Posted by Civilian Sisnil Zoi (Intelligence Consultant) in Revelations

Posted by Ensign Dradvia (Medical Officer) in Revelations

Posted by Civilian Sisnil Zoi (Intelligence Consultant) in Revelations
Posted by… suppressed (111) 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

“Oh.” It was hard to tell if it was really a spoken word or just a breathless exhale. Uncertainty wavered through her and she wondered how brave she could be.

After a moment, she slipped her arms around him and hugged him, laying her head on his shoulder.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

She could tell by the way his body relaxed how much he enjoyed when that simple gesture. He set his head against hers and let out a soft, content exhale.

~ Zoi

A moment later a tiny sigh feathered his neck as the tension drained out of her. Dradvia took a half step closer and closed her eyes.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil smiled, staying there with her quietly. “Dee?” He said voice soft. “Thank you.”

~ Zoi

If possible she seemed to sink closer to him. She knew what he was thanking her for, but she wasn’t sure why he felt he needed to. She didn’t want to break the moment by saying anything about it. She just tightened her arms a little instead.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil tightened his own arms around her and adjusted his head a little. A part of him wished she had some telepathic ability, he longed for the connection. But he would never mention it. She had a hard enough time feeling good enough.

~ Zoi

She wasn’t thinking about it right then, but after Sisnil had shared his telepathy with her, Dradvia understood how much he missed Noril. She often wished she could give him some of that. Just a little. She’d told him he could share with her whenever he wanted, but he hadn’t done it again. That was okay, she wasn’t going to push him about it. “I love you, Sisnil.” Her voice was quiet and muffled against him, but she didn’t want to move to be heard more clearly.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

She didn’t need to, he heard it telepathically. “I love you, too,” he said softly, still hugging her. “So much.”

~ Zoi

It made her cry when he said it. She wasn’t sad, but it wasn’t… well she was happy, but that wasn’t exactly the feeling she was having. Overwhelmed maybe? She wasn’t sure.

And then, of course, Sisnil held her while she cried, which only made her cry more. And every time he said he loved her, Dradvia had to fight to not beg him to stay with her. To not go back. She could never ask that of him.

“I’m sorry that Stevens is making trouble for you.” If she had just given in and gone with him that first time, he would have left Sisnil alone.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil shrugged. “Stevens is like a sliver in my toe. Annoying and hurts sometimes, but overall harmless.”

~ Zoi

“Except slivers that aren’t removed get infected. You can loose the toe or die of the infection. They have to be removed.” Dradvia was unaware of how threatening that might sound as innuendo.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil raised an amused brow at her. He knew she didn’t mean that as darkly as it sounded. “What kind of removal are you thinking?”

~ Zoi

“Depends on how deep it is. If it’s just under the skin, pull it out slowly. If it’s deep, then you have to disinfect and cut it out. The quicker the better.” Dradvia wasn’t clueless. She understood the analogy they were playing with, but she wasn’t a vicious person. Her thought process was simply to try and get Stevens to leave them alone in a polite way. Or maybe he would get bored and leave her alone.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“Well, it hasn’t caused any serious complications, yet.” Sisnil replied with a shrug. “No need for any crazy interventions.”

~ Zoi

“Well, splinters should still be removed.” She rubbed her arms carefulky as if they still hurt from the bruises Stevens had left on her. Stevens might be a splinter for Sisnil, but he was a monster to Dee.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil hugged her gently. “I won’t let anything like that happen again. This is Starfleet, he shouldn’t get away with hurting you.”

~ Zoi

Dradvia nodded but she wasn’t convinced. “He’ll do it again. You can’t stay with me all the time.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

She could tell by the way he tensed he wanted Stevens to regret it if he did it again, but he knew that wouldn’t make her happy, so he just let his tension go and and rested his head on her. “I know, Dee… I know.”

~ Zoi

The thing was, if Stevens was bothering someone else, knowing first hand how violent he could be, she would applaud Sisnil for stopping him, any way possible. To protect someone. She just didn’t want to be the reason for violence.

