Tea

Posted on Tue Oct 10th, 2023 @ 12:04pm by

2,498 words; about a 12 minute read

Mission: Mission 1: Campor III - Resupply
Location: Hospital
Timeline: After Critical Care

T'Lura walked out of the unit after an hour of surgery, she turned to Lissa, "Thank you, Nurse Kerr. Your assistance was invaluable. Would you like to partake in some form of refreshment?"

"Thank you," Lissa responded. "And yeah I could use a drink. A refreshment I mean, I didn't mean like a drink-drink."

Feeva exited behind the others. She'd been swept up by one of the Klingon medics, asked to help in triage things. Now, she was tired-her skills had been maxed out. She was a wonderful Counselor but a terrible nursemaid. She'd been lucky that Leena had only had one major illness so far, and she and her husband had taken turns caring for her.

"There is a replicator in the Consolation Room," she said, overhearing Lissa's words. "I had a calming cup of Vissian Fir Needle tea myself," she said.

"Yes, that will do," T'Lura nodded. Vulcan walked into the room and approached the replicator. "Deke Tea"

T'Lura took her and down, "Does Commander Razka have a child?"

Feeva looked to Lissa. "Yes, he does. I am...aware of the situation but I cannot share much," she said. "As counselor, he's told me, only in an effort to help his daughter to adjust to life aboard a Starship," she explained, choosing her words carefully. "A cute little girl," she said, not revealing much more. She took her oath to privacy seriously. She would give details but nothing too identifying. "These are questions you should ask him, probably," she said. She led the women to the white room, and settled in.

"I plan to, I have not seen the Commander in a number of years. However I observed a tattoo on his clavicle signifying family status." T'Lura explained.

Feeva nodded. "I didn't realize that was what that signified," she said. "How do you know Commander Razka?" She asked. She followed up with a question. "Lissa, do you want something?" She said.

"Iced coconut water would be great, thanks," Lissa responded.

"His daughter is something else," Lissa told T'Lura. "She broke out of daycare and found me studying one evening. Cute as a button, very articulate, but she keeps her teachers running for sure."

Once Feeva had returned with her drink, Lissa reiterated Feeva's question. "So, yeah, tell us, how do you know the Commander?"

"My parents are anthropologists, and we were studying the Quath'Mar," T'Lura began she paused for a moment. "I first met Kas when we traveled with Kas's clan, and we became close friends. He enrolled in the Academy one year after I did. Unfortunately, our demanding careers haven't allowed us to cross paths very often. It's good to hear he has family."

The Vulcan woman couldn't help thinking of the lonely young man she'd guided through his turbulent emotions. She kept her composure as she looked at the two women.

"Where is the child's mother?" The Vulcan.

Feeva shrugged. She knew, but wouldn't say. "I cannot say," she said, simply. "My duty and my oath disallow me," she said. "What I do feel comfortable saying is that he is the only parent available to raise his daughter," she said. She looked at Lissa-she knew that the nurse had also helped the man and child to navigate some things, but was unsure how much she knew.

"How close of friends were you?" Feeva asked, then sipped the tea she'd gotten for herself. She should've replicated herself a sandwich, too.

"I've been remiss in my Hosting. I doubt either of you has eaten in some time. I found the sandwiches programmed into the replicator to be efficient to consume and are quite nourishing" T'Lura said as she moved to the replicator and came back with sandwiches. It was logical that she would have to share information if was to get information, however, it was difficult to discuss such things.

"We were intimate before I entered the Academy and continued our relationship when he enrolled. However, we made the difficult decision to end our relationship when I graduated," the Vulcan woman explained.

"Well, I don't think he's seeing anyone now," Lissa said, eyeing the Vulcan for a reaction.

T'Lura raised an eyebrow, "As we matured we've found that we are better as friends."

Feeva listened quietly. Interesting. She filed it away for future reference. In case he came to see her for a session. Or in case she had to know it for some other reason. "I see," she said, and took a sandwich. "Thank you."

"I believe that Nurse Kerr here has been more chatty with him than I, I am afraid. We know each other as parents, our daughters are friendly but we're not close," she said, paving the way for Lissa to be able to say more. Fee never felt comfortable with these sorts of "girls' talk" things anyway, irrespective of the topic.

