Dinner with Akiashiro's (Part 2)
Posted on Tue Jan 2nd, 2018 @ 12:18am by Captain Liarra Von & Colonel S'er'in'e & Samanthia Akiashiro
Edited on on Tue Jan 2nd, 2018 @ 12:18am
Mission:
A Day in the Life
Location: Deck 1403 : Samanthia's Apartment
The meal was excellent and the conversation was pleasant as it covered many light subjects with humor thrown in. When the last morsel was consumed, they moved to the more relaxed seating in the main part of the Apartment. S'er'in'e's big easy chair near the cargo packing crate shelves that held his scrolls and Caitian tomes along with his work station. A comfortable well used looking sofa with a nearby coffee table to hold the after dinner drinks and light snacks, giving the occupants a nice view of the stars dotting the black void of space. There was a much smaller, more human sized Lazy-Boy Recliner with another work station close by. A small table was next to it that held Samanthia's E-Notebook and a few projects and books. Pictures that were seen were of her Parents, S'er'in'e's parents, of themselves in various activities together and separate. Some were of Samanthia on Archia with her schoolmates and friends in various locations.
Samanthia cleaned up the meal debris, letting S'er'in'e and Liarra have a moment to converse in the comfortable living room of the apartment.
Liarra poured another glass of wine and studied the photos of S'er'in'e, Samanthia, and their families. Liarra wasn't much for keeping photos, though she did have some with her and her parents, and one of her and Gunning from when she was a fresh young officer. It was clear from the various activities and mementos of their time together that S'er'in'e and Samanthia cared a great deal for each other. Liarra had never had anyone like that in her life, though Von had been both a mother and a father with previous hosts. It was an odd feeling to miss something that she had never had, but it was one that would come and go. So much was the life of a host.
She shook the thoughts and took a sip of wine before making her way over to S'er'in'e. "I must thank you again for having me over tonight. I really do need to get out of my office more often."
"I remember suggesting you do so while we hid in the cave on the planet surface." S'er'in'e replied. "I am glad you decided to take the opportunity to do so, I suspect many heads were turned seeing you dressed as you are?"
"Probably more due to shock than admiration," Liarra replied with a laugh. "To be honest, I was surprised that I even owned anything other than a uniform."
Once done with the clean-up, Samanthia politely excused herself to let Liarra and S'er'in'e confer in private. She had schooled her expression into neutrality as she moved with a hand on her belly and her other hand in a white-knuckled fist into the bedroom, letting the door closed behind her.
S'er'in'e watched his Mate leave, a slight hint of worry or confusion as if to all was well but he had a guest, it would be rude to ignore her. "How does it feel to be just Liarra and not Captain for a change?"
"Different, to say the least. I was thrust into this position due to circumstances beyond my control. Had I been looking for a command of my own, maybe it would have been different. But suddenly have all of this responsibility on me cause me to start worrying. Not just about the Sojourners, or what fleet command thought. But could I live up to my predecessor? I think that's been weighing so heavily on my mind that I've been afraid to let my hair down. I've been afraid that if I was just Liarra, and not Captain Von, it would be a sign of weakness. I know it's not, but that's where my brain took it. Getting to just be me for a while is...refreshing."
"Perhaps now that you have sampled what might be, maybe consider doing it again?" By that S'er'in'e meant that Von getting out of uniform and being the female she was not the Captain she's known better for.
Liarra smirked. "I was always more of a soldier than a scientist. But I think that's an experiment that I would be interested in exploring."
When Samanthia didn't return he wondered if all was well, time had dragged on unnoticed. "I hope I have not kept you too late with duties in the morning?"
Liarra took a note of the time. Great conversation and company had caused her to lose track of the hours as well. "I'll manage, but I should probably think about going. I'm sure everyone would love me if I'm cranky all morning. I'd like to thank you and Samanthia for a very lovely evening." She hesitated for a moment before adding more. "We should do this more often."
"Of course." S'er'in'e rose and escorted Liarra back to the security checkpoint and the Turbolift to which would speed her back home. It was pleasant to see the Captain take him up on his suggestion, because that all he was permitted to do, about getting out of uniform and be herself once in a while.
Captain Liarra Von
Commanding Officer
Colonel S'er'in'e
Commander, Air Group
Samanthia Akiashiro
