Posted by Ensign Rand Farquharson (Yeoman First Class) in side - sim: Honoring the Ardent

Posted by Commander Roman Alden (First Officer & Chief Science Officer) in side - sim: Honoring the Ardent

(snip)

Roman could smell it as soon as Rand opened the bottle and even more so when she poured some into her hands. It was a muscle rub. Then she started working it into his shoulders and neck and the warm, cooling feeling helped to relax the muscles and ease his discomfort. That, and the feeling of her rubbing his shoulders to work in the oil, was so nice he was nearly falling asleep sitting in front of her.

~ Roman

The tension was not confined to his shoulders tonight. The knots spread down to the small of his back. As she got his shoulders to relax, his lower back seemed to arch painfully with the knots there. He looked like he was going to fall asleep. If that meant she had She reached around him and took the small container of scraps and set it at the far corner of the bed for Pipkin to investigate. Then she added more oil to her hands. “Lie down on your stomach.” Her hands gently urged him to do so. Then she focused on his lower back. She thought about saying something about his leg, but didn’t want to bring up anything else that might upset him.

Rand

She reached around him for the container and Pipkin’s eyes were on it. Then, Pipkin was already waiting for it when she put it on the corner of the bed. At Rand’s urging, Roman lay down stomach first, his head on his pillow. Then she started working on his lower back and he hadn’t realized how tight it was until she started working on it. He let out a few quiet, happy “ooohhhh”s as she worked.

~ Roman

Rand shook her head slightly at Pipkin. At least one of the three of them was eating well. Rand smiled as the quiet sounds he made. Even after the knots relaxed she kept working, to ensure they didn’t return right away. She was careful not the use too much oil so the heat or cold wouldn’t become uncomfortable. When she was done she pulled the extra blanket it up and draped it lightly over his back. She got up trying not to disturb him, closed the bottle, and went looking for a towel to wipe her hands on.

Rand

Roman fell asleep as she kept working after the knots had relaxed. He needed the sleep and he slept as she pulled the blanket over him and as she moved around the room. His towels and his hand towels were in the bathroom. Pipkin, having eaten the contents of the bin, was curious to what Rand had been doing and went over to Roman, sniffing him with her front paws on him.

~ Roman