Line Between Family and Friends

Posted on 06 Jan 2014 @ 1:52pm by Lieutenant Commander Amynta Markos

1,961 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Episode 05 - Solstice
Location: Soho, London, England, Earth
Timeline: MD 12 - 2100hours

ON:

Amynta Markos frowned as she sat in the bar, wearing a dark red outfit with a black corset. She had her favourite black pumps on as well and her hair was straightened. She found herself tap a fingernail against her glass, studying her drink. Martini. Dirty. A nice olive too. She was always nervous when seeing Carus, despite herself. Perhaps it was the waves of familiar guilt at seeing the son she had abandoned to her parents, or maybe it was more that he would have heard what misadventures she was on. And a vain part of her hated being reminded that him becoming a handsome man meant she was growing old. Never a nice thing to realise, regardless of who you were or how much of a bitch you could be.

"Mum....?" Corporal Carus Markos strode quickly through the bar, making a strong line to the familiar figure, his blue eyes wide with concern. "Are you alright? I heard you were chased down by Borg!"

She turned her head, looking at him before waving her hand. "They weren't real Borg," she said and stood, moving to touch his cheek. She inspected his face, taking in his features. Every time she saw him, she saw changes. He was becoming stronger, more masculine.

He touched her arm, squeezing it firmly. "How does that work?"

She shook her head, smiling gently at that. "Someone else was controlling them," she said and shook her head. "You look good, Carus...come on...we need some drinks."

"Yeah, a beer," he chuckled, relaxing at the news as he sat with her, shaking his head. "You look great, Amynta. New dress?"

"Yes," she said and smiled as she took her seat again. "One beer and another dirty martini," she told the barman before turning to watch her son. "You look...very good. Every time I see you I think you look more and more...like a man."

He laughed softly, almost blushing as he looked away awkwardly. "Stop, you'll show me up...."

"I am allowed," she said and smiled weakly, shaking her head. "How is your Aunt Athena? Do you see her a lot?"

"Yeah, she's on the same base as me," he gave a half smile at that, meeting her eyes now he wasn't embarrassed anymore. "She said to send her love. And asked if there was a Borg left standing in the galaxy..."

"Oh, there were some in the end," she said and sipped her drink, watching him for a moment. "I've met someone I like..." she added, casually, but her fingers were now toying with the stem of the glass, betraying her nervousness to tell him. "His name is Alexion Wylde. He is a doctor. He is Vaeron...rather intelligent actually. Surprising."

"What, are Vaeron's not usually intelligent?" he teased with a soft laugh, nodding to the tender as he took his beer, his eyes lingering for just a moment.

"They are," she said and smiled gently, her eyes following his. She let out a breath before touching his arm. "What about you, Carus? Met anyone who...interests you?" It was a loaded question that did not discriminate. She could mean a partner, someone he had a crush on or even a one night stand. Regardless, she wanted to know, because she cared.

"Me? Nah..." he shook his head quickly with a small smile, catching his breath. It was awkward. Being gay and not having come out. It always made him dread that question, especially from family. "Just...fooling around really."
She watched him before sighing, sipping her drink. "Carus...no matter what you end up with...I love you. You're my son. Okay, so perhaps that is not a guarantee for love, but..." she smiled gently, glancing at him. "You are my son and I like you as a person too. So, I love you. All of you."

He watched her with surprise, holding his breath. He wondered for a moment if she knew after all. "What's his name? This Vaeron."

"Alexion," she said and smiled gently, taking a breath. "His name is Alexion. And he is...well...rather attractive. And a good man, which is even stranger for me. He has a good sense of humour and...I feel as if I can relax around him."

"Alexion what?" he asked, sitting back in the stool as he watched her with cool blue eyes, swigging his beer casually.

"Alexion Wylde," she said and turned to face him properly, her eyes searching his face, taking it in...for a reaction.

"Good to know. To run checks. And break his knees if necessary," he said with a serious face that looked so like hers for a moment with the deadpan dark humour.

"Already ran checks. And I am surprised you'd...note such a thing," she said and reached for her drink. "Although it's nice to see you being a bit sentimental."

"Only you would thinking breaking someone's knees is sentimental," he laughed softly, shaking his head.

She laughed as well, reaching to touch his arm. "Carus...I hate to say this to you, but you are becoming more and more like me."

He grinned at that, holding her eyes. "And they give me a rifle...."

"Well, if we ever need to take over the universe, we should be fine between our skill sets," she finished her drink before motioning for another, clearly thinking about something. "You will watch your own back, right? I know the Marines are all about sticking together, I know Athena drones on and on about it every time I see her. But...sometimes, the only one who can save you is...well, you."

"Amynta, you don't have to worry," he said quietly, meaning it as he met her eyes.,

She held his eyes, opening her mouth to speak before closing it. "I always will," she finally admitted.

"Yeah, I know," he grinned, watching her with a small smile. "I'll let you. Just this once."

She smiled as she touched his arm, just taking a moment before meeting his eyes. "We should go somewhere and dance," she suddenly said. "You need to let your hair down too."

"Even if mine is considerably shorter than yours. The one thing I hate about the marines," he admitted with a sigh, rubbing over his short hair.
She reached out, doing the same as she smiled warmly. "It does suit you though. And you can grow it out quickly if needed."

"Good," he laughed, watching her with sparkling blue eyes for a moment. "You look great. I mean it. You always do."

She arched an eyebrow, watching him for a long moment before looking away. She found herself blushing despite it all. "Well, everyone needs some war paint. And most is just that."

"You must fight one hell of a war then," he smiled, searching her eyes with a warm smile.

She smiled at that, standing as she met his eyes. "I'm fighting against aging, Carus...trust me, you don't have to worry about it for another twenty years..."

"Why fight it? I mean, it's that or die, right?" he asked with a small, fond smile.
She smiled gently as she nodded, watching him. "Or in my case..." she touched her cheek, arching an eyebrow. "Good makeup..."

"You'll always look great," he said softly, shaking his head with a strangely gentle smile.

She took his hand, to lead him with her. "As will you. You have...such a strong look on you. It is very becoming, Carus."

He laughed, shaking his head firmly, running his hand down over his jaw. "You have to say that."

"No, I don't," she pointed out, smiling as she led him outside. She took a breath of the air and reached for her cigarettes, taking one and lighting it.

"Those things are so bad for you," he tutted, but with a small smile. Because by now, he'd learnt that when you told her something was bad or she shouldn't do something, it made her do it all the more.

She took a drag, arching an eyebrow at him. "Life's too short not to do some things that are bad for you..." she pointed out, walking with him. She liked the clubs here. The variety. "Live band? Betazoid music? Old classical jazz bar? What do you enjoy, Carus?"

He looked to her for a long moment, taking a moment to take some fun. "What do you think I'd enjoy?"

She watched him, opening her mouth before closing it. "Not sure you'd appreciate it if I said," she said lightly.

"Say it," he grinned, poking her, wanting to see how well she knew him.
She chuckled as she took a drag. "Somewhere with a dance floor, heavy music, good beer and beautiful people."

"Well why wouldn't I have appreciated you saying that?" he laughed, watching her with shining blue eyes, the same shade as hers. "Sounds like my ideal night."

Amynta nodded, smiling gently as she walked with him. "Good," she said, clearly pleased she had gotten it right. "Of course, personally, I find that bars that cater more towards men have those things."

"Caters more towards men?" he asked with slight confusion, unsure what she meant by that.

She sighed and put out the cigarette. "Gay bars, darling. Proper ones. Not the sort of cocktail places where some pretty thing walks around flirting. A proper gay bar with hard music, good humour and proper drinks."

He stopped, watching her with shock. "How the hell do you know about bars like that!" he said with all the innocence of a young man who thought things like that were invented by the young generation and out of parents bounds.

She looked at him with surprise before moving close to him, searching his eyes. "Because I used to dance in one," she said, taking a breath. "And I was damned good."

"What!" he watched her with a soft laugh. "I knew you danced, but you never said it was in a gay bar!"

She smiled to him before shaking her head. "I was a stripper," she said and started walking again. "And in more than one nightclub."

"This is too much information..." he laughed all the same though, his hands lifting his head.

She chuckled at that, arching an eyebrow at the words. "I am surprised Athena hasn't told you. I know how she views me."

"She said you were a dancer. I guess I had....different ideas. Still makes sense now I think about it," he added the last with a somewhat cheeky grin.
She hit his arm, hard, before smiling as she took it. She pointed at a club. "Let's go in there. Looks perfect for this night."

He shook his head with a laugh, moving on in with her. "I can't believe I'm going clubbing in a gay bar with my mother...."

She laughed warmly, reaching up to let her hair down, shaking her head to free it properly. "I won't tell if you don't..." she said playfully, walking to the bar. She liked the music. She liked the scent of people, the warmth of it all. She leant against the bar, looking at Carus. "Two beers and two shots."

"You going to get me drunk too?" he jibed, but he was grinning as he nudged her.

"I was hoping so, yes," she admitted with a warm smile. "Look, we might as well just have fun tonight. I want to drink. A lot. And then get into a bed and sleep it off..."

He grinned to that, grabbing his glass and knocking it to hers. "Sounds like a plan..."

OFF:

Lt. Amynta Markos
Chief Intelligence Officer
USS Galileo

&

Guest starring

Corporal Carus Markos
Starfleet Marine Corps
[Played by Commander Scarlet Blake]

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