Posted by Commander Roman Alden (First Officer & Chief Science Officer) in side - sim: Paying for Our Sins

Posted by Ensign Rand Farquharson (Yeoman First Class) in side - sim: Paying for Our Sins

Posted by Commander Roman Alden (First Officer & Chief Science Officer) in side - sim: Paying for Our Sins
Posted by… suppressed (28) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)
Roman seemed a little relieved when she said she felt fine… Then he remembered what was nagging at him in the back of his mind: medical restrictions. What had he done? At least she seemed okay… He’d keep an eye on her as long as he could. He could always ask Randy if she seemed confused. He would have to. He hugged her when she kissed his shoulder, cuddling into her. He was sleepy and relaxed, too. It was the best he’d felt in a long time, now tainted by guilt that he might’ve made her head worse.

~ Roman

Even with the medicine, Rand hadn’t slept that well in awhile. Just the strain and worry over Roman being hurt, and then being injured herself. For the first time in a long time Rand felt like everything was okay. Her hand slid up and down his arm, encountering the bandage on his wrist, and then over his stomach and the burn and then the pale pink scar over his heart. Roman had to stop getting hurt. She knew Star Fleet came with its risks; she accepted that, but she didn’t like it. In the last handful of months the shortness of a life span had become terrifyingly apparent to Rand. And then her brother thought it would be a good idea to taunt Death himself. “I want ta marry ya. I don’na wanna wait ta be yer wife.”

Rand

Roman let out a slow and long breath as Rand moved her hand across his body. He wasn’t used to his newer scars yet. The one over his heart was barely noticeable to him, but the burn on his upper abdomen felt slightly different when she touched it than he was used to. Though the scars on his palms, from the electricity, had shrunk some, they were still noticeably rough every time he touched something with that part of his hand. They did not bother him in terms of vanity, but he remembered from his leg it took some time to become used to them just being there. His wrist, despite the bandage, was okay now. Randy had said to wear it for a few hours, but then they’d fallen asleep. When her hand stopped over the long, thin scar on his chest he lifted his hand and set it over hers and looked down at her. “Just another few scratches.” He commented softly.

Then in that Scottish accent of hers she said she wanted to marry him, and to not wait to do so and he blushed lightly and smiled, “We are getting married. We just need to be able to take the shore leave on Earth.” He wondered after he’d spoken if she meant she didn’t want to wait for shore leave, that she wanted to be married on the ship. He looked down at her to see what she’d say.

~ Roman

Rand’s brow furrowed and her teeth tugged on her bottom lip. She got that look - the one that said she wasn’t sure what she was supposed to do. The one that meant, if they weren’t laying in bed with her tucked in close to him, she’d be hiding the wringing of her hands behind her back.

Rand would love to be married on Earth, at home, with her family, to let them all meet Roman. He’d probably be a bit overwhelmed. But…shore leave was so long away.

Rand

Roman knew what that look meant. He hugged her tight and then gave her a brief kiss. “It only matters what you want to do. We could get married on board, and then hold our real ceremony on Earth.” He smiled at her, “Whatever makes you happy.”

~ Roman

She relaxed as he hugged her tight and let out a soft happy sigh after he kissed her. “Have…have we talked about this? Before?” Before everything happened. “I feel like we must have, but I can’t remember.” And that upset her. This was personally important, the most important thing in her life was Roman. Maybe they hadn’t, and that was okay, but she couldn’t stand the thought that she’d forgotten. “I feel like we can’t wait. We shouldn’t wait, and I know that’s because I’m scared after everything....but what do you want?”

Rand

Roman shook his head, “We wanted to, but we never got the chance.” When she said she didn’t want to wait because she was scared, he hugged her again. The truth was, he didn’t know what he wanted. He didn’t want his parents there, but he did want to meet her family. He’d considered inviting the Calianos, but he hadn’t decided. Would that be weird to do? Would they evenwant to go? Or if they did go, would they be there only because they felt obligated to be? A ship wedding would be easier but they had started wedding plan talks and he liked the idea of a wedding in Scotland… Finally he shook his head, “I don’t know.”

