Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Janna Kingston (Counsellor) in Calloway/Hammor Quarters- Meals & Machinations

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Faye Calloway (Chief Intelligence Officer) in Calloway/Hammor Quarters- Meals & Machinations

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Daggum Hammor (Chief Engineer) in Calloway/Hammor Quarters- Meals & Machinations
Posted by… suppressed (29) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Faye moved about their space tucking away random objects and in general trying to make the place look tidy. While they could only cook within certain parameters, Faye was actually pretty excited to finally get to do this. She had a strange flashback to making pizza in her makeshift oven on the Manhattan (which was hooked up here and confirmed to be just fine, thank you very much). It had felt like a lifetime ago that she had had that epic crush on Alex and wanted to cook for him without the pressure of an actual date. Which was how she ended up making homemade pizza for him and a couple she was reasonably friendly with. Jasmine had suggested it as a way to have moral support.

Things had changed a lot, but the one thing that hadn’t was that Faye still had a hard time doing activities in the framework of friendship. The simple fact was that she and Daggum were still trying to figure out where they fit in as a couple on the ship. They themselves together were fine. Better then fine, actually. They worked together so seamlessly and it was often a lot of fun too! That had not been a guarantee after they married and she transferred to the Athena.

The thing was, Daggum had already had a life here on the ship before she arrived. Was it weird that his friend was also now her therapist? A little, if she were honest. But Faye liked Janna, so she finally just said ‘screw it’ and invited the woman over for dinner with them.

Daggum was due back anytime after getting off shift, but she fully expected that it could take him longer to get free from Engineering. Faye had already changed out of her uniform and into something semi-casual. Atop a gathered dark blue and green plaid skirt that went to her shins, she had a fitted grey t-shirt that said You Couldn’t Handle Me If I Came With Instructions in black text. She moved into the kitchen to start prepping the part of the meal that needed to be cooked.

Meanwhile, Tess was watching her person flurry about the quarters with some amused interest.

~Faye Calloway, CIO

The door slid open and the bulky frame of her Orion husband stepped through the door. “Hey! How goes the prep work?” he asked as he moved to his wife and set his hands on her hips and kissed the back of her neck. “Need any help? After I clean up, of course. I was in and out of Jeffries Tubes all day, and to say those things are not sized for individuals larger than a strand of spaghetti would be an understatement.” and he chuckled. “Hey… you remember that first exchange we had on the Manhattan?” and he laughed.

Hammor, CE

She turned her head to kiss him properly, at least mindful enough to stop slicing with the knife while she looked away. “Don’t you have minions for that sort of thing? I would have thought that would have been a perk of being the department head,” she said with a grin.

Faye gestured with her head towards the shower. “Go, clean up. Janna will be about 20 mins or so. She said she had an appointment go long and wanted to change out of her uniform before coming over.”

~Faye Calloway, CIO

“Yes Chef!” Daggum said with a smile and he kissed her cheek and then turned and went to the ‘fresher. He came out ten minutes later, a towel wrapped around his waist and his emerald skin glistening from the oils he used to keep the scars soft. “You didn’t tell me the dress code. Black tie, or can I wear the new T-shirt I got?” and he chuckled.

Hammor, CE

Faye was stirring ingredients in a pan and chuckled. “Well, I would say to leave the lounge wear for later, but I think your t-shirt is just fine. Besides, I really can’t comment, now can I?” she said as she turned to face him and gestured to her own t-shirt.

She drank in the sight of him and had to resist the urge to go over and run her hands over his oiled skin. Faye blew out a breath and turned back to the food. “You need to get dressed, or else poor Janna is going to be standing at the door wondering why we won’t answer.”

Daggum laughed and said “You know how much I like it when you tell me what to do…” and winked at her and went to put on clothes.

A couple minutes later, the chime rang and Faye was at her desk, utterly fixated on her screen. The pan was sizzling away on low. “Come in,” she said, only partially aware that the chime had even gone off.

Janna stepped wearing a pair of slim grey trousers and a finely woven batwing sweater at a pale purple that was fitted at her waist. “Good evening,” she said, taking in the quarters. “Thanks for inviting me.”

“Yeah…” came the distracted reply from Faye.

Janna laughed and drew closer. “Faye?”

Faye whipped her head around and her stormy eyes widened. “Oh, I’m so sorry!”

“It’s fine. Is everything alright?”

A dangerous gleam appeared in Faye’s eyes. “Oh, I think it is. I might be able to explain later, but I might have to do something over here a few times tonight. I’m not trying to be rude.”

“Alright,” Janna said with a nod. “Anything I can do to help?”

“Hmmm?” Faye said, nce again distracted.

“With dinner maybe?” Janna said, highly amused and definitely not offended. She was too used to Faye Calloway by now to take offences by her distraction.

“Oh, yeah. Uh, can you go give that pan a stir and make sure it’s not sticking. Dag’s getting dressed. He’ll be out in a minute.”

Janna moved over to their little kitchenette. “Alright. Smells good,” she said, grabbing the wooden spoon and giving the pan of herbed vegetables a gentle stir. “What are we having?”

“Uh… doesn’t have a name, but if I made the traditional version it would be like hasperat. But I know you don’t like really spicy things, so this is a dish that I cobbled together during my freighter years.”

~Faye Calloway, CIO

Daggum came out wearing blue jeans and a black T-shirt with some kind of illustrated figure in the background behind letters that read “Thanos Was Right” in the fore. He walked over to Janna and gave her a hug. “It has been WAY too long since we have hung out!” he rumbled and smiled at her. He let her go and then hugged Faye and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Ok, boss… what can I do?”

Hammor, CE

Janna smiled as he hugged her. Given how petite she was, he easily towered over her. “I know, but I’m so glad we could finally do this.” She gave the pan another stir.

“Rice or noodles, your choice if you want to get that going. But I’ve got a veg sauté just about ready,” Faye said, moving back to the computer and sitting halfway in the seat. “Don’t mind me… we have developments,” she said, casting a glance at Dag over her shoulder. “My bait worked.” Janna already seemed okay not being in the loop just now, so she thought it was okay to at least tell him that much. “I’m going to have to check on things a few times this evening.”

~Faye Calloway, CIO

Bump

Daggum looked at Faye and said “Really? Got a bite, did you?” Daggum looked at Janna and then back at Faye. “Maybe we should get an outside opinion on what we are doing. Whaddya think?” he asked.

Hammor, CE

Faye pondered and then nodded. They both trusted Janna- she was safe, and also had a unique perspective on a lot of things. Faye returned pointed to the stove, watching Janna stir the pan again and offer her the wooden spoon. “So, it goes a bit like this…” And then Faye proceeded to fill in her therapist and their friend with the whole sordid story about Dag’s mom, the sketchy admiral and how they were going to prove wrong doing. She was focused on explaining the story in a cohesive way that she wasn’t even paying attention to whether Dag was making the rice or noodles.

“So, this evening I got a ping from one of my contacts who has eyes on Admiral Gallren, which means we have an opportunity to catch him trying to change records live. I’ve set up numerous alerts so if he even changes a comma, I’ll know,” Faye said, her eyes gleaming.

~Faye Calloway, CIO

Daggum was actually paying attention to the food while his wife regaled their friend with the sordid tale they found themselves neck deep in. When she finished, Daggum looked over his shoulder at Janna. “So what do you think? How crazy are we?” he asked with a laugh.

Hammor, CE

Janna eyed them in turn and then snorted. “Remind me not to piss either of you off,” she deadpanned.

“So you catch the Admiral being naughty and that discredits his involvement with Daggmum’s mother and… how does that help you from there?”

~Janna Kingston, CNS

Faye grinned. “So Gallren is part Orion. Not a big deal. But him covering up Dag’s mother’s crimes and makign sure the cases are dismissed is a problem. If she tries to claim a right to inheritance, then it will go to court and we will have enough evidence to have the whole thing thrown ut, Though honestly I suspect the threat of all our evidence may deter them.”

