Hanging Out
Posted on Tue May 27th, 2025 @ 10:23pm by Lieutenant Narin Valen & Lieutenant Mignon Mejia
Edited on on Thu May 29th, 2025 @ 11:47pm
1,727 words; about a 9 minute read
Mission:
Episode 16 - Silent Cries
Location: The Quarters of Mignon Mejia - Deck 3 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD008 2100 hrs
Narin glanced up from the couch and spotted The Hobbit sitting on the table. He’d finished it the day before, but hadn’t picked up any of the other books she had lent him. He wasn’t sure why. His mind hadn’t been in the right place lately. Not with The Silence creeping into his dreams again. Not with the memories it dragged up. His family. Their faces. The way it all ended.
He hadn’t really dealt with it—not completely. Just shoved it down, buried it under duty and routine. But The Silence didn’t care about that. It found the cracks.
His eyes lingered on the book. Maybe he just wanted an excuse to see someone who made him feel... normal. Mignon was one of the few people aboard he trusted.
“Computer, where is Lieutenant Mignon?”
“She is in her quarters.”
That was all he needed. He stood, grabbed the book, and headed for her quarters. He didn’t rehearse what he’d say. He wasn’t even sure he had anything to say. He just didn’t want to be alone right now.
As he walked, he caught himself wondering what she might be wearing, Not out of anything inappropriate, but because she always had this effortless way of being different. A little unpredictable. A little comforting. And right now, comfort sounded like a damn good idea. When he reached her door, he hesitated for half a second before tapping the chime, and waited for an answer.
Mignon was looking over the painting she'd just completed of Narin. With the nightmares and not sleeping well, it had taken her longer to finish than normal. She didn't remember what the nightmares were of, but they managed to keep her from sleeping well. The paint was dry and she had to admit, she liked it.
When the door chime sounded, she quickly covered the painting, then smoothed her long-sleeved t-shirt with a picture of a cat looking decidedly unhappy wearing a jester hat over her jeans and adjusted her patchwork vest. "Come in," she said, going to the door to greet whoever was there.
Narin stepped inside when the door slid open, holding the book a little awkwardly at his side. He looked at her with a smile. "Hi, hope I'm not intruding." He said taking a quick glance around the quarters - warm, familiar, a little chaotic. His eyes landed on her once more. "I, uh....figured I'd bring this back before I forgot."
"Thank you." She took the book from him and smiled. "What did you think of it?"
Narin handed the book over, his hand brushing hers for a brief moment before he let go.
“I really liked it.” He said. “It surprised me, honestly. It starts small, just a hobbit in his hole, minding his own business and somehow it ends with dragons and battles and loss... but also courage.” He smiled. "Thanks for lending it to me.”
The brush of his hand sent a little tingle up her fingers, but she firmly ignored it. She took the book back to her bookshelf and picked up the trilogy he'd loaned her. "I loved the Chronicles of Elarian. Thank you." She handed him the books. "I should have brought them back to you, but I kinda got involved in another painting--and those books."
Narin took the books from her, his fingers brushing the covers. For a moment, his thoughts wandered, his mind pulling up a memory of his mother reading to him as a child. It was a comforting image… until it wasn’t. The warmth of the memory soured as a flicker of The Silence crept in, uninvited. Not a message, not this time just his mind playing tricks on him.
He let out a slow breath, steadying himself before looking up again. He smiled. “I’m glad you liked them.”
He caught sight of the cloth-draped canvas in the corner. “Another painting, huh? What is it this time?”
"A...uh...minstrel." She was going to give it to him when she returned the books, but now she was feeling a little shy about it. What if he didn't like it? It was a gesture of friendship, but that didn't mean he'd like it.
“I see… inspired by our last hangout, huh?” Narin said with a smile, sensing her hesitation. He glanced at the covered canvas but didn’t push. “You’ll let me see it when it’s done?”
"It was and it is. Finished, that is. I was trying to decide how to show it to you." She went over and pulled off the cover. It was a painting of Narin in a forest of silver trees. He was dressed like a minstrel, but instead of a lute, he held a digital keyboard. In the background were misty mountains and a small dragon flying across the sky.