~ Roman

Rand nodded. She wasn’t sure she knew either. She’d spent endless hours with Scott and that had given Rand endless headaches just thinking about it. Scott was sweet and it was helpful, it just was too much for Rand’s concussed mind at the time. “Maybe....” she furrowed her brow again trying to remember or figure it out. “When can we have shore leave?”

Rand

Roman thought about it. “Sometime next year. I’ll have to look.” At his rank, he was sure it wouldn’t be too long, since medical leave didn’t count, but Rand’s he was more worried about. As an Ensign, she didn’t make nearly as much leave as he did. “We could always get married on board, and then have our real ceremony on Earth.” He suggested.

~ Roman

Nothing was decided, and Rand was stressed because she couldn’t remember. She didn’t expect to remember everyone’s time but shouldn’t she remember her own? Didn’t she use some of it?

Far too soon it was time to get up. Before, Rand could have been ready in a rush. Now she had to take her time, sit up slowly and wait, stand and wait, walk slowly and wait. Wait, wait, wait. Her head didn’t hurt but her balance felt worse.

---

Randy walked into the lab some time after Roman’s meeting. He had some requisition forms and such from the meeting. Rand was trying to get the transcription done, but she was having trouble and she was still on restricted time. Randy tried to help but it wasn’t something he was good at. However he was able to compile a list of new materials and equipment. He made his way over to get Roman’s signature on them.

Randy

Roman had noticed Rand’s balance issues and he wasn’t surprised when Randy said she was having trouble. He was guilty about it. He nodded when Randy gave him the forms, and then signed the requisitions for the new equipment and materials. When Randy was starting to turn away, Roman finally said, “Can I ask you something privately?”

~ Roman

Randy paused schooling the surprised expression before he turned back. “Of course. Your office or…?” The or would be Randy’s quarters where they usually had Roman’s sessions.

Randy

“My office.” That meant it wasn’t something related to their sessions. Roman stood and headed there, waiting for Randy. Then let the door close and sat down at his desk. “How bad is…” he paused awkwardly, “exercise… for Rand?”

~ Roman

Randy took a seat, after setting his PaDD on the floor he laced his fingers together. “Exercise? Eh…guess it depends on how intense it is. Elbbirt has cleared her for walking. She could probably do a little weight lifting as long as she sits and is stationary. Elbbirt would probably approve yoga except she still gets light headed when bending down and standing. Exercise increases the heart and respiration rates which is good. It helps the body to learn to regulate itself again. So, when you exercise, blood pressure in your brain might increase, leading to symptoms like nausea, dizziness, and headaches. If your blood pressure decreases, you might find yourself suddenly lightheaded. Increased or decreased blood pressure are common after a concussion. Is she getting antsy?”

Randy

Roman blushed brightly, and there was only one topic which made him so shy. “One could say that.” He said avoidantly. “So if she.... Erhm,” he cleared his throat awkwardly, “were to exercise rather ehhh, intensely. She’d see some of her symptoms come back again like they seem to have today?” He was mentally face-palming. This was the most awkward conversation of his life. But he had to know she’d be okay.

~ Roman

Randy gave a puzzled look that suddenly turned to something Roman had never seen - embarrassment. Randy’s face looked like someone had poured red paint all over him then paled. “UGH!! I don’t wanna know!” Then he muttered in Gaelic rather profusely about Rand swearing to make him pay for enduring all his....well..anyway.

Roman looked embarrassed too, but Randy was the only person with any medical training he trusted… He just also happened to be Rand’s brother.

“Umm..yeah…yeah that would happen. I’m guessing she didn’t…uhh… hit her head or pass out,” Randy was looking everywhere but at Roman, “so uh yeah she should be fine. Just … extra rest and stuff…till she feels better.”

Roman shook his head without saying anything. He was sure hadn’t hit her head or anything. “Okay.”

Then Randy suddenly looked at him and shook a finger, “Stop Snogging My Sister! I swear it’s like a drug, she can’t get enough!”

Randy

Roman smiled slightly, his blush returning a little bit. “She is not the only one who can’t get enough.” He said, his voice light and airy. Then he looked at Randy, “Gym, after shift today? Rand still wants you learning from me.”

