Posted by Ensign Rand Farquharson (Yeoman First Class) in Side sim: Early Morning in the Lab

Posted by Commander Roman Alden (First Officer & Chief Science Officer) in Side sim: Early Morning in the Lab

Posted by Ensign Rand Farquharson (Yeoman First Class) in Side sim: Early Morning in the Lab
Posted by… suppressed (7) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)
Rand’s day dragged after that. She was good with the paperwork and the small details that helped. That afternoon though she found she was more than irritated at all the easy things the crew could do themselves but required her help with. Rand liked to help, and she still did, it was just that the day seemed to drag on. At 1600, Rand was finally heading back to her quarters for a little off time before she had to start another round of reports.

Rand

Roman wasn’t done until 1700, and as soon as the time came, he was leaving. His crew was actually surprised he was gone so quickly. He knew Rand would still be working, that’s why he usually set any meet ups between them for after 1900. But he found himself checking the usual places he could find her anyway.

~ Roman

Rand was in her office, the door open. Out of complete frustration, nerves, and feeling down she’d given up on reading or relaxing or anything. Instead she was prepping hand written report pages for later. She had tried her computer console but it was still malfunctioning. She cursed softly in Gaelic at whoever tampered with it. She wondered if whoever it was had stolen the sleeve from the cage…but surely whoever it was would not be so reckless as to tamper with the animals. Besides even if they had, the day’s events were still her fault. She couldn’t blame anyone but herself for Alden being angry at her. By this point she’d made a much bigger deal out of it than it was. She was certain he was angry with her, disgusted with her behavior, didn’t trust her to help anymore....which wasn’t a far leap considering all the childhood misadventures she had told him. Man was she stupid. She sighed trying to calm the nerves racing painfully up and down her arms.

Rand

Roman found Rand in her office, handwriting the evening reports. “No one’s fixed your console yet?” He asked, leaning against the doorway. She looked frustrated and nervous. It must have been a bad day for her. He hoped his visit wasn’t unwelcome.

~ Roman

Rand stood as she turned and looked up at him. She couldn’t help but notice how good he looked leaning in the door way of her office. She looked happy to see him, but nervous for whatever reason as well. She glanced back at her console and the reports. Was this a formal interaction or personal? If it was later after 1900 she’d know…she wasn’t sure if she was supposed to call him Sir or not. Of course if he had changed his mind there was no more personal. Rand felt a little sick, the muscles in her shoulders and across her chest felt like sharp painful little needles were pricking deep into the muscle tissue. “Umm…they tried. It wasn’t the printer…someone attached a virus to my account. Engineering can’t fix it…it’s computer sciences…their information systems security expert has to look at it…with all the problems these pranks are causing…I figured this was minor. I can write them by hand. People being locked out of their quarters or the medical supply closet is more important than my print outs.” She wanted to tell him she was really sorry, she’d made him look bad and put him in a horrible position. She really did feel awful about it and not just personally but professionally. But he didn’t want to hear excuses or another apology and she didn’t know how to give it anyway.

Rand

“I’m sure they’ll get to it soon,” Roman said. All her ‘ums’ and pausing told Roman she was pretty nervous. He had no idea why, though. It was definitely a personal visit to him, though he was still wearing his uniform. He hadn’t stopped by his quarters before looking for her. “I missed you at lunch. I waited,” he said. He didn’t seem angry at all, just maybe a little upset they hadn’t gotten to see each other.

~ Roman

She blinked and the smile grew a little, “Oh. That’s why…” Everything kind of clicked. He’d gone to lunch late because he’d waited for her. That’s why he hadn’t been in the lab. “Why you weren’t in the lab, and I couldn’t find you. I…rearranged my schedule so I could come later when you were in the lab, and not disrupt your schedule too much…” He hadn’t been avoiding her, but that didn’t mean he was upset, but he didn’t look upset with her…”I’m really sorry about earlier. I put you in a horrible position and my inattention was reckless and dangerous and unprofessional and if you don’t want me to work with the Atariva Mouse anymore I understand. I…I won’t be upset.” Okay she’d miss Nibbles and more she’d miss being in the lab with Roman, but she wouldn’t be upset at him. “And I’m really sorry if that messes up your research having to find someone else for her to bond with.” It all came out in one big rush and single breath, but at least she stopped before offering excuses.

Rand

Roman looked quite surprised. “What? Stop working with the Atariva mouse? Why? Do you want to?” Obviously she was not thinking what he was. In no world did he ever want her to stop helping in the lab, that was the opposite of what he wanted. “I wasn’t that angry at all, but you know I’ve got to treat you fairly on the clock.” Roman must have been way too harsh for Rand to think he didn’t want her help anymore.

~ Roman

“No! No, not at all. I…want to keep helping. I…I didn’t think you were angry…not until…you weren’t in the lab…” It was okay to tell him she was worried, right? “I didn’t think it was unfair, I just…if you thought I shouldn’t help anymore, I just didn’t want you to think I’d be upset.”

Rand

Roman headed into the little office, standing by the desk. “I do want your help, in fact I wanted to be with you more, not less.” The lab thing was a misunderstanding, it seemed they both understood that, and he was sorry it happened but he didn’t think it needed any more explanation.

~ Roman

The office was beyond little. With him standing inside, no one would be able to see her there was so little room. She looked up at him, she liked being that close to him. “I…I guess I should have asked you when you wanted me to come back. I…I wasn’t trying to avoid you.” She sounded a little breathless, but it had nothing to do with anxiety. She grinned, blushing slightly. She was right the first time, he did find a way to spend more time with her. “I want to spend more time with you, too.”

Rand

“I wasn’t trying to avoid you, either.” Roman said. Her statement made him happy despite the tiny room which probably felt a lot smaller to him than her. He didn’t mind being basically right next to her, but did the walls need to be so narrow too? “Lunch tomorrow, then?” He asked, his little smile growing into a bigger one.

~ Roman

The room was small, but Rand had never noticed how small until Roman was in there wit her. Roman seemed to fill it. She nodded and grinned. “Yes, lunch tomorrow.” She really should have asked him earlier. Maybe she was more overwhelmed from the back log and having to hand write reports than she realized. BUT most of her reports were coming electronically in the evenings now, so she didn’t have to run everywhere. Just sit here at the desk.

Rand

“Speaking of lunch,” Roman said, unable to stop his curiosity any longer, “What did Ensign Scott find so interesting this morning, coincidentally?” The question seemed a bit nervous, maybe, as he looked at her waiting for an answer. Her love for gossip was well known and he couldn’t help but ask if she knew about… things.

~ Roman