Relight the fire?

Posted on Saturday 28 November 2020 @ 22:59 by Civilian Sansa Draxx-Jones & Lieutenant Commander Hayley Godding

Mission: A Whale of a problem (We're going to need a bigger boat)
Location: The Round Table
Timeline: MD8 2100
1898 words - 3.8 OF Standard Post Measure

ON:

Fay sat at the front window watching the stars streak past. Even though the technology didn't impress her much, the effect it was creating was quite beautiful to watch. She could feel Sansa's presence inside and she could feel she was nervous.
Calm down. You're sure she's going to be here? Fay thought to her.

"I'm sure." Sansa's simple reply came back. Sansa must have been confident Fay thought, as not only had she got a drink for herself, she had got one for Hayley as well. Her favourite.

Suddenly, the door to the lounge opened and Sansa's hunch was correct as Hayley entered. Fay got her attention and signal to the seat next to herself.

"Hello Hayley. How you look.... nice this evening. Please join us?" Fay asked with an almost hopeful tone.

Why was it proving so difficult to avoid meeting Sansa/Fay on this bloody ship?! Hayley sighed as she was summoned over. It would not do to be so overtly rude as to completely ignore her, not that she really wanted to, but at the same time - was it not the right thing to do? Still, she was an adult and running away and hiding from difficult things really wasn't one of the things she did. She'd decided to dress up for the evening, mostly to make herself feel a bit better about herself, so she was wearing a short black skirt with a white blouse and black heeled sandals, feeling sexy for the first time in a while. She had planned to go to the holodeck to a club-scene but the one she'd booked had been under repair following the antics of the previous user, so she was forced to head to the Round Table instead.

She took the pro-offered seat and looked at Sansa/Fay carefully. "Good Evening Fay." Hayley said, noting the tone and colour of her eyes. "I trust you're taking full advantage of the opportunity afforded you by borrowing Sansa's body?"

"Yes, thank you." Fay replied. "Sansa is very kind and she is helping me understand more about you... about humanity." Fay quickly added. "Sansa can see and hear everything I do and say though her. I have also made my memories freely available to her. It seemed the least I could do. So, I wanted to talk to you as we know there is some... tension that needs to be resolved." Fay bit her bottom lip nervously, exactly as Sansa did.

Hayley narrowed her eyes at Sansa/Fay for a moment. "Oh, Now you want to talk." She added, with icy cold undertones. "The time for that would've been before you volunteered yourself to play host to another person inside your mind." She said. "I apologise Fay, I really do, this isn't your fault, you're just carrying out the wishes of your people, but I blame Sansa entirely for this." She looked away for a moment. "I should go..."

"Please wait!" Fay closed her eyes and when she opened them again, Sansa had taken control. "I'm here, talk to me." She took a breath. "You're right. I'm impulsive and I take risks. Would you have me any other way? I was willing to take a leap of faith that this could be something wonderful, like I did with you. The first time you kissed me I knew you were the one."

"You made a decision that affected more than just yourself without considering the implications that might have or how others might feel about it..." Hayley said, trying to keep her anger out of her voice. "I really want to understand this, I do, but it hurts me, Sansa, it really does. You have no idea what this did to me, what I've had to go through... add to the fact that I'm dealing with the after-affect of the mind-link with Tann..." She paused and took a deep breath. "I am trying, Sansa, I really am."

"I never meant to hurt you." Sansa said as she placed her hand on Hayley's arm. "This is only for a while, it's not permanent and I know you're trying. I'm sorry..." Words failed for a moment, as her eye's brimmed with tears She closed her eyes and when she opened them, Fay had returned.

"Sansa needs a moment." She wiped the tears from her eyes and studied the moisture on her finger for a moment before she continued. "I can understand your pain. When Tann opposed the council, he up and left and went into hiding before he even had a chance said goodby to me. I know he had to, as Harn... whatever he was, did not take kindly to that. Also some of the things he said really hurt Owan, his father. Don't judge Owan too harshly. He was a good kind leader that was lead down the wrong path. Harn already had a massive influence on the council at that time. And as soon as we were reunited, as a result of his actions, Owan has sent me here. Owan could have chosen anyone but I get the feeling he chose me so he could talk to Tann without me there. My relationship with Tann has always been a point of contention with Owan. I'm not sure why."

