Daredevil and Womanizer

Posted on Tue Dec 11th, 2018 @ 6:54pm by Captain Gary Taylor & Commander Liselle Qwyyn

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: Gary Taylor's Quarters
Timeline: Next Mission
2021 words - 4 OF Standard Post Measure

The doors to Commander Gary Taylor's quarters parted and Liselle Qwyyn stood at his threshold, her head lowered with loose strands of her normally perfectly pinned up hair spilling across her face. She was out of uniform, opting for a black turtleneck sweater that hugged her with a narrow band at the waist, pulled over black leggings. She had half considered her wardrobe before coming here, or a few minutes at the mirror, but she knew that any excuse to hesitate would have given her full opportunity to talk herself out of this entirely. So she had immediately stepped out her door and come here. Now, not only were her eyes purposefully avoiding Taylor's own, but her lips were twisted to one side, like a child caught in a lie.

Hearing the chime to his door ring, Gary got up to see who would be paying him a visit. He was dressed in slacks and an open neck shirt. Opening the door he was surprised to see Liselle and she was out of uniform. "Liselle, this is a pleasant surprise, please come in." As he stepped back and gestured for her to enter. "Please have a seat, can I get you anything? Is something wrong?" His eyes going to hers to see if he ascertain if something was wrong with his friend.

"What? No. No, everything's fine." She shook her head, looking up at him as though her eyes could reassure him. Dumbly, she found her way to a nearby chair and lowered herself into it. "Do you...maybe...do you think I could get a drink or something? I want to ask you something, and I know I don't have the courage to do it sober."

"A drink? Sure!" Gary reassured her yet inwardly he was wondering just what kind of question did Liselle want to ask him that it required a drink to get her nerve up? He walked over to the replicator and ordered her a rum and coke. A relatively safe drink. Returning to where she sat he handed her the glass. "Here you go Liselle." As he sat down in a chair facing her and waited.

She held her glass with her thumbs and fingertips, staring down into it for a long while. Finally, she threw her head back and tossed the liquid down her throat. With a quick shudder, she smacked the empty glass down on the table between them. "Have I ever told you about my past? About Qwyyn's past? Before Liselle, I mean."

Gary stared at her in open mouth amazement as she downed the drink in one swallow. He blinked and shook his head as she asked her question about Qwyyn's past. "Getting over his amazement he replied slowly, "No, you've never spoken to me about Qwyyn's past. Has something come to light that worries you Liselle?" His tone showing his concern.

Her eyes continued to look down into her empty drink. "All of my hosts before this one were...problematic," she smiled to herself at her own choice of an understated descriptor. "My first two hosts were actually quite the disaster: A father fighting with his son until his addictions took him, and then that same son dealing with the aftermath. It was something that should never have happened. In fact, it's technically forbidden to happen. The mental trauma to the symbiote was...profound."

Gary leaned forward in his seat as Liselle spoke of the past hosts. His brow knitted together as she spoke of the father and son hosts. "Profound?" He echoed, "You have a wonderful knack for understatement Liselle. I was going more for disastrous." He stopped and shook his head, "I'm sorry, please continue."

"From there, Qwyyn joined to a man named Juliard. He was a bit of a nerd before the joining; a mathematician, actually. The Symbiosis Commission was convinced that he was the best candidate to get Qwyyn straightened out. But after the joining, things went the wrong way. Juliard became a completely different person. A daredevil and a womanizer. Literally. A different mountain every day, a different woman every night."

Gary nodded sympathetically as Liselle continued her story on the hosts. "Liselle, how could this happen? Father and son being hosts. A mathematician who suddenly becomes a daredevil and womanizer. Sounds like someone wasn't doing their homework."

"A lot of it was off-world, joinings made when no other Trill were available. After Juliard, Qwyyn was going to be ejected from the program entirely until my last host, Melbin, got involved. He was a Trill Guardian, someone who watches over the symbiotes, and he refused to give up on Qwyyn. He studied, he trained, and he fought for Qwyyn to have one last chance. After joining with Qwyyn himself, Melbin Qwyyn searched all of Trill to find the best possible candidate to put Qwyyn back on the right path. And that's when he found my twin sister and me."

"Well, finally someone who had the training and patience to make this work." Gary observed. "I'm glad he didn't give up on Qwyyn. I'd say he did an outstanding job in selecting hosts, especially the last one." Gary stated as he leaned back in his chair. "Do you need another drink?" He asked. he had no intentions of getting Liselle drunk but if it made it easier for her to talk then so be it.

"Yes!" She laughed, hearing her own eagerness at the offer. "Sorry. I meant to say, 'sure, why not?'" She watched him head over to the replicator, tapping her fingertips together anxiously as she waited.

Going to the replicator, Gary got another rum and coke for her. He hoped he wasn't creating a monster by giving her the drinks. However one problem at a time. The first being to have Liselle continue her talk on her hosts and her reason for visiting him. "Here you go Liselle, um savor it. Sip it." He suggested.

