Getting Through the Day

Posted on Mon May 19th, 2025 @ 6:16pm by Ensign Minato Takahashi

861 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Plight of the Pyrithian Bat
Location: Crew Quarters | USS Warbler
Timeline: Current

ON:

The door hissed open and Minato entered his quarters, careful to step on the rubber matt he'd brought so that he could take his shoes of there. He cleaned them right away placing them inside a cabinet he'd put by the door and then moved over to the bathroom to wash his hands. Sighing he looked around at his quarters. He was still packed up and there was a lot to get done. They had one more night here and he had one more task to complete on the station but for tonight he needed to rest his mind a bit, that involved making order out of the chaos that he was surrounded by.

"Alright Minato. Break it into small tasks." He sighed and decided that the bathroom was the best place to start.

In the small cabinet just to the right of the door he placed several towels for body and face, a couple of robes, that got their own shelf, and some spare toiletries that he may need along with a well stocked toilet paper shelf. The medicine cabinet kept all his personal grooming items and finally a warm spongy mat when he stepped out of the shower. Yes, there was no water it was all sonic shower and light, but there were some comforts he needed.

He then moved on to the small eating area, a tiny table and chair that he'd moved close to the window so that he could look out at the stars while he ate. There wasn't much to do there but place a pitcher of water and some glasses along with a jar of sweets that held orange, lemon, lime jelly.

The living room area was easier still, a few throws, one for the sofa, one for the reading chair, and then to the left where wall space was plenty he turned to the bookshelf that he'd asked to be installed. He loved his physical books and while he read on a data PADD a lot he preferred actual books. In actuality they were the items that took out the most of the space in his packed boxes.

Deciding to save that for later he quickly went to his room where he unpacked his clothing and linens. He had a double bed that he covered in black satin sheets and a red and black duvet. He added his favorite reading lamp by the bed and several of his active reading material to the night stand.

By the time he finished it was already dinner time. That, for him, consisted of comfort food; a burger with onion rings and a strawberry milkshake. He took his time to eat giving himself time to taste the items and savor them. He'd had more of a rough time then he was letting on and the news that he'd received earlier had shaken him. He'd offered to forgo his place on the Warbler but his family insisted he stay and he didn't know the reason. They had told him why but...he was confused. His counseling skills told him to not let it take him to a place of trauma but it was difficult.

When he'd finished eating he poured himself a glass of wine and sat on the carpet unpacking his books lovingly and letting himself sort them. He turned on soft music and his mind seemed to numb to the world. He focused on the tasks letting himself get lost, reading some of his annotations as he shelved the books. When he came to himself, when all the books were shelved and all the crates placed by the door for Ops pick up he realized that it was long past midnight. He had one more thing to set up but he was so exhausted that he didn't even want to try. Instead he went to the sonic shower, changed into his bedwear and then crawled under the covers only to find that sleep, and old friend that would let his mind rest, was not there.

He stared up at the ceiling, worries, doubts, all running through his mind along with tasks and to do lists. When he was beyond exhausted, and his eyes were closing the alarm went off to signal a new day was about to begin.

Instead of wallowing he got up, showered, ate his breakfast and then headed out to the station to run his final errand. This afternoon he had sickbay duty and then later they would leave the dock. He also had another difficult call with his adoptive family to get through. It appeared that he wouldn't be resting today so he had to make up for it tonight.

Dressed in his uniform, hair combed, dark circles covered by a generous helping of concealer he headed out the door to face another day when he really didn't feel like it but his entire life had been that, facing things he felt he wasn't ready for. He'd learned to deal with it and he plastered on a smile like he always did. He'd have to re-evaluate that at a later time but for right now, it would have to do.

OFF:

 

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