Posted by Lieutenant Casela Synthi-er (Counsellor / RTF) in Happy Birthday and Olive Branches

Posted by Commander Ryder Raauhl (Executive Officer) in Happy Birthday and Olive Branches

Posted by Lieutenant Casela Synthi-er (Counsellor / RTF) in Happy Birthday and Olive Branches
Posted by… suppressed (2) by the Post Ghost! 👻

Ryder stood precariously infront of Caselas quarters door on deck three which was only a short walk from his own quarters situated on the deck above. In his hand was a small wrapped and hand carved wodden box and inside that something he hoped to finally show Casela his motives. He had finally decided with the advice from Sharah to try what she was calling ‘Connecting with your soul mate’ according to his young Betazoid friend Casela and he were clearly meant to be, opposites attracted and just about every cliche love story she could think off. He finally relented and searched Noas memories for something that she would like for her birthday which he had found out when reading the ships personel files.

He had found several memories but there was one which really stuck out, Noa and she were on an away team when Casela had lost a necklace, he had searched for days the memories of his former host, which was not fun act. Finally he had enough memories to design the necklace from scratch, luckily Kala was quiet the artist so he carved several tiger eye stones with Norse rune symbols, mostly ones that reflected her fiery attitude, fighting ability. Beauty and finally the larger stone with Freyas symbol which was on the original.

He had finally placed it in the box and had etched “Freedom isn’t found in a place” in ancient norse on top and painted it with gold. To him it mean freedom was found in a person not a singular point in time, object or place.

Taking in a deep breath he raised his free hand and pressed the door chime. He stopped back, catching his reflection his spots showing, his face was filled with nervous energy and he in the larger frame was dressed in a casual buttoned down shirt and jeans.

• Commander Ryder, XO

Ryder lucked out. Casela rarely was in her quarters. Usually she stayed down on the counseling deck in one of the patient rooms. There was too much foot traffic up here for her to actually relax and rest. She heard the chime and spun to a crouch and then mumbled something angrily to herself and stood up. She was wearing tappered leggings and a cut off t-shirt that didn’t quite reach her waist line. She was between her double shifts and hadn’t felt like donning the RTF uniform just yet.

She walked over to the door and pressed the button to open it. Casela couldn’t say she was surprised to see Ryder, the man tended to show up wherever she was. But she hadn’t been expecting him either. He looked a little nervous and was holding a package of some sort. Her curiosity got the better of her and she stepped back. “Come in.”
Lt. Synthi-er, CNS

The Trill didn’t say anything as he silently walked into the room without hesitation and heard the doors closed behind him, he wasn’t too worried about anyone seeing him especially on this deck, the only people here were either Command Staff or Department heads and were usually good at keeping things to themselves. “Happy Birthday,” He said with a smile bracing himself for either an aggressive slander or physical attack, Casela was usually very unpredictable towards sentiment. He held out his present.

• Commander Ryder, XO

Casela was surprised, “Birthday?” She did the mental math and realized that it was, in fact, her birthday. She took the box hesitantly. The last time someone had celebrated her birthday was back on Norda III. T’Jal’s husband had made a beautiful runic necklace for her, and they had given it to her before she left to begin working for S31. She’d lost it, about a year ago. There had been no chance to go back for it, and it was a sentimental luxury to think she had even had the option to do so.

Ryder stood holding the box waiting for her to take it, he half considered thay she wouldn’t though as he searched her face he could see her eyeing the box and a warmth spread in his chest, he hoped she’d like it.

She looked at the box reading the runes, “Freedom isn’t found in a place,” and then finishing the quote, “but in the person.” Her bad humor got the better of her, “Hoping to blow me up and be free of me?” She chuckled. She lifted the lid while glancing up at him, she actually wasn’t meaning to be a hot head, her bad humor was just that, bad. With the lid off she looked down at what was in the box, and stopped. Her breath, her heartbeat, her flippant attitude, it just stopped.

“Maybe, just open it” He said softly waggling the box inticingly. The longer he waited for her to open and see the final piece the worst the Trills anxiety grew.

She tucked the lid into the bottom of the box and slowly took the necklace out, holding it carefully. Her fingers tracing the runes slowly. She whispered the translations softly, “Kenaz for passion, Tiwaz for the fighter. Pertho for beauty,” she lingered over the largest one, “And Lady Freya.” Casela felt like the floor had been yanked out from underneath her. That feeling when you come over the rise of a roller coaster and it starts back down and the adrenaline hits you. Her training stopped her hands from shaking, but not from gripping the necklace chain tightly in her hand. She looked up at Ryder, confusion the only clear emotion on her face amoung the others, “How? How did you know?”

Casela Synthi-er

Well I knew it was your birthday because I saw it on your personel file, don’t worry I wasn’t stalking you I was reviewing all the new comers and then well” He tapped his head twice, “I tapped into Noas memories, which by the way isn’t pleasent for me. Anyway I saw you had lost one similar during an away mission so I figured I could try and make you a new one, I Used Kalas artistic skills to hand carve the runes and box.”

The mention of Noa’s name stiffined her back up. Casela had let that go, she thought he had too. She thought Noa was gone, but she couldn’t stop Rhauul from still having Noa’s memories. At least they were unpleasent memories. They should be with that greasy coward.

