Posted by Lieutenant Commander Eilah Fayth (Chief of Security) in side sim: It’s Best to Take Care of Each Other

Posted by Civilian Sair Songz (Counselor) in side sim: It’s Best to Take Care of Each Other

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Eilah Fayth (Chief of Security) in side sim: It’s Best to Take Care of Each Other
Posted by… suppressed (18) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Eilah had heard Sair’s bad news, of course, but what prompted him to go looking for her was the sense of great grief he felt. It was undoubtedly Sair’s. The counselor had just lost her mother after all. That was difficult news for most anyone. He asked the computer for her location.

~ Fayth, COS

Sair had been in her quarters for much of the time, making arrangements, looking after Koro, and spending time with her father. But eventually she had needed a break from it all. Leaving Koro with Sal, Sair made her way to what had become an unexpected sanctuary: the Garden. The computer dutifully directed Fayth to Deck 4 and the space that was their permanent green space.

She was no immediately obvious, but at the security chief moved around the perimeter of the garden, Songz was partially visible by the pond, her pink hair the main clue. She sat on the edge, legs crossed, leaning back on her hands as she gazed into the water, lost in her thoughts.

~Sair Songz, CNS

Eilah entered the green space quietly, moving around as he checked for her. He could sense she was in her own world, so as he spotted her and moved closer, he made sure his footfalls were heard. “Sair.” He said, just loud enough to be heard by her.

~ Fayth, COS

She turned her head in his direction. She was not crying, but there was a sadness in the depth of her eyes that matched the emotions she exuded. “Eilah,” she greeted before patting the ground beside her.

Sair looked back over the pond. “I almost went to the holodeck, but I think I would have been tempted to get too lost in the setting I wanted to visit.”

~Sair Songz, CNS

Eilah took a seat next to her, carefully folding his legs. “I find it quite serene here.” He turned to face her, his expression sincere and full of sympathy. “My condolences, Sair. I’m here, whether you’d like to talk or sit quietly.” A small smile crossed his face. “I see the allure, though I agree. Getting too lost may not do you any favors right now.”

~ Fayth, COS

“If it was just me, it would be a different story, but I have a child and he needs me,” she said, watching the subtle ripples on the pond caused by the stream from the water flowing into it from The Hill. “It’s also a bit different. It wasn’t so sudden. I knew this was how it would be, but thank you, I appreciate your support.”

~Sair Songz, CNS

Eilah smiled a small smile. “Of course. Even counselors need someone every so often.” He said, and gave her a playful look.

~ Fayth, COS

“Yes, we do,” she said softly. “It’s hard right now because when people ask what they can do for me, I can’t really give them an answer.”

Sair turned her head and gazed at Eilah, giving him a small smile. “Did you enjoy the concert my father put on? I know things went a bit sideways right at the end.”

~Sair Songz, CNS

He was calm and sympathetic, but not pitying or patronising. “Sometimes there is nothing someone else can do.” He commented softly. “It was wonderful. I’m glad I was able to attend,” Eilah replied.

~ Fayth, COS

She looked out over the water again. “Music and other arts are rather quite important to Kobliads. At some period in our more recent history there have been some that think we should have focused fully on our health crisis, but I quite agreed with the majority that we needed reasons to know what we’re fighting for. And now that our future generations are safe from the genetic issues, I think it’s more important than ever that we raise them with all the culture we still have. So that they can take it and create something new. Because they will. The themes and ideas that form their arts will be so different than the ones I grew up with, and that is a beautiful thing.”

~Sair Songz, CNS

Eilah nodded. “I can’t say I understand, per se, I’m too young to remember the occupation of Betazed, but our culture was damaged then. Our people came out of it changed. For better or worse, no one knows yet.”

~ Fayth, COS

Sair sucked in a breath. “Sometimes it just… is. The part of me that gets angry and ashamed about the war and occupation my people waged tried to remember that it wasn’t my fault, and that if my people have learned something from this devastating consequence, then I think we can find forgiveness for ourselves. But I do think some wonderful things came out of the crisis. We take amazing care of our planet and we relish community and family ties. Sometimes the values around them get convoluted, but Kobliads are an especially devoted people as a whole. I like that Koro got to see his grandmother’s devotion to medicine and helping people who were vulnerable. And I like that he gets to know I’m doing something similar. But I especially love that he is so attached to my father and his music. It just… it gives me this tiny piece of joy. I forget how to hold on to joy. It seems to fleeting some days, but Koro, more often than not, remind me.”

