A talk

Posted on 23 Apr 2023 @ 1:43pm by Lieutenant JG Riley Ames & Lieutenant Jeremy Ezio

Mission: R&R - Styx Outpost 2
Location: Holodeck
2448 words - 4.9 OF Standard Post Measure

/ON/

They were now docked at DS21 and Riley had gotten a crew to start working on the USS Andromeda, but he had something that was gnawing away at him. Well maybe it was more on he needed to talk to someone. He was hesitant on talking with Counselor Higgins and that was due to her having been injured in what went on the bridge. There was another counselor and that was Lieutenant Ezio. Riley hadn't met him yet and neither had he met Counselor Higgins well, besides the first ever meeting as a department head.

Tapping on his combadge, Riley sent out a message. =/\=Um Counselor Ezio, this is Lieutenant Ames, new chief of engineering. I was wondering if I could speak to you? I don't want to interrupt your shoreleave but, if you have the time, could I meet with you? And if so, where shall we meet?"

"I'm available lieutenant," a cheerful voice returned, "give me a moment to bring my children to the station's day care, and I can meet you anywhere you feel comfortable."

"Maybe they have an office that can be used? Probably won't be too much trouble to find a place to talk there. I'd say in their arboretum but, seriously you never know if someone may over hear what we talk about, and I just don't want that happening." Riley answered.

Unseen to the person on the other side, Jeremy nodded. "I'm sure there are offices we can use, otherwise perhaps a holodeck?" He paused. "Meet me there in about fifteen minutes?"

"A holodeck I hadn't even thought about that. I'll meet you at the holodeck and any suggestion as to what would work for the background. Actually how about you make a selection." Riley responded, sounding a bit relieved at that suggestion. "I trust that you have something in mind that would work."

"I do," came the still cheerful answer.

Fifteen minutes later, Jeremy stood waiting at the holodeck entrance, having called up a calming beach venue, hoping his soon to be patient would appreciate this. As the man approached, the hybrid counselor smiled warmly. "Lieutenant, I'm Jeremy Ezio. When we speak I would prefer the use of name, rather than rank or title, if you don't mind?"

"Sure, Jeremy." Riley responded, "And I'm Riley." when they entered into the holodeck, Riley's eyes widened, "This, this reminds me of home." he swallowed hard feeling the burning of tears start to form. He turned to look at Jeremy, "This is very thoughtful." Stepping further inside to allow the archway to disappear. He stepped towards the ocean, and paused, closing his eyes as he listened to the waves as they crashed upon the shore.

Jeremy paused a few paces away, watching him. "Are you alright?" He asked softly, watching the tears glisten in the sunlight. "Tell me of your home?"

"Scotland is my home, it looks out towards the ocean, and its someplace I've not been to in awhile." He paused for a moment then opened his eyes turning towards Jeremy. "Well, I did go there on a shoreleave before I came upon the Andromeda. Just today though, I wish I could be there to see my mum and dad." there was sadness in his eyes. "I lost a friend, one who I considered a brother. He was the chief of engineering before I was."

"I'm sorry to hear that. I hear he was well liked among the crew, though sadly I can't say I knew him well. I do know that he..sort of...adopted a Vulcan here on board as brother. Did that happen with you too?"

"He adopted me when I was at the academy. He was the one who took me under his wing and got me involved in activities there. He was a geat help to me. Michael was two years ahead of me. " Riley paused, "Wait, I have heard from him about someone by the name of Syvar? Oh gosh, I've not met him. He must be hurting right now at the loss of Michael. I think I saw him at the funeral." Riley shook his head. "And here I am, lost in my own misery."

"I have only seen him in passing," Jeremy admitted, then smiled encouragingly. "There's nothing wrong with being lost in your own misery for a while, you're entitled to such feelings after such a loss. However, what are you going to do to get yourself out of there feelings? When the time is right to do so?"

"I am working on that, to make certain I don't get lost in the feelings. I had addressed the death of Michael, crying where none could see, Jeremy. It is still creeping up. I feel I am also doing him dishonor for going into melancholy as well. He always seemed to be able to keep a cheery disposition inspite of the things he had faced and then, well, something happened to him. I dont' know what changed him. He didn't seem like himself. I think it was because we were in the other universe. I just don't know and I need to stop trying to make sense of it." Riley turned back towards the seascape. "As what happened, just seems so senseless. I am also wrestling with, I've got big shoes to fill so to speak. Will I be able to be as good as Michael was? Can I be like him? Or do I just do things like I would do."

"Don't hide how you feel, don't hide your tears," Jeremy advised, "and you are your own person. You don't have to be like him, nor run things the way he did. You are you and he was he. Try what works for you and shape your own department. Trust your people, and allow them to make mistakes. But allow yourself that leisure as well, you have to grow into your new role, and with that come mistakes."

He stepped closer to the man, lightly resting a cool hand on his arm. "Yes his death seems senseless, but that is what our perception makes of it. Like us, he was part of a greater grand scheme of things, and only if we stop remembering, was his death meaningless."

"Maybe I shouldn't have called his death senseless, Michael did try to stop what happened, it was such a mess. And there was the Chief of Operations who died as well. And others were injured, it was such a mess seeing the aftermath of what happened on the bridge." Riley stated. He took in a deep shuddering breath.

"A great many have suffered," Jeremy pointed out, "but right now, we are here to help you. What do you need, for me to help you? What do you expect from me?" This was already a great many more questions than he had usually asked to keep someone going. Usually, he just mostly let his patient talk and he asked questions for clarification. "How can I help you?"

"What you are doing now is helping greatly. All a person needs is to have someone to talk to, someone to help sort out all the emotions, the thoughts just bouncing about in the head. Thank you, for this is helping out, a lot." Rily's face lighting up.

