EXETERRPG: REPOST (2 - 0300) MorOff Ens(sg) Ashlyn Williams

[Mark Howard]

NRPG: Repost to correct Header. Trip not present. My bad.


RPG

Mission: Space was cool before it mattered

Day: 2

Stardate: 2446.04.26



(USS Exeter - Personal Quarters - MorOff Ens(sg) Ashlyn Williams - 0300)

It was the dead of night.

There were moments in Ashlyn’s life that she felt that she were the only
conscious being for light years. Even as she stood at the full length
window, her heart in her arms as her and Trip’s son nursed. Her mind
however found itself stepping outside the window, her Bracken blood, the
innate, desperate desire to seek, to explore coming to the fore of her
being. She was a Jones by rearing, a child of the wrong side of the tracks,
growing strong and streetwise from the experiences of her childhood, she
was a Williams by marriage, family and love the innate hospitality and love
for those all around her had imbibed her during her courtship and marriage.
However the Bracken blood ran strong, on finding her birth mother, she’d
found herself growing into a family that was proud, unashamed of its
abilities, and it’s strengths, and whose blood ties ran just as deep as the
Williams’.

It was a heady mix for a girl from the wrong side of fifth and main.

Ashlyn’s consciousness was pulled back as Drew fussed. “You done?” She
lifted her son, the second of the Williams-Bracken Progeny that graced the
galaxy. LIfting him up to her shoulder and covering herself with the ivory
satin robe, she started to gently to rub his back.

Staring once more into the void as her local mind was patting and rubbing
her son’s back trying to extricate the last vestige of wind that would
herald the remains of the nights sleep. As she beheld the lateral view of
the perseus arm of the milky way in front of her, she slowly became aware
of a presence in her families’ suite.


“Make yourself known, or so help me…” She swung her eyes once more across
the milky way, seeing Andromeda’s vast presence in this light. “...So help
me…even babe in arms I will exsanguinate your being and nail you to the
prow.” It was total Ailynn, she admitted, but she had been around her niece
a lot recently, and her tone and manner brought results.

She lifted her chin defiantly in her nightwear as she turned round, to
regard the room behind her.

“It would not be the first time I died. Not sure if I can die a second
time.” The figure said softly. “Though I guess this would be the first time
we have met.”

“You say that, but hide in the shadows.” On her shoulder, Drew fidgetted,
as if trying to turn round. “Shh shh shh….easy honey.” She slightly
stretched and patted her son’s back, causing him to be able to release the
trapped wind.

Ashlyn turned to the shadows, “You’re going to need to step out. I mean you
as much harm as you mean me.”


The figure stepped forward. “Is this better. I don’t mean to be in the
shadows, but I guess, I am a wraith. Not sure why I am here, just that…well
consider this an apology from a friend.”

Ashlyn watched the figure step out of the shadows, a touch taller than she
was, dark hair, a sense of vibrance about him. His eyes, deeply
intelligent, she was drawn to his outward confidence and calm. All her
neurons were screaming at her.

“Your earring is beautiful, I had one just like it.” The figure said.

It was Ashlyn’s most precious possession, she would sooner lay down her
life than surrender what she wore on her ear. “It was my father’s, only one
like it exists….” She was unable to finish the sentence.

“It’s amazing, the woman you grew up to be, Ronal Ashlyn.”

She felt her heart grow and explode at the ritual acceptance. “I hope that
I bring honour to your name….” She paused, a tear in her eye. “Ronal
Ashalon” she threw aside ritual blessings. “Father…?” her entire being was
in her throat. “Daddy…?” her soul took control of her voice, the only thing
she had always yearned for.

“Yes.” he smiled. “Yes. Or at least his consciousness, not his soul, not
his body, but everything that made me, well me, is here before you. And
look at you.”

Ashlyn blushed demurely, taking a step toward the wraith before her,
utterly unafraid, had he meant her harm, it would have happened by now.
“From the moment I found out who my father was, a part of me has held
regret. The chance to be held in a caring father’s arms.”

“I am sorry, I am sorry I could not be there, to give you the childhood you
deserved, the father you deserved.”

