Lieutenant JG Ras El'Heem - Nero fiddled while Rome burned
Ras El'Heem
((Counseling Suite, Sickbay, Deck 6, USS Khitomer – Docked at DS33))
He’d supply answers to the subject when prompted but in a detached way. As introspective as the Kressari was, it took Ras longer than he’d expected to clock the disassociation he was donning surrounding the loss of his hand. It took even longer for him to wake up and face the music. The officer slunk through an abandoned sickbay, afterall it was shoreleave. Talia was probably off enjoying the station and he wasn’t even sure if Ayemett was in. The door to the counseling suite was shut and no sound came from within indicating it’s vacancy. He waited a moment, trying to discern if he was really already ready for this. His right arm ached as he held it to his chest.
Ras pressed the buzzer and the doors promptly slid open.
El’Heem: Knock knock. ::stepping inside:: I wasn’t sure you were on duty. You busy?
A Dewitt: Response
He hesitated. It was her shoreleave too, though she seemed to be busier than ever when the rest of the ship was out decompressing. Medical was a fickle beast, that way.
El’Heem: I can…come back later-
A Dewitt: Response
Ras wasn’t going to get out of it that easily. He swayed to the side awkwardly and pursed his lips before meandering to the sofa across from the chair she sat in. He plopped down nonchalantly and put on an air of faux-ease.
El’Heem: Right. No rest for the wicked, huh? How are things with you? Newly wed life as great as you thought it’d be?
A Dewitt: Response
He was sure she knew he was deflecting but he’d take all the extra hesitation he could get. His left hand traced the pattern on the couch in a nervous compulsion.
El’Heem: I’ve heard marriage is about give and take. The honeymoon phase is more of a winding road when you’re out here on the frontier too, I’m sure.
A Dewitt: Response
Ras nodded slowly and squeezed his mouth into a straight line again.
El’Heem: You…you’re hair is looking great. Those scalp treatments seem to be holding.
A Dewitt: Response
El’Heem: Yeah…Yeah. Oh ::holding up his arm slightly:: oh yea, this old thing? It’s fine. It’s fineeee.
A Dewitt: Response
Ras gulped. There it was. Counsellors seemed to have much more patience for small talk than others did. Likely so they can try to read you. Ras knew that. All medical officers take some degree of counselling classes. Still, Ras himself wasn’t cut out for the lack of candidness and beating around the bush he was employing at that very moment.
El’Heem: ::slowly:: you have time for a session?
A Dewitt: Response
TAGS/TBC
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Lieutenant JG Ras El’Heem
Science Officer
USS Khitomer (NCC-62400)
K240106RE3