Posted by Lieutenant Faye Calloway (Mission Specialist) in Captain’s Quarters- If You Can’t Stand the Heat

Posted by Captain Alexander Cochrane (Commanding Officer) in Captain’s Quarters- If You Can’t Stand the Heat

Posted by Lieutenant Faye Calloway (Mission Specialist) in Captain’s Quarters- If You Can’t Stand the Heat
Posted by… suppressed (5) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snips)

Alex looked at her and said “I don’t get hangovers. Far too long dealing with Klingons. But you go ahead and enjoy yours.” and he chuckled as he filled her glass. He then raised his and said “To you, Faye Calloway… one of my best friends.”

Cochrane

The wide grin shifted to something softer but it was no less of a smile as she lifted her glass and touched it to his with a clink. It was hard to explain what those words meant. Sure, she had described Leroy like a brother, as one of the truest friends she had ever known, but they had never come out and said those words. There had always just been an… understanding. But this here with Alex was different, in many ways. It wasn’t better, just different, and that was okay. “Cheers,” she said softly and took a good mouthful.

This would have normally been the point when people would call it a night. A nice resting point. But maybe Faye was being selfish in not wanting it to end, in not wanting to go back to her quarters and be alone with her thoughts. She wasn’t quite yet ready to contemplate the weighty things Alex had laid at her feet this evening. So she stood up and held up a hand. “Come on. one last dance, no attempts at flinging me into furniture, let’s just keep it simple.”

~Faye Calloway

Alex polished off his glass and rose to his feet… remarkably steady for one who had just consumed almost half a bottle of scotch inside of twenty minutes. “Ok, simple.” and he walked to the open area of the floor. =/\= Computer, play In Hell I’ll Be In Good Company by The Dead South, early twenty-first century Earth. =/\= and there was a chirp and Alex held his hand out to Faye and bowed slightly. “M’lady, would you care to dance?” and he smiled.

Cochrane

Slipping her hand into his, Faye stepped in to rest her hand on his shoulder. “I’d love to,” she said warmly as the tune stirred old memories of happier times in a place that had for many years felt safe.

Here in the safety of Alex’s quarters, where even the dark memories couldn’t hurt her, she could let herself focus on that happier time. So it was with a soft smile as she moved easily with the beat and followed his lead, that Faye danced, feeling an echo of a moment a long time ago in a different place with different people. “This reminds me of Tracken,” she said softly. “Sometimes we had live music, other times it was recordings from a database. But there was often dancing, and always music. People gathering, sharing laughs, and comforting sadness. Sometimes I wish I could bottle that community up and share it so people could know what it was like.”

~Faye Calloway

“Show them in you, Faye. You are the bottle, you know…” he said and led her around to the beat, slowly turning and spinning as the space allowed.

She went to say something at first and then stopped as he he gently pushed her away from him into a spin. It gave her a moment to collect the wispy tendrils of her thoughts in a bid to somehow make them make sense. “I know. I do, actually. But it’s something of a different reality to talk about a place that no longer exists. It’s just hard sometimes, though it’s less difficult than it used to be.”

“You know, if you’d like, I can try and record some of the songs from there, if you like. You hum a bit, I’ll see if I can duplicate it, you direct and so on. Happy to help if you want.”

Cochrane

“Sure.” Faye smiled as the moved about his quarters. “You know my mom plays. Different string instruments- Terran guitar, Vulcan lute, Bajoran lyre. She made a reference to it at the awards ceremony. We’re sort of talking of doing a social thing like we had back on Tracken. A bonfire night sort of thing. She might remember the songs more than I do.”

~Faye Calloway

Alex nodded and then said “No bonfires on my ship, Calloway. That’s an order.” and he spun her out, back in, and dipped her low and backwards as the music came to a slow stop.

“Not even holographic ones?” she said, demurring.

Lifting her back up, he smiled. “You keep up these kind of ideas, Faye, I may make you the Morale Officer.” and he gave her a wink.

Alex

Faye’s mouth dropped open and she swatted his arm with the back of her fingertips. “You take that back!” she said in a dark tone, despite her still relaxed demeanour. “I might be slightly more socially inclined these days, and maybe I don’t get panic attacks in large social gatherings anymore, mostly, but I’m still an introvert,” she said with a tiny smirk tugging that the corners of her mouth.

~Faye Calloway

“My ship, my rules.” and he laughed. Letting go of her he said “You know what? I’m really happy you are feeling comfortable here, Faye. That you do means more to me than you will ever really know. It’s the first really tangible sign I have had since I came aboard that I’m actually doing ok in the center chair. So… thank you. Thank you for investing so much in this ship… her crew… and yourself. I really am very proud of how far you have come.” and he smiled at her, that pride evident in his eyes.

Cochrane