"Thanks," she said with a self-aware grin. She took her first sip. And then her second. Her third. "Gary, are you familiar with the Trill rite of closure by any chance?"

He smiled as she sipped from the drink repeatedly. "Rite of closure?" He repeated, "Is that the ceremony where the current host gives the emotions of past hosts to friends or associates to learn more about themselves?" He smiled, "I'm familiar but no expert."

Liselle nodded. And went back to her drink. A long sip this time.

"Liselle. Sip it." he said as she took a long sip of her drink. "Okay, what's going on? Is something wrong with Qwyyn?" He asked, frowning at the possibility.

She set the drink down, three-quarters empty. "Part of Melbin's plan was for me to carry out the Zhian'tara, the rite of closure. The Symbiosis Commission recently contacted me. They're concerned that I've let the deadline slip, and the extension. I'm told there will be significant consequences if I don't move forward with this. So...I need to select four people to temporarily receive my four former hosts and help me carry out the ritual."

"We can't have that happen. No way are you going to face serious consequences over this. What do you need from me?" He was eager and willing to help Liselle in whatever she needed.

She snatched up her drink again, downing it before Gary had a chance to scold her. "How would you feel about...participating? Directly. As one of the people who would receive a former host."

"Really?" Now it was Gary's turn to act surprised. " You want me to receive a former host? Liselle, I would be honored. I think I may need a drink." He quipped.

Liselle collapsed back into her seat, letting the cushions devour her as the stress of finally asking this question rose up from her body. Gary was the first one she had asked to take part in the Zhian'tara. If he was on board, it would so much easier for her to ask the other three people. "Gary, thank you," she said. "I mean it. You don't know how nervous I was about asking you for this."

He flashed her a smile, "Liselle, you are welcome. I'm honored you asked me." He cocked his head at her, "Why were you nervous? We're friends you can ask me anything Liselle." His tone curious, questioning.

"Well," she breathed, "Asking for a favor is one thing, but asking to have your body is another kind of question all together." She closed her eyes, shaking her head with a self-aware laugh at the double entendre.

His laugh echoed hers, "Ah. I see what you mean. Still, you can ask me anything. Doesn't mean I'm going to answer it or say yes but you can ask." He teased.

She nodded, although still with a little hesitation. "On that note..." she began. "I've thought a lot about this, and I'd like for you to consider taking Juliard. I don't need an answer right now, and really you probably shouldn't answer right now. His personality when joined with Qwyyn was very -- immature. The drugs...the women. It's a lot to ask..."

"Liselle, if that's who you want me to take. I'll take Juliard. Consider it done." Gary answered without hesitation. willing to do anything to help his friend and what was obviously a matter that had caused her a lot of stress.

"Are you sure?" she asked. Truthfully, she half wanted to jump up and hug him for agreeing to this. The trouble she was in with the Symbiosis Commission had weighed heavily on her, and he was so readily taking that weight from her shoulders. "While I'm sure no one will allow Juliard to use your body for any sort of drugs or...ummm...women...during the ritual, the memories and the personality of Juliard will stay with you. It may take a while before you feel like yourself again. The impact on your personality might be a lot to deal with."

"Liselle, I am absolutely sure." He repeated, trying to ease her anxiety over asking him. "Okay, thanks for the warning on the memories. You say drugs and women, sounds like my kind of guy. Now I'll have a ready excuse for any odd behavior above and beyond my usual behavior." He bantered back to her.

She shook her head in disbelief. He had heard it all: the unbelievable big ask, the risks, and the potential long term consequences; and he was still willing to help. He didn't even need to think about it. And now she did jump and hug him. "Thank you, Gary."

Gary smiled. He was glad he could ease the burden Liselle had been carrying. His arms came up and wrapped around her in a return hug. "Liselle, you are more than welcome." He repeated.

Qwyyn held him for a moment, standing there in his quarters. Since they had learned about the fate of their alternate selves on that planet, she wasn't sure that any form of intimacy with her friend would ever feel normal again. Jumping into the moment like this had finally broken the ice on those worries. It felt nice. She let her head sink against his chest. "I think I might be a little drunk," she admitted.

Gary held her easily. Liselle's head resting on his chest. He pulled back to look at her, a grin plastered on his face. "Liselle, I know you are little drunk. But...' He added quickly, "It will be our secret." He assured her.

With alcohol burning her smile, she reached up to place a cold hand against his cheek. "I won't forget this, Gary."

He leaned forward, his arms still around her. His head came forward and rested against hers. "I should hope not Liselle." He teased lightly.

"See?" she asked, her voice threatening a teasing tone as well. "You're getting into the hang of Juliard already."

"Really?" He questioned, "Then this should be a piece a cake." He teased.


Commander Gary Taylor
Executive Officer
USS Elysium


Commander Liselle Qwyyn
Chief Flight Control/Second Officer
USS Elysium