Amy cleared her throat. "Uh, Charybdis and I aren't exactly the same age either. And that shouldn't matter if the attraction and the love are there. But you and Justin would make for some extra complications, huh?"
"Frack yeah" Brie replied.
"If it wasn't for all that felgercarb, Brie, how would you feel about him then?"
"It doesn't matter," Brie replied. "The complications aren't going to go away. Did you know that he's missing right now? Lucian is leading a group to look for him. I was sealed to a warrior and went through hades and back because of it, I can't do that again. Next time the mental breakdown just might be real."
"I'm not asking you to think logically," Amy told her. "I asked how you'd feel about him without all the felgercarb. What if we were to find Earth tomorrow, the Earthlings could destroy the Cylon Empire, and we'd all be safe? There go your complications."
Brie smiled. "See, Amy, that's a major difference between you and me. You listen to your heart, but I have to think everything through and analyze it. And even if we did find Earth tomorrow there would still be other complications."
"Like what?" Amy asked.
Brie started to blush again. "Skyler."
Back for a couple of weeks, and already I'm offending people...
"Why do I bother?" a quote from a good friend of mine.
Taking over the world with cyborg robot squirrels...
"Woh" Amy said. "You've been hanging around me too long! Brie, don't you realize the multiple boyfriend thing is nothing but trouble? And here I thought it was cause you and Justin were squad leaders! Skyler? Really?"
Brie nodded. She was blushing!
Amy leaned forward. "Tell me more." Then she realized she'd forgotten her place. "If you want to" she added. "Sir."
"I don't have any boyfriends," Brie corrected. “And wipe that grin off your face. Of course I want to tell you, you're my best bud. There’s nothing going on between Skyler and me. There’s kind of a mutual admiration and a thought that if circumstances were different...”
“He’s not bad to look at either,” Amy added.
“He’s in love with me,” Brie said plainly. She thought for a micron. “Amy, you have to promise me that this conversation won’t leave this room. Even if the Cylons were to stick needles under your fingernails or poke out...”
“Kind of a double standard, isn’t it?" Amy teased. "You want Charybdis and me to keep you informed.”
“Totally different circumstances,” Brie said. “You two are actually involved. Skyler and I aren’t. We just have these feelings but we’ll never act on them. We both know our place.”
“You said he’s in love with you,” Amy remarked. “Are you with him?”
“I don’t know,” Brie replied honestly. “I thought that maybe I was headed in that direction, but then if I was why would it be so easy to care about Justin? I also sometimes wonder if I picked Skyler, knowing that we couldn’t be together, because it could spare me from getting hurt like I did when Turner died. Go after someone unobtainable, something like that. But I do really care about him. And as you said, he's not bad to look at. Then again neither is Justin. I don't know, maybe I should just go after Lazant.”
"You and Lazant as well?" Amy asked.
Brie laughed. "No, we're just friends. But it would be worth it to see the look on Charybdis' face!"
Back for a couple of weeks, and already I'm offending people...
"Why do I bother?" a quote from a good friend of mine.
Taking over the world with cyborg robot squirrels...
"It'd probably be the same look that I have on my face" Amy said laughing. "Lazant? Gag! Now Skyler I could see. He's got a nice butt. Hot too. And you can't go wrong with Justin either. Beautiful eyes. Lazant though? The guy's a freak. Likes to play with swords."
"If you want less complications, what about Lucian, Brie? He's available, isn't he? A major, a bridge officer, fair game..." She elbowed Brie in the ribs, gently, a smile on her face. It'd been a long time since she had the chance for some good old fashioned girl talk, and it felt good.
"Wait a centon," Brie said, holding up one hand. "Since when am I looking for a man? Lucian is a nice guy and really good at what he does, but except professionally I hardly even know him. And if I were looking I think I'd go outside of the military. It doesn't matter how nice Skyler's butt is or how beautiful Justin's eyes are."
"So you've noticed," Amy teased.
Brie started to blush again. “Can't you just imagine Skyler in a triad uniform?" She smiled. "All I know is that I tend to get in trouble when I drink too much, so that won’t happen again. Skyler and I had kept all feelings nicely hidden until we got drunk together one time, and I already told you about Justin. So don’t expect me to offer the toast at your sealing.”
“Will you bring a date?” Amy asked, mostly joking.
“I should bring Lazant,” Brie said again. “Even if he is a freak. Or Major Jorlan. He and I hate each other so it would make for an interesting couple of centars.”
“Okay, I know you said you’re not looking,” Amy said. “But if you were, what would you be looking for?”
“I don’t know,” Brie replied. “I’ve never looked. Turner asked me out on a bet that I had found out about. The only reason I agreed was because I planned to publicly humiliate him. But I fell in love with him instead. I can't imagine anything like that ever happening again." She sighed. "As I said, a civilian would be nice. Intelligence and a sense of humor are important." She paused. "And he would have to be younger than I am. Eleven yahrens is a bit much, but his being younger is really important."
"Say that again?" Amy asked. "I was just picturing Skyler in a Triad uniform..." She sighed at the thought.
"Amy!"
"Well, you brought it up" Amy laughed. "Okay, seriously. Why would your special someone have to be younger? Aside from the... ahem... obvious reasons."
Brie had a reason but one that she wasn't about to share with anyone, especially Amy. "Simple," she replied. "Assuming that my luck holds up and I'm not killed by the Cylons or some psychopath, I'm planning on living to a ripe old age. Women live longer than men. I've already been widowed once, I don't really want to go through that again."
"Is that the only reason?" Amy asked.
"That, and look around," Brie said. "I'm older than most of the guys on this ship. Although, you know, I'd be more than willing to forget this rule of mine if the date involved that Doctor Noah. You think maybe Zerra will introduce me if I agree to do the interview?"
"Dream on," Amy joked.
"Yeah I know," Brie said with a sigh. "It's so strange, though. I've never thought like this before in my entire life. Growing up I was in competition with all the boys, and then...career always came first. It still does, but suddenly I'm letting myself look. Did you know that I'm going to be 43 in a couple of sectars? I'm too old for this."
Back for a couple of weeks, and already I'm offending people...
"Why do I bother?" a quote from a good friend of mine.
Taking over the world with cyborg robot squirrels...
"No way, Brie" Amy said. "You've got a long way to go yet, and a lot to give. Being your age hasn't stopped Justin or Skyler from being drawn to you. You are attractive, incredibly wise and smart, and half the warriors in the fleet would be honored to be at your side." She leaned in to whisper, adding "Or on top of you, under you..." She leaned back, winking.
Brie lightly punched Amy in the arm. "Ow," Amy said, pretending to be hurt.
“You’re just trying to make me blush some more,” Brie observed.
Amy continued to laugh. “Hitting your pregnant daughter. The IFB would just love to hear about this.”
“Only if you like turboflush duty,“ Brie shot back. “You know, Amy, there’s not another person in the fleet that I could have this conversation with. I know it sounds hollow, but I’m really glad that you came back. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”
Back for a couple of weeks, and already I'm offending people...
"Why do I bother?" a quote from a good friend of mine.
Taking over the world with cyborg robot squirrels...