When Holbrooks Co. finished their rounds months later, Sarah was eager to get home. She knew these trips could last years, depending on how far out you went, but for the first time out? She was secretly grateful for the conflict which shortened their time by quite a bit.
What she didn’t figure was the arrival of Mafew for the second time. The Captain had made it clear he wouldn’t bother them anymore.
“Hey Gran, I have to check the bags I gave you,” Mafew said the moment the feed connected, “apparently I’m not allowed to send my usual Christmas cards this year.”
Sarahs heart skipped a nervous beat.
Had she resealed the letters perfectly?
She couldn’t remember.
But then she had already taken the pictures of the letters, or “Christmas cards” as he called them, and sent them to their respective persons. He wasn’t going to get away with insulting such high-profile individuals just because he took them back.
Her smugness allowed her to raise her head a little higher.
“I’m also supposed to apologize to Gardner,” he said, not looking at her though she was right there, “So I will be the only one coming over, is that OK?”
“Of course,” Grans scales shone happily, “This is most pleasant! Would you stay for a meal?”
“Nope,” he said, a small smile on his own face, “Everything blew up- literately- and I have heads to remove from spines. This is the only time I have to get those letters back.”
“I see,” Gran nodded, “we shall open the doors for you right away.”
He stood and left, thinking Mafew would hang up as he usually did. But the moment Gran was gone, Mafew turned his attention to Sarah.
“I look forward to seeing you shortly if you would give me a moment.”
And then he turned off the communications.
WHY WAS HE STILL SO CONDESCENDING?!
She had been assured by her new contact in the Federation that this MAN CHILD would be taken care of!
Her superiority fueled her anger, and her sense of being the one in the right calmed her down again.
She marched down to the Out Deck, this time waiting with the Captain to enter the area proper.
He said he was going to apologize, which meant he was most likely sore about being told off…yeah, that’s why he ignored her before. She was SURE it was because he was doing his best to save a bit of his pride.
Well, as the OLDER one, she’d have to teach him that not everything is as easy as a simply apology.
The green light flashed, letting them know it was safe to enter the Deck.
It was the same narlly looking pod.
She did her best to not make a face at the pod. She knew guys were touchy about their ships…
“Mafew!” Jake and Margarete passed by her with the bags they had taken from the ship before.
“Hello!” Mafew beamed and waved at them, “how are you holding up?”
“Doing well,” Margarete beamed, “we got good products and I’m excited to share the souvenirs this time around!”
Jake nodded.
Mafew reached in the first bag and began to pull out everything into a pile. As he went through it all the storage workers looked over at their First Mate and then back to Mafew.
“You OK with…” Jake aimed a thumb at Sarah who openly glared at her crew mate.
“I am here because-“
“Yeah, all if fine,” Mafew said not looking up. Margarete snorted at how red Sarahs face was becoming. They all knew, by now, how much the woman HATED to be cut off.
“Surly there are other ways you could send these letters?” Sarah said instead, going with a different tack.
But he didn’t answer her as he began to separate one pile from another. She grit her teeth again but held it in.
Moving on to the next bag and the next. Finally, he had three different piles. He put one VERY reduced and small pile in one bag, and a larger pile in another.
“The larger one goes to the professor, right?” Jake asked.
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“Of course,” Mafew frowned, for the first time looking offended, “I’m not a masochist.”
“How do you even know that- whatever, never mind,” Jake shook his head.
“Did I not use the word correctly? James said it that way…”
“Did James give you the definition?”
“…no.”
“Somehow that makes me feel better,” Jake folded his arms and sighed.
Mafews scowl deepened, “What’s it mean?”
Margaret laughed while picking up the bags, “all yours, Jake.”
She then left quickly, still laughing. Jake made a face before explaining that it wasn’t important. Then he too left after his coworker.
When they were gone Mafew grinned, “that was funny!”
Sarah scoffed, “so you’re saying you actually know what the word means?”
Mafew laughed, “Duh, I’ve memorized Earths dictionary a while ago.”
Oh, so NOW he reacted to her…
“Riiiight,” Sarah rolled her eyes.
Mafew looked the woman up and down and did his best to keep a sneer off his face. But it didn’t work.
“Right,” Mafew replied, “since I have these letters back, I guess the next order of business is to apologize. I am SO sorry, Ms. Gardner.”
The putty look on his face was mocking and only pissed her off more.
“Is…that…”
“Great, now I’m done,” he hefted the third and largest bag over his shoulder.
“NO YOU ARE NOT!” she snapped, “APOLOGIZE PROPERLY!”
Mafew blinked in shock as Grans scales malted.
“…I did…”
“NO YOU DID NOT! You are not SERIOUSLY sorry!”
Openly confused he said, “duh, I wouldn’t have to be TOLD to apologize if I was ‘seriously sorry’.”
She nearly took off her shoe right then and there.
“Don’t apologize unless-“
“Look, lady,” Mafew made a face, “I would love nothing more than to not apologize to you, because I’ve not done anything wrong. However I learned AGES ago to do as I’m told by specific people. Cause If I don’t…”
He shuddered.
“The federation say’s they don’t control you,” she dug, trying to get more information.
“They don’t,” Mafew threw the bag onto his pod. “That doesn’t mean I don’t respect specific people. If James cries over something I did, I would feel awful.”
“So,” she folded her arms, clenching her fists, “You’re not sorry to me, you’re sorry to your handlers.”
“…is that a problem? You are still getting an apology.”
“ITS A HUGE PROBLEM!”
Mafew rolled his eyes and groaned out loud, “Stop yelling at me, I can hear you just fine! If you want my respect, then earn it!”
Her face twitched, “EARN it?!”
“Did I stutter?”
“I don’t have to-“
“So let me get this straight,” Mafew poppied her stance, “You don’t have to earn my respect, but I’m - in your opinion- demanding I respect you for no reason?”
“Ugh,” she shook her head, “you are a human, yes? Not a halfbreed?”
Mafews head actually tilted to one side, completely confused.
“Then you SHOULD know how to respect those older than you!”
Mafew guffawed, “are you mental?!”
“May I intervene?” Gran asked, his scales nearly completely white and curling at the ends.
“No worries, Gran,” Mafew said, “I’m not in the mind to blame good people for the idiocy of one.”
“IDI!-“
“I have to leave,” Mafew announced reaching out to shake Grans hand, “I’ve done everything I came to do.”
“So you’re not going to actually apologize?” Sarah cut in.
Ignoring the older woman he got back onto his pod and waited for the deck to open.
She swore, throwing her hands up in the air before storming out.
Grans eyes spun and he gave a few swears of his own before following his First Mate. He was going to write a letter to the Boss as soon as possible.
()
Mafew pinged James and waited for the response.
“Be calm,” Ulra cautioned, “you might not get your friend on the other end.”
“Don’t care,” he shrugged, “I need more information.”
Ulra shook his plated head, “You learned some terrible habits from Marg…”
Mafew grinned, showing his teeth, “thank you.”