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Apollonia’s mind was not on her macaroni and cheese as she sat down at the dining table.
Poking at a noodle and watching it slide away from her spork, she frowned. This had been one of the staple non-algae based foods she’d eaten on Hellrock, and the stuff on the Craton was better than any she’d ever tasted.
But right now she was still just confused as hell, her mind trying to figure out some words. Time felt like it was slipping away, and sending a message off to Squats on Sand’s family a month after his death felt horrible, like she’d be ripping open a wound that was just closing.
She didn’t even notice as Jaya approached, until she sat down across from her.
“Oh!” she said, jumping, her motion jerking the noodle she’d been poking until it flew off her plate onto the table.
Jaya looked at the macaroni with an arched eyebrow.
“I shall take that as a sign that you are having difficulty with your letter.”
“Yeah,” Apollonia agreed, wiping up her spilled food.
“I imagine you know that ranking officers typically write such letters to family after someone has died. While there are many things that are the same in all of them, they remain the hardest part of the job,” Jaya told her.
“Have you . . . ?”
“I’ve written them before, yes,” Jaya replied, but did not elaborate.
Apollonia couldn’t think of what to say; it was a difficult topic, and there was no easy method, no way out. Yet she wanted to do it. It was important, right?
If she had had family, she knew she’d hold them close, and if they had died, well . . . She’d want a letter, no matter how much it hurt to read.
“After a battle I have a tradition that I hold to, and being on Gohhi makes it even easier,” Jaya said.
Caught in her own thoughts, Apollonia took a few moments to register Jaya’s words. “What’s that?”
“I am going for a drink,” Jaya replied.
“You drink?” Apollonia asked.
“Of course, at times. And sometimes I even get drunk. Do you?”
“I . . . not really,” Apollonia admitted. “I mean, I have had alcohol, just not often.”
“That surprises me,” Jaya replied.
“And that’s my line about you! I thought you’d be the responsible type who never touched the stuff. I can’t even imagine you letting your hair down – literally, do you always keep it in a bun?”
Jaya chuckled. “Yes, well even I’m human,” she replied, sounding like it was only somewhat a joke. “And it is not healthy or wise. But sometimes we need something to break the monotony, to help us release the tension.”
Apollonia considered. “I guess it can’t hurt, can it?”
“Only a little,” Jaya replied. “We won’t be the only ones, several other officers will be going, though they’ll be drinking apart from us. Response have their own traditions, after all.”
Apollonia nodded, feeling both cautiously excited and nervous. “Thanks for inviting me. When are we going?”
“Right now,” Jaya said. “Or did you wish to continue playing with your macaroni?”
Other Terrestrial 
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