LTJG Lhandon Joseph Nilsen - Lhandon Nearly Does Something Stupid!
Lhandon Nilsen
((OOC: Putting all of the punching bag scenes into one because there are lines I want to react to. Thank you for bearing with the delay. Gently getting back into things.))
(Gymnasium, Deck 5, Octavia E Butler)
One could argue that Nilsen was about to engage in a healthier coping mechanism.
Lhandon circled the punching bag, he was waiting.
He had been in his personal gym wear: a dark blue loose gym vest with his arms and tattoos on display, and gray tracksuit bottoms with trainers. Even a shower and a change of clothes had not been enough to calm him down. He had already put on the boxing gloves. On his right deltoid was a tattoo of a D20 die, a symbol of his favorite game. This was in front of the logo used for Paladin, a tall shield with wings out of each side. There were other tattoos on his chest that were not visible, but a small speck of ink hinted at their existence.
He saw Maxwell walk in, as he had requested, and right on time. He pointed with the gloves to the bag and said:
Nilsen: Hold it up
Maxwell: Response
O’Reilly: Hey brother (beat) L-T, mind if I join you guys?
They were joined by another. He was in no mood for negotiation, and some part of his unconscious let O'Reilly into this circle. As soon as the bag was steadied, he struck it hard several times and cursed loudly. After pacing around for a moment, he returned to the bag, unleashing a flurry of strikes with his full force.
Nilsen: How the hell could he? ::punches bag:: I stood by him all this time. He’s just gone and thrown it all away!
Caras: Do… do you need me to ,uh, alternate holding the bag?
Maxwell: Response
In any other situation, Lhandon would have laughed at Caras's comment, and a funny quip about "the old man can handle it" might have found purchase. Instead, once again, he pummeled the bag. He put his full force into it, and yet, like a thirst that couldn't be quenched, his anger remained unsatisfied.
Nilsen: Toxin has! Everything we had built in ops. ::Punches bag:: Everything we had together ::punches again:: He’s just thrown it away ::Punches repeatedly::
Maxwell: Response
O’Reilly: I think I saw him in the hall just now.
Lhandon didn’t fully register what Teddy had said, he had found his way nearby and was working on something that again, Lhandon didn’t register what this exercise was.
Caras: What does he think you did?
Lhandon only had one thought in mind.
Nilsen: How dare I have thoughts of my own? ::punches bag:: How dare I use my initiative? ::punches bag again::
Maxwell: Response
Nilsen: And you know the worst part? ::punches bag:: Doing this right now ::punches bag:: to get it out of myself ::punches again:: I’m proving his damn point.
O’Reilly: Are you Lhando? Don’t you think he’s being a little stubborn from what I’ve heard?
Lhandon thought Teddy was absolutely right. There had always been some compromise from them both. Lt Arlill and LtJG Nilsen were both stubborn, yes, but they knew how to work with one another and they knew when to push and when to pull.
Caras: If not getting angry when you’re disrespected is wrong, then who really wants to be right?
Maxwell: Response
He cursed again and paced around. Caras had validated what he was feeling, but that didn't subside the feeling of anger anymore. There were others in the gym too. He knew eyes were looking at him, but he didn't care and just struck the bag again!
O’Reilly: What happened between you two?
Nilsen: I…I don’t even know. I just pulled me into the office and laid into me. I…I…
He struck the bag again, he couldn’t find the words.
Caras: It’s hard to believe that he’d throw it all away. Did he dismiss you? Are you no longer Assistant Chief of ops?
Maxwell: Response
He paused to answer Morro’s question
Nilsen: No…I’ve still got the post…but I’m on gamma shift now…In other words…:hitting the bag again:: out ::hit:: of ::hit:: the ::hit:: way ::hit::
Teddy picked up some dumbells and started doing curls.
O’Reilly: You don’t have to share but…this seems so big. Never seen you like this.
Caras: Why does that seem worse than just flat out sending you to another duty post.
Nilsen: Because it is. This is how you manage someone out ::hits bag:: you reduce their work ::hits bag:: pull them away from anything they’re working on ::hits bag::
Maxwell/Any: Response
O’Reilly: What do you think caused it?