~Faye Calloway, CIO

“And if the court doesn’t throw them out, there’s always the closest airlock.” Daggum said without the slightest hint of humor. He finished stirring for a moment and turned and looked at Janna. “We aren’t in this for any gain, Janna. I hope you know that. We just want to… finally… set some past wrongs right and maybe close a chapter or two of sagas that are Faye and me.” He took a deep breath and sighed. “I mean, it’d be really great to not have to carry around a lot of this garbage we have.”

Hammor, CE

Janna’s gaze was penetrative as she took in the whole that was Daggum. A sly smile slipped onto her lips. “I fully believe either and both of you could make someone miserable if you truly thought it was required but vindictive and selfish are not terms I would ever use for you two. You’re allowed your peace, Daggum,” she said, giving his arm a reassuring pat.

“Damn right.” he said with a grin.

She turned to Faye and held out her hands. “Now, since dinner is almost ready, I insist I help. Plates and cutlery? I’ll set the table. Unless were serving from here of course.”

~Janna Kingston, CNS

Faye pondered for half a second. “We can serve from here, but”-she pivoted at the hip and reached into a drawer, collecting cutlery-“you can set these out. Thanks!”

“Oh! And my mom said you can call her on the Asimov for the questionnaire. But send a message ahead so she can and I quote ‘tell the others to piss off for a while’.” Faye snorted. “I would say she can get away with that because she’s the first officer these days but it’s far more likely that they are just scared of her. The smart ones, anyway.”

She flicked her gaze to Daggum. “Autism assessment,” she said more neutrally. “There are questionnaires Janna has to complete with family members. I’m lucky I actually now have someone who knew me as a baby and child. Had this all come up earlier, I don’t know that it would have been so straightforward.”

~Faye Calloway, CIO

Daggum nodded. That made sense on a number of levels, he thought to himself. “Yeah… I think the only person on that ship that isn’t afraid of her is your Pops; and that’s probably just because he’s as crazy as she is.” He looked at Jenna. “Fay should tell you how they got married.” and he laughed.

Hammor, CE

Janna set the cutlery in their places and moved back to the kitchenette. “Oh? From what you’ve told me, your mother is not one to be impulsive, so it had to have been pretty amazing to generate that kind of reaction.”

~Janna Kingston, CNS

“Amazingly crazy… but yeah.” Daggum SA d with a smile. “But they found matching crazy in one another, so it works.”

Faye snorted. “Oh, I think the word you’re looking for is epic. See, people like them in their situation would just simply elope. And they did, but it involved some wacky psqeudo church over subspace and they were rather drunk when they did so. Woke up the next day, realized what they had done adn decided to go with it,” she said, bursting out laughing.

She turned her gaze on Daggum. “Do you think my mother would murder me from so far away if I showed Janna the vid?”

~Faye Calloway, CIO

“I think Pikelsimer would, but it’s okay. I can distract him.” and Daggum laughed. “I’ll tell him I made a still in the Engineering shop.”

Hammor, CE

Faye threw her head back adn laugh. “Aww, he’ll be so proud. And goodie, story time!” she said and grabbed Janna’s hand, all but dragging her over to her computer. Dinner could wait.

Surprised by being suddenly dragged away, Janna tossed an amused look at Daggum. No one could ever say Faye wasn’t enthusiastic!

Her hands flew over the keys and a moment later a vide appeared and began to play:

---

The video showed two sides of a vid call. One side: a remarkably sober looking Shara and Micah on the couch they currently sat on, dark of night in the window behind them. On the other, an Andorian woman with long white hair with beads in it. Her face was painted to resemble a rising sun in yellows and oranges.

