Meeting an XO

Posted on Mon Sep 13th, 2021 @ 5:09pm by Major Jennifer Griffiths & Cadet Senior Grade Abigail Gordon

2,114 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Getting started
Location: Various
Timeline: Current

[ON]

Abigail was inquisitive in nature and since she was able to meet the Captain, he is a lovely man, she wondered what the XO would be like. The dark-haired Senior Cadet decided to investigate, Abigail had forgotten to ask the captain but, oh well, she'd find out if the XO was male or female. Walking carefully so as to not trip over any invisible cracks, Abigail went to where she assumed the XO's office would be, and pressed the chime.

Jennifer was in her new office getting settled in and acquainted with her new position, she was catching up on some files when the sudden door chime sounded making her jump, "who could be coming to see me at this hour" she said to herself "ENTER" she said louder tidying up her desk as the door opened to admit a Cadet Senior Grade, Jennifer looks up with a smile.

"Yes, Cadet?" She asked.

"Hi, I came to meet you, I had a meeting with the Captain and so, thought I'd come here. Hopefully, I am not disturbing you." Abigail replied, a friendly warm smile lighting up her smile. She took time to take a look at the red-headed XO, thinking she was really pretty. In fact that came out of her mouth her thoughts turning to words. "Wow, you are really pretty." then Abigail clapped her hand over her mouth realizing she may not be considered too professional for that, but it's true the woman was beautiful.

A little surprised by the sudden outburst and then she smiled "thank you, Cadet, that was very nice of you to say" Jennifer was amused by the young woman's slip up "so Cadet, what brings you to my office?" she asked as she took a seat behind her desk.

"Well," Abigail taking a seat. "I guess you could say I am on a journey of discovery, so here I am. I like getting to know people, those that I am serving with. After all, in time I may be the one to heal a person from injuries or illnesses, that sort of thing. And if I know something about the person themselves, well, I am figuring that it would be a good thing as to their personal care. " Abigail stated.

Nodding "logical and prudent, so Cadet what is it you want to know about me then?" Griffiths asked interlacing her fingers in front of her and sitting back.

Abigail actually pulls out a notepad, and a pencil instead of the PADD, to take notes. She makes a couple of notations and writes the Major's name at the top. She looks back up at Griffiths. "Okay, I'm ready." Her pencil is ready to write. "First off, what sort of hobbies do you like to do when on your personal time? Oh and if you'd like to do so, you can ask me questions in return. It makes a nice exchange don't you think?" Abigail smiling brightly.

Jennifer was surprised by the notepad and pencil, but the questions were expected "for hobbies, I like reading books, the old style ones, like the smell of the pages as I turn them over, I also am quite fond of rock climbing and orbital skydiving, now that is a rush and then there are the holo programs on those my tastes vary" Griffiths said then looked at the Cadet "okay, what are your hobbies then Cadet?" she asked.

Abigail tapped the erasure end of her pencil against her cheek as she thought, then she brightened up. "I love to read and I agree with you, the scent of a real book especially one that is old, smells so nice. Like an old friend." she thought for a moment gazing towards the ceiling as Abigail tapped her cheek a bit more, then her eyes go back to the XO. "I love to dance and swim, those things I can do without being a Klutz. I sew and I crochet, I paint and I draw, and I love to be in the outdoors." smiling brightly.

"An outdoors girl, Kudos on that, as for reading I have not managed to read an old book since, I have some in my quarters, but been so busy settling in I have not yet had the time to get into reading them again," she said.

"I know the feeling, I've been exploring the ship, plus been looking in at the Academy. I think I've made some new friends there. There was one of the cadets I got a little angry at. He was reminding me of my older over-protective brothers. I do have a sore point that does make me irritable. I do control it for the most part but... It always galled the heck out of me when my brothers treated me like a china doll saying I needed protection and that I could function without them." her green eyes flashed with some fire as she remembered their words. "Don't get me wrong, I do love my brothers but not their actions" Abigail huffed, crossing her arms across her chest.

Hiding an amused smile "you are a firebrand and no mistaking it, as for your brothers at least they care enough to want to protect you, so do not be so angry Cadet, at least you know they care, even if they are overprotective, can't you put them in their place when they get overprotective?" Griffiths asked.

"I can do so, but at times they just laughed and walked away, but... they just can't ignore me for too long. I am just so sweet and nice." crinkling her nose up slightly with a bit of a smile. "My brothers aren't too immune to my cute charm, but I won't overuse it either. Never good to do so."

Thinking "no it is not, but still you must have more ways than that to get back at your siblings?" Griffith's asked, "I mean they are after all only males, so you must have other ways that you can get them back with!" Griffiths said.

