Invitation
Posted on Sun Mar 26th, 2017 @ 4:25pm by Captain Liarra Von & Colonel S'er'in'e
Mission:
Indomitable Will
Location: Captain's Office
S'er'in'e stood outside the Captain's doors with a question on his mind. He didn't know what the Captain might say, maybe she would view it as what happened on the planet happened and that while it brought them closer as friends perhaps he was taking it beyond what she was comfortable with. This was all speculation and he knew it, but he at least wanted to make the offer just in case.
Von had just been looking over the stations current status from her console when she heard the door chime. It had been one of those rare slower days, and she was just thinking about heading into ops to see if she could find some excitement when her visitor arrive. "Come in," she called out to the air.
"Captain." S'er'in'e spoke when he stepped in allowing the doors to close behind him before his characteristic bow. "I hope I am not disturbing you but I have an invitation for you." He produced a letter for her. In it was a very human style invitation, fancy writing and other details. It was an invitation to his wedding.
Von was intrigued. The last handwritten invitation she had received required a translator. This one was written in Federation Standard, something she was glad to see. She took the invitation and glanced through it. "A wedding invitation? I hadn't heard the good news. Congratulations, S'er'in'e." She continued to read through the invitation. She was a little dismayed to see that it was on the station, and not going to be on Cait. After all of the recent commotion with the Overseer, Von was becoming rather intrigued by Caitian culture, and a trip to the homeworld would have been interesting, to say the least. But it was probably best that it was going to be on the station. "I would be honored to join you for the occasion."
"Thank you." S'er'in'e smiled. "I admit doing things the Human way has been...interesting." His tone suggested that was both a good and bad thing in light of the little details that he was discovering.
"I've been involved in a lot of weddings over my lifetimes, and while each of them tended to be very unique in their own ways, the universal constant tended to be that the bride knew what she wanted and that was the way it was going to be." Von offered a reassuring smile. "You'll be fine. If you want to include more of your people's customs in the ceremony, just let her know. I don't know your mate well, really only in passing, but I'm sure she'd be reasonable. Just make sure you tell her sooner, rather than later."
"She engaged in my customs to claim me, it only fair I return her gesture." S'er'in'e replied. "You will have to speak to my Mate as to attire, I am unfamiliar with things such as this and having been married before she is more versed in such things than I." S'er'in'e replied.
"I'm betting that it's fairly typical wedding attire for a human wedding, but I can check with her if you think it's best." Von smiled. "Are you nervous?"
"I will admit to feeling something. When my Mate claimed me on the Homeworld I accepted that I was hers, to be treated as she wishes, do as she wished and I was fortunate to be claimed by a caring and considerate Mate. Humans however are different, they form relationships that can end, they marry but can break that union later. For me the end is simple, were my Mate to leave me or die herself then I would soon follow and I accepted that upon her claiming." S'er'in'e explained. "Why then are other relationships so...unpredictable?"
"The answer to that, S'er'in'e, is... complicated. Many relationships only end in death. Others are more fickle, as you described. I think much of it is cultural. Take my people, for example. Neither of my parents were ever joined. My parents were devoted to each other, and they stayed together up until my mother died. I applied to be joined in her honor since she never had the opportunity. But in our culture, there are rules against reassociation with past, mates, of our previous hosts. The point of being joined is that the symbiont and the host both get to have new experiences. Remaining with essentially the same mates from one host to the next will limit those experiences. So the host may mate for life, but the symbiont must move on, often meeting someone new. Human cultures have their own quirks. They can sometimes be impulsive and quick to make decisions. And that gives them plenty of time to second guess that decision later. Why they do that, I have no idea."
An answer that only raised more questions. "I see." He considered more briefly then paused. "I have taken enough of your time Captain." Indicating that perhaps it was time to leave the Captain to her duties and not trivial conversation about relationship complexities.
"I do enjoy these conversations with you, S'er'in'e. We should get to know each other more often when we're not on duty." Von was still concerned about his intense emotions following their various ordeals together, and she had hoped to get him to open up a bit more to her as a friend, in case there was anything that she could do to help. "I am looking forward to your wedding. After what you and I have been through recently, you deserve some happiness and stability in your life."
S'er'in'e paused and turned. After everything that had happened they had become closer that was true, it was difficult having to carry her because of the scent and that conflicted with his Mate's but Liarra was right, they should get to know each other more often especially since they were working together. He walked upto Liarra and leant down, his head close and next to hers, his whiskers washed over her cheek and then quietly, just so she was the only that could hear it even if the room were crowded, he purred briefly for her. While typically this was for the Mate only it was also afforded to the most trusted or valued of friends.
Liarra was stunned by S'er'in'e's actions. She had no doubt that what he did was of cultural significance to the Caitians, she wasn't quite sure the context. That she would have to read about later. But she knew that it had to have been something special. She did find his purr strangely relaxing, which only convinced her more that she had received a great honor. Von offered him a thanking smile and a bow of her head as she took his hand. She didn't hold it long, just enough to provide a friendly touch.
"Liarra." S'er'in'e bowed and then departed her office leaving her with the thoughts she no doubt had following what he did.
Captain Liarra Von
Commanding Officer
Lt. Colonel S'er'in'e
Commander, Air Group
