Commander Toryn Raga - The Things We Choose To Carry
Rameses
((Corridor, Deck 10, USS Ronin))
The Al-Leyan’s brow raised slightly and the owl on his shoulder tilted her head almost at the same moment. The telepathic link they shared often expressed itself in shared reactions like that.
Raga: I’d expect nothing less from someone who served under Mei’konda. That also had a fairly poetic lilt to it. Do you read poetry, counselor?
Shortrith: On occasion, yes I do. Why do you ask?
Toryn of course had an entire bookshelf dedicated to the art, all Al-Leyan works of course save for two. Both were anthologies of collected works from species across the Alpha and Beta quadrants.
Raga: As far as I’ve noticed every culture has poetry of some sort, though as with anything some are better than others. I’m a bit biased, but Al-Leyan poetry has few equals. Especially romantic sonnets. Terrans have a few supreme ones too. As do Tellarites, interestingly enough.
Shortrith: I suppose I've been influenced by a mix of both Terran and Klingon poetry, as I grew up on Earth but my parents are from Qo'noS. Honestly, I have no preference on different kinds of poetry.
Raga: If I’m keeping you please let me know. If not you’re welcome to walk and chat with me if you like.
It was genuine even though twice he had to fight down the image of his brother’s death during one of the raids. The memory faded back into the sea of memories, most of which weren’t even his, that filled his head. If he was being honest with himself, that was another thing he should probably seek counseling about. Though, he was fairly certain he’d have no idea how to broach that. oO Oh by the way, I have a few thousand dead people’s memories in my head. I’m a memory vault for a colony that doesn’t exist anymore. Oo
Shortrith: You're not keeping me, don't worry! I'm essentially just wandering around after finishing up a subspace call with my parents.
Toryn nodded and resumed his casual walk through the deck, he made sure to wlak so Sylara was on the opposite side from Renaie so she would be stuck between the two of them blocking their vision of the other. He looked their way while doing so and earned a soft hoot.
Raga: I understand that. I haven’t called home as often as I used to, mostly so as not to give them more reason to worry about me and the family.
Shortrith: I must admit, I haven't read much Al-Leyan poetry in my life, but I'm always willing to broaden my horizons. Are there any ones in particular that you like?
Raga: Oh, absolutely! ::His smile widened and he held up a hand to extend digits as he listed a few off:: Holra is one of my favorites. She intricately laces in a lot of the styling from the Crindi province if the equatorial region. Although, Vayana of Nez Toural is my favorite. She’s from the polar region to the north and understand life in such a place. ::he nodded to a passing crewman and continued:: If you like passionate and fanciful poems that evoke the mind like fantasy novels do then she’s definitely worth the read. I can provide a list of the twenty or so best poets from my world if you’d like.
Shortrith: Those sound cool, thank you for sharing them!
Raga: Of course. I’ve always found something cathartic about reading poetry. The emotions they can elicit, and the imagery they can evoke. Plus lately they help sort out all the memories I carry so they aren’t as prone to bleed through on their own.
Shortrith: Response
He glanced at them with a raised brow, of course time being what it was had passed so quickly. It had already been well over a year since he’d left the Astraeus and had done so before the counselor had even been among the crew.
Raga: Ah, it’s something that happened when I was still on the Astraeus. Quite a while ago. We found this planet or moon while out in Par’tha that used to be a Caraadian colony. Some of our away teams ended up missing and we eventually discovered a species of non-corporeal beings that resided there. They attacked me by mistake, believing me to be Romulan. ::He gestured to his ears:: Their form of punishment was to make the condemned experience the memories, particularly the last moments of their victims.
Shortrith: Response
A reserved smile brightened his face as they walked and the owl hooted softly before nuzzling against his cheek.
Raga: It was definitely an experience. They of course came to realize I wasn’t a Romulan and apologized. They were going to remove the memories but I asked if they could leave most of them.
Shortrith: Response
He’d had more than a few people ask why he wanted them left in, even his best friend Serala, though she no doubt understood his reasoning better than anyone who knew him well.
Raga: I know it sounds strange. But I already carried similar memories of a sort with me. If simpler. In the form of the name, rank and posting of every shipmate I’ve ever lost. It started with our first run in with the Consortium on the Atlantis. I have the memorial plaque memorized. It’s my way of honoring them, so when it came to those actual memories of people who’d been brutalized by the Romulan occupation I didn’t hesitate to carry them with me. ::he shrugged slightly, which elicited a surly hoot:: By carrying them it’s both a way of honoring them and ensuring they live on in a way. ::he looked at them:: Does that make sense, counselor?
Shortrith: Response
Raga: The reason I think I mentioned poetry was because I had been ruminating on the idea of writing some in their honor. Anyways, I’ve been going on. Now that you’ve been with us for a little while, how do you like the Ronin? I know how hard it was to leave the Astraeus behind when I came here. But this crew and this ship quickly became family and home as much or I daresay more.
Shortrith: Response
[Tags/TBC]
=====================================
Commander Toryn Raga
First Officer
USS Ronin - NCC-34523
Writer ID: A239410TR0
https://wiki.starbase118.net/wiki/index.php?title=Toryn_Raga