03-29-2026, 03:41 AM
== Beka Sydesh ==
Beka wasn’t naive enough to believe that Aeryn and Robin had rushed to her defence. She knew full well they’d come to stop Mara ending her own career by tearing the redhead apart, something that was well within the furious COS’ capabilities. The doctor could fight but she also knew that was in no way going to save her if the Bandaran got hold of her.
She gulped nervously as she saw Calleja’s wardrobe malfunction, and then flinched at the impassioned outburst from the Amazonian officer.
“Mara, I’m so sorry, I really didn’t mean for that to happen,” Beka said. “You have to believe me, I didn’t even know it was you!”
== Mara Calleja ==
“That’s not a fuckin’ excuse and you know it,” Mara growled, taking the towel from Aeryn and wrapping it around her torso. “I can’t tear bits off you for losin’ your temper ‘cause… Yeah. But I can bollock you for fightin’ someone tryin’ to calm shit down. And I can absolutely blame you for embarrassin’ the shit outta me.”
She was still very much on the razor’s edge of her own emotions. For now, she’d bottled the rage back up. But the shame she felt meant it really wouldn’t take much to unleash hell again. And what she saw as a non-apology wasn’t helping at all.
== Beka Sydesh ==
It was painfully obvious that Mara didn’t believe the apology. Beka swallowed nervously. She wasn’t known for apologising in the first place, never mind to the degree required to calm this whole mess down.
“I know. I have to own that, and I really am sorry.” She held her hands out in front of her, palms down. “You were coming to help. I should have stopped. And I’m so sorry for what happened to you. After the chance you gave me before the last mission, the last thing I’d do is antagonise you again on purpose. Please don’t mistake incompetence for strategy here.”
Green eyes locked onto the COS’ dark stare. The apology was genuine, the climbdown unheard of for the stubborn redhead.
== Mara Calleja ==
Mara glowered at Beka, the silence uncomfortable for a few seconds before she drew in a breath and exhaled sharply.
“Apology accepted. Now get outta my sight before I change my mind,” she spat. “And can someone find the bitch that caused all this, ‘cause I feel a common assault charge comin’ her way.”
She was still angry, and still desperately needed to find a way to vent steam without causing extensive collateral damage. If anyone had disrespected Mara the way Beka just had even a couple of years ago, there would have been blood and there wasn’t a damn thing anyone would have been able to do to stop it. By the standards of the vast majority of the crew, the mercurial Calleja still burned a short fuse, but she had come a long way from the gang rat she had once been.
Broad shoulders rose and fell as Mara did her best to calm herself down, taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly.
Beka wasn’t naive enough to believe that Aeryn and Robin had rushed to her defence. She knew full well they’d come to stop Mara ending her own career by tearing the redhead apart, something that was well within the furious COS’ capabilities. The doctor could fight but she also knew that was in no way going to save her if the Bandaran got hold of her.
She gulped nervously as she saw Calleja’s wardrobe malfunction, and then flinched at the impassioned outburst from the Amazonian officer.
“Mara, I’m so sorry, I really didn’t mean for that to happen,” Beka said. “You have to believe me, I didn’t even know it was you!”
== Mara Calleja ==
“That’s not a fuckin’ excuse and you know it,” Mara growled, taking the towel from Aeryn and wrapping it around her torso. “I can’t tear bits off you for losin’ your temper ‘cause… Yeah. But I can bollock you for fightin’ someone tryin’ to calm shit down. And I can absolutely blame you for embarrassin’ the shit outta me.”
She was still very much on the razor’s edge of her own emotions. For now, she’d bottled the rage back up. But the shame she felt meant it really wouldn’t take much to unleash hell again. And what she saw as a non-apology wasn’t helping at all.
== Beka Sydesh ==
It was painfully obvious that Mara didn’t believe the apology. Beka swallowed nervously. She wasn’t known for apologising in the first place, never mind to the degree required to calm this whole mess down.
“I know. I have to own that, and I really am sorry.” She held her hands out in front of her, palms down. “You were coming to help. I should have stopped. And I’m so sorry for what happened to you. After the chance you gave me before the last mission, the last thing I’d do is antagonise you again on purpose. Please don’t mistake incompetence for strategy here.”
Green eyes locked onto the COS’ dark stare. The apology was genuine, the climbdown unheard of for the stubborn redhead.
== Mara Calleja ==
Mara glowered at Beka, the silence uncomfortable for a few seconds before she drew in a breath and exhaled sharply.
“Apology accepted. Now get outta my sight before I change my mind,” she spat. “And can someone find the bitch that caused all this, ‘cause I feel a common assault charge comin’ her way.”
She was still angry, and still desperately needed to find a way to vent steam without causing extensive collateral damage. If anyone had disrespected Mara the way Beka just had even a couple of years ago, there would have been blood and there wasn’t a damn thing anyone would have been able to do to stop it. By the standards of the vast majority of the crew, the mercurial Calleja still burned a short fuse, but she had come a long way from the gang rat she had once been.
Broad shoulders rose and fell as Mara did her best to calm herself down, taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly.