Lt. JG Natasha Cole - Operation: Comfort Pastry

[Natasha Schell]

((Richards-Dakora Family Quarters Deck 6, USS Artemis))

 

Richards: So… What is it?

 

Cole: This is a family recipe that has been entrusted to me by my Aunt Rea, though I’m still not sure if she’s related by blood, fate, or some classified paradox. She just… appears when she knows I need her. But trust me, one bite, and you’ll understand why we don’t ask questions.

 

Richards: Now I’m even more interested!

 

Cole: ::stepping to the side as the replicator finished with a flourish of her hand:: Ta da …My Aunt Rea’s Cherry Pastries, topped with Whipped Cream of course.

 

Richards: Gifts like this and you’ll have to stop by more often.

 

Cole: Would you like me to hold one of them, so you could eat?

 

Richards: If you want to take Mr. Grump here, I can set Leera down in her sweet little chair that her uncle Nathan took forever to put together.

 

Carefully, Sam passed the small boy over to Nat and then rested Leera down in a high tech, state-of-the-art, anti-grav, bouncy chair that was nearby and turned it on. Slowly making motions similar to what Sam was previously doing. 

 

Cole: I will happily entertain Mr. Grumpy::making popping noises and smiling::

 

Richards: ::Grabbing one of the pastries and taking a bite:: Oh… My… ::Covering her mouth with her hand:: Nat this is incredible! 

 

Cole: Aunt Rea claims she stopped a war once with them, I like to believe she has.

 

Natasha glanced at Sam as she took another bite, before giving Aven her full focus, smiling at him as he watched her hair bounce as she swayed and rocked him gently.

 

Richards: You just have the one sibling? ::Taking another bite and gesturing towards Aven:: You’re pretty good with him. 

 

Cole: The only one I helped raise. After Mom and the Commander divorced … he got the family he wanted. So I do have two half-siblings, but I rarely see them.

 

Richards: Oof. That’s… rough…

 

Cole: Juno, they're great. They want to design starship interiors. I might let them help decorate my quarters. ::making a silly face at Aven, using a playful voice:: Or maybe they can pick out a plant. What do you think, hmm?

 

Aven giggled, which made Natasha laugh too, a bright, honest sound.

 

Richards: Aww. He likes you! ::Taking another bite:: It’s probably gas, but we will just say he likes you.

 

Cole: There’s nothing better than a baby’s laugh. Well, unless you hear it in an empty corridor. Then it’s horrifying.

 

Sam laughed and almost choked on the pastry.

 

Richards: If I die eating this… You can tell everyone I died happy.

 

Cole: I mean … there are worse ways to go.

 

Sam, having grabbed some water, plopped herself on the couch.

 

Richards: Yeah. Leave the twins with their less than present dad? Sounds too sad. ::beat:: They can become the ship's babies. A community effort. You can teach them to protect themselves, Tho’Bi can teach them to fix things, Roy can teach them to fix themselves. ::Chuckling:: And MacKenzie can teach everyone to fear them. 

 

Cole: I’m more than sure, we would make sure they are taken care of … in the event such a thing would happen.

 

Natasha could tell her friend was hurting, she slid Aven into a play chair and grabbed the other plate.

 

Cole: ::sitting down next to Sam:: Everyone thinks being strong means holding it together. Sometimes… it’s just saying “yeah, that hurt” and letting someone see it.
You don’t have to talk if you don’t want to,  I’ll still be here either way.

 

Richards: Talos made a lot of promises, you know? To be here, take care of them. Watch them grow up. ::shaking her head:: So far… It’s just not what I had hoped for.

 

Natasha’s face twitched slightly as she pushed the feeling of anger for her friend bubble. To her it sounded like Talos was the type to go and get milk and disappear from their life. It almost made her appreciate the Commander … almost. Granted his exit from the Artemis was quite literally at the same time she arrived aboard.

 

Cole: Sounds like he realized her couldn’t measure up to the challenge of fatherhood, and bolted before he was caught holding his d… ::raising a fist to her mouth as if to plug it::

 

oO don’t say it, do not, there are children present Oo

 

Natasha paused for a moment, letting out a breath through her nose.

 

Cole: I’m sorry Sam, that really sucks, absentee fathers tend to bring out … harsh reactions from me.

 

Richards: Response

 

Cole: I am your friend, and if there is anything I can do to help, I’m your girl. Need a distraction, ::waves her hand:: need a partner for creative problem solving, ::waves her hand::

 

Richards: Response

 

Cole: ::laughing as she handed her the second plate:: of course you can have this one too.

 

Richards: Response

 

Tags/TBC

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Lt. JG Natasha Cole
Security Officer
USS Artemis-A
Writer ID A240205NC4