Posted by Ensign Dradvia (Medical Officer) in Revelations

Posted by Civilian Sisnil Zoi (Intelligence Consultant) in Revelations

Posted by Ensign Dradvia (Medical Officer) in Revelations
Posted by… suppressed (38) by the Post Ghost! 👻
She could tell Sisnil was frustrated with her. It was nothing she could put her finger on and say “that”, but she could tell.

Well, she was upset too. Dradvia refused to think about why. That way she wouldn’t have to talk about it when Sisnil overheard it. She’d had more than enough talking inside Morris’ office. She was relieved to be done with the whole conversation. But she knew it wouldn’t be the last time she had to. And no doubt Tessan would be informed because he was her DH. Then she would be forced to discuss it in therapy and how it made her feel. She couldn’t stop the bubbling resentment that came with that thought.

With a breath it was gone though. They left the bridge, and Dradvia refused to look at the other officers. She was certain they were speculating.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

They were. Sisnil could sense it, literally. “Dee, it had to be done, or it’ll never stop,” Sisnil said.

~ Zoi

“I know.” She had no faith it would stop. Morris put Sisnil in charge of spying on Stevens. She wasn’t sure what she expected. Instead of arresting and prosecuting Sisnil for his crimes, letting him stand a fair trial, they blackmailed him into unwilling service. She was sure they would do something similar to Stevens. That wouldn’t make the problem go away. It would create rumor and speculation. It would make everything harder. This wasn’t a normal ship, the rules didn’t work like they should here.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“They won’t do that to Stevens,” Sisnil said. “He has no skills other officers don’t. He’s not a member of a hostile organisation. He has nothing to be blackmailed for.”

~ Zoi

“Then why is he being covertly investigated rather than being arrested for assault?” Dradvia sighed. It didn’t matter. “Where are we going?”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“Mess hall. We should eat.” Sisnil looked at her and smiled. “You know, together.”

~ Zoi

Did it do any good to say she wasn’t hungry? No. Sisnil would just bring her something and then stare at her until she ate it. “Okay.”

Dradvia was acutely aware of the stares and stopped conversations as they went by. She also acted like nothing bothered her. She seemed aloof, a bit conceited to everyone else. Inside she hated it. Obviously, they were talking about her and/or Sisnil, but the best thing to do was to never let them know she cared.

She missed the way he’d put his arm around her as they walked to Morris’ office. It was okay though, no need to draw more attention to herself. It was about the middle of the meal rush. Which meant the lounge was full, but not packed.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

It wasn’t just the stares, Sisnil could hear every single wayward thought about them. Dee could tell from his stony expression it was getting to him. Making him angry. But he wasn’t going to do anything about it. “Let’s eat in private.” He said.

~ Zoi

“Yeah, okay.” She didn’t like the whispers or the nasty looks. She got something simple, that she could take with her and not have to come back with a tray.

On their way out, the sesame female engineering officer who had confronted her a few days ago sneered from her seat. “You’re a disgrace.” Dradvia acted like she hadn’t heard her and kept walking.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“Least she sticks by her principles,” Sisnil said without stopping as they headed to the turbo lift.

~ Zoi

The woman scoffed, and speculated that stickong to immoral principles was nothing of which to be proud.

Dradvia was uoset, but not for herself. She was upset for Sisnil because he had been set up. Someone else had broken their oath to Star Fleet in order to do it, too. She stepped into the lift and called out the deck. At least no one was riding it with them. Dradvia didn’t care what they said about her. She was more concerned about what they might do.

She stepped off the lift and headed toward their section of the deck.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil followed her. “I won’t let anyone do anything, if I have to follow you all day, I will.” He said softly to her.

~ Zoi

“You don’t need to do that. If you weren’t around me all the time, this wouldn’t be happening. Stevens doesn’t care about what you were or what you did. He cares that you stopped him from bothering me. I don’t have to be telepathic to know that.” Dradvia was right. Sisnil’s background was just fuel for Stevens ire after the fact.

She was grateful Sisnil had been there to help her, but she was also aware she was the cause of the current problem. Maybe not all of it, but she was the catalyst.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“Stop that,” Sisnil said, turning to face her. “It’s not your fault, and you aren’t the cause of it.” He said. “Stevens is the cause of it.”

~ Zoi

Dradvia stopped suddenly at his tone. She met his gaze wide-eyed. “Okay.” It wasn’t said softly or timidly like it usually was. And unlike usual, she didn’t shy away from the firm tone. No horrible what ifs or trauma triggered fear raced through her. In the few months he’d known her, she’d healed a little. At least around him if not anyone else. Just a little confused shyness. And something else that was too brief to identify.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil hugged her gently and then headed down the hall again. “It’ll be okay. Promise.”

