Posted by Civilian Sisnil Zoi (Intelligence Consultant) in One Step at a Time

Posted by Ensign Dradvia (Medical Officer) in One Step at a Time

Posted by Civilian Sisnil Zoi (Intelligence Consultant) in One Step at a Time
Posted by… suppressed (7) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Dradvia had done some shopping on her little excursion. She had completely forgotten about it though in the awkwardness of Cmdr Morris trying to set her up with Sisnil and then Sisnil appearing immediately afterwards. She had gotten some things for Sisnil but wasn’t sure if she should give them to him. She didn’t know what to do about him saying her feelings were mutual.

In the end though, knowing how lonely he was, and how inadequate of a friend she had been to his request, allowed her guilt to propel her put her door and across the hall. She held the bag in her hand as she reached for the chime. She pressed it quickly, but the moment her finger released the button, she turned back for her room, chickening out.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Unfortunately for her, Sisnil had sensed her coming and the door opened fairly quickly. “Dee? Where are you going?” He asked, seeing her turned around and heading away. He grinned, making a joke, “Don’t tell me you’re ding-dong-ditching me?”

~ Zoi

She stopped when she heard the door hiss open, and her eyes closed like she was trying to be brave. Well she was, wasn’t she? She turned around, chewing the inside of her cheek. She had played that game once as a kid. They would have gotten into a lot of trouble if they had been caught.

She shook her head, “No. I just…” she looked down at her hands and the bag. She was nervous and scared. What if he didn’t like it? What if it made him feel more isolated and hurt his feelings? What if Morris found a way to stop the message, or she sent it wrong? What if it never arrived, and it was her fault. What if now that she sent it, he didn’t want a friend anymore? (That thought, the feelings behind it, were insulting to herself and not even a hint of negativity toward Sisnil).

After being awkwardly quiet for a moment she jammed her hand in the bag, and then thrust one of the contents at him. “I… I got this for Simon.” It was a robotic mouse that moved around on its own for him to chase.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil took the toy and grinned. “Oh, he’ll love this. Thanks, Dee.” Then he took her hand and guided her into his quarters. “Come on, don’t just stand out there.” That ought to end the ‘he doesn’t want her’ ridiculousness he sensed in her.

~ Zoi

She was too startled that he was holding her hand to refuse to go inside his quarters. “Oh, okay.” Dradvia looked around, more looking for Simon. Like her quarters his were utilitarian, or they were the last time she was here. She was curious what he had built for Simon. She followed him past the door instead of stopping the way she normally did. “I hope he does. I told you I would bring something back.” She clutched the bag nervously. She had offered to get him something too, but he had declined.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

He already knew there was something for him, he sensed it. He wasn’t going to ruin the surprise though. He’d built for Simon shelves along the walls, secured both to withstand the cat’s weight even when he was full grown, as well as anything that might happen to the ship. They were set up in a way that Simon could race about the top of the room and jump up and down along several points in the room. A ‘cat highway’ to be sure. He turned the mouse on and set it on the floor. Otherwise, his quarters were much the same as always.

Dradvia looked up, her eyes tracking the highway until she spotted the kitten watching them. She didn’t know a whole lot about engineering, but it looked sturdy. Dradvia was positive Sisnil had done all the work himself. He wouldn’t trust anyone to help him. “I didn’t realize you were an engineer too.”

“Well… I’m not, really,” Sisnil said bashfully. “Did my best, though.”

His bashfulness made a funny flipping bubble of amusement and longing float through her. “It looks good to me.”

Before long, Simon had noticed it and begun to stalk it.

“Thanks, by the way… For taking care of that business.” He said, glancing back at her.

~ Zoi

Dradvia grinned with delight as Simon noticed the toy. A ping of very simple happiness flashed through her - she did something good. She glanced at him and then back at the cat. “I really hope it went through. I… I wish I could have waited so you would know.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“I’m glad you didn’t, you did it right.” Sisnil told her. “I’ll know before long.” He said. He hugged her gently. “Really, thank you.”

~ Zoi

Dradvia immediately missed the warmth of his hand around hers when he let go. Then, she was suddenly being hugged. She went still out of utter surprise. Then the warmth returned, seeping all around her, lulling her slowly to relax. “You’re welcome.” She would do anything for him. “How will you know?” Would they come for him? She tried to do as he asked, but thought she was vague enough to not break her oaths. Of course pirates were some of the smartest, most innovative people she had met. She probably could have told his brother some random location and he would still figure it out.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“Probably, eventually,” he said, accidentally answering her thought, “Through no fault of yours. I’ll likely get a confirmation from the proxy signal I had you use.”

~ Zoi

“How do I check that?” She hadn’t sent her contact information and they wouldn’t be back to this stop, wellwho knew when. It wasn’t on their regular patrol.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer