The Tragic Artist

Posted on Tue Dec 11th, 2018 @ 10:04am by Commodore Phoenix Lalor-Richardson & Commander Liselle Qwyyn

Mission: Season 2: Mission 2.A: R&R
Location: DS9: Captain Lalor's Quarters
Timeline: The Day After the Elysium's Return
1447 words - 2.9 OF Standard Post Measure

OOC: You interested in doing the JP where Liselle asks Phoenix to participate in the Trill ceremony where she'll take one of Liselle's previous hosts?

Liselle Qwyyn stood outside of Captain Phoenix Lalor's temporary quarters aboard Deep Space Nine. She had known Phoenix for a long time. A very long time. In fact, as she thought on it, she realized that Phoenix truly was her oldest friend. She also realized that she had let their friendship slide into the background of her daily life. Ever since Phoenix took over as Captain of the Elysium, the two of them had stopped spending nearly as much free time together, each of them busy with their own set of challenges both personal and professional.

But she knew she still held Phoenix dearly in her heart, closer than any other person. It wasn't until she began the process of choosing the participants of the Zhian'tara that she realized how long it had been since she had spent any quality time with her friend. Which made this request she was about to make all the more difficult.

With a heavy inhale, Qwyyn reached out and pressed the door chime.

The door opened a few moments later. Phoenix stood there dressed down in a casual(For her) outfit of flowing dark green slacks and a white tank top. It showed the Tattoo she and Lise shared on her bare shoulder and her hair was, for once down and loose. She beamed a happy smile at the Trill. "Lise! Come on in!" she waved her inside.

Seeing Phoenix's relaxed smile was already enough to help quiet Liselle's worries. She stepped into Lalor's quarters, her eyes sweeping the walls and ceiling. "There's something about Cardassian architecture that I really like," she mused. "It's so...bold."

Phoenix nodded. "Yeah. But it is temporary." She pointed at the two duffles by the table. "Packing to return to the Elysium is in full swing. I thought I had clothes.. my sister out does me." She waved Liselle to the couch. "Have a seat Liselle."

"Miran is growing up faster than I can keep up with," Qwyyn agreed. She took the offered seat on Phoenix's couch, folding her hands awkwardly into her lap. She looked up at her friend. "There's something I want to ask you," she began. "But before that. I just want to say that I'm sorry I haven't been around lately. I mean, that we haven't spent as much time together off duty like we used to. Things just sort of got out of control with my personal life, and I had stuff going on, and you did too, and...anyway. It's no excuse. I'm sorry. Especially after you broke up with Ken and everything. I should be there for you."

Phoenix sat opposite Liselle. "Hey, its ok. I know you have had a lot going and lets be honest Liselle, the past few missions have been really hectic. Personal lives just have to take a back seat." She studied the Trill across from her. "So what is on your mind?"

"Right," Liselle affirmed with an assured nod. "The reason I'm here. Well." She took in a breath that pinched her lungs. "Are you, by any chance, familiar with the Trill ceremony called the zhian'tara?" She asked the question with as much nervous trepidation as if she were asking Phoenix if she'd mind stepping down as Captain so that the two of them could start a restaurant.

Phoenix thought about it. "No I have not heard about it. Not so strange really though. Why do you ask?"

"Among my people, the joined Trill are given the opportunity to communicate with their previous hosts. It's a very important and informative experience. In my case, you might even say that it's critical. In fact, that's the Symbiosis Commissions point of view," she mumbled with a tinge of annoyance. Her voice slowed as she realized that she was about to ask her question. "Which brings me to you. The way that the ceremony works is that my previous hosts are telepathically transferred into the willing bodies of my closest and most trusted friends. Temporarily of course..."

"Sounds interesting" Phoenix smiled. "Is there a risk?"

"Directly? No. There's nothing physiologically to be concerned about. However," Qwyyn pressed on, "you will experience the same emotions, thoughts, and personality of that host while you are being 'used.' And those memories and feelings will stay with you. They'll start to fade over time, but you need to be aware that it might be difficult to process some of the thoughts and feelings you're left with afterward."

Phoenix considered it. "I will need to discuss it with Ken first" she said softly.

Liselle opened her mouth to express her understanding, but no words would come out. She furrowed her brow in confusion. Her head tilted to one side. She shook the spiderwebs clean, blinking. "I'm sorry. I thought you said Ken."

Phoenix frowned and then stood and called out "Waters! You said you were going to tell her!"

Ken stepped around the corner and into the main room, sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck with one hand. "I was waiting for the right moment," he explained. Catching Qwyyn's glowering eyes, he winced. "I suppose this moment is actually pretty okay?"

"What happened to moving on?" Qwyyn demanded of Phoenix. "What happened to not doing this to yourself again? You know how this is going to end! How this ALWAYS ends! Phoenix, what are you doing? How can you be giving him ANOTHER chance?"

"Lise" Phoenix took her friends hands in hers. "It was not instantaneous. It was something we talked about... after..." she took a breath. "You saw the grave didn't you?"

Qwyyn's mouth hung open, her words lost. Of course she had seen the grave. Just the thought of that lonely headstone planted among the trees was enough to make her heart feel heavy in her chest. She lowered her voice, finding calm where once there was surprised anger. "I don't doubt that Ken was scared by the thought of losing you. We were all pretty shaken up by that alternate...possibility. I'm terrified by it. But how do you know that isn't exactly why he's back in your life again? How do you know he's not just scared of the idea of not having you waiting for him?"

Ken furrowed his brow at the question. "Excuse me, but I actually am in this room with you, you know."

Qwyyn pressed on. "What happens when he gets used to the idea that you aren't dead. What happens when he slowly starts taking you for granted again?"

"Then you and Miran can carve him up into kibble." Phoenix said softly. She reached out and took her friends hands. "Lise, whats happening here, I did not plan it. I most definitely didn't. It happened. And from what I was told, in that alternate timeline, you supported us. You helped raise our children. Hell, we named our daughter after you."

Ken tensed at the mention of the children.

His reaction did not go unnoticed by Qwyyn. Her eyes lingered on him a moment, distrustful, before returning to the Captain. "Okay, Pheonix," Qwyyn said, almost forcing herself to say the words. She nodded to herself, regardless. "Okay. You've always been a good judge of character. And you're just about the smartest woman I know. If you think this is a good idea, then you have my complete support."

Phoenix nodded slightly. Then she looked at Ken. "Liselle was asking me to partake in a Trill Ritual - the zhian'tara"

He sighed, spreading his hands in defeat. "I can't very well argue with her now," he said. "She's right. You're smart, and you always make good decisions. Take me, for example."

Qwyyn furrowed her brow at him and the frivolity with which he was handling the situation.

He chuckled softly. "Just a joke, Commander. Phoenix, I think you should do it. Whatever it is."

Phoenix nodded. Turning she faced her best friend."Liselle I would be honored to participate in the zhian'tara."

Liselle jumped up from the couch, crossing the distance to her friend and pulling her into a hug. "Thank you, Phoenix. You don't know how much this means to me."

From behind the Captain, Ken Waters stretched out his arms for a hug of his own. Catching Liselle's look, he let them drop to his sides. "We'll work our up to hugs, I suppose."

==/\==

Captain Phoenix Lalor
Commanding Officer
USS Elysium

Commander Liselle Qwyyn
Chief of Flight Control/Second Officer
USS Elysium

Senior Chief Petty Officer Ken Waters (NPC)
Flight Control officer
USS Elysium