Not a Cyrano Scenario

Posted on Mon Nov 30th, 2020 @ 2:17pm by Chief Engineer Michael Burnstein & Nollel Livaam (*)

Mission: Mission 12 - Railway
Location: Deck 7 - Rec Room
Timeline: MD02 20:00
1268 words - 2.5 OF Standard Post Measure

Nollel sat in the furthest table from the door and closest to the window looking out at the stars that passed them by. She glanced down at the moonshine in the mug and shook her head. If the woman could sum up her childhood in one way, it would be via a swift swig of the liquid she spent hours distilling for her uncle when she should have been working on her studies and arts.

Who knew where she would be if she had not helped him, her family would have never got caught up in the reunification of Ardana so strongly? She would not have been sat there feeling sorry for herself for starting a conversation the chickening out on saying more on when she had a lot to say. She had thought to say something that morning but it had just been awkward. She glanced up as she heard someone come into the rec room and offered a nod to the familiar woman before she returned to staring out the window. Probably best to not start a conversation with Cassie of all people but it would be rude to just stare and not offering a greeting.

Burnie had walked into the rec room for a drink - hoping it might take the stress of the last day down a notch - and spotted Nollel. He froze for a second - part of him wanted to go to her, and another wanted to run. Fortunately, the observer/analyst part present in every engineer reminded him he was in Cassie's body. He quietly cursed the requirement of keeping the swap secret, but deep down he knew there was no way he could explain this without sounding insane, so he put on his best Cassie imitation, nodded back to her, and headed for the opposite side of the lounge.

Nollel was not sure if she was relieved or not to see the other woman knowing she was not with Michael. She had spent the day hearing rumours and stuff about how close they had been together when anyone had seen them. A starship was a common rumour mill but it did leave her with her own sour taste in her mouth and the thought to confront her. But what would she say? It sounded childish so she just drunk back the drink and shook her head.

Not to looking at Nollel was hard. Burnie's eyes darted toward her more than once before he forcibly fixed them on the drink in front of him. The idea of going and talking to her, seeing how felt, what she thought was definitely there - especially that she might speak more freely to Cassie. There was certain playing-your-own-Cyrano appeal to it. But that wouldn't be right. If she was mad at him for not fully disclosing everything about his past, what would she think of using Cassie's body as a disguise to sound her out? Even if it somehow never came to light, it would be more secret between them. Besides, using Cassie that way felt extra wrong. Nope. Have the drink. Sit long enough to look like a dash in and back out. Then leave and hope he could set things right once this swap was reverse. Provided it ever was...

Nollel fumed for a few moments more before she rose. She grabbed another glass of wine before she moved over to where Cassie sat looking more upset than the awkward she felt. “Hey... um... Can we talk? There have been a lot rumours going around today and I just want to clear the air.” She admitted.

From the corner of his eye, Burnie noticed Nollel get up - and head in his direction. Ah! no, no, no... what do I do? what should I say...? He hadn't had a moment of panic like that over a girl approaching him since a junior high. Pull it together, man. You have to be Cassie. Calm. Even-keeled. ...oh, God, I don't know if I can do this...

He took a very deep breath and (mostly) composed himself just as she arrived at the table. "Sure," he managed in reply, hoping the way his mind was racing over the word 'rumours' was plain as day on ...Cassie's face. "What rumours?"

Nolell did not sit but she did take a sip of the potent liquid wincing at the taste of it. She had hoped for the lighter or fruiter moonshine but she could not complain at the hazy feeling it was giving her. "About you and Michael." She said sadly. "I do not believe them but I have not been able to catch him to talk about it." She felt awkward. "It is silly. I am sorry for disturbing you."

There was a moment where he wondered if the swap hadn't been kept as quiet as they thought and he wondered if he could confirm that rumour then. If it was already out there after all... But in the next instant he realized what she actually meant. "No!" He caught himself and got back into Cassie character. "....I mean, no, you are not disturbing me. And, no, you have nothing to worry about. Michael and I are just friends."

The Ardanian nodded firmly. That soothed her soul slightly but she really wished she could just talk to him properly and sort it out. She had never seen the woman react so abruptly so maybe that was a good thing. "I am but thank you for humouring me." She looked a little lost and dejected for a moment before shaking herself. "and like you said you are Michael's friend but if you see him mind telling him I have been looking for him." She wondered.

"I will," Burnie assured with a nod. He told himself he should leave it there. He really should. He was speaking from Cassie's lips and it wasn't right to literally put words in her mouth. But Nollel looked so sad, he couldn't stand it - he wanted to get up and give her a hug, but that would be very un-Cassie-like. "Nollel, he loves you. He's just... " terrified if he says how much you'll run in the other direction "...really busy with all the preparations for helping the Fenris Rangers with this search and rescue. You know how tied up he gets in his work, and this time there are lives on the line, so he's even more focused on it than usual."

Nolell nodded quietly. "I know. I guess I just worry. I am pretty naive about stuff and..." The blonde shook her head. "Let us just say this is the first time I've felt like this and I am trying really hard to not break it. I should go to bed. Gregnol has me cataloguing random pieces of equipment all over the ship tomorrow."She mused finding it odd that he wanted her out of the office but who was she to argue a job was a job.

Did she feel the same way he did? Burnie swallowed, then looked down quickly before his feeling showed on Cassie's face - which would be very weird for Nollel, he was sure. "I'm sure the Captain has some reason," he managed. "Sleep well."

Cassie seemed like a good friend to everyone who was on board. Nollel just nodded and left the woman to her own devices feeling a little lighter in heart even if her mind was still whirling. She needed to sleep and hopefully, the wine will help her sleep enough that she was able.