JP Lt. Ceciri Ariadust & Tri’lea Doyoxo Polgonz - Certain First Steps (Part 2)

[Lt. JG Kivik]

((Shuttlebay, Amity Outpost))

Ceciri walked over to the Daintree. Normally, the shuttles were painted in generic colors, but this one was waiting to be painted. 

Polgonz: There’s something strangely familiar about this vessel…

Ariadust: Actually, the additions take a lot of cues from the Betazoid System Defense Force KSF-189 Light of Determination. ::Ceciri seemed pleased it was recognized:: It’s a fighter I’d like to pilot myself once, to be honest. Most of the work is under the hood, though. I’ve been debating submitting it as an approved variant of the Danube-class runabouts.

Ceciri was trying to think of a way to ease into this..

Polgonz: Perhaps you should talk with Daughter Ri- Ambassador Vataix about that? I understand her husband is a rather accomplished pilot who flew for the Force before settling down. Perhaps that could be arranged.

Ariadust: Possibly, but. 

Ceciri would rather suspect he wouldn’t be too thrilled, considering his politics. Not that she could entirely disagree.

Tri’lea, distracted by the excitement of seeing the Daintree up-close caught Ceciri’s apprehension, but assumed it was the result of nerves about the race.

Polgonz: Well, she looks marvelous! I was intrigued by the thought of the race before, but I simply cannot wait to see how she performs. ::Turning to look at Ceciri with a grin:: I look forward to seeing you defeat the local competition.

Ariadust: Hopefully.. ::Ceciri collected herself mentally, then plowed forward, replacing that chilled cloying feeling of mist on her skin with the sharp tang of iron as she forced herself forward:: So, I feel.. I might have inadvertently lead you to a false conclusion. I am nowhere near agreeing.. Or disagreeing.. with the marriage. I’m still rather angry about it. ::As many of Ceciri’s peers could attest to.:: It’s just I’m not angry at you. And, secondly, I don’t like making decisions without thinking it through - for example, it might be that we’re extremely compatible, and as such, I might want to anyway, despite how furious I am with my great aunt and the situation. We might hate each other. As such, I.. don’t want to leave you with the conclusion that this is progress towards the marriage. It very much is and isn’t. Before I make any decision, I want to know my options, and to know we are both OK with the concept of a marriage that we may never be able to break. And.. I’m just not right now.

Tri’lea felt as though she’d just stumbled and fallen into a pool of that apprehension she had sensed. For a moment, the cold shock of Ceciri’s words took the wind out of her. But her mother hadn’t brought her up to flounder, and so she quickly shored up the mental fortitude to pull herself out again. Of course, k’Ariadust’s words spoke complete sense, shocking as they may have been to hear.

Polgonz: ::Still a little flustered:: I’m sorry. You’re right. I suppose I did let my imagining get, well, rather carried away. I admit that I’m… not used to having others sense my thoughts without having a clear sense of their minds as well. I should have been more conscious of your feelings and how my daydreaming might affect you.

Ceciri nodded, although she was beginning to get worried that the feelings were almost.. carrying information. That was worrying.

Ariadust: Thank you. I.. just felt like you were planning on something without making sure I was on the same page

Polgonz: I don’t want to withhold from you. That’s simply not the Betazoid way of doing things. The truth is, I’m angry as well. What my mother did – keeping this plan from me – was dishonest. No matter how things resolve between us, both of us have been used in this arrangement, and that’s sure to leave a sour taste for some time to come.

Ceciri nodded, listening as she continued.

Polgonz: When I first came to Amity, I felt much more selfishly about this than I do now. My concern was for my family, my title… But I’ve had some time to think and, more importantly, to begin to see you as the complex and striking person that you are, rather than as a hoop to jump through. I want you to know that, whatever your decision, I intend to live by it.

Ceciri nodded quietly.

Polgonz: If we are to marry, it should be because we want to, not because of some contract…

Tri’lea laughed nervously as she turned to look out to the stars beyond the end of the Terminal.

Polgonz: It’s only respect for my mother’s legacy that keeps me from tearing that thing up.

Ceciri laughed a bit, but it was a little strained. Tri’lea understood, sensing the delicate balance of emotions in k’Ariadust, and recognizing them as a reflection of her own strained feelings.

Ariadust: Personally, it’s the indirect threat there that hasn’t caused me to react more harshly. ::Ceciri looked at the stars also:: And I think my great aunt will learn to regret the lever she chose to use.

A short silence passed between the two women as they stared into the cosmos, considering their fates and the choices before them.

Tri’lea mulled it over. Outright refusing to comply would bring shame upon her branch of the family, draw attention to a divide between her mother’s will and her own that might call into question the validity of her ascendancy to a Daughter of the Twentieth House. But to go along with it meant giving in and doing as she was told, rather than forging a path for herself.

Polgonz: Perhaps the best thing, then, would be to find a way to make this arrangement work for us. ::Turning to look Ceciri in her striking blue eyes:: Perhaps, somewhere between relenting and fighting back, there is a third option – one that might allow us to make the most of the situation in order to strengthen our own positions.

Ariadust: A third option?

Ceciri was certainly willing to listen to any possibilities here. She wasn’t sure how to get out of this situation, either.

Polgonz: I won’t lie, Ceciri. I like you – and not just because I must – but we do not really know one another yet. Not deeply. I’d like to spend more time together, to see if we might be compatible… but beyond my personal inclinations, I think we ought to help each other. Work together. This needn’t be all business, but it also needn’t be all romance, either.

Ariadust: That makes sense.

Ceciri had the distinct sense that this was going somewhere.

Polgonz: They attempted to manipulate us, but we are stronger than that. Together, I see us as being more powerful than either of us on our own.

And there it was. Ceciri would need to think on this some more, but it was clear that Tri’lea was far more dedicated to the idea... but not without proper cause. And had far more to lose if this didn’t go through. 

Ariadust: I can’t disagree with that.

Polgonz: Then let’s consider our potential marriage as an opportunity to claim our own destinies. To empower each other so that we might be more than pawns in someone else’s game. We deserve as much, don’t you think?

Ariadust: Well. I think it’s worth consideration. ::Ceciri smiles:: Definitely worth it, yes.

Tri’lea smiled rather impishly at the idea.

Polgonz: Whatever we decide, when the time comes, it will be whatever is best for the both of us.

Ariadust: Agreed.

END

JP by

Lt. Ceciri Ariadust

Helm Officer

Amity Outpost

C239112CA0 

And 

Tri'lea Doyoxo Polgonz

Daughter Ascendant,

Twentieth House of Betazed

V239806K11