"Don't Vulcans usually mate for life? Or is that just a rumor?" Lissa asked.

"We do not always follow the same path." T'Lura kept a cool exterior. Her mind went back to the disputes with her parents about Kas. That was the reason they had agreed to let her join Starfleet- they had not foreseen Kas joining too. "Marriage is not the logical path for some of us."

Fee shrugged. "Not just for you," she said. "While it was for me, I have done some marriage counseling in my day, and I have seen a few couples who probably should not have married. I always encourage young people to explore dating a variety of folks-you can't know what you like until you sample a bit of everything. There's nothing wrong with long-term partnerships, and even celibacy," she said. It was the most she'd said the whole evening. It must've seemed strange, coming from the otherwise-reserved Vissian, but she truly believed it. She was only formal and reserved in public, besides.

"Yeah, but logic has nothing to do with love," Lissa said. She was talking to both T'Lura and Feeva. "You can't help how you feel about someone, or even something. Whether or not your parents agree or it makes any sense at all, or how many people you've dated. When you are IN LOVE that can be all that matters."

"Romantic Love is not experienced by Vulcans as other species do, It is a complex and nuanced emotion. It is not the driving force behind our relationships, as logic and compatibility take precedence." T'Lura explained to the young woman. "To those who use the human phrase 'Love conquers all,' to refer them to the ending of their Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet.' The galaxy is too complex for simplistic ideas."

Feeva couldn't help but agree. "That's true. But in my experience, when you do allow yourself to feel even the nuanced feelings...you do feel like you can conquer whatever comes at you," she said. "In my experience, having a partner to hold you, and bounce ideas off, and talk to...it's invaluable. I love my daughter but I do get tired of talking about cartoons and toys all day. I miss having a companion," she said. She sipped her tea again. She'd said too much.

"I understand and respect your perspective," T'Lura paused. "Regarding companionship, it is a valid need for many species, and having a partner can indeed provide valuable support and companionship. Perhaps exploring avenues for intellectual or shared activities could offer a balance between the company of adults and your daughter's
interests. Ultimately, the pursuit of such balance is a personal journey that requires careful consideration and self-reflection."

"First of all, Shakespeare did not write good loves stories. Secondly, I'm not saying every relationship works out," Lissa countered. "But it doesn't that you didn't love them, and probably always will. Maybe Vulcan society doesn't prioritize emotions, and it encourages emotional suppression, but it's not lost on me that you are asking a lot of questions about Kas," Lissa pointed out, a devilish smile on her face.

Feeva's brown eyes grew round, and she lightly kicked the Orion under the table.

T'Lura gave the woman a cold look. "Curiosity about an old acquaintance is natural."

Lissa shrugged her look off with a light laugh. "But he is more than just an old acquaintance. No need to be so uptight about it. Come on, we were just in major surgery together, you can relax a little."

Feeva sighed. "Nurse Kerr, you're worse than the children," she said in a stage whisper. She turned to T'Lura.

Feeva nodded. "LtCdr. Razka and I have crossed paths a few times, doing parent things, and our daughters play together at school sometimes, from what I've gathered. I've spent a bit of time with Lissa, as well, socially. I just..I don't like to rely on other people to watch Leena, and there are few places on the ship that it is safe to take a young child. She's just four," she said. "It's bad enough that I sometimes work late into the evening, and while the teacher says she doesn't mind keeping my Leena late, I feel badly. Her father was a much more hands-on parent-I struggle with it because I did not have my mother," Feeva explained.

"I understand the challenges you face, Feeva. It's natural to have concerns about relying on others for child care, especially when safety is a priority. The well-being of your daughter is paramount, and your desire to provide the best care for her is commendable." T'Lura answer grateful for the change of subject. "It's also worth noting that seeking assistance from reliable individuals within the community, like LtCdr. Razka or other trusted colleagues can provide you with some support and peace of mind."

