Posted by Crewman Octavia Raain (Medical Student) in Side Sim: Arboretum - A time to think and maybe to heal

Posted by Lieutenant Tija Aizala (Visitor) in Side Sim: Arboretum - A time to think and maybe to heal

Posted by Lieutenant Tija Aizala (Visitor) in Side Sim: Arboretum - A time to think and maybe to heal
Posted by… suppressed (9) by the Post Ghost! 👻
It had been a long time since Aizala had been in a park or anything like that; even just in passing. And even longer since she had spend any amount of time in nature and just be. Even though a lot of places were so different from the mountain range where she grew up and had lost so much, she never really dared opening herself up when she was in a park or arboretum. But she wanted to change that. She wanted to be able to enjoy the beauty of nature. She remember that she had when she was very little. Before. She hadn’t talked to anyone about this idea, but maybe this could be part of her recovery. Or maybe it would only make things worse. Either way, here she was dressed in her new, white uniform, marking her clearly as one of the medical officers. Even though she was officially still on medical leave. But she just couldn’t not wear her uniform. The only thing different about her appearance was the fact that her long red hair wasn’t tied back in a neat ponytail. Instead it hung open, framing her freckled face and hiding her Bajoran earring. Though the ridges on the bridge of her nose clearly showed her heritage. Not that she ever wanted to hide that she was Bajoran. She was proud of her heritage and culture. As she slowly walked along the winding path, Aizala let her mind wander while enjoying the breathtaking beauty of this place. It was so good that the Ogawa had this space and while her heart was aching, she hoped that one day she, too, would be able to fully enjoy this place without fear and sadness clouding her mind and soul.

~Lt. Tija, Doctor (med leave)

Octavia was still coming to terms with her new body, well not really her new body but Raains, just thinking about the situation made her head hurt. She was Trill and she should have been more prepared but living away from her home planet and from any chance of becoming a host, she’d neglected any kind of real training and now she found herself in an impossible situation. Raain, her symbiote had given her time to adjust but she could feel her (yes she knew symbiotes were genderless but calling it it sounded rude), another Human trait she had acquired. She could Feel Raain starting to lose patience, and slowly but surely she did yes want to fully be at harmony and become Octavia Raain

She first saw the older woman and looking a little just as sad as her when she entered the in through the doors. She looked lost, and she looked scared or sad? She wasn’t sure and with the courage that Raain gave her she coughed and said “Hi, You look as sad as I feel.”

• Crewman Octavia Raain

It took a moment for Octavia’s voice to register with Aizala. But when it did, she turned to look at the other woman. She nearly gave her a curt reply, but managed to stop herself. Whoever she was, she had done nothing wrong and it wasn’t her fault that she, Aizala, was here and feeling a little overwhelmed. So instead she gave her a small smile and bowed her head a little as she greeted her in return. Crossing the short distance between them, she asked gently, “Why are you sad?” Almost as if in an after thought, she added, “I’m Doctor Tija Aizala, by the way.”

~Lt. Tija, Doctor (med leave)

Octavia couldn’t help the laigh that escaped her, “Sad? Oh I’m angry, sad, confused and scared because my people decided to lie to me to get me to violate my body and make choices based of a lie” She shrugged, “I’m getting over it, I’m Octavka Raain, recently joined Trill and Medical Student” She really needed to get her emotions in check, this wasn’t her. “I’m sorry it’s been a long couple of days”

• Crewman Octavia Raain

A gentle and concerned expression played across her often so stern face. “That does sound like a lot. I’m not a counsellor by any means. For now my field of expertise still lies in emergency medicine and trauma surgery. But: I do know about trauma. Not only to one’s body, to our souls as well. If you want to talk, then I’ll be here to listen. If not, that is fine too. We can talk about something else or part ways. For now at least as I’m sure we’ll run into one another again as we’re both part of the medical department. or in my case: will be again eventually,” Aizala offered, taking herself by surprise about how open she had been with someone she had just met. Well, with anyone really. It didn’t happen often and before that one long conversation with the Counsellor on the Challenger not to long ago it had never really happened. At least not in many years.

~Lt. Tija, Doctor (med leave)

She shrugged brushing off the comment about it being a lot, that’s all Octavia had now. “You never told me why you were sad, Govan was a good judge of character and he could almost sense when people around were upset, angry, frightened or just off I suppose I am too. Maybe we could help each other?” She asked looking to the woman who was taller than her, Octavia was still growing and she knew she still had some growth left in ehr because both ehr parents were taller.

• Crewman Octavia Raain

Aizala nodded and then pondered silently for a moment. Without realising that she was doing it, she touched her fingertips to the white scar that ran along her hairline to her right ear. Her eye browns pulled together while a sad smile tugged at her lips, she eventually said, “This place… it brings back sad memories. Even though it looks nothing like it. But maybe… I don’t know.” Shaking her head, her expression became apologetic. “I’m sorry. I’m not making much sense, am I?”

She shrugged, “Its OK its nice to have a conversation with someone that isn’t a shrink trying to decide if I’m a danger to myself or others” Octavia had never been an aggressive person but eescent events and changes in her life had certainly knocked her for ten, fortunately shs was coming to terms with her new self.

After taking a deep breath and exhaling with an audible sigh, Aizala started again. “I grew up in the mountain ranges of the Dahkur province on Bajor. Or close to it after the occupation was over. When I was very little I saw my older sister fall to death. This place looks nothing like those mountains and I spend my whole life on Bajor living in and around nature. Yet somehow this place reminds me of Soanea and it makes me sad.” Her voice was calm, almost detached as she told a little of her story. Things that were in her file. The casual observer might think that it didn’t affect her much. But the truth was that this was the only way she could talk about her sister without getting overwhelmed. Even all those decades later.

~Lt. Tija, Doctor (med leave)

“I’m sorry you lost your sister, that mus not be easy for anyone. Goven lost his sister too, she was young and had an illness that couldn’t be treated it broke his heart to see his sister suffering for so long.” A teat escaped escaped corner of Octavia’s right eye and she wiped it away quickly. “We can go somewhere else if you’d like, I’d like to get to know you more.” She offered desperately latching on to the idea of having someone neutral to speak to, despite the counselling sessions and her work the truth was Octavia was lonely.

• Crewma Octavia Raain

“Having to watch someone you love slowly die and being unable to help is terrible,” Aizala nodded thoughtfully, her eyes unfocused as she looked in the distance. After a moment or two of silence, she looked straight at the younger woman again and asked, “Where would you like to go? What’s something or a place where you feel comfortable? Maybe that might point us towards where we could go.” As much as she had kept people at bay all her life to avoid getting hurt again, there was something about Octavia that made her want to get to know her better.

~Lt. Tija, Doctor (med leave)

bump :)

bump :)

“We could just walk?” She suggested noticing how she sort of phased out of their current talk and then back in, her look was distant and Octavia recognised it in herself, she had developed that same look. “Are you hungry?” Octavia wasn’t but a walk to the mess and a light snack might make the conversation feel more natural. “Or do you have somewhere that you like?” Octavia stomach however grumbled and hunger which wasn’t there before.

• Crewma Octavia Raain

“Getting something to eat sounds like a good idea,” Aizala replied with a small smile and a nod as she started to lead the way out of the Arboretum and towards the Mess Hall. Looking at the other woman, she asked, “Do you ahve an idea yet what you’d like your speciality to be when you finish your education?”

~Lt. Tija, Doctor (med leave)