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

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 nodded and then shook his head. “They would wonder why I was restricting myself from projects I’d normally be excited for. And I don’t usually take days off.” She was doing that thing again, emphasizing the ‘we’s in her statements. Reminding him he wasn’t alone, that he didn’t have to tackle this by himself. He moved over a little on the bed, making space for her.

~ Roman

She didn’t really think about the silent invitation, she just moved and sat next to him, hands still clasped on her arms, but the incessant rubbing had stopped. “You finished with Mr Wyvern, you have to research somewhere to send him. And Mushu needs your attention. What if he is very sick and something is wrong? You really should spend the extra time to make sure. No one would question that. You just finished one of your own projects, it would be a good time to review all the other labs and get current before starting your next. That is completely in character for you.” She was sitting, she was tired, she should not have sat down. “You take days off with me.” The last word was forced out through a yawn she could not stifle.

Rand

He needed to talk about it but simply didn’t know how and so Roman shrugged and said, “I don’t know…” She yawned and he was both concerned for her and glad for a reason to change the topic. Her yawn brought his attention back to something Randy had said. “How long has it been since you slept?”

~ Roman

Rand wasn’t going to convince him, and he wasn’t going to talk to her. She smothered out the irritation that caused. She had to be honest and admit to herself she was only irritated because she was over tired and she was using irritation to hide her fear and anxiety, which was worse because she wasn’t sleeping. At his question she seemed to be thinking, figiting with her fingers and pointedly staring at her hands. She hedged, he would only worry. “Longer than you’d like.”

Roman sighed softly, he really wished he could talk to her. It would almost be easier to ask Randy to tell her, but he didn’t think Randy would do that. She hedged his question and he gave her a look not dissimilar to the ones he gave his officers when he thought they were being rediculous. “How much longer than I’d like?”

She tried to stop the next yawn by clenching her jaw closed but gave up. She could feel him giving her that look (or maybe she just imagined he was because she knew she was in trouble), and not the one that gave her butterflies. “Before the data files arrived.”

Rand

Finally she gave the question a real answer and Roman shook his head. “Miranda! That was a week ago! What, did you see me not sleeping and think it looked fun?” He knew that wasn’t it, but he was frustrated and tired and the words slipped out. He checked the time, 2330, and his tone changed to a softer one, worried and caring. “You need to get some sleep.”

~ Roman

Rand didn’t flinch at the tone when he said her name, but her face screwed up and a something like a wince of guilt. He sounded SO MUCH LIKE RANDY! The accusation was unfair. She’ tried to sleep. Laid in bed for hours staring up at the ceiling into the darkness. Unable to sleep. She’d gone running, pushing herself past a good stretch and heart rate into exhaustion. Rather than letting her body lay awake in bed she’d gotten up and done extra work then returning to try again. She had even added whisky to her Scottish coffee (something she avoided) in the hopes it would be enough to make her fall asleep. Instead the whisky had done what it always did, make her anxiety worse and send her into a panic attack - alone. But before she could say anything to his accusation his tone changed. She just nodded, agreeing, she knew he was right. She didn’t want to still be awake, but she’d go to bed and he’d go back to the lab. She’d still be lying awake worrying, every possible worst case scenario still running through her mind, and if she did sleep they just turned in bad dreams and nightmares that woke her.

Rand