EXETERRPG: (1 - 1403) MS - Spc Lt jg Greta Smith &ACFO, Lt(jg) Trinity Frost

[Jaclyn Smith]

Mission: Auld Lang Syne

Day:01

Stardate: 2445.12.28


(Risa– Suraya Bay Resort, Beach - Spc Lt jg Greta Smith &ACFO, Lt(jg)
Trinity Frost - 1403)

Sitting on the beach, Greta closed her eyes and sighed. The last three
weeks had brought into sharp focus some things for her that she hadn't
realised. The last three weeks had also been tinged with shame.

Shame because of how she had allowed her emotions, specifically her anger,
get the better of her at the cost of her relationship. At a moment when she
should have been more understanding, more calm, she had flared, let her
anger take over and it had cost her.

The realisation of this had hit her hard. After a particularly difficult
conversation with Ire, she had admitted her failing. Admitted that she had
led with her heart and not her head and apologised. As she had said to him,
she was sorry for her actions and promised to give him space and time. And
she had stayed away. Stayed away from him and, in the few eventualities
when they had crossed paths, she had been civil.

Taking this time as a learning curve, Greta had also begun to see the
counselling team on a twice weekly basis. To understand where the anger had
come from and how to deal with it. How to chanel it, recognise it and how
to not react rashly.

During one of these conversations, the talk had turned to her past, things
that she had not talked about for a long time. The work she had been doing
had impacted on her duties and she was calmer, more focused and able to
deal with the high stress that came with being a tactical bridge officer.

The counselor had helped her realise that the anger had been controlling
her. She was still the same person she had always been. Still the same
'McHavok' but now more able to use reason in her thinking.

It was during this time that she had rediscovered a love for dancing. When
she danced, Greta forgot the world, forgot the stress and shame over her
actions and was just able to be. One night, whilst on the holodeck with a
fellow officer, he had suggested to her a form of dance that would help
channel her emotions and work them out in a healthy way.

Unsure of this, she had been reluctant at first but soon found that he had
been right. Capoeira, the Brazilian martial art that fused music, dance and
acrobatics had become a firm favourite. Allowing her to work out, dance and
get fitter whilst allowing her a safe way to express her anger.

Smiling to herself as she stood on the sand, Greta fixed a small set of in
ear headphones into her ears, set her music to play and began moving. Using
high kicks and a series of sweeping movements, she instantly lost herself
in the rhythm and the moves, feeling at peace as she moved.

Trinity had left the bar a while ago, deciding that if she didn’t, then
she’d make a similar fool of herself as she had on DS9, whoever that had
been. She sighed happily, considering her position. The girl that had left
home with just a change of pants had come a long way, and although her
attitude hadn’t changed, her confidence, and her persona had grown, and
blossomed. She’d made some good friends on the way too, ~one of whom seems
to be…~

Stopping to watch, she rested on a low wall, the sun bouncing gloriously of
her rich, auburn hair.

Not realising that she was being watched, Greta stopped for a moment,
breathing heavily and wiped sweat from her forehead. Taking the ear buds
she had been using to listen to music with out of her ears, she turned, saw
Trinity and jumped a little, "Don't sneak up on someone like that."

“If you’re in the middle of a fight, they’ve run off and you won.” She said
to Greta. When she’d arrived at mars, short on flight hours to qualify for
a rating on the peregrine and Valkyries, Greta had stepped in, and taken
her under her wing; the two of them becoming fast friends.

Laughing, Greta walked to her friend’s side and perched on the wall.
Grabbing a drink of water from her bag, she looked at her friend. The
younger woman who had been unsure of herself and everything when they had
first met was now a confident woman.

"It's not fighting. Not really. Capoeira. It's a fusion of martial arts,
dance and music. It's… helped me a lot these past few weeks."

“I heard you had a time of things. You okay slick?” Trinity asked, removing
her sunglasses, and tucking them in her bikini top, so she could properly
talk to Greta. “Sorry I haven’t come to see you, just not had time, what
with...well. Everything.” With Lieutenant Williams being in the brig, her
and Ronnie had picked up a lot of extra bridge duty. It was one of the
reasons that they’d both been promoted.

