Failed Translation

Posted on Sun Apr 10th, 2022 @ 3:59am by Lieutenant Irynya & Lieutenant Kennedy Ryan Walsh

Mission: Sojourners of Time
Location: Junior Officer Quarters, Deck 4
Timeline: Mission Day 5 at 2030

Iry was in her spot on the couch, the one she had sat in more times than she could count talking to all hours with Kennedy. They were planning to head to Debbie's for dinner, but Kennedy had suggested he swing by and pick her up. It was a sweet gesture and so she was ready for him and waiting. Her eyes lit when the chime sounded and she called from him to come in, standing from where she had been sitting and making her way over to him, meeting him with a deep kiss. "Hi," she said with a grin when she pulled away.

Kennedy had taken the opportunity between getting off his duty rotation and picking Irynya on their way for their dinner date at Debbie's into business casual attire compared to his uniform that he had typically worn. When she kissed him deeply and broke away a gasp of air escaped his lips, his cheeks flared pinkish red as his bottom lip dropped, “Hi... hi...”

Still grinning, she snagged his hand. "Come snuggle," she said, pulling him to the couch. "We have a few minutes and it's been a while. I was just… missing… our couch sessions."

He didn’t resist as he pulled over their shoulders slightly nudged into each other as they sunk into the couch. He chuckled and then when they settled on the couch he wrapped his arm around her back and leaned his head against her shoulder, “Me too.”

She turned and pressed a kiss to his cheek. "It feels weird that I haven't seen you since waking up in your bed. What have you been up to for the last day and a half?" She nuzzled down into him, appreciating his warmth and the family feel of his arm around her.

“I waited up for you just in case you needed to spend the night again,” he replied, “I did some reading, edited my paper on the Chameloid autopsies and then doctor stuff for most of the day. I really need to get an assistant or a medical officer to help with the paperwork. Maybe when we get back from the Delta Quadrant.” Kennedy looked over at her, “You?”

Irynya frowned slightly. "I didn't mean for you to wait up. It was one of our off nights since our shifts didn't sync. I should have messaged you. I'm sorry, love," she said with sincerity.

She snuck a quick kiss before settling back. "Two flight controller shifts for me. It's interesting dealing with the Delta Quadrant star charts," she said. "Spent some time on the holodeck with Noah for a bit. He's working on his pilot quals and it's not going well. Has he ever told you about the nude beach he visited in France? We switched to that for some decompressing. Beautiful spot. Reminded me of a place at home I want to take you someday."

Kennedy nodded his head and wasn’t able to provide a verbal response to her first point as she mentioned on what she had worked on that day. He hadn’t spent any time on the Holodeck with an exception for the time they baked cookies together. He normally didn’t set recreational time aside for himself. If he wasn’t on the clock in Sickbay or with Irynya he mostly kept to himself in his quarters.

He shook his head at her comment, “No. I haven’t.” He didn’t know how to respond to the nudity and nonetheless on a public beach. He felt that was unlike Noah to load up a Holodeck programme especially with… the lack of clothing. He knew Noah and her had seen each other naked before Irynya’s claustrophobic episode.

There was something in his tone that gave her pause, but she couldn't say what exactly. She shifted so she could look at him better, but continued. "I think you would like it," she said. "Wouldn't have to go without clothes at the spot on Risa. We can do whatever you're comfortable with. But the water is warm and gentle and it's a great spot."

She paused then, reading his face and frowning. "Is something wrong?"

“No,” Kennedy shook his head but his face fell solemn when he saw the frown across her face. “Hopefully by the time we make it back to Risa. I’ll be more,” in more of a silent whisper, “comfortable with public nudity.” He offered her a reassuring smile with a loose yet uncomfortable laugh.

Her expression softened. "It was a very Jamaharon-type experience," she explained. "Not formally Jamaharon, of course, but…" she shrugged lightly. "And the holodeck didn't add people, so it was just us. Makes the whole nude beach thing easier. Maybe, when you're ready, we try that first?"

Kennedy fell silent as he looked over at her. The two sentences repeated themselves in his mind: JIt was a very Jamaharon-type experience… Not formally Jamaharon, of course… but… Jamaharon-type experience… Not formally Jamaharon, of course… but…. He froze as the rest of her words froze in time and he didn’t process in that moment.

His mind began to run a thousand miles per hour. He withdrew his arm and slowly shifted down the couch. His eyes shifted down to his eyes without saying a word. Silence while he tried to comprehend the words spoken.

Irynya's reaction was immediate, alarm and confusion on her face. "What just happened?" She asked. She shifted towards him, reaching for his hand, trying to get him to look at her. "Kennedy?"

Kennedy’s mind was continually running at a high space as tears seemed down his face. He thought they had agreed to take this slowly. Doctor t’Nai was right. He refocused and looked over at her with a look of betrayal. His hand raised onto his chest as it felt like it shattered into a million pieces, “I’m gonna go… I’m gonna go back to my quarters.”

Kennedy quickly pushed himself to his feet his nose was runny. Tears were dripping down his faces, “This… this is too much… You said you’d give me time to adjust… now this? With my only other friend onboard?”

The look on Irynya's face was a mixture of confusion and hurt. "Kennedy," she said tone firm. "What do you think we did?" Her eyes searched him, still struggling to put things together. "I kissed him. That's it. It's… a normal friend thing. It… what do you think we did?"

“Naked, that’s not what friends do to another friend.” Kennedy replied. He pressed the button and stepped out into the corridor. He looked in both directions uncertain which way he’d go. He began to leave at a slow pace then started to move quickly as the anxiety began to creep up and his mind was starting to go elsewhere. This is my fault. I’m not ready, so she’s sought out another.

"Kennedy!" She called after him, tone turned urgent, the sound bouncing back at her from the closed door. For long seconds she stood there in the middle of the room, unable to move, her face a rictus of hurt and confusion and disbelief. It was as if her brain was misfiring, trying to connect the Kennedy who walked into the room with the Kennedy that had run out. And no matter how hard she tried she could only come back to the thought that he hadn't loved her after all. Could he really claim to love her if he could think she would do something inappropriate with Noah?

For a moment she thought she might be sick as her gut twisted and she made a dash for the bathroom, stopping at the sink and splashing a tiny bit of cold water on her face. She braced her arms on either side of the sink, and stared up at herself in the small mirror and only then did she start to cry.

A Joint Post By:

Lieutenant JG Irynya
Assistant Chief Helmsman

Lieutenant Kennedy Ryan Walsh
Chief Medical Officer