Unwanted check up

Posted on Wednesday 22 March 2023 @ 15:17 by Lieutenant JG Oakham Renn & Lieutenant JG Zirvell Khen
Edited on on Wednesday 22 March 2023 @ 15:18

Mission: Where no one has gone before
Location: Security office
938 words - 1.9 OF Standard Post Measure

ON

Ignoring the stares, Zirvell had but one purpose as he entered the security area of the ship, his eyes searching until he had found the subject of his attention. He had actually never been to this area of the ship before and briefly he and entertained the excuse of just wanting to explore the ship.

Not a liar by nature however, the Cardassian had dismissed that thought in a second. "Lieutenant Oakham, a moment of your time please," he stated calmly as he gestured to a vacant office and stepped inside. Better to he away from prying eyes, he reasoned.

Oakham kept his expression neutral, not wanting to cause a scene infront of the Security personnel and also knowing that his previous outburst in the mess hall was unkind and unwarranted. He had been heading to workout so was sporting a dark blue sleeveless vest and black shorts but still nodded towards a side office within the security facility that was currently vacant.

He followed the Cardassian inside the room, just not very far into the room, keeping the door two steps behind him.
"What can I do for you Lieutenant?"

"I was just wondering if you're fully recovered from your state of intoxication. I had expected you to come to sickbay the day after the wedding." Zirvell purposefully kept his distance by moving further into the room. "You were very far gone, you didn't even object when I took you home."

"Not that far gone... I still remember what happened!" his comment pointed, a thin veil of anger covering the disdain he felt for the Cardassian and his own actions that night.

"Far enough gone," Zirvell answered calmly, while pulling out a tricorder and detaching the scanning wand. "May I?" he queried, taking the tiniest step closer to improve scanning results. "I just want to make sure you're alright, that's all. I feel responsible, because I'm the one who took you home and I failed to check up when you didn't report in."

"You know how I feel about..." he caught himself before he said the wrong word and redirected it to another instead. "You know how I feel about this Lieutenant!"
He took a few steps back, bringing his hands up motioning for the Doctor to stop in his tracks. "You know how I feel about Cardassians... and you!" the latter half of the statement laced with a weight and a meaning beyond the words themselves.

"You were drunk," Zirvell answered calmly, "you were babbling." He had pushed the memory of what had occurred away, ascribing them to a drunkard's ramblings. "I'm only too aware of how you feel about Cardassians, and how you deflect that onto me. Rest assured though, I won't tell anyone." He stood still, hand still raised and holding the scanning wand, making no motion to continue until he had permission. "Just let me make sure you're alright and I'll get out of your hair. Alright?"

"I'm fine!" the young Bajoran rumbled, slapping the Cardassians hand away, sending the scanning wand tumbling to the floor. He regretted the action as soon as he had done it but he was so torn about the two distinct people he was in this moment. He was a man in love and he was the Bajoran that was repulsed by the Cardassian. He turned and stalked away as far as he could in the small room.

Seemingly unphazed, Zirvell went to pick up his scanner. "Then let me be the judge of that," he suggested calmly as he retrieved the scanner from the floor. He could see the turmoil, to a degree but he didn't understand it. Didn't understand what caused it.

"Why do you care so much. I was drunk. It's not exactly life threatening?" Still walking around the room, keeping the conference table between the two of them as he went.

"Because that's my job as senior nurse," Zirvell answered, pulling back a chair to sit down. "I could've been out of your hair now," he reminded the other man, "yes you were drunk. Very drunk, actually, and you did seem out of sorts." He sighed softly, shaking his head. "Why does this bother you so much, it's just a scan."

"Because I can't take my eyes from you and I loath the sight of you at the same time!"
The words were pointed, cutting and his tone of voice conveyed hatred, longing, loathing and tenderness all mingled together in a sound as perplexing to Oakham as it was to Zirvell.

Registering the tone, Zirvell did his best to hide his reaction and pretended to shrug it off. "So you want to make sure you know where I am so you can avoid me," he suggested, equally gently as before, purposefully twisting the Bajoran's words to the man's favour. "I don't pretend to understand...but perhaps we can find a way to work with each other? I don't have to get close to take a scan...and you can get closer when you're ready. How's that?"

Oakham glared at Zirvell, his gaze lingering for a fraction longer than it should before he stormed from the room, leaving the young medical officer alone.

Zirvell just sighed and closed his tricorder, putting the scanning wand back into its niche. He then stood and left the office as well, returning to his duties in sickbay.

OFF

○●Lieutenant JG Zirvell
Medical Officer
USS Merlin - PNPC Seklar


○● Lieutenant JG Oakham Renn
Security/Tactical Officer
USS Merlin - PNPC Anya