Family Arguments

Posted on Sun Jan 7th, 2024 @ 5:47pm by Captain Mattias Richardson [Reece] & Commodore Phoenix Lalor-Richardson & Miran Lalor [Lalor] HRH & Tristi Richardson

Mission: Season 6: Episode 4: Memory Lane
Location: USS Elysium, Lalor-Richardson Quarters
Timeline: day after she goes out with Gérard.
2939 words - 5.9 OF Standard Post Measure

Phoenix had come home and Miran had snarked at her and they had ended up in Phoenix's home office, arguing.

"... You have no right to tell me what to do! Not anymore!"

"Miran until you are 18 I am your legal guardian!"

"HA! You left me! You allowed yourself to go off on that stupid mission, leaving me with Mother, Kyian and the twins! You didn't even think! You just up and left and I had to look after two infants and mother. And Kyian. He was useless for weeks! But you? You were off having fun, getting laid, and doing who knows what! I had no choice but to grow up, protect the family, and now you are going to tell me what to do?" Miran's voice echoed through the cabin. "I did everything! I moved the family to the safe house, I piloted the shuttle there, I looked after the twins and Mother who went into depression a few weeks in! I made sure Kyian never brought home his floozies from the local bar! I ran the house! Then you come home, bring your new husband and some streetrat and expect me to be happy?"

"Tristi is not a street rat Miran!"

"She is too. No family, raised on the streets of Rigel X, She is by definition and everyone calls her that. Teachers, Students, Cadets! You need to clean out your ears! And while I was off being the perfect sister and daughter and running the house? My Best friend chose to move on! You are not going to stand in the way of my new chance at happiness Penelope Lalor-Richardson, Not you, Not your Husband, not your newest project, so stay out of my life!"

"Miran!"

"No! You moved out at 16, hell you were probably sexually active by then! Why should I wait until 18?"

"I didn't have sex until I was in my 20's. Mattias was my first and it was not until my first assignment. He most definitely did not have sex with me when I was underage! And frankly Miran, my sexual history is none of your concern!"

"And neither is MY personal life any of your concern!" Miran retorted. "I have done everything you have ever asked of me. And more! I have earned the right to live my life the way I want! I wasn't even going to be here but Mother insisted! I could have gone to Paris for school!"

Their voices rose as anger flowed between the two sisters.

"You graduate middle of the year Miran!"

"So? I would have been accepted to the art school there! I could be learning and creating! No, instead I am here, babysitting Tristi and the twins! I am not a Governess nor am I a servant." Miran all but screamed back now. "I am going to date who I want! I am going to move out as soon as I can! Anything to get away from you!" Miran ran from the office and out the main door of the cabin without another word.

Phoenix followed but stopped as the main doors closed.

Mattias, having heard the fight, stepped out of the nursery, cradling Elizabeth. "Are you alright, my love? That seemed like an extremely heated exchange, even for the two of you." His voice and expression conveyed concern for his family.

Phoenix looked at him. "Well, it's not normal but, she did raise some valid points." She sighed. "Miran is growing up and has grown up a lot since I went on the mission with the Black Watch. I guess she does not approve of my trying to be her guardian again."

Mattias nodded thoughtfully as he gently rubbed Elizabeth's back. "Perhaps, instead of trying to force her into accepting you as her guardian....try reconnecting to her as her friend? Come what may, and I mean this....ultimately, at the end of the day, it's the two of you, and Kyian, against the universe. The three of you need to stay united, no matter what. Spouses, friends and romantic partners will come and go. They will always be your siblings, the two people who know you better than anyone else in creation..even more than I know you. It's because you three grew up together." He leaned in and kissed Phoenix gently on her lips. "Go find her. Talk with her. Not at her...with her. And really listen to what she has to say."

"When she has had time to cool down. Its been brewing since before the Chaos. And I know her temper."

"Sounds good," Mattias replied quietly. "In the meantime then, why don't you help me with the twins? We could have a quiet drink afterwards?"

Phoenix nodded. "Yes, that sounds like a plan." She walked over and touched their daughter's cheek. She paused. "Matt... about Tristi... Miran said people are being nasty to her at school. Has she spoken about it?"

He gently kissed the top of Elizabeth's head, then shook his head no. "She hasn't said anything to me." He then moved, with Phoenix, to Tristi's door and knocked on it.

The door slid opened and Tristi peeked out. "Is it clear?" she asked the two adults.

Phee smiled faintly "Miran has gone out."

"Ah ok..." the teen replied. "Was there something you needed from me?"

Mattias gave Tristi a soft, fatherly grin. "May we come in and talk to you about something important, sweetheart?"

Tristi eyed them both and then the child in Mattias's arms so she nodded and stepped back. "okay..." She said.

