Posted by Lieutenant Commander Faye Calloway (Chief Intelligence Officer) in Faye’s Quarters

Posted by Civilian Marishka (Lounge Host) in Faye’s Quarters

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Faye Calloway (Chief Intelligence Officer) in Faye’s Quarters
Posted by… suppressed (16) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

Marishka nodded. It was a look of understanding in her eyes now.

“No matter how you dress it up, black on black is black on black isn’t it? You’re right, unknown is not their favorite dance. I have no doubt you would definitely be watched.”

Marishka shifted positions slightly. She hope things were becoming more clear to Faye.

“Trust this fact, most of the people on this ship would probably have a black on black at some point in their life. You may not feel comfortable with everybody here at one time or another but, that’s a statement of fact at least as far as I can tell.”

• Marishka

Faye snorted. “Oh, I’m not worried about everyone liking me, don’t you worry about that. But I do one day hope to be the captain of my own ship, and so I’m trying to figure all this newer stuff out. I know I’m going to be a different kind of captain than people expect, but I think that actually works to my advantage. But I have to get Starfleet Command to agree. We’ll see how that goes,” she said, almost rolling her eyes.

~Faye Calloway, CIO

Marishka couldn’t help but smile at that. This one absolutely had spunk.

“Different is good, different is memorable. I like different. I seek to be different and surround myself with different. Be different Faye it’s a good thing. Don’t let anybody ever stop you.”

• Marishka

“That’s what I’ve been trying to do,” Faye said, trying to push away the swell of emotion. “People have good reason to have… concerns, but some things are in the past and others are ones I really don’t have control over.” She gave a lopsided smirk. “And though some have tried, I am, as it turns out, notoriously hard to kill.”

“Anyway, I just wanted us to have this chat because I didn’t like how I had left the situation befoe, and I wanted to make sure we were okay. We need to be able to trst each other, and I know trust is not easy for either of us. I don’t want my… quirks, to be a hindrance to building that trust.”

~Faye Calloway, CIO

Marishka looked at Faye and wondered if they had known each other in a past life. Was face some one sent by Mila, Marishka’s mother, to test her? So many thoughts. Faye would never understand how closely they resembled one another. Of course, that was completely a mental thing, under the skin as it were.

“I’m going to guess that our reasons are very different, but I think I understand you. I definitely understand being hard to kill. That makes some people angry doesn’t it? Oh the look in their eyes. Other things while, yeah I think I understand that too you just need to be who you are. Everybody else can either step in line or please just step out of my way. I’m tired of trying to fit in.”

Even that wasn’t completely truthful. She was on this ship, in a position she never thought she would be in for how long?

• Marishka

Faye shifted, her body suddenly uncomfortable. Tess nudged her hand and Faye took a steadying breath. “As hard as it is to admit, I do want at least some people to like me. On the Manhattan I found a true home for the first time. I found myself a part of a community, a family, and it was more wonderful than I can express. I don’t have that here yet, outside of my husband. I want it, but it’s harder here, for different reasons. And I’m trying to figure out what happens if I can’t have that here. I still have my duty and I will never shirk that. I guess…” Faye sighed. “I guess I just want more for my time on the Athena.”

~Faye Calloway, CIO

Marishka could certainly understand Faye’s thoughts. Her own thoughts flooded back to the Genesis but quickly returned to the present.

“I believe it is in the nature of many species to want more. At least those of us who ever discovered campfires. You’re doing a good job as far as I can tell, reaching out, showing up at my bar at least. Keep doing what you’re doing and I think that you will be able to find what you need. The Athena is nothing if not a accommodating.”

• Marishka

She nodded, if slowly. “I guess that’s true. I wasn’t sure at first, but there are signs that you might be right.” Faye actually broke into a tiny smile. “I’ve made one friend so far, maybe I’ll make some more, if they don’t mind my eccentricities. I’ve been told in the past that I can be… a lot.” But rather than it being a self-deprecating comment, Faye was amused by it.

“I do have a personal question for you though, regarding my husband.”

~Faye Calloway, CIO

Marishka smiled, she could be quite a lot herself and had grown to be very proud of it. She was also aware of whom Faye’s husband was and couldn’t help but Wonder at what the question was.

“Welcome to the I’m quite a lot and I’m damn proud of it club. Now, about your significant other, what would you like to know?”

She supposed just being easy-going and straight to the point was the best way to go with just about anything regarding Faye. At least for now.

• Marishka

Faye sucked in a breath. “Well, we’ve established that I’m not always the best at picking up social cues, but when I am in an observation mode I pick up a lot, even if I can’t qualify my observations. So, I’ve noticed there is a tension when he’s around. I’m not sure what it is, but is it something I should be concerned about?”

~Faye Calloway, CIO

Marishka didn’t want to be the one to get into complicated racial minutia with faith. Let him do that, he was her spouse after all. Besides, she didn’t feel this was any basis for a friendship either. If it became necessary in the future she would do so.