“I… I guess I should … ummm… should I go?”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“No,” the word slipped out quietly. Sisnil was relaxed against her, his head on her, eyes closed.

~ Zoi

“Okay.” She tried to relax, to be still. But standing there, with Sisnil holding her, all the strain and fear of Stevens’ … assault filled the still spaces inside her, making her shake.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil let his calm comfort leak out, letting her feel the same as he did: the safety and comfort of leaning against someone he loved. He squeezed her gently. “It’s okay, Dee.”

~ Zoi

It didn’t feel okay. Well, in here it did. Stevens couldn’t come in here. He wouldn’t dare come in here and corner her, threaten her… grab her. She couldn’t stay in here though. Why did people react to her like that? What did she do? She tried to be nice to everyone, and helped even when she didn’t want to. Maybe she should have cosmetic surgery so she looked like some horrible repulsive monster. Warts and missing hair and diseased looking skin. Maybe then being to repulsed they’d leave her alone.

Slowly the calm pushed out the fear and filled up those spaces. Dradvia leaned against him and closed her eyes. The calm relaxed her and made her feel a bit lethargic as it washed the adrenaline and panic away.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil sat with her so they were sitting on the bed. “We could do something nice, like take Simon to the holodeck or… We could just stay here.”

~ Zoi

Dradvia leaned against his shoulder and nodded, “Yeah, okay. He’d like that.” Simon loved to get out, and Dee really liked watching him explore. It was joyful in a very simple way.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil walked with her to the holodeck and started his newer program, a play ground for Simon complete with realistic prey like Dee had suggested. He let Simon out of his harness and let the kitten go play. For their benefit, he’d made it so his PaDD would act as a camera/screen so they could see what he was doing even if they couldn’t see him.

~ Zoi

Dradvia watched Simon take off and smiled watching his enthusiasm. She found a soft patch of ground to sit on and leaned back against a tree trunk. Normally, Dradvia would want to walk around and explore the program, but her legs felt shakes like they may not hold her. She knew it was stress, but for the moment she wanted to sit.

Dradvia watched Simon chase a bug and smiled. “You know, it’s too bad that you can’t use a hover projector to make holographic prey. Simon could chase it all over the ship.” Maybe she would get one with her credits.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil laughed and shook his head. “Then he’d always be looking for prey everywhere.” He said.

~ Zoi

“Why not. That’s what cats do, right? It’s instinct.” She watched as Simon jumped after a butterfly and landed on a large fern leaf, but it didn’t hold him. His look of bewilderment made her want to laugh.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“I don’t want him pouncing into something he shouldn’t be,” Sisnil said. “He’s already got into trouble in Engineering.”

~ Zoi

Dradvia looked at him and gasped. “You mean, you… you,” she circled a finger over him, “can’t program it to stay out of restricted areas? What kind of hacker are you?” She was teasing of course.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil laughed. “I can I just don’t want to teach him prey live on the ship outside here.” He said. “To Simon, this is going outside and getting on the ship is going inside.”

~ Zoi

“Okaaaaay, fine. I won’t buy him one of those,” Dee said with a grin. It faded though, the day’s stress showing. “Sisnil?”

“Can… can I lay on your shoulder?”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil looked over at her, then smiled after her question. “Of course you can.” He said gently, holding his arm out to put around her.

~ Zoi

Dradvia leaned into him and let her head rest on the curve of his shoulder. She settled in further as his arm came around her. Her mind whirled for a bit and then began to settle. She felt safe with him.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Dee felt safe and comfortable. Sisnil settled into her and she felt him relax, eyes closed. For once, he didn’t feel ready to spring up and fight.

~ Zoi

Dradvia watched Simon play on the PaDD. She was tired and afraid to leave the holodeck. She was feeling very vulnerable. Her room wasn’t safe anymore, and Stevens obviously had no problem coming after her. She had no where to go.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“Stay with me,” Sisnil said softly, hearing her thoughts. “No one will get to you if you are with me.”

~ Zoi

Sisnil was such a good person. Kind and thoughtful. How could anyone think him inherently bad. “I can’t.” It was… wrong. She was wrong. She would be wrong to accept after the way she’d treated him. It was enough he was just here for right now.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“It’s not wrong.” Sisnil said, looking at her. “I want you to feel safe.”