‘Casela,’ Jake Smith gave her a one armed hug, ‘Keep Freya close. She is a fierce fighter, defender of the weak, and a woman. She is also a passionate lover, who fights for what and who she loves. Keep her close and she’ll lead you home.’ Jake was so sentimental he’d made her laugh, but she’d never taken the necklace off, until one day it was gone.

He smiled his nerves clearing and then finally he looked to her eyes again, “I would worry like mad the whole time you was away, I would tell you not to worry about me and do what is right, and I would want to choose to protect you over the safety of myself but I would never put anyone at any risk because of it, but it doesn’t matter because we’re strong enough to make it work and it’s worth it, your worth it.” Ryders stomach flipped as the last words left his mouth, the last couple week had been so turbulent between them that to get to this point of clarity was almost as crazy.

• Commander Ryder, XO

Casela listned a part of her touched by his words, but in the end what did it matter? She had a price on her head, more than one actually, well on her aliasis’ heads. You are not a woman, you are not a person, you are a cog in the wheel that I run.’ Admiral Schmidt had told her that over and over. Now, here, it was all so pointless. Her training, all for nothing. She’d joined to save others, and turned into a monster she couldn’t justify. She was angry suddenly, her life wasted and now…her anger turned in the wrong direction–at herself and at Ryder. “Oh really? I’m worth it? I’m worth a piece of jewelry?” The implied insult was rendered useless by the way she was holding onto the necklace; it obviously mattered a great deal to her. “But I’m not worth being given back MY weapons. The things that I can use to not only defend myself, but to save those I’ve been sent to protect? The things that define who I am. You won’t give me those, but you’ll give me precious stones? You’re going to send me over there, without the tools I KNOW how to use, that I know will get me back safely. We have NO idea what is over there, unless you’re hiding something. But I’m worth it?!” She would NOT cry, she would not, she would not, she would not.
Casela Synthi-er

Honestly Ryder hadn’t expected this response from her, he was taken a back by it untill he finally spoke. “Seriously?” He said somewhat angry, “I thought we were past this Case” Your weapons do not define you, you haven’t had them for weeks and you’re still you. And when you need them, really need them you’ll have them but stop hiding behind them for once in your life Case, besides I’ve seen what you can do without them you are a weapon but right now?”

Casela was tracing the runes over and over, they would never be pried from her cold dead fingers, but she held them gently as to not damage them. She was breathing heavily, like she was back in the training holosuite. Gods she’d been wrong, and her anger had flown out of control, again because she was afraid-of him, of what he represented, FOR him, and the problems that followed her. His words hurt, because they were true. She simply whispered his name, “Ryder…” but he was right and she was a worthless hot head.

He looked around, “what’s here that you need them so desperately for, this isn’t Section 31. So what is this really about, because it’s sure as hell isn’t just about our mission, you, me or your damned weapons.” So much for no argueing, this whole idea was such a flop, all he wanted to do was leave. The advice he had been given was wrong, opposites didn’t attract or if they did they only attracted violence.

-Commander Ryder, XO

He was right, she knew that, but she didn’t know how to change that. She didn’t know how to respond to fear without becoming angry. It had saved her life and fueled her in horrible situations. Without warning those thoughts flew across the room, clearly into his head. And then....I don’t know how to NOT BE S31! If you know then tell me, because I HATE it. I HATE who I’ve become, I HATE what they made me. And NOW there you are, and I don’t know if there is anything left of ME to give you. Casela closed her eyes, but the tears started anyway. She silently cursed T’Jal and her worthless fairy tales.
Casela Synthi-er

Of all the things, Ryder wasn’t ready for that. The Trill let out a yelp of pain as he fell to the floor his hands clutching his head as her thoughts screamed into his mind. There was no time to have even thought about blocking her words out as he squeezed his eyes shut and his hands clamping over his ears helpless. It felt like agony, pure and unadulterated pain, fear and anger. Finally it shut of but Ryder couldn’t move, she had just invaded his mind with her raw emotions, it was like fireworks burning inside his head, he felt light headed and dizzy.

• Commander Ryder, XO

Casela stared in horror of what she’d done. She had heard once that soothing thoughts could be as healing to a mind as her fear, pain, and anger could damage it. She didn’t know how to do that, she’d never learned and no one had offered to show her. She was monster and a weapon. The thoughts hadn’t been focused to harm so the pain should subside quickly. She stood in front of him, took his hand, “Now you know what I really am, and I would change it, I’d take it back, but I can’t, I don’t know how.” She held the necklace in her open hand, as if offering it, but if he tried she wouldn’t let it go. “I’m none of these things.” She’s be in the brig for this, or Doc Fey would force her into a coma, to protect the crew.
Lt. Synthi-er, CNS

Shaking the thoughts and emotions from his mind, something which he was used to having four other people memories, thoughts, and emotions running through him he recovered quickly. “You, keep telling, yourself that,” He said standing now, blinking several times as his vision came back into focus. “That doesn’t change anything Casela, nothing will. So let’s stop pretending, and pushing at each other and admit what’s happening between us” He bashed the side of his head as if trying to dispel water from his ears. “You just caught me off guard that’s all.”

• Commander Ryder, XO