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 Commander Siadra Enai (Executive Officer) in Post-Sim: XO’s Quarters - A time to catch up
Posted by… suppressed (9) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

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

“She was a good friend… and the most amazing Engineer I have ever known.” For Si’Rek, a being who believed that all disciplines were less than Engineers, that was a compliment of the first order. “And yes, she would. And if I was here and she knew I let you wallow in your grief, she would kick mine as well. So with that in mind…” and he stood up and looked down at her, “From now on, you are not allowed to wallow in your grief.” His voice was sharp, hard, but not unkind… just firm. “Your loss is not just yours, Siadra. We all lost her. And for you to behave like you are the only one suffering is a slap in the face to the rest of us. You may grieve, but not alone. If you feel lost, you call me. If you hurt and it just won’t stop, you call me. If you just need someone to hit you with a hyperspanner to bring you back on line, you call me. Understand?” and he held his mottled blue-gray hand out to her.

Si’Rek

Siadra flinched slightly at the sharpness of his words and tone. She had never seen it as selfish, but he was right. “I’m sorry Si’Rek. You are right. I was selfish and I didn’t even realise it. I shouldn’t have pushed you away. Everything and everyone that reminded me of her … it was just too much and when I got better, I felt to guilty and too ashamed. I didn’t know how to mend to the relationships I had broken. I’m so sorry Si’Rek,” she replied, looking up at him as tears started to roll down her cheeks.

~Siadra

“Siadra… we all knew how much you hurt. And we have forgiven you a hundred times over. Now? Now I think it is time to forgive yourself, too. And shame is for those who did something wrong and cannot be forgiven. As I said… you are forgiven and loved more than you know. You and that little tor’qe in there.” and he laughed and shook his extended hand at her. “Take it. Take it and agree that you are moving forward from this moment on. That the past is the past and you will work every day to create a brighter future for your family.”

Si’Rek

“Thank you Si’Rek,” Siadra replied as she reached for his hand. But she did more than just take his hand. She rose to her feet and with one hand still holding his, she gave him a tight, one-armed embrace. “I sometimes wonder why I deserve people like you in my life, but I’m so grateful. And I promise you, I’ll do what I can to only look forward from here on instead of still dwelling in the past at times. Liara deserves better than that. And so does everyone else in my life.”

Letting go of his hand, Siadra took a small step back and rested her hand lightly on Si’Rek’s chest. “Thank you for calling me out, my friend,” she whispered.

~Siadra

“You are most welcome. Thank you for being present to be called out. It is a refreshing change.” and he smiled at her. “Now! Plans for the future. Lets us drink and discuss, shall we?” and he picked up their wine glasses, handed hers to her and gestured back at the couch.

Si’Rek

Siadra felt another stab of guilt, but simply nodded as she took her glass from him. Sitting back down, she curled up slightly, her legs tugged underneath her. But not in a protective or anxious way, but as if she was slowly beginning to really feel at ease as well. Taking a sip of her wine, she asked, “So what do you have in mind, Si’Rek?“

~Siadra

“Well… what are your plans for the ship? For your quarters? For educating Liara? I want to hear it all. And I want you to know that I am here for you to bounce ideas off of. And I assure you you will only get my most honest possible opinion.” and he chuckled.

Si’Rek

“Thank you Si’Rek,” Siadra replied and rested her elbow on the back rest, propping her chin up with her hand. “Well, for the ship: The short term goal is to fill every vacant position, most importantly that of the Chief Medical Officer and Counsellor. Though I’ll be filling the latter in addition to my duties as First Officer till we have a new Ship’s Counsellor. After the last mission I feel like people might need someone to talk to. And not everyone did their psych eval after arriving on board.” She gave Si’Rek a knowing look and a wink.

“As for these quarters,” Siadra looked around and sighed softly. “First step: Finish unpacking. And then: I’m not sure, maybe change some pieces of furniture. Add an area rug. Something like that. Whatever it takes to make it feel more like a home and less like a standard quarter on a starship. I want Liara to feel comfortable and safe here. And regarding her education, I’m not sure yet. I wanted to give her a couple of days. Let her settle down and settle in. She has never been great at handling change and unknown situations. My sweet, sensitive girl. So I’m trying not to overwhelm her, while also trying not to be overprotective. It’s a thin line to walk at times. But she is used to being in a class room with lots of other children. So that would be the ideal situation, I think. One of the perks of being on a large ship like the Four Winds.” Another soft sigh escaped her lips before Siadra took a sip of her wine.

~Siadra

“So why not holo-conference her classes? It would ease her transition, would it not? And rigging holo-emitters is nothing. Could be done in a few hours.” he suggested and sipped his wine. “As for the furniture, send me specifications and I will see what we can do. Whatever is here, however, has to meet standards and be fixed to the deck of bulkhead. Well, anything not a chair. Other than that, Engineering can more than likely fabricate.”

Si’Rek

“It would as long as it doesn’t keep her from making friends here as well,” Siadra replied thoughtfully. “I’ll think about it and then get back to you, okay?”

“And regarding the furniture: I haven’t put much thought into yet, but Li has been bugging me for a loft bed for quite a while,” Siadra laughed. “I wouldn’t want her to have a really high one. Low enough that I can still reach her fairly easily if I have to, but high enough to build a cosy cave underneath. Do you think that would be possible and safe enough?” she asked, her head tilted slightly to the side.

~Siadra

Before Si’Rek could respond, the door chime sounded next to them, as the doors parted, the young bright eyed face of Lieutenant Patrick McMillan grinned warmly in the door way, “Commander, Chief, good evening. I hope I’m not interrupting anything important?”

OOC: Hope you don’t mind me jumping in ;)

-Lieutenant Patrick McMillan: Counsellor-