Caras: I couldn’t believe what he said about you on the last mission. I don’t think I would say that even if it were true for anyone.
Nilsen: The thing about me just being a circumstance of convivence??? ::hits bag:: Yeah I remember that ::hits bag:: and I was so willing to forget about it; you know…because of the visions and all the stuff ::hits:: but I know what exactly what started this. He wasn’t happy that my team got to negotiate with the UDP. ::hits bag:: Something I’m proud off ::hits bag:: First time ever I do something right ::hits bag:: I use my position for good and he don’t like it ::hits bag::
The punching bag was struck for the umpteenth time. Each hit that didn't have Lhandon saying something about the situation that had happened with himself and Lt Arlill only about an hour ago was punctuated with a curse or a yell of some kind.
O’Reilly/Nilsen/Maxwell/Any: Response
Caras: Maybe his new lover is jealous of you and wants you gone.
He paused for a moment to catch his breath, he breathed in and out a few times and then looked up at Morro and his face said:
Nilsen: What?
Caras: I heard him say something about Henry under his breath during the last mission. It sounded… Intimate.
Nilsen: The guy down in waste processing? Dyed hair? The guy we both met here?
O’Reilly/Maxwell: Response
They were then joined, in a fashion not dissimilar to that of any of the Spider-Man characters of the 20th and 21st centuries, by Nis, who, to Lhandon, appeared to descend from the ceiling on a web.
Nis: Uh … hi everyone! :: gulping:: Yeah, we didn’t hear any of that. Not sure what y’all are talking about at all. :: Scratching her neck :: Okay, well we’re done on the wall for the day. Have a nice train-- ::bites her tongue to avoid saying it training session :: Yup.
Any other day, Lhandon would have made a nickname for Nis, maybe "Parker," in reference to Peter Parker and the character's trademark awkwardness, or perhaps "Mayday" in reference to May Parker. Or maybe Corazón, or Araña, in reference to Anya Corazón, who had deserved way more screen time.
Nilsen: Where’d you come from? ::beat:: No…no…stick around doc. ::To Caras:: What you mean lover? Like he’s saying something to Arlill? ::Beat:: Nah…he would have…Arlill would have told me he’s dating? Right?
He hadn't wanted to drive Nis away. He had needed whatever Maxwell, Caras, O'Reilly, and Nis were offering. Lhandon had taken a moment to pause. Nis's arrival had provided a strange interruption in the normal pattern of conversation. When one was angry, they certainly didn't expect someone to seemingly drop from the ceiling.
O’Reilly/Maxwell/Caras/Nis: Response
Nilsen: We’re meant to be bros right? Me and Arlill. ::Beat:: How could I have missed that? No wonder he was slipping away all the time
Then the anger bubbled to the surface again.
Nilsen: But if this Henry is twisting things? ::: Sizing up the bag:: I’m going to rip his throat out.
Again, Lhandon struck the bag with full force. The intensity of his anger skyrocketed once more.
Nilsen: Oh I bet I know what he said. I get too emotional ::beat:: and I need a break ::hits bag:: Well I’m sorry for caring about what happens in my OC and not sitting in my ivory tower ::hits bag:: I’m sorry that when I saw the worst moment of life on the Dow, I wasn’t as cold as a Vulcan.::hits bag:: I'm sorry your new boyfriend is manipulating you
O’Reilly/Maxwell/Caras/Nis: Response
And then, Lhandon goes to do something stupid,.
Nilsen: I’m going to ::yells:: =/\= Computer locate Henr...
Yet, he is interrupted before he could do so.
O’Reilly/Maxwell/Caras/Nis: Response
Tags/TBC
((OOC: I’m not a full-on comic book nerd, I’m just weirdly knowledgeable about Spiderman and the characters related to the series. As soon as I read your description Zac, I was reminded of the exoskeleton that Anya used to have))
Lieutenant JG Lhandon Joseph Nilsen
Assistant Chief of Operations.
USS Octavia E Butler
O240007LN1
He/Him/His (Both player and character)