Posted by Lieutenant Fihnrilkk’Hob”ledn-ardol (Fin) (Chief Intelligence Officer) in XO’s Quarters - CIO

Posted by Commander Jason Reilly (XO) in XO’s Quarters - CIO

Posted by Lieutenant Fihnrilkk’Hob”ledn-ardol (Fin) (Chief Intelligence Officer) in XO’s Quarters - CIO
Posted by… suppressed (4) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Sitting at her computer, Fin’s hand hovered over the ‘send’ button. Did she really want to leave the Wolverine in favor of whatever else INTEL could come up with? She got up from the desk and made a drink for herself. It was one of the better bottles of rum she owned, flavored with plums, bananas, almonds, vanilla and caramelized sugar cane.

Her shift was long over with but she couldn’t sleep, so she’d slipped on a pair of low slung pants and a cropped t-shirt that slid off one shoulder and headed to her office. It was 0145 hours and Fin was having what for her, was a life crisis. She paced the open area in her bare feet, her shoes kicked over into a corner. Walking over to the wall that was one, large viewport, she leaned against a corner and stared out at the blackness of space.

—Fin

It was a small ship, and it was the end of his shift. As Reilly left the bridge and walked down the passageway, he passed Fin’s door. He paused and then thought Oh what the hell. and pressed the chime and waited.

Nothing.

=/\=Computer. Location of Lt. Fihnrilkk’Hob”ledn-ardol. =/\= The computer replied =/\=The CIO is in her office.=/\= Jason’s brow furrowed. It was late… or early, depending on your perspective. He made his way to the office and pressed the chime, just to make sure she was ok.

Reilly

The chime surprised her. Not moving from her spot against the wall, she looked over at the door. “Come.” Who would be looking for her at this hour? There wasn’t a problem with the ship their status or she would have heard about it already, so it had to be a personal call.

—Fin

The door slid open and Reilly stepped in. His eyes widened slightly as he took her in, but his voice was even. “Everything ok? Damn late for you to be…” and he smiled a mischievous smile as he looked at her outfit again, “…working.” and he chuckled.

Reilly

She looked at his uniform. “Just getting off shift? Did you do something to upset out illustrious Captain that you’re catching this one?” Another sip of the smooth rum slid down her throat.

Reilly laughed and shook his head. “No, nothing like that… yet.” he said with a smile. “Lt. F’ltuk’s wife gave birth yesterday, so I’m taking his rotation on the bridge so he could go home for a bit. I’ll sort out the duty rotations later. And you?”

“I just can’t sleep…too many things on my mind.”

—Fin

Reilly’s face moved from slightly ogling to concerned. “You ok, Fin? Want to talk?”

Reilly

She nodded her head in the direction of the computer, inviting him to read what was on the screen. “There’s also a delicious rum if you’re interested.” She went back to studying the stars, giving him a chance to catch up and get on the same page as her.

—Fin

Reilly’s eyes narrowed and he moved to the screen, leaving the rum undisturbed for now. He read the screen… then read it again. Finally, he reached over and grabbed a glass and the bottle. Taking a drink, he looked up and then said “Ok… let’s talk.”

Reilly

“I’m just not sure that staying on the Wolverine is in my best interest. Don’t get me wrong, its great that you and I were able to work some things out. I’m happy that you don’t hate me anymore, but I feel like I’m stagnating here, Jason. My people can have extremely long lives, so sitting around just taking up space isn’t something we’re fond of. We crave experience.”

—Fin

Reilly regarded the woman before him for a long time in silence. Finally he set the drink down and stood up and walked over to her, standing just a few inches from her. “Experience… okay. In the time you have been on this ship, you have experienced all sorts of things. Just because we aren’t traipsing across the galaxy chasing down the skivvies worn by Jack the Ripper doesn’t mean what we do is any less unique or boring. Here, on this ship, you are gonna have your share of experience. So if you feel like you are stagnant…” and he stepped close to her and looked directly into her eyes, “… then that is a lack of effort on your part. Not a lack of opportunity.”

Reilly

Looking up at him, one brow raised in question. “Are we talking about the same thing?” Another sip, nearly emptying the glass.

“Since I’ve been on this ship, you and I have had a long, intense argument and I had a confrontation with a bully that you set in motion. Not a lot else has happened except for a search trying to get our hands on elusive objects. So I wouldn’t exactly say my boredom is a lack of effort on my part.”

—Fin

“And you’ve been here weeks not months or years. So I’m saying give it a chance. One mission. One set of orders and one mission under your belt on board to really see if you are stagnant, or if this has just…” and he put his lips next to her ear and softly whispered “… been bad timing so far.” and then he stepped away and returned to his glass. He lifted it up, downed the contents, and set the glass down. “Good rum. I like it. I’d say have another glass to think before you hit send on that.” and he cocked his head quickly to the screen. He then moved towards the door and then looked at her.

