Posted by Lieutenant Achilleas Petrakos (Scientist) in Side sim: Milling about

Posted by Lieutenant Solal Segal (Oncology and Immunology) in Side sim: Milling about

Posted by Lieutenant Achilleas Petrakos (Scientist) in Side sim: Milling about
Posted by… suppressed (17) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Solal sat in the middle of the floor of his quarters, a candle in front of him, in a standard Vulcan meditation pose. He’d been there for twenty minutes already and gotten nowhere. The longer he sat there, getting nowhere, the more the frustration built.

Then the candle sailed across the room, clattered into the wall, and joined a pile of broken candles on the floor. Frustrated and angry, Solal clenched his fists. The action of hurling the candle across the room served to mitigate little of the powerful emotions roiling within him. He stood and paced at a brisk speed back and forth across his quarters. A book was next to fly across the room, smacking the wall and dropping with a thud. Then the clanging of his fists against the small workdesk in his quarters. The continuous monitor Doctor Bonner requested he wear whenever he wasn’t stuck in sickbay would catch and transmit the bump in heart rate and blood pressure his emotional state caused.

Eventually, his emotions faded, at least enough for him to regain control of himself, and he sighed. He crouched by the pile of broken, partly crumbled wax candles and picked up the candle holder. He was going to need a new one. A large dent now adorned the side of this one. It had been one of the few things he’d brought with him from Earth. He set it back on the desk gently.

Solal was unable to calm himself enough to relax. His anger burning energy he didn’t have, he was the dangerous combination of frustrated beyond belief, and so tired all he wanted to do was sleep.

It had been a few days since he had encountered Achilleas. Maybe Solal should go looking for him? A quick walk to V’alura’s quarters confirmed his guess that she’d be sleeping. Where would he find Achilleas though? He checked the holodeck first. Then the Science section. Then he needed a rest, to catch his breath and regain a little energy. He got lost on the way to the arboretum, and banged a fist into the wall when he saw Achilleas was not there. The loud clanging sound gained the attention of several crewmembers. A small dent remained in the wall, a product of Solal’s Vulcan strength. The rec room, empty, another rest, then the mess hall, also empty. Solal had to stop and collect himself, again.

The very last place he checked, out of breath, tired, a little lost, and very very frustrated, was the psych wing. And that was where he found Achilleas, pacing the psych lobby nervously. He glanced around the lobby, as if perhaps nervous himself, and then took a seat in one of the chairs. “Achilleas.”

~ Solal

Achilleas had been pacing the lobby of the psych wing for nearly an hour. The nice lady manning the desk, Cherry, had asked after him several times but he gave a wispish smile and said that he was fine. Clearly that didn’t seem to fully ameliorate her because he then had a conversation with the holographic HARLEEN, though his response was the same and he continued to fidget and pace. It seemed the counselors were busy because none had been called out to deal with the clearly anxious person, but he was torn between feeling relieved that no one had and increasingly anxious because he wanted to talk to someone. So it was with great surprise that he heard a voice call out to him.

After giving a little start, he turned to look at who called out to him. His eyes narrowed in confusion for a moment. “Solal? What are you doing here?”

Sci Petrakos

“Looking for you. What are you…” He started and then realized it was a dumb question. “Unless you’re busy.” And he’d just spent ALL that time trying to find Achilleas in the first place! The plastic arm rest of the chair Solal had chosen to sit in was suddenly much more… Fist shaped rather than cylindrical.

~ Solal

“I, uh, am not exactly busy. I didn’t have an appointment or anything.” Achilleas said somewhat uncertainly. He looked around the lobby to see if anyone would say anything in disagreement but it seemed everyone else was busy with their own stuff. He looked back at Solal as he heard a creaking, crumpling noise but wasn’t sure what it came from. “I’m free if you need me for something. Anything really is fine.”

