A night on the town

Posted on Tue Nov 20th, 2018 @ 9:15pm by Staff Sergeant Andromeda Dreik & Staff Sergeant Nyx'e'Trixe Valentine

Mission: https://wellington.pegasusfleet.site/index.php/sim/missions/id/5
Location: Everywhere!
Timeline: Prior to the Shalti attack

Andi didn't even bother asking the computer, there was no doubt in her mind where Nyx would be located. Instead, she made her way down to the marine training area. There was not a single thing about her appearance that indicated she should be there. Her hair was piled high on her head with soft curled tendrils framing her face. Make up applied to perfection. Her jeans hugged every curve and contour of her body like a second skin, and her top fell just low enough to provide a tempting glimpse of what lay beyond.

Walking into the training area, she ignored the pointed stares she knew she was receiving as she walked across to where Nyx was still practicing with her swords. Instead of interrupting her, Andi leaned against the wall, watching with a smile until Nyx had finished this set she was working through.

Nyx knew when Andi had entered by the moving silence as well as the motion of the unfamiliar person moving through the area, but her primary focus was on the movements of her blades through the holographic field, intersecting the incoming projectiles and either stopping them outright or deflecting them away from herself. Both of her blades were flashing constantly, then without any warning whatsoever, they stopped. She was breathing heavily by this point, but it was worth it and she glanced at the 'score' in the corner. 97% of projectiles intercepted and deflected, only four projectiles hitting her, two minor wounds, one to the head and the last one to the upper leg. The rest of the three percent has been avoided. She slowly resheathed both weapons without looking, then glanced over to the new figure up against the wall, eyebrows scrunching as she recognized her, but couldn't place her.

"Not bad Nyxie, not bad at all," Andi stated with a grin as she pushed herself off the wall, taking a few steps closer. "Though, you know, I could have done better." She finished with a grin and a wink.

Without waiting for a reply, Andi brushed back a few curls, tucking them behind her ear. "Alright, work is over, come on, it's time to play! Get changed or come as you are, but we've both earned a night off and I don't know about you but I'm famished!"

"Milady?" Nyx's eyes opened wide, having finally recognized the voice and then the face and body now that she actually got a good look at her, "I doubt you could, but..." She shook her head slightly, "I can't go anywhere, Milady, I'm on duty, I can't just leave the ship!"

Andi rolled her eyes with great exaggeration. "Last time I checked, the ship had a perfectly good mess hall and lounge, heck, now days there are even these new fandangled contraptions called holodecks where you can go and pretend to be anywhere at all in the entire universe, at any time, all the while never leaving the ship! It's late. You need to eat. I won't take no for an answer! Don't make me tranq you and drag you along, it really wouldn't be pleasant for either of us!" Andi set her hands on her hips, her head tilted to one side as she watched Nyx pointedly. "C'mon, lets go."

The Tialan wiped her forehead with a sleeve and still had that deer-in-the-headlight look, "I, I don't, can't. I mean, Milady, of course I can get dinner, but I can't go like this, I need a shower, Milady, a new uniform."

"Alright, lets go! I'm sure I can wait another 40 minutes for my dinner." Andi grinned. "Lead the way Milady!" She turned the title back on Nyx.

Even that just shocked Nyx and there was a snicker from a corner from one of the other Marines as she all but staggered towards her quarters, Andi right behind her, but maybe she was going to her own quarters, they were virtually next to each other, but she'd recovered before Andi had followed her in. Nyx removed her weapons from their resting place and gently and reverently placed them on a stand near the door, "Andi? You look different, truly different than usual right now."

With a grin, Andi held out her arms. "Fatigues be gone, I'm off duty and I don't know about you but I *need* to have some fun! C'mon, shower, dress, hide your weapons where ever you want to carry them! I'll wait." She smiled as she dropped down onto the small settee in the living area and crossed her legs neatly.

