Lt. JG D'Cyra Varati - The Fragrance of Roses & Lavender
D'Cyra Varati
((XO’s Office, Level 3, Copernicus Center))
Hopper: Obligation and reciprocation are hardly the same thing – besides, you wouldn’t want to deny me the enjoyment of finding something nice to give you, now would you? I’m not saying today. I’m not saying tomorrow. Just some day. Maybe.
Robin turned around and walked over to one of the shelves, which, besides the usual knick-knacks for the First Officer's office, also held several real, old books.
Hopper: ::Speaking to Varati, while she rummaged:: And since there wasn’t a reception, you weren’t even there to get a shot at catching my bouquet – do you know that old superstition?
Varati: There is also supposed to be a vine that grants eternal life, Angala dant Forisia, - but I don't know if that's really a gift, or rather a punishment... And no, the right partner hasn't crossed my path yet. Some things are simply beyond your control... Perhaps I'm simply sending out the wrong signals – just like with the messages. ::start to giggle:: Or maybe I should stop using the anti-pheromone pads?!
Why should she catch a bouquet? That was surely another one of those countless customs she didn't know (and usually didn't understand either - but who did?).
While they had been talking, Robin had searched the shelf for a specific book, which she now presented – just as D'Cyra had done before – like a precious artifact.
Hopper: D’Cyra – you just keep doing you. When you’re open to it, the right person will come along at the right time and catch you totally by surprise… That being said.
Robin held the book out to her with a "take-it" look.
D’Cyra herself had no idea whether "this" thing was even right for her... She'd probably unconsciously turned down most of the suitors so far. Was she really that unapproachable?
Varati: ::confused:: “The Riddle of the Sands”? Well, I know that I sometimes come across as stubborn and whimsical…
Hopper: ::Chuckling:: Oh, no not “The Riddle of the Sands” – Open it. There’s something in the middle making a little space between the pages, see?
A kind of transparent paper lay between the pages, behind which something else was hidden. What lay between the separated leaves surprised her: dried flowers! A pale yellow rose and a sprig of blue lavender. Both the rose and the lavender still exuded their respective specific fragrances: the rose soft and warm; the lavender fresh and spicy.
Hopper: Golden gate rose and sweet romance lavender. A bit cheesy, maybe, but these were the florals on our wedding arch. I kept a bunch of them, most of the books on that shelf have a set like this pressed between them – but they’re still rare. I’d like for you to have a pair.
What was kitschy about flowers? Even if they stopped growing, dried flowers could retain their beauty for many years. In her room at home, there was still a double-walled, spherical vase in which the red-green petals of the Orion roses that Rasz had once given her for her birthday floated.
Wait, what did Robin just say?
Varati: Wait… what?! I'm supposed to accept your wedding flowers? That's... that's impossible, I mean, they're your flowers! I can't...
Hopper: I insist. It may not be a bouquet, but it’s something.
D’Cyra was astonished: Robin had saved these flowers, carefully dried and pressed them. Surely for future memories, for anniversaries, or to pass on to his own children or grandchildren. She could hardly accept such a gift, but to refuse it would have been impolite to be accorded such an honour.
Varati: This is absolutely wonderful! I don't even know what to say, they're beautiful. … Thank you so much! They'll have a special place!
She could be just as delighted by flowers as by gemstones, especially when it was connected to such a special occasion. The gesture, the thought, that was what counted.
Robin took the book back, removed the tissue paper, and put it back on the shelf. Almost simultaneously the desk comm chimed, and the secretary spoke over the line again:
Secretary: =/\= Sorry to interrupt, ma’am. You wanted to be alerted when the Stal̕əw̓ was boarding. =/\=
Hopper: =/\= Oh! Yes, thanks. =/\=::Apologetically to Varati:: Sorry, D’Cyra. I’ll have to run – the transport that’s taking my parents and sister back to the Alpha Quadrant is leaving soon. Gahh– If I’d realized this wasn’t really a work-thing, I might’ve… Well, anyways, I have to go see them off.
Oh dear... now she was caught in the middle too... she still needed to refine her own "diplomacy", it wasn't quite ready yet.
Varati: Oh, I'm so sorry. I certainly didn't mean to interrupt your family's farewell. If I had known... I need to pay better attention. Next time for sure, I promise!
Robin picked up her PADD, cleverly tucked it under her arm, and gave D’Cyra a genuine smile as she started walking.
Hopper: We’ll have to get together again sometime soon. Maybe bring along some friends. Have some fun out on the station? And figure out how to get Nathan his ring – he’s going to love it by the way.
Oh yes, a station-wide karaoke night? A yacht trip to Idrustrix? Oh no, that wouldn't do... Well, perhaps a quiet New Year's reception instead?
Varati: I... we... will come up with something, I'm sure of it. And we'll find a solution for the ring too. I certainly hope he will like the ring as a piece of jewellery and a technical masterpiece.
Robin was about to leave, took a few steps towards the door and then stopped again to turn to face the following D'Cyra.
Hopper: It’s… easy to get caught up in our work, Lieutenant. Easy to forget to slow down and connect with the people around us sometimes. I’m definitely guilty of that sometimes. Your thoughtfulness and attentiveness to others is a character strength that, I think, will take you far.
What Robin said... was it the same thing Sam had mentioned on DS9? Being surrounded by people, yet feeling personally lonely? And did she break through this "wall" because of how she was raised, or was it simply her nature to care for others? It touched D’Cyra deeply because it was a statement that would never appear so directly in any performance review or personnel file. She was simply following her intuition, her feelings.
Varati: Thanks, that's very kind of you!
Hopper: Thanks for helping me slow down and smell the roses today.
D’Cyra had to swallow, hold back a few potential emotional tears, and restrain herself from simply hugging Robin.
Varati: Thank you again. It was an honour and a pleasure to give you such a lovely gift and to receive such a beautiful memento in return.
With a slightly trembling smile, she held up the rose and the sprigs of lavender, took a deep breath of their fragrance, and curtsied gracefully in farewell.
End of Scene.
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