Capernum: A Bond of Friendship

Posted on Thu Aug 28th, 2025 @ 4:36pm by Lieutenant JG Jynxza Dahl {Meji} {AKA: Toots} & Lieutenant JG T'Pri

Mission: The Inner Flame
Location: USS Capernum
Timeline: Current

ON:

After Captain Loewen had left and the Beta shift arrived, Jynxza Dahl got up from her post and handed it over. She could feel the dam within her about to break. In her many past lives Dahl had lost lovers and friends to the mistress known as death. It had been sorrowful then, and was sorrowful now. But, if not for those past lives then Jynx would be curled up on a floor somewhere sobbing. She stepped into the port lift and spun to face the Bridge as the door went to close. At the last moment T'Pri turned sideways and entered the lift car with her, getting in beside the Trill on her left. The car began to move and Jynxza had no idea to where since neither she nor T'Pri had given any voice commands, nor did they use the handle or panels. Dahl looked over at T'Pri. "Did you...?" Her voice trailed off as T'Pri looked at her.

At the query, T'Pri shook her head slowly. "I did not. I was under the impression that you had."

Jynxza could not help but giggle. "I'm an emotional wreck so clear thinking has abandoned me. Sorry for disturbing you."

The lift opened on deck six, with two enlisted stepping aboard. Down the corridor on Deck 6, could be seen the damage from the exploding manifold just a deck below. T'Pri reached over the shoulder of one of the enlisted and tapped the key for Deck 21. "I would find it agreeable, Miss Dahl, if you would join me in the arboretum."

Jynxza's head turned towards the Vulcan for a second time, an expression of mild surprise on her face. "I, uhh...sure." She said. Dahl had not been seeking company for her mourning, but perhaps this is exactly what she needed. A logical mind, a Vulcan, to speak with about the loss she felt for one of them. "I appreciate the invite. I hope you don't mind a crying mess. It's going to happen sooner or later."

The lift stopped at Deck 17, the two others left and no one else joined them before the lift closed and continued on to Deck 22. It was quick and efficient, with the doors opening up before them. T'Pri looked to Dahl and made a motion for her to step out. "Please." Jynxza stepped out first, with T'Pri quickly following and then they got back in side to side, talking as they went. "Your emotions do not bother me, Jynxza. I am used to emotional beings since joining Starfleet. I know that you need to release them or they may hinder your ability to function. Truth be told, I care about your mental well being so I am voluntarily making myself available for you to talk to. Nothing you say or do will ever be repeated by me."

"I find that comforting," Jynx admitted. Okay, she thought, T'Pri seems more the Taavis type of Vulcan not the walking stiffs like the rest of her people. Follower of Jarok, maybe? "Trill are very attached to friends and loved ones, so this could be harrowing."

They arrived at the arboretum, a casual conversation as they walked the winding paths through the trees, grassy knolls and other plant life. Eventually, they came to a bench deep in the middle of the paths, no one else around, with a small stream trickling along behind it. They sat down and got comfortable in their own way. "I would be honored to hear about your life with Taavis, if you feel strong enough to do so."

Hearing that made Jynxza take in a breath, let it out, and then she began talking about their adventures together. The drunken lounge night that led to them becoming intimate, and then all that they had enjoyed afterwards. The longer she talked the more the tears flowed until Jynx began to sob to the point she could not talk. When she leaned into T'Pri for support, the Vulcan woman wrapped her arms around her and held her in a comforting embrace full of emotional support.

T'Pri held Jynxza to herself, dropping her Vulcan discipline and allowing herself to feel the sorrow from Jynx and to reciprocate her emotional support through her actions. When tears welled up in her own eyes she let them flow freely down her face, to both empathize and sympathize. Taavis may have been a Vulcan who allowed her emotions free reign, but there was no doubting her commitment to the Vulcan people, and her other half, the Romulan way of life. T'Pri respected that and could tell quite often that Taavis practiced her Vulcan discipline every day when it came to her emotional content and stability. The two of them had also spoken frequently about Taavis and her devotion to Jarok. Tu'Jarok, Jarok's path, sought mastery over the Inner Chorus by embracing emotion, understanding it, and finally coming to terms with it. Like Surak, Jarok also compiled a list of virtues. However, his only contained the three which he considered most important, Compassion, Temperance, and Justice.