“As much as I wish the pain of my youth away, and would yearn for a life
where I grew up being cared for by you and Dale, the lives you led, the
paths of destiny that you chose to forge were more important. I didn’t
understand that at first.”

“How is your mother? I assume she is, what is the earth phrase, busting
balls?”

“Mum?” Ashlyn sighed, “More lonely than she admits. I’m not sure she’s ever
got over losing you. She works to keep herself from brooding on it.

“Well, she’s lost two great loves, and lost two great daughters, but she
has you and your sister once again. I know you make her whole.”

“As whole as we are able Father, yes.” She smiled gently, still rubbing her
son’s back, who’s body was relaxing back into a heavy sleep.

“And, to think, so I am told, that you married the young man she views as
beyond a mentee, beyond a surrogate son.”

Nodding, she spoke gently. “An accident of circumstance, or perhaps Fates
winged whimsy. We reconnected, and found soulmates in each other.”

“Yes. They do. They are crazy thing those fates. Unfortunately your mother
has received both her share of sad and happy fates.” He walked forward, “so
who is this little guy?”

She turned Drew around, he was already asleep again, of course. “Your
grandson, and you have a granddaughter too, by means of somewhat contrived
nature, but she is her grandmothers granddaughter, and we worship them
both.”

“Ah yes, Ronnie, the girl out of time, getting a second chance of life.”
Ashalon walked towards Ash, “May I hold him?”

“Of course,” Ashlyn said, “I wasn’t certain that you were here; in the
physical sense I mean.” she carefully passed over hers and Trips son.

“Support the head, relax. Let him rest in your forearm…” Ashlyn’s hands
were fidgeting. “Sorry.”

“I know how to hold a baby.” He said laughing.

“Your Grandson, Williams Drew, of the House Ronal. I hope that I honour my
family.”  Ashlyn blushed as she spoke. She’d never been worried about
someone's acceptance before, but this time it seemed more formal.

“You already have my dear, you already have.” Ashalon said smiling.

Looking at the figure of her father, holding the youngest member of
assorted clans, she watched as her son woke briefly, and held his
grandfather's proud gaze.

“Did you know?” Ashlyn asked gently. “When you gave that speech I mean; Did
you know of the danger? Ronal the Unifier. That’s a lofty benediction.”

“I knew that everytime time I left the house I was at risk. But even if it
meant….never meeting you, I knew that I needed to continue to speak. I
apologise for that.”

“No apology needed. You did what had to be done, what no other had the
stones to do.” She said gently, watching as her father’s avatar and her son
shared a moment.

“But, I am thankful for this chance to meet.” He smiled. “She saved his
life, you know?” Ashalon said, “Your mother, she saved Trip’s life.”

“He told me. Rae is still a big part of his life, our lives, and that’s
fine. We honour her memory at the appropriate times.”

“Yes. As is right to do.” He smiled at little Drew. “The fates have a weird
way of having their will unfold. Your mother, having no knowledge that you
and Trip would ever cross paths again, nursed that broken young man back
from the brink. Repairing body and soul, restoring his will. She restored
him, even if she could not have known, for you. The daughter she lost, the
daughter she gave up willing to protect, and the boy whom she cared so
deeply that she brought him back to life. Together in wedded bliss.
Sometimes it makes all the grief worth it.”

“It makes me reconsider my thoughts about fate, and destiny.” She sighed, a
rare moment of her inner sadness coming to the fore. She had moments of
course, but the only time she cried was when everyone was asleep.

“Oh my sweet daughter, the prophets called me home, but oh how I wish I
could have been there for you.”

“Father…? Can, I have a hug? Just to feel it, just once?”

“What father would deprive his daughter of such a request. I may be a
spectre of a memory, but I would never deny you that.” He replied.

“ Here, Drew can go back in his bassinet.”

“He will be a strong one, this one.” He said handing the child back to his
mother.


“He has rather unusual genetics,” She said gently as she took Drew, and
gently placed him back in his bassinet, placing a kiss on his head before
turning back to Ashalon.

