Posted by Lieutenant Si’Rek (Chief Engineer) in Post-Sim: XO’s Quarters - A time to catch up

Posted by Commander Siadra Enai (Executive Officer) in Post-Sim: XO’s Quarters - A time to catch up

Posted by Lieutenant Si’Rek (Chief Engineer) in Post-Sim: XO’s Quarters - A time to catch up
Posted by… suppressed (8) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

Si’Rek set aside his wine and went and sat down in front of Liara after he pulled her chair out. He took both of her hands in his blue and gray ones and looked at her directly.

“Wee one… no one can be happy all the time. Like your mother said… sad is normal sometimes. But it is what we do with that sadness that matters. We can let it tell us what to do, or we can tell it what to do. And right now, you and your mother are dealing with a big sadness. And those take longer to talk to than a little sadness. But it will be okay. Just maybe not right now. And thats okay, tor’qe. Because now you two are here. And I am here. And now we get to start being friends again, right? Isn’t that a good thing?”

Si’Rek, CE

For a moment or two, Liara simply looked at Si’Rek, but eventually a small smile began to pull at the corners of her lips and she nodded a little. Taking her hands out of his, she wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a soft, if slightly wet kiss on his cheek. “Yes, it is,” she said with her arms still around his neck. “I miss my friends and teachers and my home, but I’m happy we are here with you.” Pulling slightly back and looking earnestly at him, she asked, “You aren’t going to leave, are you?”

~Liara

He laughed and said “No, dear one. I am here for a long while, I think. Besides… why would I leave? You just got here!” and he hugged her back and then said “Now… let’s eat.” and he smiled and sat back at the table.

“Maybe Starfleet will make you or something happens to you,“ Liara replied seriously.

Si’Rek shrugged, but not dismissively. “True. But if we spend all of our time wondering what if, then we miss out on what is happening right now. So are you going to worry about something that might happen? Or are you going to enjoy the fact that we are all here now? It’s an important choice to make, tor’qe.”

“I guess I’d rather enjoy this moment than worry, but I’m not sure how,” Liara replied thoughtfully.

He looked at Siadra and said “We will get through all of this together… right?”

Si’Rek, CE

“Right,“ Siadra replied with a worried expression as she looked at her daughter. Once there was a new counsellor on board she would take her to them. This was more than the normal discomfort of moving and settling in at a new place.

Pushing those thoughts and worried aside, at least for now, she said, “And just like I am not allowed to have a PaDD while we’re eating, you aren’t allowed to have toys or in this case tricorders either. Remember?“

“Yes, mummy,“ Liara replied reluctantly as she put the device away while her mother filled her plate.

~Siadra & Liara

Si’Rek stage-whispered to Liara “I’ll show you how to use that after dinner.” and he winked.

Si’Rek

“Yes, please,” Liara beamed and reached for her fork.

‘Thank you’ Siadra mouthed as she handed Si’Rek the serving utensils so he could fill his plate next.

While they ate, all three of them continued to chat and Siadra made sure to keep things light while also giving her daughter ample amount of opportunities to talk to Si’Rek and tell him about school and all the things she liked to do. After all, the two of them would have more then enough time to talk once Liara was in bed

And of course after dinner he kept his promise and showed her how to use the tricorder. As he did so, Siadra simply watched them in silence; feeling happy and relieved, not to mention grateful. He was so wonderful with Liara and able to show and teacher her things that she couldn’t. Things that Kialeni would have taught her as well.

But eventually it was time for Liara to go to bed. “Just five more minutes. Please!” Liara begged while Siadra shook her head. “I already gave you more time when you asked five minutes ago and it is long past your bed time, sweetheart,” Siadra replied gently, but firmly. “But-” Siadra shook her head. “No but’s. And Si’Rek is not going to leave this ship any time soon. Okay? So you’ll have many opportunities to spend more time together.” At that she looked at Si’Rek, hoping that she wasn’t overstepping.

~Siadra & Liara

“Listen to your mother, tor’qe. Go to bed now, and get some rest. Tomorrow you can come down to Engineering and I’ll let you jettison the warp core!” and he smiled at Liara.

“Really?!” Liara asked and bounced up and down in excitement. “Only if you go to bed now,” Siadra replied and then pushed her daughter gently towards her bedroom. As she passed Si’Rek, “As your superior officer I object to the jettison of the warp care. I’m not an engineer, but I’m pretty sure we kinda need it.”

Si’Rek laughed and said “Running drills tomorrow, Commander… thats all. She can push the big red button and set off all the lights and alarms. And I’m glad to see that they are teaching you Command people things… like you need a warp core or ship no go zoom through space.” and he laughed again, helping with Liara…

After Liara was in bed and settled, Si’Rek looked at Siadra and said “Now… may I help clean up?”

Si’Rek

“Sure,” Siadra replied as she made her way over to the table. “Thanks to the replicator there isn’t a whole lot to do, but I learned my less and generally don’t refuse help anymore,” she continued as she stacked their plates and then carried them over to the replicator to recycle them.

~Siadra & Liara

Once everything was done, Si’Rek sat and said “So… now that it is just us… how are you really, Siadra?”

Si’Rek, Old Friend

Sitting down again as well, Siadra was silent for a moment. Looking at Si’Rek, she let her guard down a little. She was still smiling, but the fatigue she felt was showing a little. “On the one hand I’m doing well. After the first several months I eventually admitted that I needed help and I’ve been getting better ever since. But Si’Rek … I still miss her every day. Even after all those years. I’m also glad to be here and I’m so happy that you are here as well. At the same time I’m very worried about Liara. I knew moving would be difficult for her. The Four Winds is the only home she remembers. I just didn’t think it would be this difficult for her. It makes me second guess my decision; first to do the Command training and then to accept this new position. Sometimes it just feels like it’s too much.”

~Siadra

Si’rek smiled softly at her and said “Of course you still miss her, Siadra. She was your love. I think part of you will always miss her. And that is as it should be. But rather than miss what is lost, cherish what remains. Your love for her is so strong, so grounding. Use it. Use it to keep going. Because Kialeni would be so very, very upset with you for dwelling on the past.” and he smiled and looked up for a moment, his eyes closed. “She was a light. She made everything around her brighter.” and he opened his eyes and looked at Siadra. “So let your love for her do the same. Be the light for Liara. And then for you. That is what she would want for you both.” and he took her hand and squeezed it. “That… and that terrible terrible candy she always ate.” and he laughed heartily, but quietly so as not to wake up Liara. “Oh, but that just smelled foul… and she would eat a piece and then come to my desk and ask questions with lots of ‘H’ sounds.” and he laughed again as a tear welled up in his eye. He looked at Siadra and said with a bittersweet smile “I would trade almost anything for that smell again.” and he laughed even as a tear fell down his face.

Si’Rek, CE

“Oh gosh, they were awful! I tried them once. I think during our second date. It made me feel so nauseous,” Siadra chuckled softly and then reached for Si’Rek’s hand. Giving it a gentle squeeze, she continued, “She was always so much stronger than I am. Always cheerful and always an optimist. Almost to a fault at times. She talked about you so often. You have always been such a great friend to her.” A soft smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she thought about Leni. “And you are right, she wouldn’t want me to dwell. She’d probably kick my behind and tell me that I need to continue living. For Liara, for her, for myself. And I want to. It’s just so hard at times.”

~Siadra