Posted by Lieutenant Faye Calloway (Mission Specialist) in Event Horizon- Must Be a Family Thing

Posted by Captain Alexander Cochrane (Commanding Officer) in Event Horizon- Must Be a Family Thing

Posted by Lieutenant Faye Calloway (Mission Specialist) in Event Horizon- Must Be a Family Thing
Posted by… suppressed (2) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

Faye laughed openly. “Duly noted. But in case it hasn’t been made clear yet, I am the embodiment of social awkwardness most days. But also know that I use my quips more judiciously around others these days. My favourite game right now is to whisper something at him when we’re somewhere public, like on the bridge. And either he has to quip something back that isn’t going to be problematic, or keep a straight face. And lately he’s able to keep a straight face so that means I’m way off my game. This tidbit you’ve offered”-she flashed a grin at Racheal-“is one that might be useful just once, so I’ll save it for the perfect moment.”

Rolling her lips inward, Faye gazed at Vash’tur again, her expression shifting, become more pensive. “I don’t know how much Alex has said, but long story short, an elderly Romulan man taught me to meditate and shared your work with me. He thought it would be helpful. Little did he know, things in my life would quickly spin out of control and in that very difficult aftermath I kept returning to your work. It was like I didn’t have a lot of words for what I was going through and…” Faye could feel the tears threatening to form and she all but willed them not go away. I’m NOT crying in front of Vash’tur, Poet Laureate of Vulcan. No way in… Faye felt one escape and roll over her cheek. Sh!t Faye shook her head and muttered, “Sorry.” Right, now she was an impromptu mess in front of two people who were really important to Alex. Gahhhh! Yep, wrong t-shirt.

~Faye Calloway

Daggum started to move to Faye, but Vash’tur held up hand, stopping him in midstep. “Racheal. Entertain the Lieutenant Commander. Don’t get handsy.” was all she said as she moved next to Faye, hooked her arm into her’s, and began walking. Silently, she led Faye away from crowded areas and down a mostly empty passageway between sections of the station.

Faye was trying to gather herself, and whether Vash’tur knew it or not, the walking, the motion itself allowed her to ground herself, to find some control.

“Poetry is emotion.” she said somewhat softly, her hand resting on Faye’s arm. “I am not ashamed of my work, nor should you be ashamed or embarrassed of it’s effects. Many people believe Vulcans to be without emotion. That is not only untrue, it is wholly opposite of truth. Our emotions run deep, so much so they nearly destroyed us. Logic provides us perspective… the opportunity to see truth. Poetry allows me to speak to that truth. If that truth has moved you, I am pleased. Because that means we share a truth. And shared truths are what binds beings together.”

Vash’tur

“I never once thought Vulcan’s lacked emotions,” Faye said quietly. “My mentor when I was young was Vulcan. T’Lora. I could see her emotions in her eyes. Your poems not only were the words I couldn’t find, but they made me think of her, and when I thought of her, I would think about the parts of my story I really hadn’t shared yet. But I have been, especially after Alex came into my life. And if he hadn’t, I wouldn’t have found my way to happiness,” she said, briefly gazing back in the direction of wherever Daggum and Racheal were.

Faye exhaled. “I have a gift for you. I will make sure Alex gets it and gives it to you before you leave, but when he does, ask him about T’Lora and Jaris and hasperat.” Faye smiled through her tears. “If he hasn’t told you the story, ask him to. He said you were the one person he thought would appreciate it most.”

~Faye Calloway

“He told me.” she said flatly. “An overview, to be sure. But a tale I wish to hear nonetheless. And the hasperat sounds very palatable. Perhaps you could prepare some for my family and I at our home on Vulcan, while you tell us all your story. Consider it a standing invitation.” She led them around the passageway and then they turned and slowly headed back the way they came.

“Alexander told me of you and your trials. You have my deepest sympathies… although I doubt you really need them. You impressed Alexander. That is not a feat that can be owned by many. He is not easily impressed, something I believe serves him well. And I sense a strength in you. One I believe few people can actually see. Your large Orion sees it, too. It will see you through. I have little doubt of that. And you will be the better for having gone through such. It will give you a much needed perspective when you are a Captain in your own right. Yes, Alexander told me of that as well. I must admit to a certain level of surprise. Many have asked him for the opportunity to be mentored. He has never agreed to do so. You are the first.”

Vash’tur

That stopped her dead in her tracks and she looked at Vash’tur, but her mind was working through things she still wasn’t sure how to frame, how to name. While she was surprised he told his mother so much about her, Faye was relieved in a way. It made things easier, like she came with a disclaimer and things were just less awkward. But also there was something deeper. She felt understood by this Vulcan poet. And though she had (finally) embraced her weirdness, her oddity and it was definitely an advantage at times, there was that small part of her that hated the difference- the way she could stand out so much when some days she just wanted to blend in. But that was sensation was continually decreasing. All these people in her life now had played a role and it was as strange as it was wonderful. “The man who recruited me for the Intelligence mission is dear to me. One of my best friends and someone I felt was closer to a brother. The kind of person you throw yourself on the line for. Alex is also my best friend, despite having grown up an only child who doesn’t know what having a sibling is like, I feel intrinsically that Alex is my brother. And if there is one thing that life on Tracken Two and the Maquis have taught me, it’s that chosen family is as and sometimes even more powerful than those you were born to. So if he’s family, that makes you family too.” Faye smiled. “And I’m grateful for all of you, and thus I am honoured to have that invitation and intend to take you up on it.” She began walking again.

~Faye Calloway

Vash’tur inclined her head but said nothing else as they walked along in silence. Soon they came to where Racheal and Daggum were standing and talking. Racheal was very animated and smiling up at Daggum; and when she saw Faye and Vash’tur she said to her mother “THIS GUY! He’s the one that finally processed that request for a astrometric signal amplifier I was complaining about all those months! I yelled and screamed and cussed at everyone from Admiral Hallsley down and nothing. Then one day - BAM! - there it is the lab. No explanation, no nothing. Just there. And this giant walking roadblock is the one that got it for us! That’s how he knew where I was assigned!” Racheal looked at Faye and grinned. “Is it serious? ‘Cause if not I’m gonna steal him. That body and a brain? Girrrrrrlllll…” and Daggum turned a slightly darker shade of green and reached out and took Faye’s hand and mock whispered “Help. She scares me.”

Cochranes