"Oh my... well if I want to get them in trouble I could cry but really that's not a good thing." giving a little bit of a laugh. "Makes things worse, however, I normally chew them out or bribe them. I have proved them wrong when they thought I couldn't do something." Abigail shrugged.

"Wow, my older brother is stationed at Utopia Planitia as an Engineer, my Sister is trying to apply to Starfleet Academy, but I have an amicable relationship with them both as I am the Middle child and I am the one that has to separate them when they argue," she said with a self-deprecating laugh.

"Oof, the middle child is a rough spot. I'm not the middle child, I am the caboose of the siblings, the baby sister. Hence my irritation at my brothers. I am thankful my mother didn't let me get away with things being the baby of the family. One time I did try to get my brothers in trouble as a bit of revenge that didn't go over too well. I will never do that again, Mom had me scrubbing floors after that stunt." giving a rather chagrined expression. "She didn't treat me like a princess or anything like that. Felt that I wasn't supposed to be spoiled and she was right." Abigail replied.

"Any family that has three or more children it is never wise for the parents to favour one over the others as it usually causes resentment from the other siblings, but that does not ensure there is no sibling rivalry," Griffiths said.

Abigail nodded rather vigorously, "That is so true, well I do know for a certainty, my brothers do love me and they have actually come to my rescue over the years. I guess maybe I shouldn't get too irate with their protectiveness. but every now and then, it can be stifling. However, if I fume at them, then realize that it was silly then they... blackmail me into making them a cake or something or go get them a treat. Come to think of it... I wonder if they have done it on purpose." her right eyebrow raised. "I will have to think upon this most definitely. Good heavens could they have been manipulating me?" her mouth dropping open, and gasping at that possibility.

Giving the Cadet a mischievous look "next time they have you make a cake, put some laxatives in the mixture and watch them warp to the toilet when they take effect" Griffiths said with a smile at the Cadet.

Abigail just gaped at that suggestion. "Oh my goodness, wait have you done something like that before? I wouldn't have even thought of that!" she seemed to be shocked, then she just laughed. "oh you must have been a bit of a mischief-maker."

Looking at the Cadet "you have no idea Cadet, no idea" she said with a smile "my older brother Ian used to tease me no end, that all ended when I baked him a birthday cake with one of the ingredients being a liquid that causes people to rush to the toilet. I did that this day and I swear I could hear the noise of warp engines warming up as he took off to the toilet needless to say he never teased me after that" she added giggling at the thought.

Abigail could help but giggle as well, especially since the XO had an infectious laugh. "Oh dear, that would definitely cause them to be more careful about asking you to make a cake, but also be rather wary. I wouldn't want to do that to my brothers. I'd hate for them to not want any of my cakes I make though." there wasn't any judgement in her eyes, just thinking about her brothers. "I guess I have some pride in the cake I make since apparently my brothers like my cake so well they would con me into making them one."

Looking at the Cadet "you have to show them that you will not be crapped upon, if you do not want to do the cake, you could always find a way to embarrass them in public, but even that has possible repercussions, hmmm and I thought I had some sibling issues!" Griffiths said.

Abigail gave a slight shrug, "Well, I suppose there are issues. I am sure it will get settled someday." she smiled. "I just need to not let things bother me, and in truth do my best to concentrate on the positives that are going on in my life. Not to sound like I am bragging, I just feel like I've had a lot of good things happen to me as well. I feel very grateful for them. Not that I've got a perfect life, I've hit my own dark points, but really should I complain about them? I don't think I should or even dwell upon them."

She sat there considering things a moment and then looked at her Chrono "wow is that the time" she said standing up "I have to finish this stimulating conversation Cadet I have some tasks to do. As for those points you mentioned, I can suggest one method, though I do not know if it will work with any other species than Vulcan and Betazoid, but perhaps you should meditate and consider the issues from all sides if you come up with a pragmatic answer, then that is okay too as those Pragmatic answers are the result that both sides can live with but neither like" she said then pointed at the Cadets heart "you must find balance in there" then she points to the head "and there, and when both heart and mind are as one your answers should be more clear to you, then you have to examine the emotional fallout but remember you can lease most people some of the time, but not everyone all the time" Griffiths said.

"Very true," Abigail replied and she looked at the time as well. "Okay, then I do need to get going as well. Thanks for taking the time to chat with me. And will see you around, Major." rising from her chair without falling. "Okay that went well." she blithely said. "Talk to you later!" Abigail giving a wave as she left the office.

Waving back Jennifer tilted her head slightly to the left "interesting Cadet is that, a handful I wager!" she said to herself before returning to her duties, one of the downsides of taking over from a previous XO who failed to do his task as XO.

[OFF]

 

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