Open and Honest Communications

Posted on Mon Nov 25th, 2024 @ 6:26pm by Lieutenant JG Zai & Lieutenant Adrianna Baciami

1,346 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Stars Around the Well
Location: Via Subspace

ON:

Tanina, Adrianna's mother, had opted to call her future sun in law. She had a few things that she wanted to discuss with him and she wanted to ensure that he was alone when she said then. Putting through the video call, she ran her fingers through her black hair, a few silver hairs adding a graceful depth to the woman's that time seemed to forget.

Vance had been studying Zai's latest updates trying to make sense of it. "He's a mad man or a genius." He snorted. He looked up to see the incoming call link. They were ETA about 30 minutes from the shuttles leaving with the civilians that wanted off and then off to the dead zone. He wondered who'd be calling him. Answering it he was momentarily struck dumb. "Adri?"

"In fifty years time, perhaps," Tanina chuckled, the translator kicking in, "I will take the compliment. How are you, Vance?"

"Miss Baciami! Sorry about that." He sighed. "I am alright. Trying to make heads or tails of my bosses notes. How are you doing?"

"Tired," she replied, "I just got back from the favour you asked of me. Do you have a few minutes?"

"OH! Yes of course. Thank you so much for doing that for me."

She smiled and tapped a few things on her end, "ok, so this is before and after." Two images popped up. One of a well kept pair of graves. The one had Vance's name on along with a script that said 'brother, fiancé, captain and adventurer'. The second was of his gave removed completely and his sisters was covered from head to toe in purple orchids. The gravestone had been cleaned up completely, it's wording now clear, "Vance, is there a day that you normally go? I could go there if you are away and can't get back. Perhaps her birthday?"

Vance started at the pictures his eyes filled with tears. "I....It...its beautiful." He looked at the screen. "Thank you for this."

"Of course," she smiled, "anything for my family-- even if not blood."

"I...She would have loved that so much." He sighed. "I didn't have a special day I just went when I could get there."

She nodded, "alright, well, Adrianna set up people to look after the place. I have told them to place orchids on every month. She will always have flowers now." She paused, "as you can see, I've removed your grave. You can have it back, but perhaps in another fifty or sixty years, hm?"

He laughed. "In a sense it is fitting. The old me kind of died and the person I am now is old and new combined so...a new oldie I guess."

"My point remains," she chuckled, " have it back in a few decades. Not now."

He smiled. "I really appreciate all your help. I...um I have to apologize for a few days ago."

"I have eight sons," she shrugged, "I am not surprised that we interrupted a moment. If anything, I should be apologizing to you. We should have left you two be. You have time to make up for, and such love for one another."

He blushed. "No no...none of that until the wedding."

Tanina shook her head, amused at his promise, "that is your choice, but it has nothing to do with me." She paused, "I do want to ask you about Adrianna though-- I know that Giovanni has empaths looking in on her, but nothing can beat a human's intuition on a human in matters like this. I assume you are human, anyway, if not, then pretend I said 'lovers' or 'partners'. Adrianna-- is she alright?"

"I am human indeed. She's been stressed. Tired as of late. I keep trying to get her out to lunch and dinner as much as possible but...have you noticed something? Zai and Sabastian are looking in on her. I know that what happened with Jason affected her... a lot."

She shook her head, "no, nothing in particular, I just wanted to ensure that even you think that she is alright. You know her better than most, I would have thought." Tanina ran her hand through her hair, thinking, "since you have been back, she's like her old self. We lost her for a minute when she lost you. We saw it coming back a little with Jason, but then you came back-- sure, she was nervous and hurting, but I could see the glimmer of her coming back. Now, she seems to be back. This is her first that she has served on since yours and I know that it is in a different capacity, but I worry about my little girl. I'm here mother."

He smiled. "I will make sure she is okay." He sighed. "I do wish she would work less."

"Unfortunately, Adrianna shares that with her father. As do all of her brothers-- the work too hard. Put everyone else first at any cost. The amount of times I have found one of them asleep at a desk, or somewhere silly because they wouldn't look after themselves until they felt that the job was done. That's why she needs someone to look after her," Tanina took a breath, "Adrianna doesn't let her guard down and allow others to care for her easily, but she seems to let you in."

He smiled. "I'm the same with letting people in... although with her I knew day one that she was my safe place. It's so hard to put into words." He paused. "I promise I will make sure she takes more time to rest."

Tanina's smile seemed to warm, "you are the best son in law I could ask for."

He smiled. "May I confess something?"

"Of course," she replied.

"It may take me a while to get used to this big family thing. It was Ari and I for a long time....I'm a little afraid I may be bad at things so I wanted to apologize ahead of time."

Tanina's smile softened, and she looked at him in a rather motherly way, "Vance, no-one is expecting you to integrate into our family over night. No-one. Our family is big, yes, but it is a forgiving one. Either way, we do not often get together. Adrianna is simply making up for lost time. It will pass. Soon, you will be her family."

He smiled. "I wish Ari had lived. She would have loved Adri. Those two are very similar." He laughed. "I'd hate to think of the trouble they would have caused together."

Tanina chuckled, "in another lifetime perhaps. Listen, in terms of family, Adrianna values Giovanni most. They are very close. When you meet us, yes, it will be overwhelming, but it will be worth it. I was in the exact position that you are now. I was marrying into a family of 7 siblings. Back then, I could speak standard and Italian, both fluently. I found it scary. I was an only child-- I didn't understand the concept of siblings. It was overwhelming and chaotic, but once I saw the dynamics-- I realized that I had worked myself up for nothing. You will find your place in this family, in most respects, you are already part of this family. Take a breath-- we've already decided our opinion on you, and it is only positive. You cannot fail."

He smiled as he looked down. "I should go." He looked up then his eyes filled with tears. "Ari and I used to talk a lot about parents. Ours left when we were young and you know what...you were the kind of mother we often imagined."

Tanina smiled, "I am humbled. Consider me as you wish, but as far as I am concerned: wedding or not, you are my son now too."

He gave a nod. "Thank you." They said their goodbyes and ended the call.

Tanina smiled to herself, feeling warm after speaking with Vance. He truly was going to make a good addition to the family.

OFF:

 

RSS Feed