03-24-2025, 11:32 PM
Somehow the pulsing pain in her knee somehow was less shocking than the good natured response that accompanied the widely feared chief of security. As the tall, formidable woman chided her playfully to sit down and then to address her by her given name, Hallowette's mind flip flopped to process what she had been told about the ships foremost security officer, and the person that she just met in person - and it simply didn't jive.
For a moment Hally wondered if maybe she had mistranslated the woman's rather unique accent. She suddenly wished she hadn't turned her UT off, but she was rather certain that her words meant what she believed they did. Lt. Calleja - Mara - may have been rather straightforward with her turn of phrase, but as far as the young tactical officer could discern - Calleja was open - friendly even.
Hally did as the CSO ordered, but she did it in a much more methodical manner than when she had stood a moment prior. Her heart was pounding, but between Calleja's smile and Aeryn's calming presence, the hybrid didn't feel the need so direly to excuse herself any more. Hally was just about to return the introduction in kind, to offer some small greeting that might create some small sense of kinship, but Mara continued before Hally's mind could catch up.
"I can’t pretend to be an intellectual but I ain’t that bad company I hope.” The look in the muscular woman's eye held a mischievous note, one that Hallowette had seen in herself more than once, “So Aeryn’s happy about escapin’ Security. I don’t know how I should take that. Maybe I am bad company after all...”
Despite it all, and to her own surprise Hallowette laughed. A genuine, unexpected laugh born of some small sense of familiarity. Maybe it was the fact that she had grown up being treated as the kid sister of a dozen fleet security officers on the Ark Royal, or maybe it was just that she was desperate for Calleja not to be the boogeyman that her peers had made her out to be.
"It's been my experience that 'intellectuals' are generally less fun than 'bad company' anyway." Hallowette dared tease back.
Prophets, I hope she doesn't think that's lame - thanks diplomatic corp training! The thought crossed her mind just as the words left her lips, which manifested another chuckle in response, Welp, no going back now...
"It's good to meet you Mara." she followed, her own grin broad and welcoming, her eyes settling on the newcomer, then darting to Aeryn, then back to Calleja.
==tags!==
For a moment Hally wondered if maybe she had mistranslated the woman's rather unique accent. She suddenly wished she hadn't turned her UT off, but she was rather certain that her words meant what she believed they did. Lt. Calleja - Mara - may have been rather straightforward with her turn of phrase, but as far as the young tactical officer could discern - Calleja was open - friendly even.
Hally did as the CSO ordered, but she did it in a much more methodical manner than when she had stood a moment prior. Her heart was pounding, but between Calleja's smile and Aeryn's calming presence, the hybrid didn't feel the need so direly to excuse herself any more. Hally was just about to return the introduction in kind, to offer some small greeting that might create some small sense of kinship, but Mara continued before Hally's mind could catch up.
"I can’t pretend to be an intellectual but I ain’t that bad company I hope.” The look in the muscular woman's eye held a mischievous note, one that Hallowette had seen in herself more than once, “So Aeryn’s happy about escapin’ Security. I don’t know how I should take that. Maybe I am bad company after all...”
Despite it all, and to her own surprise Hallowette laughed. A genuine, unexpected laugh born of some small sense of familiarity. Maybe it was the fact that she had grown up being treated as the kid sister of a dozen fleet security officers on the Ark Royal, or maybe it was just that she was desperate for Calleja not to be the boogeyman that her peers had made her out to be.
"It's been my experience that 'intellectuals' are generally less fun than 'bad company' anyway." Hallowette dared tease back.
Prophets, I hope she doesn't think that's lame - thanks diplomatic corp training! The thought crossed her mind just as the words left her lips, which manifested another chuckle in response, Welp, no going back now...
"It's good to meet you Mara." she followed, her own grin broad and welcoming, her eyes settling on the newcomer, then darting to Aeryn, then back to Calleja.
==tags!==