The Best Policy

Posted on Tue Sep 23rd, 2025 @ 2:47pm by Lieutenant JG Kally Kellerman & Captain Calypso Skyie

Mission: Lower Decks
Location: Cally's Quarters
Timeline: After Privet, Mama. Privet, Papa.

Kally walked down the familiar corridor to Cally's quarters, wringing her hands. She wasn't usually nervous going to talk to her friend-slash-lover, but this was different. This time, she needed to sort out herself, and that was never something she was good at. She was still dressed in a tshirt and undershorts, but for her that was somewhat overdressed, so she didn't worry about appearance.

She reached Cally's door and rang the chime, waiting patiently.

It was the lack of announcement of who it was that had Cally fairly curious. Most people said who they were, which meant she had a chance to determine whether to dress or not. No knowledge of who it was meant she grabbed the tank top and sweatshorts in camouflage that she kept in the front room as a just-in-case and pulled them on before triggering the door, "What can I do- Kally?" She asked in a confused tone, wondering for maybe half a second if this were Katie, but that one had latched onto someone else and wouldn't show up here, most likely. The posture that the twin had in front of her wasn't one of confidence, so she reached out for the elbow, "Come on in." She said as she glanced up and down the corridor.

Kally stepped inside and when the doors closed, immediately pulled Cally in for a hug. "I need some advice," she said without preamble. "I talked with my mother, but I value your opinion and...well, you get me."

Cally wrapped her arms around the smaller woman and held her tightly, sensing that this wasn't a late night booty call and didn't want to do anything to cause any questionable motive into play, "Any time, any day, about anything whatsoever." She said without hesitation.

Kally smiled at that and hugged her tighter. "Jadizon...well he and I had a talk," she said, everything spilling out. "He and Katie and I had this throuple thing going, and I wasn't being as exclusive as he wanted and it all came to a head tonight and I...I don't know how to feel about things."

"Then you came to the right place." Cally said, giving Kally a kiss on the forehead, not letting her go, "Let's go have a seat, I'll bring out some truly amazing junk food, some beers, the real stuff, and we can get you sorted out a little bit." She thought a moment, "Or should I have Shelly bring us up a really nice wine from her cellar?"

"Wine and junk food. Just what the doctor ordered," Kally said gratefully. "Thanks, Cally."

"Get comfy on the couch, I'll be right there." Cally finally released the other woman and nudged her to the furniture before she stepped over to the comm, keying in a comm code, "Hey Shelly, can you bring a bottle of your best wine, or something good, with some snacks? Mozzarella sticks, fried zucchini, you know, the stuff that just tastes really really good and is horrible for you?" There was a confirmation from the other side, "Thanks, I owe you one."

Kally walked over to Cally's couch and sat down, then pulled her legs up under her like Katie often did when she was upset. She leaned against the back of the couch and half-listened to the order, feeling her stomach growl involuntarily.

Cally grabbed one of the fuzzy blankets she kept folded up on a spare chair and spread it out, coming up from behind Kally and draped it around her, "Michelle said to wait a few minutes and she'll bring some fresh stuff right in, better than replicated I can guarantee you." She came back around the couch and slid into it right next to the younger woman, "So, a throuple with Katie and Jadizon, was it? Sounds like it could be fun, especially for him, maybe I should be jealous?" She winked as she wrapped an arm around her, to let her know she was kidding.

Kally looked up at Cally's smiling face and gave her a sad smile in return. She cuddled up and kissed Cally's cheek. "It was incredibly fun," she said. "And...I honestly am not sure why I've never asked you to join. You...you would appreciate his skills," she said, feeling her heart race at the thought.

Cally smiled wryly, “I’m sure I would, but I’d probably have had to decline, no matter how much fun it could be.. My own policy, you see, no chasing people in actual relationships, unless all parties are happy to be in an open one. I don’t come between people committed to one another, intentionally that is… But do, go on.”

"Truth be told, the sex has been phenomenal," Kally said. "Not a lot of guys who can keep up with both of us. Most of the nights I haven't been here with you, or with the girls, I've spent with him and Katie. But the romantic, dating, "girlfriend" stuff....that was more Katie's territory. Or, at least, I thought it was. I thought he just wanted me as the fun third in the bedroom. I did that job happily any time he asked and then some. Then, after I got hurt, he comes to my quarters and starts going off about how we're his mates and how I can't just be going off sleeping with half the crew when he expects the women he loves to be faithful." Her voice caught. "I had no idea I'd been hurting him and I...I felt so awful." She felt tears leak out and she leaned her head on Cally's shoulder.

Cally exhaled deeply through puffed cheeks even as she rubbed the opposite shoulder of Kally and reviewed what she knew of Jadizon and something her own brother had once talked about over a long distant comm, “Zheraya’Tel? Did he mention that?”

Kally nodded. "He wants to do it with both of us..." she said. "He said it was a bonding ritual...I assuming it had to do with establishing a mental and emotional link between telepaths. I just...assumed that is the Betazoid version of getting engaged or something."