"That is part of my job," Jeremy chuckled, "so no need to thank me. I'm here whenever you need a soundboard, or even just someone to rant or scream at. I won't judge in any form or fashion."

"Well I don't wish to scream or yell at you and-" he looks at Jeremy. "What the heck, I actually believe it is proper to express thanks for someone like you or others, being willing to hear someones troubles and being a listening ear. People tend to avoid others may come too much. In some aspect you are like an engineer, helping to offer the proper tools for someone to repair something that has long been bugging them."

"An engineer huh?" The Trill hybrid blinked at that. "That's a new one. Listening and offer guidance is what I'm trained to do. And if that doesn't help, I've tried using comfort food too." He chuckled. "I'm a trained chef....I used a ladle before I could walk."

"You did, well sounds like you had a desire to not be hungry or just wanting to copy what a parent was doing. " Riley giving a half smile. "Kids using ladles as some sort of instrument, or just to see ones face." Riley gave a brief nod. " I used a ladle before I could walk, figuring out how to get something I wanted." the half smile turning into a full on smile. " Riley gave chuckle, "Ahh the joys of youth when a child explores their undiscovered country." as a memory played through his mind.

"My father was a chef," Jeremy smiled, "it's all I remember really.... What were you like, as a child?"

"Oh I was a lively lad, kept myself busy though, with outdoor sports, and got into trouble as is natural when growing up. I'm the oldest of five." he stated, and I worked in the local fixer upper shop with me dad. He liked to work on things that were broken." Riley giving a slight sigh. "Mother is a right handy woman as well, she utilizing her skills in tending to the highland cattle that we were raising."

"Four siblings," Jeremy marveled, "are you looking to raise a large family too? In time that is. I can't imagine what it's like."

"Perhaps one day, I am not quite certain. " giving a shrug and a slight laugh. "I know that my mum is hoping someday but she'll let me decide, when I am ready, after all I am a grown up, is what she said." giving a grin.

Jeremy arched a single slanted eyebrow at that. "You're not grown up now then?" he wondered out loud, knowing that some cultures differed on when one was considered to be an adult. He just thought Humans were considered to be such in their late teens. He also knew that as a Hybrid of a Vulcanoid species, he was still considered very young himself.

"Oh I am grown up, it was just a tease that my mum had said to me when we last spoke." he chuckled, "Right now I am not looking for a significant other, I'm getting more acquainted with a lovely lady by the name of Andromeda. " there were stars in his eyes as he spoke of the USS Andromeda.

The counselor nodded. "That sounds very grown up," he smiled, "and very sensible. Are you close with your mother?"

"She, and the rest of my family, we get along well. We are a close knit family. We keep touch once a week, or more if there are some interesting events that have taken place. I don't tell everything though if something is more on the secure level. I know as well as my family the protocols that is set in place for StarFleet." Riley remarked. "How about you, do you have family?" Riley felt it fair to ask the questions as well, now.

"No partner, just my son and adopted daughter here on board and my younger sister on earth." Jeremy answered easily though even after so many years, the pain remained. "Our parents were killed when I was 17, so I ended up having to take care of my sister. She now runs father's restaurant and I'm primarily a counselor."

"Ah well you've got family in some aspect, even if you don't have a partner. I've got a pet waiting for me, had gotten one from one of my friends. Cute little bugger named Coal. For some reason the kitten took to me like I was his. I'll be picking him up very soon." Riley smiling.

"I had a partner," Jeremy answered, allowing a hint of bitterness to briefly filter into his voice. "You got claimed by a pet? How does that happen?"

"Its a human phrase as in, well, an animal or even a bird seems to like something about a person and so there is some sort of connection. The kitten kept on coming towards me, animals can sense things, and then decided to cuddle up to me. In essence Coal imprinted on me and decided I was his."

Indicating his spots and pointed ears, Jeremy smiled. "I'm not human," he reminded the other man, "I don't think I've ever had that kind of connection with an animal before. Why did you name it coal?"

"It was just the name I decided to call the kitten. Coal, as the kitten was the color of a piece of coal. Have you ever held a piece of coal before?" Riley was curious about that.

"Obviously," Jeremy grinned, "my father did wield a grill like no other and I learned from the best. Can I see him? Your kitten..." He had no doubt a pet could bring comfort though he had never experienced it for himself.

"Well, when I get the word, I can retrieve the kitten then sure you can meet Coal, after I bond with him. Its called kitten getting time with their human. Going to be needing some adjusting in life with me." Riley stated.

"Adjustment how? And what do you mean, their human?" Another single arched eyebrow. "Are you saying you need a different shift to accommodate for a pet?"

Riley glanced at Ezio "I do not need to change shifts, what I am basically saying is, before my companion meets anyone else, it will just be me and him. That is all. When it comes to pets, the human and the said pet need to become familiar with each other as to their quirks and disposition. With no outside interference. At times humans refer to their pets as furbabies, so Coal will be my furbaby. "

Riley took a look around at the scenery once more, feeling much better with that weight on his chest alleviated. "I probably should be going, I have a date as well coming up." giving a bit of a smile. "Met a girl on the station, so am going to meet up with her soon."

"That sounds like a fun prospect," the counselor answered, suddenly realizing that he actually hadn't been on a date in quite some time, himself. "My door is open should you want to have another talk."

Riley only gave a single nod towards Ezio just as an acknowledgement then left the holodeck. He was feeling better.

/END/

Lt j.g. Jeremy Ezio
Counselor
Pnpc Aidan

Ltjg Riley Ames
Chief Engineer
USS Andromeda