Unity – Somewhere I Don't Belong Anymore (Backpost)
by (G) erie'Riov - Sub Commander Rianni Monteros-t'Khellian & Commander Isha t'Vaurek
Post Details
OOC: Set before Rh'vaurek learns that Isha is, in fact still alive and on her way back.
ON:
Rianni, having spent a little time with her father and mother, had spent the last few hours alone, walking and thinking about her life, especially since Ayren, who swore she loved her, had thrown her away. It didn't take long for her to decide as she looked down on the various races of the Federation on the Promenade that she didn't really belong to any of them, and thusly didn't belong in the Federation or Starfleet anymore, either. With her mind made up she made her way to the Embassy, stopping to check in with the receptionist as Isha wasn't there currently, "I need to speak to Raedhoel." Was all she said, she didn't have to tell the receptionist it was important.
Nahir i-Orinwen looked the woman up and down; she was related to the Ambassador, the real one, not her proxy, but like most of her people she viewed outsiders with suspicion, outsiders including those with mixed blood and particularly those raised outside the empire.
"Wait here," she said waving to the seating area as she rose. Rh'vaurek was not fond of being disturbed without warning.
Rianni simply nodded her understanding to the woman, knowing she was being as friendly as she could be considering, and awaited permission to enter an office where she'd never needed permission before.
If she was surprised by the erie'Khrein's response i-Orinwen did not show it. She nodded briefly and withdrew musing on his expression as she returned to the reception area.
"You may go through," she announced to the waiting Starfleet officer.
Rianni nodded again and walked into Isha's office, bowing her head slightly to Raedhol, "I'm glad you could take the time to see me, Sir." Rianni began, walking from in front of him to stare into the blackness of space outside of Isha's office window, her mind clearly elsewhere, with someone she thought really loved her.
"I know that you have.....concerns about me." Rianni continued when she was composed enough to face him again, "And I know you remarked to some of the staff here that you think I'm a fool to believe I could ever fit in with the humans." She raised her hand to stop whatever reaction he was going to have, be it denial, anger, or, least likely, an apology, "Don't worry, I'm not here for an apology or to threaten you with my Aunt's wrath." She paused and took a deep breath, much like someone might before standing up for the first time at an AA meeting, "I'm here because I've realized you're right, Raedhol. I'm here because you were right all along. About me, about them, about how I could never be accepted by them, no matter how much they might pretend. You were right, and I've never been so wrong about anything in my life."
"I'll never belong to the Federation." She said sadly, "All they see when they look at me is a Romulan, the embodiment of their fears of boogeymen in the dark, someone to mistrust and stop your conversations when they're around, all the while smiling in my face and feeding me lies. I look at me now, and all I see is a Romulan, what we truly are. We're real, they're false. Even if what comes from our lips isn't what someone wants to hear, we say it, and it's true, where they lie and smile to hide the ugliness of it. I'll never fit in with the humans," She said, removing the pips from her collar and the comm-badge from her chest, "and I'm not going to bother trying anymore. I'm sick of the falseness, I'm sick of trying to mold me to satisfy others, I'm sick of marking out to the Klingons. I'm a Romulan, damn it, and I'm ready to let them know it."
Distracted by a thought or a memory Raedhoel continued to stare at the padd held loosely between his fingers. Eventually he raised his gaze, "be sure you're doing this for the right reasons, the Empire has suffered its share of the homesick who desire nothing more than to establish themselves and to spy," it was a natural suspicion, and the Federation had exploited exiles and half breeds on numerous occaisions. His tone remained passionless as he spoke again, "Be sure that you are not doing this merely to impress your aunt."
"This isn't being done to impress anybody." Rianni replied, "My record in the cockpit is all the proving I ever need to do of myself. I just have come to accept what I deep down always knew to be the truth."
It was news only half digested and Rh'vaurek did not yet know whether or not it was true. What he knew for certain was that the USS Freedom had been attacked and that the Ambassador was listed as a casualty, that Isha's mother had immediately caused a storm, and that susbspace traffic flowing through their listening posts was awash with rumour.
With a flick of his fingers the padd dropped onto the smooth hard surface of the desk.
"Isha is dead."
"What?" Rianni asked, totally numb, he couldn't have possibly said what she thought he had just said.
