SIM:Lael Rosek - Social Graces Part II (Gorkon)

Previous sim "Social Graces, Part I"	Lieutenant Junior Grade Lael Rosek HCO Officer Starbase 118 USS Gorkon NCC 82293	Next sim "Here's Hoping..."
	View Template

((Sto’Vo”Kor Lounge, USS Gorkon))
[[Time Index--A month after the Starship Graveyard]]

::The next words were purely Stripey, who was starting to hate the logic thing she was doing.::

Skyfire: Be my guest, Jansen. oO Bad Stripey. Oo

::Stripey just silently laughed at Chythar, the body clenching and unclenching his fists repeatedly to help him relax.::

Rosek: ::laughs:: Probably shouldn’t think about him too much or this won’t work very well. It’ll make you uncomfortable.

Skyfire: That wasn’t me. It was Stripey.

::Once again, the PTSD-induced personality seemed to glower at Chythar in the form of a cheshire cat.::

Stripey: oO Why do you tell people about me!? Oo

Skyfire: oO Shut up...Oo

::With nothing further to add, he put his head in his hands and realized the can of worms he just opened. Now he had to explain Stripey to someone. He’d probably mentioned the name before to someone but couldn’t remember who. Or when.::

Rosek: ::arches an eyebrow:: Stripey?

Skyfire: It’s a...long story. Rather convoluted, and probably way out in left-field. You probably don’t want to be bored with details, so I’ll just...I’m not crazy. Stripey started as a vision induced by sedatives and kind of evolved into...a personality of his own. I guess.

::He bit his lip and stopped talking, letting Stripey seethe in anger.::

Rosek: ::murmurs:: The last thing that I think you are is crazy. I actually think you’re very sweet.

::Chythar had been called a lot of things in his life. Coward, delusional, reckless, crackers, intelligent, and not leadership material. Never sweet. It was new, and unexpected. Maybe he was like candy.::

Skyfire: Why, thank you… oO Now what do I do with that adjective…? Oo

Rosek: ::grins:: What? No one’s ever said that to you before? No girls you’ve dated?

Skyfire: Since we’re laying all our cards on the table, I’ve never had a date once in my life. Ever.

::That was very painful to admit. The empty hollow feeling from before now intensified, and he gripped the table. He was upset by it, but had to at least maintain his calm exterior. He’d managed to mask most of his emotions but somehow the bitterness hadn’t quite washed out of his speech. This conversation was making him confront things he should’ve left buried.::

Rosek: ::smile fades and she blinks:: Oh.

Skyfire: ::cooly:: Is that surprise or disappointment?

Rosek: Surprise, I promise. I thought you’d have been batting them off with a stick. I just figured you were kind of picky.

::He gave a sage nod and gradually released his grip on the table.::

Skyfire: Now you see why the socially awkward thing is a problem.

Rosek: ::nods:: Yeah. ::smiles:: But… ::gestures between them:: I’d say you’re doing pretty well here.

Skyfire: ::shrugs.:: Maybe it’s not meant to be. Doomed to singularity and bachelorhood forever. Not that I mind, but….without Devlin, I feel lost. ::He pinched the bridge of his nose and tried to imagine his little furry friend.:: Hell, I feel more lost than normal out here. Singularity bites, and my awkwardness just makes it worse.

Rosek: ::shrugs:: I thought I was...until I met Jansen. ::gaze drops to her hands:: ::murmurs:: Two ex-girlfriends, one ex-boyfriend and an ex-husband. Not exactly a winning combo. Skyfire: Ever tried getting rich with a hole in your wallet? That’s what my life is like. I’ve lost everything, and my sanity is probably going to be next. Morale officer for the ship and all that. Nobody even laughs at my jokes anymore.

Rosek: ::smiles:: I do.

::That was at least a small consolation prize, but he didn’t have anything else to add. His eyes closed, and his free hand once again clenched into a fist as the hollowness continued to build within him.::

Rosek: ::murmurs:: I’m sorry. I don’t seem to be helping much, do I?

Skyfire: I honestly don’t know… ::His voice almost cracked a bit, as though he was biting back tears of frustration which were building slowly behind his otherwise jaded and calm exterior.::

::Without a second thought, Lael hugged him tightly, again kissing his cheek.::

Rosek: I wish you wouldn’t be so hard on yourself, Chythar. You’re a good man. You’ve just been given some challenges. And yet, you’ve kept fighting. Don’t give up. You’ll find happiness someday.

::Hearing those words, the same ones he recounted to Alex all those months ago when he’d been made morale officer, was painful. Hearing Ris’s voice in her words also was equally so. He didn’t know what else to say. The hug made him relax a little, and his voice came out a whisper.::

Skyfire: How do I find it...?

Rosek: ::murmurs:: I wish I could tell you for sure...but that’s something you have to find within yourself.

Stripey: oO Not gonna happen. Ever. Oo

Skyfire: oO Can it, Stripes. Oo

::He remained silent within her embrace, eyes clenched shut against the reality which crumbled around him. A single tear of frustration streaked along his cheek, and words failed him.::

Rosek: ::pulls back and grasps his hands, smiling wanly:: Now. What’s say we begin those flirting lessons?

Skyfire: I don’t know if I can focus right now...but if you think it’ll help...lead on, sensei. ::He wiped a tear from his face and attempted to focus.::

Rosek: ::smiles:: How about that dance you intended to ask me for?

::That was odd. There was no music, they were standing in the shambles of the Klingon afterlife, and she wanted a dance? He had a good imagination, but not sophisticated enough to hear waltz time in his head.::

Skyfire: What about it? We were standing in the middle of a Victorian mansion, you looked amazing, and shortly before all hell broke loose I got distracted by some official function. When I saw you again, Dr. J was on your arm.

::He may’ve been off about the era, but he was right about the rest of it. Just before they found the body, in fact.::

Rosek: ::laughs:: We weren’t even dating then. We were just friends.

Skyfire: Taking into the account that was the first time I’d seen you since your return from the Tharsis...could you blame me for jumping to a conclusion?

Rosek: ::smiles:: I suppose not.

::He shrugged. So far, the lesson didn’t seem to be helping. Then again, he hadn’t started learning anything yet. Or at least, he didn’t think so. With a slow nod, he motioned for her to continue.::

Rosek: ::smiles and murmurs:: Tip number one, which I’ve obviously failed miserably at, don’t talk about exes on the first date. ::stands and grabs his hand:: ::murmurs:: No music necessary. ::leans close to his ear:: Just feel it.

::He didn’t have any exes to talk about, so perhaps he passed. As she took his free hand, he forced himself once again to relax. The strain of the last couple weeks was taking its toll, and he wasn’t sure he could improvise any music to go with the moment. He stood awkwardly and exhaled, attempting to come up with something.::

Rosek: ::wraps her arms around his neck:: Relax. This isn’t a test or anything. Just enjoy the moment.

::He gave another nod and took a slow breath as he attempted to get lost in the moment. Somehow, being this close to another person who wasn’t Ris was helping, but how much remained to be seen.::

Skyfire: ::whispered:: Jansen will kill me….

Rosek: ::smiles:: It’s just a dance, Chythar. It’s not like we’re making out or anything.

::After a few slow and calculated breaths, he began leading her through the motions of a tango, the music somehow playing in his head despite the protests from his leering alter-ego.::

END

===

Lieutenant Commander Chythar Skyfire
CMO
USS Gorkon
O239002CD0

&

LtJG Lael Rosek
HCO
USS Gorkon
I238110RH0