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Deanna Troi and Will Riker get into a minor transporter accident. So minor, even the transporter technician hadn't known it had happened, until Riker reported to the med bay with some strange symptoms. Those symptoms being Betazoid-level empathy.
Unfortunately, Riker being human and without a Betazoid brain structure and upbringing to train him in the use of these powers, he has no way of preventing the strong experience of others' emotions from affecting his own.
This turns out to be highly disruptive on the bridge, so until he can be cured, he's on medical leave.
Deanna, unaffected by the accident, is fascinated. Oh she feels a tinge of guilt, sure, as it's obviously something from her that is affecting him, but she trusts that he will be back to normal soon enough, the Captain has set the best minds on the ship working on the problem. The fascination comes from watching Riker's reactions, and interactions, with others. Until now, he's never put quite so much stock in what others think of him. He cares deeply for others, of course, but he's always been very confident in himself. His easy swagger starts to change.
She continues with her normal routine until she senses his increasing frustration and loneliness. He's pinballing around the ship, trying to connect with people and getting overwhelmed by what they feel. Deanna books time off from her own duties to help him through this.
She tries to counsel him, to help him separate the feelings of others from his own, but this is really only the start of a much longer process, any improvement would only start to be seen weeks or months down the line. She hopes it doesn't last that long.
Deanna struggles with how to help him, her concern for Will seemingly making him feel worse. She tries hard to control what she feels, to make it easier for him to have company that doesn't overwhelm him, but it's hard going on both of them.
In an unguarded moment, Riker having opted to stay in his quarters, Troi strikes up a conversation with a visitor at the bar: a gorgeous woman named Sarielle with short, curly red hair, a floor length dress that flatters her figure perfectly, and a sensuality to her movements that makes Deanna want to reach out. She also feels an enticing sexual attraction coming from Sarielle, focused on her. It's good to feel something so exciting, and it's not often she's so attracted to more feminine beings, so she decides to make the most of it.
During their second drink together, their conversation and body language becoming more and more intimate, she senses the familiarity of Will nearby and looks around. He's positioned himself at a table not far off, obviously having changed his mind about joining her in the bar, then deciding not to interrupt her conversation. She feels a tinge of anxiety for him. This scenario is not new to them, and, as they are well-practiced in their polyamory, she would not normally be concerned about him witnessing her with another potential lover. She has mostly experienced compersion from him in that regard, but now it might be different.
He smiles at her and raises his glass, reassuring her. Deanna can sense compersion, but also curiosity, and more than a small amount of arousal. She smiles back at him, content that he's better than OK, and turns back to continue flirting with Sarielle to find that she had followed her gaze and seen Riker. Both Deanna and Will sense in her an attraction towards him too. She asks Deanna to introduce them, which she does gladly.
Deanna watches them exchange pleasantries, with an obvious undercurrent. Even without her empathy, it would be hard not to notice the sparks flying between them.
Sarielle's eyes shine as she slides her arm around the small of Deanna's back, her hand coming to rest on her hip, and she asks Will if they can join him. He moves over on the bench so they can slide in next to him, Sarielle first, then Deanna. More drinks arrive, and they talk, moving closer, fingers entwining, hands finding their way to thighs, finding excuses to lean in to each other to speak in low, sultry voices.
The lust rolling off Sarielle has them both in a spell. They can feel her desire for both of them increasing, combining. Will can sense his Imzadi's arousal strongly, blending with his own, furthering it. Deanna, much more able to keep her own feelings separate from those she's experiencing from others, was finding a similar effect. It was just so damn hot, watching Will and Sarielle seduce each other, seduce her. She was able to feel their tension, their exhilaration, able to experience the magnetism that comes with their want matching her own.
Deanna thinks they might have already broached the line of appropriate behaviour for bridge crew, and doesn't think it's going to get any more appropriate. She hopes it doesn't. She beckons to Will, who leans closer, as she suggests that they get out of there. Will nods, and she feels the frisson of anticipation run through him. She turns to Sarielle and whispers an invitation in her ear. Sarielle replies by running her hand right up to the top of Deanna's inner thigh, which causes both Deanna and Will to catch their breath.
Deanna recovers first and exits the bench, holding her hand out to assist Sarielle in doing the same. Will joins them and they hurry out of the bar. They pause, Deanna and Will look at each other and laugh. A threesome had never before been on their agenda.
“My quarters, or yours?” Will asks, and Deanna bites her lip.
“Mine” states Sarielle, taking their hands and pulling them eagerly onwards.