Meditation-Star Trek Enterprise-192-What can you see?
Title: Meditation
Author Quetzal
Rating: G
Fandom: Star Trek Enterprise
Pairing: T’Pol/OC
Theme:192. What can you see?
Genre/s: Gen/Friendship
Warnings: None
Words: 1022
Summary: The candle reminded T’Pol of home...
Disclaimer: I own NOTHING
The candle flickered steadily, a rich, smoky scent filled T’Pol’s quarters. Humans would say it was sandalwood, but T’Pol would say it is better than sandalwood.
It was better than sandalwood because it reminded her of home.
The candle had been bought on her last visit to Vulcan, from the same monastery complex where she had spent two years of her life.
In her late-adolescence, T’Pol had considered becoming a priestess of sorts. She was allowed to defer her acceptance to the Vulcan Science Academy for eighteen months, so she joined a monastery. She learned very quickly.
There were three other neophytes: T’Leeng, T’Penna and Sakonna. They all shared a single large room, with four small beds. T’Leeng and Sakonna had been at the monastery for a year now, and were ready to advance to the next level. T’Penna had joined a month before T’Pol.
T’Penna was the youngest of the four neophytes. She was very quiet, though when she did have something to say, people would listen to her. She loved candles, and loved fire. She read whatever books she could get her hands on about religions from across the galaxy. She was so spiritual.
Vulcans had always been a spiritual people. Most off-worlders don’t understand it, Vulcans are beings of logic, not emotion. Vulcans often counter by saying their spirituality is not like a traditional religion; Vulcan spirituality is about logic, meditation, suppressing of emotions, and the like.
T’Penna, however, did additional research. She did not just devote herself to logic. She devoted herself to everything.
The Elders often told her she was too rebellious and if she continued to defy logic, she would never be able to stay at the monastery. She was never concerned by their threats. T’Penna was going to do her own thing. She was not going to give in. It is logical to study various beliefs, according to T’Penna. The Elders did not see it that way, but she did.
T’Leeng and Sakonna often ignored the two young neophytes. They were going to advance, so the younger women did not matter to them. Because of this, T’Penna and T’Pol had to become friends. T’Pol could listen to T’Penna for hours.
“I do not agree with the way we are run. I fear the Vulcan High Command is shying away from logic and simply want power.”
People rarely spoke so bluntly about the High Command. T’Pol bristled. Her mother worked in the government.
“They act like the bloodthirsty Andorians. We are better than the blue-skins, and we should take the logical approach.”
“Andorians don’t listen to logic.”
“I believe you are wrong, T’Pol.”
“Why?”
“Because this cold war is not doing anyone any good. We spy on the Andorians and lie, the Andorians spy on us and lie. There is no reason why we cannot stop spying and stop lying. The Andorians will follow suit.”
“They will just attack. They are a savage species.”
“And Vulcans were not savage once?”
“But we accepted logic, the Andorians have not.”
“If we show the Andorians by example, there is no reason why they cannot follow.”
“You have little faith in them.”
“They have shown little faith in us.”
“We don’t give them any reason to have faith in us.”
There was logic in her words, T’Pol could clearly see that, but she did not think T’Penna was right.
But, T’Pol would often engage her in discussions about politics and faith and logic. T’Penna was smart.
“Why didn’t you go to the Vulcan Science Academy?” She asked her one evening during a discussion.
“I have no interest in science.”
“What do you mean?”
“I want to study universal religions. I want to travel to Holy Sites across the galaxy. The Vatican, the Great Plume of Agosoria, the Skorr temple, and the Calash Monastery...these places hold more wonder for me than the Vulcan Science Academy ever could, T’Pol.”
T’Pol eventually decided to leave the monastery. She wanted to go to the Science Academy. She didn’t know why she stayed at the monastery for as long as she did. She hated it, really. She did not like the ritual of it all.
There were only two things she took from her time at the monastery: a nightly meditation ritual and a candle. The candles were handmade at the monastery. She remembered making some a long time ago, and to this day, she would always buy those candles. No others.
T’Penna had liked making these candles. They used to smell like the sweet wax they were made of, but it had been T’Penna who blended and added the scent. It became an instant success, and Vulcans from all over bought these candles, as did various species across the cosmos.
T’Pol had been home three weeks ago. She was staring into the flame of the candle, remembering when she stepped into the monastery to buy the candle.
It was such a serene place. Vulcan plant-life grew in neat, ordered rows and gardens.
“T’Pol?”
She turned. "Yes?”
“It’s been a very long time,” the woman put her hand up in the traditional salute.
T’Pol returned the greeting, “I’m afraid I don’t remember you.”
“T’Penna.”
“You’re still here?”
“I’m a Master now.”
“Congratulations.” T’Pol wandered around the shrines and relics. “Are your candles still as popular?”
“Of course. You only come here if you are in need of a new one.”
T’Pol nodded once.
“Do you ever miss it here?”
“Excuse me?”
“You were a good friend, T’Pol. It’s a pity we don’t get to see each other very much anymore.”
“Yes, pity.”
T’Penna extended a large candle.
“Yours. I made it last week.”
“Thank you,” T’Pol took the heavy candle. “It’s larger than I usually purchase. How much do I owe you?”
T’Penna shook her head. “It’s a gift, T’Pol. I understand you’re on a star ship now, I don’t expect you to get home much. The larger candle will last longer.”
They talked for a while until T’Pol had to leave.
“It would be nice if you kept in contact.”
“I’ll try to."
“Live long and prosper, T’Pol.”
