Posted by Commander Jean Francios Millet (XO/Comms) in Side Sim - Broken promises…broken trust… just broken (XO/CO)

Posted by Captain Arialla Bovar (Captain) in Side Sim - Broken promises…broken trust… just broken (XO/CO)

Posted by Commander Jean Francios Millet (XO/Comms) in Side Sim - Broken promises…broken trust… just broken (XO/CO)
Posted by… suppressed (1) by the Post Ghost! 👻

((Takes place after dinner between XO and NE))

Ari was in her room. She was barefoot, as she often was. This time she was in soft, ashen colored leggings with a deep blue hoodie that seemed a size or two too big. She was pacing in her room looking at the display board on her wall that had her slingshot simulation running. She was trying something different and was partially successful. In her hands was a chunk of space rock from her desk. She was rolling it back n forth between her hands like a pitcher waiting to launch a baseball. Her voice humming softly with some off tune in her head as she reached up to tug at her ponytail a moment .

Captain Arialla Bovar
Commanding Officer

Jean-Francois didn’t feel well and it was because of stress. He kissed another female and felt bad about it since he was dating Ari. He knew how this might very well turn out but his sense of character and integrity told him that it was the right thing to do. He was in his uniform since he just got off work and pressed the chime to her quarters.

Commander Jean-Francois Millet, XO

Not thinking, her usual response came out, “COME!”

When the door opened, she had a stylus between her teeth, her hair a rumpled mess of a ponytail and the rocks around her quarters were strewn a bit more messily as if she had picked each one up at some point then randomly set them down again. Pacing without looking at the door, she kept watching the board as the ‘sim ship’ wrapped its trail around one object, then slung itself to the next one. Her head tilting as if she was riding it as it moved.

She was profile to the door, Jean able to see her right side. Her body slowly shifting as the ship moved. “Yes?” she said as the door shut beside whoever had arrived.

Ari
CO

Jean came in and looked at her in her usual disarray which he thought was one of the cutest things about her. He thought a moment about telling her after he saw all the rocks/ammunition laying around but steeled himself.

“It’s me Captain. I have something to tell you.” If she looked his way she could tell that he was serious but if not, his voice told her he was as well.

Jean-Francois

She startled slightly, hearing a voice she hadn’t expected and turned with a smile. “Jean,” she said taking the stylus from her mouth. She saw him in uniform and frowned slightly. “Did I miss another meeting? I thought I had the evening free.” She grabbed the controller from her coffee table and halted the sim, moving to the serving area as she did it. The controller went on the table with the stylus, the rock small enough to roll in one hand as she called to him over her should. “What do you want to drink? I’ve got ice tea here and water. I can make you hot tea or send for something else if you prefer.” She drew herself an iced tea and waited for his response.

Ari
CO
((forgot no replicator lol… bad weak for tech and my chars apparently lol))

“Ice tea merci.” He walked over and got it from her when she poured it and took a drink. It was refreshing. “And no. You did not miss another meeting. My shift just ended and I needed to talk to you and to see you.” He took another drink and she could tell he was nervous.

Jean-Francois

She frowned slightly. “Ok, this sounds serious. Come on and get comfortable at least. No point in harsh conversations being held standing up.” She moved to the couch and sat down, one leg curled under her so she could face him waiting to see if he was going to come join her.

Ari
CO

“Oui. It is.” He was torn now. To go sit with her or stand where he was and say it. He decided to sit down next to her but at the opposite end of the couch and faced her. Taking another sip before he continued and looked her in straight in the eyes while he spoke and a tear sliding down his cheek.

Swallowing hard he started. “Last night I met a female Ensign from where I lived in France. Her parents and mine are good friends and business partners.” He took another sip.

“We decided to get something to eat since it was late when she came by to deliver me the roster for the next day. We decided to cook pastries in the kitchen and one thing lead to another and We kissed. It was just one kiss and nothing more. I wanted you to know from me before you hear a stupid rumor. I am very sorry Ari.” This was the time that he took his eyes from her and held his head down lower in shame.

Jean-Francois

She had been smiling for most of the story, at fist not realizing the reason for his heavy tone. OK, he had met a person on board from home. Ok, their families were friends. Ok, they had had dinner. But then had made pastries? And had kissed?

