STF

Memory: First Year Summer Vacation

Posted Nov. 27, 2022, 11:02 a.m. by Captain Marceau Renault (Commanding Officer) (Lucas Foxley)

Posted by Lieutenant Helena Laursen (Helm/Nagivation Officer) in Memory: First Year Summer Vacation

Posted by Captain Marceau Renault (Commanding Officer) in Memory: First Year Summer Vacation

Posted by Lieutenant Helena Laursen (Helm/Nagivation Officer) in Memory: First Year Summer Vacation
Posted by… suppressed (3) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Marceau and Lucy had talked about it before Marceau left for the training mission. Her family always went on vacation and this year they were going to a set of Carribbean islands, Saint Kitts and Nevis. They had discussed going to the botanical garden together and made plans. Presumably they’d be leaving almost right after Marceau’s last finals, because Lucy’s finals finished two days earlier than the Academy finals.

Now, she’d come to his dorm and dropped a bomb on him: He could go, but only if he paid his own way… Which they both knew he couldn’t do. So he couldn’t go. Not only that, since he couldn’t go anyway, Lucy was leaving two days before he finished school for the year, during the second to last day of finals. Lucy was dead set on seeing the gardens though, and she still desperately wanted to go. “We could stay here and watch movies or play games,” Marceau suggested. “Or, if you really want to go somewhere, we could drive to Mexico.” Lucy would have to drive though, Marceau had never learned how and had no desire to do so.

“But Marcyyy…” Lucy gave him that cute look, the one that meant she wanted him to agree with her, or let her do something. “I’ve wanted to see the botanical gardens forever! And my mom says it’s supposed to one of the prettiest places, we’ll get so many pictures.”

“Yes. Pictures they can show you when they get back.” Marceau sighed, “Lucy, you were upset about my Academy mission, I have barely been back three days, and you’re leaving?”

“That was different! You were gone longer.” The argument went on for a while. Finally, Marceau gave in, unhappily. He let out a French curse and then, “Lucy, fine! Vaz-y.” (Go on.) “Go and leave me for two weeks, when I finally have time to spend with you.”

“Yay! Merci!” Lucy did not yet know french, but she had looked up some beginner phrases. She hugged him and then gave him a kiss, both of which he returned. “Je t’aime,” he said softly, but tersely, and then shortly after Lucy headed out. She had packing to do after all.

The next day after their classes (all sitting tests that day), Marceau was with Helena. “Lucy visited last night.” Usually, at least since coming back from the mission, he had always been happy to talk about Lucy and spoke excitedly about her. Now he seemed frustrated and a little bummed. “Her parents won’t take me with them to the Carribbean,” he’d already told her about the trip, and that Lucy had promised he could go. “And she’s going without me.”

Maybe it was a little childish, but he’d just gotten back from a challenging training mission and he had really wanted to spend time with her. He’d never been anywhere in the Carribbean, so that would have been cool too, but the spending time with her part was more important than the destination. He was quite hurt she’d rather see a garden her parents would probably take her to see some other time, than spend time with him, and that would be clear to Helena.

~ Marceau

Helena put down her drink, “Marceau, I’m so sorry. I know you were really looking forward to going.” He didn’t say why her parents wouldn’t take him. She hoped it wasn’t because of his upbringing. Marceau was a good honest person and he shouldn’t be punished for his parents. “It’s two weeks right? It’s not that bad, and at least you can call her. It’s not like our training mission.

Marceau nodded and sighed. “They said we ‘aren’t serious enough’ for them to ‘shell out that much money’ on me.” He nodded again to answer her question. “Two weeks, and they’re going to be pretty busy.” That meant not a lot of time for phone calls.

Helena would have been bummed too. She knew Marceau had hoped to use the trip to make things up to Lucy. They had barely seen Marceau except for when they sat exams. There wasn’t much to be done about it. “Remember how you said you like it when she misses you? Well you can miss her, and after your exam today go tell her. Tell her how much you will miss her. Didn’t you say she always wanted to see that garden? It will be a great experience for her. Be excited for her even if you are sad she is going. Then come back. We still have exams.” Helena didn’t know Lucy was already gone.

Helena

“I did tell her I would miss her.” And he was excited she got to see the garden. He just wanted to see it with her. He looked at Helena, “She and her parents left this afternoon. I didn’t even get to see them off, they left during our last exam.”

~ Marceau

Helen reached across the table and squeezed his arm. “I’m sorry. I know you will miss her. Why don’t you leave her a message for when she gets off the plane?”

As people finished their exams more filled the mess hall and more left for study sessions or late exam periods. “Hey, that means you will be here for our end of year party!” They had all planned to go out after the last exam for pizza and there was going to be live music at Golden Gate Park. Then they all left the next day.

Helen

Marceau smiled, still bummed he was missing the trip. “Yes, I will get to go to the end of year party.” He tried to summon up a little more enthusiasm. “You wanted to see the bridge, didn’t you?” He thought he might remember her mentioning that after he had seen it with Lucy earlier that year.

~ Marceau

Helena nodded, “I do. I have been here all year and haven’t seen it except from a plane. How sad is that?”

Marceau grinned and then shrugged, “Academy was busy. I saw it over winter break.”

The whole squad went and everyone was thrilled Marceau was able to make it. They gorged on pizza and soda, danced and sang till they all collapsed and then watched classic sci-fi moves in the basement until they all fell asleep. They had enough fun, Marceau didn’t have time to miss Lucy.

Marceau had a lot of fun. He was glad to be there when Helena got to see the bridge, and sci-fi movies were always funny, to see what people thought space would be like before humans could even reliably leave atmosphere.

The next morning, Helena showed up at Marceau’s door. “Hey. Pack a bag. You’re coming with me. There is no way I am letting you spend the summer here alone. Come in hurry.”

Helena

It took a moment for Marceau to open the door and when he did it was clear her visit had woken him. He looked at her sleepily and confusedly. “Pack a bag? Où allons-nous?” The french sounded like ‘oo allonoo?’ and Marceau then translated, “Where are we going?” Then he stepped aside to let her in. “Come in.”

~ Marceau


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