JP: Ensign Alyndra (Santa) Syrex & Ensign (Elf) T’Fearne: The Xmas Special [Part 4]
Alyndra Syrex
Alyndra took a deep breath, the weight of unwanted attention pressing down on her. Sure, it was her toy store, but she knew the crew would likely start drawing their own conclusions. For someone regarded as “Lower Decks”, the spotlight was anything but welcome—it only made her feel more uneasy, especially since she got the unwanted attention of losing her eye.
As she wandered the corridors, the twists and turns of the Ronin, she eventually made it to a zen garden located on Deck 1. Alyndra sat down, still in her cheaply made Santa suit and took in the senses of the garden. Closing her eyes she remembered a quote from her Christmas film binge session. “The Christmas spirit is a spirit of giving and forgiving”. The reflection of her and T’Fearne’s friendship flashed before her eyes. Their pillow fights, their mugs of hot drinks in the mess hall late at night, their mini-break on Bajor. When Alyndra opened her eyes she realised something. T’Fearne in many ways was the closest person she had to her in the galaxy. Her parents never really cared about her, she hadn’t spoken to her siblings since her graduation aside from the odd text message that blipped up on her PADD. T’Fearne was her person, and she just pushed her away, even when she was willing to spend the entire night with her delivering presents all around the Ronin on top of protecting her from local law enforcement.
Alyndra reopened her eyes. Idley getting back up from the floor of the garden. Heading over to the replicator she input an order, she had one last present to deliver.
((0600 hours, Christmas Morning))((Corridor outside Alyndra & T’Fearne Quarters, Section 04, Deck 8, USS Ronin))
Alyndra stood outside their shared quarters, waiting for T’Fearne to come back. She wasn’t sure what she’d been doing, but Alyndra had checked that T’Fearne wasn’t in their quarters, she was elsewhere on the ship. Nervously, she pressed the wrapping of the present in her fingers. Before the face that she knew so well came into view. The security officer had changed back into a fresh uniform, the golden shoulders crisply pointed, and she carried two steaming cups as she strode around the corner and along the corridor to their quarters.
Syrex: T’Fearne!
Seeing Alyndra waiting for her, T’Fearne stuffed her emotions down and focused on delivering her logical reason for doing what she thought was right at the time. Wanting to clarify with her friend.
T’Fearne::: launching into speech:: Alyndra, I’m sorry. There would be an alert to the security complex if I started misusing my security override to access crew quarters for reasons other than an emergency. I had to let Carpenter and the officers know that there was a crewmember who wanted to leave them a special gift, I didn’t reveal your name. I just asked for permission to leave the delivery safe inside their quarters.
Syrex: T’Fearne, ::Smiles:: It’s alright. I’m not going to forgive you though ::looks at her sternly::.
T’Fearne: It is? Wait, you don’t? What?
The emotions were confusing to read and she ignored them like she had too often recently when they seemed to be wrong. Swapping the handles of both cups to one hand, she used the liberated hand to massage her temple.
Syrex: ::Breaks into a large grin:: Because what you have done doesn’t need forgiveness. It is me who should be asking for your forgiveness.
T’Fearne: Oh—Granted, :: pausing to switch gears:: You’re taking this a lot better than I was expecting. I definitely put my foot in it trying to apply logic to an emotional situation. I’m sorry I didn’t explain what I was doing.
Syrex: You were looking out for me, and I just pushed you away, I’m sorry. That was mean, and I… ::Puts the present on the floor and hugs T’Fearne:: You mean so much to me, I’m sorry I ever pushed you away. ::Sniffles::
With the two cups in one hand held out away so she wouldn’t spill any hot liquid on her friend, T’Fearne awkwardly patted her back with the other hand in the middle of the corridor. She was touched by Alyndra’s words, but she wasn’t sure what to do. A memory sprang up of her older sister saying something like, “You would understand if you had a younger sibling”. She had a flash of insight that Syrex might be on her way to claiming that place in T’Fearnes heart. With her tendencies towards chaos and kindness, having a roommate like Alyndra was never boring.
Tears beginning to flow through Alyndra’s good eye, she picked up the present, presenting it to T’Fearne.
Syrex: Merry Christmas T’Fearne ::Smiles::
T’Fearne: Thanks Aly. :: taking the gift and replacing it with a mug in Alyndra’s hands:: Hot Cocoa with marshmallows for you, right? Just coffee for me, I’m on duty soon.
Alyndra smiled until her face was sore, taking the liquid from the security officer.
Syrex: yeah, that’s right.. Thanks T’Fearne.
((Alyndra & T’Fearne Quarters, Section 04, Deck 8, USS Ronin))
T’Fearne, gently shaking the wrapped gift and Alyndra, with hot beverages in hand, stepped through the doors to their quarters. It was nearly time for their shifts, they had worked through the night, traversing almost every residential zone of the Ronin, delivering the amusing little gifts. Ensuring every member of the ronin serving aboard, especially with family, received a present. With the added bonus of strengthening their friendship along the way.
But something in the room was out of place. A colourfully wrapped spherical object resting on Alyndra’s bunk, right in the hollow that her pillow would have been if it wasn't currently stuffed under her shirt to make the illusion of obesity.
Syrex: ::Panicking::Oh damn, we missed someone.
T’Fearne: We didn’t forget it. It's for you.
Alyndra sighed a breath of relief, this was how cheesy holiday movies tended to start and she had no time for that. But she felt a hug at her heartstrings too. She was touched that T’Fearne had gotten her something when the Christmas Chaos was largely her idea.
Syrex: A present? For me?
Pulling the wrapping away revealed a beautiful glazed pot, mostly spherical in shape, ivory-coloured, adorned with delicate dappled ink blooms in bark blue and pale green.
T’Fearne: The pattern reminded me a little of your spots. I hope that’s not offensive. Look inside the pot.
Syrex: No! Not at all, I love that you’d see it and think of me!
Alyndra curiously peered inside the vase, at the bottom of the indigo-hued clay pot lay a seed, as small as an index finger-fingernail. Jet black with a slight green iridescent shimmer to the smooth oval membrane.
Syrex: Oooo, What’s this? A seedling?
T’Fearne::: shrugging casually:: You will just have to plant it and see what grows. Merry Christmas, Alyndra.
Syrex: ::Smiles, a teardrop in her eye glistening against the light:: Merry Christmas, T’Fearne.
Alyndra smiled genuinely, she couldn't wait to see what would sprout from the plant, but also her growing friendship with T’Fearne. For the first time in her career, Alyndra wished to be never promoted, so she could share her dinky, cosy quarters with T’Fearne forever.
[End Scene for Alyndra Syrex & T’Fearne]
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OOC: You all received your likenesses from Alyndra’s toy store, except for: Niac and Nemes, who received:
Niac - “Troll-Doll Niac”
Nemes - “TBC, Still needs to DM me! ;-)”
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Ensign Alyndra Syrex
Medical Officer
USS Ronin (NCC-34523)
R240107AS3
&
Security Officer
USS Ronin - NCC-34523
R240107T14