Posted by Lieutenant Dr. Solomon Kane (Medical Research & Development) in Myqian’s Quarters- Harsh Realities

Posted by Commander Dira Myqian (Executive Officer) in Myqian’s Quarters- Harsh Realities

Posted by Lieutenant Dr. Solomon Kane (Medical Research & Development) in Myqian’s Quarters- Harsh Realities
Posted by… suppressed (1) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

Her gaze swept away, glancing off objects, anywhere but looking at this man imposing himself upon her space at this particular time. She was a woman who liked comfort, who revelled in the simple luxuries she could grant herself in her life. Soft blankets, beautiful scents, warm candlelight, calming music, delicious but simple foods. Evidence of it permeated her quarters and it was clear that even though she had come aboard that first day like most of the crew, she’d made the effort to make her quarters a place of refuge.

A large soft rug spread out under the sitting area and she’d managed to affix sheer cotton drapes around her windows, despite not needing to block the light (or the view). There was shelves of books, unlit candles, and trinkets from her travels. And beside the standard desk setup offered her was an old wooden trunk, closed and possibly locked. A fake potted shrub sat in another corner and she had a large crystal vase filled with flowers and greenery in a riot of colours. But the simple beauty of the place was marred (perhaps) but reality.

She was messy. Boots had been kicked off randomly in the middle of her floor. A robe was draped over a dining chair. Random socks were bunched, just visible from his view under the sofa he wanted her to occupy. Empty coffee cups sat on side tables and the coffee table. An empty plate, but not something that would spoil if left out for anytime. Just dry left crumbs from something earlier.

Folding her arms across her chest, Dira’s eyes darted between him and the couch and settled back on him again. She watched as the uniform jacket that was carelessly tossed over the back of the overstuffed chair he’d just taken possession over was pulled down with him as he sat, likely on top of the t-shirt she’d been wearing the other day. “I know it’s a hilarious concept to people, but just because that was my career, doesn’t mean I want to talk to every person I come across about every deep and personal thing.”

Commander Myqian, XO

Kane shrugged and said without looking at her “Probably not. But want to and need to are two different things, now aren’t they? So… sit your butt on that couch and spill it. Or, sit your butt on that couch and sit in miserable silence. But step one in either direction is sitting your butt down. You do that, I won’t clean your place up.” and he pulled the uniform jacket out from where it had wadded up in the small of his back and he (quite literally) threw it across the room so it landed on the floor in front of the door to her bedroom.

Kane, R&D

Though her eyes traced the movement of her jacket, her attention was still fixed on Kane. “You’re going to clean?” she asked incredulously. There was a part of her that rebelled at the idea of hm touching her mess, and while Zoi had teased her about her admitted flaw, she hadn’t brought Zoi to her quarters yet. So to have Kane here volunteering to clean up felt like a judgement, even if it was entirely in her head. Then again her whole state of mind wasn’t exactly clear right now.

It was obvious grudging steps and almost a glare in his direction that Dira sat back down on the couch and pulled the blanket over the back on top of her. “I don’t know what it is you expect to hear.”

Commander Myqian, XO

“Me either, so you don’t have to worry about telling me what I want to hear.” and he leaned back and looked at her. “But you can start with what’s on your mind… ‘cause something is. And I don’t know a whole lot about you, but you seem smart enough to know at least that much. Or… I could be wrong and you’re an idiot. But I’m gonna err on the side that still thinks Fleet… for the most part, anyways… doesn’t put idiots in the second chair. So? What are you thinking about that has you looking like a spice addict on three day bender, huh?”

Kane

She could feel the involuntary tensing of her muscles as Kane spoke, and she knew the cause. He was wrong- but not quite so directly. Command didn’t intentionally put idiots in the XO role. But it still happened, and when it did…

Closing her eyes, Dira brought a bare arm up from under the blanket and braced it above her head on one of the pillows. If their roles were reversed she would know what to do, how to untangled the web of things that all seemed to have conspired at once and utterly knocked her on her ass. But they weren’t and she didn’t. Silence permeated the room for several long moments as she breathed in and out, pushing so many thing away that threatened to overwhelm her for the tenth time today. His words still rolled around in her head and under different circumstances she might have just broken down into sobs. Again.

But she didn’t.

Instead, she swallowed down those feelings and tried to formulate a response that would satisfy him. She had nothing. “I took myself off duty because recent events have compromised me emotionally. It’s as simple as that. And until I can walk out of here clear headed, I’m not fit for duty. And any mental health specialist would say the exact same thing.”

Commander Myqian, XO