Ensign Ryden Tarus Kel - You Matter
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Ryden Kel
Aug 6, 2025, 8:20:59 PM8/6/25
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((Zvezda - Habitat Section - Lake - 118 OPS))
Kel: Anyway. I didn’t bring you out here to be depressing. Just… thanks. For being here. This helps more than you know.
He hadn’t expected the words to land as heavily as they did... but they felt true. Being on the water, in the company of someone who asked nothing of him… it was grounding. In a way sickbay or duty shifts or even quiet quarters never quite managed.
Sasch reached out, touching his chin gently and guiding his gaze to hers. It was soft, unforced... a simple act of care.
Kreshkova: Let me ask you a qvestion.
Kel met her eyes, sensing the seriousness behind the words. No teasing, no mask. Just concern.
Kel: Yeah. Go ahead.
She tilted her head slightly, not smiling, but letting her expression hold something steady... something sure.
Kreshkova: Does it take a romantic attachment here on OPS to be your counterveight?
The question surprised him. Not because it was off-base, but because it was... perceptive. And because he wasn’t sure he had an easy answer.
Kel: Honestly? I used to think so. That it had to be romantic to count... to ground me. But the more things have changed lately... I’m not so sure. ::He exhaled, glancing out across the water before continuing.:: I think what I really need is someone who sees me. Who I don’t have to explain everything to, or hide things from. Someone who’s just... there. Who cares. Doesn’t have to come with flowers and declarations. Just honesty. Just time.
Her gaze softened, and his empathy could feel the quiet hum of warmth behind her sympathy ... not pity, but something steady. Trusting.
Kreshkova: If you had someone who cared, who vould listen, who vould … vell … try to see you - just as you are. But who might be … qvite a vays avay. Could someone like zhat … help, maybe?
He didn’t hesitate this time.
Kel: Yeah. Someone like that could help a lot.
He gave her a small, genuine smile, the first in a while that didn’t feel forced.
Kel: And I think… I’ve already got someone like that.
He didn’t say her name... didn’t have to.
Kel: I guess… I’d like that. More than I realized.
He looked down at his hands, turning one palm upward like he was trying to make sense of something invisible there. The question sat in his chest like a weighted stone, heavy and awkward. He knew the answer might sting, but he needed to ask anyway.
Kreshkova: ?
Kel: But… how do we keep that going? If you’re out on the Thor, and I’m here on Ops… I mean, it’s not like I can just show up in your quarters after a long shift. Would we just… fade out?
Kreshkova: ?
He finally lifted his gaze to meet hers again, searching her face for anything... hope, hesitation, reassurance.
Kel: I don’t want to lose this, Sasch. You matter. You're... steady. And I don’t have a lot of that.
Kreshkova: ?
He exhaled, letting the words hang in the cool air between them.
Kel: Anyway. I didn’t bring you out here to be depressing. Just… thanks. For being here. This helps more than you know.
He hadn’t expected the words to land as heavily as they did... but they felt true. Being on the water, in the company of someone who asked nothing of him… it was grounding. In a way sickbay or duty shifts or even quiet quarters never quite managed.
Sasch reached out, touching his chin gently and guiding his gaze to hers. It was soft, unforced... a simple act of care.
Kreshkova: Let me ask you a qvestion.
Kel met her eyes, sensing the seriousness behind the words. No teasing, no mask. Just concern.
Kel: Yeah. Go ahead.
She tilted her head slightly, not smiling, but letting her expression hold something steady... something sure.
Kreshkova: Does it take a romantic attachment here on OPS to be your counterveight?
The question surprised him. Not because it was off-base, but because it was... perceptive. And because he wasn’t sure he had an easy answer.
Kel: Honestly? I used to think so. That it had to be romantic to count... to ground me. But the more things have changed lately... I’m not so sure. ::He exhaled, glancing out across the water before continuing.:: I think what I really need is someone who sees me. Who I don’t have to explain everything to, or hide things from. Someone who’s just... there. Who cares. Doesn’t have to come with flowers and declarations. Just honesty. Just time.
Her gaze softened, and his empathy could feel the quiet hum of warmth behind her sympathy ... not pity, but something steady. Trusting.
Kreshkova: If you had someone who cared, who vould listen, who vould … vell … try to see you - just as you are. But who might be … qvite a vays avay. Could someone like zhat … help, maybe?
He didn’t hesitate this time.
Kel: Yeah. Someone like that could help a lot.
He gave her a small, genuine smile, the first in a while that didn’t feel forced.
Kel: And I think… I’ve already got someone like that.
He didn’t say her name... didn’t have to.
Kel: I guess… I’d like that. More than I realized.
He looked down at his hands, turning one palm upward like he was trying to make sense of something invisible there. The question sat in his chest like a weighted stone, heavy and awkward. He knew the answer might sting, but he needed to ask anyway.
Kreshkova: ?
Kel: But… how do we keep that going? If you’re out on the Thor, and I’m here on Ops… I mean, it’s not like I can just show up in your quarters after a long shift. Would we just… fade out?
Kreshkova: ?
He finally lifted his gaze to meet hers again, searching her face for anything... hope, hesitation, reassurance.
Kel: I don’t want to lose this, Sasch. You matter. You're... steady. And I don’t have a lot of that.
Kreshkova: ?
He exhaled, letting the words hang in the cool air between them.
-----
Ensign Ryden Tarus Kel
Medical Officer
StarBase 118 Ops
O240109RK1
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