Posted by Civilian Sisnil Zoi (Intelligence Consultant) in It’s Not Simple, No Matter What You Say

Posted by Ensign Dradvia (Medical Officer) in It’s Not Simple, No Matter What You Say

Posted by Civilian Sisnil Zoi (Intelligence Consultant) in It’s Not Simple, No Matter What You Say
Posted by… suppressed (13) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Dradvia hadn’t seen Sisnil the last day. She wasn’t exactly avoiding him, but she was too upset by her own feelings to deal with them. There was no one to talk to about it, and that made her miss Kryssa all the more. She could tell Kryssa anything, and know she would listen and still accept her. Dradvia was too timid around strangers now to make much of an effort to get to know anyone. She was NOT comfortable discussing this with Dr. Tessan at all.

Sisnil hadn’t been waiting for her during her break or after her shift. He was probably with Simon. The kitten needed watching, and Sisnil had a companion now. She told herself she was relieved and also making something out of nothing, but she was still sad. She checked the holosuite. It was empty and so she ran the garden program. She found a small secluded grove of trees and sat. Soon Umbra found her and curled up in her lap. Dradvia leaned her head against a tree and absently pet the holographic cat while she watched a storm blow across the program.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil entered the holodeck, cradling a harnessed Simon. He had meant to test his cat playground, but apparently someone else was using the place unscheduled. He checked the name. “Oh. Dee?” He said, raising his voice so she’d hear him. “You in here?”

~ Zoi

Umbra sat up and meowed loudly. Dradvia lifted her head and looked around. Then she heard him. She swore at her stupid heart that started racing with happiness and her stomach the flipped and flopped at the sound of his voice. He had come looking for her. She stood up and Umbra jumped out of her arms and toward the cooking house. “Sisnil? Over here,” she said as she emerged from the trees.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil set Simon down, who ran over to Dradvia and rubbed against her leg. He headed over to her and smiled. “I’m glad you’re using this.” He said.

~ Zoi

Dradvia smiled and bent down and swept Simon up into her arms. Was he why Umbra ran off? She was holographic, would another animal really bother her? “Hello baby. Did your Daddy let you out?” She nuzzled his fur as Sisnil walked up. “I like it here. No one else was using the holosuite, so…” she shrugged. She had been looking for him, when she didn’t find him she decided she would cuddle with Umbra instead.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“You were looking for me?” The thought was quiet, not intended for him, but he heard it all the same. It made him smile, though. “Well, glad I came by then.” He gestured to Simon, “I’m getting him used to being in his harness and being out around the ship.”

~ Zoi

Dradvia shrugged and put Simon down. “I hadn’t seen you in a few days. I… I was just wondering how you were doing.” He hadn’t been looking for her. She slammed the disappointment away, she hoped before he felt it. She kept her eyes in the kitten, “How is he adjusting?”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“He seems to like it alright. Likes it a lot more when I take him with me.” Sisnil smiled. “Your wondering is.. nice.” He pointed to Simon, “I finished his playground! I want to see how he likes it. But I don’t wanna disturb you either, so I’ll wait till you’re done.”

~ Zoi

“Oh no, go ahead. I wasn’t really doing anything.” Mostly she was just hiding from an empty room and visiting Umbra. The cat had run off anyway. She wouldn’t want to hurt Simon by giving attention to a fake cat anyway. At least not while he could see. He wouldn’t understand.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil changed the program. It turned into a jungle with trees and vines, things to chase and crawl through and climb, all built with Simon’s safety in mind. There were other animals, to get him used to the sights and sounds of other animals.

~ Zoi

Dradvia looked around, turning in place. She was sure Simon was going to love it. Everything a cat could want, she was sure. Not that she knew what that might be. She didn’t like it though. Too enclosed, too many places for someone to hide and drag you away unnoticed. Not enough clear exits, and it also felt very isolated, too far away from the safety of a crowd.

She let it all go with a breath. This was the holodeck, escape was simply an uttered word away. Besides the program wasn’t for her, it was for Simon, and he already seemed to be enjoying the different sounds and smells. Or at least was very curious. He was fun to watch, it was a simple joy.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil stood behind Dradvia, close, but careful. He was just behind her - close enough to catch the soft scent of a men’s cologne. “I’ve got your back, Dee. No need to feel so exposed, not with me here,” he said softly, gently. “Let yourself relax. Watch Simon hunt and play.”

~ Zoi

When was the last time anyone stood that close behind her? And not used it to hurt her? Dradvia couldn’t remember. He wanted her to trust him, to feel safe, to chose to relax with him. It wasn’t that simple. She wasn’t afraid of him. He would not harm her. At the same time he terrified her. He could shatter her with very little effort. He voice was almost hypnotic. Like he was leading her through a meditation exercise. Her eyes strayed to Simon as he explored.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil could. But he wouldn’t. “You’ll always be safe when I’m around.” He said softly. He wasn’t manipulating her emotions. He wanted her to calm on her own, not to feel like he was trying to fool her somehow.

~ Zoi

She wasn’t nervous or anxious, she was just incredibly vulnerable, confused, and sad. Dradvia only nodded silently. She believed that. It didn’t matter that it was true. Even if it wasn’t, she needed to believe she was safe with him. Wasn’t that pathetic? Not that it mattered. Sisnil wouldn’t be staying. He was going back to his twin and his crew. In the end she had only herself, and whatever safety there was, was illusion.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil watched Simon as the kitten went up to Dradvia and rubbed against her leg. “Look, he wants attention from you.”

~ Zoi

He was close enough she could feel his body heat, the warmth of his words on the nap of her neck, and the smell of the jungle erased by the scent of his cologne. The longing to simply lean back against him made her chest ache with pain. A simple movement that really wasn’t simple at all.

Her head tilted down as his words gave her something else to think about. She knelt, carefully, and scratched Simon about the ears. “Don’t you want to explore?” He gave a pitiful mewl and she pet him again.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer