Posted by Captain Eela Dasca (Lt. Governor) in Eden Café- A Lunch Catch-Up

Posted by Civilian Kenzo B’tren-Hyrushi (Governor) in Eden Café- A Lunch Catch-Up

Posted by Captain Eela Dasca (Lt. Governor) in Eden Café- A Lunch Catch-Up
Posted by… suppressed (4) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

She nodded, even if there was a frustration that she couldn’t entirely name. “And that is why reclaiming my cultural identity is so hard. Haliians don’t have those walls with each other. Certainly we respect boundaries, but at our core was want to share that core identity with others. And having slowly but surely hidden that away for so long, I’ve gone quite the opposite, almost to spite Cory. And that can be dangerous too.” She shook her head and laughed, despite herself. “No one said this process was going to be tidy, that’s for damn sure.”

~Eela

“The most efficient way to assemble a puzzle is to ensure you can see all the pieces.” he said and finished his drink. “You have emptied the box. Spreading the pieces around to see them clearly is a solid first step.”

Kenzo

She gave him a rueful smile. “If only I could. Unfortunately, when you’ve been deceived and gaslit for forty years, I don’t even know if I have all the pieces yet. And even if I did, it can actually be more harmful to deal with it all at once.” Eela tilted her head and gazed up slightly as she pondered. “The way I am seeing this process is that we are tackling one piece at a time, and we look for the next obvious adjoining piece. Sometimes we’ll pick up a piece that I can’t find a spot for or is too much much to deal with just then. So we set it aside and come back to it later. Often when we are more clear about other ares, the more difficult ones become easier to manage. What we don’t want is to overwhelm me so much that I shut down and halt the processing. But… if we are to talk more generally about seeing things clearly, I know what I am dealing with now.”

Eela paused and took a steadying breath. She had gotten part-way with Roger, but now she knew (for her own well being and healing) that she had to take this next step and say the actual words. Other had said them, but not her. Not once. It had been too much to fathom. “I don’t know if Cory is a diagnosable narcissist or just someone with narcissistic tendencies, but he was emotionally abusive. Mostly to me, but I suspect his subtle brand of control affected others as well. I was the scapegoat in the family, and he used the children against me, which, while I have an amazing relationship with my daughter, has sadly meant that my adult son hasn’t spoken to me in two years other than a few basic exchanges at Caridee’s baby shower. And I know that not all that is about me and Cory, but whatever else is going on in his life, all I could do was let him know I am here for him whenever he’s ready. But that was seven months ago and he hasn’t contacted me since I left Earth. So as much I want to, he might be one of those pieces I can’t pick up.” It was one of the more painful parts of the whole thing, because she could hold onto that beautiful time in their lives when her and Jourin bonded truly and properly for the first time.

~Eela

Kenzo was quiet a moment and then he said “Well, not having children I cannot speak to the difficulties your relationship ship with your son bring… but I do know this place. Oed has a penchant for bringing people together. I see no reason to believe it will not exercise it’s talents in that arena for you and he.”

Kenzo

Eela gazed out of the café, at the myriad of people coming and going. The ebb and flow of people, of life happening regardless of what else might be going on. “It does at that, so I will hold onto a little bit of hope,” she said, shifting her gaze back to Kenzo. There was something strange and wonderful about having made her declaration- her admission about her relationship- in a public space like this, like it was just a footnote in her life. It wasn’t true… yet. But one day, perhaps. “But for now, putting energy into that hope would be too painful, so all I can do is let it be.”

For a moment, she just gazed at Kenzo, taking him in. “These next few days are going to be intense, for both of us, and everyone around us. Just remember that that it’s a burden shared.”

~Eela

Kenzo regarded her for a long time in silence, his obsidian eyes seemingly bottomless pools of darkness that somehow carried hope instead of hopelessness.

“I was not a partner to your predecessors. They were not… engaged… enough.” He took a long breath, and it was obvious in his body language (to her, who knew him well enough) that what he was saying was significant. “In you, however, I have found not only a willing participant… not only a partner who shares a common vision… not only a friend…” and he opened himself to her in such a way that was controlled… but almost overwhelming in its sincerity, “… I have found a piece of myself I did not realize was missing.” As suddenly as the view into was open, it was closed just as quickly. “I have no desire to work with anyone else in this manner. Nor any desire to hold this position if I do not have you to support me in it.” he said flatly.

Kenzo

That night at his place was fuelled by alcohol, and physical and emotional connection. She might not have seen all of him, nor did she ever expect to, but she felt she understood at least the core of this man. Kenzo, who was not generally effusive with his emotions or his words, might as well have shouted for all that glimpse gave her. Sitting there in this café, the world going about its business, for a moment it was just them sharing this moment. Eela, who felt things deeply and was learning to embrace her more demonstrative nature, sat in quiet acceptance of his words, his emotions, his truth. Finally, she responded, her hazel eyes brimming with emotion even as she contained it within her as much as she could. “I suspect that had it been anyone else in the Governor’s office, it would be Roger who lost the bet. But I am honoured to have such a place here and in your life.” They were not just words either. Then again, her sincerity was always transparent to him.

~Eela

“The honor is… and always will be… mine, Eela.” he said, his gaze never turning from her as he spoke. Some things could not be conveyed by words or even by the intimate sharing of direct emotions. Some things had to be simply accepted for what they were with no attached effusive words or psychic metaphysics. And this connection, for Kenzo, was one of those things. He didn’t know if would ever express to her what he had come to see with her presence on Oed. But the mere thought of her being there in the colony was enough for him.

He cleared his throat softly and then said “Where do we stand on Star Fleet presence on the orbital platform for the Vren vessel arriving?”

Kenzo