Lwaxana's Public Appraisal
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Mrs. Troi pivots to Picard, fixing him with intent. She vows to reintroduce "ownership," redirecting her pursuit toward the captain and tightening the pressure.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Privately uncomfortable and mildly irritated, but deliberately composed to avoid escalating an interpersonal disruption that could compromise diplomacy.
Following immediately behind the group, receiving Lwaxana's teasing glance with restrained professionalism; endures the breach of decorum without snapping, projecting command presence while inwardly uncomfortable.
- • Preserve shipboard decorum and diplomatic protocol
- • Prevent the incident from distracting the party or provoking scandal
- • Absorb the social awkwardness so others feel secure
- • As captain, he must tolerate personal intrusion for the greater good of the mission
- • Maintaining calm is more valuable than public confrontation
- • Personal boundaries should be respected but can be sacrificed tactically
Embarrassed and taxed—forced composure covering rising discomfort and desire to remove himself from the awkward public exposure.
Leading the small procession while awkwardly carrying a heavy bag, attempting to sound casual and directing the group to their destination; visibly embarrassed by Lwaxana's public appraisal and trying to defuse the moment with composure.
- • Get the party to their destination without further incident
- • Defuse or minimize the social embarrassment caused by Lwaxana
- • Maintain professional demeanor in front of senior officers and dignitaries
- • A command presence requires calm even when personally humiliated
- • Public displays of flirtation are inappropriate in a Starfleet corridor
- • He must not allow personal discomfort to disrupt ship operations
Irritated and flustered—balancing familial loyalty with professional obligation and urgent desire to contain her mother's impropriety.
Glaring at her mother with a mix of mortification and protectiveness; voices a corrective reproof about humans not 'owning' one another, trying to curtail her mother's public forwardness while preserving the mission.
- • Shield Riker (and the mission) from her mother's indiscreet behavior
- • Reassert appropriate cultural/legal boundaries in public
- • Prevent the family's conduct from undermining diplomatic proceedings
- • Her mother's Betazoid impulses can have real political consequences
- • Public displays of possession or flirtation risk embarrassing crew and leadership
- • She must intervene to preserve both family dignity and ship protocol
Neutral and dutiful—emotionally unreadable, focused on serving his mistress rather than engaging with the social awkwardness.
Trailing the group silently as Lwaxana's attendant; physically present but nonverbal, reinforcing Lwaxana's authority through proximity and service.
- • Attend to Lwaxana's needs and follow her lead
- • Provide silent ceremonial and logistical support
- • Maintain decorum appropriate to his role while allowing Lwaxana to command attention
- • His primary duty is obedience to Lwaxana
- • Silent presence and loyalty are more effective than interjection
- • Serving quietly preserves her social authority
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
No narrative connections mapped yet
This event is currently isolated in the narrative graph
Themes This Exemplifies
Thematic resonance and meaning
Key Dialogue
"RIKER: "It's... just down this hall.""
"MRS. TROI: "He has nice legs too, Little One. Is he still yours?""
"TROI: "Humans no longer own each other that way, Mother.""
"MRS. TROI: "Oh really?""
"MRS. TROI: "That's a custom we may have to introduce again.""