((Dewitt Residence. Ventura, California. Earth.))
Quentin Collins felt a heady mixture of emotions as the wedding progressed into it's next and final phases. On one hand, he felt as he was floating on an invisible sea of love and connection. The ceremony had been exactly what he thought it would be. A personal, yet exuberant display of the couple's devotion to one another. The vows has seemed taken from some of Quentin's favorite poetry volumes, yet he knew it was wholly and completely Themselves that had made them into reality.
However, as he hobbled slightly into the reception area, the old familiar dark clouds of Quentin's mind started to gather once more. Everyone here looked so...so BRIGHT. So completely in the moment of adoration for their peers and friends. He envied them for the moment, drawing his bearded face once more into a tight frown as he collected a passing flute of champagne and rebalanced himself on his cane, aiming for the edge of the room. He had been gone away too long. He had given his life over to another cause and...it was eating away at him, he knew it, sure, but he didn't know to face it until he had seen something different here. Sara and David had been willing, almost gleeful participants in his new quest. They were too close to it, just like he was. Naturally, they would be behind him.
Would these people do the same? The gall of the reality was, Quentin knew they wouldn't. Connor and Jacin chief amongst them. They would tell him he was breaking his back for something that wouldn't bring him joy in the end. Closure of a sort, maybe, but he would never be the same as he was back when he was in the orbit of these wonderful, immensely talented officers and superiors.
He was trying to find a quiet way to slip to the garden, eyeing the exits to the exterior over the lip of his glass when a brand new face and voice almost scared him from his skin. He started so hard he even dripped a little of the liquid gold from his glass up and onto the immaculate flooring. He almost growled at the mistake, but as he looked up into the almost glowing face of...a bright-eyed blonde? With a flash piled up braiding of her hair across the back of her head...he started to mumble a toneless apology as he replaced the flute on a nearby table and started to fish out his hankie from his duffle coat.
Semara: Hi! :: A smile, holding out her hand. :: Amelia Semara, how do you do?
Collins: H-hello, Quentin Collins. I am...heh. Slightly unused to crowds, apparently.
After his hand was as dry as it could be, he gingerly took her hand and gave her his best possible smile. He wasn't thinking anyone other than the Bride and Groom would even notice him so he was now trying to make the most of his sudden and almost unbearably adorable disarmament. It certainly didn't help as she dropped a perfectly graceful curtsey. Mrs. Johnson would have been proud to bursting he thought with a smile.
Semara: Charmed to meet you. I had the pleasure a' meetin' the Dewitts, but I'm afraid I haven't met any of Jacin's family.
Quentin felt himself blush powerfully through his beard, but the real point was, she was completely sincere in her assessment. Though some other day he might have been slightly offended that he looked old enough now to have a grown daughter, he simply moved through the achingly sincere and pretty-much true take anyway.
If there was anyone in the galaxy he felt "fatherly" toward, it would absolutely be Jacin Ayemet. He turned a playful smirk to her.
Collins: And you still have not. But I appreciate the recasting all the same. Once upon a time, I was her Section Chief.
Semara: Oh! :: Beat :: May I ask how you came to be walkin' the bride down the aisle?
Collins: Immensely lucky, I would say. Connor and Jacin invited me, but, they kept the real prize a secret until I made planetfall. The crafty so-and-sos. ::he said beaming for the first time in years:: But I sense...fellow Science?
Semara: Really? Me too! :: Beat. :: Well, not chief, but a science officer. On Khitomer, I mean. Ensign Matthews is the other. I'm sure he's around somewhere... :: Looking around, then spotting Matthews. :: Hey Matthews! :: Waving him over. ::
He tried for a moment to extricate himself from the looming introduction, but then just as quickly, he thought about how massively rude that could look. And how much it would have disappointed Jacin if he was trying already to trundle back to his cave in Maine. So he stood a polite sentry for a moment, plodding his cane down in front of him with both hands now on the silver eagle head of the implement to give him as steady a base as possible.
Matthews: Hey Semara, what’s up? Oh hi! :: He said the last to the person with her ::
Semara: This here's former Commander Collins, chief science officer of the Arrow. :: A glowing smile. :: You must have some great stories from back then!
Collins: Well, I...certainly have some tales, I would expect. The Isles certainly kept us busy. But you all don't want to hear from some old salt. Not while there is a party happening around us, surely!
Croix: RESPONSE
Matthews: You are? Oh, that’s so interesting. :: He grinned, slinking on up to the commander :: Tell me more about your time on the Arrow, sir. Tell me everything. Did you work with the captain? The FO? Our CMO perhaps?
There was a glimmer in Amelia's eye and Quentin couldn't help but get somewhat caught up in it. It had been...an achingly long time since he had had the opportunity to think fondly on his days in Starfleet. All too often, his memories of the time were too focused on his failures, on the things unsaid and undone in his cut-short career.
But it was something about this space, something about the glow of the happy couple still networking happily through the space around them. Captain Shayne looking over the whole affair like a proud director whose production had just received smash hit reviews and audiences...it was like he had been transported to a time in which...well, just another time. A better time. But still he started to stammer a bit, waving one of his now freed hands in a slight dismissal...
Collins: No, no, you don't want to start me ramblin'. You'll find if you put the silver in me, you have to listen to the whole tune.
Semara: :: A low voice. :: No need to be so modest. Chief science officer on a starship. Surely you've seen some fascinatin' things. :: Beat. :: And you worked with Capt'n Shayne a long time! Don't tell me the two a' you never had some crazy adventure you bonded over... :: A clever, encouraging smile. ::
Matthews: Yeah! Say, have you ever time traveled?
Quentin opened his mouth to speak and then snapped it shut. Actually trying to think if he had or not...he wasn't expecting that sort of a question. But as the moment dragged a bit, he also knew he couldn't just stand there with a dumb look on his face.
