Posted by Ensign Karina Niles (Doctor) in Side Sim: Boarding the Athena

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Séan Iven (CNS) in Side Sim: Boarding the Athena

Posted by Ensign Karina Niles (Doctor) in Side Sim: Boarding the Athena
Posted by… suppressed (4) by the Post Ghost! 👻

SNIP

Séan lightly clasped his hands in his lap, a habit to make himself seem less threatening, a useful posture to encourage people he was talking with to relax and be themselves.

“I don’t have a full overview of what happened with the ship. I was told that there was a lot of work to be done when I got here though. Now I don’t mean to make this a work moment for me, but did you want to talk about it? Even if this isn’t an official appointment anything you say will still be strictly between us. Either way I’m happy for your company.” He said with a warm smile to Karina.

CNS Iven

Karina nodded. “Yeah, I’m sure you will be pretty busy here. It’s been rough. Hard for me, because I was left behind. But harder for them, I think, because they were jerked away from here with no idea if they were coming back.” She took a long drink, emptying her glass and seeing it on the table to roll between her fingers.

After a deep breath, she smiled and looked back up at him. “Not sure how much there is to talk about, honestly. I mean, I took a shuttle out every day after I returned. I searched every direction. Twice.” She laughed but it was awkward. “I even ignored a message not to go out. I claimed I didn’t see it.” She smiled. “Technically I didn’t see it. Someone told me the Station Master has said I wasn’t to take a shuttle out again so soon. I took it because no one else was looking. It panned out, too. I mean, I was contacted by some duplicates who knew how to get to the ship. So it worked out fine.”

She got up to get more water. “So see, since the situation won’t duplicate itself, there’s no risk of me behaving that way again. More water?” She held a hand out for his glass if he wanted.

Karina
Doctor

Séan nodded and reached for his glass before quickly finishing the water and then handed it to Karina. “Disobeying orders can be something that impacts your career and sometimes affects your way of thinking. A person can get far more complacent or taking risks thinking that it has worked out before so of course it will work out again. I’m not saying that you’re wrong to do everything you can and I also realize that being an ensign you’re going to have less freedom to convince or persuade for the necessity of your actions, but it might not work out so well next time.” He leaned back again and crossed a leg over the other.

CNS Iven

Karina moved to the replicator and refilled the glasses. “Well I haven’t been complacent. I don’t take risks. And I’m never lucky, so I have no delusions of it happening again.” She moved back to the table and set the glass before him.

She took her glass and settled back in her chair, leg curled under her once more. “I have no plans on ever going down that road ever again. I’m here, back home, ready to go back to work.” She hadn’t looked at him since she’d given him his water. Her fingers dancing over the sides of her glass.

Karina
Doctor

“Karina.” Séan said softly. “You did what you felt was right and that’s bravery in my book. I see no obsession but a determined woman focused on helping her ship and crewmates. In the end your actions proved your efforts weren’t for nothing. Since you want to go back to work then I see no reason why you shouldn’t. I’ll hold you to your word of not taking any unnecessary risks in the future, but if for some reason the ship disappears again with me on it and you left behind, I’ll be comforted in knowing that you’ll do everything you can to find us.”

CNS Iven

Karina looked up and shook her head, smiling. “So I’m cleared for work as long as I don’t break the rules.” She laughed and chuckled her head. “Well, unless it’s too come find you. Then I’m allowed?”

She blushed again and tried to hide it taking another drink.

Karina
Doctor

Séan laughed to break the tension and because Karina’s response was endearing. It was interesting how she focused the attention on finding him and not everybody. Her not so hidden blush as well as several other clues during their meeting and subsequent conversation pointed out a shy attraction towards him. If this was a session with him on the clock so to speak, he’d likely not encourage or acknowledge that but steer them professionally to why they were meeting. In this case he didn’t mind a bit of good natured flirting. He was still a person afterall. “Yes, I don’t mind if you break the rules to come to my rescue. I would be most grateful if that ever needed to be necessary.” He said with a grin.

CNS Iven

“I’ll make you a deal, then.” She laughed and leaned on her arms towards him. “I’ll save you at every cost, if you see to it I’m not locked up afterwards.” She laughed and leaned back. “I hope you know that now means I’ll have to keep a good eye on you. Just so I’ll know if something happens.” She smiled, sipping her water. “You know, for a Counselor, you have a bad boy streak. Maybe you should talk to someone about that.” She pulled her other leg up to rest her heel on the chair edge, her arm wrapping around her knees and smiled. “You know, if you ever want someone to talk to about that, I’m here for you.” She smiled tossing her best interpretation of him back across the table towards him.

Karina
Doctor

Séan feigned surprise at being called a bad boy. He put his hand to his chest while shock was on his face. The surprise shifted to a mischievous look as he leaned in towards Karina and replied back in a low, gruff whisper. “Be careful. Don’t you know it’s always the quiet ones who are the most dangerous?” He leaned back and grinned, “I wouldn’t really call myself a bad boy.” He said with a normal tone. “A bit mischievous perhaps but I’m generally a laid back, normal guy.”

CNS Iven

She laughed. Karina bit her lip, grinning. “Laid back and normal, huh? Didn’t you just tell me to be careful of the quiet ones?” She rolled the glass between her hands. “Perhaps I should learn to protect myself. Care to teach me how to use the punching bag, someday? I’m thinking maybe I should start honing these reflexes I was told I have.”

She took a sip of her water, eyes glinting over the edge. As she lowered the glass a bit, she added, “Something tells me I’ll need them to keep up with you.”

Karina
Doctor

“I’d be more than happy to teach you some things. A little bit of stamina building, learning to start your reactions slow until the muscle memory allows you to react at full speed, maybe even how to keep an eye on people without them knowing.” Séan grinned back. He picked up his glass again and took a big sip. “As for keeping up with me, I bet you could outrun me no problem.”

CNS Iven