Headaches and Cocktail Music

Posted on 07/13/2020 @ 10:04pm by Captain Cian D'Anvers

Mission: S2E1: The Skunil Incident
Location: Sickbay, Deck
Timeline: Day 3 at 0700

Chef had been delighted when Cian had finally shown up to discuss use of his private dining room and ecstatic when he learned that he would have a free hand in choices. As far as Cian was concerned, he mad enough decisions in the course of a normal day. This was one he was happy to hand off. This morning, however, he detoured on his way to breakfast to stop in Sickbay -- not something he was known to do unless under orders. He walked in and stopped far enough past the wide double doors that they wouldn't open again automatically and looked around.

The most adorable nurse in existence, one Penny Holister, approaches with a smile. “Good morning!” she said cheerfully, beaming up at him, all of her 4’11” frame radiating pure joy at the prospect of being exactly where she was at exactly that time. “How can I help you, sir?”

"I was wondering if there was a doctor available," Cian said. At 6'3", he felt as though he were towering over the diminutive nurse and stepped back without thinking about it. As though distance would make appear to loom less.

If it was possible, Penny's smile brightened by about 800 degrees. "In fact," she said cheerfully, "I think the Doctor is available. Follow me!"

Cian followed along, taking note as he went of the overall condition of the facility; that was a habit of longstanding and one he was not inclined to break.

She led him to where Chet stood, studying a cabinet of medicines. "Dr. O'Hamlin?" she said.

With a sharp intake of breath that was just short of a gasp, Chet looked up as if waking suddenly from a dream. "Yes?" he said, at first focusing on the nurse. Then his gaze shifted to the Captain. "Ah, Captain!" he said. "What can I do for you?

'Been having headaches lately and I was wondering if you had something for them," Cian said.

“Headaches,” repeated Chet as Haywood slipped away. “Where? Not as in place on the ship like the bridge or your quarters, but where on your head?”

Cian nodded in understanding as he thought about it. "Across the forehead mostly," he said gesturing with one hand, "though sometimes in the back of my head."

"Stress headache," diagnosed Chet in an instant. He readied a hypo with a mild pain killer. "What do you do for fun? You know, relaxation. I recommend knitting if you have the patience or saxophone lessons if you don't."

"Read mostly," Cian said, shifting position so that he was now leaning against the corridor wall. He found it interesting that he hadn't been asked to hop up onto a biobed but could do the whole thing in front of a medicine cabinet. "Work when I can, when its not too busy.' He cocked his head slightly to one side, one side of his mouth quirking upward slightly as he considered the physicians suggestions. "Not sure I'd have the patience for knitting. How about Tai Chi rather than musical instruments? I've been wanting to give that a try."

“Tai chi is good for both relaxation and balance,” agreed Chet, pressing the hypo to the Commanding Officer’s neck. “And it can improve strength and flexibility as well. It’s definitely a good choice. And probably more relaxing than the saxophone.”

Cian caught himself before he nodded in agreement being unwilling to test out the notion of moving while receiving an injection. One corner of his mouth quirked upward as he imagined what his neighbors would think of him practicing saxophone at the end of his generally long days. "Certainly would be for those who had to listen to me practice," he said.

Chet grinned as he finished up the injection and unloaded the empty phial from the hypo. “If you think that’s bad, you should try listening to a beginning bassoonist,” he said. “Talk about nails on a chalkboard. Guess that’s why I decided against teaching.”

"You are a musician," Cian said, his voice rising to indicate the interrogative. Almost reflexively, he rolled his head in a slow circle as he waited on the answer.

"Yeah," answered Chet. "Piano, bassoon, cello. My dad felt music education was important, so he put me in piano lessons when I was four. Turns out I loved it. I hear there's a piano in the ship's lounge. Like a real one, an actual grand piano. I'm going to have to play it some time. It's been ages since I played a real piano."

"If you'd be willing," Cian said, "maybe you could play for the crew? Or something more casual in the lounge? I would enjoy listening to you play."

"I would be delighted!" agreed Chet with a grin that lit up his whole face. "Dinner music might be a good place to start. I've got a whole collection of cocktail music that fits the bill perfectly."

"Excellent," Cian said with a sharp nod of his head as though punctuating the exclamation. "Once we're through the mission, we'll set something up. I can speak with Chef about putting together a menu and invite the senior staff. If that would be acceptable."

"Absolutely!" replied Chet enthusiastically. "This is going to be fun!"

"It will indeed," Cian said and his smile broke through his habitual reserve to reveal the enthusiasm beneath. "Thank you for the pain reliever, doctor."

"Anytime, sir," replied Chet. "It's what I'm here for."

A Post by:

Commander Cian D'Anvers
Commanding Officer
USS Crazy Horse

and

Dr. Chester "Chet" O'Hamlin
Chief Medical Officer
USS Crazy Horse