~ Zoi

Dradvia shook her head. “The radio will be enough,” she said softly. “I… can’t, Sisnil. I can’t accept what I couldn’t give you. It’s wrong.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“I don’t care what you can give me,” Sisnil replied with a shrug. “It’s not wrong to accept what you need.”

~ Zoi

He didn’t understand. Dradvia wasn’t sure she understood. She just… the idea of staying with him made her nervous, but also incredibly guilty. He’d been so lonely and she turned him away. That alone made her undeserving of accepting. “I’ll…” She didn’t know.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“It would make me happy to help you,” he said. “You don’t have to, it’s just… I don’t know, it feels like you want to.”

~ Zoi

“I feel safe with you.” The truth, she wouldn’t lie. A part of her did want to stay with him because she knew she’d be safe. But… she’d turned him away when he was so lonely. She’d been selfish in refusing. She couldn’t accept now. What… what if they were still in her head, what if they spied on Sisnil? What if it was Stevens and his friends? If they used her to hurt Sisnil?

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil smiled. “I am always protecting your mind like it is my own. There is no one there but you.” He set a hand closer to her on the ground. “And I can take care of myself. I’m not afraid of Stevens or anyone else here.”

~ Zoi

Slowly, unaware, her fingers took the invitation and settle into his hand. His grip steadied her. “Why? Why did they want my memories? Why did they change it? Why can’t I remember? I’m nobody.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil shook his head and shrugged. “There’s no way to know right now.” Her touch seemed to calm and relax him. “I wish I could tell you.”

~ Zoi

Dradvia hunched into herself, but didn’t let go of his hand. She wasn’t safe, she could feel it, the constant alertness, the pain in her chest, the way her limbs seemed to shake with too much energy incase she had to run or fight. How she couldn’t quite catch her breath. When Morris found out about what happened to her, she’d be discharged. She was a liability, she didn’t know where she would go, but she had to keep the secret just a bit longer for Sisnil. Then, then she’d tell Morris, she’d resign herself. It was easier than watching the pity and suspicion on his face.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil hugged her, pulling her towards him. “Nothing is going to happen. It’ll be okay.” He said gently.

~ Zoi

Dradvia leaned against him, “You can’t be with me all the time.” Her fingers twisted in his, anxiety and fear. “Stevens knows things he shouldn’t. I didn’t talk to anyone about you getting hurt except Tessan, Morris, and Kgnan. I was very careful to make sure no one was around to overhear. He knows when I’m alone, when I get back to my quarters late, when I spend time with you. What I do on duty.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

She felt Sisnil tense slightly. Maybe he was spying after all. “I can’t be physically with you, but I will always be with you in here.” And he tapped her head gently.

~ Zoi

“I know.” She closed her eyes, just for a moment. She just wanted to be safe and happy, for just a moment. That was all.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil hugged her tightly, resting his head on her.

~ Zoi

Dradvia sat with him, holding his hand, alternately staring at the screen watching Simon, and staring into space. It was easier to be quiet and a little numb than think about it all. She’d go crazy if she did.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil felt calm and at ease. She might notice, after a long enough time, it seemed like he might have even dozed off.

~ Zoi

Dradvia was glad he was relaxed. Sisnil rarely did. She understood how hard it was to find a place you felt safe. There were many things Dradvia could never be, things she could never give him, but she could be a safe person for him. Even if she couldn’t keep him safe, he was safe with her.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil thought about everything, all the time. Assessing danger, possibilities, outcomes. Listening to thoughts of everyone, everywhere. It was one of the nice parts of his ship, there were 7 or so people on board, all of whom he could, for the most part, trust. Here there were too many people, too many unknowns. Dee couldn’t protect him, but he didn’t need that. She was exactly what he did need. Someone to ease his paranoid anxiety and let him feel safe.

