STF

Creed Quarters - The Morning after the Wicked Ballad

Posted Jan. 9, 2019, 11:11 p.m. by Commander Ardashir "Jack" Creed (Executive Officer) (Steven Sigle)

Posted by Lieutenant Celina Rodriguez (Chief Tactical Officer) in Creed Quarters - The Morning after the Wicked Ballad

Posted by Commander Ardashir “Jack” Creed (Executive Officer) in Creed Quarters - The Morning after the Wicked Ballad

Posted by Lieutenant Celina Rodriguez (Chief Tactical Officer) in Creed Quarters - The Morning after the Wicked Ballad
SNIP
“Jack,” Celina called out entering the quarters. “You here baby?” Standing in the middle of the room she waited listening for any sound. After several seconds of silence, Celina knew she had the room to herself. She had told Jack to meet her here after his duty shift but Celina needed to do something first. =/\=Computer lock the controls to the door. India Hotel Tango Delta Sierra and turn off all universal translators in the room =/\= she called out the code as she moved to take a seat at the coms station. She was wearing a huge smile for several reasons but at this exact second, it was completely due to giving the personalized command code for the door. The Orion Incident, as they referred to it, had truly changed them. One of such changes was the personalized code to his quarters. No syndicate member would ever find their way onto the Manhattan but Jack was one to never take chances. His intelligence training had taught him a specific skill set that allowed him to create the code to his door that was off the record and almost impenetrable. What was actually making her smile, however, was the access code. India Hotel Tango Delta Sierra was the official code but the reason for this combination of words was the statement: I hate this damn song. Celina should also hate it but to her, the song stood for all the positive times in their relationship. While Jack continued to claim it was made from the devil himself, little things like his code showed Celina he too felt it was tied forever to him.

Activating the long-range comms Celina waited. It wasn’t long until she saw the familiar face she was looking for. “Mi conejito,” Miranda, Celina’s grandmother, said with a smile lighting up her face. “Isabella it is our mi conejito,” she yelled out motioning for someone to come into visual range of the screen. Celina’s smile increased more hearing her family pet name being blared out from the speakers. That was until Isabella got her turn to speak.

“¿Qué te pasa? Tú no llamas. Tú no escribes. Qué,”Isabella began to ramble in Spanish before Miranda cut her off sharply. Celina shook her head with a grin getting the standard reprimand that she did not call or write enough for their tastes.

“English, please. Addie Shears might be there and he might be thinking we are talking about him. Guardar los españoles para cuando estamos hablando de él,” Miranda said the last part in Spanish generating a giggle between the two grandmothers on the other end of the line.

“That is what I was calling to talk to you about,” Celina said slowly raising her hand and showing off the ring on her middle finger. Her statement did not stop the giggling gaggle of grandmothers. It was the bling of her ring crossing several thousand light years that stopped Miranda and Isabelle cold. Leaning in as if it would close the distance between them the woman began to ramble again.

“Mi Dios Miranda que tiene que haberle costado seis meses de salario,” Isabella said moving her head back and forth as if this would give her a better glimpse at the diamond her Celina’s hand.

“Más. Mira la banda. Es una antigüedad,” Miranda countered almost breathless.

Celina belted out a large bubble of laughter. This was just like her grandmothers. There were no congratulations or we are so happy for you. It was just two old women scrutinizing the ring. “It was his mother’s ring,” Celina said in English and then stealing a glance at the door decided it was best to proceed in Spanish. “Jack and I wanted to tell you together but I just couldn’t wait a second longer so you have to act surprised when we do this again. Do you know how hard it was not to run from him the second he put it on my finger and call you,” Celina said happily. It was then she saw hamsters take to the wheels in her grandmothers head. Celina had to head the critters off at the pass.

“Bien, pero tienes que ser amable con él cuando llamo de nuevo y te decimos que estamos unidos juntos. Sin mencionar la iglesia o el padre Pepe o cómo nuestros hijos van a llevar el traje de seda de bautismo a la masa de todos los Rodriguez han usado desde el 1800 ‘ s. (Okay but you have to be nice to him when I call back and we tell you we are enganged together. No mentioning the church or father Pepe or how our children are going to wear the silk baptism suit to mass all Rodriguez’s have worn since the 1800’s.,)” the words rolled off her tongue in fluent Spanish. if Jack walked in she did not want him to know what they were talking about right now. “I just got him to ask me so no questions about anything wedding related because we have not decided anything yet,” Celina said firmly pointing a finger at them. Her grandmother’s love Jack except for one thing: he was not Catholic. Celina cared less but Miranda and Isabella had worried about this since the first time they met him. Celina told them they were going to raise any children in both the Muslim and Catholic faith which almost killed the women the first time. Celina’s parents were fine with the idea and encouraged it but the grandmothers were old and set in their ways. Once Celina had come to the realization that if they died over this choice then Isabelle and Miranda had had a good life and Celina would light a candle for them every Sunday.