A memory, not of her own, surfaced. "Tann truly loves you, you know." Hayley replied. "Owan didn't think you were a good match for Tann and refused to accept you as his mate. Tann fought with his father over you, quite strongly. Tann told Owan that no matter what he said, he would be with you and would never betray or abandon you. When he fought Owan over Harn and had to leave you behind, he was distraught for weeks, wondering if he should just give it all up to come back to you... you were the one thing he would've given everything up for..." She looked up at Fay. "I know how he feels... I'd give up everything for Sansa... So I know how Tann feels for you... I know he's likely heartbroken that you've been forced to leave just as he got you back, but I believe he's understood the benefit to you being the one to come..."

What Hayley said affect Fay deeply. "I never knew that Tann had opposed his father over me... Our bonds.... to each other are not taken lightly. Bonds to our.... family as you call it are more important than any." She looked deeply into Hayley's eyes, perhaps trying to find some small piece of the one she had left behind. Sans's feelings for Hayley and Fay's feelings for Tann were becoming indistinguishable and were fueling each other further. Sansa was not only feeling tremendous love but tremendous sadness at their separation and what she had caused Hayey to go through.

"Excuse us." Fay stood and left, heading for her quarters.

Hayley paused for a moment, wondering what she should do in this situation. Somehow she realised that she had said something that Tann would never have wanted Fay to know and by doing so, she'd hurt both of them and possibly ruined their bond. It felt like someone had wrenched a hot knife through her heart and she could feel the pain as if it had been done physically instead of emotionally. She leapt up from her chair and chased after Sansa/Fay, catching up with them just outside their quarters.

"Wait! Please!" Hayley said, panting at the exertion. "I can't let it end on that note... Can we talk... please?"

Fay was still breathing heavily but had calmed down slightly. She nodded and led Hayley into her quarters and sat down on the sofa She took a deep breath. "I'm sorry I left like that. It's just Tann never told me about his father and something about me being in Sansa and her feelings for you. It's hard to describe."
She took Haylelys hand in hers, more and more emotion bubbling to the surface as she looked at Hayley "This is the first time one of us has been inside a human. When two of us bond, the emotional connection is immensely strong and Sansa's feeling for you was getting swept up, intensified.... She loves you so much..."

"Well, she always was a bit of an idiot..." Hayley smirked. "Tann loves you too, very much, but he doesn't know how to express it the way we humans can. I think he was overwhelmed by my feelings for Sansa so he finally had a reference point for how he feels for you. I would go through the infernal fires of hell for Sansa if I had to. My love for her overwhelms my judgement, my senses, my ability to act rationally." Tears rolled down Hayley's cheeks as she laughed. "Well, if you wanted to get a good look at how humans really are - you're getting a front-row seat to the true emotional roller-coaster and train-wreck that is human emotion, warts and all..."

Suddenly Fay leaned closer and kissed her. After what seemed like an eternity, she pulled back slowly. There was a look of shock on her face. "I'm sorry, I'm not sure where that came from..."

After the shock of being kissed by Sansa but not actually Sansa, Hayley chuckled a little and shook her head. "With all that's going on inside Sansa's head right now, plus your own conceptions of your feelings for Tann are surfacing, it was somewhat natural you might do that." She said, smiling softly. "However, whilst I may have Tann's memories, he does not reside within me, and whilst you might look, smell and feel like Sansa, you are not my Sansa and I would never betray her." She walked over and took Fay's hand into her hands, holding it gently. "It's okay, you did nothing wrong, although I suspect Sansa might have something to say about you kissing her girlfriend..." She grinned mischievously. "Serves you right, Miss Jones, for time-sharing your body!" She teased.

Fay nodded. "You're right and I can tell Sansa agrees with you." She took a deep breath and calmed herself once more. "While you and I do not have the same relationship as you and Sansa, I would like to call you my friend and spend time with you in that capacity, so Sansa is not completely denied your presence."

"I've no issues with that, on the understanding that I can spend some time with Sansa as well." Hayley replied. "Also, please don't roam around the ship in that one-piece outfit again. Whilst I did find it... appealing... so did many other male members of the crew and I'm not so kind as to allow others to be gauping at you. I'm reasonably convinced you can find more appropriate attire in the replicator or in Sansa's closet." She narrowed her eyes. "I'm making careful notes by the way Sansa, so don't you be leading Fay down the wrong path. I will make you pay for it once Fay's gone... believe me..."

Fay raised an eyebrow, slightly shocked but in the back of her mind could here Sansa giggling. "I think Sansa gets the message" She replied, trying and failing to suppress a smile what was a bit of Fay and a bit of Sansa.


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