~Sair Songz, CNS

Eilah nodded again. “We have to find it where we can get it. Especially way out here.” He said. Eilah seemed to be considering something, and then, “What if we set something up? Between the two of us, just something that makes us a little bit happy. Once a week or something.”

~ Fayth, COS

She turned to him, brown eyes widening. The offer was so unexpected and not something she had had so far. “I’m in. What did you have in mind?”

~Sair Songz, CNS

“Anything,” Eilah replied. “We could… summon a pool in the holodeck and go swimming. Or an auditorium and play music or sing. Or sit in the lounge or the arboretum. Whatever sounds nice at the time.”

~ Fayth, COS

She nodded. “Keep it open to whatever mood we’re in. I like that. I do have help with child care, but if I don’t on occasion, is it okay of Koro joins us? It’s okay if not. I know not everyone is comfortable with children.” She was used to having to juggle her schedule anyway.

~Sair Songz, CNS

“Yeah. That’s fine, sure.” In truth, Eilah wasn’t super comfortable with kids, but he didn’t want to tell her no. So he hid his discomfort and instead smiled. “It’ll be good. For both of us. And the kid.” It made him relax some when he realized if she might bring Koro, maybe it might be okay if Ben joined them once in a while.

~ Fayth, COS

A genuine smile appeared on her face and it was honestly the first true smile she’d given in the last few days. “I’ve missed the camaraderie that often comes along with working in medical settings. I had hoped for it here, but the variables just hadn’t all aligned yet. Thank you. I’m grateful for all the kind gestures lately. Everyone’s been…” She shrugged. It was just all a nice change from having to chase down people for evals, or having people rush through them so they don’t have to spend any longer than they had to in her office. None of that was about her, but it never allowed for people to see her as a person outside her role, as a woman who just wanted to make some friends and be a part of things. So for those that had (like Alex and Shedda especially), she was incredibly grateful. Sair just wished most of it hadn’t come about because of impending tragedy.

~Sair Songz, CNS

Eilah would’ve done it sooner, but the tragedy had happened not long after he’d gotten himself settled in and his department in order. He just hadn’t had much time for friend making yet. He smiled back. “You’re welcome. I usually make a point to know everyone on staff as well as possible. Makes my job easier.”

~ Fayth, COS

She nodded. “Well, you know the common story about how people run away from therapists?” she said, breaking into a light laugh. “I try not to take it personal, but it does make meeting people outside of my profession more tricky. And especially in the early days aboard the ship I felt awkward being a member of he senior staff and being a civilian. I don’t have the same training as you all do, and that puts me at a disadvantage out here. Funny part is that I didn’t have this same concern when I was in the exchange program the first time. I was Chief Medical Officer on an outpost, but I think the difference there was that there were so many more people. I was never going to be in a position where I might need to make decisions or take actions outside of my own small realm. That isn’t necessarily true here.”

~Sair Songz, CNS

Eilah nodded. “It does help that I’m a Betazoid. We tend to be more aware of our emotions. Means we’re not at ease with those meant to help sort out emotions.” He smiled at her, “I hope no one here makes you feel that way. You may not have our training but your skills an expertise are equally important.” He grinned more playfully, “And since most of the training you don’t have would fall under my specialty, I’m happy to keep you protected.”

~ Fayth, COS

Sair shifted uncomfortably. “I avoid the Officer’s Mess, though I’ve had to be there on occasion. It makes me uncomfortable because I am reminded that I am not an Officer. I’m not even crew, though I am a member of the crew. They are two different things. You are all bound and bonded by your uniform. I can be a member of the team, but there are times when I am distinctly reminded that I don’t quite fit. that has changed a bit, but… I don’t know, few people seem interested in getting to know me, Eilah. You’re the first person in a long time outside of the captain and first officer that I’ve had a deeper conversation with. I’m also a mother, so that complicates my life. I can’t just drop everything. It’s been harder to navigate on this ship than I thought it would be.”

~Sair Songz, CNS