Slowly, Rh'vaurek eased back in his chair, linking his fingers loosly in his lap. "Perhaps you are right, Monteros," he said, "If the Federation cannot protect a woman of her standing, why would they stretch themsleves to protect you if, as you say they view you as so foreign. Read the communique if you wish."
He made no move to stop her from examining the padd, aware that its contents would raise her suspicions just as it had his.
Rianni read the PaDD quickly, then read it again, then a third time. She expected she'd feel heartbroken, but didn't, for some reason, it just didn't seem right.
"And so I am confirmed in my position as Ambassador; something I never desired. If it is still your wish to renounce Federation citizenship, Monteros, I will make your application known."
"I need to find out what's happened to Isha first, before we do anything for me." Rianni replied, tossing the PaDD back to Raedhol, "This smells funny, Raedhoel, but I bet you already decided that, didn't you?"
Rh'vaurek shook his head briefly. "She's dead. Isha's mother does not play games, the entire House has been thrown into mourning."
"D'anal." Rianni snarled, "Never send a Klingon to do the job of an evolved species. If he's not dead I'll have his heart for this!"
"You'll not get a chance, sticking the name Khellian after your own doesn't grant you that right, nor does your father touting his human mistress around. The only person left who can grant you membership of the House is Isha's own mother, your Hru'hfir. Convince me that you genuinely wish to sever your links with the Federation, and I will be your gateway to her."
"Rh'vaurek, I don't care what position my Aunt left you in before her death, you disrespect my mother again and I'll kill you before I kill D'anal." Rianni replied, her voice stony and serious, "And member of this house or not, I'll go after D'anal on my own if I have to, I'm just offering you the chance to join me in the kill. If you cared for Isha the way I've always heard you did, you'll want this as much as I do. If not, I'm quite capable of doing it on my own."
"As far as my link to the Federation goes..." Rianni paused, "it severed itself."
Rh'vaurek pursed his lips, such posturing might be bourne, and for all he knew, encouraged by the Federation, but she still had a lot to learn.
"Then make it official," he said simply, "Defect, and we'll have you into a proper uniform as soon as ..." Rh'vaurek paused, his shoulder muscles tightening the pipping noise that intruded on his thoughts was of a particular pitch and noted the incoming communication was of a particular origin.
He leaned over to view it and after a minute raised his head. "Well," he sighed and linked his fingers together over his stomach, "... I should make that as soon as Isha returns," he said finishing the sentence he started earlier.
"She's alive?" Rianni asked, her voice joyful knowing her beloved Aunt was still with her, ~I knew it, I'd have felt it if she was dead!~
He could not quite share Monteros' obvious delight; the conflicting messages and the reason for them disturbed him, but as he got to his feet, still watching her, he allowed himself something of a smile.
"It seems that rumours of her death were exaggerated, for her own reasons."
Rh'vaurek gazed evenly at Rianni. "I believe you," he said, and though the admission surprised him he added, "You might just be a credit to the Empire."
Rianni smiled and bowed her slightly to him, "I appreciate that praise, especially coming from you." She said, "I know it must've hurt, too."
"I'm sure it will hurt more and more as the years pass," he said with an undertone of humour. He kept his tone even though really he wanted to roar aloud at the news, "I will inform Isha of your intention, and of your decision. It is only right that she should be the one to accept you ... and Monteros, you cannot even begin to understand the connection me and Isha have - respect that, and I will pay the same courtesy to your mother."
"My respect for your connection to my Aunt should never be in question to you." Rianni replied, "While I wouldn't be surprised if you and I never came to be on the best terms, our mutual love for Isha is something we will always share, so if nothing else, let's at least agree to detente for the sake of the family." She paused for a second, then added, "Yours and mine."
It was a tenuous, and unexpected alliance, but Rh'vaurek sought co-operation ahead of conflict; a fact that males often missed feeling that they needed to prove something. By agreeing to defect even if Isha had been dead, Monteros had proven something that any amount of antagonistic exchanges would not.
"Yours and mine," he agreed.
