Far From Home (Descant & NPC Slate)

[Judith Eastman]

[Arboretum]

"That's an interesting practice. If they have this extra home, why wouldn't they share it?" Slate asked as the hot, humid air hit him.

"It's quite hot here," he observed. "The station always feels so cold."

[Descant to-Harmony]

[Arboretum]

The last time we had to evacuate the station, they let anyone who needed a place go there until we were able to return.

Descant led the way in among the plants and trees, reaching up to brush a vine out of her way. She stopped and inhaled deeply. I love it. It's warmer here, and have you noticed that the station's air filtration takes away most smells? I have to be quite close to get a good scent off anyone. And most people don't like to be sniffed that close. It's harder to be inconspicuous when you have to practically stick your nose in their faces to smell them.

[Judith Eastman]

[Arboretum]

"It's unfortunate, but I understand them," Slate answered. "They're as unused to our noses as we are to their technology."

Then, he decided to climb one of the trees. This proved a poor choice, as the tree creaked, and the branch he was on snapped.
Slate landed on all fours, his paunch slowly settling from the sudden jerk, and looked sheepishly at Descant. He wasn't sure what to say.

[Descant to-Harmony]

[Arboretum]

That's true, Descant said as she watched Slate start up one of the trees. She hadn't tried climbing them and momentarily wondered if Slate might get in trouble for doing so. There were strange rules about what plants there were. Some blocked by barriers to keep people away and signs that instructed visitors to stay off of certain areas.

When the branch broke and Slate fell, Descant hurried over, crouching to check on the other Sivaoan. Are you okay? He seemed to have landed well, but she couldn't help her healer's instincts kicking in. It was unusual to see a Sivaoan with extra weight and she was concerned that it might affect his ability to avoid injury from a fall like that, though the distance had been minimal. I guess these trees aren't meant to take the weight of someone climbing them, she said ruefully.

[Judith Eastman]

[Arboretum]

"I'm all right," Slate answered, still recovering mentally. "It looked a lot sturdier than it turned out to be."

He walked on, still trying to figure it all out.

"I was probably not supposed to do that, was I?"

[Descant to-Harmony]

[Arboretum]

No, I guess not, Descant said, still watching her companion for any signs of injury. I suppose this place is more for looking than anything else.

She led the way deeper into the arboretum until they reached a small alcove with a bench surrounded by fragrant flowers. Descant sat and patted the bench beside her, raising her nose to inhale the lovely smells around them. What made you decide to leave Sivao? So few of our people have, even the younger adults.

[Judith Eastman]

[Arboretum]

Slate paused as he thought on how to answer that question. It was difficult and emotionally charged.

"I didn't entirely agree with our ways," he answered at last. "I didn't see a path to changing our customs from the inside, so I decided to join the Federation's society."

[Descant to-Harmony]

[Arboretum]

Descant's head tilted sharply as she scented half a dozen emotions from Slate, some of them in direct conflict with one another. Her curiosity was piqued, but she didn't want to make the other Sivaoan uncomfortable by asking him directly about it. Instead she skirted the issue. Some of our ways are confounding to people in the Federation. They don't understand how we can have advanced technology, but stick to our nomadic lifestyles and no desire to develop it enough to become space-faring and join the rest of the galaxy.

She swung her legs and flipped her tail back and forth a couple of times.

[Judith Eastman]

[Arboretum]

"I do not mean in that way, Descant to-Harmony," Slate answered, his tail twisting a little. "I mean that I believe our people do not care enough for the differently abled. We expect those who are too infirm with certain maladies, and those who cannot complete the Walk, to end their own lives. I think we should nurture and support these people too, as members of our society, like the Federation do."

This was clearly an emotionally distressing topic for Slate, and he still wasn't saying it all.

[Descant to-Harmony]

[Arboretum]

Descant paused for a long moment, trying to gather her thoughts before answering. She hadn't expected Slate's objections to be of such a serious nature and she didn't want to belittle his concerns in her response.

I was a little surprised by the attitudes of most of the people I've encountered toward suicide, she said slowly. Vulcan doesn't even have a word for the act; they consider it irrational. And there are some circumstances where I can see that it might be extreme. Taking the other trail to adulthood, for instance. Not being able to complete the Walk is not the end of the world.

But... Descant hesitated again. I suppose I hadn't thought about it in quite those terms, that it's an expectation to end your life if you can no longer care for yourself. Wouldn't... Don't you think we should have the option to end our lives if we contract a debilitating illness? She said all of this as delicately as possible, hoping that Slate wouldn't take offense at her words.

[Judith Eastman]

[Arboretum]

Tail still coiled, Slate answered hesitantly, not wanting to throw away a friendship to this debate.

"An option is different from an expectation. I agree that it should be allowed, but the same goes for the decision to live longer and fight the illness. That's why I chose this profession - to assist elders who cannot live independently," he explained.

"Judge Roth doesn't seem to be one of those, interestingly. She is still very independent, but irresponsible with her medical care."

[Descant to-Harmony]

[Arboretum]

They seemed to have navigated the troubled waters well enough. Descant could understand, and even to an extent agree with, Slate's view. She didn't want to hurt their budding friendship with further disagreement, so she said, Yes, I was surprised to hear that you were working with Judge Roth. She seems vibrant and active, and not one to put up with having someone 'take care' of her. I imagine that makes your job quite difficult. Descant's tone was amused. Her few encounters with the elder had certainly never given the impression that the woman needed help with anything.

[Judith Eastman]

[Arboretum]

Slate pricked his whiskers forward in agreement.

"I have gotten the impression that her younger relatives, like Judy Eastman Williams, pressured her to accept help. Their family structure seems unusual, even for humans," he explained. "It is an interesting experience, as is accompanying Judge Roth on her travels. She seems to confide in me more during those trips, including with her more colorful opinions of people and species."

[Descant to-Harmony]

[Arboretum]

Descant's head dipped in a nod, an expression she'd picked up from hanging around so many humans, as she considered Slate's words.  Judy seems to be the primary leader of the family, despite being far younger than Judge Roth. I spend more time with Judy and Max than any of the others. And I see Michael frequently. Her tail curled in pleasure.

The dynamics of human families still elude me. It's so different from our families. Even my family is not quite 'the norm' for Sivao, though. My parents have remained together throughout their time on Eeiaou and had another litter after mine.

[Judith Eastman]

[Arboretum]

"My impression is that the human norm is to have no norm," Slate remarked. "In families and in all things, they are so different from one another. Perhaps that's why it's easier for them to welcome outsiders into their society."

With his tail, Slate motioned for them to move down a side path he'd spotted, and then continued speaking.
"I can't help but wonder what it would be like for a human to join Sivaoan society, like we've joined human society. It would be most challenging."