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Side Sim: Friends and good food -what else does one need?

Posted April 30, 2021, 9:59 a.m. by Lieutenant Kiama Naim (Chief Science Officer) (Silke Fahl)

Posted by Lieutenant Faye Calloway (Mission Specialist) in Side Sim: Friends and good food -what else does one need?

Posted by Lieutenant Kiama Naim (Chief Science Officer) in Side Sim: Friends and good food -what else does one need?

Posted by Lieutenant Faye Calloway (Mission Specialist) in Side Sim: Friends and good food -what else does one need?
Posted by… suppressed (4) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

“It changes you,” Faye said softly. “The violence. The fear. I don’t know what it’s like to live through an occupation, but I grew up with those that did. The fear of that happening to us is a lot of why we fought back, regardless of how murky it made things for the politicians. I know they were trying to keep a tenuous peace, but it felt very much like we were considered collateral damage. It’s hard to come out of that level of… devastation unscathed. As hard as it is, I think the place I’m coming to right now is that I am one of the few that survived so I am someone who can tell their story. Not the cut and dry one those who hated the Maquis liked to share. But the real story, about the real people. Like me. Like my mom. And on your side, like your mother and grandmother.” Faye scrutinized Kiama for a moment but held the next thought that came to mind and took a sip instead. Progress!

~Faye Calloway

“It does,” Kiama nodded, her voice as soft as Faye’s. “When I think back to that time, what I remember most is not so much being afraid, but how helpless I felt and that everyone tried to keep all the information of what was going on away from me. Today I can understand why. They wanted to protect me. But my mind formed it’s own imagine of what going on based on the things I did see and hear. And to a certain degree they were probably worse than the truth.” Sighing softly, she shook her head and then reached with a slightly trembling hand for her glass and drank a large mouthful; suddenly wishing she had opened the bottle of wine after all. Which of course meant that it was a good thing that she hadn’t.

~Lt. Naim, CSO

“We are our own worst enemies,” Faye said softly, a part of her aching for Kiama. She knew where her friend was at and could tell Naim hadn’t yet reckoned with those feelings. Not truly. But it would come soon enough. It always did.

“We are indeed,” Kiama replied with a slight, somewhat humourless laugh.

“What about a good memory from that time? Did you learn anything about yourself that you are proud of, or glad happened even if it was hard?” Faye asked. It wasn’t just about shifting the tone of the conversation, but true curiosity.

~Faye Calloway

Chewing on her lower lip, Kiama ran her index finger again and again over the rim of her wine glass as she pondered those questions. She felt like she should be able to answer them easily and here she was struggling to think of even one thing.

After along moment of silence that felt like an eternity to her, Kiama finally replied, “I’m not sure I’d exactly call it a good memory, but I learned that I function well under stress and in crisis situations. Even as a young child.” She took another sip of the synth wine and then a deep breath before she continued, “My father and I were alone in our house during the initial attack from the Jem’Hadar. My mother was at the university at the time. When we left the ruins of the house my father suddenly became almost catatonic. With the help of two medics I managed to get him to one of the ground vehicles and then into the shelter, when we reached our destination.” Looking up again she shook her head and looked apologetic. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to drag the mood down.”

~Lt. Naim, CSO

Brows knit together, Faye gave Naim a lopsided grin as she gestured to herself. “Woman, seriously? Who do you think you’re talking to here? Really!” she said in exasperation, but there was a deep undercurrent of care and fondness. She was entirely teasing and she hoped Kiama knew her well enough by now to know that.

Kiama couldn’t help but laugh softly, even though her expression had turned a little sheepish.

“If there’s anyone around here who is used to heavy topics it’s me. And I am pretty sure we didn’t have a caveat for dinner tonight to only talk about light and bright things of no consequence.”

~Faye Calloway

“You’re right of course,” Kiama replied and shook her head at herself. “But yeah, not sure that memory qualifies as good, but it’s the only thing I can think of. There must have been good times. I’m certain of that and yet I am unable to remember,” she frowned and took another sip of her drink.

~Lt. Naim, CSO

Faye smiled. “Well, luckily for both of us I’ve been getting a hefty amount of practice learning that things rarely are one thing. My brain wants things to be tidy and neat. Good or bad, one or the other. But shades of grey and all that. Maybe it’s not necessarily a good memory compared to others, but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad one, right?”

“Yes, you are absolutely right,” Kiama nodded.

Gathering up some of the dishes into a stack, Faye eyed Kiama. “So, I’m going to help you clean up here first, but uh, up to you if you want some downtime, or want me to stick about a bit longer. I’m good either way.”

~Faye Calloway

Rising to her feet to help Faye with the dishes, Kiama replied with a grin and a wink, “I’m fine either way as well, but at the very least you have to try the dessert I made.” Walking closer to her, she placed one hand lightly on Faye’s shoulder and continued more softly, “It’s been a difficult week for you to put it mildly and I want you to do what you want and what is best for you. If that is staying here for a while longer than you’re more than welcome to stay. If it’s leaving, then that’s what you should do. And if you like, maybe we can do something like this on a regular basis and one of these days I’d love to get a tour from you of the Arboretum now that it’s finished.”

~Lt. Naim, CSO


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