~ Zoi

She nodded. Legally it would be fine. They hadn’t done anything wrong. Socially? We’ll Dradvia didn’t interact anyway. They got to their doors and she waited. He’d said he wanted to eat together, but that had been before the awkwardness in the lounge.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“Well, come on, Dee. Your room or mine?” Sisnil asked and then smiled again. “Your choice.”

~ Zoi

She appreciated he let her choose, but it never felt simple. After a quiet mental debate, “Yours. That way Simon doesn’t get lonely.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil chuckled as he opened his own door and then stepped aside so she could enter. “Still making up for the time I was hurt huh?”

~ Zoi

Dradvia rolled her eyes. “No.” Yes. “I was with you the whole time.” She entered and set her food on the desk. She scanned the room for Simon. He’d grown since Sisnil got him. So much, but he was still a baby. And still very clingy of Sisnil since he’d been sick.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“Yeah, but Simon wasn’t.” Sisnil said as Simon came up and meowed loudly at him, circling his legs. “He’s been like this ever since.”

~ Zoi

“He missed you.” Dradvia couldn’t blame Simon. Sisnil was so sweet with him. Simon had bonded immediately with Sisnil. Simon liked her, but she wasn’t the same. “Now that you are recovered, you should start taking him out with you again. I tried, but we had a hard time making it work. Didn’t we Simon?”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“Huh. Seems like he would’ve helped you,” Sisnil commented as he bent down to pet the cat. “It’s like he’s afraid I won’t come back every time I leave.”

~ Zoi

Dradvia laughed, “I think he did try to help. But I couldn’t figure the harness out, and we both got frustrated. But we had fun playing, and he even got to visit my quarters a few times.” She watched Simon demand attention and try to climb Sisnil’s leg. “I think you’re right. He’s worried something will happen to you.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil lifted the growing kitten into his arms, flipped him, and gave him a belly-noogie. “Do you think something is going to happen? It isn’t, is it? No, it’s not,” he said to the cat.

~ Zoi

Simon mewled pitifully and wrapped his front legs around Sisnil’s arm and tugged it down, holding on. Dradvia blinked the watery feeling in her eyes away rapidly and turned to the desk and her food. Simon was obviously telling Sisnil exactly what he thought of that.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil chuckled and rubbed his belly some more. “Come on, Simon, I’m fine, see?” He said. He elbowed Dee, “And what’s that look for?”

~ Zoi

Dradvia shook her head, suddenly interested in the meal she hadn’t wanted. “It’s just… it’s sweet how much he loves you.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil smiled as the kitten continued to cling to his arm. “The bond between animals and humanoids is pretty fascinating to me.”

~ Zoi

Dradvia smiled. “Animals are loyal and complex. They have customs and families and stories. People love their pets. I’m sure it’s quite different for you because you can sense him.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“They’re really not that different from people when you can sense them like I can,” Sisnil said, letting Simon flip back over. The kitten climbed his sleeves and onto his shoulders. “They don’t think in words, but they do in concepts and ideas. They want things, care about things important to them, have moods and feelings. About the only thing they can’t do aside learn English is contemplate their place in the universe.”

~ Zoi

“Maybe they don’t need to,” Dradvia mused. They just lived life as it was, all that other stuff didn’t matter. Maybe they would all be happier if they kept things less complicated.

She reached over and scratched Simon’s head. “You don’t need to contemplate, do you? You know you belong right here.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Simon playfully swatted at her, but it made him lose balance and he sunk his claws into Sisnil, to which Sisnil barely reacted. “Okay, Simon, careful with those things,” he said.

~ Zoi

“Simon, be careful. Shoulders are not perches for playing ” Dradvia reached over and disentangled Simon’s claws. Without thinking, her hand rubbed over where Simon and clawed him, easing the sting away.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil laughed and shrugged. “It’s okay, it didn’t really hurt.” But he did notice when her touch soothed the sting, and she could tell he did.

~ Zoi

Her face heated and she pulled her hand away. “Sorry.” Dradvia turned back to the desk and fiddled with her bottle of water. Like she couldn’t decide if she wanted to open it and drink or not.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“Sorry? For what?” Sisnil asked gently, stepping towards her.

~ Zoi

The flush on her cheeks deepened and her heart started racing. Her mouth opened and closed. She had no idea what she was sorry for. Because she really wanted to be closer to him. Dradvia was flustered.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil grinned and stepped closer, setting his arms around her. “There’s nothing to be sorry for. I like your touch.” He said softly.

~ Zoi

Suddenly, she couldn’t catch her breath. His closeness made her feel warm and her cheeks flushed. He had that irresistible grin, and Dradvia couldn’t stop looking at it.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

He hugged her to him gently. “I want you to do things like that more. I’d like it.”

~ Zoi