Posted by Commander Dira Myqian (Executive Officer) in SB 157- Finally a Date

Posted by Lieutenant Zoi Haven (Chief of Security) in SB 157- Finally a Date

Posted by Commander Dira Myqian (Executive Officer) in SB 157- Finally a Date

(snips)

Dira considered Zoi for a moment. While she was careful not to go the route of analyzing (especially given they were in a date), Zoi seemed to appreciate the perspective Dira could bring to a conversation and if she were honest there was a part of her that wanted to comfort Zoi where her mother was concerned. “Is it important to you that you know more about your father?” she asked gently.

Commander Myqian, XO

Zoi sat back on her heels and thought about that. She didn’t mind the question from Dira. It didn’t feel like a psychiatry appointment. If she wanted to make this work, she had to start letting herself be open in a way she had never been before. “I suppose not in the grand scheme of things. Any biological information, I can get from having my DNA examined these days. I suppose I am just curious. Did he become a better man after the horrific acts he did to my mother? Or did he continue on hurting other women? Am I somewhere deep inside, part of that self loathing and anger. Will I ever just be a daughter without the shame and chaos of my creation? I suppose I want to know if he is redeemed so that maybe some part of me will be redeemed by extension.”

She smiled ruefully and looked at Dira. “Quite a grown up answer. You could almost believe I was 98.”

Haven, CoS

Patience was a key trait in a therapist and it mattered how and when you exercised it. Dira was an expert at this point and so she was surprised by the impulse that swept through her. Shifting her weight back so she could rise smoothly to her feet, Myqian crossed the sand to Zoi and knelt beside her, her sundress shifting over her thighs and knees. She reached out and rested a brown hand on Zoi’s soft cheek. “Those are all perfectly valid questions and ones I’m sure I’d have too if I were in your position. And I have not had your experiences in this, so I don’t know what’s it’s like, but I do absolutely want to make something very clear to you Zoi Haven, just in case you need to hear it: you are not the result of his crime. You do not carry his burden. You are the beautiful and perfect creation in spite of his crime. And regardless of what might have come before you are cherished and cared for and very much wanted in this life.” Her own conviction actually surprised Dira. She could very much a determined and forthright person but with Zoi she could be so much more. She was a fighter like Zoi, but her fought very different things in very different ways. The hurts carried within a soul were not timid beasts after all. They made their presence known one way or another.

Commander Myqian, XO

Zoi wasn’t sure what Dira’s reaction would be… really, she wasn’t consciously thinking of it at all, so it surprised her when instead of talking more, Dira actually approached her. Zoi moved her hands from the castle and turned as her date came to her. The tender touch of hand to cheek started a splintering inside her of the careful shell she had erected to protect herself from getting close to others for many years. She closed her eyes for a moment and inhaled the scent that she had come to associate with the other woman, taking solace in her closeness and touch before opening her eyes and listening to the truths Dira spoke.

As much as those words were a shock to Dira, they were doubly so for Zoi. No one outside of the doctors that handled her mother’s daily care, had ever spoken to her so candidly about her father’s betrayals. She closed her eyes again and allowed a tear to fall, taking in a deep breath and letting it out slowly. It was amazing to her that she would be so vulnerable with anyone. The last time she had allowed anyone to see her cry had been when she left her mother for the final time and it had been the doctor in charge of her mother’s care. They had grown close over the many years of her mother’s treatment and she had given in to her sentiment and her heartbreak in his presence.

Here, it was a different sort of heartbreak, and one that would not be healed immediately. Yet Dira’s words were a balm and a strength that infused Zoi. She leaned forward and took Dira’s mouth with her own. The kiss was unlike their fun and passionate one of their run. Here it was needful and thankful all at once.

Haven, CoS