'Brotherly' Pride

Posted on 12 May 2015 @ 4:11pm by Cadwyn Lane & Commander Norvi Stace
Edited on on 12 May 2015 @ 6:26pm

758 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Episode 08 - NIMBUS
Location: USS Galileo - VIP Quarters, Deck 2
Timeline: MD 2 - 1430 hours

ON:

The doors breathed open as Cadwyn was coming out of the shower dripping wet, a towel wrapped around his waist as he smoothed his blond hair back with one fluid swoop of his calloused hand. "It's a good job that door doesn't open out onto the corridor, Norv," he remarked as he flashed a smile to the Trill. "Shouldn't you knock, anyway?"

It had seemed a weary day for the young gardener. He'd been lied to, by his own mind. And by one of his closest confidants. He'd endured the extra long shower as a way to wash away the day. There were days, especially in his line of work, where the tingling vibrations of a sonic shower just didn't quite cut it and he wanted to feel the hot wash of water drench his smooth skin.

He turned about, dropped the towel in front of her and then whipped on a pair of white boxer shorts.

"Damn right it's a good job that it doesn't open out onto the corridor. I'd have to deal with complaints concerning inappropriate exposure!" Her tone was light and jestful, but she also turned her back and walked straight over to the replicator. "Can I get you anything?"

He laughed and then remembered that he was still angry with her. "You lied to me," he then countered rather child-like as he quickly towel-dried his hair and then went over to the couch to sit.

"Aren't you going to put a shirt on?" she asked.

"No! It's my quarters. And from what I gather, I'm hardly going to be in a position to prance around semi-naked when they get reassigned so I might as well make the most of it."

"How did I lie to you?" Stace then asked, ignoring his jibe.

"You told me that people here were nice!" he exclaimed with a sense of realism.

"They are!" she lied, raising both eyebrows. "You're telling me that on this massive ship you haven't come across one friendly face?"

"Maybe one. But she's a counsellor and they don't really count. They're trained to be nice. And 'massive'?"

Stace programmed in her drink as the smooth, El Auran brandy materialised and she took the tumbler from the alcove. Walking slowly over, she joined Cadwyn at the couch and sat down, putting both feet crossed on the table between them and settled back into the chair. "You just need to know how you weather some people on this ship. That's all."

"Well!" Cadwyn protested. "I guess it neither helps nor hinders being familiar with the ship's Chief Science Officer. People don't seem to take too kindly to it." He paused and then noticed a look on Norvi's face. "What's different?" he queried, sitting up and spying her from the corner of his eyes. "You look different."

"Been hitting the gym pretty hard, haven't I?" she deflected, a wry smile breaking across her face. She thought she'd wait to see if he noticed that she was now in command maroon and with a solid golden third pip on her collar. she knew that he wouldn't.

"No, that's not it."

"Try 'ship's First Officer' instead of Chief Science and you'll be a little closer to the mark."

"Fuck off!" Cadwyn remarked, sitting up fully with a disbelieving smile adorning his dimpled face.

"You fuck off, you little shit," she countered back, taking a smug and sanctimonious sip from her glass as she looked away. "Admiral Saalm just promoted me this morning."

"They're leaving you in charge of the ship? On a permanent basis. I don't bloody believe it! There's no one better on the ship to promote?"

Stace cut back with a raise of her brow, shrugging his jest off as it was intended. "One of these days someone will catch on to the fact that I still don't know what hell I'm doing, but it appears that my muddling through pushes you further up the ranks. I just hope I make captain before anyone notices."

Cadwyn's pride was written over his face, and after their sibling-like exchange he exacted a downward smile and nodded his congratulations to her. "Well done, Norv," he said, beaming. "I knew you had it in you." His reference to her Symbiont didn't go unnoticed as he 'touched' a nod back to him.

"That's 'Commander' to you now, you dick!"

"Whatever you say, Commander. Whatever you say."

OFF:

Commander Norvi Stace
First Officer
USS Galileo

AND

Cadwyn Lane
Gardener
USS Galileo
PNPC - NORVI STACE

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