Star Trek: Starbase 777 - zi-copperfield

[D] Zi had been in their quarters for a good few hours before the party invitation was sent out to everyone. At the exact moment it came through they were laying on the couch with Ash next to them as they read a nice book about plants. They tapped on the notification and read the invitation through several times as their mind processed the concept of even being invited to such a thing. Sure, everyone was invited, but that included them. Roughly half an hour passed of just simply laying in silence as they considered going or not, before deciding they wanted to. Despite their desire to go, though, they could feel their anxiety slowly building. They got off the couch and headed to their room to try and figure out what to wear, with Ash following behind. More casual? Like a birthday party? I've been to birthday parties before. This'll be fine. As they started getting changed their brain drifted towards what gifts they could get the two. In truth they barely knew either of them, but what they did know is that one is an engineer, and liked the hovermowers like them, and the other likes plants like them. Huh... They actually had something in common with people. It was once they had finished getting changed into a comfortable, yet nice looking outfit that they started preparing to head out. They put their headphones in their bag, as well as their PADD, before (begrudgingly) putting in their spare hearing aids, and putting their bag over their shoulder. However, it was once they were starting to head out into the main room and towards their door that they froze, their anxiety finally taking over.

14:14

"I barely know them. Why would they want me at their party? I've only talked to both of them twice. Why did I think this was a good idea? I've never gone to a big party before. There's going to be loads of people. This is a terrible idea." As they spoke they paced back and forth in their room, their hands starting to shake from the level of anxiety they were experiencing, until they finally went and sat down on the couch, practically ripped their hearing aids out, and put their head in their hands. "I'm so stupid..." It was once they had sat down on the couch that Ash, having been silently watching until now, came over, hopped up onto the couch, and lay down on their lap gently. The two sat there for half an hour, Zi's hands gently caressing her fluffy friend's fur as a way of calming themself down, all while using the one calming breathing method their mother had taught them. It was only after that half hour that they looked down at Ash, then themself, then their bag, and then their discarded hearing aids. They reached out and picked up the aids, and put them back in their ears with a small sigh. "I want to have a nice time. That's not selfish, right?" They asked, looking down at Ash as they did, who immediately wagged his tail. They smiled a little, before gesturing for her friend to get up, before getting up off the couch again. They went and grabbed Ash's lead and harness, before putting it on him. They then pulled their PADD out to see if a specific shop was open. Unfortunately due to how late it was they were closed, so they had to opt for their (least liked) plan B. They went over to the replicator and replicated two gifts. They then replicated wrapping paper, wrapped them, and put the two in their bag, before grabbing Ash's lead and heading out. I mean, Allan did say everyone was invited, right?