Boozing Catching up

Posted on Tue Apr 6th, 2021 @ 7:07am by Captain Rueben Gregnol & Executive Officer Jake Ford & Vincent Anjes MD & Liha t'Ehhelih

Mission: Mission 12 - Railway
Location: Mess Hall
Timeline: MD05 08:00
2104 words - 4.2 OF Standard Post Measure

Gregnol was savouring the moment of just lying in his own bed, with his wife cuddled up against him sound asleep. He smiled as he breathed in her familiar shampoo from the shower she must have had before coming to bed at some point in the night after he had crashed. Whatever Eden had been up to in his body was tiring and made him ache in a subtle way that he really did not like. Generally contrary to popular belief he was starting to feel his age but was just relieved to be back in his own body.

Moving away from Jeassaho reluctantly after days of not being to be close to her he quickly tugged on his clothes and heading out to check on things before he lost his nerve. He stepped into the mess and smiled as he saw a few people already there. “People could not sleep either huh?” He wondered joining the small group with a big cup of coffee trying to shift the sleepiness he felt.

"So it seems." Liha was drinking something rather stronger than coffee. She had really been looking forward to sleeping in her own bed in her own body, but somehow she hadn't been able to drop off. She blamed Jake. He'd obviously thrown her body's normal sleep cycle off.

"Some of us aren't morning people," Jake grumbled in response, matching her glare. His head ached, but he had no idea why. And he still felt a bit uncomfortable, perhaps still feeling a little dissociated from his body from the whole experience. "Someone changed my alarm."

Liha narrowed her eyes. "Someone had work to do and couldn't lay about like their body wanted to."

Vinny walked into the mess with a full mug of coffee and a small straw hanging out from the corner of his mouth. He nodded to the Captain then took a look about the room and grinned. "Lively group we got here, Captain. Half of you look like you haven't slept in weeks."

Gregnol put a hand to his head and frowned. He could not take the bickering from the pair any longer. “Enough you two.” He said sternly. He respected them both but he was more than willing to treat them like children if needs be. “Yeah, I think we could all do with some sedatives and sleep.” It would have been an option if they did not have other issues like refugees and Fenris rangers. He stood and disappeared to the other end of the room returning with a bottle. “J’s stash. Do not tell her.” He offered it to the pair after pouring his own glass.

Jake accepted the drink gratefully. Taking a sip, he cringed momentarily. "Hey, doc. What's the chances this whole swapping bodies thing messed up our brains? I feel like this used to taste different." He put the glass down with a frown. It bothered him that there might be lasting consequences from this last few days.

Vinny shrugged his shoulders slightly. "It's hard to say, really. I believe though that you got used to how things tasted in the other bodies. Now that you back to yourselves, it is expected that some things will seem different for a short time. I am also sure that most of you will suffer from a form of traumatic loss and will find yourselves with depressive symptoms for a short period of time, as well. You suffered a loss, and your psyche will notice. Especially those that good to experience being a woman. It's not easy being a superior sex, then having it ripped back and thrown back into our man-husks." he added with a smile before sipping from his mug.

Jake nearly choked on his drink as Vinny mentioned 'superior'. As if Liha needed any more encouragement to boast about having superior this or superior that. He deliberately stared into the bottom of his cup with his teeth pressed together, forcing himself not to rise to it.

Liha smirked. Both at Vinny's remark, that she was sure was meant as sly humor even though it was 100% true, and Jake's reaction. "You may be on to something, Doctor. Part of my inability to sleep is probably a subconscious fear of waking up in a weak, vulnerable male human body."

Gregnol rolled his eyes. He had already had enough of the pair before they swapped, now they were just insufferable.

“Enough you two or I will be making you walk a mile in each other’s shoes together for the foreseeable future until you either be nice to each other and stop snipping or one of you leaves.” He warned already thinking that he could handcuff them together to either be nice or solve his problem.

"...she started it..." Jake mumbled very quietly to himself, going back to looking at his drink.

"You're the one who complained about an alarm," Liha retorted.

“Enough." Gregnol repeated with a roll of his eyes. It was like they were an old married couple. "How is Meghan after she was found after swapping everyone back?” Gregnol wondered changing the subject. He felt a bit of guilt over the woman risking her life to swap everyone back.

Vinny chuckled to himself by unintentionally starting a family died. He shrugged his shoulders, "I haven't seen her since, Captain. I was planning on having a doctor visit with her, to check up on her. I can not imagine what she is dealing with. As bad as the swap was for most of those affected, can you imagine the guilt that one must bare knowing it's their fault? Being unintentional must make it even worse. I think she needs a strong support person and I recommend therapy for everyone."

"That's what this is," Liha said, raising her drink. In her opinion, one of the good things about this ship was having no nosy counselors that anyone would try to make her talk to. "Though I may also beat the stuffing out of some heavy bags later."