“Celina,” Miranda leaned back crossing her hands over her body. “We love Addie Shears and everything about him.”

“It is Ardashir. Are Dah sheer not Addie shears,” Celina sighed shaking her head.

“What is she talking about. That is what I said. Addie Shears,” Miranda said in her thick Puerto Rican accent.

“You know how she gets. Ignore her,” Isabella said. It was then Celina heard Jack at the door. He was right on time as usual. Hopefully, Miranda and Isabella would be able to pull off a surprise convincingly enough.

“Bien bien recordar acto sorprendido. Te estoy llamando de vuelta, (okay okay remember act surprised. I am calling you right back),” Celina said quickly turning off the comm and diving over the back of the couch so that she would appear to be relaxing on it when Jack walked in. If her family was not such a force of nature, she could have announced her engagement like a normal woman. However, when her grandmothers were involved, everything required a bit of prep. They were two of the most stubborn people Celina had ever met so heading them off with what they weren’t supposed to say before they tried to say it was always a good plan.

Lt. Celina Rodriguez, CTO

Jack found himself with the distinct impression as he walked in his name was being spoke. His very ears burned as it were. “Lina… what are you doing?” he called out, not fully in the quarters but trying to guess just what his bride to be was up to.

Creed, XO

“You’re home early,” Celina said pretending to stretch on the couch as if she had just woken up. “What time is it?” She tried to keep a sleepy expression on her face but had no idea whether or not Jack would buy it. Watching him walk in, Celina but her lip and smiled. *How did I get so lucky to be able to call you mine,” she mused. The uniform did wonders to his appeal but Jack had far better assets than looking great in red. Jack was witty and charming. He could take someone down with a look as fast as he could with a punch. He could also build someone up so high they might never each their potential but have the drive to work for that zenith everyday of their life. Jack also loved her. Not in the traditional boy meets girl and wants to plan a future with her love but the kind of love you would sacrifice your life for without a moment of thought.

Jack looked at her for a moment, taking it all in. She was up to something, he could tell. She wasn’t good at hiding her hand, which is why he always won rock paper scissors when they had to do chores. She always had a habit of showing her plans.

“Did anyone ever tell you that you are one handsome devil,” Celina sat up wrapping her arms around her knees as she watched him go about his daily routine of dropping his shoes pretty much in the middle of the floor and pulling off his top colored uniform shirt which he dropped over the nearest piece of furniture.

“Okay, now I know you really want something.” he said as he wrapped his arms around her, not caring in the slightest that she did as he leaned in closely kissing her. He wore that strong cologne he knew she loved, the one that she kept sneaking to spray her pillow with when she thought he wasn’t looking. He knew she loved the scent and he loved to make her smile just by his fragrance.

Celina let the scent wash over her and let out a deep sigh. It always aroused her and made her mind go dizzy with thoughts one should not have if you were a proper lady. To her, his cologne was more than just a bottle of chemicals mixed into a pleasing scent. It was the good times. It was the bad times. It reminded her of his laugh. It was memories of him livid and ready to explode in anger. It was the feel of his lips on hers. It was all the lonely nights when he had faked his death. The cologne was the essence of the man she was in love with and would one day marry. Opening her eyes, she leaned back some. Now was not the time to get lost in thoughts of dancing in the sheets. She had to focus.

“Did they also say you would probably never pass an Academy room inspection again if your life depended on it. You know I found like eight socks recently so the myth that the replicator eats every third one and that is why you run short has been busted,” she let her eyes dart to the discarded clothes. “If you are planning to leave a trail of breadcrumbs there Hansel the bedroom is that way,” she pointed a finger playfully.

“Don’t change the subject, what were you doing.” he said as he let go of her and began to unzip his uniform. “I know you too well Moosh, you register every action a mile away. You want something, spill.”

