Posted by Captain Dira Myqian (Commanding Officer) in Side-sim: Time well spent?

Posted by Lieutenant Achilleas Petrakos (Chief Science Officer) in Side-sim: Time well spent?

Posted by Captain Dira Myqian (Commanding Officer) in Side-sim: Time well spent?

(snip)

It wasn’t the touch aspect she had shied away from, as it was okay, but it was the intimacy of a hug that she struggled to wrap her mind around outside of those with whom she already had that kind of relationship. Dira reached over and rested a hand on Achilleas’ arm and exuded a calmness, her dark eyes full of understanding. “Do you have a nick or diminutive name? I’ve been kind of curious since it’s something I see a lot of with multi-syllabic names. My name is so short that I never had one myself.”

Captain Myqian, CO

Achilleas looked up at Dira, his eyes filled with a mixture of vulnerability and gratitude. Her touch and calming presence helped ground him in the present moment, easing the whirlwind of emotions that had engulfed him. Her question about his name brought a small smile to his face.

“Yeah, actually,” he replied, his voice softer now. “My family always called me Lias. It’s easier and shorter than Achilleas, I guess. You can call me that too, if you’d like.”

He appreciated the gesture of familiarity and connection, even if it was through something as simple as a nickname. It reminded him that there was still room for understanding and building relationships, even in moments of vulnerability and misunderstanding.

CSO Petrakos

She smiled. Her reaction to him had been partly her instinct and partly a technique used in therapy when there was a risk or an active situation of spiralling. The grounding helped the nervous system and the question engaged the brain in something other than whatever the trigger was. It also gave her a way to move forward too, to ease past the awkwardness. “Lias… I like that. I think it suits you,” Dira said, removing her hand. “I’m trying to think of what name I would even have if I had a nickname. All I know is that the ones that come to mind in Federation standard would be either awkward or strange. I’m not sure if that’s a bad thing or not.”

Captain Myqian, CO

Achilleas appreciated Dira’s kind words and the effort she had put into making him feel more at ease. Her genuine interest in finding a nickname for herself intrigued him, and he smiled warmly in response.

“Well, sometimes awkward and strange can be endearing,” he said, his voice tinged with amusement. “But I believe a nickname should reflect something about you, capture a certain essence or quality. Embracing your uniqueness can be a wonderful thing.”

As he sat on the floor, still clutching the medical tricorder tightly, Achilleas felt a gradual easing of his anxiety. Dira’s diverting conversation provided a welcome distraction, helping him calm his racing thoughts.

“I suppose, for me, one of the qualities that stands out is my meticulous attention to detail,” he continued, his voice noticeably steadier now. “I’m often focused on ensuring accuracy and precision in my work. It’s both a strength and a source of anxiety, but in this moment, our conversation has been a comforting respite.”

He looked up at Dira, his expression showing a genuine appreciation. “I think your curiosity and ability to engage others with thoughtful questions is remarkable. Perhaps your nickname could reflect that in some way.”

CSO Petrakos