Posted by Captain Marceau Renault (Commanding Officer) in Memory: Tales of Christmas Past

Posted by Lieutenant Helena Laursen (Helm/Nagivation Officer) in Memory: Tales of Christmas Past

Posted by Captain Marceau Renault (Commanding Officer) in Memory: Tales of Christmas Past
Posted by… suppressed (5) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Helena’s trip home over the short winter break had been decided last minute. Her flight exam was taking her back to the East Coast and she was able to arrange to take another Cessna the rest of the way home. It has been a short trip, but now she was back and excited for the new semester and classes to start. Her room mate chattered at her for over two hours when she got back, about some little box she was messing with that was now spread in parts across their entire room.

Helena escaped to find food and other friends. Their squads would be determined this semester and they would work, study, and live together the rest of their four years. Helena was excited for it. In the Galley she grabbed a tray, food and then looked around. She spotted a mop of curly red-brown hair and grinned. “Hey Marceau! How was your break?” She set her tray down and sat down across from him

Helena

Marceau’s own roommate had gone home for the holidays, most of the school had. Marceau had stayed here and spent most of his time with his girlfriend Lucy. When Helena sat across from him, Marceau smiled. “Helena! Two weeks is too long.” He said, meaning not seeing each other for the length of the break. “It was okay.” He shrugged. “How was yours? You went home, yes?”

~ Marceau

Helena nodded around taking a sip of her drink. “It is far too long. I did go home. My flight exam took me to NY and with my tutoring money and our stipends I was able to charter a Cessna for the trip.” She didn’t sound as excited as normal for the trip.

“My brother is giving my parents a hard time, but it was good to see them.” Then her eyes gleamed. The first thing she’d done when she got back was check the scores for the final assessment. “I took top score!” Helena was taking 3rd year flight classes already, and was ranked top of her class. Unbeknownst to her, her instructors were planning to put her in one-on-one classes with them to improve her skills. Her skill and scores also drive the older cadets crazy.

“That’s good!” Marceau smiled, happy for her. He was at the top (but not quite the top, not yet) of his own first year medical class.

She grinned, she wasn’t the type to brag but she was really proud of her performance.

“What did you do? You said you were planning on staying. How was that?”

Helena

“I stayed here. I spent Christmas with Lucy and her family, and new years also. Her whole family came over so we watched some of her younger cousins open presents and play.” He told her. “And I used some of the extra time to get extra studying in.”

~ Marceau

“Honestly with only 4 years I’m surprised they don’t have classes over the break. You are doing amazing though. I saw it posted that Cmdr Ballaris picked you and Gorbins as his interns. That’s amazing!” Marceau had talked about how competitive that spot was. Ballaris was picky and expected perfection. She knew Marceau had earned and was not surprised he had spent the break studying.

Marceau nodded. “Some of the cadets don’t like Ballaris, but I think they just don’t like how hard he pushes them. I’m excited for it.” Ballaris was known for expecting perfection and usually picked out of the top of the class for his interns.

“So how was that? Spending the holiday with Lucy’s family? You two getting serious?” She grinned and waggled her eyebrows at him. Marceau had a shy streak but was a good person and had some steel in him if you paid attention. Lucy wasn’t military, but was very smart and worked hard. The two seemed to get on well together, but Helena couldn’t pass up the chance to tease her friend a bit.

Helena

Marceau’s face turned red and he shrugged awkwardly. “Serious? Ehm I don’t know. But we’ve been dating… Four months now? It’s been nice. Her family was polite and nice.” His relationship with Lucy was still in the newer relationship, lovey-dovey phase. They hadn’t talked too much about the future. That was on Marceau’s to-do list. Lucy liked to talk about all the things she wanted to do… Things he’d have to be on Earth for.

~ Marceau

Helena grinned when he flushed. “I am glad they were nice and you had a good time. Did you hear from your family at all?” Helena knew Marceau didn’t have a lot of money. Like all cadets they were paid a small stipend since they worked for the military, and Marceau was very careful with his money. She also knew where he grew up was still riddled with crime and gang activity, but she had never pried. Marceau seemed to want to avoid the topic.

Helena

Marceau dreaded that question. It took a lot of explaining and he was quickly getting tired of being asked. But for Helena he only sighed and shook his head. “It’s better that way…” Marceau had routinely avoided questions about his family but people got curious from time to time especially around breaks when he didn’t return home.

~ Marceau

Helena nodded and changed the subject. It would be awhile before the topic came up again. Marceau wanted his privacy and Helena wouldn’t press. “What classes are you taking this semester? I have languages…I am so going to need a tutor. But I am really excited about finding out what our squads are going to be.”

Helena