Posted by Major General Charles Tenkiller (Vice-Commander, Colonial Customs and Defense Agency) in Eela’s Apartment- Tipping Point, Day 3

Posted by Captain Eela Dasca (Lt. Governor) in Eela’s Apartment- Tipping Point, Day 3

Posted by Major General Charles Tenkiller (Vice-Commander, Colonial Customs and Defense Agency) in Eela’s Apartment- Tipping Point, Day 3
Posted by… suppressed (3) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

She nodded. “I’ll be sure to thank him later.” She had no doubt Sinna had been organizing everything, especially given there had been construction in her office and hallway being completed. Opening her door, Eela paused for a moment and took a deep breath before she stepped inside.

Everything looked perfectly in place, as it should. Setting her bag on one of the chairs in the foyer, she pulled out a slightly larger glass spray bottle holding a transparent liquid with a slight green tint. She moved to the hallway and looked down towards her bedroom and then down the other way towards her office. She smiled at the wall of recessed bookcases. It looked amazing. It was something positive to focus on even as her stomach twisted in knots. “Well, I don’t know the right order of operations, here. I was just going to spray this in any place he had been, but I don’t know if that should be before or after we use your smudge stick.” There were no rules, but different rituals had different purposes, and Eela knew that this was as much about her own peace of mind as it was about the physical space she needed to feel safe in again.

~Eela

Charles set his bag down and opened it. “Both. You spray. I’ll smudge.” He took out the bundle of dried sage and other botanicles. This he set in an obviously handmade bowl of some earthen material. He then brought out a small stone and piece of metal and expertly flicked the stone across the metal, causing a series of sparks to burst forth. After two or thee tries, the bundle began to smolder. Tenkiller set the metal and rock aside and lifted the bowl and began blowing on the bundle. Soon a small flame emerged. He let it burn for a moment and then blew gently on the flame, extinguishing the fire but leaving the embers which soldered and made a light gray smoke.

Tenkiller looked at Eela and said “I’ll start here and do the whole apartment. No sense just moving the energy from one spot to another.” He raised the bundle and let the smoke drift over the door frame. As he did, he began murmuring softly. Whatever he was saying, her badge had no input for so she heard it in its normal enunciation.

Tenkiller

She simple nodded, letting him do what he would do, and he was free to go into whatever space he needed to. The words mattered little but Eela understood the ritual chanting, the invocation that came with an act as they were doing. Her cleansing didn’t have word with it, but she needed to move through her space with intention. Eela moved to the living room first, spraying not just the air, but the couches themselves. This decoction was lightly floral and sweet, but not overpowering so. It was like inviting the fragrance from a flowering vine inside. Give her another couple weeks and her pergola would be in bloom doing just that. But for now, she invoked memories of sacred places on Halii as she moved about her space.

Charles moved around the apartment smudging doorways, windows, clothes, and keepsakes. He makes use to pay close attention to the living room. As he went he prayed to the spirits and to his ancestors to bring peace and keep out evil.

Eela moved through to the foyer, spraying as she went, letting Charles finish in an area first. She inhaled the scent from the sage bundle and let it also do what it needed to for her spirit. Barefoot, she came to stand in the foyer where she had stood before. It was probably not a good idea, all told, but she felt compelled to. Her heart started beating faster, but she sprayed around her, letting the mist cast away the memory imprinted on her body. The mind would come in its own time, but for now, with her bruised arm healing, she needed to stand put and not run away from the place where Cory wrecked havoc. This was her home*, her space and she would not be driven out ever again. Closing her eyes, she stood there, breathing as evenly as she could, though it sounded a little shaky even to herself.

~Eela

Charles made a full circle around the apartment and made his way back to where Eela stood. He began casting the smoke over her, chanting and praying softly before waving the smoke away. He extinguished the bundle and set it in the bowl. He then looked at her and said “How do you feel?”

Tenkiller

Something about the smoke and the chanting settled deep within her and Eela felt for a brief moment like the last time she had undergone the Sua Soams ritual. It had been far too long since she had partaken in that rite and thus Charles’ actions had a profound effect on her. A few moments after he had spoken, she opened her eyes and gazed at him. Her eyes glistened, but she not not distressed or upset. She wasn’t happy either, but some deeply emotional state in between she couldn’t quite name. “I’m okay. It’s weird being here right now. I’m both trying to not replay events and at the same time, letting things wash over me as I need them to.”

She drew in a deep breath, letting it fill her lungs before she expelled it. “Thank you for doing this with me. Not just being here as I returned, but for sharing your ritual with me.” Eela placed a hand on her chest. “I feel it, and it’s helping. The rest? Well, nothing but time and probably a helluva lot of therapy,” she said with a lopsided smile.

~Eela

Skip smiled and said “Well, I’m no therapist… but if ya ever need to just drink a beer and talk, I can do that fer sure.” and he chuckled. He looked around and took a deep breath. “I like your place, Eela. And it feels better now.” and he looked at her. “My Nana is gonna keep an eye on you for a bit, I think.”

Tenkiller

She smiled with warmth and affection. “I welcome her wisdom.” They weren’t just words, either. They were heartfelt. She’d take all the care and guidance that came her way, even if some days it would be hard to hear or accept.

Eela sighed. “I have a few things to do after I settle in here, and I also have to get ready for an evening of celebrating with Klingons. And I know I’ve said it already, but I am truly grateful for the refuge you all offered me. I won’t ever forget it.” Closing the distance, she simply held open her arms. An invitation, one that was mindful of earlier. Not this was the same at all, but she understood that she also needed to gather herself better before she ventured out in public. Containment was definitely necessary.

~Eela