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

Posted by Ensign Rand Farquharson (Yeoman First Class) in side-sim: New Normal

Posted by Commander Roman Alden (First Officer & Chief Science Officer) in side-sim: New Normal
Posted by… suppressed (2) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)
Rand adjusted as he requested. Roman’s leg seemed steadier than when Randy had tested his leg strength. She hadn’t helped him with his PT before, so she had no way to know for sure if it was stronger. From plain observation it seemed his leg didn’t shake as much. Maybe it was just wishful thinking. She did know it was better than on Kelmao. He was able to put weight on it for longer and his balance was better. He also didn’t rub at it as much.

It was hurting less than before and that made it easier, but it would still hurt if he overused it. It was getting stronger, previously a lot of the stretches hurt, now he could do most of them painlessly as long as he didn’t overdo it or use too much resistance. But his recovery was going slower than it was supposed to because of his stubborn noncompliance. A mix of overuse during the day and not doing his stretches except during PT was slowing his recovery (and frustrating Sovak).

Rand did remember Sovak seeming to be frustrated with Roman the day before. Asking him over and over again if he was completing his exercises as he should and if he had any questions about how to do them properly. She thought the Vulcan doctor was just being pushy, since there was no way he wasn’t familiar with Roman’s stubborn streak. Now that she thought about it though she hadn’t seen Roman doing the exercises. She didn’t think it was a matter of him not wanting her to observe. He tried skipping appointments with Sovak if she couldn’t make it. She would have to prod him a little to do them. There was no good reason for him to be uncooperative in his PT except Sovak was a doctor. Well Rand would have to be stubborn too.

It was because it had to do with his leg, and he’d do anything to not think about that. Yes, it was technically counterproductive to skip the stretching because then he was in PT longer with Sovak irrately nagging him more, but it wasn’t really a rational train of thought.

After they finished stretching Rand glanced at the other equipment, “Looks like we still have the gym to ourselves. What do you want to do?” He could do the bike, but the weight machines were there too. Like she had told him, he could get a good upper body workout without risking his leg getting hurt. Rand was trying to decide if she would continue with the bands and a yoga routine or maybe try a slow jog on a treadmill.

Rand

Roman glanced around at the equipment. He got up off the mat with Rand’s help, and then headed over to one of the upper body machines. His first choice might’ve been influenced by trying to pick something he could show off a little, a pull down machine. The exercise would work his back and Rand would get to see those muscles in action. Then he could move on, he might not have time to work all the muscle groups that didn’t risk his leg, but he wanted to do as many as possible, keep the rest of himself in shape.

~ Roman

Rand had decided on a treadmill. Nothing fast just a slow gently jog. A few minutes to get her foot used to the motions again. That ended up being as disastrous as the first time she’d seen Roman practicing his jiu jitsu and she’d tripped over her own feet while watching him. Luckily Roman had his back to her and didn’t see. It wasn’t all that sculpted muscle though. They were dating and it wasn’t bad to appreciate his physical appearance. Rand had a sudden moment of clarity. His looks certainly weren’t why she liked Roman though, it was his mind, his personality. She’d always known that. When she had first started helping in the biology lab, she had enjoyed it because she knew exactly what was expected of her. Roman had also been rather indulgent with her commentary and endless questions. He was very strict with proceedures in his lab and what she was and was not allowed to do. He respected her position as yeoman and didn’t try to take advantage of her time. And most especially he didn’t think yeoman were there to be ‘social distractions’ for the crew. She was a person and officer just like everyone else.

Over the months, though, she’d gotten to know him not just the officer. He’d gotten to know her, and knew more of her secrets than anyone else. A few things she’d never told Randy either. And she’d fallen in love with him. She grinned a little goofily as she watched him work out. He was doing it just to tease her and show off a little. Gratitude washed over her that despite how scary the sink hole had been, it had happened or Roman could have died from the damage in his leg. They wouldn’t have known. So it’s wasn’t the sight of all that muscle working that distracted her, but the realization of how deeply she loved him, and how much he had changed things for her. She decided that maybe a short yoga routine was better to help her breathe and focus for the day. If she walked around with that stunned smile on her face people would ask questions and she was happy enough she might answer.

Rand

Roman switched from the pull down machine to a bench with weights, and began doing exercises with the weights, working his arms, shoulders, or chest, unaware of what Rand was thinking of him. She knew more about him than anyone else, save for maybe Randy, and that was only because she had made him see Randy as a therapist. It had taken him longer to realise his feelings, because in avoiding his negative emotions regarding the ship incident, it had also become harder to experience positive emotions, a fact partially to blame for his normal stoicness, it was a form of emotional numbness (and not anything like the Vulcans, but in an unhealthy coping sort of way). He’d spent some of the time between overhearing her in the lab, and admitting his feelings for her, fighting the want to run away from the emotions altogether and push her away. Rand was changing that for him. She’d helped him in so many ways, even before they were dating. That wasn’t why he liked her, though. For him it was her personality. Inquisitive and bright, she’d always been a joy to have helping out in the lab, and despite her anxiety, her caring and kind nature made her quite appealing. And loving her was hard for him, because of his past he had an irrationally strong fear of losing her, and love was an emotion after all, and not avoiding such a strong and passionate emotion made it harder to avoid all of the other ones. And for him, Rand was worth all that, for the positives they brought each other.

~ Roman

The routine and rhythm of the yoga helped. The deep breaths helped oxygen infuse the blood, which in turn woke the body up. That’s why Rand loved running, but she couldn’t yet. Well maybe she could but she didn’t want to without Roman. She was still watching him, but now more for safety. He was using the free weight bar and usually that meant a spotter. Rand couldn’t possibly lift the weight he had, most likely, but accidents happened. Weights sifted, hand got slick on the metal bar, one rep too many, muscle fatigue. She was more worried about his leg for that, but it was always good to keep an eye out for those around you.

She finished her exercise and for some unknown reason decided to try the balance board that she’d pulled out for Roman. Now it must be mentioned at Rand is a fit and coordinated person with good balance, but she is also incredibly prone to clumsiness. The balance board was a bit precarious to get onto and find her balance. It certainly worked the core muscles. She teetered and wobbled back and forth, arms out to help stay aloft. She tried some of the exercises Roman had done on them and often found herself jerking back or reaching for a balance bar that wasn’t there, or more often putting a foot on solid ground and starting over. She tried to bend at the knee and stand back up and failed miserably, only lowering herself less than half an inch before the board threatened to buck her off like an untamed horse. She had two good legs, how did Roman manage to keep the board still and complete the exercises? She finally managed to bend her knees and lower herself over the bar, but on her way back to standing, the board decided it had had enough of her and threw her off in a magnificent display of clumsiness.

Rand

Roman had finished his set, racked his weights, and looked up to see Rand using the balance board Sovak made him use. And, well… She wasn’t very good at it. She managed to bend her knees but before she got all the way back up, she fell off the board, and Roman headed over to her, hiding an amused grin. “Are you alright, there?”

~ Roman

Rand looked up at him trying not to laugh, but a smile played across her face. She couldn’t even pretend being upset by the amused grin that he wasn’t hiding very well. She nodded, “Uh huh. I’m fine. Just thought I’d stretch out on the mat and take a rest for a moment.” Her grin widened though. They both knew she was not on the floor on purpose, but it felt good. Even though it was a result of a random appearance of her clumsiness, it felt good to have done something so not perfect. She grinned wider, and then got up and glanced at the clock, it was after 0500, and back at the board. “I think that was my clue to stop for the morning.”

Rand