In the Knowing of a Person

Posted on Wed Jul 12th, 2023 @ 4:35pm by Ensign Eden Drake & Lieutenant Magnus Volsung

1,629 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: The devil wears tripolymer
Location: Security

[ON]

Lieutenant Magnus Volsung frowned slightly as he walked into the office, rubbing his neck with a little discomfort. He hadn't slept right and only Allfather knew why he wasn't sleeping right. Of course, he may have been sleeping too much on the left. He looked over at Drake, pausing for a moment. Since coming here, he hadn't had a chance to speak to the Ensign, not in private. Staff meetings, the usual department things...but he didn't know the man. And if there was one thing he had learned was that you needed to know those you worked with. "Eden, my office," he said and walked through, heading to the replicator.

"Yes, Sir..." Eden Drake replied, but with mild surprise. He wasn't sure what he'd done...or not done...to warrant it. He followed him, pushing the questions aside. Trying to guess wouldn't help, or change it if it was bad.

"Do you want something to drink?" Magnus said as he looked at him, holding the other man's eyes for a moment before smiling to soften it. He realised that maybe it wasn't the best thing to just call him in without a reason.

"I..." he paused, but relaxed a little with it. It hadn't been the opening he'd expected. But it was preferable to a dressing down. "Yes, Sir...it's about time for a cup of coffee, actually."

Magnus nodded as he walked to the replicator. "How do you take it?" he asked, glancing his way before getting his own. "Coffee, black, hot." And watched it just appear as if from some magic. He would never get used to it.

"The same will be fine...thanks, Sir," Eden took the chance to glance around the office, trying to find out more about his chief. He hadn't been in there often, and certainly not for any real length of time. He'd heard rumours that he was one of the calmest Security chiefs most had worked with.

He got one for him as well, smiling as he walked to him and handed it to him as he met his eyes, watching the taller dark-haired man. "Here you go. Sit and drink with me," he said, the words having an odd formality to them in standard. He pulled back and sat down with his own mug, his hands curled around the ceramic to feel the heat. "This is the third ship you have served on. How does it compare to the Verity and Aura?" he asked, a genuine question that showed he remembered his file, as well as had an interest in how his experiences on the Wolff was so far.

Eden blinked, thrown for a second. He'd never spoken to a chief who knew his record from memory. He cleared his throat to cover the pause, considering seriously before replying. "The Aura didn't see a huge amount of action, but frankly, some of the security team had become soft because of it," he shrugged in a matter of fact way...there was no ridicule or judgement in the words, just stating the fact. "Verity had a harder time of it. We were boarded twice in a year."

"Not a pleasant experience," Magnus said, taking a slow breath as he sat back in his chair. He had experienced it too and it was not something you just shook it off. "I am hoping it won't be as harsh here. Although in my experience, things go wrong somewhere. And you have enough training to think outside of the box, which is an asset to us."

"I hope so," Eden said quietly. Because it was the only asset he had. His background was so bedded in fighting and guarding that it was all he had known. "Fire can change quickly on the ground, you never know which way it will turn."

"One gust of wind and it turns on you," Magnus nodded as he watched him, understanding where he had come from. "You are a good fighter. It might not be what Starfleet enjoys hearing, or saying, but it is needed as well. To defend Starfleet and what it stands for. To be both a shield and a sword."

"No one knows they're going to need it until it's too late," Eden pointed out seriously, frowning as he shook his head. "But rest assured, Sir, I know when to stand back too." Now, anyway. He now knew when to stand back. Most times.

Magnus studied him closely, taking in how he looked. "Not too much, I hope," he finally said. "I expect to be told when I am making a huge mistake. Ideally in private..." he smiled at the last bit, raising an eyebrow. "Relax, Eden...please. I am not reviewing you, I am getting to know you. It goes both ways...if you had any questions about me."

Eden studied him, making sure he meant it. Some officers were good at saying it but not actually meaning it. His shoulders relaxed as he let out a soft breath, physically forcing himself to relax. "What do you expect from your officers?"

"Their best," Magnus said before he smiled. "That is different for every one. I expect your honesty and your loyalty to the ship...to be truthful when something is happening. To...keep what the Federation stands for close to heart. And occasionally, do boring reports for me."

Eden gave a weak, half smile at the last, clearing his throat as he looked down. He still wasn't especially good or fond of writing. "How will you know what my best is?"

"That is when I have to just trust you," Magnus said, chuckling at that. He watched him, studying his face. "And I do."

"And you can," he replied easily, meeting his eyes and holding them intently, so he could see the sincerity. "I work hard, and I expect everyone around me to do the same," he said bluntly.

"Good, you can help keep me in check," he said to Eden, with humour, before he looked down with a small smile. "Any hobbies?" he changed the subject, interested in knowing more about the man. And such things were not listed in the personnel file.

"I like to keep fit and active," Eden said softly, and paused. The Chief was clearly trying to find out more about him, and he was just giving him the same 'I'm ready to act' line. He cleared his throat, thinking about it for a moment. "Anything to get the blood pumping, you know? Sports...especially winter sports. I like the extra element of...luck."

"Do you ski?" he asked, watching Eden with a small smile. He could see it was more difficult for Eden to adjust to the conversation. The pauses, the way he cleared his throat. A driven man who took pride in his work, but might struggle more with the social aspects of life. That, or it was just nerves.

"I love to ski," Eden admitted, looking down almost embarrassed at being 'caught out' with it. "I was on the team at the Academy. They took us to the mountains in Europe."

Magnus smiled, watching him for a long moment. "I love to ski, but couldn't get my head around the new equipment so I...didn't join the team."

"I could....show you, if you like?" he offered before shrugging with a small smile. "To be honest, I prefer old fashioned skiing though. There's more...rawness about it."

"Well, we can...show each other," Magnus said with a small smile, raising an eyebrow. "You have not tried skiing before you have done it on wood..." it was said playfully as a challenge, but he was fully aware that Eden most likely could hold his own on two planks of wood down a snowy slope.

Eden chuckled softly, looking down with amusement in the way he said it, rubbing the bridge of his nose for a while. "You're that keen to see your new officer fall on his arse?" he finally said.

Magnus watched him, pretending to be serious before he smiled and held his hands out to the side. "I am always keen for a good laugh," he said, before he folded his hands. "I will even exchange it for the story of how I reacted when I first went off-planet."

"Deal," Eden finally grinned. A real grin, with relaxed emotion rather than guarded professionalism.

"Deal then," Magnus said with an answering grin, nodding. "Thank you for your time. I...like to get to know those I work with."

"I'm just relieved I'm not in trouble," he shook his head with a soft chuckle as he looked down. "No one wants to be called in by the boss."

"I will always make it clear if I can, if it is something important professionally, or something more...social. Touching base," Magnus said, meaning it as he watched the other man.

Eden nodded carefully, standing in a single, fluid motion, straightening his jacket just a touch. "And if you need me to run through some training sessions for assessment, I'm able."

"I don't need to run you through your paces to know your worth," Magnus said, his voice gentle. "Besides, I'll be training with you all."

Eden watched him for a long moment, a touch of playfulness breaking through as he gave a brief smile. "Maybe I like being put through my paces," he gave a light salute before heading out.

Magnus watched him go, a small smile coming to him. "I bet," he breathed as the doors closed behind the man and he shook his head. It was good to get a better understanding of the other man.

OFF:

Lieutenant Magnus Volsung
Chief Security Officer

&

Ensign Eden Drake
Security Officer

 

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