This takes place in 1896.
Reddit Prompts
• Theme: Vision
• "Your story must contain the word light or variations thereof."
Tur's life had essentially started over, but he could almost see his future. It was with them, the host and symbiote next to him, Saroosh and Selmak. They were both beautiful and kind. They made him look forward to having his own symbiote. He tried to focus on that.
"Tur?" Selmak was worried.
"Just in thought." He smiled nervously as he looked to the woman on her deathbed, Erlea.
That's how I hope to die, Saroosh thought. In bed, surrounded by loved ones.
I don't like you thinking about your death, Selmak responded with an uncomfortable wiggle. You are only 101 years old.
"Too bright," Erlea muttered.
"Excuse me," Selmak said to Tur, who nodded.
In the crystal tunnels, the light source came from the crystals themselves. Selmak went to a few by the doorway. She removed half of the ones that glowed particularly bright. The effect was almost immediately. Each crystal touching became half as dark. It continued until the room was darker.
"How is that?" Selmak asked.
Erlea nodded.
Selmak returned to Tur and took his hand. They weren't there for Erlea, not really. Though Selmak and Saroosh both knew her, would both miss her, they were here to support Tur.
"Selmak?" He frowned in the darkness. "That's still you?"
She realized that he couldn't really see her anymore.
I know you improved my eyesight, but his vision shouldn't be that much worse than mine.
"Yes?" You already had excellent eyesight when we met. Not everyone does.
He didn't reply though.
Selmak retreated, giving Saroosh control. She leaned into Tur, crying softly. She didn't know Erlea well, but she mourned every fellow Tok'ra.
Tur put his arm around her, and they remained quiet so they wouldn't disturb Erlea and her symbiote, Relek.
~+~+~.
It wasn't noisy by any means, but when it suddenly became quiet, Selmak knew that Erlea had died. She immediately took Tur's hand and lead him to the bed.
Seeing that he was struggling in the dimness, another Tok'ra moved to brighten the room again.
"Thank you," Selmak said. She watched as Tur carefully laid down on the bed.
"I'm ready, Relek. When you are," Tur said softly.
He's nervous, Saroosh thought.
"It's alright to be nervous," Selmak assured. "All my hosts were nervous before I blended with them."
Relek left Erlea's mouth, hesitating slightly before he disappeared into Tur's. Tur gasped in pain before his eyes briefly glowed light gold. Having automatic control, Relek wiped away blood from Erlea's mouth.
"I will always love you." His words were soft, and he closed his eyes.
"Tur," Selmak said softly, seeing the expression change.
"It…hurts." Tur looked to her.
"His memories and emotions will be overwhelming at first," she reminded gently.
Tur nodded, then closed his eyes.
Selmak was worried when her boyfriend slipped into a deep sleep. She grabbed a healing device and began running it over him. She realized that Relek had pushed his limits in keeping Erlea alive.
Is Tur in danger? Saroosh asked.
No. He wouldn't push so far as to needlessly endanger his next host, but they will be out for a while.
~+~+~.
Tur frowned slightly as he woke up. It felt very strange to have another person living inside his head.
Why did you make me sleep? I wasn't injured or sick.
I'm sorry. I was very weak. I didn't mean to make you sleep.
"How do you feel?" Selmak asked.
"It feels…unusual." He frowned slightly, hoping that wasn't offensive.
It isn't, Relek assured.
"That won't last." Selmak smiled. "Saroosh was surprised as well."
"Everything is brighter…clearer." He looked to Selmak. "Did you changed the crystals?"
"No?"
You're welcome, Relek bragged.
"What?"
Selmak smiled. "Relek?" She was used to seeing new hosts verbally speak to their symbiotes.
"Yeah."
I have fixed your eyes.
"There was nothing wrong with my eyes."
I can hear your thoughts just fine. You don't have to speak out loud whenever we talk. Also, you are oh so very wrong. Your eyes were covered in tiny abrasions.
"What?!" He ran to a mirror to look at his eyes.
Not anymore, I healed them.
Selmak followed.
"Relek said I had abrasions in my eyes."
"That's quite common for miners."
"I didn't realize how much it affected my vision."
Selmak took his hand before retreating.
"So…are we prettier now?" Saroosh asked.
"Yes." He pulled her closer. "My beautiful, starlight." He lifted her hands up, then kissed them like a gentleman.
"Now everyone will gossip about you kissing my naked hands."
His eyes widened.
"I'm teasing you." Saroosh laughed.
Tur smiled.
Saroosh likes to tease, Relek thought.
"I would like to talk with Relek."
He was initially surprised, then felt foolish when faint memories from Relek told him that the request was normal.
When some new enters a relationship, they are welcomed immediately.
Oh. Tur retreated, finding it to be quite easy to do. He felt a little awkward.
"Relek. How do you feel?"
"Erlea was my host for 194 years."
So long?
She was nine when she became my host and two hundred and-
Only nine?
Relek became quiet.
"What's wrong?" Saroosh asked.
I didn't mean to offend you.
I should not be so sensitive. It's because I only just lost her. He took a breath, slowly letting it out to relax. "Tur is still learning."
Saroosh nodded, knowing what it really meant. She bowed her head, allowing Selmak to take over.
"He's also very young, at least in comparison to us. He's 32. Saroosh is 101."
Relek smiled. "Are you going to tell me my own age now?"
