Why Are the Pretty Ones Always Stupid?

Posted on Tue Jun 4th, 2019 @ 7:23am by

Mission: Episode 1: Hell is a four letter word
Location: Crew Lounge
1628 words - 3.3 OF Standard Post Measure

Milla, fresh from her sister’s quarters and still furious, stormed into the lounge and took a seat at the bar. She was hungry, but so angry at Anje she figured she would just throw up if she ate anything, so she waited for Jessica, figuring if nothing else she could get a drink and maybe vent to the lovely waitress, ~And to think I wanted to set that poor girl up with Anje… That idiot doesn’t deserve her, hell, being with someone who wasn’t hustling her would probably make her brain go haywire.~

When Jessica came in from the back room she almost walked past Milla, but then stopped and stepped up beside her, putting her hand on Milla’s shoulder. “Hey, fancy seeing you here. How’s your new cadet schedule treating you?”

“Academy is going well, thanks.” Milla replied, putting her hand on top of Jessica’s, “My sister is an idiot, but there’s nothing I can do about that…”

“I’m happy you’re getting along better than expected”, Jessica said, figuring that it was normal for siblings to consider each other idiots from time to time.

“You’re so sweet.” Milla sighed, kissing Jessica’s hand, “But, no, this is going to be a huge problem. The idiot went and hooked up with another lying ass dog…” She paused for a second, “Can I get some watermelon punch?” It wasn’t alcoholic, but it had always brought her comfort, and right now she needed comfort.

“Sure”, Jessica said, walked behind the bar and looked up the recipe, seeing if she could make it special in some way rather than just getting it straight from the replicator. “So, who has been lying to Anje?”

Milla began the story of how Anje thought she was dating Liselle Qwyyn and how she was freaking out when ‘her girlfriend’ got captured, winding it up with, “So now we know Liselle is Merella, her twin sister, like something out of a soap opera. Anje? She’s not even mad! Going on about how she ‘loves her!’ And I’m all ‘bitch, you don’t even know her!’ But Dumbass is insisting on giving the relationship, built entirely on lies and deception, ‘a chance.’ She is not pretty enough to be this damn dumb, Jessica!”

“Liselle Qwyyn’s twin sister?” Jessica wondered, decorating a glass with slices of watermelon. “Have you looked at her? She’s definitely pretty enough to make a dumb mistake over.”

“Yeah, but pretty is all she is.” Milla sighed, “I mean, you’re pretty, but you’re also caring and compassionate and, I literally can not stress this one enough, honest. If Merella was even one of those things other than pretty I wouldn’t be so sure Anje was making a huge mistake.”

Jessica smiled as she put the glass in front of Milla. “Thank you, dear. But I wouldn’t stress out over it. You see, she’ll be gone in a few weeks, if it’ll even be that long. Let your sister enjoy what she can get out of the opportunity. Life can be cruel, so you should always take what chances you get even for fleeting happiness.”

“I know you’re probably right, but my worry is this becomes Cheline part two.” Milla lamented, sipping her drink, “And Anje winds up even more broken, more of a shadow of her real self. Least the punch is good.” ~And that’s my only solace right now. Good punch. Sad.~

“Not everyone only looks out for their own advantage”, Jessica said. “I heard a figure of speech the other day, from another crewmember lamenting a missed opportunity. Two ships passing in the night, is what he said. And if I remember correctly, his only regret was he should have boffed him at least once. Funny word, that.”

That made Milla snicker nearly hard enough to spit her drink onto the counter. After a few seconds to recover, she laughed, “Wow... “ There was something about hearing Jessica use the word ‘boff’ in any tense that was just too funny, “I don’t know, maybe, I’m just worried this lying bitch is going to use Anje again. I thought we were going to lose Anje when Cheline dumped her on Risa, she literally didn’t move from the bed they were in until her credit stick ran out and the hotel sent people up there to evict her…”

“It won’t be as bad this time”, Jessica said. “I’m sure she knows what’s going to happen.” She had only seen Anje as a practically-minded, intelligent and far-sighted woman thus far, and couldn’t imagine her not being aware of where that affair would lead.

