[JP] Ensign Richard Matthews & Lt. JG Alix Harford - The Other Matthews
Matthew Gough
((Subspace: Astraeus to Khitomer))
Alix stalked back and forth in her small, tidy office as the console attempted to connect her with Lieutenant Matthews on the Khitomer. The longer the call rang, the more frustrated she became. Finally the line connected to audio only and she didn't give him a chance to answer, jumping straight in, her tone frustrated.
The first day back on full rotation was always the hardest for Richard. He’d never been one to keep a regular sleeping schedule. What regularity he could cling to while on duty was thrown right out the airlock on shore leave. Once upon a time he would have just worked the schedule to get a shift that didn’t start too early. But -
Harford: Good of you to answer.
R. Matthews: :: Sipping his soda, he turned to stare at the console, which only showed ‘open channel.’ :: Good day to you too?
Harford: It should not take me four attempts to get a hold of you.
Alix knew she was being short with him, but her feelings had been hurt. They'd agreed to stay in touch and he'd been dodging her calls.
The voice was not one he recognized. Then again, if it was someone Richard had known, it would have been ten years since he had actually heard them last. Embarrassed at being caught out like this, and maybe just the littlest bit afraid of the angry voice, he played along.
R. Matthews: Oh, sorry? Maybe it’s a technical issue. The Khtomer went through some retrofitting while docked. And I mean a full once over. Surprised Commander Dewitt had time for his own wedding.
Harford: Hmm. In the future a simple message that you weren't available would be appreciated.
Frowning, he set down his drink and started typing. Subspace transmission was open with. . . The Astraeus. The Stable Resonance Module was showing a ‘troubleshooting’ option. That might have been why it was audio only.
R. Matthews: :: Just to keep the crazy person talking, he laughed and said :: Can do! Next time I'm on shore leave, I’ll make sure to check in?
Trace running, he waited to see what the angry lady wanted — and to see if he could figure out who they were. It would be nice to know why he was in trouble!
Harford: Ugh- ::frustrated:: I can barely understand you. The signal is coming in crackly, hang on.
Alix tapped at her console reconfiguring the signal, a trick Brian had picked up from his boyfriend and been kind enough to teach Alix. After a few moments, the audio cleared up and a moment later, visual came through as well. It took Alix a moment to straighten in her seat so that she was back in view.
The computer pinged and visual came online. The little error notification still showed in the bottom corner of the view screen. He’d check on that later. Right now he was watching an empty chair, and as someone moved into view, a small pop up in the corner, well, popped up.
First Name: Alix, Last Name: Harford, Duty Post . . . yadda, yadda, yadda.
oO I don’t know who this is Oo
Harford: Excuse me. Who are you? I called Lieutenant Matthews, on the Khitomer and you are not him.
R. Matthews: You’re excused. Ah, I’m Ensign Matthews, science officer onboard the Khitomer. :: He frowned, then laughed :: Oh, oh man, and here I thought it would just be hard on our commanding officers when they referred to us. Hi, sorry, Richard Matthews, nice to meet you! You have to be looking for Chuck, right?
Alix blushed, embarrassed at the way she’d started the call and then her brow furrowed at hearing Charles referred to as Chuck and then yet again her face changed to relief as she realized Charles hadn’t been avoiding her calls at all. Two Matthews on one ship, how inconvenient.
Harford: First, let me apologize. You caught a fair bit of frustration there that was clearly not meant for you. I’m Alix… Harford, Doctor Harford, or umm… just Alix. I’m Alix.
Richard waved her apology off. Now that he knew he wasn’t in trouble for reasons unknown. And now that he knew he wasn’t actually dealing with an acquaintance that he couldn’t recognize. This was actually quite comical.
R. Matthews: No worries, nice to meet you, Doctor Harford! Or, Alix, okay, then call me Richard!
Harford: While we’re on the subject of names, it's Charles, not Chuck. Charles Matthews.
R. Matthews: :: Chuckling :: Sorry, Charles, my bad. I blame Commander Hobart. He somehow got confused with Ensign Matthews and Lieutenant Matthews, and now we’re Chuck and Dick.
To avoid risking this person's anger again. He’d make an effort to say the correct name when Alix was in ear shot. But she was on a whole other ship, and what she didn’t know couldn’t hurt him. And, hey, what Hobart didn’t know — his throwing the commander under the bus with the lady with a short temper from the Astraeus. Also, couldn’t hurt him! Might get Hobart into trouble but, eh, he deserved it for resurrecting that horrible nickname.
If Richard heard ‘how do you get Dick from Richard’ one more time.
R. Matthews: Wait, hold up, has Charles not been returning your calls? He’s not in my department, but we have been pretty busy. I’m sure he’s okay — I can check with Ras or someone to make sure he’s like, not in sickbay?