OFF
erie'Khrein Rh'vaurek Raedhoel
Acting Ambassador
&
Rianni Monteros-t'Khellian
Romulan
by (G) erie'Riov - Sub Commander Rianni Monteros-t'Khellian & Commander Isha t'Vaurek
Post Details
| Title | Somewhere I Don't Belong Anymore (Backpost) | |
| Mission | Unity | |
| Author(s) | (G) erie'Riov - Sub Commander Rianni Monteros-t'Khellian & Commander Isha t'Vaurek | |
| Posted | Wed Jan 13, 2010 @ 9:03pm | |
| Location | Romulan Embassy | |
| Timeline | shortly after R'vek's arrival |
ON:
Rianni, having spent a little time with her father and mother, had spent the last few hours alone, walking and thinking about her life, especially since Ayren, who swore she loved her, had thrown her away. It didn't take long for her to decide as she looked down on the various races of the Federation on the Promenade that she didn't really belong to any of them, and thusly didn't belong in the Federation or Starfleet anymore, either. With her mind made up she made her way to the Embassy, stopping to check in with the receptionist as Isha wasn't there currently, "I need to speak to Raedhoel." Was all she said, she didn't have to tell the receptionist it was important.
Nahir i-Orinwen looked the woman up and down; she was related to the Ambassador, the real one, not her proxy, but like most of her people she viewed outsiders with suspicion, outsiders including those with mixed blood and particularly those raised outside the empire.
"Wait here," she said waving to the seating area as she rose. Rh'vaurek was not fond of being disturbed without warning.
Rianni simply nodded her understanding to the woman, knowing she was being as friendly as she could be considering, and awaited permission to enter an office where she'd never needed permission before.
If she was surprised by the erie'Khrein's response i-Orinwen did not show it. She nodded briefly and withdrew musing on his expression as she returned to the reception area.
"You may go through," she announced to the waiting Starfleet officer.
Rianni nodded again and walked into Isha's office, bowing her head slightly to Raedhol, "I'm glad you could take the time to see me, Sir." Rianni began, walking from in front of him to stare into the blackness of space outside of Isha's office window, her mind clearly elsewhere, with someone she thought really loved her.
"I know that you have.....concerns about me." Rianni continued when she was composed enough to face him again, "And I know you remarked to some of the staff here that you think I'm a fool to believe I could ever fit in with the humans." She raised her hand to stop whatever reaction he was going to have, be it denial, anger, or, least likely, an apology, "Don't worry, I'm not here for an apology or to threaten you with my Aunt's wrath." She paused and took a deep breath, much like someone might before standing up for the first time at an AA meeting, "I'm here because I've realized you're right, Raedhol. I'm here because you were right all along. About me, about them, about how I could never be accepted by them, no matter how much they might pretend. You were right, and I've never been so wrong about anything in my life."
"I'll never belong to the Federation." She said sadly, "All they see when they look at me is a Romulan, the embodiment of their fears of boogeymen in the dark, someone to mistrust and stop your conversations when they're around, all the while smiling in my face and feeding me lies. I look at me now, and all I see is a Romulan, what we truly are. We're real, they're false. Even if what comes from our lips isn't what someone wants to hear, we say it, and it's true, where they lie and smile to hide the ugliness of it. I'll never fit in with the humans," She said, removing the pips from her collar and the comm-badge from her chest, "and I'm not going to bother trying anymore. I'm sick of the falseness, I'm sick of trying to mold me to satisfy others, I'm sick of marking out to the Klingons. I'm a Romulan, damn it, and I'm ready to let them know it."
Distracted by a thought or a memory Raedhoel continued to stare at the padd held loosely between his fingers. Eventually he raised his gaze, "be sure you're doing this for the right reasons, the Empire has suffered its share of the homesick who desire nothing more than to establish themselves and to spy," it was a natural suspicion, and the Federation had exploited exiles and half breeds on numerous occaisions. His tone remained passionless as he spoke again, "Be sure that you are not doing this merely to impress your aunt."
"This isn't being done to impress anybody." Rianni replied, "My record in the cockpit is all the proving I ever need to do of myself. I just have come to accept what I deep down always knew to be the truth."
It was news only half digested and Rh'vaurek did not yet know whether or not it was true. What he knew for certain was that the USS Freedom had been attacked and that the Ambassador was listed as a casualty, that Isha's mother had immediately caused a storm, and that susbspace traffic flowing through their listening posts was awash with rumour.
With a flick of his fingers the padd dropped onto the smooth hard surface of the desk.
