Commander Lia Rouiancet: Two conversations

[Tony Colella]

(( Bridge, Deck 1, USS Octavia E. Butler ))

Rouiancet: (with a very slight shrug) Only that I'm curious to know if a department headship or eventual starship command is something you see for yourself.

Lia was doing what she thought was her best to reassure Anton that this conversation was a normal, natural one, but he seemed to be growing increasingly antsy. She paused for a long moment, trying to think if there was a better way to approach asking about his career goals. True, she realized, it might've been asking a lot for him to sit in the captain's chair -- but there was nothing like seeing yourself in it to realize what was possible.

Richards: Sir. I mean this with all due respect -

Lia nodded enthusiastically, because even if he was about to say that he didn't have the aspirations she'd hinted at, she was eager to hear what he did want.

She did not expect a team of security officers to suddenly emerge from the turbolift.

Rouiancet: What--?

Richards: Are you feeling okay?

Rouiancet: Am I feeling okay?

Lia felt genuinely lost as the trio of security officers approached them and fanned out. They, too, looked confused. To Lia's slight surprise, only Anton seemed to know what was going on.

Richards: As acting head of security, I’m asking you to remain calm until we can get this all sorted out.

The rest of the skeleton crew on the bridge were eyeing the center chairs, and their new security perimeter, with no little surprise of their own. However, Lia couldn't help but notice that Anton appeared quite confident in whatever he was doing, and a small part of her took vicarious pleasure in that.

Plus, he'd referred to himself as acting head of security, and that was aspirational, wasn't it?

Rouiancet: I think I'm calm. (beat) Why shouldn't I be calm?

She looked to the security officers again, then back to Anton.

Rouiancet: What do you think is going on?

Richards: Response

Rouiancet: Oh! I-- That is to say, you-- You do?

Richards: Response

Despite the seriousness of Anton's concerns, Lia began to laugh. Maybe it wasn't the smartest choice, but for a moment she couldn't help it. It felt like a very human reaction, too, and that felt important, given what he'd just said.

Rouiancet: I'm not. I just wanted to (beat) talk. Maybe it was a little awkward, but I didn't think...

Richards: Response

Tags! and TBC!

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Commander Lia Rouiancet

Commanding Officer

USS Octavia E. Butler

V238208LV0

she/her/hers (this character)