Harford: I’m sure he’s fine… surely… it was probably something to do with the signal or the double Matthews trouble or. ::suddenly anxious:: Sickbay? He wouldn’t tell me, likely. He hates when people worry but, I shouldn’t pry either…
He did a quick ‘computer tell me where so-and-so is’ request while Alix was talking. Feeling kind of bad at adding undo worry. It pinged him as on the bridge, and he was listed as currently on duty.
R. Matthews: I always had trouble with boundaries. He’s fine, currently on duty and far away from sickbay. Which means he’ll have all his limbs at least. . . Ignore that. Don’t worry about it.
oO This might be the first time I understand what people mean about me needing to work on my bedside manner. Oo
Harford: ::chuckling awkwardly:: Thank you Di- Richard. I really appreciate it.
There was a long pause as Alix had an internal debate. She really wanted to ask how Charles was settling in on the Khitomer, but she also knew how he’d feel if he found out she’d been asking around about him. Actually… did she? And did he have the right to feel any kind of way? They weren’t a couple. They barely stitched their friendship back together and it had taken him leaving for them to even get that far.
Harford: Since you’ve admitted to being a bit blurry in the boundary department… would you mind me asking how Charles is doing? Is he settling in okay over there?
Aww, scary lady was worried about her friend, or partner. Admittedly, Richard didn’t know the new Matthews that well. Due to his own silly issues, he’d kind of been a little more standoffish than he usually would be when meeting a new person. He didn’t dislike the guy! He just, yeah, okay another thing to bring up at the next meeting with the ship’s counselor then.
R. Matthews: For the purposes of plausible deniability. I said no such thing, and am a paragon of virtue among my peers. :: He leaned in closer to the screen, pitching his voice low, like he was whispering a secret :: He’s doing great, slipped right on into his new role, and it’s like he’s always been here. Annoying really. But he’s cool. Don’t want to punch him when he talks, like the other newbie that came on with him. . . Able? Something Able? No, that’s not right.
Leaning back in his chair, Richard exited out of the pop-ups on his screen. Didn’t seem proper to have someone’s file open while talking to them. He’d snoop later. When he was sure he wouldn’t get caught and possibly chewed out over a call.
Harford: Charles? Cool?
Was it bad that she was a little hurt to hear how well he was doing? Of course it was, and of course she wanted him to be doing well. She was happy for him, thrilled even… but would it kill him to miss them a little bit? Miss her a little bit? Trying not to show her conflicted feelings, Alix covered with humor, notably not her strong suit.
Harford: ::chuckling:: There must be a third Matthews on board. I’m talking about Charles; quiet, broody, over-thinker…
She waved her hand dismissing the line of conversation.
Harford: No, seriously, it’s good to hear that he’s doing so well. Thank you, Ensign Matthews.
R. Matthews: He’s cool cause he’s quiet, swear every time the other newbie opens his mouth, I expect to be hate-crimed. Anyway. Charles is doing fine. And if he’s giving you the run around I’ll keep you posted! There, problem solved.
Harford: Well, unofficially, very unofficially… If anything happens to Charles, will you give me a call?
Richard nodded, face going serious, his silly grin relaxing to something more authentic. Whenever a friend of his shipped off to some other ship, which rude, transferring on him like that, would follow up with them and on them. Checking in on people you cared about was something that he could understand. Even if it seemed silly or whatever. You never knew. The future wasn’t promised.
R. Matthews: Secret agent Dick reporting for duty!
Harford: Uh, Richard? Friendly advice… Don’t call yourself that… as much as the ladies, or guys, may love to get it, the nickname’s not your best move.
R. Matthews: :: Laughing :: I want to call myself Agent D though! But seriously, I don’t mind keeping you up to date on things, as long as I don’t find out from Charles that you’re some stalker or something. :: His eyes narrowed, and he winced :: Oh god, please tell me you’re not. This could be awkward then.
Harford: No, not a stalker… just a concerned friend.
oO Who wants desperately to be more. Okay… that sounds a bit like a stalker. Oo
Harford: Again, Richard, I really appreciate you taking the time, especially with the way this call started. ::ashamed chuckle:: And if you ever need anything, there’s only one Harford on the Astraeus.
R. Matthews: Don’t worry about it, I’ve been put in my place. I’ll make sure it won't take four attempts to get a hold of me. Haha, take care Alix.
Richard gave a little wave and then ended the call. He sat there for a moment, smiling, just in case the strange lady called right back. But the line remained silent. Slumping in his seat, Richard shook his head and typed out a quick search command on one Alix Harford. Just to make sure everything was on the up and up. Nothing bad came back. So.
R. Matthews: Eh, if nothing else, this will be a funny story to tell at their wedding. Ha!
[END]
Science Officer
USS Khitomer, NCC-62400
A238908RM0
and
Medical Officer
USS Astraeus, NCC-70652
D240104AH2