Posted by Civilian Cort Belanger (Executive Assistant to Lt. Gov.) in You Won, But Did You Really?

Posted by Civilian Dorma Fen (Governor’s Assistant) in You Won, But Did You Really?

Posted by Civilian Cort Belanger (Executive Assistant to Lt. Gov.) in You Won, But Did You Really?
Posted by… suppressed (7) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

Her eyes widened slightly and she said “So? What did they look like? What were they like? Did they speak Standard well? And how did they learn it?” she asked rapid-fire, obviously intrigued by the prospect of meeting an entirely new race.

Dorma Fen

Cort grinned at her curiosity, which he felt. “The Ambassador is a bright blue and red with black markings. Apparently they have castes based on their markings and how much or how little they have. And from what Dasca said they pick up language easily. From her experience and what little I spoke to him and his aide, they have some grammatical difficulties but they get the gist across quite well.

~Cort Belanger

Dorma listened intently and then grinned. “I can’t wait to meet them. I remember when I met the first non-Human I ever met. She was a Betazoid, and came into the restaurant. Super pleasant. And could tell I was insanely curious about her. I think I asked her a million questions. And she answered all of them. Actually, I still chat with her! We’ve known one another for, what… almost fifteen years now.” and she laughed. “She is gonna be so jealous when I tell her I got to meet an whole new civilization.”

Dorma Fen

He chuckled after swallowing a bite of the lotus blossom. “It was so different growing up on Vega. It was originally an Earth Colony but it grew so much over the centuries and it’s really mixed. I grew up going to school with a myriad of species from throughout the Federation. I suppose too that my family too drew in connections that I might not otherwise have had. It’s rare for me to get a true personal first contact, so I’m looking forward to this too.”

~Cort Belanger

Dorma chuckled. “So what was school-age Cort Belanger like? Athlete? Book worm? Social butterfly? Or were you the organized, teacher’s pet, student council type?”

Dorma Fen

Cort laughed, though there was something of a sigh mixed in there. “Oh, it depended, I guess. I was into athletics and I got along with most people, but um…” For a moment he paused, tapping his chopsticks together a few times as he tried to figure out how to explain the sheer oddness of his upbringing. It was certainly not something he really ever spoke about. “There’s what everyone around me saw, and then there was reality. What my classmates saw was a popular kid who studied hard and was also a good athlete, but the reality was I didn’t really have friends. People around me, sure, but not real friends who knew me at all, or knew…” he set the chopsticks down and turned his gaze on Dorma. “It’s pretty classic actually. I have two highly ambitious and career focused parents and my grandfather was a judge and a stringent man. We a well known family on Vega Colony and there are a lot of expectations. My parents are lovely people who love their son, but they have busy lives and always have something going on or a place to be. And while my career choice was admirable, it is expected that I would be seeking more authority and a higher position, regardless of what I actually like doing. It’s like my family is trying to create a legacy and they pinned all their hopes on me and I want nothing to do with it,” he said, letting out a rueful chuckle.

~Cort Belganger

Dorma, surprisingly, nodded in clear understanding. “Legacy… it is a heavy burden to bear; especially if you don’t want it.” She took a final bite and slid the plate to the side. “I am very fortunate. My family’s tradition… or legacy… is something I am committed to and I enjoy. My oldest brother, though…” and she shook her head. “He wanted nothing to do with the restaurant or cooking or anything. Even when he was given the chance to work his way out of the role, he balked and ran away.” She looked down for a long moment before saying “We did not see him for many years. And when he did return… well… it did not go well.”

Dorma Fen

He nodded slowly. “I can empathize with how he might feel. The weight of those expectations can be enormous, and sometimes you just need a lot of space ad time to find the path that’s right for you. It has to be hard to have him so distant though, on all of you. I love my family, and I know I’m where I’m supposed to be, but self-preservation sometimes has to win out.”

~Cort Belanger

Dorma snorted a soft, detisive sound. “Don’t be too quick to emphasize with him. Like I said, my family gave him the opportunity to leave and still be a part of the family. He ran away. And he became a common criminal. Gamgs, petty larceny, prostitution… drugs.” The last was almost sneered. “He only returned when he needed our help. He had crossed the wrong person, and they wanted their proverbial pound of flesh.” Ahe shook her head. “Like I said… it did not go well.” Oddly, she didn’t seem upset or angry… just disappointed.

Dorma Fen

Cort set his chopsticks done, having finished, and was quiet for a few moments before he spoke again. “You know, the one thing I learned doing emergency response with the Red Cross is that desperate people make desperate choices, and the ones that tend to make poor choices are usually in a great amount of pain that they don’t know what to deal with. I’m not saying he is right and the family is wrong, and I’m not saying you don’t have to have boundaries so you all don’t get sucked in, but I guess I still feel a bit sad for him, because I’ve seen how one wrong choice can spiral. Maybe he won’t eve be a part of the family, and that might very well be his choice, but a part of me wants to say to not give up on him.” He shrugged. “Then again, I came from a rather privileged background and I know that it colours how I see things. I can recognize that my perspective isn’t always necessary a useful one.”

~Cort Belanger

Dorma smiled slightly and said “One can only hope for another so long before that person must decide to hope for themselves. Oshiru decided his path long ago. Where that path took him, we don’t know. If he still lives, I do wish him well. But whether he is fine or not is a choice he has had to make. All I can is accept that as the reality.”

Dorma Fen