Posted by Ensign Dradvia (Medical Officer) in Too Often to be Coincidence

Posted by Civilian Sisnil Zoi (Intelligence Consultant) in Too Often to be Coincidence

Posted by Ensign Dradvia (Medical Officer) in Too Often to be Coincidence
Posted by… suppressed (17) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)
He took it and easily hefted it to his shoulder. “Don’t be. Actions, remember? I’ll prove you can trust me.” The he winked, and headed off towards engineering.

~ Zoi

A little color spread over her cheeks. She hoped he did. She didn’t know why, but Dradvia hoped he did prove it. They dropped off tricorders and her PaDD that listed the errors. Then she had to go back to finish her reports before her shift ended.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

While Dradvia did her reports, Sisnil picked a quiet spot to sit down and work on a little side project of his.

~ Zoi

Dradvia had trouble concentrating on her reports. Normally the routine allowed her to forget the rhings she wanted to avoid, today it came wiggling back to her foremost thoughts. Her feelings about Sisnil were confusing and scary and she didn’t want to think about it.

She finished her reports and rounds with the incoming doctor. She hung up her coat and headed for the door, only to come face to face with the person distracting her. She stopped and looked at him quietly for a moment. “You’re still here?”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“I needed a quiet place to work,” Sisnil said with a shrug as he stood. “You’re off shift already?”

~ Zoi

“It… it’s been just over an hour.” It had seemed to drag on forever to her. She’d had trouble concentrating on her work. Did he know that? Did he know what she was thinking about instead? She hoped the fact he was surprised she was done meant he had been too focused on his own work. “Yeah, yes I’m done for the day.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

He was, lucky for her. Sisnil smiled and headed for the sickbay door. “Come on then, dinner time.” He said. He looked at her, judging. Did she want to spend more time with him or did he need to leave her alone for a while? He knew without his twin, he could be too clingy, it was a bit much for most people.

~ Zoi

Dradvia was nervous, but she didn’t want to eat alone in her quarters. Other than the pushy ops Officer she hadn’t met anyone. She was lonely and so was he. She didn’t want him to be lonely, and she liked his company. “Okay,” and she accompanied him out toward the mess.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

When they got there, he got them food. The pushy ops officer was at the only open table. So Sisnil stood over him menacingly, voicelessly saying, go away.

~ Zoi

The officer looked up, on alert, from his half eaten meal, feeling the threat. He saw Dradvia just behind, and his thoughts went soft and excited to see her again. Not so much Sisnil. There was plenty of room at the table, and he wasn’t going to be intimidated by some civilian. “Can I help you?” he asked Sisnil.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“Just looking for a place to sit.” He sat on the far side of the office, gesturing for Dradvia to sit on the other side of him. But he still gave the officer an intimidating glare.

~ Zoi

Dradvia did not want to sit there. She knew how the man was looking at her, even though he kept it more subdued this time. She was suddenly too upset to her stomach to eat. People would notice if she ran away now though. She must not draw attention to herself. She sat with Sisnil between her and the other man.

He smiled easily at Sisnil, “There is plenty of room here. Have a seat. You too Dradvia.” He gestured to a chair. His eyes narrowed as Sisnil gestured Dradvia to a specific seat and she took it. It made him suspicious. She didn’t look comfortable.

“How are you liking the ship so far?” He moved in his seat so he leaned closer toward her. He smiled reassuringly at her.

Dradvia shrugged, “Fine. Smaller than the Academy.” She looked at her food, focusing there, wishing she could leave.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil eyed the officer. It was a look that would probably terrify Dradvia were it directed at her. “How’s about we eat silently, eh, Ensign?”

~ Zoi

Dradvia missed the look because she wasn’t watching, she was focusing on trying to look like she was eating. The other Ensign was good looking, and she was sure most girls would be flattered. She was just uncomfortable.

The young man was full of hubris from words like service and duty as well as the ego of the Ego of Star Fleet. He paled at the look though. Then became indignant. He had a strong urge to tell Sisnil if he wanted silence, he could shut his own trap. However, he did notice how uncomfortable Dradvia was. “Is that a cultural thing? I had a Bwtazoid roommate that rang a gong through every meal, but it never stopped him from talking.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“Does it have to be a cultural thing if someone wants some peace and quiet?” Sisnil replied. “We don’t have a silence thing, just something against people with big mouths.”

~ Zoi

He saw an opening and took it.”Hmmm… must be why you aren’t on Betazed anymore.” Afterwards he realized he should have gone for a different approach. A low blow like that wasn’t going to win him points with Dradvia. But he didn’t like the way he was always around and controlling who she talked to.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“Helps that I’m not from Betazed in the first place,” Sisnil replied easily, completely unbothered. “Might want to find a few more brain cells before you go trying to be clever.”

~ Zoi

Dradvia had expected worse. Sisnil was calm though, never rising to the bait. Of course, all she could judge by was the tone of his voice. She almost wondered if Sisnil was provoking him on purpose so he wouldn’t bother her.

The man shrugged. He wasn’t going to be provoked over his intelligence. He may not have been the top student, but entry exams guaranteed ever Academy entrant was intelligent. Instead he turned his attention back to Dradvia. “Has Dr. Tessan put you on a regular schedule yet?”

Dradvia shook her head. He had, but she didn’t want to say that. “I’m sure he will soon,” he reassured her, “then you’ll have time so we can all get to know you.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

At least he wasn’t a total moron. One could pass the Academy’s tests and still be dumb as a box of rocks in other ways. Sisnil grinned, “Are you sure she wants to get to know you? I think that ugly mug’s what makes her uncomfortable.”

~ Zoi

He sat up and looked between them. She was more uncomfortable. “No.” He turned his attention to Dradvia and reached a hand across the table. “Drad, it’s alright. You can do whatever you want. You don’t have to worry about what he thinks or wants.”

Dradvia’s heart was pounding in her chest. Run or fight? She wanted to run, but she couldn’t let him disparage Sisnil like that. She pulled away from him, outright refusing to go near the offered hand. She was uncomfortable, but she belinged to herself and didn’t need anyine’s permission to make choices. She looked at him, eyes angry. “En. Stevens, I make my own decisions. No one makes them for me and no one controls me.” I side she was screaming, shaking, falling apart at the attention. “I take orders from my superior Officer, but no one owns me.” She spoke quietly, no one else could hear her. Then she stood, returned her tray and left.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil was proud. Really, happy for her. He shot Stevens one last look, took his tray and cleared it, and then exited the galley himself. He reached out for Dradvia’s mind. Did he go to her? Or did she need to be left alone? He wanted to know before he acted.

~ Zoi

Dradvia was a mental and emotional mess. She didn’t know what she wanted, except to get away. She had entered a survival mode. She had to get away, hide, before anyone realized what she had done and what she had said. She had to hide before they came to punish her.

She was arguing with herself that she didn’t need to do that. She was safe here, and she counter-argued that she could realize that when she was safe. The problem was, nowhere on the ship felt safe.

Meanwhile, Stevens had decided he needed to find Dradvia and apologize, and had left the mess.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil decided to let her be for a little while and then go find her. He wasn’t sure going after her now would really help. She needed time to calm herself. Not knowing Stevens had gone to find her, he took some time to work on his side project. In another few minutes he’d go looking for her.

~ Zoi