Confusion is a state of mind
Posted on Mon Sep 21st, 2020 @ 4:08pm by
Edited on on Mon Sep 21st, 2020 @ 4:09pm
1,717 words; about a 9 minute read
Mission:
Episode 10 - New Home, Same Pioneers
Location: Mess Hall
Timeline: MD010 1200 hrs
Zaire had done nothing but think about their arranged marriage and had decided to leave it in Kalina’s hands. If she wanted to talk she would contact him and they could go from there. He had messaged her that he had talked to his parents.
He had had full days in science and was learning a lot. The science chief seemed pretty fair to Zaire though he had only had the one meeting with him and then was off to do some work within the lab.
Walking into the mess hall he grabbed a tray and put some food on it and then looked around. It was quite busy but there was one table in the corner with no one at it so he headed over and sat down to eat.
Quinn had walked into the mess hall, and noticed how fast the room was filling up. He noticed a table, with only one person at it. He smiled as he walked over. "May I join you?" Quinn asked, as he stood near the table, waiting for an invitation to sit down.
“Yes Commander.” Zaire nodded. “Of course, please have a seat. “ He tried to think of something to say. “It’s busy at lunchtime!”
"yes it is ensign, they say lunch is very important." Quinn pointed out to Zaire. he purposely did not say who they was he was more of a just a general statement in an actual finger-pointing game.
“It helps that the foods pretty good,” Zaire said with a smile. He paused and then spoke. “I know I acted a little strange at our meeting, I was just a bit in shock with what you told me.”
"If we're being honest ensign, we were both a little shocked." Quinn told him no, because from his perspective he only had a few minutes to prepare to tell a new arriving ensign that he is a very be married. And he would not even have a saying it.
Quinn found it difficult to relay that information but he did his job . Any thought it was very nice of Zaire to apologize when you really didn't need too.
“It will sort itself out one way or another,” Zaire said with a sigh. “I’m busy in science and really glad to be here.”
"That's a good attitude to have." Quinn said , with a big grin on his face. He was happy to see the young ensign in good spirits. "So what do you think of our fair ship?" Quinn asked, trying to keep the conversation moving forward.
“I think it is impressive,” Zaire replied with a smile. “Everyone is really great to work with and the ship itself is top of the line.” He took a drink. “How long have you been here?”
"Feels like forever, but in reality, little less than a year, September of 2395." Quinn quickly started to say, with a big grin on his face.
“It’s good that your wife could come with you,” Zaire said. “I hear all the time about couples being assigned apart.”
"I would not take an assignment without her." Quinn boldly stated to Zaire. Hoping he understood how important he placed his family life. "I love Starfleet, but I also love my family. I know you can do both, without being a conflict of interest."
“I think your right there,” Zaire nodded. “It isn’t much of a relationship if you don’t see each other that often.”
"Not to talk about people who do have long distance relationships. For some couples, it works. It just does not work for me." Quinn said, with a big smile on his face.
“Your right,” Zaire nodded. “I didn’t mean to say they were wrong but I wouldn’t want to live like that is all.” What was he thinking about, his fiancé was avoiding him like a plague.
"Your thinking about her again, give her time." Quinn said, as he went on. "Ladies need time to process things. They like to pretend they are quick to process things. But in reality, they take about as long as we do." Quinn suggested to him.
“It feels like forever,” Zaire confessed. “I don’t even know how I feel or what I want and she is off making her decisions!” He shook his head. “I guess I am worried. Is this how she handles problems?”
"It's been a couple of days, give her some time. She will reach out to you." Quinn suggested to him. He just needed to give her time, to work through this.
“I don’t have much of a choice,” Zaire replied. “But to sit and wait. I just hope your right. Otherwise, my hands are tied until she decides to tell me something.”
"As far as relationships, yes. But you are still you, and still allowed to be you. And do things you want to do." Quinn pointed out to him.
"That is a good point," Zaire nodded. "I need to just let the relationship side of this go and hope she has the respect to let me know what she as decided eventually."
Quinn thought to himself, now the young man gets it. "When she is ready, she will reach out to you. Just be patient and give her time." Quinn restated his opinion, but in a clearer tone.
"I will,' Zaire smiled. "I can't help but wonder though how patient you would be if this were your wife wanting space."
"As patient, as she needed me to be. Remember Zaire, that love is all about patience, and time. Love and compassion. Communication and trust. Those are the building blocks of a healthy relationship." Quinn pointed out to him, and he had all those things for Ameri.
"Maybe when there is all those things between us it will be easier for me," Zaire returned. "You are totally right on this, I need to set that part of my life aside. I am going to concentrate on my job and making some friends."
"Friends are important. They will help make the voyage go by faster." Quinn pointed out to him.
"You can never have too many," Zaire nodded in return. "I think though everyone right now is trying to figure us out." He laughed. "Someone asked me today if I realized arranged marriages went out a long time ago."
"I'm sorry about that, there is a large human population on the ship, and for us, we did put a stop to arrange marriages. They are far and inbetween on Earth." Quinn said, feeling bad to Zaire's reaction by the crew.
“It’s okay,” Zaire smiled. “They don’t understand because it isn’t a part of your culture, for us it is normal. I didn’t take any offense.”
"I'm glad to hear that because on this ship I went all cultures to feel welcomed, I can send out a message talking about how we should be more culturally accepting of other ideals." Quinn suggested to Zaire.
“You don’t have to, Sir,” Zaire replied sincerely. “Watching us, if we end up going through with it will make them understand more than an order will I think.”
"okay, but if you ever change your mind and if you do decide you need my help my office is always open. as a crew we need to be accepting of other races, especially as a ship that does diplomacy we need to be accepting of other races and not be clouded by our own Miss doings." When Quinn said feeling guilty for the way he was reacting earlier, least he did his in private and not or Zaire can you hear.
“Well it may get weirder,” Zaire said with a smile. “Some couples live together and connect on a mental level for a prearranged period of time and then of one of them feels it isn’t working they walk away.”
"And what is it you want to do? Do you want to move in with her right away or do you want to work it out over time?" Quinn asked Zaire.
“It isn’t an easy decision to make,” Zaire said with a sigh. “If we stay apart and I court her, we do not have a true way to get to know each other and If we move in together and it doesn’t work out.” He was quiet for a moment. “A union of our minds is not easily let go of, like matters of the heart.”
"yeah that can be a little tricky especially if the mind like somebody in the heart doesn't work the heart like somebody in the mind doesn't. I hope you find balance between your heart and your mind and I hope she does the same." Quinn said to Zaire. He wish him the best of luck on this situation.
“It is what it is,” Zaire murmured. “Between you and me, I am leery of letting her in unless I am pretty certain we stand a chance and I know that won’t help either.” He looked at Quinn. “I am the kind of guy who usually is all in.”
"I would suggest, being honest and not setting up barriers. That could lead to mistrust, and that will be a devastating to any relationship." Quinn pointed out to Zaire. Hoping he would not do that.
“Put my whole heart and mind into this?” Zaire asked him. He was scared at the thought but knew the commander was right. It would be a gamble that he either won or suffered a huge loss
"That's good anything less and it probably will end in disaster." Quinn said with warm smile on his face.
“You’re right,”‘Zaire agreed. “Anything else would be unfair and not the person I want to be.”
"Sounds like you have a good handle on this." Wednesday was a big smile on his face, as it scene starts to fade away.
Zaire appreciated the commander's words, they had helped him a lot.
A joint post by;
Commander Quinn Ó Flannagáin
Executive Officer, USS Pioneer
Ensign Zaire Byrne
Science Officer, USS Pioneer
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