Posted by Commander Roman Alden (First Officer & Chief Science Officer) in side-sim: New Normal

(snip)

Rand was very aware of that. So were a good number of the female officers. She stood up, “Why don’t you pack a gym bag. You can use the locker room instead of walking all the way back here. We could…eat after…”was she asking or suggesting? Rand probably didn’t even know. “Or I could get bring a tray back after we’re done while you come back…” She started her day much earlier than Roman, but she didn’t want him over doing it either.

Roman nodded to the idea of packing a gym bag so he didn’t have to come all the way back up here. “Alright, then we’ll eat together after. No need to come all the way back if I’m taking a gym bag anyway,” he said. Then he could just get started in the lab a little early, since Rand normally started earlier than him.

She slipped next door, quietly, hoping not to wake Randy. She managed to change and get her things ready for the day without waking him, but as she headed for the door she heard his laughter. “Guess Alden isn’t horribly disfigured.” Rand groaned in frustration and left the room followed by more of her brother’s laughter.

Rand knocked on the door, and then stepped in, now in her running clothes, “Ready?”

Rand

Now dressed in his gym clothes (which today, happened to be just his shorts and athletic shoes) with a bag with his regular clothes in it slung over his shoulder, he nodded. “I think I’ve got everything. Let’s go.”

~ Roman

Rand stared for a moment, then blinked clearing her throat slightly. He was really going to go to the gym like that? Of course he was, because she’d said something about it. Everyone was going to stare. Lords help her if Scott found out or saw them. She didn’t think she could stand a round with Scott. She meant well, Rand knew she wanted to be friends, but it was just hard and Rand, though she swapped stories with Randy, didn’t like to gossip about others and spread stories or rumor. Rand was thankful the corridors were mostly empty at 0430 in the morning. She grabbed a single crutch and held it out to Roman before turning back to the door. She knew he’d prefer to leave it, but if his leg was sore after or Sovak happened to see them, he’d be irate if Roman didn’t have his crutch. Rand moved to Roman’s good side and switched her own bag to the opposite shoulder out of his way. Once the lift arrived she stepped on, turned the handle, “Deck 8” and off they went.

Rand