Run in

Posted on Thu Jun 15th, 2023 @ 8:53pm by Harper o’Leary & Commander Kyle Reece

Mission: Season 6: Episode 2: Survival
Location: Common Tent
Timeline: MD7 - Late afternoon
1336 words - 2.7 OF Standard Post Measure

Harper was organizing the children in the common tent with craft activities. The teachers looked down on her because she had no actual qualifications, but she had salvaged materials from her shop so there were various activities around involving flowers, gemstones and a couple of soap making stations. And she ignored the teachers who were watching her like a hawk, waiting for any opportunity to kick her out.

Kendra, her adoptive daughter was sitting eagerly at one of the soap stations looking over a list of ingredients, happy to be doing something different.

While he was taking a couple days to rest, down in the camp, Kyle decided to take his newly adopted children to the common area tent, to try and spend some quality time with them, while Vanessa dealt with her cousin, Arrianna.

Entering the tent, he looked around for whomever was in charge of the activities.

Harper straightened up from where she had been helping a child with glitter and glue. She smiled at the officer who entered with two tweens. She noted the rank on the collar of his jacket and stepped up. "Commander" She said brightly. "Welcome to chaos."

Turning to the woman's voice, Kyle offered a friendly grin. "Miss....O'Leary, isn't it?' He thought she looked familiar, possibly from one of the stores on the promenade deck.

"Harper" She held out her hand to him.

Taking the offered hand, Kyle gave it a friendly shake. "In that case, I insist that you call me Kyle."

"So your children are here for the craft afternoon?" Harper asked smiling at the siblings.

Kyle nodded, as he looked over at the Orion siblings. "Yes, this is Zhavna," he indicated the young girl. "And her baby brother, Jassirc. Vanessa and I recently adopted them and I wanted to spend some fun time with them, before I have to head back up to the ship to continue the repairs." He looked over at his children. "Kids, say hello to Miss O'Leary."

Both children shyly nodded greetings to Harper, Jassirc staying close to his big sister.

Harper smiled. "So Kendra is over there at the soap making station, and there is a painting station over at the other table, " She said, getting down a bit so she was more on their level. "And at that table, we are making bracelets."

Jassirc whispered something into his sister's ear. Zhavna then asked the question. "May we go to the painting table?'

Kyle nodded and smiled. "Sounds like excellent idea, sweety." He then looked back at Harper. "Do you have enough room for a giant like me at the table?'

"Of course, go on, join them. Its nice to see adults taking the time to relax with their children."

Kyle smiled his thanks. He and his children than made their way over to the appropriate table and started to each work on a separate canvass.

While Jassirc started with light colors, doing a more abstract creation, Zhavna chose to go darker, using more powerful brush strokes to create something that looked to be full of pain.

As his two children painted, Kyle was splitting his attention between his own painting, which was starting to look like a landscape of sorts, and the works that his children were creating. He smiled softly when he looked over at Jassirc's, then his eyes took on a more pained look when they moved to Zhavna and her canvass.

Harper moved between tables, bending down to talk to the children at each bench, discussing seriously what they were doing. When she made it to painting she paused by Zhavna. "Nice colour choice," she said encouragingly to Zhavna. "Your painting is very atmospheric."

The young Orion looked up at Harper briefly, then back down at her painting. "It's what happened when the ship broke," she said quietly.

"I know." Harper replied softly. "And it helps that you are able to show it." she touched the teen's shoulder. "Better you paint it than bottle it up. And you show a lot of talent in it. You should speak with Miran Lalor. She is a painter as well."

Zhavna merely shrugged in reply.

Kyle, sitting between the children, reached out and gently rubbed his daughter's back supportively.

Harper smiled gently and straightened up. "I think you have a real talent. And your family can see it too." She placed a small tube of darker blue on the table beside Zhavna. "Good luck."

Looking at the new paint offering, Zhavna shook her head. "That's not the right color for this."

"Zhavna!" Kyle said in a firm, but gentle tone. "Be polite."

The young Orion girl's shoulders slumped some and she responded with a gloomy, "Sorry, Ma'am."

Harper's smile didn't dim. "While yes, it is. But you have other colours that you can mix with it."

Jassirc spoke up softly. "May...may I have different paints?"

Harper nodded with a smile. "Of course." She went to the tray and brought over the other paints for them both.

After Harper set down the addition paints, Kyle looked over at her and quietly mouthed, thank you.

She smiled, patted his shoulder as she went past and moved over to the candle making area to help a child.

For the next couple hours, Kyle and the kids painted a few different canvasses. When they were finally finishedhe had them clean up their tools and work areas, then they gathered their paintings and started for the door. As they were about to leave, Kyle saw Harper approaching. Smiling an unintentionally handsome grin, he said, "Thank you again for doing this. We really enjoyed the outlet of release the painting provided."

"I am glad they had fun" Harper replied with a smile. "it helps everyone I think."

Kyle nodded. He then leaned down to address the siblings. "Go get your stuff on, while I speak to Miss O'Leary. Tell her thank you first."

The young Orion children turned their attention from their adoptive father to the othe adult present. "Thank you, Miss O'Leary," they responded in near unison.

"Harper," the redhaired woman replied with a warm smile to the children. "Take care."

They both shied away and moved to put on their winter suits and boots, Zhavna helping her title brother first.

Watching them, Kyle let out a soft sigh of resignation. "I know they don't see me as their father. They probably never will. I just hope that one day they might see me as their friend." He looked over at Harper and gave her a soft smile. "Thank you again for doing this for the kids. I know that if Vanessa was here, she'd be thanking you as well."

"They are all going to take time Commander. A lot of children lost parents and they are going to need that time. Just be there for them, give them the love and care they need."

Nodding, he replied, "If you insist on Harper, I have to insist on Kyle." He grinned softly, then nodded in recognition of her other words. "I will be," he almost said 'always', but the situation they were currently in proved that word should not be used. "Until I draw my last breath, I will be here for them."

"I am sure they will know that. Patience is needed Kyle. I have taken in two younger children as well. I know what you and your partner are dealing with. Rely on each other."

Kyle nodded again. "I hope you and your partner are able to do the same," Kyle replied honestly, not knowing the truth of things.

"Ah single parent at the moment. " Harper said as if it was no big deal. "Have a good evening Kyle."

Tipping his head towards Harper, Kyle replied. "And you as well." He then moved to help his children finish getting dressed for the cold. Once they were ready, he quickly donned his own gear, then the trio left, heasing back to the tent they currently called home.