"Isha is dead."
"What?" Rianni asked, totally numb, he couldn't have possibly said what she thought he had just said.
Slowly, Rh'vaurek eased back in his chair, linking his fingers loosly in his lap. "Perhaps you are right, Monteros," he said, "If the Federation cannot protect a woman of her standing, why would they stretch themsleves to protect you if, as you say they view you as so foreign. Read the communique if you wish."
He made no move to stop her from examining the padd, aware that its contents would raise her suspicions just as it had his.
Rianni read the PaDD quickly, then read it again, then a third time. She expected she'd feel heartbroken, but didn't, for some reason, it just didn't seem right.
"And so I am confirmed in my position as Ambassador; something I never desired. If it is still your wish to renounce Federation citizenship, Monteros, I will make your application known."
"I need to find out what's happened to Isha first, before we do anything for me." Rianni replied, tossing the PaDD back to Raedhol, "This smells funny, Raedhoel, but I bet you already decided that, didn't you?"
Rh'vaurek shook his head briefly. "She's dead. Isha's mother does not play games, the entire House has been thrown into mourning."
"D'anal." Rianni snarled, "Never send a Klingon to do the job of an evolved species. If he's not dead I'll have his heart for this!"
"You'll not get a chance, sticking the name Khellian after your own doesn't grant you that right, nor does your father touting his human mistress around. The only person left who can grant you membership of the House is Isha's own mother, your Hru'hfir. Convince me that you genuinely wish to sever your links with the Federation, and I will be your gateway to her."
"Rh'vaurek, I don't care what position my Aunt left you in before her death, you disrespect my mother again and I'll kill you before I kill D'anal." Rianni replied, her voice stony and serious, "And member of this house or not, I'll go after D'anal on my own if I have to, I'm just offering you the chance to join me in the kill. If you cared for Isha the way I've always heard you did, you'll want this as much as I do. If not, I'm quite capable of doing it on my own."
"As far as my link to the Federation goes..." Rianni paused, "it severed itself."
Rh'vaurek pursed his lips, such posturing might be bourne, and for all he knew, encouraged by the Federation, but she still had a lot to learn.
"Then make it official," he said simply, "Defect, and we'll have you into a proper uniform as soon as ..." Rh'vaurek paused, his shoulder muscles tightening the pipping noise that intruded on his thoughts was of a particular pitch and noted the incoming communication was of a particular origin.
He leaned over to view it and after a minute raised his head. "Well," he sighed and linked his fingers together over his stomach, "... I should make that as soon as Isha returns," he said finishing the sentence he started earlier.
"She's alive?" Rianni asked, her voice joyful knowing her beloved Aunt was still with her, ~I knew it, I'd have felt it if she was dead!~
He could not quite share Monteros' obvious delight; the conflicting messages and the reason for them disturbed him, but as he got to his feet, still watching her, he allowed himself something of a smile.
"It seems that rumours of her death were exaggerated, for her own reasons."
Rh'vaurek gazed evenly at Rianni. "I believe you," he said, and though the admission surprised him he added, "You might just be a credit to the Empire."
Rianni smiled and bowed her slightly to him, "I appreciate that praise, especially coming from you." She said, "I know it must've hurt, too."
"I'm sure it will hurt more and more as the years pass," he said with an undertone of humour. He kept his tone even though really he wanted to roar aloud at the news, "I will inform Isha of your intention, and of your decision. It is only right that she should be the one to accept you ... and Monteros, you cannot even begin to understand the connection me and Isha have - respect that, and I will pay the same courtesy to your mother."
"My respect for your connection to my Aunt should never be in question to you." Rianni replied, "While I wouldn't be surprised if you and I never came to be on the best terms, our mutual love for Isha is something we will always share, so if nothing else, let's at least agree to detente for the sake of the family." She paused for a second, then added, "Yours and mine."
It was a tenuous, and unexpected alliance, but Rh'vaurek sought co-operation ahead of conflict; a fact that males often missed feeling that they needed to prove something. By agreeing to defect even if Isha had been dead, Monteros had proven something that any amount of antagonistic exchanges would not.
"Yours and mine," he agreed.
OFF
erie'Khrein Rh'vaurek Raedhoel
Acting Ambassador
&
Rianni Monteros-t'Khellian
Romulan