Posted by Lieutenant Zoi Haven (Chief of Security) in SB 157: The Boiler Room Cafe: Meeting with XO

Posted by Commander Dira Myqian (Executive Officer) in SB 157: The Boiler Room Cafe: Meeting with XO

(snip)

Inhaling deeply as she leaned back in her chair, Dira set down her fork, feeling more of less done with the pot pie. She tilted her head, gazing slightly upwards at the ceiling, gathering her thoughts as if she could pull them from the ether. When she looked down again and gazed back at Haven, she was quieter. Reflective. “I’m still figuring that out for myself, actually. I thought I knew once, but… things changed. One of those inflection points I mentioned,” she said softly, doing fairly well to keep the sadness out of her voice, though it was inevitable that the internal grief was evident. It wasn’t raw like it once was, nor did it hold a place in her heart every day. But here and there it could surface unexpectedly and wash over her as if it were new again. It wasn’t quite that strong this time, but Dira did need to push it down a little so it didn’t take over her so far wonderful conversation with Zoi.

The change in Dira’s demeanor, small shift though it might be, caught in Zoi’s honed instincts from years of security work. She purposefully had not read much beyond the basic profile of the new XO since as a general rule, she wanted to get to know peopmebefore the file came in to play. The less prejudices or expectations she had, the more well rounded her observations could be once the file was added as a secondary information vector to her in-person interactions. There was sadness, a loss? Not just grief but perhaps some regret too? Zoi laid those aside for now, filing it away for further study at a later time.

“And for awhile I was quite happy to just putter along. But I hit another event and it changed everything, almost more than the first one did. It’s why I switched to Command. Why I am an Executive Officer now. I didn’t see it coming but when it did it just seemed to be the most obvious path.” Myqian smiled sincerely, though it was smaller than earlier. “Sometimes we’re tested in ways we don’t expect and it doesn’t matter if you rise to the occasion or not, you are left changed.”

Commander Myqian, XO

Two life changing moments? Interesting. Zoi’s mind filled away a great many things as she watched the woman across from her intently. Finally she sat herself forward and refilled both of their cooling cups of tea to refresh them and warm them with the hot liquid. Her touch to the China was as delicate as it had been before. She was practiced in using the dishes and serving others. “You never know what life will throw at you. I suppose that is also the nature of the work we do and the lives it makes is lead. My mother was a bright jewel of a being when I was young. She and I are… perhaps were is the better term, very close. I dont know when grief will hit me for the loss of her mind. Probably long before her physical body will give out given our long lifespan. If it wasnt for her though, I would never have gone into Star Fleet. People change us as much, if not more than circumstances. Who will we be tomorrow?”

Haven, CoS

Myqian was quietly reflective but she gave Zoi a small smile. “I like to think that we become who we need to become, but that it’s not always who we expected to be and it’s not always straightforward. Your mother had given you great gifts- I can tell. When the grief does come, try to hold onto those gifts and remember the good that they brought into your life. And hopefully, if you let, them others can help see you through that difficult time.”

Commander Myqian, XO