Feeva nodded. "Yes, I am working with the Security chief and the Intelligence officers to secure some people I can trust. Uh, my people's special genetic situation means that I cannot easily procreate, and I'd rather ensure that Leena lives at least until adulthood," she said. "As well, I was older when I had her, due to those genetic situations. I do my best," she said. "But Lissa is right...you do seem awfully keen on knowing much more about our Quath'Mar friend. Will you be seeing him this evening?" She asked, taking the last sip of her tea.

"If our duties permit, I believe we should have a conversation," T'Lura said. "The Quath'Mar appear to accept extended periods of separation from their family and companions as a customary aspect of their existence. Consequently, their eagerness to reunite and their public displays of affection can be attributed to this cultural perspective. They encapsulate this sentiment with the saying: 'Cherish each moment as if it were the last.'"

Feeva simply nodded. "We can pass on a message, if you'd like," she said. She'd let Lissa do it-no doubt that whatever the Nurse would say would be hilarious.

"The commander and I are more Capable of facilitating our own communication. I trust you will respect this boundary." T'Lura gave the women a pointed look. "If you have any further questions about Quath'Mar culture I will answer them, other than that I see no rational reason to continue discussing the commander."

Feeva was fine with that. She was already over this Vulcan, the conversation about her colleague's love life, and the hard line she walked as the Counselor.

Lissa laughed. Unfortunately she had just taken a drink of her coconut water, and in the process of trying to keep from spitting it out on the table, she was experiencing the unfortunate sensation of having the drink come up her nose. Her eyes started watering, and she put her hands to her sinuses as she swallowed her drink and took a deep breath and tried to regain her composure. "Okay, so what you would like to talk about then?" Lissa asked, her voice still a little rough. She took another gulp of her beverage to try and wash the sting away.

T'Lura fixed Lissa with a curious stare, she didn't understand what the young woman found amusing. She was also puzzled because she had suggested a topic of conversation,

"I have noticed that you engage in conversations readily, indicating a wealth of conversational topics. If discussing Quah'Mar culture does not interest you, there are numerous other subjects unrelated to my personal relationships that we can explore." T'Lura said bluntly.

Feeva stood up and went to the replicator for another cup of tea. "Are we needed out there?" She asked, hoping to clear the tension in the room. The other part of her duties-diplomacy-meant that she was always smoothing things over. She smoothed her purple tunic and returned to the table with her tea.

"It was a pretty depressing day, actually," Lissa commented. "Of course I'll go back out, but I don't know how much help they even want. Two teenagers had chemical burns in their lungs. A few hours of breathing under a pulmonary regenerator and they would have been good as new. Instead they were taken away to suffer for the next week while they heal naturally, likely left with scarred tissue." Lissa shook her head. "And I don't even know what happened to the man who was blinded by the flash, in asked about an ocular regenerator and I was shuffled away." She had tried to prepare herself for the fact that a facility in Klingon territory would operate this way, but it didn't mean she had to like it.

Feeva nodded. "I understand. Klingons worry about their honor, but is it honorable to die needlessly?" She turned to T'Lura. "Where are we needed further?" She asked.

"Persuading Klingons to adopt more contemporary medical practices is a challenging endeavor," T'Lura explained. "I have been collaborating with Dr. Hepka to integrate Federation medical techniques into his practice. Altering centuries-old traditions requires a significant investment of time and patience."

T'Lura's badge chirped, "T'Lura here."

Vorok's husky voice spoke through the COMM.

=/\=The Holana is landing with at least one Fleet casualty. Don't worry yourParmaqqay seems to be unharmed.=/\=

T'Lura cocked her head, "I will send assistance."

The Vulcan didn't respond to the Klingon's immature jab about Kas. "Ladies, I believe we are needed at the landing platform."

Feeva had nodded and began to speak before the Comms had interrupted them. Once T'Lura was done, Fee stood. "I understand about the Klingons, but it doesn't mean we shouldn't try," she said. "While also respecting and giving reverence to their culture. They can come to the modern world in some areas. No one says they have to in all aspects of their life," she said. "I would be happy to assist in diplomatic educational endeavors to that end," she said, following the two out of the room. "What does "Parmaqqay" mean?" She asked.

"'Parmaqqay' is a Klingon term of endearment, often used to refer to one's beloved or partner," T'Lura stated. "I believe Vorok was referring to Ltcr Razka in jest."

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