04-30-2025, 05:06 AM
There was a muffled response, before a side door opened and a woman stepped out. The two women were a show in opposites. The woman was a head taller than Rubicon, with high cheekbones and a warm but green tone flushed on her dewey cheeks. She was slender looking, but athletic enough. The other woman also seemed to be younger than Rubicon, though there was something about her that made it difficult to really judge. Nevermind the fact that Rubicon was in her uniform and the other woman was dressed casually and a towel wrapped around her head, Rubicon had clearly interrupted the woman’s nighttime (or maybe her daytime depending on shift?) absolutions.
“Hi there,” she said, her tone bright and unhurried. “I figured I’d have a roommate, but I wasn’t quite sure what to expect.”
“Hello,” Rubicon smiled in return.
A hand was offered in greeting, Rubicon reached for it and gave it a firm shake in return. She could feel the steadiness of her new roommate’s grip, and immediately trepidation filled her stomach. No, please don’t tell me…
“I’m Emily Star. Medical.”—because of course. Is the universe conspiring against met?— “Which means if you get maimed, I’m all set to help.”
“Hopefully you won’t have to do that too much,” the humour in her voice felt forced, and Rubicon tried to laugh it off but that too felt so fake. She was certain that Star would be delightful in her own ways, but all Rubicon could feel was lurk of her former profession. “I’m Rubicon Doyle, Security. I shoot ‘em, you fix ‘em.”
“First days are a lot, huh? Get unpacked, meet new people, check in with your chief, and try not to get lost.” She gestured toward the empty bunk with a small nod. “Wish I could give you more of a grand tour, but it’s pretty simple: bed, bathroom, closet.”
“Hey now, I’m just appreciating the fact that I was assigned a double and not a quad,” Rubicon replied, setting herself down on her bed and reaching to unzip one of her boots, then the other. “Dorm life is definitely an experience but I’m glad someone somewhere took pity on these old bones and granted me a little peace and space.”
Boots removed, Rubicon laid back on her brand new bunk. It felt weird to be starting over again. Sure, the four years at the Academy had come and gone. It had been an exciting challenge to learn something so not in her original skillset. But now she was in a place she could potentially start sprouting roots again. Could the Artemis be somewhere she could call home? That almost felt like a foreign concept to Rubicon, since her ex had thouroughly torn through all her ideas about what home should feel like. Rubicon rubbed her eyes. You are not too old for this.
“Any questions? Comments?”
Rubicon looked over to Emily who was busy drying her hair with the towel.
“Any Artemis tips and tricks? Haven’t met the Captain yet but saw her record… how does she seem?” Rubicon knew the drill with any knew assignment; it would likely take her a good six to eight weeks before she started to feel comfortable, and then another eight to feel confident in her role. All about learning the ropes, meeting the people, learning the quirks of the place.
== Tag! ==
“Hi there,” she said, her tone bright and unhurried. “I figured I’d have a roommate, but I wasn’t quite sure what to expect.”
“Hello,” Rubicon smiled in return.
A hand was offered in greeting, Rubicon reached for it and gave it a firm shake in return. She could feel the steadiness of her new roommate’s grip, and immediately trepidation filled her stomach. No, please don’t tell me…
“I’m Emily Star. Medical.”—because of course. Is the universe conspiring against met?— “Which means if you get maimed, I’m all set to help.”
“Hopefully you won’t have to do that too much,” the humour in her voice felt forced, and Rubicon tried to laugh it off but that too felt so fake. She was certain that Star would be delightful in her own ways, but all Rubicon could feel was lurk of her former profession. “I’m Rubicon Doyle, Security. I shoot ‘em, you fix ‘em.”
“First days are a lot, huh? Get unpacked, meet new people, check in with your chief, and try not to get lost.” She gestured toward the empty bunk with a small nod. “Wish I could give you more of a grand tour, but it’s pretty simple: bed, bathroom, closet.”
“Hey now, I’m just appreciating the fact that I was assigned a double and not a quad,” Rubicon replied, setting herself down on her bed and reaching to unzip one of her boots, then the other. “Dorm life is definitely an experience but I’m glad someone somewhere took pity on these old bones and granted me a little peace and space.”
Boots removed, Rubicon laid back on her brand new bunk. It felt weird to be starting over again. Sure, the four years at the Academy had come and gone. It had been an exciting challenge to learn something so not in her original skillset. But now she was in a place she could potentially start sprouting roots again. Could the Artemis be somewhere she could call home? That almost felt like a foreign concept to Rubicon, since her ex had thouroughly torn through all her ideas about what home should feel like. Rubicon rubbed her eyes. You are not too old for this.
“Any questions? Comments?”
Rubicon looked over to Emily who was busy drying her hair with the towel.
“Any Artemis tips and tricks? Haven’t met the Captain yet but saw her record… how does she seem?” Rubicon knew the drill with any knew assignment; it would likely take her a good six to eight weeks before she started to feel comfortable, and then another eight to feel confident in her role. All about learning the ropes, meeting the people, learning the quirks of the place.
== Tag! ==