Bonding Is Forever (Part 1)

Posted on Sun 9th Dec, 2012 @ 10:58pm by Commander Paul Graves PsyD & Commander Brian Windsong

1,612 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: http://sb109.sim-station.net/index.php/sim/missions/id/3
Location: Orchids & Jazz
Timeline: After 'After The Fact'
Tags: Paul, Brian

Brian was dressed in a black turtleneck and jeans. He had spent most of the afternoon in meditation and was feeling relaxed. He slowly drank a gin an tonic, a new drink for him and had not made up his mind whether he liked it or not while he contemplated the menu as he waited for Paul to show up.

He didn't have long to wait. Paul entered Orchids and Jazz a few moments after 1730 hours. He asked the hostess to show him where Brian was sitting, and then he made his way to the table. Fortunately, it wasn't near the table where he and Fin had sat not so many days ago. It still disappointed him that he hadn't at least been able to say good-bye before her departure.

Right now, though, there were other things to pay attention to. He'd spent most of the day resting in preparation for whatever Brian planned to do that evening. He'd eaten lightly all day and by now was ready for food but not ravenous. Still, supper would have to be light, too. It was never a good idea to do high-level psionics work on a full stomach.

"Hi, Brian," Paul said as he approached and sat down in the chair opposite his friend. "Do they have a tactile menu for you, or would you like for me to read it?" he asked.

"If you wouldn't mind reading. They may have a tactile menu, but I didn't ask for it. I'm thinking some kind of salad or soup and salad combo if they have one. I'd love some flat or garlic bread, but they don't have that maybe some kind of pasta. What are you going to have?"

"Let's see..." Paul picked up the menu and began reading it to Brian "Actually, there are no soups or salads listed. The closest I see to salads are the avocado halves with Italian tomatoes, the fruit compote, and the vegetable platter," Paul said. "I'm going to have the spinach ravioli with the avocado halves. If you want pasta, they have the ravioli and a choice of either meat lasagna or eggplant lasagna."

"I think I will try the eggplant lasagna. I'm not really close to being a vegan, but I do try to eat healthy. That sounds like the best option.

" Are you feeling any better?" Brian asked.

"I am, actually," Paul said. "The feeling of complete bone-weariness has gone, and even some of the memories are becoming clearer." He made a face. "I actually contemplated eating 200 year-old pasta while on the Bretagne. I take that as absolute proof that I was insane."

"Seriously? You have to tell me more about it. I'm just glad that you're okay now."

"So am I," Paul said. He gave his order to the waiter and waited while Brian did the same. "So how's your work going? What have you been up to lately?"

"I am trying to build up a department that is broken. Well broken might not be the best description. Non-existent would be more accurate. I've a skeleton crew at best and none of them have the experience or expertise that is needed.

"I know we are on the back waves of the galaxy, but you would think that your, uh, the Federation would send us some resources."

"What sort of people do you need?" Paul asked.

"People with diplomatic experience would be best, but someone brand new and fresh out of the Academy wouldn't be bad either. I just need someone that can think on their feet and outside the containment field.

"And if they know when to talk and when to shut up that would be even better, why do you have someone in mind?"

"Everyone I know with those qualities is already taken," Paul said wryly. "Do you have any friends who might be willing to transfer?"

"I have a couple of ideas," he replied. "There is one guy in strategic ops, but from what I hear he is a fast talker and has an array of assets scattered here and there across the quadrant. He and the new boss there don't exactly see eye to eye on such things. He might make a good candidate.

"His name is Giellun Hitchins, I think he and Xavier Lee are an item."

"I'd be willing to assist if you ever had a use for me, but I'm not interested in switching departments," Paul said. He paused. "This Hitchins guy is in Strat/Tactical? Oh...I'm not surprised at all that he doesn't get along with the new department head there." Paul winced. "I suspect Lawrence is very difficult to work for."

"From what I can gather, you're right. He even goes about wearing a wig. A white powdered wig. I don't understand the significance of that perhaps you could explain it to me if you know."

"I don't understand the significance, either," Paul said wryly. "It's a fashion that existed on Earth six hundred years ago, I think. Why he wears one today I am trying to find out."

"I did meet him briefly the other day. He didn't seem all that bad to me, but I'm not serving under him. either. But why would Humans ever wear such silly things?"

"Earth's technology was extremely low back then, and they didn't always have the best hygiene, even among the wealthy. They would shave their heads and wear wigs to ward off head lice. It was easier to cleanse the lice from wigs than from living hair. Lawrence obviously has a different reason for wearing his wig, though," Paul said.

"Obviously, though I'm not sure what it is. Perhaps he feels like a how do you put it? A fish out of water. or perhaps he just loves tradition. But in any regard, let's return to discussing us."

"My guess is, he loves tradition," Paul said. He leaned back in his chair and sipped at his tea. "So, at the risk of appearing horrifically conceited, what about us?"

Brian cocked his head slightly, "Are you talking about our bonding and what to expect, or are you talking about us romantically or is there something that I am missing?"

Paul chuckled. "I don't know--You're the one who brought us up. I am curious about the bonding, though. As for romantically...I'd rather not discuss that here, but elsewhere would be fine."

Brian was unsure about how he felt about Paul. He was becoming a good friend and their bonding would bring them closer together there was no doubt about that, but he was also starting to really like Samantha. In Akadian culture this would be no problem. It was common for Akadians to be romantically involved and intimate with more than one partner, but he didn't know how Paul or Samantha would think about it.

"Yes that is probably a subject we should discuss in private." he agreed.

"As for bonding I can tell you the process. We first draw a protective circle, usually with chalk. We are inside that circle. Then we disrobe, though only down to our underwear We exchange garments and personal items, then we light candles at where the 12, 3, 6, and 9 positions would be.

"In the past and among some traditionalist circles even today, they cut a large animal similar to your bulls in half, we then would walk down the path between the two halves and cut our palms and press them together. While walking in the blood and entrails of the butchered animal is skipped, the symbolism remains and is, how would you say, simplified, finalized perhaps, by the exchange of our blood. The meaning is that what was done to the animal would be done to whoever broke the bond.

"Whatever is yours becomes mine and whatever is mine becomes yours. It is the most serious ceremony in our culture.

"Then we sit in the center of the circle and become one with each other pyschically. The final step, aside from the approval of the Elders which is granted or denied six months from the day, and one that is not always taken, is to become one physcially.

"Once the elders approve, assuming neither side has backed out, then we would each receive an identical tattoo either on the temple, the cheek or the neck, on opposite sides from each other. My left temple your right, etc."

"That is quite a commitment," Paul said. He leaned his head to one side. "Are you sure you want to make that deep a bond with me, knowing as little about me as you do? I know you said it wouldn't be a full commitment--and I think that's entirely wise, at this point. I do want to ease your suffering, if I can, as you want to ease mine. I want that powerfully. But I also want to understand what this means in your culture. If I bond with you, to whatever extent we do this, what exactly am I committing to at this time? I want to behave honorably toward you and respect your traditions, so I need to understand."

He paused. "Is it like marriage, betrothal, friendship, or something I haven't even named?"

"Really a combination of them all. A bonding, a true bonding, is for life. The only way it can be broken is by death. Many of those who are bonded become monogamous. That is virtually unheard of amongst most Akadians>"

"So what about the type of bonding you and I are contemplating?" Paul asked.

"You tell me," he replied simply.

OFF

Lt. Commander Brian Windsong
Chief Diplomatic Officer
SB Protector

and

Lt. Paul Graves
Chief Counselor
SB Protector

 

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