Star Trek: Starbase 777 - lt-jg-hensley﹢lt-jg-rose

A present arrived for Elwyn: The present was in a standard blue square box with a white ribbon across the top to form a +. The wrapping was excellent, as if it was done by a machine. There was a card on the top of the gift that read 'ELWYN'.

To, Elwyn, I hope to make many memories with you. You do not remember, but we used to be close. I still consider you a special person to me and I will continue to support and watch over you even if we have to start from zero. You have touched my life in ways I cannot put into words, and for that I cherish all of our memories. Thank you so much Elwyn, may we form a bond stronger than ever in 2413.

Note: You can view our memories together through the command 'tell me a story'. This is a projector device that you can operate as if you were watching a film. Alternatively if you say, 'I miss you' you can hear my voice. - Your secret santa, Alizati

Inside of the box was a very fluffy blue and pale yellow furby with green eyes and a yellow beak. It squeaked and also could do a little jig if asked. Unfortunately it could not speak, but the speaks were quite pleasant. Its fur was glittery and it even had a little rainbow mohawk. When prompted it would play a random memory pre-installed on it by Alizati. With the second command, a pre-recorded sound bite of Alizati giving Elwyn words of encouragement would play. Phrases like 'You are appreciated and love' and 'You can accomplish anything', were all spoken in Alizati's classic Vulcan monotone.

[D] Having returned to her quarters after the 'incident' accompanied by her Pa, Elwyn had spent her time chilling out and doing various light-hearted things with him to keep her mood up and herself occupied. The two had full intentions of spending the holidays together, so that's exactly what they had been doing. When Christmas Day came the young android had been full of bubbly excitement and happiness as they always were, and had been busy playing games with Oleander and unwrapping the present he got her. It was as the door chimed that they approached in their pyjamas, at which point they graciously accepted the present. Stood by the now closed door Elwyn took time (all of six seconds) to read the card, her entire being immediately filling with a mix of emotions: Joy, love, and sadness to name but a few. Joy at receiving a gift and having a friend like Alizati, love towards their friends, and sadness that they lost so many memories and time together, and it showed on their face. But, knowing it was Christmas, and a time for happiness, they very quickly went about opening the box. And as they did their entire face lit up with joy. Taking the furby out the box they immediately hugged it with their free arm, before immediately going over to their Pa to show him. "Pa, Pa! Look what Alizati got me!" They exclaimed happily, their child-like happiness well and truly in tact.

[D]And in the span of a few months, it had all come crashing down for Alanna. First was that damn virus, which twisted her thoughts and decisions into something she didn't recognise anymore, to the point of even thinking about it made her nauseous. the antidote hadn’t arrived soon enough, and those memories (more specifically how she remembered feeling during those memories) haunted her. That said, there was a tiny, miniscule positive to come out of that situation: Alanna had formed a closer bond with Elwyn. But she was gone now, like everyone else before her. Was Alanna cursed? Cursed to have anyone she even considered an acquaintance unceremoniously ripped from her life. At this point Alanna wouldn’t be surprised if Command Dreaxa suddenly dropped dead in her office, because they ‘talked’ during the Ensign’s physical. The worst part wasn’t even the news that had arrived to announce Elwyn’s death; it was the tsunami of trauma and memory that came with it. Images of her old friends were constantly passing through her mind, stills of a completely different life. It was only natural that Alanna ended up getting overwhelmed while on shift, so she cashed in all the leave that she had saved and she spent the entire time in her quarters, barely moving unless she had to. It was nice, being on her own for the past week or so. Most importantly, Alanna had had time to recollect her thoughts. While she felt she was ready to get back on shift, she was definitely going to take it slow for the next while. Fully dressed in her medical whites, she finally stepped out into the common room to face the world again.

Despite having been mainly back in their quarters for the past few days (accompanied by her Pa) Elwyn hadn't once seen her roommate. It was weird when they thought about it, because they had met this person before apparently and yet didn't feel like they knew them at all. It was something that made them sad whenever they thought about it, so they had chosen to do the opposite. That was, until one day when Oleander was out doing a bit of food shopping to make some nice meals for the two. The young android had chosen to stay in her quarters and listen to music. Being an android, though, meant she could listen to it through her head without the need to actually play it through any headphones or speakers. It was as Alanna stepped out of her room that Elwyn, dressed in a fluffy onesie that was covered in a pattern of little bees, was busy dancing away in the main living room. It was mid spin that the android suddenly stopped upon seeing their roommate. They had tried to stop, anyway. In reality they had ended up falling directly onto the couch in their attempt to stop spinning, before popping right back up again with a grin on their face. At least, it seemed like there was a grin, because Elwyn's hair was almost entirely covering their face. They were quick to move it back to where it was meant to be before giving Alanna a wave. "Hi, I'm Elwyn!"

