Posted by Lieutenant V’alura Belmont (Scientist on Medical Leave) in Side Sim: A Bored Scientist in the Arboretum (tag Achilleas)

Posted by Lieutenant Achilleas Petrakos (Chief Science Officer) in Side Sim: A Bored Scientist in the Arboretum (tag Achilleas)

Posted by Lieutenant V’alura Belmont (Scientist on Medical Leave) in Side Sim: A Bored Scientist in the Arboretum (tag Achilleas)
Posted by… suppressed (14) by the Post Ghost! 👻
V’alura, dressed plainly in a forest green cable-knit dress and gray leggings tucked into soft suede boots considered the title of her next research thesis: Medical Leave, A New Type of Psychological Torture. Thought it was the sub-heading that was giving her difficulties. It would either be “A study on why sick scientists should be allowed to work still” or “Dear god please let me work on something! I’m on my knees begging!”. Both had their pros and cons but the latter was slowly inching ahead in the ratings. “I’m going crazy,” V’alura muttered to herself.

She plopped down onto a bench and began to catalogue all the plants she could recognize around her. It was either this or count the ceiling titles in the lounge. And one could read only so many research papers and studies published in the Starfleet scientific journals before one’s mind cried out for help. She thought a walk around the arboretum would clear her head but instead it made her wish she was in a lab. Lord have mercy but she missed work. Stupid disease. Making it hard to breath and leaving her feeling so weak that standing up was practically an Olympic sport.

“Momma always said I was gonna work myself to death one day, guess she was wrong because I’m going to die of boredom first.”

V’alura Belmont, Sick scientist on leave

A man was lying on the grass a short distance away and lifted his head at the statement made by the woman on the bench. He was off duty and dressed in a loose fitted olive green shirt, grey pants, comfortable looking black shoes, and a grey cap on his head.

“Boredom isn’t what you have to look out for. It’s all the other random thoughts jumbled in your head.” He called out in response, though whether she would appreciate himself interjecting into her solo conversation was another matter. He just knew that he would’ve liked a chatting partner when all he had was his own thoughts to keep him company.

Sci Petrakos

V’alura perked up when someone else talked back and turned around to get a proper look at her brand new conversation partner. It wasn’t crazy to talk aloud so long as there was someone around to talk back. She smiled, a dazzler she developed during her former career, “Shush, don’t remind me. I just chased away most of those intrusive little buggers.” Laying on the grass must feel nice. She’d indulge herself if not for the very real fear that she’d lack the strength to get back up again. “To whom do I have the pleasure of speaking with?” Her voice was rough and raspy. A consequence of breathing treatments and from coughing most of the day.

V’alura Belmont

Achilleas rolled onto his side and propped himself up on an elbow. It looked as if this conversation was going to engage in earnest and he wanted to be comfortable. Plus he didn’t feel like getting up yet or inviting himself to sit on the bench. “I am Achilleas Petrakos. The Chief…” He trailed off for a moment, shook his head, then continued with a slightly embarrassed grin. “I’m one of the many scientists aboard the Ogawa. Though understandably we’re quite outnumbered by all of the lovely medical folk.”

Sci Petrakos

“Lovely to meet you,” V’alura said, completely at ease chatting with a total stranger, “V’alura Belmont, formerly Chief Science Officer of the USS Ark Angel, currently on medical leave.” Every time V’alura stated her position she couldn’t help but worry about her ship and her dear scientists. Were they doing alright? Followed by a dab of guilt that she wasn’t there and a little of something else that she wasn’t ready to acknowledge. “But you can just call me V’alura. I can say with confidence that I’m not used to the scientists being out numbered by the medical crew. Every time I cough I feel at least ten people turn to stare while they diagnose me in their heads.”

V’alura Belmont

“Wait, you said V’alura?” Achilleas asked excitedly as his previous desire to lay on the grass disappeared and he got to his feet. He moved quickly in her direction but then stopped as he realized he was probably coming off as an insane person without further context. “I’ve heard about you from Solal.” He confided with another embarrassed grin. What a way to introduce yourself, with two gaffes in about as many minutes. “I’ve been meaning to meet you since I’ve met with Solal and learned of you. Though trying to schedule something around his weak spells has been difficult. How fortuitous to run across each other in the arboretum of all places.” He realized he had been kind of going on for a bit and had not addressed her latter statement. “Oh uh, yeah medical takes their job very seriously around here. Psychology does too but at least they’re not as in your face about it.”

Sci Petrakos

V’alura was non-pulsed by Achilleas’ excited reaction to her name. She was a famous actress before her career in Starfleet. Though she wasn’t nearly as recognized for that these days she had plenty of fans within Starfleet (even a few aboard the Owaga itself). What did catch her by surprise was that he heard about her from Solal. Her own burst of excited energy came over her as she asked, “You must be Solal’s friend that he’s told me about!” She scooted over on the bench and motioned for him to take a seat beside her.

Achilleas moved swiftly and sat beside V’alura at her invitation. It was hard for him to not fidget excitedly at finally meeting her, though he really only knew of her over the last week or so. “I probably am that very same friend!” He nodded as the excited energy seemed to be building up. “I’m sure he gets along well with his co-workers but I’m unsure how many people can claim to be his friend. And if there are, well, I am the best friend.” He said proudly with an enthusiastic smile.

“Yeah, but you know they’re extra analytical about it in their heads. They can take one off-hand comment and turn it into a whole borderline personality defect.” In her excitement she spoke a little too fast and she broke out into a mild coughing fit. “Sorry about that. I need to remember. . . to take it easy. I’m not infectious by the by.”

