LTJG Jos hHerrick & Ensign Elijah Kovacs: Tight Spaces, Part 2
Mark P
OOC: Each of these vignettes I felt was a bit too short to stand on their own, but I wanted to detail the head space for the characters. I’ll indicate who’s perspective it is at the top of each scene. This one gets a bit dramatic, but I promise that Herrick’s going to find his way to have decent stable relationships this Shore Leave ;) I am also working on a ‘wackier’ JP with Mikey.
((Eli’s Quarters, Deck 8, USS Oumuamua [Eli’s perspective]))
Eli sighed as he sat down on his bed and looked around, taking everything in. What began as looking for an out from Engineering, a stint in Ops, and a brief ‘sink or swim’ experience in Sickbay, had given the man a lot to think about. The roommate he’d been sharing these quarters with was one of the ‘less than lucky’ red tags that had arrived during emergency triage. He hadn’t really talked with the Vulcan before, but nonetheless, the room felt empty while he waited for a replacement for the now-deceased officer. The engineering team was hit the hardest when the chroniton-based weapons ripped through the hull.
Compounding these feelings was his looming return to Engineering after his temporary rotation in Operations. He’d enjoyed getting to know Nilsen, and he still owed him a beer after surviving Sherlock and Winters on the bridge. They’d set up time to meet, and Kovacs wondered what Nilsen had alluded to when he mentioned Herrick previously. Herrick had been so busy since he’d returned from Alpha Brenkelvi II that he’d barely seen the guy aside from the briefings on repairs.
Eli laid back, now that they were at DS9, and supplemental personnel were arriving, he had decisions to make.
Kovacs: ::staring at the ceiling:: What to do… What to do…
((Main Engineering, Deck 11, USS Oumuamua [Josh’s perspective]))
Sitting at his desk, in his still spartan office, Josh rubbed his face.
Tired was an understatement.
When he’d come back to the Oumuamua, the ship was in rough but stable condition; enough to warp them back to the wormhole and get to DS9. The repairs needed were extensive, and even with both the Engineering and Ops teams pulling doubles, it was going to take a lot of love to get this ship back to spec-shape. The current focus of the day had been largely rebuilding a good chunk of Deck 4, particularly near the Commodore’s quarters. It had taken a half day just to clear out the debris before they could start replicating and installing replacement parts.
As he looked down at the duty assignments for tomorrow, he saw a name that he’d been avoiding as best as he could. Kovacs.
Herrick: (talking to an empty room) Well Josh, avoiding the problem isn’t going to change the situation. What are you going to do about it?
He wondered what Salo would think, him verbally counseling himself to do something about the problem — he was sure Brzezinski would have found it intriguing. Using the arms of his chair to push himself up, he decided that it was now or never.
((Deck 7, USS Oumuamua [Josh’s perspective]))
As he got off the turbolift, Josh asked the computer to provide directions to the ensign’s quarters. It had been 7 months since he’d been on board, and while he knew most of the ship’s layouts, individual quarters would take a while. Like a shuttle approaching a landing pad, he was guided to his destination.
He paused for a moment; his feet had brought him here, but what was he going to say? Eli had the ship’s best intentions in mind in their first encounter, which should be every officer’s duty; it was Josh’s own issues that was the sore point. Conversational improv wasn’t a skill in the chief’s repertoire, but as crew members continued to pass behind him as he stood facing the door, he decided to press the chime.
A second passed, then another, Josh hadn’t even checked that the man was there. If he was being honest with himself, he secretly hoped that no one would answer. But, as he started to turn away, the doors whisked open, revealing the tired face of the other engineer.
((Eli’s Quarters, Deck 8, USS Oumuamua [Eli’s perspective]))
Eli had been completely caught off guard; of all the people he could’ve imagined visiting him, the lieutenant was not on the list. He tried to put on his best poker face but that didn’t amount to much, given every time he played his bluffs were consistently called.
Herrick: Err… if it’s a bad time, I can come back later.
Kovacs: Um… I… Uh… No, it’s not, sir. Are you coming in?
The last part seemed more impolite than he’d intended for it to come across. He wasn’t sure that being alone with the Chief was going to go well; perhaps the man had a new reason to ream him out. He tried to steady himself, tried to size up the man standing centimeters outside his quarters. What he would’ve given to be a Betazoid in this exact moment.
Herrick: ::walking in a few steps and looking around:: Thank you.
Eli realized he started to feel defensive with Herrick there in his quarters; this was Eli’s space. It was different when you could leave your work problems at work, even if it was only three decks away. There was a moment of silence, the awkwardness almost suffocating the space.
Kovacs: So… what did you want? oO Like, you’re the one that came here. Get it over with. Oo
Herrick: I… (another awkward pause) I… wanted to talk about my behaviour in Sickbay.
The ensign noticed that Josh had stayed near the door; perhaps to make a quick exit if this conversation didn’t go the way he planned. He himself had kept a bit of a distance, trying to claim a personal bubble of his own.
Again, more awkward silence. Josh wasn’t making eye contact with Eli; he looked around him and at the floor, but not directly at him.
Kovacs: (a bit more pointed) What about it?
Josh looked up and the expression on his face wasn’t one of anger. It was hard to identify exactly what it was, perhaps some attempt at trying to be the caring boss.
Herrick: I want you to know that it wasn’t personal.
Kovacs: ::taking a few steps forward:: Permission to speak freely?
There was some hesitation in Josh’s voice.
Herrick: … of course; we’re not on duty.
Kovacs: It sure as hell felt personal. ::his face getting a bit flusher:: You made it pretty apparent to everyone around us about your feelings towards me. You ::taking another step forward:: You don’t get to come here and try to make it nothing. ‘It wasn’t personal’ ; would a sorry have killed you?
He could feel the intensity in his eyes, bearing down into Herrick’s soul, trying to see what was going on in the mind. As if, somehow, he could use the pupils as a conduit to his thoughts. He took another step forward, it felt good getting it off his chest, consequences be damned.
The two officers were now just centimeters apart. They were so close now, that Eli could feel Josh’s breaths; the smell of some pine cologne registered in Eli’s mind as he continued on.
Kovacs: Now… now you’re the big kahuna, you gotta eat crow, is that right? Save yourself by making amends. I’m not having it.
His breathing had become a bit ragged, the overwhelming emotions pouring through him. The chief tried to take a step back, but he was against a wall and cornered in. He tried to push Eli away, but got shoved back. Josh tried again, with a bit more effort, but his leg caught Eli’s foot and both tripped forward.
After the two landed on the floor, Eli tried to free his arms from under Herrick and turned his face upward. His face made contact with Josh’s and an unfamiliar sensation filled him. Not anger, but something else, it was hard to identify.
He looked up at the man who’d pulled back a bit at the contact, their eyes now boring into each other.
Then, the lieutenant quickly pulled himself together and stood back up.
Herrick: This… this was a mistake.
There was no chance for another exchange of words, as Herrick practically leapt out of the quarters.
Kovacs: ::laying out the floor, yet again staring at the ceiling:: What was that?
---
Lieutenant JG Josh Herrick
Acting Chief Engineer
USS ‘Oumuamua
O240005JH3
he/him/his (player/character)
&
Ensign Elijah Kovacs
Engineering Officer
USS ‘Oumuamua
he/him/his (player/character)