Morning Mimosas

Posted on Wed Sep 25th, 2019 @ 4:35pm by Lieutenant Aemilia "Millie" Stepanova & Patricia Crow

Mission: Side Stories
Location: Holodeck

Millie stood outside of the holodeck, dressed in a lightweight robe and sandals. A pair of sunglasses held back the wisps that came loose from the braid that cascaded down her back. She gave a glance down the hallway, awaiting her companion.

Banks rounded the corner and approached. "Are we going super casual today?"

Millie laughed, looking over Patricia and her 'usual black'. "Not to worry. There is an extra robe and sandals waiting for you inside. I made an assumption."

"You know what happens when you assume."

The counselor smirked. "It usually means that I'm right. Might want to take off your boots, though." Millie hit the panel to the holodeck, and the door slid open to reveal a familiar tropical beachside cabana, seemingly identical to the one in the program that Banks created for Millie.

Banks raised a brow as she stepped in, but took her footwear off as suggested.

Millie smiled as she approached the cabana, enjoying the warm sand brushing against her feet. "I figured that the two hardest working women in Starfleet deserved a morning of pampering and fruity drinks." Her grin got wider as she saw Mourib, her holographic companion, waiting for them... along with a half-dozen other muscular men. "I wasn't sure of your...preference, though if you have a particular hologram you'd like you have pamper you..."

Banks stopped mid step as she looked to the hologram belonging to Millie. "What kind of pampering are you talking about?"

Millie laughed. "No worries! He's under orders to behave himself!" She turned back towards Banks, giggling. "Just massages, pedicures, whatever you're in the mood for." A sly grin played at the corner of her lips. "But I have the holodeck for the next two hours, with strict instructions that neither of us are to be disturbed... but if you need to blow off steam, I can have the protocols for the holograms altered for you.

Banks relaxed slightly, slightly motioning to the last one on the end. At least with his red hair she could feel like she wasn't stepping out on her husband.

Millie smirked at the choice. "So, the holodeck is ours, and short of the ship catching fire..." Millie took the two fruity drinks, complete with umbrellas, from the hands of Mourib and handed one to Patricia. "They will just have to solve their own problems for the next two hours."

Banks took the drink and sipped. "Well if you're going to twist my arm."

Millie laughed, linking her arm in Patricia's and guiding her towards the cabana. "I...hope it's okay that I stole the background from the program that you made for me. Ever since our shore leave trip to the beach, I've found the sound of the ocean to be incredibly relaxing. I thought it would be a good place for us to just enjoy ourselves."

"It's your program to do what you wish....and I'm assuming you usually do," she grinned.

The comment brought a slight flush to Millie's cheeks. "Perhaps. But you said I should." She gestured to the folded robe and pair of sandals waiting on one of the cabana chairs. "Care to get a little more comfortable? I don't know about you, but I could use the chance to unwind a little."

"I feel like all I do is unwind these days," she said as she changed.

Millie sat on the neighboring chair. "Is that a good thing, or a bad thing?"

Banks shook her head. "I love my life, but I miss my old one."

"What is it that you miss the most?"

"Shooting people mostly," she replied nonchalantly as she tied the robe.

Millie almost spit out her drink. "Shooting people?" She giggled.

Banks shrugged. "Every job has its perks. But now I'm living a different life."

Millie tucked one leg under her, gesturing for Banks to sit. "What is your favorite thing about your life now?"

Banks sat, taking another sip. "Being a mom, even if I'm not really his mother."

Millie leaned over. "You are every bit his mother, even if you did not birth him yourself. Children can have more than one mother or father, remember?"

Banks nodded slightly. "It just takes a lot of getting used to when you've spent your entire life running around blowing things up and having your adrenaline pumping."

Millie nodded. "In a way, I understand. Things are...a lot less traumatic on a starship, for the most part. I'm used to coming in after the damage is done and helping people put the pieces back together. It's...much slower here. The stability itself can be somewhat unsettling."

"It's also weird to be raising a child when I never thought I'd ever do that. This is not where I thought I'd be five or ten or fifteen years ago."

"But it's what you always, in your heart, wanted, da?" Millie smiled, settling back into her chair as Mourib and the red-haired gentleman seated themselves in front of the ladies, bottles of sweet-smelling massage oils in their hands.

Banks settled comfortably. "Sure but even five years ago I was working here, was in the midst of a very....unhealthy relationship, and never would have imagined where I am now."

"Unhealthy relationship?" Millie set her drink down on the small table between them. "With James?"

Banks nodded. "When I was in it for fifteen years I never saw it...or convinced myself I didn't see it. But looking back I feel stupid for allowing him to do the things he did."

Millie shook her head. "Don't blame yourself. From what I understand--from what you've told me--he's quite the manipulator."

"He's like an artist when it comes to manipulation. Whether it was cheating or lying or....being physical and worse there was always a reason for me to forgive him. Sometimes he even had me thinking it was my fault."

Millie nodded as the men started massaging their feet. "It's a technique called gaslighting. Unfortunately, he doesn't hold the monopoly on that skill. He and my mother both. But the key is that you got away."

"No, I was saved by the best man I have ever met."

"You've never told me that story." The counselor smiled. "Not the juicy details, at least."

"We first met when he came to the ship and I was babysitting the kids. I'd be lying if I didn't say I was attracted to him but it stayed platonic as we'd see each other here or there. I did get drunk one night and kiss him but that doesn't count.

Anyways, over the months we began getting a little closer, still no physicality or anything. I almost kissed him on their ranch one night looking at the stars but we got interrupted by the Captain who I learned was not a fan of what he saw happening.

