At an Appropriate Time for Brunch

Posted on 30 Nov 2021 @ 7:51pm by Lieutenant JG Sofie Ullswater & Lieutenant Aria Rice

1,328 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Episode 18 - Cold Station 31
Location: Regula I, Level 16
Timeline: MD 2 - At an Appropriate Time for Brunch

[ON]

It was something leafy, Andorian maybe? Sofie didn't care much what it was or where it came from because this was the most delicious salad she'd had since leaving Earth to join Galileo. "You... really should... try this!" she exclaimed between voracious munches. Across from her and also enjoying the scrumptious foods that Regula I's Deck 16 eateries had to offer was Aria Rice, her sometimes insufferable room mate on Galileo. But as much as Sofie was enjoying having a room to herself while the crew were berthed here at the station the two of them were as thick as thieves and so brunch was, of course, an absolute necessity. "How's yours?" She asked gesturing to Aria's food.

Aria smiled as she picked up another forkful of waffles and chicken with plenty of syrup. "Better than sex. And I mean like, better than good sex," she said and stuffed it in her mouth. "I mean, yours look nice but it has a lot of...healthy stuff..." she said once she had sort of finished the forkful. She wore her off duty clothes, which today meant tight jeans, impossibly high boots, a corseted top with a hood which she had put up a bit...but it didn't hide her hair being down or that it had red streaks today. "So, Sofie...I had another motive for asking you for lunch..." she admitted and swallowed, reaching for her glass of iced tea.

"I'm sure its not all that healthy..." Sofie glanced at her own food, taking a moment to contemplate on whether it could be also called better than sex and landing on yeah, probably. Even after concluding her analysis though she still found herself staring down at the plate. Another motive? People only say that when they're about to bring up something bad. "So what's up?" She replied putting on a cheery tone and taking another large bite of greenery.

Aria looked at her, knowing her well enough by now to see the wheels turning in Sofie's head. She was a super-brainy person. Of course she was always thinking. "I'm...going to have to move out of our quarters," she said and gave a weak shrug. "When we come back to the ship, I mean."

Sofie swallowed. This was worse than anything she could have possibly imagined. What had she done to so offend her friend? This couldn't be happening, not again. "Wait... What?" she responded meekly "But why? I thought we were really good together..."

"And we are! We really are!" Aria said and reached out, to touch her hand. "Trust me, it's nothing personal...I sorta...I sorta got made Chief of Security," she searched her eyes and made a face. "I know, I know, cursed chair and all that...but it comes with different quarters."

"Oh..." it was clear from the look on Sofie's face as she responded that it was taking her a good moment to process it all "OH! Well that's... Congratulations!" as it dawned on her what this mean Sofie's face lit up and she grabbed Aria's hand giddy with excitement. "This is great news, I'm so happy for you! So are we going to have a party?"

"Err...after I've done six months and not died?" Aria said and made a grimace, shaking her head as she laughed. "Seriously, it's a cursed posting! Has anyone ever had a happy ending from that position?"

Sofie straightened herself up a bit and grabbed another forkful of greenery before responding "Well if no one else before I'm sure you will! Can't think of anyone in the entirety of Starfleet more qualified. But," she smirked "Promise me that you won't die, okay?"

Aria looked at her, blinking for a moment before she smiled. "Not planning to. But I can't make promises I can't keep, Sofie," she said and patted her hand before she laughed. "But I will aim for it to be on Risa, in some sort of drunken party. How does that sound?"

"Yes! Risa sounds incredible, anywhere but here!" Sofie rolled her eyes and with a little shrug added "I know we've only just begun but I'm already growing a distaste for deep space exploration. Its been nothing but sitting around and getting into frankly horrible altercations with Tholians."

"Hey, could be worse you know..." she leant closer, her eyes shining as she watched Sofie. "You get to find new stuff to analyse! That is exciting for you, right? You're...like super-intelligent..."

Sofie tilted her head with the look of someone who was well more than used to such teasing "Don't say that Aria! I'm just, you know... Normal." Though it had become something of a running joke between the two of them it did always make Sofie feel a little insecure, not that she'd ever be caught admitting it. "Besides there really hasn't really been all that much exciting to analyse. I like rocks and stuff but the only interesting geology we've found is classified under the weight of the you-know-what protocol. I doubt the data Lieutenant Sandoval found there will ever see the light of day."

"Yeah, this time! Next time though..." Aria said in a sing-song, tapping her hands against the table for a moment before she reached to stuff some more waffles into her mouth. "Trust me, next time we will find something really awesome that you can put on your desk and get some Starfleet or Federation award for being brilliant!" She reached for her drink, sighing as she had some sips. "We just need to find a new planet, that's all! Or Moon, we're not picky...something with rocks."

"Yes! Please!" Sofie gave an overly dramatic sigh of exasperation and continued in a dramatic voice filled with mournfully tragedy in that way only those with opera experience such as herself could "Something, anything. I'd take a little asteroid, a rocky comet, a crystal, a handful of mud, anything! I'm so bored of space dust, subspace eddies and all the other nonsense we have to log over in science." She paused and shovelled another forkful of salad into her mouth (it was truly delicious). Speaking while she was chewing she asked "So what about you, looking forward to anything particular now that you are in charge?"

"Oh..." Aria reached for a napkin, wiping her fingers to get the syrup off. She clearly thought about the question, a slightest of frown coming to her forehead. "I suppose...I am looking forward to...to..." she stopped before she sighed. "I don't know. I am nervous as heck and worried so much I almost started biting my nails again."

Sofie paused in her munching for a moment, before finishing chewing and swallowing. "Look Aria, it'll be fine, you're so good at this sort of thing and I have no doubt that you can do it." She smiled, as warmly as she possibly could, she wanted her friend to know that she was on her team "Look, we might not be living together anymore now but I'm always going to be here for you. So if you're ever feeling nervous just pop by the science labs for a hug!"

"I will totally need that," Aria admitted with a smile, reaching to finish her food. She sat back, moaning softly, just...taking the moment to enjoy the mild food coma. "And we'll still have hot beverage time after shifts, right? Every three days?"

"Every three days." Sofie repeated reassuringly. She knew she'd need it too. "As much as you might try you're never going to get away from me for good!" Sofie laughed softly at her own joke, it was good to be around Aria, good to have friends out here in the cold of space. Things could be good.

[OFF]

Lt. Aria Rice
Chief Security/Tactical
USS Galileo-A

&

Ensign Sofie Ullswater
Science Officer
USS Galileo-A

RSS Feed