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[pronounsarehard]

Ezri sipped a mug of hot chocolate, spiced enough to satisfy Jadzia and Curzon without completely killing her own taste buds. Balance. She was working on it--and considering she had stopped counseling until she felt she was more in balance, that was probably a good thing. How could she help people when she couldn't help herself? She was more screwed up than most of them. Those weren't exactly wonderful qualifications in a counselor.

In order to figure out who she was, Ezri needed to re-evaulate her life, and make sure the choices she had made are still choices she would make now, as Ezri Dax. Easier said than done.

"What am I doing? Talking to myself obviously, great sign of sanity."

Comments

[hasopinions]

Ishka frequents public areas. She'd had her fill of being hidden away. It was hard to accomplish much of anything without getting out among the population. "Usually it means you're looking for a set of ears that'll listen."

And what a set she just happens to have.

[pronounsarehard]

"I think in my case it means I need professional help. Actually I had professional help." Ezri shook her head. "It didn't help. I'm beyond help. " Dax stuck out her hand to the Ferengi. "Ezri Dax."

[hasopinions]

It's not a Ferengi gesture, but Ishka's familiar enough with the human gesture to reciprocate immediately. It said a lot, that humans demonstrated that they were unarmed while Ferengi indicated their self interest but willingness to deal. "Ishka. My boy Quark's mentioned you a few times. Aren't you supposed to be the professional help, this time?"

[pronounsarehard]

"Quark?!" Ezri stared at Ishka a little melodramatically. "You're Quark and Rom's mother?" Dax briefly lost her train of thought before answering Ishka's question.

" I am. I was. I'm not sure I can do it anymore, though. "

[not_the_question]

The Doctor had been sulking a bit. He had seen the passenger list updated and Clara was here, but he had yet to find her. She was probably off with his chiny self. Maybe she didn't even know this version of him. That would be depressing.

But as he made his way through Ten Forward he over heard the woman. He knew what that was like. Only for him, it was a bit more literal.

"Nothing wrong with it. I spent several hours in my first day here talking to myself."

[pronounsarehard]

"Hey! Me too! It was really confusing. Was it confusing to you too? Actually, I think I might have given myself a shock. Seeing a future version of yourself probably isn't something you get used to." Ezri babbled to Twelve, because, hey, this was the first time she'd met anyone in the same situation as her. And because she babbles when she's nervous.

Also she cries. Be grateful she's not doing that right now.

"Wait, you do mean talking to yourself as in another person right? or do you mean just talking to yourself like a crazy person? I'm a therapist. That's an official term."

[not_the_question]

Don't cry. He can't abide crying. Eyes go all big and round and it's just disturbing.

"Well, no. After it happening off and on over two-thousand years, I'm pretty much used to it. The only problem is, when it happens to me, it usually means extreme danger to the universe. And of course I mean talking to earlier incarnations of myself. The other times I talk to myself..."

Well, no, he's not going to go there. He offers a small smile and his hand.

"I'm the Doctor."

[redarrowqueen]

"I think that's all I could do that first couple of weeks. Just had to stay on an even keel somewhat." Thea observed from the nearby replicator. She was only nursing soup but compared to not long ago it was a sign she was slowly getting better. But the red wool coat was a clue of her ongoing physical recovery from recent events.

[pronounsarehard]

"Oh, I've been doing this for months. Actually, finding an even keel is kind of the problem. I'm Ezri. Try the hot chocolate. Just don't try and mix it with blood wine. Doesn't cover the taste."

Dax kicked out a chair, offering Thea a seat. "I'm Ezri."

[redarrowqueen]

"I'm Thea and hot cocoa won't cover up the taste of protein powder either." Thea offered with a smile as she joined Ezri. "Not sure if I'll be useful but can at least offer an ear?"

[disneydescendant]

"I did that too when I first arrived." Henry said from behind her, holding hos own mug of hot chocolate, spiced with cinnamon. "Sometimes it actually helps keep you sane because saying things out loud makes them real, makes the situation easier to deal with when it's out there and not just in your head."

Not realising he was counselling the counsellor, Henry just shrugged and gave her a smile. "Sorry if I'm intruding." He honestly hadn't meant to interrupt but he had been walking by and wanted to help. Even if she was wearing what appeared to be the uniform of the ship.

[reincarnshaman]

"I thought everyone talked to themselves." This comes from Trever who sometimes looks like he's talking to himself when he's actually talking to his cat(s).

Only one of which is currently around. Trever managed to convince Veena to leave the kittens in his room. She's sitting on his shoulder and peering over at Ezri, since that's who her human is talking to.