“I hope you’re right, Jess.” Milla sighed as she sipped her punch, “For Anje’s sake. Now I’ve got to figure out what to do in the meantime. I mean, knowing Anje she’s invited that woman to share her quarters, you know, where I’m currently sleeping? Might need to go ahead and move into my cadet dorm now, not sure me and her being under the same roof is a great idea.”

“It’s a small ship, moving into the dorm shouldn’t be a problem, no?” Jessica wondered. She had seen the kind of luxury Milla was used to, and apparently took for granted, and figured that it would be a painful downgrade from her perspective. She also figured maybe that would be good for her. Jessica saw that everything on the Elysium was the height of luxury, even the comparatively small cabin she was sharing with three other of the civilian staff was a lot better than anything else she had ever known, except for those few days on Deep Space Nine. Of course, Jessica had more tact than to tell Milla that roughing it for a bit might do her some good.

“It wouldn’t.” Milla sighed, “But it’s just that Anje and I are finally reconnecting by sharing living space, I’d hate to lose that. Not sure I could go through a night without beating her girlfriend into a coma though…” She didn’t want to admit it, but Milla was upset that someone was interrupting their time to get their relationship back, add to that the fact the woman came in under false colors and it was a recipe for open combat.

Jessica took Milla’s hand. “Don’t. Violence isn’t the answer.” She looked her in the eyes, wondering if she actually meant what she was saying. “Many small-minded people use it to have power over others. Don’t be like them.”

“I actually wouldn’t.” Milla reassured her, “Just so stressed out over this, over what could happen to Anje. I’m so scared of what will become of her if she gets Chelined again.” That was totally true, her worst fear being that this might be the time that killed Anje, ~Cheline was bad enough, having to go through it again, that might be too much.~

“You think she’s not aware of what’s happening?” Jessica asked. “Would you like me to talk to her, just to make sure she is?”

“Thank you, but I can’t put you in that position.” Milla answered, thoroughly appreciative of Jessica making the offer, “I guess this is something I’m going to have to handle with my sister. I may need to freak out about it to you later though if that’s okay.” She knew there was no ‘may’ to it, if this went how she expected she would be freaking out to Jessica and possibly back to not talking to her sister again.

“Sure, that’s what I’m here for”, she smiled. “So how about I help you move your stuff for now, and we take a walk in the arboretum after?”

“Actually, I’m going to try and abide Merella for a night, for Anje, and we’ll discuss what comes next in the morning.” Milla decided, “As for that walk in the arboretum, you’re on.”

“Let’s go, then”, Jessica said, stepping back out from behind the bar. “The greens, they’re the one thing I miss from my world.” And her family, but they weren’t things, and it went without saying.

“Right.” Milla smiled, draining her drink and moving to Jessica’s side, “Let’s go!” Milla paused a second, “Jess, you’re not going to get in any trouble for just walking out are you?”

She shook her head. “No, my shift ended a few minutes before you came in. If I hadn’t seen you here, I’d be sitting by the pond now anyway.”

“You mean you stayed for me?” Milla asked, blushing, Jessica was beyond sweet, “Well, let me get you to your pond then. You’ve earned it.”

“Let’s get something to feed the ducks with”, Jessica said. She grabbed a bowl of oat flakes from the replicator. Ducks loved them and unlike bread, they didn’t make them sick.

“And one more thing…” Milla smiled, going to the replicator and coming back with a basket of food: sandwiches, chips, iced tea, potato salad, etcetera, “Now it’s a picnic.”

“You’re still trying to fatten me up?” Jessica laughed. “I’m getting to the point where I’ll have to watch out. My body is used to squeezing every bit of nutrition out of my food.”

“Let’s worry more about squeezing every bit of enjoyment out of this evening.” Milla suggested, putting her right arm through the basket handle and taking Jessica’s hand with her left, “Come on, our ducks are waiting.”