80707.23
Concurrent with Toast
-=USS Serendipity=-
Vol leaned back in his chair in his quarters, running his hands over his forehead, and tugging at his hair for what seemed to be the tenth time since he had been informed that vows he had made in his past were now expected to be fulfilled years later.
He had tried, to no end, to reach his family to try and obtain anything he could. More information, details on what triggered the onset, or just someone to talk to who knew him. The Universe was satisfied with leaving him as alone as he had felt in a long time.
Going back home would be good for the Betazoid. He had been through so much and in such a short time since serving aboard the Sera. Seeing his family to recount his stories, of what he could recount anyways, would be very much splendid. But this marriage ceremony would put a definite blunder on things.
In any event, nothing could be done about it now. So Vol picked up the duffle of what he had deemed necessary to bring with him, and made his way to the Alchemy, which was due to depart any second now.
As he came through the doors of the Alchemy's bay, he found himself nearly tripping over a very unsteady, very busy February Grace.
She was fighting, her pencil-thin arms looking as if they might snap in two, to hold onto the cat carrier in her hands. Sparrow was inside, and if the sound of his low growls and hissing were any indication, he did not feel like going on a field trip.
Vol wasted no time in offering a hand to steady the Trill, and stop her cat cage from smashing to the deck, taking her along with it.
"Whoa!" Bru declared, not having heard the doors open again as distracted as she'd been. "I don't know whose arm this is but you're a lifesaver!" She righted herself and then smiled at Vol.
"So, it's the groom to be! Thank you so much for your kind assistance. Sparrow hates to leave home but as long as we'll be gone, there's no choice but to take him."
"Not at all." Vol offered, peering into the pet's carrier. "I'm sure he'll be alright once we reach Betazed, he'll be a whole different animal then." Vol forced a laugh, which died quickly. His mind was heavy with thoughts of what was to come.
"Is there anything I can help you with Lieutenant?" Vol plastered a smile onto his lips again, wanting to appear unbothered.
"I was just about to ask you the same question." February arched a brow, surmising from Vol's fluctuating expressions that he was a little uneasy with his impending nuptials. "I have been married several times, you know. Well, Grace has...doing it both well, and badly at different points. Myself as host, I have been married just the once. If you find the right person, I highly recommend it."
Vol sensed a warmth in Grace's heart at the thought of Reece, and the depth of the emotion gave him reason to wonder if there wasn't much more to the man than the rest of the crew was commonly shown.
"He's really very deep, you know," February volunteered, instinctively. "Dabin I mean. What people see...it's just the tip of a very large iceberg that is part of a polar ice cap which, if it could be seen in its entirety is simply astonishing in size and complexity."
Vol was amused. She did have a tendency to ramble when she got going on a subject that was close to her heart. Somehow he found it endearing.
"That is the way with most people," Vol offered, as he continued hefting the carrier containing the cat as it went on hissing in protest. "There is public persona, there is private, and the two are often very different things."
"Huh. Well, not for me. I'm just me where ever I go." Bru declared. "Otherwise it's too tiring trying to remember who knows what about me. I'm far too old for that." She paused, "Vol, if I may be so bold as to offer the sage Ship's Counselor a slip's worth of free advice?"
*And... it begins.* Vol thought. He smiled as pleasantly as he could manage. "Sage? I like that promotion idea Lieutenant." Vol winked. "And yes, you may."
"Thank you. But I warn you, you may be sorry. Just remember this. It's something I have learned the hard way in Grace's past lives, and it has shaped the one that I'm living now. Sometimes, you have to make the unpopular decision to save your sanity. It's all well and good to do what pleases your family, your friends...if it is what also pleases you."
Vol saw the years of Grace's wisdom shining in her eyes, a seemingly endless ocean of regrets, dreams, and experiences. "But if it isn't...well, life is just too short. Do what makes you happy."
Vol would have thought the advice to be the naive ramblings of the Host and not the Symbiont, if he did not know what he knew about all Grace had lost when she chose to Reassociate with, and marry, Dabin Reece.
Before he could respond February continued. "Anyhoo. Remember, I've been a dude, a chick, and I've been the proposed to, and the proposer. I still can't believe I found the guts to propose to Dabin, but it was one of the best chances I ever took." She grinned as they reached the top of the ramp and she held out her hand to gently accept the carrier, inside of which Sparrow had finally settled down.
She wondered what Vol had thought to the creature to change his demeanor so, but whatever it was, if anything, she was grateful.
"Yeah. Reece. Best decision I ever made."
"Was it the unpopular one?" Vol asked as he set down his belongings in a temporary storage locker quickly, before following Bru to officially check in for duty.
Her emotions clouded intensely, as he felt a twinge of pain cross her soul. It was deep, but only lasted a moment. Then, she wore a more wistful smile. "Only with the people who didn't really matter."
Vol decided to leave the matter for another time. An intense emotion, and one that merited an apparent cover-up, deserved a more professional setting. Vol had no idea when an opportunity would arise for such, but perhaps Bru and he would find a moment en route to Betazed...
"Thank you kindly for your advice Lieutenant. It was very insightful."
Bru smiled coyly.
"I like you Doc, you're really easy to talk to. I kinda get a kick out of giving the Ship's Counselor advice though. That's one of the things I guess you gotta learn about me."
*Oh I've learned a great deal about you, February Grace.* Vol thought, keeping his smile to himself.
Ship's Counselor
USS Serendipity/Alchemy
and
LT SG February Grace
Senior Flight Controller
USS Serendipity/Alchemy