Lt. Commander Foster - Metaphysical
Jamie LeBlanc
(( Commercial Sector – StarBase 118 ))
Wyn always had a hard time defining exactly what he wanted out of life. That was coupled with the slow dawning fear that he was getting older and if he kept struggling to understand himself and what he wanted he might be too old to get it.
That was one of the bitter ironies of life – if you got wiser as you got older, but hesitated to do things like get married or start a family until you were ready, there would come a point where age worked directly against you.
Of course modern medicine could step in, but even then it was far more laborious the longer you waited.
Foster: I don’t know. I’d like to feel secure, like I have a good foundation, so I can move forward and… I dunno. Do great things? Make a family? I’m not sure yet. But I’ll figure it out.
He wanted stability. But he was used to growing up on a starship with an adoptive father who he adored, and while there was some stability and a lot of love there, it wasn’t the same as the normal happy childhood of growing up on a planet with two parents.
It was strange and difficult for him to conceptualize that and still he craved it in some undefinable, instinctual way.
McLaren: I think anyone could understand those feelings... I certainly do.
Foster: What about you? What are you thinking about moving forward?
Maybe if he could hear it from someone else, he could understand it better
McLaren: Some of the same things you said. Feeling secure and stable. A family... heck I'd settle for a prospective romantic partner that didn’t get called away before I can even figure out what’s happening...
He tipped his antennae downwards and nodded.
Foster: Yeah, I empathize on that one.
Wyn’s past romances varied between vaguely frustrating and abysmal. And they all left him confused.
McLaren: And I’m still working on proving myself to Command... so I might be given the chance to move beyond my current position. :: She pointed toward the sky. :: Upward. Maybe even another gold pip to replace that black one I have.
He drew in a long slow breath. Commander. A big step for any Starfleet officer. Moreso for folks who had been in the fleet for as long as Sol and Wyn.
Foster: That’s a big step. And I know you’ve been tower head for ages. I think you’d be good at it given the chance.
Then again, he had been CMO for ages as well. And here he was. He still wasn’t sure if he was going a good job or not, but he sure as heck was trying.
McLaren: Sal told me as much after everything... that even though people here trusted me... Command didn't. :: She shrugged. :: I spent some time mad about it... felt even more sorry for myself... then I stood up and decided to put my all into it...
He took a sip of his drink offering a quiet little nod.
Foster: You can’t force people to like you. But you can change your reputation. One little step at a time – just take what was negative and start giving it a positive spin. Though if Gogi says right, after Frontier, especially with the recent changes in fleet command, I’m sure there will be opportunities moving forward.
Maybe even here on StarBase 118. Wyn didn’t see himself staying as XO forever, but he also didn’t know what his path looked like after this. Would he be a mission specialist like his Dad? A professor? A CMO again?
A commanding officer? Perish the thought.
McLaren: Don't know what it will look like when it comes... here... another ship... I dunno. But I wont let it pass me by when it does.
He nodded.
Foster: Yeah, that’s the hard part – the future isn’t known. You can prepare for it, but you can’t know what ships will be launched under what commanding officer and what opportunities are available. All you can do is to be open to possibilities when they come up.
McLaren: ?
He shrugged.
Foster: Honest? I couldn’t even begin to guess. I wonder where I’ll be in five years and then I remind myself there is no way in my wildest dreams that I would have ever imagined I would be right here right now five years ago.
McLaren: ?
He chuckled at that.
Foster: I know, now we’re getting pretty philosophical. Metaphysical even. I think we should start drinking before we get dangerous with our thinking.
McLaren: ?
Foster: As a doctor I must note that I do not encourage getting blind drunk. But also as a doctor I know all the best hangover remedies.
McLaren: ?
He shrugged.
Foster: I earned friends and favors by tending bar in the academy. I also earned friends and favors by doling out hangover remedies at the academy. You could call me a one stop shop.
Except those kinds of friends didn’t last. He was now making friends who did. Like Sol.
McLaren: ?
~*~
tags/tbc
~*~
Lt. Commander Shar’Wyn Foster
Executive Officer
StarBase 118 Ops
~Julian Beck
E239010ST0