"Interest"

Posted on Mon Oct 3rd, 2022 @ 2:18pm by Cadet Junior Grade Triston Montgomery [Lalor]

Mission: Season 5: Time Warp
Location: Lalor Estate
Timeline: 27/07/2397 - Early Evening
737 words - 1.5 OF Standard Post Measure

Triston left Miran, Raye and the new girl with Gavin as soon as he could. He had to admit that while Miran had been off ship, it had given him a chance to explore other friendships. While he honestly admitted Miran was his friend, and yes, he would if she was older, he would have done more than be her friend. He was also aware that Miran perhaps saw him in a way of more than friends. But he also knew that she was still too young for him to even consider it. Oh, he was not scared of the captain. He knew Phoenix liked him well enough, but he was not about to do anything to Miran that would damage their friendship.

Now he was clear of her and her friends, he headed for the group of cadets who had been invited. Among them was a slender blond, Clary Harrison, a second year Science cadet like him. They had been on a couple of dates since January, and yet, he wondered if their dating was going to go to something more.

Clary turned and gave him a bright smile. “Triston!” She reached out and latched onto his arm. A voice in his head said ~Like a limpet~ “So I see you ditched the infants?”

The others around them chuckled. Triston silenced them with a look. “The infants are already in bed. I was with Miran and her friends.” He replied.

Clary laughed. “Oh come now Triston, they cannot be half as diverting as we are. They are so young.”

He shrugged “Family friends.” Was all he said and refused to be drawn into conversations about the younger group of teenagers.

It was a bone of contention between him and the other cadets. Some saw him as a suck up, others as a wimp at the beck and call of Miran Lalor. He was neither of these. He had been her friend for years and he was not about to let others dictate his friendships.

He stood, Clary hanging off his arm listening and commenting when called on. Eventually Clary managed to pull him away from the group and they walked along the bank of the river.

“Its lovely here” Clary said almost wistfully.

“Yes, it is.” Triston said, “The Captain and her brother chose well.”

“You know the captain well, don’t you?” She sounded half curious, half jealous.

“I have known her and her sister since my family joined the Elysium.” Triston replied. “Why?”

“Oh, just wondering. You sure spend time with her sister a lot.”

“Carly, we have been over this. Miran and I have been friends for years, I am not going to change that.”

“Well, you asked me to be your girlfriend Triston, I guess I expected more of your time.” Clary replied. “You invited me here as your plus one and you spent the entire Ceremony with Miran and her buddies.”

“I was asked to by the captain. She has a new family member who she wanted me to look after while Miran and the Captain was busy.”

“Ah yes, the foundling.”

“Tristi is not a foundling.” He replied. Though he knew it was true.

“People say she was a street whore on Rigel when the captain found her.”

“She wasn’t” Triston replied. “She was an orphan. And the Captain and her husband saved her life.” The captain had briefed him on the situation, and he was not about to break that confidence.

Clary studied him under the moonlight. “Okay.” She said “So, about us” She began.

Triston paused and looked at her. “Yes? What about us?”

“We have been dating for 7 months nearly Triston, time we talk about where this is heading.” Clary stated.

“Heading?”

“Yes Triston. Heading.”

“We are nineteen” he stated firmly. “I am not looking for long term. Are you?”

“No but I am not averse to fun.”

He raised an eyebrow at her “And aren’t we having fun?” he knew exactly what she meant though.

“Not yet. You don’t seem….”

He smirked. “Oh I am interested Clary.”

“One would never know Triston.”

“It is not polite to show too overt an interest around our friends Clary.”

“Really?” she asked.

“I have a cabin assigned, would you care to come back with me?” He asked curiously.

Clary smiled and linked her arm back through his and together they headed back to the cabins.

OFF

 

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