[Deleted]

Fee busily prepped her comms room; she and Aear had "borrowed" a couch from an empty bunk room, and had arranged some pillows on it. She had brought a couple of decorative pillows and had placed one at each end. She'd also brought along the blanket from the same empty bunk room that they'd borrowed the couch from, and all in all, it was homey. She and Aear used it to relax on their breaks, or take lunch, or sometimes, even catch a nap. Well, Aear did. Fee didn't sleep. 

After her straightening up was done, she hurried to the breakroom and made some popcorn, and then headed back to her office. She put the popcorn on the table that Aear had somehow found (Fee had long ago stopped asking questions), and then poured herself another cup of tea from the electric pot on her desk. She was ready. She had kicked Aear and his family out for the evening-she and Koren had scheduled time to check in, and Fee NEEDED it. He was about to head out into the unknown and she was none to happy about it. So she thought she'd get his read-and reassurances-on the situation. Plus, she just simply MISSED their chats. She needed the deep emotional connections they shared, and she had a few things to share. 

Finally, she settled down in her desk chair to work, and then after a few moments, she heard his knock. With a smile, she spoke aloud. 

'Tis open... She whirled around in her spinning chair, ignoring the fact that she normally yelled at Aear for doing that, lest he broke the hydraulics. Hi. You brought cookies, I presume?That was their agreement-he brought the sweet stuff, and her, the salty. She signed off her computer, and then joined him on the couch. 

HI. Thanks for making time for me...

Tag: Koren Telion

[Koren Telion]

Finally Aear was gone, if only briefly. Koren had been longing to talk with Fee privately ever since the incident in her room, but they had never had the chance with Fee's training of Aear and all of the security insanity going on. As Koren approached the security office, which was rightly Fee's office for the first time in awhile, Koren sighed as he realized that today wouldn't be void of work like he had hoped, but simply void of Aear. That was enough for him. Koren hoped that he and Fee could still have a good talk while they worked; he'd missed her presence, even though they'd only ever talked a few times. The worst feeling in the world, though, was being so close to someone you want to have a one-on-one conversation with and always having the awkward third wheel there trying to join in on the conversation. If Koren was completely honest, he was envious of Aear and the amount of alone time he got with Fee, but Koren knew that because of his job and hers, the two wouldn't spend much time together unless they really planned it, and that's exactly what this was.

Koren approached Fee's office and knocked gently on the open door.

" 'Tis open..." Fee said, a smile on her face. Koren couldn't help but smile too; he'd really missed her. She whirled around in her spinning chair, "Hi. You brought cookies, I presume?"

Koren chuckled to himself and glanced down at the Tollhouse chocolate chip cookies he'd asked the mess to bake for him, hoping they didn't taste too much like the stew they were cooking for the night, "Yup! And I brought the last of my Guinness I snuck into my pack on the trip over," Koren said, pulling out the stouts from his coat pocket and looking back up at Fee with a mischievous smile, "I thought you could use a little widget to brighten up your day." He plopped down on the couch, setting the beers on the table. Fee signed off her computer and sat down next to him. She took a moment to compose herself, then said with an exhale, "HI. Thanks for making time for me..."

"Of course," Koren said, smiling at her, just taking her in for a moment, trying to read where she was at. She looked exhausted but excited, happy but weighed down, attentive but tired. Koren could tell that she was fairly delicate right now, so he was careful with his words, "Honestly, I should be thanking you. You're the one they've put into overdrive since we've got here, with this crazy AI and all..."


<TAG @ckitchens >

[Deleted]

Fee smiled at the tray of cookies that Koren held. They were Chocolate chip, her favorite, and freshly made. She wondered how he'd gotten the Mess staff to cook them up for him. She wasn't sure she wanted to know, though, exactly. 

Yup! And I brought the last of my Guinness I snuck into my pack on the trip over...I thought you could use a little widget to brighten up your day. Fee smiled wider. Cookies, popcorn, and Guinness?! He was spoiling her. She took the cookies from him, and placed them on the table in front of the couch. 

Thank you, that's so sweet. She lowered her gaze to the floor again. She hoped she could fight the blush. 

They settled in, and she got comfy. She knew they had to mostly work, but they could chat for a few minutes first, right?! 

Of course...Honestly, I should be thanking you. You're the one they've put into overdrive since we've got here, with this crazy AI and all...


Fee sighed. She didn't want to think about Aear, or AI, or computers for the next few minutes. She just wanted to be. 

I think I have it fixed now, though...If only he stays the line. She sighed, knowing that was unlikely. She picked up a cookie and bit into it-it was like heaven. 

Tag:Koren Telion

[Koren Telion]

"Thank you, that's so sweet." She lowered her gaze to the floor again. Koren could see the blush creeping into her features. He handed her a Guinness as a distraction.

"I think I have it fixed now, though..." She said about the AI, looking quite disinterested in work at the moment, "If only he stays the line." She sighed, picking up a cookie and biting into it. Her face relaxed into a look of euphoria. Koren smiled and placed the plate of cookies on her lap, then leaned back into the couch and opened his Guinness.

"So..." He said, taking a sip and then setting the glass down, looking her directly in the eyes, "How have you been holding up? I know how hard it is to be away from the comforts of earth for the first time, especially on military rations."

<Tag @ckitchens >

[Deleted]

Fee felt a blush creeping in, and Koren pressed a bottle into her hands. She smiled gratefully. This little break was SO needed, and she was glad he agreed. She worried about him-working too much, and then working more to compensate for the stress. She did that, too, but she also knew how useless they'd be if they didn't take time out to decompress. She also felt him place the plate of cookies in her lap. That act illicited a laugh. 

Thanks, Koren. Don't mind if I do, she said, picking up another. She returned the plate to the table with her free hand, after placing the beer on the table as well. She finished eating in silence, then opened the bottle with the opener on her key ring. She took a long sip, and then looked at Koren. 

So...How have you been holding up? I know how hard it is to be away from the comforts of earth for the first time, especially on military rations. She nodded. 

Well, beats bubble and squeak, I suppose, but I DO miss a one and one-fish and chips, that is-every so often. As far as work goes, same as you. I am overworked and understaffed. And Aear has me in fits...I don't know how to keep ahead of the alien systems he has, and frankly, it frightens me. OH! I made a new friend, though. Do you Sgt. Murphy?? He's been hanging around the Comms room, though I think he does sonar stuff for your planes.... She was rattling on, trying to get it all out. And at least I've avoided command for the time being, which I assume is a small victory. I DO need to finish training Aear-outside of that Zelda business, he's doing better, I believe. How's things in the Hangar? She finally stopped to let Koren have a chance to speak. She wanted desperately to hear his point of view on her continual training of the cat-man-he was the ONLY person on board who didn't think her insane for trying. 

Tag:Koren Telion