When they entered her room, it was neat as a pin, and the only sign that someone lived there was the row of plants on the faux window at the head of the bed, and the bedroll on the far side of the bed.

As he was still cradling Elizabeth against his chest, Mattias moved to the only chair in the room and sat down. The sleeping infant in his arms nuzzled in a bit closer to him as he started to speak quietly. "First off, Tris, you're not in trouble or anything. Your mother and I just wanted to talk with you about some upsetting things that have been brought to our attention."

"What ever it is, I didn't do it!" Tristi replied, her tone defensive. "I never stole anything!"

Phoenix frowned. "Tristi, of course you haven't stolen anything."

"Well that's why you are here right? That teacher told you I stole someone's work and passed it off as my own right?"

Phoenix looked at Mattias. "Tristi, is this the reason we have not seen your report card?" she asked curiously.

"My report card is what you would expect from someone like me," came the reply. It sounded like she had heard it a lot.

Mattias felt a fire light inside his chest. The only reason that he didn't explode, then and there, was because of the little angel currently sleeping against his chest. His eyes, however, grew with defensive anger for his adopted daughter. "What?!" He hissed quietly, though the danger of that one word was palpable. "Who said what about you?!"

Tristi shrugged. "Look, it doesn't matter. I am not going back to the school anyway. I have been working with Harper O'Leary in her shop, she is letting me harvest and tend to her plants that she uses for her soaps and lotions."

Now it was Mattias’s turn to give Phoenix a look. Carefully, he climbed back to his feet, cradling Elizabeth protectively against his chest. "I'm going to go put your sister in her crib, and then the three of us will continue this discussion." He then left Phoenix and Tristi alone, as he made his way to the nursery.

Phoenix walked over and sat on the bed and then motioned for Tristi to sit beside her. "Tristi" she said when the teen complied. "School is very important."

"You didn't go to school"

"No not in the sense that you are, that is true. But I was not allowed to. I struggled my full four years at the Academy, I was only allowed in under special consideration and I had very little education to go on. I do not want that for you."

Tristi shrugged. "I don't like the teacher or the school. Several blame me for that cadet's punishment. I think they were her friends."

Phoenix put her arm around Tristi. "I know it has not been easy. I thought Miran and Raye would be supportive."

Tristi looked at her hands. "Miran does not want to be targeted and Raye well she has her own problems. I don't blame them, Its not easy for either of them. I am a target, because there is no secret of where I came from. I know you think that it should be easy... but its not."

"I never thought it would be easy Tristi, you know Mattias and I are here for you. You need to talk to us sweetie. And as to where you came from? That does not matter to Mattias or myself and you know that."

Nodding, Tristi kept looking at her hands.

A few moments later, Tristi's door slid open again, and Mattias re-entered. Moving over to where Tristi and Phoenix sat, he raised his right hand to the underside of her chin. Lifting it gently, until their eyes met, his expression softened greatly. "Sweetheart, no matter what anyone says, you deserve the same care and education as everyone else. If anyone has issue with that, then the fault is in them, not you."

Tristi gave a slight nod at her adoptive father's words. "But they make it my problem." She said softly.

Phoenix took a breath. "You know you need to go back to school."

"No Way!" Tristi replied firmly. "I would rather be assimilated!"

Hearing Tristi's reply to first his statement, then her mother's, raised the fire in Mattias’s breast. While remaining gentle with the young girl, he replied. "Two things, sweetheart. One, you're a Richardson now, so no one is ever allowed to tell you that you're less-than. And two, the best way to shut all the doubters up, is to not only pass your classes, but to do so better than they could!" He knelt down in front of her and took her hands into his. Looking up into her eyes, he continued, "You're mother and I are extremely proud of you, and we see all the hard work you have been putting since we all became a family. I'm sure even Miran is proud." He leaned in and a smirked playfully. "Though we will just keep that between us."

Tristi nodded slowly.

"Where is your report card Tristi?" Phoenix asked.

"In my dresser, top drawer."

Phoenix got up and went over and opened the drawer and pulled out the PADD. She thumbed it on.

Federation Standard – Spoken – Pass
Federation Standard – Written - Fail
Mathematics – Elementary grade Level – Pass
Mathematics – Algebra 1 – Fail
Biology – Fail
Natural sciences - Pass
Chemistry – Fail
Physics – Fail
Science basics - Fail
Physical Education- Pass.

Comments: Tristi will not graduate from high school unless she applies herself. Parent conference recommended.

Phoenix finished reading it and handed it to Mattias.

Taking the PADD, Mattias quickly read the information, a small, sad frown filling his features before he finally lowered it and spoke. "Honey, why didn't you tell us you were having troubles with your school work?"

