Posted by Commander Dira Myqian (Executive Officer) in Myqian’s Temp Quarters- Opportune Calls
Soft waves of a string instrument floated through the modest space. A couple candles were lit, flickering gently from only the trails of her slow and deep breaths. Her chest expanded fully each time but there was no tension as her lungs reached near capacity. Instead, her inhales rolled smoothly into her exhales, creating an increasing sensation that she was drifting on a calm sea.

Something on the periphery of her consciousness drew her attention and Dira’s mind floated back to the tangible present. Again, something seemed to chirp, not an annoying sound but most definitely persistent.

Opening her eyes, Dira became aware of the subspace call coming in and demanding her attention. She wasn’t expecting anyone, so with a great amount of curiosity she pushed herself to her feet and slipped into the chair at her desk, turning off her music. Eyeing the location of the sender, she knew it could only be one of two people and grinned.

The face of a woman with brown skin slightly paler than herself appeared. Her eyes were black and her black hair was tied in a long plait that was pulled over one shoulder. A bright and multicoloured scarf was tied around her head and she leaned forward, resting her chin on laced fingers.

“Well! Look who’s decided to come out of seclusion!” Dira said with a grin.

=/\=Is that what you’re calling it?=/\=

“What else would you call it when your mother goes off to a retreat in the mountains for an entire month and isn’t reachable except in dire emergencies?”

=/\=Fair,=/\= Sesara conceded with a gleam in her eyes. =/\=So, how fares my daughter? Started on your new ship yet?=/\=

Dira nodded. “Yes, though not exactly how I expected to,” she said, and then launched into a quick recap of the Ogawa’s situation while her mother filled her in on the retreat. The fact that her mother knew she was going to a new ship and not staying on the Calypso was telling.

“Who told you about the Ogawa?” Dira asked, eyeing her mother knowingly.

=/\=Your father,=/\=she replied with a shrug. =/\=I had to discuss something with him.=/\=

“Oh?” Dira said with a laugh. “You know how many people look at me in surprise when I tell them that not only do you two get along but that you’re actually good friends?”

It was Sesara’s turn to laugh. =/\=Yes well, I get that it’s rather novel to not hate your ex, but in this case we clued in fast that it wasn’t going to work in the long run and it wasn’t fair to you.=/\=

“Trust me, that’s far more self-aware than most people are,” Dira said knowing that it was because her parents that she herself had always been exceptionally self-aware.

=/\=Some people are selfish.=/\=

Dira nodded. “That can be true.” A moment of easy silence fell between them until she noted the pensive look in her mother’s expression. “What is is?”

Sesara was quiet for a few more moments before she exhaled audibly. =/\=I’m just glad you’re away from there. It wasn’t good for you.=/\=

“It would have been fine,” Dira said, her tone sounding more defensive than she cared for.

Her mother shook her head. =/\=No, it wouldn’t have. I know you my daughter, and while your dedication to your work and your patients was always an admirable character trait, you’re too selfless. You’re allowed to have your happiness too, you know.=/\=

“I know,” she said softly, with a sigh.

=/\=Do you?=/\= Sesara’s pointed remark was matched by a subtle lean forward. =/\=It’s been a long time, Love. It’s okay, you know. You’re allowed to move on. You’re allowed to make this the fresh start that it really could be.=/\=

Her mother’s words caught her off guard despite her knowing to expect such a sentiment. Her chest felt tight for a moment and she looked away. Her eyes noted the few items flung carelessly over the arm of the sofa and the piles of PADDs that her new job demanded she read and action. When she returned her attention to her mother, she inhaled deeply and nodded. “I’ll try to remember that,” she said, offering her a small smile.

=/\=Good. I know you have access to therapists, but just remember that you’re not practicing anymore. At least not actively. Try to come out from behind the mask, hmmm?=/\=

“Yes, Mother,” Dira said cheekily with a slightly sarcastic tone even as she grinned. Trust Sesara to make sure her point was well and truly heard. Even in her fourth decade of her life Dira found herself listening to the advice her mother gave. She wasn’t always right, but Sesara Relva was a force to be reckoned with and not someone who could be denied easily. “What were you calling Ada about?” she asked, referring to her father.

=/\=Ah! Yes, I was getting there,=/\= Sesara said before she went uncharacteristically shy. Was that even the right word for how her mother appeared right now? =/\=Well, after I got back, Redar and I had a long talk and we… decided to get married,=/\= she said, her voice dropping as she gazed as Dira with so much uncertainty that it was like gazing at a different person altogether.

Clearly she was waiting for Dira’s response, and Dira could only grin. “Well, it’s about damn time!”

Sesara sat back in slight shock. =/\=You’re okay with this?=/\=

Dira laughed loudly, tipping her head back slightly. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

=/\=I just thought it might be weird for you, is all. I wanted you to have a say in it.=/\=

This was just too funny. “Mother, I’m forty years old. I think I’m long past the point of getting weird about my parents having relationships with other people, including getting married.”

Sesara’s brows lifted even as her mouth tugged into a smirk. =/\=Never too ld to have feelings about anything, Dira.=/\=

“Redar is a lovely person and, especially after what, ten years of being together? I think you two are great together. My only demand is that you make it so I can be there. I just started this job so I don’t know that I can get away anytime soon.”

Her mother nodded. =/\=We’re not in a rush.=/\= Long moments passed before Sesara spoke again. =/\=Have you come close to considering it again?=/\=

Dira leaned back in her chair as she filled her lungs. “Not really. I mean, it’s not like I believe she was the only one I could ever love like that. That’s just foolishness in a galaxy as big and full of life like our is, but… I guess I just haven’t found a person I was willing to let in that deep. But I guess I have really been actively searching either. ”

=/\=Psycho man hasn’t exactly help.=/\=

Dira snorted. “He isn’t psycho.”

=/\=Close enough, =/\=Seara said incredulously. =/\=You weren’t even involved in any way with him and he what, stalked you?=/\=

She just held an impassive expression. “The details of patient records and any conversations with their therapists are protected under practitioner-patient confidentiality.”

=/\=Uh huh. Don’t think I don’t know that you haven’t shared the whole of it, or how bad it was. I know you my daughter. Don’t you forget that,=/\= Seasara saif, waggling her index finger at Dira.

“Is that even possible?” Dira teased.

Sesara just raised her brows slightly and winked. =/\=Alright, point made. But I should go. I have to go check in with the Institute. I’ll let you go do your thing. Go be your lovely self.=/\=

“You too,” Dira said warmly. “Bye Mother,” she said, giving a little wave.

Sesara blew her a kiss before the screen went blank.

Leaning back further and turning in her chair, Dira could help but smile deeply. Somehow her mother always called at the most apt moments. And she truly was glad to her about her mother’s impending nuptials. Redar, a Denobulan scientist she met through her work as a neuroscientist, had long been a solid presence in her mother’s life and Dira’s perhaps less so, but not for any reason other than Dira had been off on assignment. But he was a kind man and though he only spent half a year on Vega at a time, it seemed to be a comfortable arrangement for everyone.

And she could acknowledge her mother had valid points about her life recently, but there was more to it and it wasn’t cut and dry. Dira was ever aware that she couldn’t toss away the nuance, because if she did that she would only make things worse. No, she was comfortable with the decisions she had made in certain matters, even if it had cost her personally. And as her mother had pointed out, she had a new start now.

Dira was eager to explore all of it.

Commander Myqian, XO

Ooc: Wow Linds, what an amazing post! Thank you for that! ~ Calé