"Should I?" Selmak smiled and wrapped her arms around him, which made Tur briefly worry that they were going to kiss, then realized Selmak wouldn't do that to him.
Relek just smiled. First of all, I would never do anything that you found inappropriate.
Sorry.
Relek retreated.
Tur rubbed the back of his neck, then jumped when he felt Relek wiggle.
I thought you were rubbing me.
You feel that?
"Are you alright?" Selmak asked.
"Tur surprised me."
"We'll let you two talk."
"Thank you."
Secondly, you are right. Selmak would never do something she knows you are not ready for.
I know. Tur felt ashamed for even thinking it.
Selmak left.
It is alright. You are learning, and it was a very brief thought. I just wanted to assure you that you are right. She would never hurt you.
Thank you.
And finally, in such a situation, all involved must give permission. I've given permission a couple of times without being involved.
Tur sat down. The truth was…the future he could see with his girlfriends, he hadn't truly pictured another man being involved. He realized he was jealous of his own symbiote.
~+~+~.
After more than a day of Tur being upset, he left to find Martouf. He was surprised to see him kissing Rosha.
Already?
You cannot judge him.
He's from my planet. He knows that it's too soon.
He's adjusting faster than you.
Tur winced.
I'm sorry. You are doing a remarkable job. He's half your age. Younger people usually have an easier time adapting.
"Tur?" Martouf approached. He blushed when he realized why Tur looked upset.
"I…uh."
"Lantash was already involved with them when I blended with him."
"Yes, but you…" He rubbed the front of his forehead as a headache formed. It felt like his head was being squeezed, and he briefly thought that Relek was taking up too much room.
It's not me.
I have no privacy.
You have loud thoughts.
That doesn't even make sense! He sighed. Can I talk to him alone?
Yes. Relek retreated deeply.
Tur sighed.
Martouf kept smiling as he waited patiently.
"You made this look easy," Tur admitted.
"I put Lantash in control whenever I was having too hard of a time."
"Oh." He frowned. "Martouf…how does Lantash…share with you? Someone he cares about?"
"It's natural to them. They feel a relationship is incomplete without the full involvement of both the host and the symbiote."
Tur sat down.
"We also took some time for ourselves before restarting the relationship." He sat by him, bowing his head. His eyes briefly lit up.
"Lantash," Tur greeted.
"That question would imply jealousy on your part."
"That would be ridiculous," he denied.
"What is ridiculous is trying to lie about it."
Tur sighed. "It's not just that. There's a lot of conflict."
Lantash laughed. "It's been less than two days."
"It's…normal? This conflict?"
"He must have told you."
"He did…and I thought… I sort of argued with him about it."
Lantash smiled.
"Kittens, I'm such an idiot." He sighed.
"No. You are still learning. Our culture. Our technology. Sparring. New languages. You are meeting new Tok'ra almost every day, and now you have a stranger living in your head. He shares your body. He sees your thoughts. It takes years for a true blending."
"Oh." He vaguely remembered being told this, but… "Martouf made it seem so…easy. And Rosha. I know she's pretty new too."
"It's a deeply personal journey for each Tok'ra."
Tur sighed.
"You need to give yourself time. Relek is patient."
"Thank you."
Lantash smiled.
~+~+~.
After getting to his quarters, he took a deep breath. His headache was gone, forgotten even, but he felt…off. Then he felt something in his skin. Something warm and shivery that made him feel better. Is that…you?
Yes.
After I have insulted and fought you?
You are stressed and emotional, and that is normal soon after a blending. The fighting will not end here, but in the end, we will learn from it. Each time we learn, our bond becomes stronger.
Tur hesitated then rubbed over Relek.
Relek wiggled.
Tur chuckled. I like how that feels. I'm sorry about before. You just surprised me.
I understand.
Tur smiled. I have an idea.
~+~+~.
Saroosh smiled when she saw Relek outside her quarters with flowers.
"Hello, star-shines." He offered her the bouquet.
"From my planet." She smiled, knowing they went to some effort for this.
"Cordesh helped us recreate the bouquet that Tur owed you…"
"The one that nearly killed him."
"Yes. I have made sure that he is no longer allergic."
"Thank you." She took the flowers. "How long were you waiting outside my quarters?"
"An…hour."
"You could have come in, but I'm guessing he thinks that would be inappropriate."
He gave Tur control. "Inappropriate, indeed. For a man to go into the bedroom of a maiden-"
It took every fiber in her being to not laugh at being called a maiden.
"-is punishable… Well, it was with my people."
"Punished?" Did she want to know?
"I would be beaten by your male relatives, and Selmak has thousands of brothers."
Selmak took over. "I promise not to sic my brothers on you."
"Thank you." He grinned.
"The flowers are beautiful." Selmak smiled. "Tell me more about your customs."
"You want to know?"
"They are obviously important to you." She gestured before they sat down. "You have learned a great deal in a short time, and you have done so while making Saroosh and I feel very special."
"You are both very special."
"Let me see into the world you grew up in."
I'd like to learn as well, Relek thought.
"You'll probably find a lot of it to be offensive."
They won't judge you.
"I'm sure I have also seen and heard worse, and none of it reflects on you."
I'm sorry I didn't see you in our future before.
Such would be an impossible task. You barely knew me, and you didn't know who would be in your head.
Tur smiled.