Collins: I actually...no, not corporally, at least. Met an Iconian once, though! That was...a trip and a half, I'll admit. Why? Am I missing some juicy reports from the Isles?
Croix: RESPONSE
Semara: RESPONSE
Matthews: Oh, no reason. Figured we could compare time travel adventures.
Quentin huffed laughter through his still-beaming smile.
Collins: You've got the leg up, I'm afraid. I think I've always been too afraid of the D.T.I. to attempt any temporal experiments. All of that always seemed too...::he waves a hand in a sort of claw near his wooly head:: headachey for my tastes.
Croix / Semara: RESPONSE
Matthews: God, those are the worst. Give me having to deal with a Q any day over time stuff. Am I right?
Collins:: You'll get no argument from me. ::a new smile starts to spread across his face:: Though, if you have the nerve for it, you should ask Captain Shayne about the time we had our own "Freaky Friday". He'll know what it means.
Matthews / Croix / Semara: RESPONSE
Collins: Well, it's funny, actually. It started as just a routine meet-and-greet for a local Isles populace...
Quentin was genuinely about to go on...when he felt the warm beam of now Ayemet Dewitt on him, somewhat separated from the glom of the main party and crossing happily toward their new smallish conglomeration.
A. Dewitt: There you are!
He turned happily toward the collection of new Khitomer faces, pointing brightly with the gesticulating hand he had kept from his cane.
Collins: You'll have to excuse me. ::he turned a wink toward Semara:: "Father of the Bride" duties and all.
He hobbled over to the bride, eyes glittering dangerously. It had to be the dust in the air, that he was sure of.
Collins: I was just meeting your Department. Where's the Groom?
A Dewitt: Oh he’s around here somewhere. Besides I want to make the most of your visit.
Collins: Hey, it's your party. You can haul my old bones wherever you want. Bride's prerogative. I'm just here for the cake.
Ayemet Dewitt laughed and he could almost feel his heart growing in mass like that monster in the old christmas tale Dad had acted out every year in the Drawing Room. It was almost an ache, but a pleasant one. One he had turned away from far, far too many times in the recent years.
But now he was simply riding the wave of it all. Trying not to get completely pulled into it...but even that didn't seem like all the worse of prospects. Especially now that Ayemet had taken his arm and lead him deeper into the middle of the assembly, where more new and old faces mingled and laughed and burned bright in love and happiness.
It wasn't until he saw where they were actually going did he actually start to get nervous again.
A Dewitt: Captain look who’s paid us a visit!
He stiffened instinctively, little willing to betray his obvious feelings for the man with his clear respect for his person and position.
Collins: C-captain. ::he drops his voice to a sort of whisper:: Randal. It's...it's amazing to see you, Sir.
Shayne: RESPONSE
Ayemet was shuffling around to their side, but Quentin kept his focus lasered on the man he would always know and think of as The Captain. The person who had seen things in him that even his own blood couldn't. The man who had been more than just a superior to him. His True North through even moments where Quentin thought he could and would lose his mind. The man who had saved his life. Literally. More times than he could possibly say thank you for.
Quentin had often been told, throughout his life, "never meet your heroes." But Randal Shayne was a hero. And Quentin felt a keen sort of honor knowing that he even knew his name. Ayemet returned, beaming like a burning star, and motioning toward...what seemed to be the bar section of the reception area?
A Dewitt: Gentlemen choose your poison!
Collins: Like I said, Bride's prerogative! I'm just happy nobody is shooing me out with a broom yet.
Shayne: RESPONSE
A Dewitt: How about we drink to family? Both blood and found?
Glasses were passed about, but Quentin couldn't really see what was in them. His eyes were too misty and the tide of emotions had him fully within his grip. He couldn't have ever imagined being back around these people, much less being present for one of the most momentous occasions in some of their lives.
But still, he drank. Happily and deeply of the offering and the whole energy of the moment. Anything less would have seemed almost blasphemous to him. But as he had come to see during his life on the starship, the universe continued to give with both hands. Ayemet started toward The Captain again, dropping her own voice for a bit and just for them.
A Dewitt: Actually Captain there is something I wanted to tell you if that’s okay?
Shayne: RESPONSE
She placed her drink carefully on the podium next to her, smiling warmly up to The Captain. Where was this going?
A Dewitt: It wasn’t your fault.
Shayne: RESPONSE
A DeWitt: What I said about the Sheliak trying to convince me I’d been abandoned; it wasn’t your fault.
Shayne: RESPONSE
She looked at the floor, likely gathering her thoughts. Quentin held his tongue, not wishing to step on their moments.
A Dewitt: For awhile I was resentful that you didn’t come charging in to rescue me, that I had to do it on my own.
Shayne: RESPONSE
A Dewitt: No. :kindly: no no no. Don’t you see that’s why they said it? They’re scared. They know that together we are stronger. You are my Captain, and my friend and always shall be.
A Dewitt: Look at our crew, our family. They will follow you anywhere. :turning to Shayne and Collins:
Collins: She isn't wrong, Captain.
Shayne: RESPONSE
A Dewitt: I know that not distance not time not the Sheliak can stop us; together.
Collins: I surely wouldn't bet against you.
Shayne: RESPONSE
--
TAG/TBC
LTCMMD (fmr.) QUENTIN COLLINS
WAYWARD SCIENCE OFFICER
FORMERLY OF THE U.S.S. ARROW
--
As Simmed by
--
Lieutenant Commander
Kirsty L. Carpenter
//\\
Chief of Security & Tactical
Starfleet SAR
(Marine Rank: Major)
//\\
U.S.S. RONIN
NCC-34523
ID: E239512QC0
//\\
F.N.S. Contributor
