“It isn’t the planet either.” Tiraa paused for just a moment to make meaningful eye contact with Lindsy. She didn’t seem inclined to press or want to talk about the details of the arrangement at this juncture, but she was making an effort to let the other woman know in a more subtle fashion that she was well aware of what exactly had been transpiring over the past few days for her.
Lindsy nodded and ate a bit more. “Hopefully you are able to find a way to get used to the noise or at least filter it out. It’s been wild in what I’ve been able to adjust to over the years. Eight person crew bunks, rotating shifts. Out like a light and had to have five different alarms to wake me up. If you want, I can give you some recommendations. Otherwise I’m sure T’Vara could give you something to help you sleep too. Otherwise there are many other ways to relieve stress and relax. Regular exercise always helps.” She knew her last comment was tongue in cheek, and that it would in no way be hidden from the other woman. She was trying to pitch some ideas to help her out, she really had nothing to draw on other than her own experiences when she had trouble sleeping. And it was a harmless probe to see if the other woman had someone taking an interest in her as well, since it was reasonable to presume that proverbial cat was out of the bag about her and Zedd.
Tiraa could tell the woman wasn’t trying to be unapologetic or mean spirited with her offers, but she did take mild offense to the notion she hadn’t tried methods herself to ignore what was going on in the next room over. She ate while Lindsy talked, then let the silence settle after she had finished while she mulled over what to say. They were dancing politely around the topic both because they were in public and they didn’t know each other, but this wasn’t an uncommon thing at least for Tiraa.
“It may surprise you to learn that despite my skin color, I am rather selective about my exercise partners. My standards are high because they can be.” She took a sip of her drink and smiled kindly. “You should be commended for your pick and the success of it though, and you have been.”
It was an interesting perspective, one she had felt the opposite of, but she listened anyway. “One can be commended for their level of work instead of just their choice in exercise partners too, but I appreciate it. And I am confident you are selective yourself, I never would have presumed you to be someone that floated around. The opportunity to have such standards is one that should be celebrated, and I know we wouldn’t want someone falling short of those levels in such a position as yours. I am happy you and the Captain worked out an agreement to have you here. You two are opposite sides of the coin in many ways just from what I have heard and seen so far. And hopefully you share a couple of areas that blend as well.”
Lindsy took a sip of her own drink as well and finished her small bowl of soup by dunking some bread in it to finish what was left.
“You are very good at what you do of course, but don’t discount it is likely everything that you do. You have power there which you should use wisely.” Tiraa instructed patiently. “As for the Captain and I, we will see, though the fact that he didn’t consult me before this promotion he so generously bestowed upon you after an evening together well…”
The smile turned into a mild, knowing smirk that wasn’t accusatory at her. “He must appreciate everything. Well done.”
“I imagine that Zedd does, he would be foolish not to.” Lindsy allowed a smile to begin creeping at the edge of her lips. “I also appreciate what he brings to everything, especially as the Captain. I mean after all without him, we would all be somewhere else at the moment. That tends to be how things work when something is genuine on both sides.”
She paused for a moment to allow her comments to sink in and finish her juice.
“Although I presume you already have a much more complete picture of that than most of us do. I think it would be a shame to have the ability to access everything someone feels and not know if it’s from some sort of manipulation or a true emotion of their own that they have for you. I think that would make it harder to truly determine. I can say I’m thankful I do not have to live in such a fashion.” Simply put, she did not agree with Tiraa’s assessment, even if it was true or not. But she also wanted it to be known in no uncertain terms as to what she was aware of, and her view on it at the moment. It made her appreciate her meditation and focus she did daily even more. Being able to process things in the quiet of one’s own mind was quite a luxury now it seemed.
Tiraa almost laughed, but she kept it to an amused expression while she let Lindsy speak and finished the food on her own plate. “It is very easy to figure out if one with such abilities feels inclined to do so. Despite whatever impression you may have, I generally choose to not.” She paused to finish her drink and looked at Lindsy warmly. She disagreed, she was wrong, but Tiraa didn’t fault her for wanting to live in a fantasy. “Moments of passion, however, when within a certain distance, are impossible to ignore even for the most sound minds. At least at first.”