behind for an embrace, "Thank you, Corrine, for everything. I mean, Ensign."

Corrie pointed a finger back at her, "Not when we're alone."

"Agreed, ma'am."

"You know, I figured out what you're really up to. You just want to move into my quarters!"

Jasmine laughed, "Ah! Caught!" She settled, "No. No matter how much time I spend with you at your side, at the end of the day I must return to my own quarters."

Corrie leaned back, "I so look forward to learning who and what you are." Her memories reminded her that she had sworn to never trust approaches like this again, but she couldn't say no.

After departing, Jasmine strolled to an observation deck. She stared out the huge bay windows into the stars. Being a quiet, uncrowded area at the time, she sat down to close her eyes. A voice echoed gently in her mind, "Do you regret coming here?"

Jasmine could now see her telepathic visitor, the woman in long, elegant robes. "Not at all!" She appealed, "Please don't be offended at how sharp Corrine was to you earlier. She's more deeply wounded than I thought."

Her visitor stepped close, "I understand, and I am thankful that it is agreeable to you to help her. Between the botanical medicine and your care, she needn't live in constant torment from the dreams any more." She kissed the Shokirian's forehead. "Farewell."

The two women, physical and telepathic, exchanged a bow of the head with hands pressed together. Then, Jasmine was once again alone.

[OFF]

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Ens. Corrine Steiner
Cadet Jasmine

Starbase 332
Pegasus Fleet