"I didn't think I was. I got good marks back on my homework. I did a project and got 95% on it for Biology! I studied the material. Yes I read slow, and I am not great at math but I was getting B's!"

A dark look started to cloud Mattias's features. He didn't like what he was hearing from his daughter. "So...if you received good marks during the class work portion...why were you failed?" The question wasn't aimed exactly at Tristi, but more said aloud. He then moved to embrace his daughter in a warm, supportive, fatherly hug. After kissing the top of her head, he spoke softly to her. "Don't you worry, my darling. Your mother and I will get to the bottom of this!"

Phoenix gave their daughter a smile. "It won't be the first teacher I have had removed and they won't be the last for sure."

"Can you really remove them while they have no where else to go?" Tristi asked.

"They can sub in at the Academy if they think they are so bloody good" Phoenix replied.

"If they are lucky," Mattias growled protectively. "If they are truly targeting our daughter, I will not be satisfied until they are completely removed from their employment contract and forced to find other means of employment on the ship." He continued to embrace Tristi, showing her that he would protect her, no matter what.

Tristi nodded and leaned into Mattias for a moment. "I have work in the morning. As I said, Harper is letting me work with her."

Moving Tristi so he could look her in the eyes, Mattias shook his head. "No, sweetheart. In the morning, you will resume your class work with a private tutor. You are still a minor, so school comes first. You can still work in Harper's shop, but only part time. A few hours a day, after your school work is completed, and a full eight hour shift on Saturdays. Sundays, you will will spend home, with the family, or your friends." He knew that she had made a few friends since coming to live with them on the Elysium. Not many, but a few nonetheless. "It is important for your future to complete your studies and earn a high school diploma. Then, you can go one to college studies of your choice, but you will continue to learn and grow into the highly intelligent woman your mother and I know you are."

Tristi sighed. "But I promised her tomorrow morning. She is expecting me."

"And she will have to deal with your absence. I she cannot respect the rules that your mother and I set forth for your own well-being, then she does ot deserve your assistance in her shop." He looked over at Phoenix to hear her take on the situation.

Phoenix smiled faintly. "You are missing the point Mattias, it's the fact that Tristi made a promise. And she does not want to break it. I will contact Ms O'Leary and explain. It will be fine Tristi."

The Teen nodded slowly.

Not wanting to disagree in front of their daughter, Mattias kissed her gently on her forehead, then said, "For now, it's time for bed, sweetheart. Go get cleaned up and get some sleep. Today is done. Let tomorrow be the beginning of a fresh start, okay?"

Tristi nodded and stood to walk to where she had put her bedroll.

Phee took Mattias' hand. "Come on, I have to go chase the other delinquent."

Mattias gave Tristi another gently kiss goodnight, then allowed Phoenix to lead him out of their daughter's room. Once the were out of earshot, he confronted his wife. "The hell, Phee?! We need to stay united in front of the children. If Harper is truly an honorable person, she will recognize that, as Tristi's parents, until she is an adult, our word is law in concerns to her."

"I don't disagree but it was not HARPER speaking just then. It was Tristi. She made a promise and she was scared of breaking it. Harper will have no issue with this, I have known her a while. It was Tristi's choice and while I agree she has to go back to school, she organised it and she was trying to be responsible." Phoenix said calmly to her husband. "I was translating teenager to you."

Still unhappy that head Phoenix had not been united in front of their daughter, he couldn't help but appreciate what she had said. A frown still on his face, he replied. "Going forward, e are to remain on the same page in front of the children. If we disagree with each other, we wait to express it until we are alone. Agreed?"

"Agreed" Came his wife's reply. "Speaking of teenagers.." she pointed down the stairs as the main door opened. "Excuse me while I go calm that one down."

Mattias looked down the stairs and saw Miran return to their quarters. He silently wondered what has become of her Cadet.

Phoenix looked at him and then headed down the stairs. While Tristi and the twins were one thing, her sister was another and she would handle her.

Miran, however, was still in no mood to deal with her sister. She saw her coming down the stairs and crossed her arms. "I just went and saw Sapphire, she is going to organise me my own cabin. I move out tomorrow." So saying she swept up the stairs past her sister and into her room and locked the door behind her.

Mattias looked over at Phoenix after Miran had brushed past him on the stairs. "Well, that went well."

"Oh she is so my mother at times," Phoenix said. "And then there are times, Pallas comes out in her."

Moving over to Phoenix, Mattias pulled her into an embrace. "I'm sorry I got mad earlier," he said softly.

Phoenix leaned against him. "I am sorry too." She said softly.

A short while later, Phoenix and Mattias were sitting together in front of the fireplace with a couple glasses of wine, enjoying the quiet of the night.

~OFF~