V’alura Belmont

Achilleas had to keep himself from reaching out and patting V’alura on the back during the coughing fit. She wasn’t Solal and they had just met, but the way she coughed reminded him of Solal’s distressed breathing the last time he’d visited and the urge to comfort was strong. Instead he waved a hand in understanding. “I’ve been briefed by Dr Bonner, with Solal’s permission, on his medical situation and the reason why you’re here. I know neither of you are contagious but you both have to be careful of others who might have something you could get. I’ve been cleared by medical recently as having nothing wrong going on, so you should be safe from me.”

Sci Petrakos

“Ah, so you’re up to. . . speed then.” V’alura coughed again, but it did not devolve into a fit of coughs. One hesitant breath, then another, and a third and her airways felt a little clearer. Her voice still sounded terrible but there was only so much medicine can do. “I hate being sick,” She confessed, “I spend. . . all my time either coughing or sleeping.”

She sighed, “I get these little pockets of energy where I feel good. Then before I know it I’m back to feeling dreadful.” Like now. After sleeping for what felt like three days she found the strength to get up and stretch her legs. Even made it as far as the arboretum before needing to rest again. “At least I can still talk thanks to all the breathing treatments.” What’s a little pain that felt like her lungs were coated with glass shards?

V’alura Belmont

Achilleas nodded slowly. He didn’t understand personally but he had seen Solal in similar if not worse condition. “Wait, you were given an inhaler for when your breathing becomes difficult? In that case I’m sure Solal has one as well, but then… Oh that stubborn stubborn fool.” He sighed in exasperation. “I was with him in my quarters a few days ago and he had gotten winded looking for me. Well his lips started turning a coppery reddish orange and so I called Doctor Bonner. Had I known he could have treated himself at least enough to help I would have had him do that before he became hypoxic.”

Sci Petrakos

ooc: I lied about the inhaler lol. V’alura does not have one.
ic:

She gently shook her head, “We’ve got. . . different symptoms. This disease is affecting us in different ways.” V’alura steadily explained. “For me it’s focused on my lungs and breathing. Also at increased risk for respiratory infections and viruses.” Which, unfortunately, were easily carried in the air. She was given a mask to wear but V’alura took it off when she got to the arboretum. Yeah, that was not the smartest but she wanted to breathe the fresh air. “Also get winded walking five steps.”

V’alura Belmont

OOC: Shame on you. ;)

Achilleas tilted his head in confusion. The breathing symptom was something Solal had too but perhaps not as severe. He seemed to be worse off overall what with his memory and mind being affected as it was. “Well us scientists aren’t exactly known for our physical prowess anyway.” He joked. “How are you liking the Ogawa? I know you can’t exactly throw yourself into big crowds but have you met anyone interesting?”

Sci Petrakos

V’alura chuckled, “She’s a beauty.” A real lovely ship all in all. Though the Ark Angel was nothing to sneeze at, there was something magnificent about the specialized ‘fleet ships. The elegance of her design to perfectly suit one primary goal: the health and healing of all it encounters. “I’ve met a few good people, even found some fans.” Bless them, V’alura wasn’t exactly mainstream anymore but it still made her happy. “I used to be an actress before switching careers to Starfleet. The siren call of space and all that.”

V’alura Belmont

“Ohhh.” Achilleas said with a short nod of the head. He wasn’t a movie watcher so he had no idea who she was beyond Solal’s sister. “I think the call of space, adventure, and mystery is likely why most of us join Starfleet. I’m the only one of my siblings who joined though I think my oldest brother may have bounced the idea around at one point. In the end he decided to stick with family tradition, which was to marry and take over the olive vineyard.”

Sci Petrakos

“A respectable business,” V’alura said, “I used to be an only child. When I was a child I desperately wanted a little sibling.” She smiled at the memories it brought up, while she spoke she leaned back into the bench. Goodness, just sitting upright took so much energy these days. She had a small coughing fit then continued, “I didn’t care if it was a little brother or a little sister. My best friend, she had an other brother. Watching them interact, it would make me so jealous.”

Her and her friend were close, but there was something special about a sibling bond. V’alura only had her mother and her human family. Mother’s family loved her to bits but they were human. “I wanted a sibling that was half-vulcan like me. Because they would know what it was like.”

V’alura Belmont

Achilleas turned sidewise on the bench with one leg half tucked under the other while he propped his head on one hand. “I only know being the youngest of thirteen children. Only a couple were close enough in age to me for us to have any sort of overlapping interest or hobbies but being the youngest meant that I got doted on the most… probably. I was told this by one of my older sisters so who knows about the veracity of the claim.”

Sci Petrakos

“Goodness!” V’laura tried to laugh but ended up with a painful sounding wheeze. “I. . . I couldn’t imagine,” She added. Could imagine having that many siblings, or her mother managing so many children. “See, I was always under the impression. . . that being the youngest of so many was the best spot. That or the oldest. Why probably? What makes you doubt you weren’t the most loved?” She said it teasingly.

V’alura Belmont

“It’s not that I doubt it exactly but being doted on doesn’t necessarily equate to the amount of love you receive.” Achilleas said with a grin. “I’ve heard from my brother that being the oldest was not the best position to be in. He was the trailblazer for the rest of us in what you can get away with and what you can’t. Plus the expectations placed on him were the heaviest. He had to be sure and continue the family line, take over stewardship of the olive vineyard, care for the grandparents and parents when they get older… those sort of things.”

Sci Petrakos