“Surely, you are aware of the history of Orion male and female relationships? Surely, you can tell that I am only part Orion and part Klingon? That may or may not lead to some interesting interactions between your significant other and myself. I don’t believe that any tension between us is anything coming from me. I will not speak on your significant other though. I wish him nothing but a successful career.”

• Marishka

Faye nodded slowly. “Okay,” she said simply. The reality was that while she had a bunch of details about Orion culture and history stored in her exceptional memory, her experiences with Orions were not what one would expect from someone now in Starfleet. She wasn’t sure how much Marishka knew about Faye’s past, but she wanted to make sure there wasn’t going to be a problem that she didn’t anticipate. She understood Daggum’s discomfort, but unless either said anything about it, she would simply butt out.

But that left a simple fact that Faye wanted to clarify. “For the record, I personally have had only one interaction with an Orion female in my life, other than random exchanges in markets. It was not a comfortable interaction, nor was it a good time in my life. Now, I’m aware of my biases and you have shown me nothing but consideration and kindness, so there’s no conflict or issue for me. But my experiences with Orions outside of my husband have been very complicated. “Faye broke into a grin. “Klingons, on the other hand, I know well, and have generally gotten along with in the past. Though I know better to make assumptions about what one individual might have for cultural values and mores.”

~Faye Calloway, CIO

Marishka could certainly understand phase position. She could also understand that Faye needed clarification and to clarify where she stood in everything. She broke into her own broad smile and nodded.

“Oh, we’ll be great friends simply for the fact that I am not my mother. She is the typical Orion female you would have the uncomfortable, tyrannical, rude interactions with. She would be the type your significant other would not want to run into either. She is the type I do not wish to be like, unless I absolutely have to, and I have had to in the past.”

• Marishka

It sounded like Dag’s mom, of whom they were working hard to remove any connection from. Faye nodded. “We all have to do things we don’t enjoy or that can be harmful. And I can’t and won’t speak for Dag, but at least from me, there won’t be any issues if you are around.” Faye gave a lopsided smirk. “Friendship is hard for me, but I’ve gotten better at it over the years. My efforts can be a bit on the messy side, but I can guarantee that life around me is never boring,” she said with a deep chuckle.

She looked over at their kitchen area. “Another time, I should cook for you. I’m not half bad and I have a couple recipes that I learned from my childhood on Tracken that have a lot of meaning. I like making them for people I like,” she said matter-of-factly.

~Faye Calloway, CIO

“Oh that cooking sounds like fun. I do enjoy having other people do the cooking sometimes. The whole hospitality thing, professionally speaking I mean, was not my first choice of careers as I’m sure you can guess by now. I kind of fell into it and I actually enjoy it. I apologize if I bring up uncomfortable ghosts for him but I simply really can’t help that. So, if we are ever acting odd around you that’s probably why.”

Marishka realized she had just rambled a bit and that really wasn’t like her. It was probably a good sign though.

• Marishka

Faye nodded a little. “I think because I don’t read people well, I need to understand situations better so I can figure out what the appropriate response is. Now I know it’s a situation that doesn’t require my input or concern. I just…” She paused and pulled her lower lip between her teeth for a moment. “Dag is everything to me, and he’s the one thing I am one hundred percent certain about. I’ve not had that before in my life and”-she gave a one-shouldered shrug-“I’m protective of him, just as he is of me. I can’t stop him from experiencing hurt, but I sure as hell don’t want him to. I understand the situation better now, so thank you for being willing to talk about it.”

~Faye Calloway, CIO

For her part Marishka felt like saying that she would be more than happy to let Faye keep Dag for all eternity. She felt like explaining that she simply didn’t date Orion males. That wasn’t the topic of this discussion though. There would obviously be time for that later though, was that considered girl talk?

“I have no doubt that you are a fine match. I have no reason to intrude upon that and, even if I did, I don’t think I would stand a chance. I may have many outward trappings and even some that you might never find out about but, real relationships, like yours, can’t be circumvented by me.”

• Marishka

Faye shook her head. “No, please don’t misunderstand me. I wasn’t jealous or worried about your intentions. I just wanted to understand the tension.” She offered Marishka a small smile. “I trust Daggum. Just as I’m trying to find my footing here, we’re trying to find our social footing as a couple. He was here first, so he knows people in ways I don’t yet. It’s really nothing more than that.” Faye chuckled. “And believe me, this is progress for me. I used to just react and have things blow up. I’m getting better at confirming the facts and trying to not get emotional about them. It still happens, but like I said, progress.”

~Faye Calloway, CIO

Mariska nodded and sighed in understanding.

“I commend you for your desire to gain social understanding and indeed, a foothold perhaps. I suggest you invest in andorian climbing gear for that one. Sometimes it’s just not worth it. I think you’ll do fine though. People with intelligence backgrounds usually do.”

• Marishka