Yesterday, 11:54 PM
(This post was last modified: Yesterday, 11:54 PM by Hallowette Maxas-Darl.)
Hallowette hadn’t expected the hug - not from Mara. Not here, and not like this.
For a heartbeat, her body stiffened on instinct, not in rejection, just surprise. Years of Starfleet training and her trill grandmother's personal reserve reacting before thought could catch up. Then the moment passed, and she let herself lean in, arms coming up almost automatically, careful at first and then more certain, as if her body understood something her mind was still catching up to.
Mara was warm. Solid. Grounded in a way that felt unmistakably real. The kind of presence that didn’t ask questions or demand explanations—just held.
Hallowette exhaled, a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been carrying since the nebula.
“Hey,” she murmured softly, "Hey Mara..." voice close, unguarded in a way she only allowed herself to be around those she felt close to. “Yeah… I think you’re right.” She didn’t say thank you right away. Somehow that felt too small for what the gesture actually meant. Instead, she stayed there a moment longer than was strictly necessary, letting Mara's massive embrace settle - letting the ache in her pagh loosen just a fraction.
When they separated, Hallowette’s eyes were a little brighter. “I’m really glad you’re here,” she said simply, meeting Mara’s gaze without flinching. No hierarchy or ranks. Just friends.
She glanced briefly toward Aeryn when she heard her quiet comment, a small smile touching her lips at the edges. This place really was doing something to them, softening corners and removing walls they didn’t always realize they were behind. “I don’t think any of us came out of that mission totally ok,” Hallowette added, voice steady but thoughtful. “But… I don’t think that means we came out worse, either.”
Her gaze drifted briefly toward the lake, catching sight of Ardanna’s kayak and Pearson’s unmistakable form in the water nearby. The corners of her mouth twitched, something warm and almost amused flickering across her face before she looked back to the group. “So, yes, food sounds like a great next step,” she said lightly, grounding herself again. “Before someone passes out or I start hugging everyone here.”
A beat. Then, more quietly:
“And… thank you. All of you. For letting me part of your crew.”
For a heartbeat, her body stiffened on instinct, not in rejection, just surprise. Years of Starfleet training and her trill grandmother's personal reserve reacting before thought could catch up. Then the moment passed, and she let herself lean in, arms coming up almost automatically, careful at first and then more certain, as if her body understood something her mind was still catching up to.
Mara was warm. Solid. Grounded in a way that felt unmistakably real. The kind of presence that didn’t ask questions or demand explanations—just held.
Hallowette exhaled, a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been carrying since the nebula.
“Hey,” she murmured softly, "Hey Mara..." voice close, unguarded in a way she only allowed herself to be around those she felt close to. “Yeah… I think you’re right.” She didn’t say thank you right away. Somehow that felt too small for what the gesture actually meant. Instead, she stayed there a moment longer than was strictly necessary, letting Mara's massive embrace settle - letting the ache in her pagh loosen just a fraction.
When they separated, Hallowette’s eyes were a little brighter. “I’m really glad you’re here,” she said simply, meeting Mara’s gaze without flinching. No hierarchy or ranks. Just friends.
She glanced briefly toward Aeryn when she heard her quiet comment, a small smile touching her lips at the edges. This place really was doing something to them, softening corners and removing walls they didn’t always realize they were behind. “I don’t think any of us came out of that mission totally ok,” Hallowette added, voice steady but thoughtful. “But… I don’t think that means we came out worse, either.”
Her gaze drifted briefly toward the lake, catching sight of Ardanna’s kayak and Pearson’s unmistakable form in the water nearby. The corners of her mouth twitched, something warm and almost amused flickering across her face before she looked back to the group. “So, yes, food sounds like a great next step,” she said lightly, grounding herself again. “Before someone passes out or I start hugging everyone here.”
A beat. Then, more quietly:
“And… thank you. All of you. For letting me part of your crew.”