Sci Petrakos

“Do you… Need help? Talking to them?” Solal would rather not be here. He avoided psych checks like the plague. But if Achilleas wanted help Solal would help him get it. “Otherwise we can go.” That was the preferred option. He released the chair. The impressions he left behind were quite visible.

~ Solal

“I…” Achilleas was unsure on how he should answer. Should he say that being in this lobby made him want to curl up into a ball and rock back and forth while crying? Perhaps he could let Solal know that his rest period in his quarters was filled with insomnia and nothing resembling rest. Instead he nodded gratefully at the excuse to not be here and deal with his issues. “Yeah, I am happy to go.” He didn’t really care where, just anywhere but here.

Sci Petrakos

Solal wasn’t sleeping either - for a very different reason, but still. He got precious little sleep per night and it contributed to his constant exhaustion, on top of the general fatigue. He was still out of breath from searching what felt to Solal like the entire Ogawa for Achilleas, so it took him a minute to stand from his spot in the chair. Then he turned and exited the psych wing, expecting Achilleas to follow. He was not staying there longer than necessary. Then he considered where they could go. Not the lounge. Technically Solal shouldn’t even be here, it was a patient area. Too many communicable diseases. “Where do you want to go? Your quarters or something?”

~ Solal

Achilleas was quickly on the heels of Solal as they left the psych wing lobby and into the corridors to wander. He was surprised at the question of where they should go being thrown at him. “I suppose my quarters could work. If you don’t mind the mess that is.” He may not have been back on the Ogawa very long but his quarters looked like a tornado had blown through it.

Sci Petrakos

Solal shrugged. “Mine would likely not be preferable.” That was also unlike Solal. He was known for being very neat. Once they were what Solal considered a “safe” distance from the psych wing, he started walking way slower, leaning on the wall for support. “Where… are your… quarters? Or… maybe mine… are closer…”

~ Solal

Achilleas considered the question while he also considered whether to offer a shoulder to help Solal. Would trying to help insult Solal’s dignity? With him asking whose quarters were closer however made up Achilleas’ mind. “Pardon me a moment.” He said as he moved close to Solal and bodily put him over his shoulder. Solal’s height made things somewhat awkward but at least being the same weight made things easier. “My quarters are closer.” Achilleas said as he easily started moving in that direction.

Sci Petrakos

Solal was focusing on, firstly, breathing, and secondly, staying upright. He felt really lightheaded. When Achilleas said ‘pardon me’ Solal looked up, and before he could so much as manage a breathy ‘no’ he was lifted up and over Achilleas’ shoulder. It did not help his lightheadedness. “Achilleas… Hey!” He said, voice still breathy, in surprise, grabbing at Achilleas’ shirt to feel less like he was falling. But they were moving much faster without having to wait for Solal and not walking was helping his breathing, so after a few moments he quieted down, clinging silently on for dear life.

~ Solal

“I do apologize.” Achilleas said with a cheerful voice that in no way sounded apologetic. “I did want to let you finish the journey on your own but you really looked winded and so I figured getting us to the destination quicker means that you get to rest that much more quickly. I bet you’re surprised that I can carry you as easily as I am. Well physical exercise is a wonderful way to exhaust yourself and distract your mind. I had already been in the habit of working out a lot while I was… dating.” He trailed off at that memory for a moment but then continued with great enthusiasm. “So I’ve been sticking with working out quite a bit. My stamina has been pretty good since.”

“Working out… Is good for you.” Was the only answer Solal managed to Achilleas’ ramblings.

The rambling ended as they got to his quarters and he brought them through the door. He stopped in front of his couch and coffee table and slowly brought Solal back to his feet. “Like I said don’t mind the mess. I haven’t been up to really cleaning up since I got here.” He moved around to the couch and quickly swept the articles of clothing up then tossed it over onto the bed.

Sci Petrakos

Solal let himself collapse onto the couch, laying over so his head was on the arm rest, but with his legs off the front of the couch to leave space for Achilleas. He gave a light cough, still trying to catch his breath. He waved a hand, waving away the remark about the mess. “I… don’t mind.... I haven’t… cleaned lately either.”