Opening her mouth a couple of times, to frame a sentence, Ashlyn regarded
her father, stepping shyly toward him. “Daddy?”

He embraced her in a deep hug. “Daughter.” He said smiling, tears of joy
streaming down his cheek. “I am so proud of you, Ronal Ashlyn. So proud.”

For the first time in her life, Ashlyn felt a true father’s embrace;
strong, and proud. She felt his shoulder muscles encompass her, enveloping
her in a deepest sense of a true paternal relationship. The strength from
his arms, wrapped around her warmed her being. She felt a tear fill her
right eye, which grew, crystal-like, and ran down her cheek. Resting into
the embrace, she had no idea how long it lasted before her Father’s time
was at an end.

Though she didn’t know it at the time, years later, on a visit to Bajor,
Ashlyn would slip away and purposely make the acquaintance of a perfumier,
a man of considerable age and reputation on Bajor. He would nearly have
Ashlyn thrown out physically, but upon seeing the jewellery that she wore,
and her proud stance, had dipped his head. Slowly, and with painstaking
detail, she would describe a smell to him, one that she hid the source of,
but one that she would remember to that day.

The aging perfumier, that night would close his shop with shaking hand and
soul.

The scent that the daughter of the ‘voice of the fire in the grass’ had
described, had been his preferred after-shave, and she had described every
single note of it’s concoction perfectly.

Yet on this very night, this singular moment in time, Ronal Ashalon
disappeared in the Embrace he gave his daughter. Smiling, Quella appeared
beside Ash.

“I come in peace.” She said putting her hands up showing that she had no
intention of hostility. Quella was fond of Trip for many reasons, but was
equally as fond of Ash, though not for those same reasons. When Quella had
pretended to be Addison Queen, Ash showed Quella a respect, dignity, and
value, that had Quella truly been mortal it would have meant the world to
her. But Quella was not mortal. Though she treasured how well Ash had
treated her.

Ashlyn turned to the newcomer with a warm smile. There were many who would
not have understood Ashlyn’s forgiveness of Quella. She would say the same
thing to all of them should she feel like airing her view. ‘Before you
judge someone's actions you walk a mile in their shoes.’ and so it was with
Quella. Addison had been quite a quiet, almost shy girl, profoundly lonely
in her life, but eager to learn, relishing Ashlyn’s gentle, almost maternal
tutelage. She had seen a number of the same qualities in Quella, and beyond
all the personal, she’d understood her motives on the profoundest of
levels, she herself came from a family where ‘difficult decisions’ was a
family trait.

“Quella.” She smiled. “No antagonism, I promise.”

Quella approached Ash and kissed her on the cheek. “This is but my humble
apology for what I put you through, what I tried to take from you. You have
a kindness in your heart that goes beyond your Bracken genes. A capacity to
love and forgive that you received from him. I just wanted to give you this
gift.”

The gentle kiss on the cheek was warm, almost exotic. The revelation that
Quella was responsible for her father’s appearance made her heart skip a
beat. Pulling Quella into the tightest embrace, she whispered, tears in her
eyes, and rolling down her cheeks. “I can never repay you for this.
Wherever you are, however lonely you feel, there’s always a seat at our
table. Thank you Quella, from the bottom of my soul.”


Quella then kissed Ash on the cheek and in a flash, vanished.

Left alone in the room, she glanced at her son, and picked him up, a solid
little lump of sleep, Drew briefly opened his eyes. Sure, he was mostly his
father, the cheeks, the nose, the set of the jaw, shoulders even made him a
true Williams, in other places hints of Bracken came through, however, her
father’s true face emblazoned in her mind, she looked into her son’s sleepy
eyes she saw the self same set about the eye.

A tiny skip of her heart as his eyes surrendered once more to sleep, she
placed a kiss on his brow.

“Sleep well, whether you are part Williams, part Bracken, or the Scion of
House Ronal. My baby boy.” Back in the bedroom now, she placed him
carefully back into his cot and removed her robe, slipping back between the
sheets, and losing her own battle against the sandman; her dreams, profound
and love filled.

(Reply none)

(posted by Mark and Will)
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