“I see…” Calypso squeezed a little tighter, “Okay, I really do see what he was thinking, but it’s a bit more difficult than that with well, a ‘mundane’, is the best term to use for someone that doesn’t have telepathy or empathic abilities like a Betazoid. The link is more tenuous and a heavier load on the Betazoid. It shows his intent, but it’s not ever something to go into lightly. I couldn’t, I don’t think, not after what I’ve been through, I wouldn’t want to burden anyone else with my own issues.”

Kally wrapped her arms protectively around Cally as she often did when the older woman mentioned her past. "Katie already shared a link with him," she said. "She told me about it. She said she felt him down to the depths of his soul. She said it hurt, but she'd do it again, because she felt how much love had had for us." She sighed. "She really is nuts about him," she gave a small smile.

“Yeah, they’re doing it right.” Calypso half-shuddered at the thought of being so close to someone you could almost literally know what they were thinking. Most Betazoids looked forward to finding someone to share that with, it was a bond closer than what humans called marriage, and her words were true. The chime sounded and Cally extricated herself from Kally’s arms, giving her a brief kiss, “Hold on one second, sugar.”

She padded in bare feet over to the door and shared a few words with her niece who had brought a platter, with a bucket that clinked, bringing it back in. The section came loose to a smorgasbord of snack type foods, not only the mentioned two items, but also chicken wings, celery sticks, carrots and a couple other delights. The bucket was full of ice, with two glasses and a bottle of wine that had enough dust to be considered aged enough. Cally slid it onto the table and snagged one of the fried cheese sticks immediately.

Kally's nose twitched at the smell of food and her mouth watered. She hadn't realized it but she had barely eaten since the day before, and she was ravenous. She picked up a piece of fried zucchini and took a bite, then nearly inhaled the rest, making a mental note to have her mother learn how to make it. Another piece followed suit and when Cally offered her a glass of wine, she took it, smiling shyly as she swallowed a mouthful. She wiped her mouth and sat back, smiling. "Thank you," she said.

“It wasn’t a problem, and Michelle knows I get hungry at odd times, so she’s got at least someone on call for me.” Cally didn’t want to preen, because she was concerned about Kally.

Kally took a slow, deep sip of her wine and watched it swirl around the glass, thinking. "There's...one more wrinkle." She said, quietly.

“There is?” Cally reached for the blanket and lifted the edge of it to slide underneath it, not to remove it from the other woman, “Let’s see if we can smooth it out.”

"Something my mother said. She wanted me to think about when I'm really happy, and who I'm with when I am." She looked up at Cally. "Lord knows, that man can put a smile on my face." She gave Cally a knowing grin, but it faded and she put her wine glass down. "But...when I was upset the other day over what happened...when I wanted to go talk to someone and get my feelings out, he wasn't the one I thought of. He wasn't the one I wanted to hug me and tell me it would be okay." She looked Cally in the eye, biting her lip nervously.

That caught Calypso short as she started to respond without thinking, but stopped. Her memory went into overdrive as she recalled other times when Kally had been down and a bit out, her showing up wherever she had been at. Without even thinking it, she wrapped an arm back around Kally, not missing her eyes and with the greatest effort opened her empathic sense to just… See, then shut it again before she could be overwhelmed by what she’d felt. It hit her like a brick and the words that Katie was nuts about Jadizon, but not herself. It made sense in many respects and she felt warm inside even after she’d shut the doors again and she pulled Kally in closer. “Oh sweetness.” She said, not sure what else could be said in the moment.

Kally wrapped her arms around Cally and hugged her tight. "I just...I need you to understand," she said, "I am not asking for anything to change. I love you and him both, and I love having my girls in my life. I love our dynamic and I don't need more from you I just...I'm trying to figure out my honest feelings with Jadizon, and that led me to honest feelings about us and I wanted you to know how I felt."

The words caused Cally to collapse in on herself mentally for several long seconds and reflect on herself just as Kally had obviously done. And she did the unthinkable again, opening her empathic sense a little more than before because it was to her people what heart sickness was to humans, a way to reflect upon one’s emotions. Just as before she felt the love flowing off of Kally, but just as true it wasn’t all in one direction. The seconds dragged out in silence as Cally closed her physical eyes to see, and to reflect upon herself, seeing that part of her seemed just that much more complete. A slight smile crossed unbidden on her face as she just sat there in a hug with Kally.

"If...if I've overstepped..." Kally said, quietly.

“No, no!” Cally said suddenly, blinking twice as her reflexive shields went right back up again, cutting off the emotional input which had been overloading her, “No.” Stated again firmly, “I got.. Lost. If I tried to tell you I didn’t love you, and I mean love, I would be a liar and a fool. But I love you for precisely who you are, not for who or what you could do for me, though you’re the one I call in the middle of the night when something’s bothering me… Or I’m suffering from a massive sunburn. And I wouldn’t want anything to change, especially not you, in any way. Did I miss out on a threesome with a pair of hot twins? Yes, but I think I’d know which one was you even without cheating.”

