Posted by Civilian Molly Holloway (CEO, Holloway Heavy Industries) in Starting Over

Posted by Civilian Lucas Elliot Holloway (President / Chairman - Holloway Heavy Industries) in Starting Over

Posted by Civilian Molly Holloway (CEO, Holloway Heavy Industries) in Starting Over
Posted by… suppressed (2) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Two weeks prior, when Lucas had insisted that Molly accompanied him back to OED V, she had petulantly told him that she was not going. Now, she found herself late to dinner with her uncle as she hurriedly looked at her reflection in the full length mirror of her massive cabin on board one of the most elegant cruise ships on the Holloway Starlines fleet. It had been a week since they had left Earth behind, and they were scheduled to dock at OED V the next afternoon.

Molly frowned as her hair insisted on falling on her face once again, as she desperately tried to put it up in the way Erin had taught her a few months ago. Groaning in despair as her wrist chronometer beeped one more time to remind her that Lucas was waiting for her in the ship’s dining area, she gave up and walked out of the room. It was good enough.

It took her fifteen minutes to go from her cabin to the massive dining room. And even though Molly thought the ship’s decor was too extravagant, the high ceilings, and the beautiful art deco with black and gold accents never failed to fill her with awe.

Spotting Lucas, she walked hurriedly to the table, her light dress flowing behind her with her steps.

“I’m so sorry I’m late, Uncle Luc. I hope you haven’t been waiting for too long.” Molly said, pulling up the chair across from her uncle and sitting down.

Molly

Molly’s Uncle, Lucas Elliot Holloway, beamed at his niece as she hurried over to the table. “Good evening, Gracie.” He said warmly. “I was about to think you’d nipped off down to the pool or something.” The smirk was accompanied by the same sparkle his eyes only had for his beloved surrogate daughter. Though now in his early 50’s, the shipping magnate was still as playful as he was when Molly was a child.

“Actually, Captain Murphy comm’ed me about ten minutes ago to let me know your e-key had been used on the express lift…” He shrugged with a slightly wider smile. “… hence why your water and OJ are fresh.” He motioned to the glasses in front of Molly’s chair. “What was the old Earth saying…” After a pause, the elder Holloway snapped his fingers and laughed. “… oh yeah… It’s good to be king!”

Molly rolled her eyes at the phrase as she took a sip of her orange juice. Perfect, as it had been the whole trip.

“Anyway… Chef will be over in a few; she saw you come in.” He picked up his menu and used it to motion to hers. “There are four specials tonight: a curry dish, North Atlantic Salmon, King Ranch Sirloin, and a vegetarian lasagna.” Glaring over the top of the menu, Lucas creased his eyebrows. “No, I’m not getting the damn lasagna! Chef already tried. I’ll have the salmon. I’ve already been told I’ve had enough beef this trip…” He grumbled to himself. “… damn mother hens!’

Lucas

One of Molly’s lip corners lifted in a playful sideways smile. “Personally, I think the lasagna is a very good option for you.” She said lightly, fully expecting another glare over the top of the menu. “But if you’re dead set on the salmon… Fine. I guess I can just let it slide this time.” She winked. “I suppose you shouldn’t have forced me to come with you, if you didn’t want the lecture.” She chuckled, opening her own menu and looking at the options.

Yup, there was the glare. But if Lucas Holloway was anything, it was resilient. The man didn’t rise to the bait; instead, he just grumbled something to himself that sounded suspiciously like “… sound just like your mother”.

“I think I’m getting the curry. I saw it in one of the tables heading over, and it looked wonderful.” Molly said, closing the menu, and laying it flat on the table in front of her. “Thank you for ordering the orange juice ahead of me getting here.” She smiled. Even though Lucas had been back in her life for several years now, Molly still couldn’t quite get accustomed to it. Sometimes, she found herself looking at her uncle as if he would disappear in the next few seconds.

“Of course!” Lucas’ temperament improving with the change in subject. “I know you like Algarve oranges, so I put them in your ETP (OOC: Executive Transport Profile) a few months ago. Hell, I’ve grown to love them so much… I added them to mine!” He reached across the snow-white linen and patted Molly’s hand. “I didn’t think you’d mind, Sweetie.”

“So…” She started. “Excited to get back on planet tomorrow?” Molly wasn’t. The only thing that made the idea of returning better was knowing that Calvin and her would finally be in the same place again. Despite her best attempts, he had never made it back to Earth. However, for as much as it saddened her, she knew that Lucas’s place was on OED, and if making a few sacrifices meant his happiness, that in and of itself was worth it.

Molly

“I am…” Lucas looked a bit melancholy as he paused and gazed out the massive starboard window at the streaking stars. “… even having the Cavalier at my disposal, I still can’t just pop back whenever I want. I haven’t seen Alexis in over a month, and I do miss Falcon’s Rest*. Hopefully, you… Calvin, Alexis, and I can grab dinner on Friday evening. That way, we all have time to settle in. What’dya think, Gracie?”

OOC: Falcon’s Rest is the official residence of the Holloway family on OED, named in honor of Falcon Crest, the centuries-old Holloway manor outside St. Louis. An old Earth European-style home, the house was formerly the Canadian Ambassador’s residence. Now simply known as The Residence by HHI personnel and Holloway House on OED records, Falcon’s Rest was given its family name shortly after Lucas moved in, in the fall of 2398.

Lucas

Molly raised an eyebrow at her uncle’s words. The mention of Dominique making her insides twist, but she managed to not say a word.

Molly’s gaze followed Lucas’s to the field of stars outside the massive window. His words swirling in her mind. She had convinced herself that her return to OED was temporary. Her house in New York City would be there when she returned. She didn’t miss the oversized mansion Lucas had given her and Calvin on OED… but she did miss Calvin. Sometimes it scared her how comfortable she could be without him. Without anyone, for that matter. How efficiently she could bottle everything in a corner of her brain, never to think to much about again. Because if she allowed herself to think about it then… Molly shook her head, dismissing the thoughts.

“Of course. That would be great!” She replied after a few seconds of silence. It would be even better if Dominique wasn’t there.

Molly

As the pair stared out the windows, both were lost in thought before the clearing of a throat at Lucas’ elbow snapped them back to the here and now. The elder Holloway looked up into the kind eyes of Chef Phoebe Abigail Barton, Holloway Starlines’s senior culinary expert smiled down first at Lucas, then Molly. “As soon as you two stargazers are ready…” She said in a light Parisian accent. “… could I get your orders?”

Lucas smiled back at the chestnut-haired woman who had spent her career climbing the ranks at HSL to find herself, at the remarkably young age of 38, as the senior ship of the company’s flagship… the HSS Jefferson. “Good evening Abby…” Lucas began with the bit of a blush. “… sorry to keep you waiting.” His apology sounded sincere. “I’m gonna have the Salmon with the green beans… and Molly will have…” He then motioned to his niece.

Lucas