Posted by Commander Shara Calloway (Chief Intelligence Officer) in Mess Hall - An Evening Out

Posted by Civilian Allison Fleet (Civilian) in Mess Hall - An Evening Out

Posted by Commander Shara Calloway (Chief Intelligence Officer) in Mess Hall - An Evening Out
Posted by… suppressed (3) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Allison closed her eyes for a moment as she stood in the hallway, a child carrier on both her front and back. Sophie was in the back, Kasper in front. He was staring ahead of himself, blinking at everything he saw. His hands grasped outwards, excitedly exploring the world he was getting to see. Allison realized the twins (and herself for that matter) were spending far too much time cooped up in their quarters, and it was time for some exercise and hopefully socialization.

She made her way to the Mess, as it seemed to be the place of congregation on this vessel, and was glad to step into a bustling room of activity. There were two crewmen in one corner playing a game of backgammon, while four people were squished around another table watching two of their friends in an intense match of Kal’toh. From what she knew of the strategy of the game, they were very far away from solving it. She turned away, noticing a table that was empty - other than an officer in plainclothes who seemed to be reading a book.

“I hope you don’t mind the interruption, but could we join you?” Allison asked, putting one hand on the back of one of the empty chairs, and another hand on Kasper’s forehead. Kasper for his part, made a pbbt sound with his tongue and patted his mommy’s hand.

Allison, Civilian

Lifting her head, Shara smiled. “Not at all, please do,” setting the book down and rising. “Can I give you a hand with your little one… ones?” she said spying the baby on the woman’s back. Off the top of her head, she knew about the family that had boarded, but most people got weirded out when someone knew that much so Shara had long learned to play things cool. In her early sixties, the middle aged woman was tall and lean, decades of physical training honing her body. There was creases at her eyes and mouth but other than that her exact age was hard to place.

Commander Calloway, CIO

Allison had a slightly weary expression on her face for a few moments. She could handle the babies on her own, a small prideful thought suggested. But really, she reasoned to herself, she didn’t have to. And it wouldn’t hurt to accept help. So she nodded, tugged Kasper out of the carrier, and placed him gently in the arms of the older woman. “His name is Kasper,” she explained, then did something with the carrier that allowed her to access her daughter.

“And this is Sophie,” she said as she sat down with a small thud. Allison was tired. The twins looked like they were three months old despite being only one, and they sure ate and cried more than any human baby she knew of. She and Rovan were here now, which meant that she’d left her support system. Her ‘aunties’ and ‘cousins’ who had done so well to help her between the wedding and their departure to the Asimov. She only hoped she find some support here… She didn’t think she could raise the twins in isolation.

Kasper looked up at the older woman and cooed, yellow eyes wide and curious.

Allison and Twinfants

Shara held Kasper with a beaming smile. “Well hello there Kasper. It’s very nice to meet you. I’m Shara,” she said to the baby before looking over at Sophie. “And hello Sophie.”

Holding Kasper under his arms, she had him stand on her thigh. “You mom looks tired. I remember that, though it’s bene a long time since I did this with my own child,” se said, still talking at Kasper. But she shifted her gaze to Allison. “I’m Shara Calloway. Just got here myself actually. I heard there was a new family aboard, so… welcome. And honestly, if you need any help, a babysitter, whatever, just ask okay? My daughter is long grown up but I was always grateful to my community’s help in those early years. It made it bearable some days. Besides, I keep very flexible hours.... mostly.”

~Shara Calloway, CIO

Allison held Sophie against her chest, and the little girl seemed fairly content to sleep with her head on mama’s shoulder for now. Allison was grateful for that. “Yeah, with a ship as small as the Asimov, it’s hard to hide the arrival of two infants,” she replied with a small, tired chuckle. “Rovan and I have been apart far too long, so when he decided to get back into service we were hopeful that I and the twins could join. As you see, Starfleet was gracious and allowed our little request.” She watched Shara holding Kasper and smiled, seeing that comfort with handling infants that she was so used to seeing in her ‘Aunties.’ There was something about having grown children that made older woman more easy-going and loving to infants that she figured she understand one day, but currently couldn’t quite get. “That… would be amazing,” she looked at Shara with what was almost tears in her eyes. “Thank you,” maybe she was overly emotional because she was so worn out, or maybe it was the hormones that still hadn’t quite gone back to normal, but Allison felt like crying she was so happy. “Thank you, I was starting to feel like Rovan and I were going to have to figure this out on our own now that we’re on the Asimov and not back on Arda…”

Kasper, for his part, was blissfully unaware of his mama’s tears. At first he was wary of this stranger, but being bounced on her knee was fun, so he didn’t worry about it.

Allison and the Twinfants

“Well, I can’t speak for others, but I spent my years as mother surrounded by people who were all willing to pitch in and help. It was just our way of like on our colony. You don’t find it everywhere, but I’m happy to extend that to you. Even though we’re strangers,” Shara said with a warm smile, keeping her tone of voice soothing and quieter.

“Have you figured out what you want to do on the ship for yourself so you don’t go crazy?” Calloway asked, the question clearly directed at Allison despite her gaze being on Kasper.

~Shara Calloway, CIO

Allison wiped her eyes, shaking her head slightly to try and stop herself from making a scene in the middle of the mess. She also didn’t want Sophie to pick up on her tears and start bawling. “I mean, with two babies to take care of, what can I do other than taking care of them?” Allison said with a weary smile. “I assumed my time would be pretty busy, at least until they’re a few months old and don’t need my constant presence,” she looked down at Sophie. “They’re growing up so fast though, maybe that’ll happen sooner than I imagined.”

Allison