Meal in Tension

Posted on Tue Feb 14th, 2023 @ 6:21am by Lieutenant JG Dunamis & Lieutenant Commander Rin

Mission: Season 6 : Episode 1: Circinus
Location: Room near the battle bridge, Deck 23 Stardrive Section
Timeline: MD 3
1396 words - 2.8 OF Standard Post Measure

Rin walked down the corridor away from the battle bridge until things were relatively quiet. Quiet wasn't usually her thing, but she found it rather attractive at the moment. She leaned against the wall and slid down it until she was was sitting on the floor, propped up against the bulkhead.

She unwrapped the emergency ration and took a bite. While the taste left something to be desired, she hadn't realized how starving she was until the first bite hit her stomach.

"Those don't really taste like very much, do they. Though I suppose they'll keep you alive in times like these." God, how long had Dunamis been there? The Kelpien had propped his tall, gangly body up against the wall across from her, one knee lifted to his chest, the other leg half extended. He looked exhausted, moreso because he'd spent the past few hours on his feet as part of the crew's efforts to piece themselves back together. Sure, he'd spent it staring at his PADD, but even that required energy.

"But what can I say? I was raised a spoiled brat aboard a Galaxy-X-class vessel. She had a lovely Japanese restaurant that served the best buffets I've ever tasted. I'd beg my mother to take me there when she came off duty in sickbay." Dunamis balled up what appeared to be an emergency ration wrapper which he'd been holding. Evidently he'd decided to spend the brief period of respite making sure he didn't starve to death, too.

Rin wasn't sure how to reply to the lieutenant's attempt at small talk. She too had been raised on a Starfleet vessel, but there wasn't much to say about it since she had no memory. Or she could share how in her early time on Tavara she had to be fed by a tube since her stomach had atrophied during her time in the Collective. Good times.

So she bit off another large chuck of the rectangular food item, taking time to chew and swallow before responding. "They're not that bad. And I'd take just about anything at the moment." she took another bite. "I don't suppose this is what you were expecting when you were assigned to the Elysium."

"I doubt it was anyone's expectation." Dunamis spoke plainly. Who'd want to be thrown into the possible complete opposite end of the universe and left barely alive? He doubted there was a single person in Starfleet that wanted it - not even the most gung-ho, daredevil of personnel. He certainly didn't fit in that category.

"Nonetheless. We can only take what hand the universe deals us - cruel a puppetmaster as it may sometimes be. Take it, use it wisely and get stronger and better off of it." Dunamis chuckled dully. "I'm sorry. I probably sound like an old, clichéd motivational recording. My parents would play me those sometimes as a boy."

"You do," Rin confirmed. Then, in an attempt at small talk, she continued, "Where were you transferred from?"

"The Babylonia. She was a tiny Saber class vessel with quarters scarcely larger than sanitation closets." Dunamis murmured. "Which is hardly healthy for someone of my stature. Being transferred here, to an Odyssey class starship, is truly a blessing." He stretched then, extending his long, slender limbs. "How about you?" He would've called her simply 'Rin' - but then again they weren't exactly off duty at the present moment, were they?

"USS Mississippi. Nova class. I got to be a large fish in a small pond. So they found me a larger pond. The Elysium is practically a flying city in comparison." Rin sighed and took another bite. "Sorry, I'm terrible at small talk."

"You seem to be doing well at it so far." Dunamis commented with a lighthearted chuckle. "You know, I used to be in your shoes once upon a time when it came to idle conversation and interactions with others - but I had someone to help me improve. Someone incredibly kind and patient and understanding. I owe her much even today."

Rin categorically hated the phrase I've been in your shoes. Sure, maybe he was once as socially awkward as she often was, but she very much doubted the reasons were similar, and reasons were an inherent part of understanding behavior.

She mentally reached out to Ebi again.

She felt a tear roll down her cheek. She tried wiping it away before Dunamis noticed. Then she dropped her head as more tears came. What a hell of a time for her emotional regulator to break. She didn't have time for this, and she felt like she was about to break.

"Rin?" Dunamis tilted his head. Was she crying? Was that why her head was down? No, she was. She definitely was. Maybe the pressure of their collective predicament had finally gotten to her. "Rin. Hey." He moved across the hallway to her side and put a hand on her shoulder. "What's wrong? Can I help you somehow?" Beyond offer comforting words? Maybe not, he reckoned. He wasn't a therapist. He would nonetheless be a terrible colleague if he didn't try to do something.

"It's stupid," Rin said. Then, after a long moment's pause. "A good friend is gone. We're normally aware of each other's presence, and his just...stopped. And in the next couple days everyone on this ship is going to be saying something similar. A friend, a lover, a parent, a child, there is no one on this ship that won't lose someone, so I need to keep my shit together."

"Which hardly means that you aren't entitled to grieve for your lost friend." Dunamis said, lightly squeezing her shoulder. Unlike her who'd been on the Elysium for a long, long while he, as one of the newest members of the crew, would've most likely have lost fewer others that were particularly close to him - of which there were none. He simply hadn't the time to bond deeply with anyone... which didn't mean that he couldn't show empathy to those who had, and lost the other end of that bond forever.

"Rin." Dunamis shifted slightly so that he faced her head on, hands lightly placed on her shoulders. He understood that perhaps she might not want that contact right now and he would absolutely respect it if she asked him to move away - but he had to at least try and offer some comfort. "I might not be the best in helping you or anyone else grieve, or deal with grief. But I promise that you, that no matter what happens, you may lean on me, on us, the rest of the crew, for support as we will do you. If you need anything at all, I will be there if you ask."

Rin's hands reached up to seize Deunamis by the wrist, he grip strong, stronger than one might expect. Pinning her like that: bad move. There was a time, before Starfleet, she would have instinctively hurled him aside. She understood the intended gesture here, but that only tempered her unease. One hand on a shoulder was fine. This, from a stranger, was not fine.

"You need to move your hands, Lieutenant," she said, tearful gaze staring him straight in the eye.

Dunamis instantly removed his hands from her shoulders as if they'd suddenly grown searing hot, and scooted back about a foot and a half away from her. Some people were simply either not comfortable or not familiar with such gestures for various reasons and he should've bore that in mind. "Sorry." He apologized sincerely. "I-" Hastily the Kelpien pulled himself up to a standing position, food wrapper balled up in his hand. Perhaps the time for idle conversation was at its end; they'd need to be at the top of their games to keep the ship together.

"No matter." He said coolly. "We both ought to get back to work. The ship must be run somehow, and you and I are, for now, a considerable part of that. See you on the battle bridge, ma'am?"

Rin nodded. "I'll be there in a minute."

She took a few deep breaths and wiped her eyes as Dumaris left. She finished up her ration, crumpled the wrapper and stuffed it into her pocket, and returned to duty.