Creed, Jack

“I need my brothers in your wedding and Father Pepe Luis wants to start pre-marital counseling next week,” Celina said biting her lip. In the Catholic faith and Christianity as a whole, pre-marital counseling was just something you did. Celina had never thought she would partake in this ritual. If she was going to accept some man’s marriage proposal she had always been sure that second thoughts would not creep into her mind. Now that she was going to be the future Mrs. Ex-Creed the plan had changed. She hoped that starting off the conversation with her brothers standing with Jack would make him give the quick yes and move on. Jack was amazing but he was a guy who typically only listened to half of what she said and then gave the ‘yes dear’ or confused expression when he found out he was committed to doing something he hadn’t been paying attention to.

Lt Celina Rodriquez. CTO

“What? Father Pepe? You made that up. You do not have a Father Pepe Luis at your church.” he said as he looked at her, wondering if she was truly serious or not. “And why do we need counseling? I mean maybe we just need a shrink but pre-marital? I think we both became pretty committed to each other.” he asked her, with an incredulous look he wondered if she was truly serious, or just pulling his leg.

Creed, XO

“He is a new priest and my grandmothers think we are bound for hellfire and damnation if we don’t talk to the man. Jack,” Celina rose to her knees so that she was just above his eye level and he had to look slightly up to meet her gaze. “You know what they are like. They are the going to be impossible to love with. We need just one meeting. Three at the most,” she put her hands together in a praying fashion.

“They like you Jack and public they can be so nice but they are like a rabid bunch of hyenas. I can’t face them alone,” she looked at him pleadingly.

Lt Celina Rodriguez. CTO

“Do they like me? Why is this so important to them if they like me?” Jack poised to her, curious as he asked her about the grandparents. “Do you think they would act this way if I maybe had a rosary?”

Creed, XO

“No, they just,” Celina paused for a moment looking at her palm as if it held the answer. “When you were gone,” she started speaking then stopped inspecting a spot on her hand as if it held the answers to the universe. Jack was not dumb. He would see this action for what it was: stalling. She had to say something before he did or Celina might bury her feelings so deep on the topic she might never be able to mention it again. “Jack I do not want to live in parts of our past. The past is past. The future is what we have but I can’t ignore that what happened didn’t change me. I tried so hard to go on without you. Physically I got up, went to work, ate, slept, existed,” she could feel a knot forming in her throat. “My family got into my head. It was so easy then,” she gave a small laugh. Celina rose to her knees on the couch and settled back on her heels. She needed to be eye level, needed to look into his eyes as she spoke.

“Jack I never cared about your faith. I still don’t. I respect your beliefs and the way you live your life but they,” she licked her lips and took a deep breath. “They are not like us. They don’t see the world the way we do. They are old and stuck in thier beliefs. Just humor them for me,” she smiled at him. “Maybe light a candle and think how crazy they are instead of saying a prayer. Might go a long way to cut down on the crazy they send our way over the next few months.”

Lt Celina Rodriguez. CTO

“I know you do love, and I will meet them in the middle. I have no problem trying to get with them and and find common ground. I can respect and embrace them and your traditions, just hope they can do the same like you have baby.” he said, pulling her close as he kissed her deeply.

Creed, XO

“Thank you,” she said looking up at him. “They will come around. They like you…for the most part.”

Lt Celina Rodriguez. CTO

“Oh do they? Really? I think your brother likes me for my skills, your Dad likes that I don’t talk to him, and your mom just wants me to impregnate you so we can start a family already. Not quite sure they all like me for me though.” Jack said with a tease to Celina.

Creed, XO

“Well I like you for you Mr. Ardashir Jack Creed,” Celina brushed the tip of her nose up against his. “And I am the only one that matters.” She moved back enough not to go cross-eyed as she looked at the man that would one day be her husband. When she thought about marrying him it felt strange. She always knew it would happen but for the longest time, she felt to married to Jack even though it was not official. Flipping around on the couch, Celina put her back on Jack’s chest and held up her finger admiring her ring as she spoke. “You know I never doubted that one-day my name would be Celina Creed. In fact, I know the exact minute when I realized it. When did you know,” she asked moving her hand under the lights to see the sparkle of the diamond on the different facets of the stone.

Lt Celina Rodriguez. CTO

“How did you know you were going to become Mrs. Creed? I was Maz Jabroni when we meet, so you must have been psychic.” he said with a smirk to her as he kissed her forehead. “As for me… it was that one night we were on a stake out, you insisted on getting frisky as I tried to make sure the mark was coming in. We nearly ruined the whole night and all I thought was I should be furious with you. I should despise you right now, and yet all I could think of was how much I loved you. How I couldn’t be mad at you, cause you were mine.”

Creed, XO


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