Almost immediately Alanna paled, all that mental buildup to just make it out the door shattered. Was it a joke? Some sick prank someone decided to pull? She looked at Elwyn, up and down just to verify she wasn't hallucinating (and let's be honest, no one would be surprised if she was). Her eyes rested on her roommate's neck seam and it hit her like a bag of bricks. Elwyn was an android, she was going to be fine from the start! Alanna mentally hit herself, suddenly feeling very self-conscious and embarrassed that she had wasted the entire week. She hadn't used up her leave yet, a few more days wouldn't hurt anyone right? Without a word or acknowledgement to Elwyn, Alanna pulled a 180 and went straight back into her room. A few seconds later she opened the door just a crack, so she could have a peek and verify that Elwyn was very much alive.

Elwyn watched Alanna's reaction to their sheer existence with a combination of happiness to finally meet (or, well, re-meet) their roommate, and confusion at her behaviour. Their grin disappeared as as their roomie turned around and went back into her room, and it was quickly replaced with a tilted head and a puppy-like look of confusion. As the door was opened again just a tiny bit Elwyn waved yet again as they saw the woman staring back at them, their grin returning, before fading into a softer smile as they approached the door slowly. "Hi, Alanna." They said softly. "I don't completely remember the time we spent together before, you know... But I know we were friends. I also know you don't really talk to anyone, but I'd still like to be friends with you if you want to be friends with me again."

'I'd like to still be friends with you.' Those words rung in Alanna's head for a while. Was she really going to get a second chance at a friendship? Was she not cursed after all? So many questions flew through her brain, all related to her own preconceptions about herself. She spent a good minute thinking when she realised Elwyn asked a question. Quickly, she scrambled around for a PADD then hastily typed something on it (thank fuck for autocorrect) before sticking it through the gap in the door. i'd like to be friends again, if you'd like.

Despite Alanna not instantly responding Elwyn stood their patiently, more than happy to wait for a response if that was what was needed. As their roomie scrambled for a PADD the young android continued to wait, and as it was stuck through the door they took it gently to read, almost instantly looking up at Alanna with a big grin on their face once they had (quickly) processed what was read. "Yes please! I like making friends! We're gonna be great friends! You like books, right? We can read together and hang out and have our own little book club! It's gonna be great!" They exclaimed, before handing the PADD back and doing a little happy clap of their hands.

Okay, okay. This was good. Alanna leaned against the door and slid down, a huge weight having been lifted off her shoulders. For the first time in a very long time, Alanna felt validated somewhat. As if the subconscious fear that if her old friends would have rejected her after learning their fate had eased it's burden. Alanna still had a fear of interaction, and she probably would for a long while, but she had taken a step in the right direction and that was enough for her. Outside her quarters, Elwyn could hear several clattering noises and the sound of a replicator, before the door opened revealing Alanna in a black and dark grey onesie, a bit baggier than Elwyn's. A few more days of leave wouldn't hurt.

As Alanna slid down against the door Elwyn crouched down at the same time until she was sitting cross-legged on the floor. It was only as she started hearing clattering and the sound of the replicator that she considered standing up again, but then as her roomie came out in a onesie the young android practically sprung up onto her feet in excitement, letting out a small high-pitched sound of glee as she clapped her hands together again. "Yay! Onesie party! What do you wanna do? Read books? Review books? Read AND review books? Watch a movie about books? There's so many fun things we could do!"

Alanna hadn't thought this far ahead, she had no idea about any of this. The last time she had really interacted this way was well over a year ago. She shrugged and sat down one of the sofas in the common room, legs tucked up to her chest. So much choice, it was hard to even think about where to begin.

With Alanna’s shrug that Elwyn went and sat down next to her, keeping a comfortable distance between the two as they set cross-legged next to their roomie. “I don’t know either. But we could start with reading if you like! Oooh, we could read the same book together!” They suggested with a smile.