A Quick Talk

Posted on 09 Jan 2014 @ 12:52am by Commander Allyndra illm Warraquim & Lieutenant Teth Miir
Edited on on 09 Jan 2014 @ 8:00am

1,552 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Episode 05 - Solstice
Location: San Franciso - Starfleet HQ
Timeline: MD 05 0700

ON:

Allyndra hurried down the corridors of offices. She looked at the office numbers to find the right one. Her arrangements for a shuttle to go to Akkadia were coming up this afternoon. However, the feelings of heading home had dragged up emotions again. She normally would have talked again with Carlisle but Allyndra had found out that a new Counselor had been attached to the Galileo and she wanted to meet the person as well.

Finally the office that matched her directions came into view and she rang the chime.

Teth looked up from the PADD he was reading, an overview of the crew manifest for the USS Galileo. He hoped to at least have names of some of the crew members before before arrived.

"Enter" he said, laying down the bad and straightening himself in his seat.

The door slid open and Allyndra stepped in. "Hello, Lieutenant Miir? I am Allyndra illm Warraquim the current Chief Medical Officer of the Gallileo. I think I had an appointment."

Miir looked over at the clock on his viewscreen and realized he must have lost track of time. He stood and waved her toward a chair.

"Is there anything in particular you wanted to discuss, doctor?"

"Well, yes I wanted to talk to you officially but also thought to take a little time to introduce myself and welcome you aboard before everyone disperses."

"Well that is an efficient use of time." he joked, "So what is the official matter?"

Allyndra waited until the door closed and took a seat. She wondered if Caitians were somewhat like Vulcans. She had dealt with a few over time but not many.

"Well, this afternoon I take a ship for home, Akkadia. I miss home, but there are memories there that haunt me and still do. I lost my husband in an accident before I ever went to the Academy. However, that is not what is currently bothering me. I have made a friend, a human male friend and well I cannot seem to help to have feelings toward him. The problem is he has a girlfriend."

The Caitian leaned back, folding his hands in his lap as he listened to Allyndra speak. He had read her profile in the crew database and knew she was an Akkadian. But only to realize he had never met or even seen one before.

"Does he know how you feel about him?" he asked, feeling somewhat distracted by the intricate structures of her eyes.

"I have not said anything, and yet I think he knows and also I think he has conflicts as well. I feel terribly guilty about that but...well it is nice to have the attention and I am reluctant to distance myself away."

"Do you think you might be seeking the attention of a taken man because he is "safe", in a manner of speaking?" Teth asked after a moment, "Is this your first serious romantic interest since your husband's passing?"

Allyndra smiled slightly and shrugged, "I don't think so. It just started off with a sort of accident and then moved into a friendship. He mentioned his girlfriend but, I also got the impression that there were tensions there. However, either way, it has been both thrilling and yet we both have avoided anything more physical than each other's conversation. As for you later question. I had one small...'fling', I guess I would call it. It was sudden but there was little emotional attachment."

Allyndra sighed. "I will admit I have not pursued anything, and I will also admit that I tend to be a loner." She looked at the counselor. "I find there is a gulf between my social customs and well..." Allyndra coloured slightly, "sexual customs that I have avoided 'entanglements'"

"Now you must forgive me, as I don't know much about your culture," Teth said after a moment of thought, "Are you saying your cultural background has prevented you from becoming involved with men who are already in relationships? And to that end, is monogamy a highly valued by your people?"

"Quite understandable. We, Akkadians that is, we are by nature hematophages. We exist on blood. Oh, juices and fruits are fine as well but biologically the former is for the protein content. Socially I have found that many beings are not comfortable with that idea. Thus, I tend to avoid others in a social context which makes for little 'opportunity' for meeting others. Then there is the more intimate aspects."

Allyndra felt funny talking about all of this but she pushed on, her normal musical voice going almost flat toned like giving a lecture. "There was a time when the males 'gave' of their blood in order to ensure the next generation. It is not so needed now but many of our mating rituals and interactions revolve around the intimacy of sharing blood."

Teth crinkled his brow slightly, but mostly out of curiosity. Indeed, the drinking of blood wasn't exactly unheard of. It had shown up from time to time in various cultures and in various contexts. The Klingons, he knew, placed a great deal of value on various forms of ritualistic blood letting. None the less, he wondered how he would feel if his date wanted to drink his blood.

"And you don't feel that most of the people around you would be accepting of the blood sharing? Is it completely necessary? Compromises are found for a number of problems in relationships, and I don't see why your predicament would be any different. I am also curious, how do you actually extract the blood for consumption?"

Allyndra was not sure about that question. "I, well I just never ask really. As I said many seem uncomfortable with the idea at all. However, it just seems such a natural part of...well, you know, intimacy that I am not sure I could control myself enough." She felt the colour rise in her cheeks and hurriedly went on to the more scientific question.

"There is an inner set of teeth that pierce the skin and inject an analgesic, an anti-coagulant and also a euphoric. Then it is simply a matter of lapping or sucking at the wound. Akkadians are not endothermic thus our energy requirements are not as high as others."

As always, the counselor did his best to stay open minded, but he cringed at the thought of drinking blood, or worse yet, having someone else drink his. Pleasure inducing effects aside, it seemed strangely parasitic to him. And as someone who had spent the former half of his life as a vegetarian, actually ingesting blood was appalling. He could barely stand replicated meat most of the time.

After a moment of careful thought on how to diplomatically move on with the conversation, "I do see how that might create cultural differences. Back to the issue at hand, what do you plan to do regarding your friend?"

"At this point nothing. We both think it improper while he is involved to be nothing more than friends. There is tension there between us and yes he knows a little about Akkadian..." Allyndra thought for a moment, "proclivities. We shared the H'oni A'likoa, the Blood Kiss which is a tradition when one sheds ones wings. While he was somewhat taken aback he accepted the ritual better than I could have hoped for. Thus, between that acceptance and the fact that he is fun to talk to, and a male, it has become, well frustrating more than I would like. I know not to get involved any deeper but neither can I feel that I can just push him away either."

"But in the meantime it seems to be causing you a great deal of discomfort from being in his presence." he mused.

"How long ago did you lose your husband?"

Allyndra had to think about that. Akkadian years and standard years were a little different and she made a calculation in her head. "Ten years, it does not seem that long already."

"Have you ever considered just taking a break from the friendship? Perhaps you could benefit from some time to yourself? I feel that you perhaps aren't done grieving yet. That kind of loss is virtually always decimating to the surviving partner's well being."

The counselor was probably correct. It was the better course of action but she had committed herself to going to Lamar's home and she would not break it. However, after that, she would travel to home and it would be a break.

There was much more to things, but she did not want to relate everything to the new counselor as of yet. She only nodded.

"I shall take your advice counselor."

"Just remember, I'm always here and happy to talk." Teth glanced at the clock on his monitor, "It seems we are just about out of time. I hope you enjoy your shore leave, I think that a break from your Starfleet duties might do a world of good as well."

"Thank you," Allyndra stood and nodded. "Oh and again welcome aboard. I look forward to working with you."

"Likewise, commander."

OFF:

---
Lt. Cmdr Allyndra illm Warraquim
Chief Medical Officer
USS Galileo

Lt. JG Teth Miir
Counselor
USS Galileo

RSS Feed