“Dearly beloved,” the woman began, “… we are gathered here under the blessings of the Universal Harmony and Light-Bearers Church of the Everlasting Love and Harmonious Living Church and Souvenir Store to join these two beings in holy matrimony. Shara Calloway… do you love, honor, trust, cherish, and desire the man next to you? And do you wish him to be your partner in love and light till darkness takes you and you cast into the abyss of the everlasting night never to be seen or heard by the universe again?” Shara looked at Micah and smiled. To anyone who didn’t know her, it looked like a love and adoring smile. Micah, though, saw the struggle to keep from laughing and simply nodded and said softly “Yeah, I know…” “I do.” said Shara. The ‘minister’ looked at Micah. “And do you, Micah Pikel… Pikelsimmer? Piike-simer? Pickalsimmer?” and Micah rolled his eyes at Shara and said “Pikelsimer. Close enough. Lets do this.” and the minister said “Right, Pikelsimer. Do you promise to love, honor, cherish, and satisfy all the needs - both physical and spiritual- of the woman next to you?” and the ‘minister’s‘ eyes focused on Shara and she licked her lips as her words took on a somewhat daydream-like quality. “Even if that means taking on a second lover to help with her most intimate desires… satisfying her while she tells them about how she makes homemade yogurt and cheeses… and wants to raise small horses and sell them to tiny cowboys…” and she shook her head and said “Oh, I’m sorry… What was I saying? Oh yes… do you promise to love and cherish her as your partner and wife until such time as the holy light is vanished from the universe and you are left alone and cold amidst nothingness for all eternity?”

Micah and Sha stared at the screen and then Micah just said “Uh… yeah.... sure. Except that one past with the tiny cowboys.” The ‘minister’ smiled and said “I pronounce you wed! Congratulations. Now.. we have a wide assortment of souvenirs to help you memorialize your wedding. Would you be interested in the -” and the vid ended.

---

It still was hilarious and Faye burst out laughing. “That’s my parents, Janna!” she said, with more laughter. “But you keep that to yourself when you call her for the assessment.”

~Faye Calloway, CIO

Janna laughed hard. “Oh my stars, that is amazing! I’ve never seen anything like it,” she said, trying to catch her breath. “It defies everything I feel I’ve come to understand about your mother, and yet, I can see what you mean. That might be another side to her, but I’m not going to push my luck with someone like your mother,” she said, breaking into a smirk.

~Janna Kingston, CNS

Daggum snorted softly. “Shara isn’t the one I worry about. She’ll just kill you. Micah, on the other hand… that guy worries me at times.” and he chuckled. “Anyone with that much land and nobody coming to bother him?” and he shook his head. “Yeah… they are a match, that’s for sure.”

Hammor, CE

“And a ship. Those two could go anywhere they wanted. I’d be scared of them too if I wasn’t me,” Faye said with a grin as she drained the noodles and dumped them into the veggies that she had been simmering in a light sauce.

Faye held out a plate to Dag and Janna. “Dinner’s ready, help yourselves. It’s a veg sauté on noodles and I’ve done a creamy nut sauce with some herbs. It’s freighter food, but yummy.”

~Faye Calloway, CIO

Janna took the plate and scooped up a modest amount of what looked to be a really nice food. “Nothing wrong with simple food. I mean, I’m just honoured you cooked for me. After our busy days, there’s nothing wrong with the replicator. But, thank you, really.”

She made her way to the table and took a seat. Kingston eyed Faye for a long moment and smirked. “You on a freighter does not actually surprise me. Though I’m rather glad to have you here. Both of you,” Janna said, her smile softening but not disappearing. Was she feeling particularly sentimental lately? Perhaps. But it had been a lng tme since she had had such cumulative camaraderie with her ship mates. In truth, not since her cadet days.

~Janna Kingston, CNS

Daggum waited for Faye to get hers before dumping the remainder of the noodles on his plate. He didn’t eat a lot for a being his size; but a being his size ate a lot. He took a seat at the table and smiled at the two women seated there. He looked at Faye and said “Hun, this smells absolutelyamazing.”

Hammor, CE