Lt. JG Ollie Bergmen - The little things that help us face the night
CPT Arianus
(( Elysium – Main Lounge, Deck 6 – USS Artemis-A ))
Listening and speaking to Imril could fill the whole evening easily. What it couldn't fill was the mugs and duties that they both needed to attend to, which Ollie neglected by sitting here now with him. Not like he would care.
His eyes drifted to the bottom of his glass, watching the foam slowly fade away. A sad sign that this moment is coming to an end. He could refill the mug, continue, if Imril would be willing; but not caring about his duties, he knew that approach would come back to bite him later. Everything nice has an end.
Bergmen: I can only say what I know. Work will fill us for a moment. But that moment passes, work is done, and that leaves us void. So we take more work to fill that void. Life is more. Should be more. My grandpa once told me - for a long, happy life, we need three pillars. Work the work that gives us engagement, someone next to our side we like, and a feeling that our life has meaning without the previous two. Life can be happy with just two pillars, but we never find happiness standing on just one leg, alone. ::pause, as he looks at Imril’s mug and his own empty glass:: Refill?
He watched as Imril deeply sipped from what was left in their mug.
Imril: ::Shaking their head:: I don't think I should, thanks. I don’t think a lot of coffee’s going to get along well with my lunch. Fast-food burgers and insect nuggets.
And that was it. The burden lifted from Lieutenant Bergmen's shoulders when he heard Imril say those words. He shrugged his shoulders and smiled.
Bergmen: Ok, I will not torture you here any longer. Be free! You have my permission to return to work - not like you would need one. But let’s make a deal. We do this again. No need to just sit and drink… This ship, planets, or stations offer plenty of R&R options, so I believe we’ll find something else that interests both of us next time. Or something new we wanted to show to other... Time will tell. What do you say, deal?
Imril waved off the suggestion that they would make an excuse to end the meeting.
Imril: Oh, it’s not torture. Might be later, if I have too much coffee. ::laugh::
Ollie joined in the laughter, a joyous lightness in his eyes.
But that laughter faded away after a short while, and Imril finished his mug, looking around with a sense of melancholy that Ollie couldn't fully understand. No, that was not correct. He did not understand the thoughts that brought on that melancholy reflection, but he could fully grasp the feeling that accompanied it. He silently nodded to Imril's gaze. No words were needed. He understood.
Imril: Deal.
Bergmen: Deal.
And that was it. Imril stood up. Left. The door closed behind him, and Ollie was alone once more. He stood up and refilled his glass with another flat white coffee. Sat again at the same table, took the PADD from the pile, and started to work on endless forms, orders, shift rotations, and delivery notes. He was in the middle of the pile when he picked up the PADD containing the briefing for the Operations Emergency Drill. He had been putting it off for so long, knowing what they would all need to face once there. But did he have another choice?
He read the instructions. The report he based this drill after. Checked the programming for the holodeck. He smiled as he reached the end of the document. When he switched engineer Tho'bi off with Imril in onto his damage control team, he sipped his coffee, knowing that one little thing would make it better for him there. He was ready to face it. Smiling, he confirmed the briefing would be sent and put down the PADD, just to pick up another.
END for Ollie
–
Lieutenant JG Ollie Bergmen
Operations Officer
U.S.S. Artemis-A
A240009JC1