Kally gave a soft laugh. "Could've had one any time just by asking," she said. "And that sunburn..." She sighed. "I was thinking about that all last night. I was wedged between Jadizon and Katie, feeling safe and calm....and I didn't even hesitate to come see you. And after you were settled....I had absolutely no need to go back to Katie's quarters. I was so happy to stay with you." She kissed Cally's neck and squeezed her tight. "Thank you....for everything."

"I should thank you, you know.. And you're welcome to come over whenever, I'll update the computer to let you in without needing to ask." She smiled very softly, "But dead serious, I don't want you to change and if I did, how would you know it was me?"

Kally smiled. "All right then," she said. "And you're always welcome at my place. Not that you weren't already," she said. She suddenly got a grin and just dove in, kissing Cally. She let all her feelings out in that kiss, making it last as long as she could.

Cally didn't hesitate to return the kiss with all the emotion she wouldn't let herself show in front of everyone else, because she was the Captain. She let herself get lost in the other blonde, her feel, her smell, her hands going up to cup her face to hold her there as long as she could keep her.

Now I know how Henry feels, Kally thought to herself as they paused and she caught her breath. She sat back and grabbed another piece of food, munching thoughtfully. "You know," she said at last, "there were days between 'The Klingon Incident" and when I received my transfer orders, where I almost regretted having those Klingon ambassadors over." She looked at Cally and got a sheepish grin. "But now...I'm so lucky I did."

"So I'm comparable to a Klingon?" Calypso snorted in teasing laughter, intentionally misunderstanding the story, "Death, honour and screwing your brains out?" She snickered again, "Well, I suppose it's better than being compared to a Romulan or..." Her voice grew lower and more conspiratorial, "A Dashian?"

"I would never insult you so," Kally declared, giggling. "Although, technically you've gotten me off even more than they have. Of course, you've had more opportunity. Still, quite a brag to say you can outdo a Klingon in something." She grinned and put a hand on Cally's thigh, leaning forward and kissing her softly.

Calypso savored the kiss, holding it without deepening it, just letting her arms wrap around Kally while she settled in, then of course the thought hit her, “So, does this mean I have an actual girlfriend?” She asked Kally, “Because if it does, then I may just have to come up with a pet name for you that’s innocuous that I can say out there that only has meaning between you and me.”

Kally leaned against her and stared at the floor in shock. "I um....yeah....I think we have girlfriends..." she said, a bit of awe in her voice. To say this was uncharted territory was putting it beyond mildly, but the more she rolled the idea around in her head, the more obvious it seemed. From the moment she'd met her, Cally had put a smile on her face. She never questioned their bond, she just assumed it was because they were so alike. She'd heard opposites attract, which she used to justify her feelings for Jadizon, which were now causing her more confusion than ever. "But...knowing that...why don't I love Jadizon less than before? He's still important to me...that's normal?" She looked up at Cally, genuine confusion on her face.

“A better question would be why would you love him less? There’s no limit in someone’s heart to love just one person.” Cally chuckled lightly at the confusion, “Oh sure, there’s love as family, love as friends and love as well, love-love, but I don’t think that being in love with more than one person is the end of the world and impossible. I could tell you about my flight training wing, thought I was in love with five of them, dated three at the same time and they all knew about each other. Still keep in touch with one, though haven’t seen him in years, we keep making plans for when we do. And then there are the one-timers, the regular visitors and people like you. Am I IN love with any of the others? I doubt it, but I do love some of them and keep them in a special place in my heart.”

Kally nodded. She was hearing much of the same speech she'd given before to Jadizon and others. Even then, there weren't many who got to that status. She reached over and refilled their glasses, taking hers and settling back against Cally. "We ship out tomorrow," she said, quietly, thinking how much had happened in so short a time. "I had to strip Henry and throw him in his shower today because of Lady Sera's visit." She shook her head. "Sometimes I think that's why I avoided love so much...I don't want to wind up crying in bed, mourning something like that. It's...it's too much."

“I started off the way I am because I didn’t want anyone to mourn me when I was gone. Being a Marine in the middle of the Dominion War didn’t bode well for long term survival, neither was being a shuttle or especially fighter pilot give anyone the thought they’d live a long life.” Cally shook her head, “Even after they kicked me out the cockpit after the second major crash, I just didn’t change. ‘Live life for today, for tomorrow we die’ was the phrase, and I lived that life. Honestly, I’ve slowed down a fair bit since then, had to become more respectable you know?”

Kally let out a snort and swiped another snack, then another, then another, munching thoughtfully. She drained her wine glass and set it down on the coffee table carefully. "You failed," she finally said after her mouth was empty.

"I know, I know, and it's hard for me to be seen as respectable at times." Cally said with a bit of a hole in her gut. She'd failed at that?

"You're going to be mourned," Kally said, pulling the blanket up over them as Cally blinked in surprise. "I just hope that day won't come for a long time." Being on the shorter side, Kally was usually the one in someone's lap, so turning over and straddling Cally's waist had become second nature to her. She leaned forward and kissed her girlfriend tenderly. "So...we live for today...but maybe we also kinda plan on being there for each other tomorrow, hm?"

"You know what?" Cally placed her hands around Kally's own waist, resting them on her hips, "I think I could get used to that idea." And there were no more words for a while.