Nyx shook her head sharply to clear it, then sighed, taking off her uniform jacket and tossing it onto the table and began to remove several small blades that festooned a harness that was underneath it, reaching behind her back and removing a small phaser, placing all of them on the table next to her swords, then put a boot up on the table and began to remove other weapons from first one, then the other and then from up the pants leg. "What were you thinking we do, Andi?"

"How about we start with baby steps. Let's go for dinner. I don't know about you but I could murder a steak right now, a great big juicy steak.. and maybe a baked potato with ALL the toppings!" Andi grinned. "Are you gonna shower and change or are you gonna go like that? You know, either way I don't mind, but personally I always like to shower before I go out in public."

Nyx had to laugh, before finally placing a final mini-phaser on the table next to the pile of other weapons, "I don't know what to wear!" She half-heartedly argued, then stopped for a moment, sighed and began to strip down as she headed for the bathroom. Modesty was absolutely not her middle name, and she shed her uniform almost before she made it there, several tattoos showing themselves along with scars from what was obviously sharp metal violating the body. A few minutes later, she returned while toweling herself off, "Anything I should put on inparticular?" She asked.

"What ever makes you comfortable and happy, heck, you could go naked if you want, I'm sure there are plenty who won't mind in the slightest," she called after Nyx's retreating back with a grin.

Nyx tensed slightly at that, but only for half a moment, continuing on and vanishing through the bedroom door. It was only a couple minutes until she returned in a snow-white outfit, sleeves nearly to the elbow and marked with three purple stripes on each, a purple cloth belt cinched around the waist and a skirt that ended two inches above the knee all of which appeared to be made out of a delicate but soft fabric. The shirt was loose but still clung to her curves, "Will this do?" She asked Andi, "I don't have any truly civilian clothes."

Jumping up from the settee Andi approached Nyx, smiling appreciatively. She reached out, lightly fingering the fabric of one sleeve. "That is divine, it makes you look positively ethereal. We will definitely have to work on your civilian clothing though! I intend for tonight to be the first of many nights out for us! Now, where would you prefer to eat, lounge or mess?"

"I'm going to let you choose." Nyx said very deliberately, "But only if we can have pizza! You can literally put anything on pizza, you know that?"

Andi grinned. "Ah, now you're talking! You can put anything on pizza, anything at all! Fruits, veges, grains, everything all in one neat little slice." She said as they walked out the door. "What's your favourite toppings?"

"I don't know yet!" Pizza was probably one of the most exciting things Nyx knew of, just because it could hold anything. Sweet, savory, anything and everything and it made up probably about 90 percent of her diet, "I keep trying new things on it and it's hard to go wrong with it."

Andi stopped dead in her tracks grabbing Nyx by the arms and forcing her to turn so they were facing each other. "You mean you've never tried Pizza?" she asked incredulously. "Nyxie, you have to tell me you're messin' with me!"

"No, I have had pizza, a LOT." Nyx's eyes danced brightly, "I just haven't gotten through all of the potential things to go on it yet! Have you ever had strawberries, chocolate and bananas on a pizza? It is AMAZING!"

"Actually, I have!" Andi replied with a laugh. "Though you need to add marshmallows too for a truly spectacular treat! Though personally my favourite is pepperoni and pineapple with lashings of coleslaw globbed on top! Soooooo good! I practically lived on it during training!" She laughed easily as they resumed their journey to the mess hall.

"Coleslaw... What is this coleslaw?" Nyx asked, taking the right sleeve and smoothing out the stripes on it, "I need to alter this... I know I won't be returning there, but I need to add a pair of stripes to reflect my new rank, even if I don't show it yet."

Andi gasped, truly surprised. "You mean that's some kind of uniform? Oh goodness, Nyxie, why didn't you say so? We could have totally replicated you something!" She frowned slightly. "I have so much to teach you!"

"It's technically an under-the-armor uniform." Nyx shrugged, "Standard without armor for priestesses, made from a combination of metal extracts and plant fibers, very resistant to cuts and anti-ballistic properties." A brief motion to the waist and a knife came out, the edge gleaming and she drew it along the sleeve, pressing down hard, but nothing cut, "Almost indestructible too, but you did say ethereal, isn't that good, Andi?"

"It looks gorgeous, it does, but sometimes a girl just needs to throw caution to the wind and leave the weapon proof clothing at home!" Andi shook her head. "Come on, we'll save that conversation for a day that isn't now and let's go get you your pizza."

Nyx twirled the knife between her fingers and reinserted it into her waist, "What to have on it today..." She mused out loud, "I think I'll go with one of my favorites: Onions, garlic, italian-style-sausage, artichoke and apple."

"Hey, what ever floats your boat, you won't hear criticism from me!" Andi shot back. Personally I'm going to go the rib eye, bone in..." She grinned wickedly as she spoke.

"Those aren't bad, but pizza is THE best." Nyx grinned, "So, Milady, what are the plans for the rest of the night?" Back in public, back to formality.

"The night is young Nyxie, and the talent is vast, so who knows!" She grinned wickedly at her friend. "What do you want to do?"

Despite the question, Nyx KNEW that if she'd suggested they return to do more training, she'd get an eyeroll from Andi and then something to keep them from doing just that. "Milady?" She asked as a stalling tactic, hoping the other woman would have some pity on her to suggest something.

Andi grinned and laughed. "How about we just start with food and see what happens after that? Seriously, I'm starving!"

Interim solution: Check. "As long as you're not going to try to set me up with anyone, Milady." Nyx managed a weak smile. Andi had been threatening to do that, probably as a joke, possibly not. Nyx couldn't ever tell.

"You know, now that you mention it... I did happen across a rather charming young man from Security today," Andi replied with a wicked grin. "Tall, dark, handsome, body like a greek God..." She laughed openly before linking her arm through Nyx's and propelling her toward the lounge. "Food first!"

"You didn't even do anything!" Nyx smiled, actually smiled, small though it was, "All you did was watch me, so how are you so hungry?"

"I'm ALWAYS hungry!" Andi laughed as she slid into a table off to the side of the lounge, well away from general traffic to try and make it more comfortable for Nyx. "I think I'm going to start with a serve of jalapeno poppers and a Mexican Sunset... and maybe some mozzarella sticks with marinara... and then I'm going to have steak, with a loaded baked potato and carrots and green beans... oooohhh and peppercorn sauce... and then maybe chocolate brownies with ice cream... how about you?"

"Pizza, ultimate supreme." Nyx said simply, a complete contradiction, "Maybe some peppermint ice cream after."

"You know Nyxie, you are a very curious individual..." Andi said with a shake of her head, tucking in as the banquet of food appeared in front of them. "You're completely not like anyone else I've ever met."

Nyx delicately picked up a piece of pizza, balancing the tip on her thumb before bringing it in for a very lady-like bite, "Of course not, Milady, I'm Tialan." She spoke from the side of her mouth while chewing, then swallowed, "But that's not what you mean, is it?"

Finishing off her first jalapeno popper, Andi picked up another one and leaned back in her chair, watching her companion for a moment. "For someone who has such a strong air of confidence and assertiveness when it comes to battle, take away the uniform and the weapons..." She shook her head quickly. "It's almost like you don't know how to exist when you aren't fighting or preparing to fight."

The Tialan swallowed and lowered her slice of pizza, "Milady... Andi..." She fought with how to address Andi, then settled on it, "Andi. I was Chosen when I was five years old to become a Priestess of Bey'a'Dande, I wasn't given a choice in the matter. For the next seven years, myself and the other Chosen were trained constantly, every day, in every art of combat, hand to hand, sword, bow, knife, everything. I saw my first classmate die when I was six, because someone made a mistake with a live blade. They weren't the last by any means. I 'graduated' earlier than most of the fellows because I kept training, because I was a Sentar, a dark haired. I killed my first very shortly after, when he and three of his fellow priests tried to rape me. After that, it was constantly combat or training since then until I was sent to the Academy as one of the first Tialans to join Starfleet. Then there was too much to learn and I had to keep in training. Anyways, I didn't know how to interact with others. I'm a war priestess. I war. It's what I was meant to do, it's who I am."

"I can't even begin to imagine what your childhood was like," Andi said quietly. "But you're not a child any more Nyxie, you have the entire universe at your feet. Let your hair down and live it up! There is so much more to life than fighting and war."

Nyx gave Andi a sad smile, "I wouldn't even know where to begin. I was trained for war. I don't have any practical knowledge when it comes to engineering, science, anything except for war. It's why the Marines were the right fit for me, tactics and strategies and skill, not really much in the way of deep thinking involved."

"I'm not talking about engineering or science or anything else, I'm talking about being a unique and individual, and somewhat more rounded person! Go swimming in the ocean, learn to bake a cake, roll down a grassy hill, pick wildflowers... Nyxie, there is so much more out there!"

"Perhaps." Nyx said non-committed.

"Not perhaps, most definitely! Trust me on that!" Andi replied, pushing the last of the jalapeno poppers away and pulling her steak in front of her. "Damn this looks sooooooo good!"

Nyx ate in silence for a couple minutes before placing her most recent slice of pizza back down half-eaten, "What would you suggest, Andi?" She asked, obviously having debated things during that entire time.

Andi looked longingly at her steak for a moment before looking back at Nyx. There was something in her voice, something in her expression. With a quick smile, she pushed the plate away and stood up. "Come on, I have an idea!"

Even then, Nyx hesitated. Look across a blade at a skilled opponent with her life on the line? Golden. Competition to see who was the best shot? Anytime, anywhere. Taking a step to NOT conform to being a war priestess? Terrifying. Instantly, Nyx wished she was back on that planet across from Tilas'e'Torii again. It would be more of a comfort zone to her. She forced herself to her feet, made herself follow Andi.

Ten minutes later, Andi stood in front of the doors to the holodeck, holding a large flat box in one hand up near her head. Her hair had been unpinned, falling in messy curls around her face. She keyed a code into the console quickly before the doors slid open and she stepped through, her face relaxing into a smile as she took in the view in front of her. "Welcome to a glimpse into my childhood," she said with a smile.

Walking into the holodeck, Andi found herself standing in a valley between two hills, looking out over the ocean in front of her. The colors of sunset cascaded over the water, leaving it shimmering deliciously in front of her. She cast a glance at Nyx and smiled. "My Dad would bring me here every weekend, after we had been to visit my Grandma. Some of my most treasured memories are from here." She smiled again as she started walking forward. "Come on, there's a picnic table just down here a little ways."

Nyx followed Andi across the field, one hand resting on the single sword hilt she'd allowed herself for the informal occasion. There was too much open ground, a few places where enemies could be laying in wait. Then she forced herself to lift her hand from the weapon and said very softly, "No." To herself.

It was a short walk before Andi slid into the picnic table, setting the box on the table in front of her and opening it, the smell of ultimate supreme pizza immediately wafting through the air between them. "Even as an adult I still come here. It's only a holodeck, but it always makes me feel closer to my Dad being here. He was the only one that let me really be a kid."

"I can't say I truly remember my parents." Nyx said quietly, "But I can agree that just finding a place to remind you of home can be strong indeed."

"I sometimes wish I couldn't remember my mother, but that always makes me feel ungrateful. I mean, she gave me life, I should at least be appreciative of that, even if my life isn't how she wanted it to be." Andi shrugged slightly. "Most of my memories of her are her either yelling at me or telling me I wasn't good enough. Still..." She picked up a piece of the pizza and took a bite.

Nyx sat down at the table, one leg on the inside, one on the outside and she reached in for a piece of her own, "Still, Andi, she helped shape you into who you are. Our actions and the actions of those around us always do that, whether for the good or the bad. Cora'e'Soleri was the closest I had to a true friend when I was but a child." She smiled fondly of her time as a girl, yes, the constant training, but the infectious smile of her friend, "She helped me when I struggled with my training, always had a kind thing to say, even when my form was off, saw the bright side of even the darkest days. She always said that if she could make someone smile, she'd already won her fight."

Andi set her slice of pizza down on the box and dusted off her hands. "What happened to her?" she asked, already knowing she was going to regret asking that question.

"She died in our first combat." Nyx said softly after swallowing, "She was good, Andi, she was very good, better than me. I was thirteen when we were put into combat, she was fifteen, each of us commanded a hundred troops and we were caught unawares. It wasn't a truly pitched battle and our reinforcements showed up quickly. Cora was then murdered by the priestess in command of the reinforcements." Her eyes went hard, "Priestess Fourth Class Tilas'e'Tori Nethteli. She sent one of her own students to kill me before she went her own way."

Reaching across the table, Andi covered Nyx's hand with her own. "I'm sorry," she said softly. "I really am very sorry."

"It was twelve years ago, Andi, long ago." Nyx shook her head but didn't move her hand, "Tilas'e'Tori died nearly a month and a half ago when she came to kill me. Tial pulled out of their application for membership in the Federation and recalled all of the personnel they sent to Starfleet. She came under the pretense of retrieving me, but I knew the reality of it. She should have killed me, Andi, but she decided to toy with me instead. She made a mistake when she thought she had the kill and I took advantage of it. Lady Weston then went ahead and saved my life after."

Hearing Nyx refer to Hailey as 'Lady Weston' almost made Andi chuckle. The image it conjured up was most definitely at odds with the Hailey that Nyx knew. She shook her head quickly to clear the image before squeezing Nyx's hand quickly before pulling her own hand away. "And now here you are, eating pizza and actually taking something resembling 'down time'!"

Nyx gave a look of shock with a slight smile, “Why of course not, Milady, I’m making sure that nothing comes out of the woods over there to eat us.” She picked up another slice and took a big bite of it, eyes bright, “No relaxing at all.” As far as a joke went, it was one of her better ones.

Andi laughed openly. "You can't fool me Nyxie," she set her pizza crust back in the box and looked across at her new friend. "So are you ready to roll down a hill?"

“Roll down. A hill?” Nyx asked, “Why, for the love of Bey’a’Dande would I want to roll down a hill?"

"Because it's fun?" Andi countered easily. "And it's mindless... but mostly just because it's fun!"

Giving Andi a raised eyebrowed look along with a very questioning appearance, Nyx just shook her head. "No... I don't see how it could be fun." She tossed the rest of her crust into her mouth and began to chew as she stood and took a few steps towards the likely hill in question, "You could get hurt needlessly if you fall the wrong way."

Andi raised an eyebrow quizzically. "Seriously? You will dislocate body parts to win a pretend fight, but you're afraid of getting hurt having a little fun?" She shook her head. "Well, your loss!" she said as she turned on her heel and started walking down toward the waters edge.

Nyx turned and followed Andi towards the water, "It's not a fear of getting hurt, Andi, it's the point of it. In a sparring match, it's training for combat. Falling and rolling down a hill? It's for fun? But I don't see how it is... Could you explain?"

"There is no other explanation. It's fun. It's like cotton candy... it serves no logical purpose except to spark that little tiny synapse in your mind that gives you all them happy feels." Andi shook her head. "It isn't something that can be explained, especially not to someone who seems to be afraid of everything else that life has to offer outside the battle field!"

“It was literally all my life consisted of prior to the Federation.” Nyx said softly, “We were taught to treat combat as a game, make it fun for ourselves and there are those who love every minute of it. I don’t love it, but it’s been my purpose in life for eighteen years. ‘Fun’ for the enjoyment of time is truly a foreign concept to me. I look down the hill, I see the trees in the distance and gauge what sort of threat could be in there, how to counter it. How steep the hill is, how much speed I could gather on my way down, height advantage... Because it was how I was raised. We didn’t have toys when we were initiates, we were given a dagger.”

"You're not an initiate now, you're a free living, independent woman who is more than capable of making her own decisions about anything and everything. So what's stopping you?" Andi set her hands on her hips as she stared levelly at Nyx. "You can make any excuse you like, but at the end of the day Nyxie, they're excuses. You need to get out of your shell and embrace what life has to offer! Eat the cotton candy, roll down the hill, ride the roller coaster, skinny dip in the lake. Liberate yourself because if you don't, no one else is going to!"

In the fraction of a second, Nyx's body language changed. This was a challenge with two possible bits of reasoning in her eyes. She reached out, one hand clamping down on Andi's shoulder, thumb and forefinger over pressure points but not exerting pressure: That would happen if she made an aggressive move towards Nyx. The other reached out and gently but firmly grasped Andi's jaw and Nyx looked deeply into Andi's eyes, her own starting to search Andi's own.

Andi almost tensed at the attack on her personal space, yet she paused, meeting Nyx's gaze with her own. "You can challenge me all you want Nyxie," she said quietly. "It won't change anything. A spade will still be a spade." She used a line her Grandmother had often quoted to her in her own childhood, ironically almost every time Andi herself had sought to challenge what was what.

The first examination complete, the look in Nyx's eyes softened slightly and she began to search again, this time looking for something different. Throughout it, she said nothing. Finally, there was a nod of about a millimeter. No, no mocking was involved. This wasn't a 'test' to gauge her determination or dedication. This was... Nyx let the hand slide off Andi's shoulder, the thumb on the jaw traced down before leaving it completely and Nyx stepped back, obviously thinking. "I'm sorry, Milady..." She said quietly, then made another millimetric nod, "Andi, come with me." It was a command, not a request, absentmindedly.

With her hands falling by her side, Andi let one hand slip into Nyx's, her fingers closing around her friends hand, asserting the slightest amount of pressure. "Lead the way," she replied softly, the tone of her voice neither assertive or challenging, simply acknowledging.

The Tialan's mind was on something else. Someone else. If Andi had been far younger, she might have even believed her to be a possible reincarnation. They left the holodeck and made it back to the Marine deck and finally to Nyx's room. Nyx extricated her hand as they walked through and focused on one particular blade on the wall, reaching up reverently and very, very gently took it off the velveted holders and placed her hands on the flat of the blade. It was larger than either of her own two, meant for a style using only a single sword. A long series of runes ran down the center, "Tireshi ot'a'lan horad'da." She said quietly in her native language, then translated, "Live the unexpected laugh." She turned around, taking the steps back towards Andi.

Andi paused inside Nyx's quarters, shaking her head ever so slightly. Even her quarters were prim and proper with everything in their place. Nothing was even remotely amiss... unlike her own quarters which largely looked like a category five tornado had swept through it. "It is a stunning blade," Andi acknowledged quietly, still not entirely sure what exactly was going on.

"Cora'e'Soleri was the one who not only did the engravings, but even was integral in forging her own blade. She was the one to take stupid risks in training and outside training but always came out ahead. Did things that would have gotten her in deepest trouble if she'd gotten caught and tried to get me involved in them as well." Memories flowed through her mind, one where Cora had even yelled at her, trying to get her to loosen up. "One of the best people I ever met, always helped me with my training and any other problems I had. She named her blade 'Kindness'. Told me that since she couldn't make people laugh themselves to death, she'd just have to kill them with kindness." She laughed slightly at that.

Andi smiled. "It's a good philosophy to take on life. She sounds like she was an exceptional woman. I see why you were friends."

Nyx shook her friend, “You see how we were friends, the why still eludes me. She figured that we’re all going to die, why not do things your own way. I’ve always been deliberate, precise. And then she died and I didn’t.” She sighed “I don’t have friends because it hurts when they die. When I’m stronger, better, then I can have friends when I can keep them alive. That’s what I’ve always told myself ever since then. And perhaps I’ve been wrong and I’m doing her a disservice.” Her hands squeezed slightly on the sword before she gently guided the hilt towards Andi, “And you remind me so much of her. This belongs to you, to the spirit that you hold within you.”

A look of pure alarm crossed Andi's face. "No," she exclaimed suddenly, wincing as she realized how ungrateful that would have sounded, especially given such a grand gesture. "Nyxie, I couldn't. She was your friend, and in spirit I am sure she is still trying to guide you, even if your stubborn ass doesn't want to see it. The sword... my God, it's magnificent... and it's taking an awful lot of restraint, but it is full of history, history that is important to you."

"Andi." Nyx's voice was solemn, very serious and she didn't try to remove the weapon from where it was, "Is this weapon important to me? Yes. If I had any thought that you were being a false friend to me, do you think I would do this? No. Are you my friend? Truthfully, Andi, in the depths of your heart? Because if you are, this is a weapon that belonged to someone more akin to you than you could possibly imagine. Trust that Cora'e'Soleri would want you to have this blade, to stand beside her friend in combat."

"Of course I am your friend, you don't need to give me things to prove that we're friends..." Andi paused, clearly struggling with her own internal conflict over the issue. "I will always have your back in combat, blade or no blade."

"I know that." Nyx agreed, sword still being offered, "And this is not to prove we are friends. This is because... Tseri!" She swore in her native tongue, "Gods damn it, Andi, take the fucking sword!" The Standard swear was slightly hesitant, but coming from Nyx...

"Okay..." Andi said quietly, the tone of her voice making it quiet clear that she was not arguing any more. Taking the blade, without even wielding it, she held it gently behind her back, leaning forward and wrapping her other arm around Nyx. "But you still don't need to give me things for me to be your friend!"

"I'm not!" Nyx was slightly exasperated, "Gift-giving is not a thing on Tial, at least not amongst the Korashe. Even the Sentar only do so on special occasions. But every Priestess of Bey'a'Dande is given to seeing the abstract things, the non-visible. When I said that you are like Cora'e'Soleri, it was a compliment, yes, but it was more an observation. A shared soul, perhaps, with her. And that sort of bond means that you are far more worthy to wield Kindness than I am. And a Tialan blade is meant to be in the hands of someone who does it that sort of honor. You, Andi, live that unexpected laugh."

Andi grinned mischievously. "And soon enough my dear friend, you will too."

"So you say." Nyx smiled demurely, "We shall see."

"Oh, there is no seeing... I know." Andi replied cheekily. "You may have gotten out of rolling down a hill tonight, but I still plan to hold you to it!"

"Perhaps, but I do know one thing for sure." Nyx grinned devilishly, "You'd best begin to practice, Milady. That sword won't learn itself and you have a test in a few days."

Andi laughed. "Just keep in mind, my friend, I will get to you when you least expect it! No warning, no timelines, no deadlines, just when you least expect it."

Nyx gave her a smile, "You just made the first mistake! Never warn your target you're hunting them!"

"Oh Nyxie, you misunderstand. It wasn't a warning, it was a promise." She winked before leaning in once more to hug the other woman. "Sleep well my friend. Tomorrow is when the war begins."

Nyx very awkwardly returned the hug, not used to this sort of contact, "Tomorrow, Andi? The war has already begun. Why wait?"

Andi laughed softly as she shifted the weight of the blade behind her back. "Because you, my dear friend, need your beauty sleep. Night night, sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite!" Without waiting for a reply, Andi waved over her shoulder as she walked toward the door to return to her own quarters.

"Beauty sleep? Why does beauty come into it..." She said quietly, more to herself, absently waving at Andi, then raised her voice, "And I do not have any bed bugs, so ha!"

Waving over her shoulder, Andi found herself grinning as she continued walking away. That was quite possibly the most childish thing she had ever seen Nyx do, and she loved it!

=/\=

Staff Sergeant Nyx'e'Trixe Valentine
Marine NCO
USS Wellington

Staff Sergeant Andromeda Dreik
Marine
USS Wellington