Sighing, Greta took a sip of her water, "I won't lie and say it was
nothing. What happened, shouldn't have done. Paying for it now. But, I'm
dealing with it. For the most part."

Trinity nodded. “Look, you helped me when no one else did; I’d be a poor
friend if I didn’t return that. If you really need to vent?”

"Vent is not the right word. I'm seeing the counselor right now. " Greta
responded, looking out to the ocean. A heavy sigh betrayed her calm
exterior as she saw Ire’s face flash in her mind.

“I understand.” Trinity said. “So long as you are, and you’re doing you.”
She said, Greta was always so strong. “You move well, as much as I know
about it, you dance much?”

"Ballroom mainly. But this has been a lifesaver for me. I realised that I'm
quick to anger. Hard to believe I know." She said with a slight smile.

“You?” she said. “Never… I won’t hear that said against you.” She smiled.

"You would be the first one." She replied.

“So...what’s the plan? Have you spoken to…?”

Greta shook her head, "Not for two weeks or so. Sure, we have exchanged
pleasantries but, spoke? Not really. He needs space. I do. I'm not good to
be with right now."

“That...sounds arse about face…” Trinity said. She’d settled and blossomed,
her true nature had grown. “Now I know you don’t mean that to mean that
this is in some way down to you?”

" A good part of it is. He went through something… I could have stood by
and I chose to slap him. Not right. Not right at all."

“No that bit wasn’t. I notice you’re not wearing your ring. Why don’t you
tell me what happened. You're fiery sure...but not so much that everything
is on you without extreme stress.”

So, greta told her. Told her the whole tale. ".... so, I slammed it on the
table saying that when he knew what he wanted, he could give it back to me
and I left… " she sighed and looked down at her feet.

Trinity grimaced. “He actually said that...in those words?”

"Then I guess it's for worse…. Yeah. Still, shouldn't have done what I did.
Let my heart rule my head."

“Greta...I appreciate that I don’t know him really that well, but he adores
you...we all know that. That doesn’t sound  like him.” Trinity sighed to
herself internally. So much was happening today, and she was either too
many drinks in or way way too few to make sense of it all. “Anything you
need from me? Other than friendship and support?”

"Time. I feel lost, Trin. But, I'll get there. I've fought my whole life to
get where I am. Only daughter with two brothers. Fought to become a pilot
and now, I don’t have that. But, maybe I will find a different me. A better
me.

In answer to your question, time and a shoulder. That's what I need."

Trinity, by nature wasn’t a very tactile, huggy type person. Her parents
had loved her in their way, but outward gestures of affection were rare.
However she could fully feel what Greta was going through, and pulled the
older woman into a gentle hug.

"I'm always around for you to lean on. You know that." She whispered,
giving her a sisterly kiss on the cheek.

Smiling softly, Greta looked at the younger woman and nodded, "I know. I
do." Sitting straighter  Greta dropped an arm around her shoulder and
smiled,  "So, any fun for you?"

Trinity shrugged, I'm...I'm happy. Just strolling. There's a secluded bay
down the way, I'm going to get some sun to my pasty white backside. Then
this evening…might hit the more lively bars "

"Sounds like fun. "

"Yeah...I know I don't hunt but...Honey Badgers on the prowl." She winked
outrageously. "You?"

"No prowling. Not for me. Gonna head back up soon. Need a shower before
bridge duty."

“Bad times.” Trinity said, mock scowling. “I have one tomorrow” she said
frowning. “Look, when we’re both free next, we’ll do something. Maybe get
some underwater kit and check out the reefs?”

"Sounds good."

“I’ll let you carry on with your dancing. Take care won’t you.” Trinity
said, giving Greta another sisterly peck on the cheek before stepping away
and walking down the beach.

Smiling as she watched her friend walk away, Greta sighed. She knew that
she had penance to pay. Knew that, For a lot of the crew, she had been the
bad guy and they were right. So, she stood and picked up her bag and said
to no-one in particular, "Maybe this is the start of my redemption arc."

Smiling at that thought, she tapped her combadge and said, "Smith to
Exeter. One to beam up."

(Reply none)

(Posted by Jackie and Mark)
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