Awkwardness

Posted on Mon Aug 16th, 2021 @ 1:57pm by Lieutenant Avira zh'Kenarh M.D. & Captain Bethsabée Leroux

Mission: Mission 4 - Eden
Timeline: Day 167 21:30
1520 words - 3 OF Standard Post Measure

Beth knew it was late but she had just gotten back from her secretive mission to search around the outside of The Caelestis. She knew that Avira would be the only person in sickbay at that time of night and it would be her only opportunity to sort out something out. It had been playing on her mind since she had left sickbay the previous day and had admitted who she had spent the night with to the chief armoury officers and had seen the almost disgust. It would be something to deal with another day, he had promised to not make a thing of it but it seemed she was destined to be at odds with whoever was the chief armoury officer.

“Burning the midnight oil hmm Doctor?” Beth called relieved to see that no one was in the sickbay. Which meant in her mind that no one was long term or seriously hurt or sick.

Avira looked up from her desk, still a lot of information to read up on in regards to human physiology. It would keep her busy for the next year or so, "I feel it's good to be where I'm needed, in case I'm needed." She then pointed at the nearest bed in the corner, "besides the beds are really quite comfortable." She then leaned in a bit and her antenna arched forward inquisitively, "though I'm not sure I could get away with any late-night encounters to arrange for an alibi in here."

"Well, I suppose for the ship I am lucky I did go and have a late-night encounter. No one wants to see the Captain in the Brig on a murder charge against her ex... whatever we were." Beth had the grace to blush under the inquisitive gaze and smile. It was going to be common knowledge eventually and she really did need to get something check. "But please do go to your quarters sometimes. We need you as fit and well as you make us." Beth sat on the biobed closest to the desk and just sat there watching the woman.

"I consider these my quarters," Avira picked up the Ocarina that Elegy had gotten her, "I do unwind." The truth was the stint at the shooting range she had done with the Chief Armoury had been a lot more relaxing than trying to get a consistently good sound out of the wind instrument, "it must be particularly painful for you personally. The circumstances, the person, your alibi." She didn't know how she'd react to the news that an ex of hers got murdered at the time she was in bed with a new lover.

"It is not overly difficult. I and Aurelius had a thing and he moved on when I asked for a little time to get my head together after we got lost here. In my head, it is pretty simple but I am... sad that we never got to fix our friendship." Beth said with a shrug. She was pretty sure they would have eventually, they had known each other a long time and would have had time on their hands. When silence reigned again. "I guess it is more complicated but I cannot fix that. I came here actually as something occurred to me. The time out here... how long it has been since...." The woman laughed awkwardly. "I speak many languages and I am struggling to ask a doctor to check my file for my last contraceptive shot."

Avira her antennae straightened up, as did her back, "Let me have a look for you, Commander," she tapped in a few quick commands on the computer and brought up the medical profile for the commanding officer. It had been before they were lost, it would've lost most of its efficacy in that time, "Well, let's just say it's about time for a booster." she came back to face the most senior officer on the vessel, "perhaps also a good idea to remind the crew of this. I'm not sure if we want to actively discourage having children, but we're not currently equipped to deal with the needs of pregnant women and newborns."

"Send out reminders," Beth said feeling guilty that she had not considered it before other than a stray thought months back when they had been looking at medicine. It was not something that had she had really considered whilst out there after the last few months of stress. "Do we have much supply of it?" She questioned thinking the sane, the ship at the moment was not equipped but eventually, they would have to make do with what they had or find it.

"We found quite a bit of chemicals, we can use a lot of it to create our own medicine. Some of the chemicals were a bit more exotic, but with the right testing and resources, we can probably use that too." Avira administered a dose of the human anti-contraceptive to Beth, "this is just the stuff we had from Earth, we still have enough for another half year or so." She was just glad that there wasn't a risk of her needing any of it.

“Well I am glad I am not being used as a test rabbit for it all yet.” Beth admitted rolling her shoulders as she tried to release some of the tension that had been building. “Plenty of time to work it out.” Beth mused aloud as she thought about how embarrassing it all was an officer in charge was meant to not do that type of thing.

There were quite a lot of things that needed working out, not to mention all of the emotional turmoil that was going around the ship, "excuse me for asking, but just so that I know from a medical perspective. Is it normal for humans to process their emotions by engaging in sexual activity?" Avira sat back in her seat, antennae arching slightly forward.

Beth decided that question was the end of her grace and attempts to hide her embarrassment as she went bright red and shook her head. “It is not normally mine.” She admitted. “Though like any species I suppose it is an option.” She added with a helpless shrug.

"Well obviously it releases chemicals that mask pain and provide bliss," This was true for Andorians just as much as it was for Humans, "I'm not asking about your personal proclivities, Commander, it's just that I'm trying to familiarise myself a lot more intimately with humans as you'll be relying on me protecting their health. It's just not a topic that was covered in my initial introduction to human anatomy." Avira also knew that with the Morale officer gone some of those responsibilities fell on her, since mental health was very closely related to physical health, "I just want to know if I should be advising people to seek out... intimacy."

“Good because I believe you already know far more than you want to.” Beth quickly shook her head at the mention of a crew getting intimate. That was just asking for trouble. “I would not suggest intimacy but maybe they need to connect. Reach out for other connections and not isolate themselves. The crew is not exactly balanced to allow everyone to be… intimate.” She said thinking that perhaps this should have been a conversation that they had had before but there they were now having the conversation no matter how awkward it was for the Captain.

Avira nodded a bit, "I seem to remember something in regards to fraternisation between Enlisted personnel and Officers," she cocked her head but her antennae compensated and stayed upright, "perhaps it's a good idea to remind people of this, it restricts the dating pool, less chance of finding a suitable mate should result in less intimacy."

Beth let out a deep huff as she tried to think through things. “Let me think on things properly. Lots has happened in the last couple of days. There are rules but we are so far from home. We might encourage people to show discretion, Starfleet has always been hesitant to regulate such matters further than having it as a reminder in the rules.” Beth admitted thinking back to Leah and her attempts to push Beth into friendships with the crew.

"I'm just giving you my insight from a medical perspective," Avira shrugged and sat up straight to try and relax her shoulders from the awkward conversation. She was just happy she wasn't on the other side of it, "is there anything else I can do for you, Commander?"

Beth pursed her lips for a second before she nodded. “I appreciate your medical perspective Lieutenant.” She was one of the very few people who could get through to her or challenged her thoughts and processes when she was that tired. “I do believe you have done enough for me this evening.” She assured relieved that she had gotten out of this encounter with as much as her dignity intact and no one any the wiser other than Gerhard who her alibi was for now.

 

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