So one day out of the blue James shows up and proposes to me and of course I said yes. This was the moment I'd been dreaming out. I went to stay on his ship and the Merc was trailing us to Shadow Prime because I wanted my friends to be at my wedding.

Chance snuck aboard and told me I was making a huge mistake. And then he said he doesn't love you...not like I do." Banks took a breath, still affected by the moment. "A moment later the guards located him and though James promised not to hurt him I know he did before he threw him off the ship.

So for a day it was all I could think of and when I was up here with James, in the most uncomfortable shoes I ever wore...literally carved diamonds... in front of ten billion people live streaming my wedding I just thought I can't do this because I don't love him...and he doesn't love me, he just thinks he does. But I know I have someone who really does and I need to be with him. So I literally came running back to the Mercutio and found him packing up his stuff and, well....it got physical for about six hours." She finished with a sip and a grin.

Millie giggled. "Well, he certainly never told me about that LAST part!" She took a sip of her drink, winking at Patricia.

Banks looked over. "He's told you the rest?"

She laughed. "What, you think I wouldn't get him to spill some details about YOU in our sessions?" Millie winked. "The man is head-over-heels hopelessly in love with you. He can't help but to talk about you."

That brought out a grin. "I got very lucky in life, far better than I deserve."

"You got more than lucky." Millie returned the smile. "Deep down, from what I understand from our conversations, as much as you may miss the adventure, and the action...and the shooting...what you've really wanted all along was a family." There was a flicker of an emotion change on Millie's face, but she quickly returned it to a smile.

Banks nodded, closing her eyes. "So what else has he said about me?"

Millie let her head lean back against the chair as she let the massage relax her. "He knows that you've made a very big change for him and his son. He just wants to make sure that you are okay, and that you are happy."

Banks was quiet for a few moments. "I turned down one of the biggest job offers I've ever received. More money than they have ever offered but I would have had to leave for half a year or more. I just couldn't do that."

"Couldn't leave them for that long?"

Banks shook her head. "I'd go crazy....crazier."

The counselor nodded again. "And it's harder to stay safe on those sorts of missions when you're constantly thinking about everyone you've left behind." Millie winced as Mourib hit her usual knot in the arch of her foot. "It may be just my opinion...but I'm glad you didn't take that mission, too."

Banks let the massuse do his job with a sigh. "So enough about me. What's new with you?"

"New?" Millie chuckled. "Like you, I'm adjusting to a life of the mundane and the stationary. The Bolshoi is running well in my absence, though I will probably be making a trip back at some point to mingle with the donors to keep them all happy and contributing to the arts." Her voice trailed off as Mourib hit another knot in her muscles.

"And have you maybe talked or more with any flesh and blood male on this ship. Shit....even a female at this point?"

Millie's cheeks flushed a deep red as she opened her eyes to see a knowing smile from Mourib. "No. I mean, not really. There was a one-night thing with someone, but he moved on pretty quickly."

"They usually do. But that doesn't mean you should keep using this program as a crutch. Get out there and mingle a little."

Millie rubbed the back of her neck in embarrassment as Mourib chuckled at Banks' comment. "I do try, honestly." She sighed, fiddling with the edge of her robe with her fingers. "I spent my whole childhood being told to avoid relationships at all cost, I spend my entire Academy career being warned that I'll be moved from assignment to assignment so I shouldn't get too attached to people..." Millie let out another sigh. "In the back of my mind, I'm still waiting on that call to come where they'll decide I'm needed for some crisis again, and I'll be whisked away from all of you."

She turned to Patricia. "You know how hard that can be...the constant reassignment. I don't know that I can ask someone to be a part of that. I--I couldn't do it before."

"You're not going anywhere. Senior staff are viewed almost as family. They're not letting you just get sent away. This is a place you can grow some roots."

"If the orders come down from Starfleet, though, I might not have a choice in the matter." Millie smiled at her holographic companion. "Besides, the problem with being senior staff is that, well...anyone on the ship that would be the potential for romantic companionship is also--a client."

"Don't be so worried about regulations and all that. Love knows no rank." She stopped, pleased with herself. "That was very poetic."

Millie laughed. "And awfully warm and fuzzy for you. You sure you're feeling okay?"

"It's the booze I assure you. But I'm also serious. Don't box yourself in. There's plenty of eligible people on this ship. I could, you know, set up some dinners for you."

Millie raised an eyebrow. "You want to...play matchmaker?"

"I don't guarantee love at first sight. But I do promise that anyone who stands you up will walk with a limp afterwards."

That made Millie laugh. "You are NOT allowed to go around breaking members of the crew. Even if it IS on my behalf."

"I'm married to a doctor, he can fix them."

Millie raised an eyebrow, smirking. "So you've convinced him to be part of your interrogation team, da? You interrogate, he patches them up again, and repeat process?"

"I have ways of....convincing him."

"Mmmhmm," she muttered. "Ways that take six hours worth of convincing?" Millie winked at the men at their feet.

"I like to be thorough," Banks shrugged with a grin.

"I'm game for a few hours of 'convincing', if that's what you're wanting..." offered the redhead.

"Just keep working those ankles," Banks motioned at the holo masseuse.

"We *could* call him down here for a 'medical emergency'." Millie laughed.

"You know we got a new engineer, though I can't pronounce his species name. You don't have anything against antlers do you?"

"I've already met Lieutenant Haxyzx. He and his three wives are all quite happily married." Millie smirked, raising her glass as if in a toast. "Their species does poly-marriages, if you'd like me to introduce you and Chance."

Banks just raised a brow.


Lieutenant JG Aemilia "Millie" Stepanova
Chief Counselor, USS Mercutio



Patricia Banks
Chief Intelligence Officer, USS Mercutio