Time to walk away
Posted on Mon Aug 31st, 2020 @ 2:11pm by
Edited on on Mon Aug 31st, 2020 @ 2:12pm
1,926 words; about a 10 minute read
Mission:
The Ties That Bind - Empok Nor Episode 2
Location: Mess Hall
Timeline: MD001 1710 hrs
Jack had been busy, it seemed like lately everyone wanted to talk to the counselor. He understood and was glad he was there to listen to their concerns. For most of them, it was just to have someone to sound off to and know he wouldn’t repeat it.
He wondered how Talas, Elloma and Nassie were doing. He made a mental note to contact them. Jack had been interested in Elloma but it had been a bad time and he hoped to get another opportunity in the future. He had left his office and was headed home when he almost ran directly into Elloma.
“I was just thinking about you,” Jack said with a smile. “I wanted to see how you are doing.”
"I see, and why is that Counselor?" Elloma asked, she wondered if Nassie or Talas filed a complaint about her being a good sister. Elloma had a little chip on her shoulder, full of sass and attitude. She was very defensive.
“Because after all we went through I consider us friends now,” Jack explained. “Why wouldn’t I?”
"Your telling me you are only here in a friend capacity?" Elloma asked, a little surprised by his comment.
“I am not sure there is an easy answer to that,” Jack replied with a smile. “I like you and you already know that. I am not going to come on strong or push you into something. I would just like to spend some time getting to know you.”
"Why me?" Elloma asked very skeptical of his response. Why does he want to spend time with her. She had no flirted with him. She had shown no signs of interest in him. So why her?
“Sometimes there isn’t a reason,” Jack replied. “I like listening to you talk, you have some insightful things to say, I like how you stick up for your sister and...” he paused. “I think you are beautiful.”
"You do." Elloma said, falling for that line, hook and sinker. Then she realized what he did. "I mean thank you. You look pretty handsome yourself." She said, with a slight warm smile to her face.
Jack smiled at her words, it meant there was some interest there. “I just want to get to know you and see if there is anything there.” He looked in her eyes with a serious look. “I am not a player looking for a good time.”
"Your ego needs to be checked." Elloma said, feeling that he was coming on to strong. "While I appreciate honesty, do you think I am going to fall for that little line?" Elloma asked, being a little snooty. She had a lot on her mind, the last thing she was thinking about, was going on date. She had a bad guy to find.
“I don’t expect anything,” Jack replied. “Other than to have dinner with you.”
"Your tone says otherwise." Elloma pointed out to him. "As a counselor, surely you can see by your demeanor and attitude, why I would have my concerns." Elloma twisted his actions and words on him, and used his profession, for him to see what she was referring too.
Jack sat there for a long moment without saying a word. “You are right. Sometimes being a counselor has its disadvantages because I tend to over explain.”
"Some of us, may not be able to over look." Elloma told him, with a stern look. So far, she was not impressed with his approach. She thought he was cute enough, but she was not hear to meet men, she was hear to do her job. Find the saboteur.
“I get that,” Jack murmured. “But all I am asking for is dinner. I know you are busy and I am as well.”
"So you want to rush me, umm no." Elloma said, shaking her head about his arrogance. She was not going to be rushed by any counselor, not on her watch.
“No I don’t,” Jack shook his head. “I tell you what, you pick the time and day and send me a message when you are ready.” His eyes met hers. “And if you don’t I will understand.”
"Well that was fun, take care." Elloma said, seeing an opportunity to bail out on this strange conversation. She was not looking for a man. She had a mission to complete. Plus he was not her type. He was no Tyler Malbrooke.
Jack stared at her for a long moment. “I guess I have my answer then.” He felt a sense of loss there, he liked her but he could see she either wasn’t interested or it wasn’t a good time for her. “You take care as well.”
"I will." Elloma said, as she stood up. She expected him to stop her, either with some cleaver words, or a more mundane approach, and express through body language, that he did not want her to go.
Jack wanted to stop her and her he was almost afraid to. This had gone wrong and she had some bad impression of him. If he didn’t say anything he had closed the door and if he did, she would accuse him of something else. “One would think we could at least be friends.” He said to her quietly.
"Dunno, counselors like to be judgemental and love to evaluate things, even when they shouldn't." Elloma said in response, as she slowly started to walk away.
“What if I promise to work at leaving the counselor behind,” Jack said quietly. “No evaluating or judging?”
"That would be like asking me, not to use my security assessment skills, when meeting someone. It's second nature." Elloma said, as she paused for a moment.
“It May be but I should be able to leave work at the office,” Jack murmured. “In fact, it would make me a better counselor if I did.”
"Now who is not being realistic?" Elloma asked, as she turned around, but kept her distance. She gave him a serious look.
“I like to think I am not judge mental,” Jack explained. “That isn’t a good quality for a counselor.” He paused. “It is true that in my profession we do tend to assess our relationships but it is something I would like to try to be better about not doing in my personal life.”
"You work on that then." Elloma said, not sure what else to say.
“I’m as asking for your help,” Jack replied. “We often cannot see in our selves what others can.”
"What makes you think, I want to help a man who will be judging my every move?" Elloma asked.
“I am hoping I won’t be,” Jack said with a sigh. “And I trust you to tell me if I am.”
"You still have not adressed, the why I would want to help ya part?" Elloma pointed out to him. The Security Officer in her, could not let go that easily too.
“Why?” Jack repeated the question. “I am hoping because you can see that I earnestly want to change and I feel like you can help me.”
"I don't think so, I am not a therapist. But I wish you luck with that." Elloma said, as she started to walk away again. She did not want to babysit a grown man.
“I didn’t ask for a therapist,” Jack called out. “But for a friendship and some pointers when I am being judge mental.” Did she truly not want anything to do with him he wondered.
"I heard Talas is looking for a friend." Elloma said, with a twisted grin on her face, as she continued to walk away. She anticipated that he would follow her.
Jack got up and headed after her. “Elloma.” He said quietly as he followed her. “Do you honestly want me to just go away?”
"Oh we are on a first name basis are we?" Elloma asked, wondering when in the hell did that happen?
“My apologies,” Jack said sincerely. Perhaps he was wrong and she just flat out wished he would go away. “Just answer my question please!”
Elloma looked at him, very confused. "When did this become about me. This has all been on you." She asked, trying to figure out, how they went back talking about him and his ego, to him calling her by her first name to sticking around.
“It isn’t about you,” Jack wondered if she didn’t like him or if it was something else. “It is about me coming off all wrong to you in a manner I did not intend to.” He looked in her eyes. “I honestly did not intend to make you feel anything but an offer of friendship. You asked me if I wanted more and I was not going to lie and say no. At the same time I am not going to ask for more from you than you want to give in a friendship.”
"So this is not about me, but its about you trying to be my friend. Yet you say this is not about me?....Hmm." Elloma said, shaking her head around his twisted logic.
Jack shook his head. “All I wanted was to get to know you, maybe be friends and see where it took us from there. I have no plan for more than that. I happen to like you a person and admittedly I am attracted to you. What is wrong with being friends and seeing how we go from there?”
"I think you are over thinking this, if I understood your correctly, you are not interested in friendship. You want a relationship, you said and I qoute....." Elloma said, as she paused for a moment, for dramatic flair. "See where it took us from there."
Elloma shook her head in annoyance. "The audicity of you, wow." Elloma said, as her annoyance for him, started to fester even more. "I am not an object or a desire for you. You say you want to be friends, but its clear that you want more, you want a relationship."
“I don’t believe you are either a object or desire,” Jack shook his head. “I am obviously not good at these types of things, trying to make friendships or even let someone know I am interested in them. I am sorry for offending you.” He needed to just let this go and walk away. She obviously did not like him at all.
"Its overly ambitious of you, and your poor choice of words do not make feel that you only want to be friends. I am not seeking a relationship, I am on a mission. And I need to complete it. I have a meeting with Captain Ford soon, to discuss that mission. And before you ask, no I am not authorized to discuss it." Elloma said, shutting down any inquiries.
“I understand,” Jack replied. “I wish you success on your mission.” There was really nothing more to say. She had shot him down several times it was time for him to let it go
"Thank you." Elloma said, as she walked away, her next stop was heading to meet with Captain Ford. The scene fades away.
A joint post by;
Lieutenant Junior Grade Elloma Essu
Assistant Chief Security/Tactical Officer, Empok Nor
Lieutenant Junior Grade Jack Smith
Chief Counselor, Empok Nor
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