~ Zoi

The irony was that Dradvia liked how small the Wolverine was. The number of crew was much smaller than Lokhar’s ship, and so much smaller than the Academy. She’d be happier on a ship with a much smaller crew. Fewer surprises and strangers, but for her, the Wolverine was a good sized ship. Small enough to be safer, but big enough to be ignored.

She was aware of Sisnil and watching him out of the corner of her eye. She was glad he could rest. She watched Simon on the screen as he played, and she listened for the sound of the doors opening. No one should bother them, but she couldn’t take anything for granted anymore.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Simon brought her a dead mouse, setting it in front of her like an offering. Except, well… It seemed as though he’d already eaten his favorite parts of it.

Meanwhile, Sisnil shuddered gently, probably dreaming. Whether good or bad, she wouldn’t be able to tell. He didn’t often sleep deeply enough to dream. He was leaned against a tree, his head back against it.

~ Zoi

Dradvia looked down at the half eaten mouse and sighed. She reached out and pet Simon, while picking the mouse up by the tail. She had been reading about cats. Some of the books said cats brought dead things because they thought you couldn’t hunt and feed yourself. Well, she wasn’t going to eat it, or keep it, but she could look it over and praise the cat for it. “Good boy, Simon,” she whispered softly. Then she set the little corpse beside her. “Go play, baby.” She pet him again. She looked over at Sisnil. She wanted to hold his hand, lay her head against him. She didn’t want to wake him though. Instead she sat just the foot away from him and watched Simon. She fell into a kind of numbness. It helped to not think or feel anything, and that way it wouldn’t wake Sisnil up.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Simon tried to lick her hands with his mouse-mouth before he got distracted by a leaf and raced off. Sisnil woke on his own after a while, did a physical check of his surroundings, as well as a telepathic one, then stretched.

~ Zoi

Dradvia let Simon lick her hand. It wasn’t like it was a real mouse he had just eaten. Just holographic light and replicator rations. He darted off to play with the leaf. Normally it would tug a smile, even a small one, to Dradvia’s lips, but not today.

Dradvia knew the moment he woke up. His breathing changed just slightly even though he stayed still. She glanced over. “Sleep good?”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“Huh? Oh, yeah… I guess.” Sisnil replied with a shrug, wiping the corners of his mouth as if unsure whether he’d drooled or not.

~ Zoi

Dradvia only gave brief nod. She handed him back his PaDD. “Simon’s still playing. He brought you a mouse earlier.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“Did he?” Similar asked. “That’s nice.” He seemed quiet, brooding, almost. “You don’t feel better?” He asked after a moment of silence. He could sense her numbness, knew it was a way of coping.

~ Zoi

Dradvia shrugged. “I guess.” What was better? It was all sort of relative. “I’m not shaking anymore or… or crying.” That was better, right? She was able to choose not to think about the way Stevens had gotten in her space, the way he’d touched her, the things he’d… he’d suggested she do to prove her loyalty. She quickly pushed those thoughts away again before she felt sick. “I’m alright, Sisnil.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil scoffed softly. “Interesting definition of alright you have there, Dee.”

~ Zoi

Dradvia shrugged, self-conscious, shy, uncertain. “Compared to how I could be, I am. That’s all I have to define by.” She gave him a small upturn of her lips. “You don’t have to worry about me, Sisnil.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil returned a similar look. “I’ll always worry, Dee.” He said softly. “I…” He began, but then apparently decided against what he was going to say, and watched Simon instead.

~ Zoi

She wanted to know what he was going to say, but she didn’t ask. She didn’t push. “I know you will,” was all she said. It wasn’t long before Simon returned with another mouse just for Sisnil.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil playfully thanked him and then, after the cat left, got rid of it. He wanted to say more, but emotional conversations weren’t his thing. Instead he smiled at her again. “Simon’s getting tired. I can feel it.”

~ Zoi

“He should be. He’s been playing and hunting for almost an hour. I’m sure he’s probably hungry. I thought he might lay down for a little, but then something would move and he would chase after it.” Dee didn’t ask or press. She supposed she was afraid to. She was also just exhausted. She was tired of her reactions and feelings making Sisnil think he had to fix everything. She was tired of being a burden.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer