Traditions and Liabilities

Posted on Fri Apr 23rd, 2021 @ 11:49pm by Captain Kaylin Jaal & Indigo (*)

Mission: Mission 13: Stowaway
Location: Freecloud
Timeline: New Years Eve
1123 words - 2.2 OF Standard Post Measure

Indigo looked around her bedroom as she finally stirred enough to remember that she had to finish planning their… correction - her party. She jumped up from her bed and grabbed a hoodie chucking over the vest and shorts that she wore to bed. She opened the blinds with a click at the console and was surprised that it was dark outside. Stardust City never failed to amaze her with how beautiful it was at night but it was a distraction. How long has she been asleep? She quickly launched herself out to the big open area and stopped surprised to see that at least one of her roommates actually had done some decorations for her.

“No one woke me?” She questioned confused as she was normally woken after a few hours for Fenris rangers planning or other things that required her attention. “And someone decorated?”

"This is the custom, isn't it?" Kaylin asked. "If there's one thing Romulans do well it's the element of surprise..." she motioned to the streamers and other paraphernalia floating about the place. "Surprise?"

Indigo agreed that Romulans were good at the element of surprise but had not expected that coming from the woman she is known for the last few years as being solemn and pretty much kept herself. “I am almost considering that you are a Changeling as I am so stunned.” She murmured only half joking as she considered her phaser under her pillow.

Kaylin bowed her head fractionally, taking a silent pride in her successful deception. For a Romulan, surprises such as this were less frequent; not knowing about it before time would indicate weakness or lack of foresight. If someone could put up banners, they could also plant bombs. Among other things.

"Tradition is important," she explained. "I had to research the custom without alerting you. Taev thought I was crazy too. But our crew are as family, and therefore if you have a tradition it should be respected."

“Taev is crazy. He could have gotten so many brownie points.” Indigo looked at the woman for a long moment to strode over quickly and gripped the woman close to her in a tight hug. She knew the woman would hate it but she did not care. After setting up decorations and caring enough about her to do that deserved a hug even if the captain wanted to stay aloof and distant from the crew. It was hard for the blue haired human to not get under everyone’s skin and want to be their friend and in that moment she was pretty sure she had won. Indigo was hard to shake off. “Thank you.” She said honestly let in the woman finally go before she was handed ass for being too long in the personal space of the woman.

Kaylin physically cringed at the hug, habitually putting her fingers on the base of the dagger tucked under the wide part of her belt. Indigo was fortunate there was noone else present, or she'd have flung the other woman across the room. "You're...welcome," she responded through barely gritted teeth. "But don't ever do that again." Especially when I'm not expecting it, she added silently.

Indigo could feel the other woman almost freezing like a block of ice under her and grinned a little. She knew the Romulan woman would not accept the hug easily she never did but that did not mean that Indigo was not going to keep doing it. It was who she was, she was the hugger she was the heart of the team. “You say that every time.” She reminded her stepping back out of reach to look better at the decorations.

"Are you expecting others?" Kaylin asked, looking for a bottle of something and a glass to go with it. It was one of those evenings she knew she'd need some drinks to get through.

“Just our friends.” She assured softly. There was no one she was really friendly with outside of the Fenris Rangers anymore. “Maybe some of our neighbours but I am sure they will go to the street parties or something.” Indigo shrugged a bit as she picked up a mug and held it out for a glass of something. She still needed to shower and dress but she had time for a drink with the woman. Something almost seemed to be bothering her.

Kaylin side-eyed and poured measure of something into the cup. She wasn't sure what it was. "Very well." Life on the fringes and in the wild space they operated in could be lonely, but it was familiar to her. To spend time among others - especially those she didn't know well - was difficult and unnatural. The party was for Indigo, a member of her crew and part of that small family. "You seem to have friends in a lot of places, Indigo."

"Is that not why you wanted me to join?" Indigo wondered. Had she been wrong in why she had been acquired and brought in to the Fenris Rangers due to her connections. Freeclouders, always, came and went as they pleased. It was not based on kinship or economic ties but on affinity and passions. She moved as she saw fit, a free spirit.

"I invited you for your connections, yes. That is not what I meant, though. We Romulans tend not to keep many close friends; certainly not in the way that you would. Family, of course. But acquaintances and contacts are typically a means to an end in our culture." Kaylin sipped her small drink. "You present many optimistic tendencies and views, as is typical of your people too. In the case of our crew - our family - that may be a tool to be utilised."

"So you think I am a liability?" Indigo wondered trying to understand what the woman meant.

Kaylin laughed. Poor Indigo; she really didn't quite grasp Romulan nuances yet.

"Of course you're a liability. But then so is Taev. And Krynn. And even myself." She smirked. "We all have weaknesses, my dear girl. For some, weaknesses are a thing to exploit - so yes, you might be. And then again you might be a means of limiting the weakness in one of your crewmates. All things in balance."

"I see." Indigo was going to say more but the door chime started and Indigo gave the woman a lingering look before she moved to answer it despite not being dressed or anything yet. If they were friends they would not care and if it was anyone else Indigo would not care on there opinions. But she needed not worry it was going to be a good night no matter what.