Truce

Posted on 17 Aug 2013 @ 5:14pm by Nesh Saalm & Petty Officer 1st Class Siren Hex Saalm

1,434 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Episode 04 - Exodus
Location: Nesh Saalm's Quarters, USS Galileo
Timeline: MD -01 - 2045 hrs

Siren pressed the chime to the small set of quarters with a wry smile. Yeah, she knew what they were like. She held a bottle in her hand, taking a deep breath as she waited for an answer. She knew she was in there, it was just whether she was up for visitors.

Nesh frowned as she looked up from the drawing she was doing. She had changed to a simple dress, bare feet and her hair free. Nothing special. She hesitated before moving to the door. "Enter," she said, surprised when she saw Siren. She glanced around at the mess...her clothes, the art supplies...the glasses and plates.

Siren gave a crooked smile, but didn't seem to notice the state of the place. She looked to Nesh instead, letting out a long, shaking breath. "Hey," she said lightly.

"Hey..." Nesh looked at her before stepping aside. "Come on in, you'll make the place cold standing there."

"Thanks," she laughed softly, moving in. She hesitated before offering the bottle over. "I brought a drink. You know. To drink."

Nesh watched her before nodding. "Open it, I'll get the glasses..." she moved to the bed, which was the only place left available to sit. She found two clean glasses and sat down, cross legged, watching Siren.

Siren watched how she sat before moving to do the same, lightly flicking her shoes off before joining her to sit cross-legged. She watched her as she let her pour the drink, in silence. She finally took a breath, pulling her hands into her sleeves. "So - that was - awkward."

"Tell me about it!" she met her eyes, shaking her head. "I mean...I didn't...I didn't mean to be rude, it just surprised me. She tells me a lot, usually..."

"Yeah," Siren laughed softly, looking down as she shook her head. "You - you didn't know about me, did you."

Nesh shook her head, watching her for a long moment. She then sighed. "Look. Maybe it's because you mean more to her."

"More than....?" Siren led her, but with a small smile of amusement as she watched her.

"More than the casual girls," she said and met her eyes, searching them before playing with her pierced lip.

Siren chuckled gently, shaking her head as she met her eyes. "Sorry if I was a shock."

Nesh shrugged, sipping her drink as she glanced at her for a long moment. "I'm sorry if my reaction offended you. She's good. And I think you are pretty enough for her."

Siren laughed with disbelief, shaking her head with a slight blush. "What? For a non Orion?" she teased lightly.

"No, for anyone," she said and smiled warmly, shaking her head. "I'm not like Lirha, I don't dig girls. But she does and she clearly likes something about you."

"Don't worry, I think men are less complicated than women," Siren said in a mock hushed voice.

Nesh smiled as she nodded, nudging her. "Damn straight..." she said and looked down. "You okay?"

"Yeah, course," Siren smiled, shaking her head, feeling easier with her now they'd just got the awkwardness out in the open and out the way. "You?"

"Yeah...better now," she said and smiled weakly, watching Siren for a long moment. "You'll be good to her, right?"

"Why wouldn't I be?" Siren shook her head with a warm smile, sipping her drink. "She could throw me in the brig!" she winked.

"I'd worry more about her sister...the one who likes to set fire to things," Nesh joked as she sipped her drink as well. She reached for a notepad and a pencil, looking at her. "Can I sketch you?"

Siren watched with surprise, letting out a breath. "Are you going to draw me as a cell?"

"No, as a person," she said as she held her eyes, smiling. "Just...trust me. I'll make you look good."

"Well I can't turn that down," Siren laughed warmly, leaning back against the pillow to be more comfortable, sipping her drink. "So....so really, you're an artist, aren't you. In your soul, I mean."

She nodded as she started to sketch. "It's what I want to do. I mean, don't get me wrong...better to be here with Lirha than at home with Mum. But I don't wanna do the whole fleet thing. I wanna be an artist."

"So is that why you do Science? To be out here?" she asked, but with a small smile, not judging, just curious.

"She insisted I did something to keep me here," she said quietly, frowning as she worked. "So I became a scientist mate."

"Means you must be clever," Siren winked, letting out a long, breath, relaxing as she watched her, not wanting to move too much in case it ruined the picture.

"Not as clever as she," Nesh whispered softly, frowning as she let out a breath. "Or our sister. I'm a bit of a disappointment, really. It's okay. I mean, I don't need nobody else. Got my sis. Got myself. No one will look out for you except yourself when all is said and done. And I'm glad you can watch her back too."

Siren frowned as she watched her for a long moment. "Girls like you, in a place like this, don't have to think like that," she said softly.

Nesh met her eyes for a long moment before smiling weakly. "She has a way of getting into trouble. Now she runs a ship. Ship gets in trouble."

"I was talking about you," Siren said softly, shaking her head gently. "About looking out for yourself."

She met her eyes, searching them before smiling gently. "I've always thought like that," she finally admitted. "Since I was little."

"You don't need to," she said softly. "Not with family, and a crew," Siren pursed her lips in thought for a long moment, studying her. "And you know, you're bound not to be as good as your sister yet; she's older and has more experience. Doesn't mean you won't be like her when you've matched it though," she offered an almost playful smile.

Nesh stopped, watching her for a long moment. "Maybe. One day anyway," she said and looked down at the sketch. She turned it so she could see it. "Here."

Siren watched with surprise before smiling brightly, holding it up to be level with her face so she could compare. "What do you think?"

"I think I can't do you justice," she said, but with a warm smile. "You look pretty."

"Thanks," Siren shook her head with a small smile. "I think you're being nice, but thanks," she chuckled, watching her. "You're pretty too. There must be a boyfriend around...."

"No," she shook her head, giving a small smile. "No boyfriend here. Everyone's so much...older."

"Hm, true. Good girl," she slapped her knee gently. "You stay away from those older boys."

Nesh just grinned, her eyes warm as she watched her. "They know better than to mess with me. I can cut them up real good...paper cuts, but hey! They hurt more..."

"And you get yourself some nice high heels? They can hurt..." she said innocently with a small smile.

"I prefer flats," she said and poked her tongue out. "I leave heels for those that need it for their posture."

Siren laughed warmly at the assertion, shaking her head lightly. "Are you saying I slump?"

"Hm..." she ran her eyes over her before smiling. "Well, I still need to see the evidence of that, right? Could ask Lirha."

"You'll be disappointed," Siren shook her head with a soft laugh, pulling a leg up close to hold. "You know, it was awkward for me too. That you didn't know about me. And - meeting family. I don't usually do that."

Nesh smiled gently as she watched her, nodding. "I don't blame you. I...was surprised she suggested you meeting me like that. I mean, it was...you know...weird."

"No," Siren shook her head with a soft laugh. "It was the equivalent of meeting the family. I had to meet your approval, she knows that. Law of family, so I hear."

"Damn straight," Nesh nodded, her eyes warm as she nudged her with a small smile.

"Which is kind of terrifying from my side of things," Siren laughed softly and looked down.

Nesh watched her before leaning closer. "Hey. I like you. So we're cool, right?"

"We are now," Siren smiled gently to her before nodding, patting her ankle.

OFF:

Crewman Siren Hex
Intelligence
USS Galileo

&

Nesh Saalm
Captain's Sister
USS Galileo

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