Jarok defined compassion as "the ability to see suffering selflessly." Jarok's definition of "selfless" should not be confused with Surak's denial of pach-te. Jarok taught that selflessness came from an understanding that suffering was universal, not unique to any individual. When the student realized this - that his own suffering was no different, better, or worse than anyone else's - it was easier to recognize when others were in pain, and that pain became easier to comfort. Compassion was Jarok's answer to his chief reservation with Surak's teachings. He felt they left no room in the Vulcan heart for understanding. Through compassion, the Vulcan heart could help others in pain. So, here she was, T'Pri of Vulcan, showing compassion to a fellow officer to aid her in her time of pain.

Then, there was Nirak. Nirak was one of Surak's first students. He was also a great admirer of Jarok's teachings, and tried to bring compromise to the two seemingly disparate schools. While Nirak did not agree with Jarok's "reveling," he also did not agree with his own master's unforgiving attitude toward failure and intolerance. Nirak taught that the more violent emotions (most notably anger) were to be repressed, but virtue could be found in the less destructive passions, particularly curiosity and joy. He still maintained that a high degree of temperance was necessary to keep even the most encouraging of emotions in check.

According to Nirak, it was proper for Vulcans to feel joyful, but not ecstatic. Grief must be let go at Kal-ap-ton's gates. It was important that a Vulcan did not drop his guard against fear, rage, and jealousy for even a moment. Nirak's school was not as widespread as his mentor's, but it did have a small following devoted to his philosophies. T'Pri had always felt that she fit in somewhere between Jarok and Nirak, while respecting the teachings of Surak and implementing them when she needed to. Over the past several months she had devoted her discipline to achieving the teachings of Jarok in her studies of Tu'Jarok. All this passed through her mind even as T'Pri held her shipmate and rubbed her back. Dahl's sobs had diminished and she was now pulling back enough to sit up and look T'Pri in the face.

"Are you...are you crying, T'Pri?" Jynxza was surprised to see the tear tracks on the Vulcan's face.

"I share in your grief, Jynxza." T'Pri answered, even as she maintained her stoic appearance and upright stance. They let go of each other and collected themselves, drying their eyes and cheeks.

"Thank you for being here, T'Pri. For a being of logic and discipline you are surprisingly empathetic." Jynxza said, her subtle grins she always wore now returning.

T'Pri gave a nodding bow from the neck. "It was my honor to aid you during this difficult time, Jynxza. If I may be so bold, I can teach you a technique for reducing anxiety and emotional strife. It is a simple and quick exercise all Vulcans use to maintain their discipline on a daily basis, especially during times of stress."

"I would like that," Jynxza smiled.

Scooting closer to Jynxza, face to face as they sat side-saddle on the bench, T'Pri began the lesson. She took Jynx through the exercise several times, each time being slow and exacting so that Dahl was able to take it all in and remember it. Finally, both women went through the discipline at the same time and T'Pri could see that Jynxza had mastered the exercise as her face showed the worry and stress lines had lessened to a great degree. "Your attention to detail and ability to focus is commendable, Jynxza. It seems that you have mastered this exercise. I recommend that you practice it frequently so it can become second nature when you are in stressful situations and have a moment to reflect."

"I will," Jynx replied as she stood up. "Since Captain Green and Ainkara are here, I say we go and say hello. What say you, girlfriend?" Dahl felt like reinforcing to T'Pri that she was now a valued friend.

"I find that agreeable," T'Pri responded. There was a very subtle curving up at the corners of her mouth, and there was no mistaking a twinkle of mirth behind her stoic eye set as she had heard the term 'girlfriend'. She knew that Jynxza meant that as two females being friends, not the intimate connotation. However, hearing it made T'Pri feel joyful. The two women left the arboretum as they further 'enjoyed' talking with one another.

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