EXETERRPG: (2, 1940) CO, Captain Trip Williams, and FO, Commander Ailynn Bracken

[Will Banowsky]

Mission: A new day dawns
Day: 2
Stardate: 2446.01.29

(Earth- Home of Trip and Ashlyn Williams- CO, Captain Trip Williams, and
FO, Commander Ailynn Bracken - 1940)

As Trip and Ailynn made there way to the smoker, Trip was finding it hard
to believe this might be one of the last evenings he had with his best
friend for a good long while. They had been through everything together. He
would be dead many times over if not for Ailynn, and he just couldn’t help
but feel a certain somberness around her.

“So I feel a bit underdressed at my own party.” Trip said with a laugh. He
had changed into pants shortly before assembling the crew but he was still
wearing the Starfleet Academy Hoodie. Both the hoodie and his pants were
black and he definitely had gone with an athleisure aesthetic.

"Oh?" She asked. "How so?" She perched on the fence so she was out of the
blow of the smoke.

“I mean, you look absolutely gorgeous, Corsica could be at home at a
cocktail event, and Ensign Fuller showed up in full dress uniform. And here
I was wearing shorts until just a few moments ago.”

Ailynn laughed gently. "We all have different ideas of casual. I found this
in my wardrobe, and thought why not. It’s comfy." She shrugged, and smiled.
"Flattery will get you everywhere." She winked with a smile.

“You know I’ve always found you beautiful.” Trip said with a smile.

"How are you doing Trip? You look horribly domesticated." She smiled and
sipped at her drink looking out onto the large backyard where Layla was
running round carrying a ball looking hopeful for a game of 'fetch'. She
was glad of her relationship with Trip. The ability to truly speak her
mind, was cathartic. The fact that they knew each others minutest
mannerisms had formed them into a very formidable unit.

“I like my domestic felicity. Honestly, it’s great. I mean, I have two
homes I will hardly ever see, so its nice when I get to play host.”

She laughed gently. "It suits you. Ash too. I've never seen her as happy.
Full House, family and friends, entertaining everyone."

“Honestly, if my next assignment were Earth or Mars based, I think I might
take it. After what we’ve been through, I wouldn’t mind the stability.”

"You've changed your tune." She said gently. "I suppose we all have to grow
up."

“Can I get you a beer?”

She shook her head. "I'm allowed a couple of small glasses of wine, but no
more. Caity and I have had a lot of long chats, but we still have a long
way to go. If i go home wasted it would cause bigger problems than you
imagine."

“Where is Caity? I thought she might come, she was invited.”

"She's on the mend, but still not herself. She wanted to, but still can't
face the crowds quite yet. She's at the vineyard with Nona." Nona was what
the whole family called Leola, Ailynn's great grandma.

“Also what’s this allowed to business. You’re an adult, and you’re
responsible. I mean I know you had issues with other things, but I’ve never
known you to have trouble with alcohol.” Trip replied. Something about the
way she said allowed had stuck with him.

She smiled and shrugged. "Perhaps the wrong word, I just promised that it
would be a light one. Just being grown up." Laughing, Ailynn came round to
where Trip was watching the smoker, "where did those two kids go to that we
used to be? And those teenagers determined not to be fleet brats."

“Umm, well I’m married, with a time displaced daughter from alternate
dystopian future that got deaged by magic space goo and had her memory
reset and have a second kid due any moment. And you, well who knows what
you got going on. I learned a long time ago to try and not read your
emotions.” Trip said with a laugh.

Smiling warmly with a blush she sipped at her wine again. "Me too to be
honest." She looked at him "I wish it wasn't necessary, the sabbatical I
mean, but…"

“But, new beginnings are always good, right?”

"Partly."

“I wish you weren’t either, but well I get it. Everyone needs to heal in
their own way. You’ve got Caity to think of as well. Hell, I mean I’ve got
a time displaced daughter, you had to face the evil version of your mom. I
got it easy, you…you got well, a hell of a worse deal than I did.”

She nodded. "So much happened, in all the missions; I need to step back and
recentre myself, as well as be there for Caity as she heals." She sighed.
"Feels like I'm quitting, not sure why. I just don't have the fight at the
moment."

“I get the feeling though, that even with the rest, you’ve got your own
adventures headed your way.” Trip said with a smile. “You know with all the
shit, we never had time to talk about Toronto.”

"No we didn't did we." Ailynn said, her mood suddenly pensive. "Not sure
what you remember, but I was like a world famous model and actress, like in
a holovid. I had moments that I could almost...feel who she was, bold,
confident. She didn't have any of the body issues that I have."

Trip nodded, “How are you coping with all that?”

"Bits of her I can still feel, I feel some of her still in me. I was so
happy there. I could have stayed."

“Yeah, well, I lost myself to the fantasy.”

"Oh? What happened? "

“When I became him, I umm, I slept with Quella. I mean she wasn’t Quella,
she was her alter ego’s alter ego. I thought she was Addison Queen when I
umm, lost myself. But yeah. I gave in, well Tristan did. First thing I did
when Tristan’s consciousness took over was sleep with her.”

"Her motivations are still complex. I don't hate her but trust is a ways
off. Even after bringing us home." She sighed. "So in Toronto I
was...Gabrielle was in a relationship,with Ryelle. Or rather a human who
was playing him. I'm not sure I understand it exactly."

“From what I understand is, she gave us what she thought we wanted, needed,
craved, to be completely and totally happy. So what she gave you was what
she believed in all her omnipotence was what you thought you needed to have
total bliss and fulfillment.”

"Makes twisted sense I suppose."

“Well everyone except me. She took mine away, and gave me her for her own,
who knows what. But she let Ash and I still have Drew in that world.
Because she knew I needed him around to believe the lie.”

"I see." She said nodding. "She still wanted you and Ash together in some
way."

“Well, I don’t think she wanted to mess with that. You take away my son,
and I’d hate her so furiously I could never fall into the illusion.”

"Of course. And that was one thing she didn't want to happen, she needed us
all onside."

“So does this mean you had the hots for Ryelle?”

"Since its come up, yes I did." She drained her glass. "Ryelle gave his
life for me. That has an effect on a girl, I'd been plagued by dreams for a
while too, always involving things to do with him. I suppose I loved him,
still do and always will. Another reason I need time. I have a lot to get
through."

“Do you think it means anything that she stuck with you with the guy who
gave his life for you rather than Caity?”

"That's something that I haven't figured out. Caity was there. I met her
and she detested my very existence. It was so upsetting. We still need to
talk about that properly" She still felt the emotion that she had for
Ryelle quite keenly. Shutting off those thoughts she turned to him.

"It happens, a version of my subconscious manifested as Rae to help me
break free. Sometimes those we loved and lost never truly leave us."

"Yeah...I suppose. I'm sorry, just things still raw in my mind."

"No worries." Trip said placing his hand on his friends shoulder.

(reply none)
(posted by Will and Mark)
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