“Peace, and long live, T’Penna.”
Author Quetzal
Rating: G
Fandom: Star Trek Enterprise
Pairing: T’Pol/OC
Theme:192. What can you see?
Genre/s: Gen/Friendship
Warnings: None
Words: 1022
Summary: The candle reminded T’Pol of home...
Disclaimer: I own NOTHING
The candle flickered steadily, a rich, smoky scent filled T’Pol’s quarters. Humans would say it was sandalwood, but T’Pol would say it is better than sandalwood.
It was better than sandalwood because it reminded her of home.
The candle had been bought on her last visit to Vulcan, from the same monastery complex where she had spent two years of her life.
In her late-adolescence, T’Pol had considered becoming a priestess of sorts. She was allowed to defer her acceptance to the Vulcan Science Academy for eighteen months, so she joined a monastery. She learned very quickly.
There were three other neophytes: T’Leeng, T’Penna and Sakonna. They all shared a single large room, with four small beds. T’Leeng and Sakonna had been at the monastery for a year now, and were ready to advance to the next level. T’Penna had joined a month before T’Pol.
T’Penna was the youngest of the four neophytes. She was very quiet, though when she did have something to say, people would listen to her. She loved candles, and loved fire. She read whatever books she could get her hands on about religions from across the galaxy. She was so spiritual.
Vulcans had always been a spiritual people. Most off-worlders don’t understand it, Vulcans are beings of logic, not emotion. Vulcans often counter by saying their spirituality is not like a traditional religion; Vulcan spirituality is about logic, meditation, suppressing of emotions, and the like.
T’Penna, however, did additional research. She did not just devote herself to logic. She devoted herself to everything.
The Elders often told her she was too rebellious and if she continued to defy logic, she would never be able to stay at the monastery. She was never concerned by their threats. T’Penna was going to do her own thing. She was not going to give in. It is logical to study various beliefs, according to T’Penna. The Elders did not see it that way, but she did.
T’Leeng and Sakonna often ignored the two young neophytes. They were going to advance, so the younger women did not matter to them. Because of this, T’Penna and T’Pol had to become friends. T’Pol could listen to T’Penna for hours.
“I do not agree with the way we are run. I fear the Vulcan High Command is shying away from logic and simply want power.”
People rarely spoke so bluntly about the High Command. T’Pol bristled. Her mother worked in the government.
“They act like the bloodthirsty Andorians. We are better than the blue-skins, and we should take the logical approach.”
“Andorians don’t listen to logic.”
“I believe you are wrong, T’Pol.”
“Why?”
“Because this cold war is not doing anyone any good. We spy on the Andorians and lie, the Andorians spy on us and lie. There is no reason why we cannot stop spying and stop lying. The Andorians will follow suit.”
“They will just attack. They are a savage species.”
“And Vulcans were not savage once?”
“But we accepted logic, the Andorians have not.”
“If we show the Andorians by example, there is no reason why they cannot follow.”
“You have little faith in them.”
“They have shown little faith in us.”
“We don’t give them any reason to have faith in us.”
There was logic in her words, T’Pol could clearly see that, but she did not think T’Penna was right.
But, T’Pol would often engage her in discussions about politics and faith and logic. T’Penna was smart.
“Why didn’t you go to the Vulcan Science Academy?” She asked her one evening during a discussion.
“I have no interest in science.”
“What do you mean?”
“I want to study universal religions. I want to travel to Holy Sites across the galaxy. The Vatican, the Great Plume of Agosoria, the Skorr temple, and the Calash Monastery...these places hold more wonder for me than the Vulcan Science Academy ever could, T’Pol.”
T’Pol eventually decided to leave the monastery. She wanted to go to the Science Academy. She didn’t know why she stayed at the monastery for as long as she did. She hated it, really. She did not like the ritual of it all.
There were only two things she took from her time at the monastery: a nightly meditation ritual and a candle. The candles were handmade at the monastery. She remembered making some a long time ago, and to this day, she would always buy those candles. No others.
T’Penna had liked making these candles. They used to smell like the sweet wax they were made of, but it had been T’Penna who blended and added the scent. It became an instant success, and Vulcans from all over bought these candles, as did various species across the cosmos.
T’Pol had been home three weeks ago. She was staring into the flame of the candle, remembering when she stepped into the monastery to buy the candle.
It was such a serene place. Vulcan plant-life grew in neat, ordered rows and gardens.
“T’Pol?”
She turned. "Yes?”
“It’s been a very long time,” the woman put her hand up in the traditional salute.
T’Pol returned the greeting, “I’m afraid I don’t remember you.”
“T’Penna.”
“You’re still here?”
“I’m a Master now.”
“Congratulations.” T’Pol wandered around the shrines and relics. “Are your candles still as popular?”
“Of course. You only come here if you are in need of a new one.”
T’Pol nodded once.
“Do you ever miss it here?”
“Excuse me?”
“You were a good friend, T’Pol. It’s a pity we don’t get to see each other very much anymore.”
“Yes, pity.”
T’Penna extended a large candle.
“Yours. I made it last week.”
“Thank you,” T’Pol took the heavy candle. “It’s larger than I usually purchase. How much do I owe you?”
T’Penna shook her head. “It’s a gift, T’Pol. I understand you’re on a star ship now, I don’t expect you to get home much. The larger candle will last longer.”
They talked for a while until T’Pol had to leave.
“It would be nice if you kept in contact.”
“I’ll try to."
“Live long and prosper, T’Pol.”
“Peace, and long live, T’Penna.”