She set her tea on the table and stood up moving towards her project board in silence. Despite everything going on, this was a blow to her gut she hadn’t been expecting. She crossed her arms, her back to him, to hide the motion of covering her chest. “You kissed her?” She dropped her hands and turned to face him. Her face was calm, as if nothing was wrong. But her throat ached and catching her next breath was already becoming a struggle. “Did it feel good? Is that why you stopped?” It was an odd question, but she had to know.

Ari
CO

He let her get up and just sat there letting her get it out. “How do I say it to make you understand. I. I didn’t kiss her. We. We kissed each other at the same because at that moment it felt right. It didn’t feel good because it was not you. That is why I stopped. Right after the kiss I realized what I did wrong and backed away and told her that we cannot do this and that it shouldn’t have happened. I did get caught up in the moment and that is not an excuse but that is what happened.” He took another drink and swallowed hard.

Jean-Francois

“Caught up in the moment and it felt right,” she said and slowly her head went back and forth as she tried to process it.

After a long moment of looking out the window, she turned back to him. “I think, perhaps you need a break. See who else on the ship a kiss ‘feels right’ with. I’m sure there is more than one woman interested in your pastry and getting caught up in the moment with you.” Her words snipped from her lips like a bite. She was calm on the outside but on the inside she wanted to scream.

“I appreciate you telling me. Now I will understand when people look at me like I was a bad punchline to a twentieth century joke everyone gets but me.” She leaned back on the wall, the sim shutting off from the pressure leaving a black blankness behind her. She did it half because in backing up she had run out of room, and partially because she wasn’t sure if she could stand on her own.

Ari
CO

He stood up fast and bellowed out. “That’s not true and you know it! I messed up. I’m not saying it was right, just telling you the truth. You are not a punch line and never was. I love you and only you Ari! I’m not perfect but at least I came to you and told you my fault. I’m really sorry. ” He slumped back down onto the couch.

Jean-Francois

She jumped slightly at his outburst, her crossed arms dropping to her side in reflex. “I know you love me, Jean. That’s the problem. You still allowed things to go where they shouldn’t have. Dinner with a family friend is one thing. But pastries? In the kitchen? And a kiss? What am I supposed to think… huh? You can be sorry all you want. But it happened none the less.” She crossed her arms again. This time in more of a protective stance. “I think you should go. I need time to think and so do you. We have a long four years ahead of us. And this all happened in two weeks. What am I supposed to think, Millet?” She turned to the window.

“I think you should go…” she whispered a second time. This time the words were cut with the edge of tears.

Ari
CO

“Sorry Ari. I didn’t mean to frighten you.” He said calmly. It did happen, yes. The pastries we were making were from our own family recipes that we used to eat as kids. It was not meant to be sexual. I don’t know what you’re supposed to think Ari. Just think clearly. I know we hit it off fast but you are the only one for me.”

He got up from the couch after she said to leave the second time and walked over to her. “I know I’ve said I wouldn’t quit on you and never give up on you or us, and I’m not and I won’t. Please do the same.”

Jean-Francois

She spun around hearing him come up on her. She took the last step back and hit the wall once more. “Yes, we hit it off fast. Maybe that’s the problem. And pastries from family recipes are fine. But at night, after dinner, with an NE in the kitchen. I don’t care what you meant for it to be. Did it ever occur to you how it would ‘appear’? Even if you hadn’t kissed her. You know word would get out the XO was in the kitchen making pastries with an Ensign. It could have been completely innocent and the appearance would have been there. And then you make it worse by getting carried away.”

She shook her head and dropped her arms because it gave a few more inches between them. “We both need to think… you should go…” she looked him in the eyes and she was bordering on crying. The crystalline shine in her eyes shone brightly in the lights of the room as he stood that close to her.

Ari
CO

“You’re right. I’m sorry. Goodnight Ari.” He too was staying too tear up and she would notice as well. He turned around and walked away.

Jean-Francois

She waited till the door closed and she railed around and slammed her fist into the display screen. She wasn’t strong enough to crack it, but it hurt her hand. That was what she had wanted. A pain distraction from the ache in her chest. She then turned and used her bare foot to up over the coffee table. Her ice tea landed on and splashed on the couch and the cluster of rocks spilled into the space between the sideways table and the front of the couch.

She went to her room, got ready for bed and cried herself to sleep.

Ari
CO