~ Roman

“Bah! Roman you have got it SOOOO bad.” Randy grinned. Yeah he really didn’t want to know, but at the same time his twin wasn’t dropping any gossip. “I’ll be there, and you can tell me what I did wrong. I guess I don’t need to ask how your wrist is.”

Roman glanced up at him with that almost surprised expression he got whenever Randy did certain things. Then he smiled again and shrugged. “That’s all.” He said, feeling better about Rand. He’d just tell her to rest if she wasn’t feeling well and it would be okay.

A little before 1800 Randy walked into the gym and set his bag down. He didn’t see Roman yet and decided to at least look like he knew what he was doing and start stretching.

Randy

Roman headed down and arrived just after 1800. Seeing Randy already there, he set his gym bag down in the locker room and headed over to do his own warm up stretching. “We’ll pick up where we left off… But this time, try not to break anything.” The last part he was smiling as he said it.

~ Roman

“No, no more breaking things. No more grabs till I’ve practiced more. Rand would kill me.” Randy chuckled. Though next time Randy decided he may just use a cast. Make Roman and Rand keep their hands to themselves. That thought made him laugh more.

It seemed like there was something on Roman’s mind but he did not speak it. From his expression perhaps a memory?

Randy finished stretching and hopped up and bounced in place a moment. “Alright, let’s go, come on.”

Randy

Roman finished stretching shortly after Randy and then joined him on the mat. “We’ll work on offensive moves, that might actually be safer for me.” Then he started teaching Randy, showing him how to do something and then letting Randy do it.

~ Roman

Randy chuckled at the suggestion, but nodded. When Roman said it would be safer for him, Randy refrained from asking if he was afraid or some other such nonsense. He did really feel bad about damaging Roman’s wrist. That day was much the same as the day before. The teaching and learning was slower, but the practical practice was much more natural and Randy continued to show an aptitude for it. The only difference was that it was several minutes before any sign of Randy’s sass showed up. However, Randy was enjoying the sessions even though Rand had mandated them as penance. That made Randy grin wondering how Rand would feel knowing this really wasn’t punishment.

Randy

It was much harder for Roman. It was easier when Randy was quietly guilty about the wrist and not making his usual sassy or goofy comments. But once Randy started to have fun with it, it was harder. Some of Randy’s comments or sometimes something Randy did seemed to have an effect on him. He would get overly serious, grouchy or snippy. As the gym session went on Roman’s mood seemed to get worse. Sometimes he would get carried away, their practice matches would go further than intended, but then Roman would suddenly go serious and end it, quickly moving on to the next thing he wanted to teach.

~ Roman

This time Randy noticed the random swings in demeanor but wasn’t able to pin point exactly what was causing it, or if this was just how Roman was when practiced. It might also be having to teach. Not everyone liked to teach, and Randy would admit that his sister was probably the exception to that rule for almost anyone. The day before Randy had been the one to get carried away. Randy wasn’t being timid but he didn’t have the skill or experience Alden had, so Randy didn’t get quite as carried away. The matches started getting more intense though as Alden was the one that pushed their practice matches further.

Randy barely blocked the last one and was out of breath. He stepped back, hand out to pause. He took a moment to breath deeply and grinned noticing Alden was working a lot harder than the day before…not nearly as hard as Randy was though. He had a wicked gleam to his smile…and it couldn’t be anything not sassy getting ready to issue forth from his mouth. He stepped back in, “You’re out of breath…good, you’ll be too tired to snog my sister.”

Randy

Roman didn’t really like teaching but he actually preferred teaching Randy to Rand. He couldn’t put his finger on what was so difficult about teaching Randy. He was having fun, more so than he had in years yet it was tainted by negative emotions he could not place (Roman was still really bad at that stuff). When Randy made his comment Roman had swung back toward ‘fun’ and so he replied, “Tired is exactly when it’s fun to snog her. Besides, I could still go for more.” He gestured to Randy, “You look like you’re about to fall over.”

~ Roman

Randy made an ‘eewe’ face and then laughed thinking about Tracey. “Yeah you gotta point, especially when they just wake up.” Giving Roman back his attention Randy gave him a very hotty look and in a much deeper brogue than would be expected. “What say ya English? I think not.” And with the most comical battle cry, that would make his ancestors roll in their graves and haunt him, Randy threw a punch.