She tried not to shudder when he said years. To be anywhere for years…Fin swallowed hard.

“I… me… don’t want you to go, Fin. For purely selfish reasons, not because you also happen to be a damn good officer. But I will support your choice no matter what you decide.” He moved to the doorway and it slid open silently. He stood a moment and then turned around. “And if you really want to make the choice hard… swing by my quarters after you’re done here. I have something for you, if you are interested.” and he turned and walked out, waving at her over his shoulder.

Reilly

Now that wasn’t fair! Announce you have something that will likely make her want to stay, and then leave? Fin rolled her eyes and then finished the drink in her hand. Setting the empty glass next to Jason’s, she slipped her shoes back on and left the office. If she didn’t walk quickly, Jason should have the opportunity to answer the chime when she rang it.

—Fin

As she rang it, the door slid open. The room was dimly lit… probably due to the hour, not for ‘romance’. Reilly sat at the piano, and as the door opened he looked over his shoulder and said “Hey. Come in. Have a seat.” and he nodded towards the couch.

On the low table before the couch sat a bottle, opened, and two glasses… both half-full. And a small, dark blue box with a hinged lid. As Fin entered, Reilly began playing softly.

“So… you know me. Probably better than anyone. I know that sounds weird… but it’s the truth. I am more ‘me’ when we are together than I am when we’re not. So, that being said, if anyone knows when I am being sincere… it would be you. So I want you to believe me when I say this… I am well and truly sorry, Fin. For everything. You coming here dredged up a ton of crap I thought was buried. And it was… just not very deep. Anyway… I got you something. It’s not a ring, don’t freak out.” and he looked at her and smiled and winked. “But it is a certain something. No one will know what it is, so if you take it undercover its zero risk. It’ll only mean something to you… or not. But so be it. Go ahead and open the box…”

The box flipped open to reveal a small metal flask made of two different metals. I was a flat circle, each side shaped into a yin-yang, one side brass colored and one side silver.

“So… the silver is metal from the restraints I was arrested in. They kept them for DNA comparison… fat lotta good that did them. The brass is the shell casing from your shot. Intel had it in evidence storage. The brass has my eye, the shackle has yours. That because that is where we became inseparable. Our story really started there… and that is a way of me telling you that that is when we became each other’s counter… at least to me. And that is a way for you to think about me without wanting to stab me. Or maybe not… hell, I dunno. But I want you to stay, Fin. I think you and I do well together… and I want to keep that going, see what can happen. I think you are good here. But… that’s just me. You are you… no matter what body you are in. And that you is someone I don’t want to lose again.” He began playing a little louder, letting the smooth sounds of the piano fill the room.

Jason

Fin looked at the flask and then to Jason. What was going on? He was waxing poetic about the moment when the two of them became inseparable, but a few months ago that same moment had fueled a betrayal he felt for her that stoked his anger for years? It didn’t make sense. He’d said he didn’t want her to leave the Wolverine for personal reasons, but now Fin wasn’t sure he really understood his feelings for her at all.

“Thanks. As much as I love liquor, it’s a very thoughtful gift.”

—Fin

Reilly didn’t stop playing, but said “You are welcome. I put a Chrysal rum in it. Strong, but has those sweet overtones you like.” he said and slowly stopped playing. He looked at Fin and said “I’ll understand if you feel you need to go… but I really hope you don’t. I hope that -” and he nodded towards the flask as he rose and moved to the chair opposite Fin, “- isn’t a goodbye present. More like a… ‘memento’.”

Jason

“Well, I need more than just floating along in space to make me feel alive. I need to put my brain to use, my particular skillset. Some people are fine going along on an even keel, but I’m not. I think eventually, a life like that would make me mad—as in, crazy.” Fin opened the flask and sampled the rum. “Mmmm, nice choice—but then you always did have good taste.”

—Fin

bump

Reilly smiled and said “In most things… not all.” and the song shifted slightly. “You do know, of course, that one of the advantages of this ship is you aren’t restricted as much as you would be elsewhere. I mean, I still get called away from time to time. I think of this ship as less ‘duty station’ and more like ‘interim hotel for wayward assets’.” and he chuckled.

Jason

She shook her head. “I don’t agree with that description. This isn’t like any hotel and we’re stuck here. You’re describing a place where there’s a lot of freedom.” Fin sat down on the piano bench next to him, their thighs pressing against each others. “And this place isn’t that.” The hand not holding the flask dropped onto Riley’s thigh.

—Fin

Reilly leg twitched and he glanced down at the hand, then to Fin’s face, but he kept playing. “We aren’t stuck anywhere. Not often, at least. So the question then becomes… do you stay and see what comes of this place? Or do you chuck it away and never give it a shot? The choice, as they say, is yours.”

Jason