Posted by Lieutenant Faye Calloway (Mission Specialist) in Side Sim: Friends and good food -what else does one need?

Posted by Lieutenant Kiama Naim (Chief Science Officer) in Side Sim: Friends and good food -what else does one need?

Posted by Lieutenant Faye Calloway (Mission Specialist) in Side Sim: Friends and good food -what else does one need?
Posted by… suppressed (2) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

Faye grinned. “People keep saying that, but I’m not sure they realize what they’re getting into.” It was one thing to invite someone into your life, but it was another to deal with it when they really did show up at your door at weird hours of the night. She knew that Kiama’s offer was sincere, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t tease a little.

“You’re right. A lot of people don’t and then they bow out,” Kiama laughed softly. She knew Faye was teasing and she didn’t mind. On the contrary. She also knew that Faye knew that she meant what she had just said and wouldn’t bow out. And at the same time she wanted to make it clear that she knew what she was getting into and that she wouldn’t disappear on her. “I’m not a counsellor and I don’t have first hand experience with what it means to have BPD. But the perk of being a neuroscientist: I have a pretty good understanding of how brains work and I did more than just a little research into mental health over the years. So I didn’t make my offer lightly and I’m not going to withdraw it. Also, while I generally keep my mental shields as strong as possible, if you ever feel like it might help to talk to someone who can read your mind, I’m happy to be that person for you.”

Faye gazed down but it was only for a brief moment before she lifted her gaze back to Kiama and nodded. ‘Thank you.”

“I’d offer the same, but I’m going to have to put a caveat on that and say that my meds do make me sleep hard so go ahead and wake me up but I’ll be pretty groggy for a bit,” Faye added with a grin before digging back into her curry with gusto.

~Faye Calloway

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Kiama laughed before taking another sip of the synth wine. “If I’m in the middle of a science project and you want to talk, you may have to literally poke me or shake me or something. I am know for getting lost in my work.” A slightly self-conscious giggle bubbled up from her chest and she quickly helped herself to another forkful of curry.

~Lt. Naim, CSO

“Right, find a big stick and poke you,” she teased before tearing into a piece of naan.

“Or hit me over the head with. Just not hard enough to knock me out. That might make the conversation aspect difficult,” Kiama quipped.

“And probably land me in the brig for assault, and I think I’ve had enough brig time to last the rests of my life,” Faye said sardonically.

Kiama nodded and reached for Faye’s hand. “I’m sorry,” she apologised. “That was a stupid joke.”

“Speaking of science and projects. Working on anything interesting?” Faye asked.

~Faye Calloway

“Not really. Between the last mission, the back and forth regarding the CSO position and everything else, I haven’t really had the time or energy to focus on anything in particular. Though I have spent a lot of time reading various scientific journals and essays in a vast number of fields. I know, that I don’t need to be an expert in everything, that’s why I have a full department under me. But I want to at least brush up on everything and if possible have more than just a basic understanding of most things. After all, I have to make the decision when and what to delegate, but at the end of the day I still need to be able to report to the Captain and rest of the senior staff. So I also spend a lot of time getting to know my department,” Kiama replied with a small shrug and then ate another forkful of curry.

~Lt. Naim, CSO

Faye smiled. “Sounds like time well spent.” She sipped at the synth wine and wished for a brief moment the moratorium on alcohol hadn’t been necessary, but in her eyes it was actually really good that she herself had imposed it rather than having it imposed on her. Still, there was a certain flavour difference, a robustness in many wines that was lacking when you took away the alcohol or used substitutions.

“It was,” Kiama agreed. “It felt a bit tedious at times, but it helps me feel more secure in my new position and that’s important as well.” After helping herself to a small piece of naan, she asked, “How about you? How are you doing being on leave?”

“I’m just glad my daily work had gone down to something approximating normal working hours,” Calloway said with a chuckle. “Before, I was working twelve to sixteen hour days, and really wasn’t able to take days off. At least now I can breathe, even if I’m anxious about being off duty.”

~Faye Calloway

Kiama nodded thoughtfully and then asked, “Do you know when you’ll be allowed to return to duty? And are there going to be any shifts in your duties?” She smiled at Faye with sincere interest, but quickly added, “If you are allowed to tell me, that. If not or if you don’t want to talk about it, that’s perfectly fine.”

~Lt. Naim, CSO