Randy

Roman grinned, still thinking about Rand. Now he had a new tradition to start. “Are we going for a third war of independence, Scot?” He played up his English accent, using the same move which had broken his wrist yesterday against Randy, except Roman was practiced enough he managed not to injure Randy with it. Like their previous session, it was probably the least serious Randy had ever seen Roman act, more like the Roman on those Ardent research videos than the Roman Rand and Randy knew.

~ Roman

Randy laughed “Only if ya fight with hon....ahhhh!” What ever Randy was going to say was lost in the surprise of being swept to the ground, simply because his body had to go where Roman directed. Randy landed with a satisfying smack against the mats. The mats were thick and absorbed the shock, but it took the wind out of Randy’s lungs for a moment. He looked up at Roman and began to laugh. “I deserved that.”

Randy

Roman had been grinning, maybe laughing a little himself, but once again he seemed to suddenly swing to a more serious demeanor as he reached out a hand to help Randy up. “You alright?” He asked, he hadn’t quite meant to take Randy down to the mat.

~ Roman

Randy grabbed Roman’s forearm and pulled himself to his feet, chuckling. “Oh, aye. I’m fine.” Randy had mostly tripped on his own feet. He’d had to move when Roman grabbed his wrist, but Randy had lost track of his center of balance and when Roman let go, down he went. It was very reminiscent of something Rand might do.

If Rand had been there she probably would have noticed the similarities between how Roman was acting and the video logs with Jay. Randy though, he has only watched the day of the attack and was too focused on transcribing the record to pay attention to the personal details.

Randy grinned bouncing from foot to foot. “Another go?”

Randy

“C’mon Roman, another go?” Jay bounced, foot to foot, in an overly dramatic fighting pose. Roman grinned and shook his head, “One of these days you’ll learn to quit while you’re ahead.” Jay poked him in the ribs and then backed quickly across the small mat in the Ardent’s gym, which had been considerably smaller than the Sentinel’s. “Or, I’ll get another win.” Generally, Roman won a lot more of these matches than Jay did, and they both knew it, but Jay still loved to bait Roman this way. It worked, then again it always had and probably always would. The match between them started, and went on for a little while. Jay would taunt Roman and laugh at his own mess ups, while Roman would respond to his taunts occasionally, but generally remained focused. It ended when Roman threw Jay to the floor, knocking the wind out of him.

Roman seemed unfocused for a moment, still more serious than he had been before. He felt the prickling behind his eyes that came with tears and he tried to hold them back. He was having fun, and he didn’t want to stop, but that was making him… upset? He tried to stuff all that away, like he did when he was working. He took a deep breath and nodded. “Another.” He gestured to Randy again, “I’ll give you a head start this time.”

~ Roman

Randy watched Roman. He seemed…distracted which wasn’t like him at all. Then he said another. “Ha! If you’re giving me a head start, you might as well forfeit.” This time instead of closing the distance, Randy went for a kick instead.

Randy

Grabbing his leg and turning his momentum against Randy should have been easy, no big deal at all. But Roman was still distracted and late with his move, so instead he managed to pull them both down. He was quickly back up and waiting for Randy to get back up as well.

Randy wasn’t as quick to get up as he figured out where his limbs went, but he was just a moment behind Roman. This time he tried for a cross followed by an uppercut.

It was getting harder to stay focused, to stay grounded here in the Sentinel’s gym. Practicing hadn’t been this hard in years. It had to be trying to practice with someone. He hadn’t had this problem with Rand or anyone else he’d had to teach or practice with in the last three years, but his mind would find any difference to justify it - Rand was his fiancée, those other officers were different though if asked how, Roman would not be able to say. He had to stay put together, this wasn’t the place for this. But that was getting harder and harder.

~ Roman

Something was wrong. Randy wasn’t sure why it was wrong, but Roman seemed extremely distracted, and that wasn’t like him. Stopping to address it here in the gym would draw attention that would embarrass Roman. Instead Randy chose to continue the teasing banter and try and draw Roman’s attention back. “Hey stop day dreamin’ bout my sister!” as he swung and connected with Roman’s shoulder. “Never mind, I’m winning this way.”

Randy