Gregnol smiled and saluted the woman with his glass. He felt the same but eventually, he might need to consider getting someone in to just check that his crew was alright but for now he was feeling like everyone else – he did not want any psychological help but he would need to eventually catch up with Eden. He was pretty sure nothing strange had happened and why he had been so relieved it was her but you just never knew. He just had to hope she knew he had the same respect for her as she seemed to have for him. “Maybe take Cassie with you.” He suggested gently before looking at the Doctor. "Meghan never came to sickbay? She was found collapsed on the Observation lounge?"

"She what?" gasped Vinny. "No, she didn't. I'll go see her today, then." He shook his head, feeling a bit of guilt for not checking in on her sooner. He looked over towards Liha. "Nothing soothes the soul more than heavy day drinking, followed by intense aggressive calisthenics. Just remember to hydrate with water and some electrolytes."

Gregnol snorted into his drink. Most captain would not encourage day drinking but it was needing after the last few days in one form or another. Cassie could probably use the release after he had seen her punch a wall after she had left medical the previous evening. He was not going to mention it to her as she had a right to be mad at the word but there was no harm in getting her some help via someone else. "Make sure you listen to the good doctor here Liha. He is the sensible one among us all." He admitted.

"This isn't day or even heavy drinking, but I always do hydrate for a workout," Liha replied with a nod to the doctor. Tipping her gaze toward Gregnol, she lifted an eyebrow. "Take Cassie? I would have thought she'd drink it out with Burnie, though if she needs to hit something, I guess I should offer. The man can't take a real punch and he always pulls anything he throws when sparring."

"She needs someone else. Someone one a bit tougher." Gregnol hinted purposely.

Liha snorted a laugh. "So pretty much anybody then?"

Gregnol did not want to say it aloud but inclined his head. Burnie was not a fighter in the sense of throwing a punch, he was much more ingenious than that.

"I know this may surprise you," said Vinny, "but I'm not into physical exercise. Though I do play piano and if anyone wants lessons, and think that may help take your mind off of things, I don't charge much. Bottle of cognac is the typical fee for ten lessons. But if you go space jumping or skydiving, I'm in."

"Will certainly keep that in mind Vinny. Maybe we can look at it when we eventually reach Freecloud end of the year." Reuben offered as a compromise moving the conversation on to something a little more positive and inspiring. He was looking forward to Freecloud and the opportunities it would give them for year-end celebrations.

"Don't look at me," Jake grunted at Liha. "Leiddem could always use a couple of blows to the head, though. You might be able to convince him he stands a chance." The prospect of somewhere like Freecloud was pretty appealing. Somewhere to get out and have some R&R after the last few days. He could take Eden out somewhere and it be just the two of them. He made a mental note to mention that to her.

Liha smirked. "Are you calling Leiddem stupid?" She hadn't realized there was animosity between Jake and Leiddem, but it seemed implied by his statement.

"Not everyone's stupid," Jake retorted. "Some people just need a bit of...you know, every once in a while. Wake them up."

Gregnol raised an eyebrow and looked at Jake himself wondering what problems were brewing. "Have you ever thought of approaching my brother in law as if he is still a marine?" Gregnol offered slyly over his glass.

"We don't need another hot head around here," Jake shrugged. "If anything, the best security team is calm and collected. But that's not my responsibility any more, is it?" He flicked a look between Gregnol and the doctor. "Assuming that guy recovering in the infirmary is still part of the crew?"

“Not all marines are hot-headed. Leiddem was a medic in the marines but if he is causing issues I want to know even if it is not your responsibility.” Gregnol commented on pursing his lips at the mention of Michael. He was not sure about what was going to happen there, he could only imagine how annoyed Saa was going to be about it all once she found out but that was between them. “If Saa does not kill him first but that is down to them.” He said with a shrug downing the rest of his glass putting it down but not refilling. He could not keep day drink, he still had a ship and crew to organise and run.

Liha shrugged. "I'm happy to knock any heads that need knocked. Don't know who the guy in medbay is, but if Saa needs someone to hold him so she can kill him, I'll help with that too." She smirked at Jake. "See? I'm perfectly cooperative and happy to help people out."

Jake snorted back. "Well if we're stuck for a new armoury officer, I'm sure we'll give you a call, right Captain?"

The Captain scratched at his stubble before shrugging. He was not committing to anything when it came to Liha and Jake. He glanced to Vinny changing tactics to avoid any arguments between them. “How is Michael?” He wondered thinking now that there was less drama it was most likely time to check up on him.

"He's doing better. Luckily for him, he comes from tough stock and lucky genes," remarked Vinny. "His physical wounds are healing quickly, but his survivors guilt is gonna stay with him for quite a while, along with the PTSD. He'll be fine, and can be medically discharged from Sickbay anytime now."

"But no danger to anyone onboard?" Gregnol checked quietly knowing he could only share that thought with the people in this room. He shared a look with Jake for a moment when no one said anything.

"I'll keep an eye on him," Jake said, finishing off his drink and pushing himself back up. "I'm going to try get some sleep."