Lt Alex Storm - In the Space Between Words
Karen Morris
((Elysium - Main level, Deck 6, USS Artemis))
During their conversation, something in Cole’s expression winked into and out of existence - at least externally. Topics like that always left a mark on one’s soul.
Storm: Hey, I’ve bared my soul …::Tipping her head to the side and grinning:: or at least my misfortune to you. I can likely handle whatever it is you’ve got going on.
Nat sighed, and her eyes unfocused. Alex recognized the look and nodded.
Cole: Yeah… this time of year is a little complicated for me.
Storm: Family can be our biggest support or our worst enemy. Unfortunately, the same can be said of ourselves too, sometimes.
Alex sat still, her hands folded. Waiting and allowing the tale to unfold inside of Cole. Only then could she share it.
Cole: I call my father ‘the Commander’ Not as a joke. He was one in Starfleet, and he never really stopped being one at home. Everything was structure, discipline, expectations. ::a faint, wry smile:: Turns out that doesn’t leave much room for your kid to be… different.
Storm: Or truly themselves, huh?
Cole: I started my transition around the holidays. Thanksgiving, actually. My mom showed up. No questions, no hesitation. My sibling did too. He… didn’t. Instead of trying, he left.
Alex folded her hands in her lap. Heart-rending revelations needed time to settle their heft into the space granted them. After several moments, Alex reached over and set her hand gently on Nat’s.
Cole: So when the calendar rolls around to late November, my brain knows I’m safe … but my body still remembers, gets a little heavier.
Alex gave Nat’s hand a gentle pat and set her hand back in front of herself.
Storm: Bodies do remember and carry the weight, even when we want them to forget.
Cole: And for what it’s worth? Calling him ‘the Commander’ helps. Keeps him where he belongs … in my past, and out of my head. ::a half smile:: Unless you're suffering from simulated radiation poisoning, Thanks for that Ollie.
Storm: Wait … when we were in that simulation at the end?
Cole: Yeah, I had begun hallucinating him shortly after Ollie had ordered me to hold back outside of Main Engineering.
Storm: So that’s what was going on?
Cole: He was cruel, talking down to me as if he hadn’t left. I was tuning him out till … he accused me of killing his son. That’s when I almost punched a bulkhead, thankfully I had enough clarity to stop and tell him off.
Storm: That makes so much more sense now! ::Alex held her arms palms up.:: I thought something was going on, but ::Placing her hands over her eyes momentarily before removing them:: I wish I had known.
Cole: ::shrugging:: How could you have known. We had barely just met, but thank you … for listening.
Storm: Even in silence, especially in silence we need to be heard. I wish I had listened better.
Cole: Honestly, I was more worried that you or Ollie would have insisted I get checked out by Counsellor Lux.
Alex tipped her chin. Her lips folded into a smile, but her eyes inched closed momentarily.
Storm: Everyone’s thoughts are so loud that I try to block everyone and everything out. I wasn’t listening - literally. Maybe I should…at least a little.
Cole: I am a work in progress, a chaotic one at times, but at least I'm not boring.
Storm: I’ve heard enough ot know that you are indeed not boring.
Cole: We’ve unpacked quite a bit, interested in a snack?
Storm: Yeah. ::Alex paused for a blink.:: Only if you’ll tell me a bit about your explosive fettish. ::Alex shrugged her shoulders:: Skuttlebutt travels at light speed.
Cole: Response
Alex’s head craned around. Seeing a server at a proximate table, she motioned the server over.
Server: Can I help you?
Storm: Pick your poison and a snack … on me.
Cole: Response
Storm: I’d like a black hole and an order of fried pickles.
Cole: Response
Server: I’ll have that out in just a minute.
~*~
Tags / TBC!
~*~
Lt Alex Storm
Tactical Officer
USS Artemis
O240103SK2