Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Achilleas Petrakos (Chief Science Officer) in Side Sim: An Arboretum Picnic

Posted by Ensign Iyun Riani (Scientist) in Side Sim: An Arboretum Picnic

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Achilleas Petrakos (Chief Science Officer) in Side Sim: An Arboretum Picnic
Posted by… suppressed (8) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

“I could definitely eat.” Achilleas said right before Ria handed him his plate. He ate some bread with cheese as he smiled back at her. This really was the perfect picnic spot. Something about real life around them instead of simulated holographs just made the experience all the more authentic. Then again he would be just as happy to be in a cardboard box if Ria was there with him. “My love, do you think you could reach my cup for me?” He asked while pointing towards what remained of his cordial.

CSO Petrakos

“Hm?” Ria asked, blinking a few times as she focused her attention on Achilleas again. “I’m sorry. I got lost in my own mind. What did you say?” Her cheeks had turned crimson once more and she looked almost as if she had just admitted that she had killed his puppy.

~Ensign Iyun, Scientist

Achilleas smiled softly and shook his head. “It’s quite alright my love. I was just asking if you could reach my cup for me.”

“Oh, of course,” Ria replied still looking a bit guilty. Leaning forward, she took the glass and then handed it to Achilleas.

After Ria had a moment to hand him his cup, he took a generous drink from it. “What’s on your mind?”

CSO Petrakos

“I was just wondering if I’ll have to do another boarding evaluation now that I’m actually boarding the Ogawa or if the ones I had on the Starbase will suffice. Or maybe they’d want to do a follow up after …” She hesitated a little and then finished, “you know what.”

~Ensign Iyun, Scientist

“Hmm… I’m not sure.” Achilleas responded while tilting his head. “I would think that your evaluation before would still be good, but you make a good ;point. I haven’t heard anything regarding a follow-up check-up though. Do you think you need one? Has anything changed for you since then? Are you feeling okay?”

CSO Petrakos

Riani nodded slowly, pondering how to answer all of his questions. After a few moments of silence she said, “Physically I’m perfectly fine as far as I can tell. And I’m seeing one of the counsellors regularly anyway. So …” She let her voice trail off and gave a small shrug; her head bowed while she was fiddling with her long skirt. In a barely audible whisper Ria continued, “I still feel horrible and embarrassed over what happened in the lab. I know it wasn’t actually my fault, but … I don’t know … I can’t seem to forget it … or forgive myself.” A couple of silent tears started to run down her face. Between the tears and telling Achilleas how she felt, she felt even worse because she didn’t want him to worry about her.

~Ensign Iyun, Scientist

Achilleas froze in his motion to eat another meatball as Ria described her distress. His heart seemed to come to a stop as he hadn’t realized how she was feeling. While it’s true that he hadn’t seen her in a few days, he should’ve known if she was dealing with something right? Before going down a spiral of self blame for not being there for her then, he took a deep breath and reminded himself that he can be for her now. So he quietly set aside his plate and gently took hers before setting it aside as well, then he wrapped her up in his arms and held her close. “I love you more than I can convey in words. What could I do for you?”

CSO Petrakos

Resting her head against Achilleas chest, Ria managed to let go of a small amount of the tension within her. With tears still running down her cheeks, she whispered, “I don’t think there is anything you or anyone else can do. Unless you can turn back time? Or make everyone forget what happened?” She knew of course that it would be impossible and/or unethical to do either. Yet she couldn’t help to wish that they could undo what had happened that day. “I’m sorry that I make you worry about me.”

~Ensign Iyun, Scientist

“There weren’t that many people with us in the lab, so coming up with a way to wipe everyone’s memory shouldn’t be too hard.” Achilleas said seriously. “That would be a lot easier then turning back time because we’d need to hijack a warp capable craft for just the two of us and bream the Temporal Prime Directive.” He paused after saying that to see if anyone suddenly appeared beside them. “Looks like we won’t be messing with time, which is probably for the best. That always makes things complicated.” He sighed and kissed the top of Ria’s head. “I don’t mean to make this sound like you’re an endless source of worry for me, but because I care about you so deeply I will naturally worry about you. I want the absolute best for you in all things and I will worry that you aren’t getting that. It’s nothing to be sorry about though because I gladly accept that part of our relationship. I don’t want to smother you with my concern though, so if I get to be too much just let me know, okay?”

CSO Petrakos

“But there are reports and people who read those reports or heard other people talk about it. That makes for a lot of memories to wipe,” Ria mumbled into his shirt. “I guess I’ll just have to live with it,” she sighed. Lifting her head a little, she continued, “I don’t feel like you’re smothering me. I just wish you wouldn’t have to worry about me. I just don’t want to be a burden.” The tears were still trickling down her cheeks, though they seemed to be less now. “I’m sorry for soaking your shirt,” Ria apologised, touching her hand to his chest.

~Ensign Iyun, Scientist

“You’ll never feel like a burden to me. I don’t want to imagine my life without you and I accept everything that comes with that. Your tears are something that I’d find a way to move the universe to prevent you from feeling like you need to shed, but I want to be with you when you need someone. So soak my shirt and cry in my arms whenever you need to.” Achilleas responded as tenderly as he could while he continued to hold Ria. “I love you Riani and I will support you to the best of my ability no matter what happens. You’re stuck with me and I don’t make these promises lightly.”

CSO Petrakos

Sniffling a little, Ria pulled a handkerchief out of a hidden pocket in her skirt and wiped away her tears as best as possible. “Thank you, Achilleas,” she whispered and tilted her head backwards to meet his eyes. Cupping one cheek with her hand, she caressed him for a moment and then leaned in, touching her lips lightly and tenderly to his. “I love you too Achilleas. Forever and always.”

~Ensign Iyun, Scientist