I hope you don’t mind me dropping by...

Posted on Tue Sep 29th, 2026 @ 6:41pm by Lieutenant JG Aiden Poe & Lieutenant Lanna Alexander

1,445 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Echoes in the Triangle
Location: Crew Quarters | USS Arcadia

ON:

Poe had a day off and he didn't know where to start. His boxes were still packed and his cat was hiding somewhere, no doubt mad that Del left. The cat took to the Denobulan in a second. Poe for his part was a whole host of confused about what happened and his own wavering on Delix. The sound of his chime drew him out of the bathroom where he'd been staring at his bruised lip.

Poe walked to the living area and opened the door. "Oh! Counselor. How are you?" He tried to not be disappointed that it was not Delix. He flushed at his own thought. He hated the big dumb man why was he softening cause he took care of him for once and acted normal?"

“Hello Poe, I hope you don’t mind me dropping by?” Lanna smiled warmly. “Delix asked me to check in on you after your altercation.”

"He did?" That was even more confusing. "Um....come in. Can I get you something?" He was aware that she was pregnant. "Oh! Please have a seat, ignore the mess I haven't unpacked yet." He motioned to the table in the kitchen area.

“Oh don’t worry about it, we still have one or two boxes left ourselves.” Lanna grinned as she walked over to a seat and sat down. “How’s your lip? It looks a little swollen. Didn’t you go to sickbay?”

"I did...the big dumb Denobulan dragged me there." He sighed. "Sorry he's not dumb... more like confusing." He sighed. "Lip is okay. Just will take a few days. I'm alright." He wasn't though. His emotions were all over the place.

“Is that so?” Lanna gave him a raised eyebrow look. “I know that’s not true, and you certainly know it’s not true. Your emotions are a complete jumble right now, no matter how hard you try to convince others you’re alright you can’t fool me.”

He sighed and sat down hard. "I'm...just... confused and maybe a little angry about things. I thought this ship would be a new place but it's like before. Same bullies different ship."

“Well the bullies we can do something about. Delix said they’ve been dealt with but if there are any further issues all you need do is come talk to me and I’ll do what I can to help.” Lanna offered. “Now may I ask what it is you’re confused about?”

"Okay..." He paused. "Why was the big dumb mean Denobulan nice to me?"

“Now Poe, Delix is genuinely concerned about you.” Lanna added. “He may not have gotten off on the right foot when he first got here, but he’s changed. I think you both need to give each other a chance.”

"He's mean! Or he was until he scared the souls off those bullies I think he made one cry and then that." He pointed to the laundry basket. "They'd thrown all my stuff and....he rewashed it and folded it and brought it to me. HIM. The man who banned me from Engineering and forbade the Commander from even being my friend."

“That most certainly was uncalled for” Lanna added agreeing with Poe that Delix’s actions had been harsh. “But it appears that Delix is starting to see that you’re not what he thought you were. He doesn’t want to see you hurt, and neither do I.”

"Counselor, what's wrong with me. I can't hate anyone. I want to hate Del for being mean but I don't I don't even hate those bullies..."

“Then that’s a good thing” Lanna smiled. “There’s nothing wrong with you Poe, you just don’t have a mean personality. You’re a good person who tries to get along with everybody.”

But the problem was that people didn't want to get along with him. "It's all confusing. I just feel...hopeless."

“That makes two of you I’ve seen today.” Lanna added absentmindedly. “Sorry, it’s been one of those mornings. Why don’t you try talking with Delix? You maybe surprised.”

He flushed. "I'm kind of afraid to I mean one minute he's this lion and then next he's gentle and kind....whiplash."

Lanna smiled at that description. “Very true! Delix is very protective of those he cares about, Sabastian being one example. “You do need to talk though, and with Sabastian also.”

"If I can get near him without being bitten by Delix." His hands flew to his mouth. "Ohhh no I didn't just say that."

“You did.” Lanna nodded. “If you’re that worried I could accompany you?”

"No I need to be brave, I guess. Counselor can I ask you something?"

Lanna nodded. “Anything you like Poe.”

"Do you believe in fate? Like being fated to be somewhere or meet someone?"

Lanna paused before nodding. “I guess I do, my mother always used to believe that the universe had a plan for all of us. Maybe it does and maybe it doesn’t.”

"This is going to sound crazy and you're the counselor sooooo you'll tell me if I'm wrong but I've been dreaming of this ship, before i knew it existed and then when I applied I kept getting turned down then all of a sudden beautiful man with purple eyes and white hair shows up tells me that I'm being transferred and then I see that same man in a picture on the Commander's desk...and was told he died before I met him...and I feel like I was drawn here to meet Commander Walker and now that I've met Delix...I feel like things are just....weaving correctly."

Lanna gave Poe a surprised look. “Zai” she couldn’t help say it. “Sorry…the man with purple eyes his name was Zai, he died just before you were assigned here. He was….my friend, and for a time he was Sabastian’s husband. It’s a long story, but it seems you have been given a chance Poe, don’t waste it.”

"I did find out about Zai...I saw the picture and asked the Commander and he explained who he was but I saw him. It was...by the time frame a few days after he passed...he handed me my orders and said that it was my time to be here. When I asked who approved my transfer he said he requested that I was transferred...it's a bit creepy."

“Agreed” Lanna nodded. “I don’t see how Zai requested that unless…” she paused. “Maybe he had some vision of his impending death and set everything in motion beforehand, but that doesn’t explain how he handed you your orders.”

"It was him. He did say something that keeps running in my mind."

Lanna looked at Poe curiously. “What was that?”

"I was being my clumsy self and tripping over words....I mean he was really handsome and he tapped me on the nose and said You are perfect. You will be what I could not. He smiled at me and left."

Lanna nodded smiling as she understood exactly what Zai had meant. “I think you are destined to be here after all Poe. Don’t let anyone stand in the way of what you want.”

"But I don't get why...I'm usually the one nobody picks for anything."

“Just have a little faith Poe” Lanna smiled warmly. “You’ve been given a chance at true happiness if I were you I’d jump at it.”

"Well that is true. I mean I want to be on this ship. Still strange." He shook his head not connecting that Zai meant more then the ship. "Maybe Commander Walker was suppose to be my first real friend...but his boyfriend is making even that impossible."

“Maybe not anymore” Lanna offered a wry smile. “As I said Delix is rapidly changing his perceptions of you. Perhaps getting to know him now will help him to see that he was wrong. I think Sabastian would like to see you.”

He sighed. "Before Delix came in...I thought we were really connecting and building a friendship."

“I think you were, I know Sabastian likes you. He cares about what happens to you, but whereas Delix’s culture allows for a relationship with several people at once, our cultures don’t see it that way.”

"I'd be happy just being his friend."

Lanna smiled and nodded. “Then let’s see what we can do.”

He gave a nod. "Okay."

Lieutenant Lanna Alexander
Ship's Counselor
&
Lieutenant JG Aiden Poe
Alien Archaeologist/Anthropologist

 

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