~ Solal

Before thinking of sitting down Achilleas first took the dirty dishes off the coffee table and hurriedly brought them into the kitchen area. From there he filled two glasses of water and brought them back into the living area. He showed one to Solal before putting it on the table then he took a seat on the couch while holding onto his own. “You take your time and relax. Seems like you got winded pretty hard there. Do I need to get a medtech for you or something?”

Sci Petrakos

“No.” Solal shook his head stubbornly. Laying down, it was easier to see how labored his breathing was. The water was good. He needed water. He was supposed to be drinking a lot of that. It was very easy for a Vulcan with kidney problems to dehydrate. But it was going to have to wait another few minutes. “Just… walked too much. Thanks for… helping.”

~ Solal

“I’m glad I could help. How long were you looking for me?” Achilleas asked curiously. He calmly sipped at his water as his mood improved greatly from when he was in the psych wing. Dr Fukuzawa had told him to visit the onboard counselor’s in case he really needed to talk but he was dreading getting familiar with a new one and going through that whole process again. Counselor’s were vital and needed but also anathema to people who had problems. It was like you couldn’t get better if you needed one but you couldn’t get better unless you visited one. What a quandary.

Sci Petrakos

“Half an hour?” Solal replied after looking at the time. “Checked everywhere.” Of course the psych wing was the last place Solal looked. Frustratingly. Why hadn’t he thought of that? He knew about Achilleas’ anxiety problem. The thought made his anger flare and he had to try and take a deeper breath.

He sat up a little bit, reached for his glass of water, and took a drink of it. “I feel… A little better.” He didn’t sound better. If he was in real trouble though, Doctor Bonner would know, so he wasn’t worried. “You are… going back to… psych eventually?” Solal had an interesting perspective, being Vulcan but from earth, and to him it was logical that since Achilleas had such an anxiety problem, he should see a counselor.

~ Solal

“Hrmm…” Achilleas vocalized a sound of frustration while his face was full of indecision. “I don’t know. I probably should but I don’t really want to. I might go see Doctor Bonner instead and ask for a sleep aid.”

Sci Petrakos

Solal nodded. “You should.” He finished the glass of water and set the empty cup down, laying his head back against the couch’s arm rest. “Exhausted… doesn’t suit you.”

~ Solal

Achilleas snorted in laughter at both statements. They were both ironic to him because he was certain Solal wouldn’t go even if he should and the look of exhaustion didn’t suit either of them. At least Solal had the reason of a physical ailment being why he looked exhausted. While he knew that mental health issues were just a valid a reason to be how he currently was, he couldn’t help but feel that it was his fault that something was wrong with him. Why couldn’t he be normal like he was before?

A counselor, no, Solal wouldn’t. He was consistently late for his official yearly evals. Doctors… It depended. He had inherited the known Vulcan trait of ignoring his symptoms until either they became urgent, or affected his ability to work. Secretly, and when Achilleas found out he would most certainly find it amusing, Solal had an extra incentive to be honest with Doctor Bonner: whenever he was in sickbay as a patient, she would let Frigga sit with him and he secretly really liked the dog.

He affectionately reached over and patted Solal’s leg. “I think we both aren’t suited for exhaustion but you have a medically certified reason for it. I’m just struggling with my own demons. I’m not particularly keen to break in a new psychologist.”

Sci Petrakos

“Those reasons are… as ‘medically certified’… as mine.” Solal replied. If his breathing didn’t improve he was going to need one of the breathing treatments Doctor Bonner had left for him… In his own quarters. Hopefully it improved on its own. “I… understand that. Counselors… aren’t easy.” Solal had a hard time with counselors for multiple reasons. To go along with his Vulcan trait of finding them ineffective, his childhood experience solidified that idea to him. But they were supposed to be more helpful for humans. “But for you… wouldn’t it be… worth it?”

~ Solal