[pronounsarehard]

"Not when you're talking to a counselor, or possible ex-counselor who has no idea what she's doing." She gave a wave to the young man. "Ezri Dax. I'm confused. In case you haven't noticed. " But she was still ahead of the game. She introduced herself as Ezri Dax, not Tobin, Torias, Jadzia or any of the others. That was a step, right?

[reincarnshaman]

"As long as you're not talking about axe murders or eating people, I think you're okay. And you never admit you've got no idea what you're doing. If you don't then people don't know," he said holding up a finger and giving her a wide grin.

"Trever McCallum. The cat is Veena."

At her introduction, Veena hops onto the table to sniff at Ezri.

[ethnobotany]

Beverly remembers liking Ezri. Not just for the bath order, though that had been a plus. Making her way over, she indicates the empty chair next to her friend. "Mind if I join you?"

Maybe they could both use a friend.

[pronounsarehard]

"Please," Ezri said gratefully. "You might be one of the few people on the station who could actually help, or at least understand. Well, besides the other Trill here.

"I feel like...." Dax paused, trying to figure out the words she meant to use, "like the life I was living before Dax doesn't translate into the life I'm living now. Does that make sense?"

[ethnobotany]

Dealing with Joined Trill is still difficult for Beverly. Because of Odan, it likely always will be. But she genuinely likes Ezri and she's trying to understand now that she has a chance to do so properly.

"I think so," Beverly answers slowly as she slides into a chair across from Ezri. She thinks she understands it. From what she knows and understands of Joined Trill nature, at least. "Like two halves of your life and yourself aren't... working right? I guess it's like any life-changing experience. You have to reevaluate yourself. Which, I guess is more difficult for you with Dax."

Not that she can really comprehend it, but... well, she understands the idea behind it. Or so she thinks.

"What part is the hardest for you?"

[rejoined]

"You look like Emony when she was contemplating a particularly difficult gymnastics move," Jadzia comments easily, sliding into place with her raktajino in hand. She eyes Ezri critically. They haven't really done much talking since their first meeting, but Jadzia has made it a personal goal to keep an eye on her future self.

"So what's on your mind? Feel like standing on your head?"

[pronounsarehard]

"Well, I do have a fair amount of Emony in me. " Ezri replied, giving the other Dax a smirk. "And Tobin. I still have trouble eating steak. Did you have trouble eating steak? Of course you didn't, you had training." She answered her own question.

Ezri turned serious, and took a sip of her hot chocolate before answering. "I don't think I can be a counselor anymore. I feel like my life is wrong."

[rejoined]

Emony and Tobin. What a combination that must be. It could be worse, Jadzia muses. It could be Torias and Curzon. Oops?

"Wrong in what way?" she asks gently. She's already made up her mind that she's going to try to help her future self deal with being Joined. It's the least she can do. The trouble is that she doesn't know Ezri or the Dax of the future. Time to fix that.

[impossibilities]

"Talking to oneself is a time honored tradition." Grainne answered cheerfully, walking by, with a half painted clay pot in hand. "How else are you supposed to work out a conflict if you can't hear how silly you sound? My father used to stand up on the fort wall running through debate speeches and talking to himself, and he was considered fairly wise for his time. Of course, they didn't hear the terrible jokes he made..."

This time she paused with curiosity, turning her gaze toward Ezri, still holding the clay pot. "What is the matter? Most people do not question their sanity as such."

[beforethedarktimes]

"In my experience, it just means you have a lot on your mind." Obi-Wan replied, pausing as he passed by. He offered an amiable smile.

"Sorry for the intrusion, but I couldn't help but overhear."

[empathic_pathfinder]

"I believe the human expression is 'penny for your thoughts'." Terzen remarks, idly, from behind Ezri. They haven't spoken in a while, and, well, since Jadzia arrived, he figured he'd check in.

"Still having issues?"

[diplomaticsolutions]

It was a comment that made Padmé smile, even though she knew it wasn't directed to her. She did turn, although paused a moment. She was rooming with Jadzia, which was why there was a flicker of recognition at the markings, knowing that they were not tattoos. It would seem that someone else was here, although Padmé knew it wasn't a given that the two of them knew each other.

"They often say that those who talk to themselves aren't insane, but rather it is a sign of genius."

[knight_2000]

"Hello." Kitt rose from his seat nearer to the viewscreen, crossing the space between their tables and standing a polite distance away with his hands behind his back.

"I often enjoy talking to myself. It helps me to sort out my problems. And I must say, I'm an extremely interesting conversationalist."