Narin took it as an invitation to stay a bit longer, setting the books on a nearby table as she uncovered the painting. He was quiet at first, just taking it in. The detail, the atmosphere—it all felt oddly right. He looked at her and smiled. “That’s amazing.” He stepped in closer to examine the painting a bit. "This is great. You've got some serious talent."
She shrugged. "I find it relaxing. I took a holographic image of it. This one is for you."
Narin glanced between the painting and Mignon, a smile forming. “Thank you." He said. “This is... a really thoughtful gift. I don’t think anyone’s ever painted me before, let alone for me.” He looked at her, appreciation clear in his eyes.
She felt her cheeks redden at his praise. "I'm glad you like it. You inspired it, so it's only right you have it. You can call it a thank you for spending time with me on Empok Nor. I'd been hiding out here a bit too much."
Narin glanced back at the painting, thinking back to their time on Empok Nor. "I should be thanking you." He said. "I had a really great time...and I'm glad you were willing to come with me."
"So, now that we're mutually grateful, how was the rest of your shore leave?"
Narin let out a quiet sigh. His eyes dropping as his shoulders sank slightly. "It's been...." He paused. "It hasn't exactly been restful." He glanced away, eyes drifting around her quarters, not settling on anything.
"I've had trouble sleeping. And when I do sleep, it's nightmares. Then I wake up feeling like I never actually rested and can't get back to sleep." He clearly wasn't feeling entirely like himself. "Didn't really expect shore leave to feel more draining than duty."
"Yeah, I've started having nightmares, too. But, unlike you, I don't remember them. I just wake up tired. And I'm more stressed than I've been in a while." She shook her head. "Have you seen a doctor to see if they can help you sleep?"
“No, I haven’t seen a doctor about it yet.” He admitted. “I keep thinking it’ll pass on its own. Just a phase. But…” He trailed off for a moment, rubbing the back of his neck. “If it keeps up like this, I might have to. Can’t keep running on fumes forever.”
"Well, I'm not doing much right now. If you find yourself not sleeping, send me a message. Half the time, I'm up, and you'd be welcome to come over and hang out. It may not help you sleep, but it might help relieve the stress."
Narin's expression softened at her offer. "Thanks, Mignon." He said quietly. "That means more than you probably realize." He looked in the direction of her couch. "And I might take you up on it. Worst case, your couch looks like it could beat my quarters in a sleep contest."
"You're always welcome. Most of what I'm doing lately is reading and painting." It was mostly because there wasn't a need right now for an anthropologist. Part of her wanted to be more involved, but part of her was glad she wasn't 100% recovered yet. 90, yes, but this gave her time to work on that last ten percent.
“Well, if you’re interested in doing more.” He said, tone a bit more professional, “I might be able to help with that. I know things have been quiet on the anthropology front, but as Assistant Chief Science Officer, I’ve got some leeway with project assignments. There’s always something in motion.”
"If you need my skill set, sure. But if not, I have plenty to keep me busy right now." She smiled. "But thank you for the consideration. If I start to go stir crazy, I'll let you know."
"Fair enough." Narin said. "Just promise me you'll find me before you start climbing the walls."
Laughing, Mignon assured him she would. "I have no desire to go stir crazy again. I did enough of that while I was recovering from my BIID. But I'm fine now."
“Glad to hear it.” Narin said. It was good to see her in a better place...even if he knew healing wasn’t always a straight line. There’d be harder days, but hopefully fewer of them with time. He looked over at her painting supplies. "I should probably let you get back to it." He said, not wanting to overstay his welcome.
"I appreciate you stopping by with the book. Don't forget to take your books and your painting." She smiled at her friend. She gave him a hug. "And thanks for the visit. I promise to spend more time in science once we leave the station."
Narin hugged her back. "Anytime." He said. "And no rush. Science isn't going anywhere." He picked up the books, and carefully took the painting already turning over in his mind where it might belong in his quarters. "Take care, Mignon." He headed for the door. "I'll see you soon."
A Post By
Lieutenant Narin Valen
Assistant Chief Science Officer, USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Mignon Mejia
Alien Archaeologist/Anthropologist, USS Pioneer
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