The Wedding of Tam and Junjie
Posted on Tue Jan 3rd, 2023 @ 9:56pm by Lieutenant Commander Melanie D’BrooNi- Haistro & Commodore Keiben Haistro & Lieutenant Commander Junjie Han & Lieutenant JG Alena Alessa & Senior Chief Petty Officer Jonathan Stoun & Lieutenant Commander Liam Reynolds
2,214 words; about a 11 minute read
Mission:
Episode 5 - Objects In Motion
Location: Holo deck DS21
Describing scene:
The Buddhist temple sat along the shores of the Yangtze river, it flowed on the north side and curved gently around to the west. At the west side of the temple there was a flat rectangular area of fifty meters running from the west wall of the temple to the river bank and about one hundred meters length running north and south.
At the North end there is a twenty foot bridge that lead to a small island that had a small pagoda on it where the bride and groom would meet with the priest, attendants and the person who would conduct the ceremony. There was a zen rock garden by the west temple wall and across the river a gently sloping hill that was covered with several varieties of trees who's leaves were rustling in the gentle spring breeze. Chairs for four hundred guest had been set up facing the pagoda.
ON
Tamaska had taken a peek in the program that Junjie had designed, it was very beautiful. She hadn't changed into her wedding dress yet so she could get away with looking at the whole thing, even if Junjie were to find her. She went to the very center just to get the feel of it. It was so beautiful she felt a tear trickle down her cheek. "This is so beautiful." she exclaimed.
" It should be, They've had plenty of time to to make it so. " Stated Junjie as he walked in behind her. " I was coming down to run a system check on the program and found it already running. The Tanzhe Temple was built in 307 A.D. during the western Jin Dynasty. Many members of my family who live in china have been married here over the centuries, as have countless other chinese families in nearly the past twenty two hundred years since it was first built. " He gently wiped away the tear. " I'm glad you approve of the wedding venue site. "
"I do I truly do." Tamaska replied. "Well guess it is time to get the rest of this show on the road and open things up for guests. And hope we can get through the day" giving Junjie a kiss before she turned to get herself ready for the biggest event in her current life.
" Well I think we should go and get ready and get dressed for the ceremony. We still have a bit to do before the guest arrive. " Junjie said as he took her hand and turned to leave.
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The doors opened and Kaylee quietly oohed and aahed at the scene that was set for Tamaska and Junjie's wedding. It was beautiful. She felt that Junjie had outdone himself. In honor of this occasion, Kaylee actually chose to wear a kimono, a beautiful sky blue with small cherry blossom pattern upon the cloth.
"This is so exciting." she whispered to her husband.
"It sure is. And Kimono's so comfortable. Who knew," he said tugging his newly acquired one down. "Not quite sure how you dance in them yet but Im looking forward to spinning you later and finding out."
Keiben was taking refuge under a cherry blossom tree, having chosen to don something more traditional and in keeping with the Asian wedding he had abandoned his dress uniform and was instead wearing a pale grey robe with white detailing. Mel at his side looking uncomfortable given the baby and the heat but she looked equally as beautiful now as she did when he had first met her.
"You ok?"
"It's comfortable but its hotter than I thought," she said at her bridesmaid kimono. "Or maybe that's just the pregnancy in general. And it was tricker to get into than I thought too. Charlie was laughing at me. I will definitely need you to help me out of it later," she said seriously. "It's so beautiful though. When we next get any shore leave on Earth let's go visit Japan for real," she smiled.
Alena watched the wedding with interest. She remembered a trip she had once had with her mother and Mrs. Anderson. It has been to Japan, and she had cherished that trip and the memories she had made there. Despite the vast difference in the culture, she had loved Japan's history and cuisine. Their way of doing things were eons away from the United States.
It was great to see the people come together for a celebration. She had sadly not been at the other wedding. Which was something she regretted now. Ah well, too late for that now. Alena pushed back the negative emotions and focused on the present.
Jon hated his dress uniform, too clean, too perfect, but whatever. He was there for. He figured that if needed to leave and find and fix something, he didn't mind getting it dirty. He wasn't sure if he was meeting Shailyn here, or if he was supposed to get her. In a moment of panic after he stepped through the Arch, he looked around, but decided to take up station on one of the bridges leading up to the ceremony. It seemed like the safest bet.
Shailyn arrived shortly after, she wasn't in her dresss uniform instead she opted for an oriental style silk dress, light blue with pink cherry blossom petal pattern upon it. She noticed where Jon was at and slipped her arm through his. "Lets find a seat." leading him towards a nice spot to watch what was going on.
Jon whispered to Shailyn "That dress is really nice, I think you wear it better than I do" and then smiled. "This is a nice setup they've got here."
"It certainly is." Shailyn giving Jon an embrace and watching to see what was going on.
::The arrival of the bride and groom::
When she was ready, Tam took a look at herself in the mirror then gave a nod, feeling her heart beating rapidly. She was helped upon the back of a white horse, which was wearing a gilded bridle and saddle, and Junjie was on one of his own. The doors were opened and the two horses were led inside by two men wearing oriental clothing as well. When the horses were led to a certain spot the horses were stopped in order for Junjie and Tamaska to dismount from the steeds.
Junjie dismounted from his steed and moved to Tamaska's horse and helped her down, he smiled at her as she placed her arm through his and they began the slow walk towards the small pagoda on the island. The priest and his assistant stood by with Commodore Haistro and waited as the couple approached them. The groom in a red robe with a golden embroidered dragon on the front and the bride's dress was also red with a golden phoenix and cherry blossoms upon it. They stopped and knelt across from each other at the small alter between them and waited for the Commodore to begin.
Keiben took his space before the couple, taking the briefest of moments to smile at each one in turn.
"The ceremony of marriage is one of the oldest ceremonies in the known galaxy, just as ancient glaciers, mountains and the lake of old are given to us to be treasured, so is the gift of marriage that will unite you two as one. When you look at the characteristics of love, you see that they are very similar to those of nature: love is compared to the lake, constant but everchanging, love is similar to the wind, rapturous and all encompassing, love is like the earth, solid and firm. Yet your love extends beyond the lake, wind and earth. It is more powerful than your past and the foundation of your future. It has brought you here today to become one in the eyes of your family and friends, for all the days to come. Your love is the essence of your life together.".
Keiben paused a moment, allowing the waves of emotions, all positive from all assembled, to wash over him. Allowing him a moment of basking in the untamed joy of the situation.
"I would like to share with you a ceremonial wedding prayer given to us by Earth Washoan Indians, the original
inhabitants of the state of Tahoe in the United States:
'Now you feel no rain…..for each of you will be shelter to the other. Now you will feel no cold…. for each of you will be
warmth to the other. Now there is no more loneliness for you. You are still two bodies but there is only one life before you.
Go now and enter into your days of togetherness, and may your days be good and long upon this earth.'
Again he paused, this time out of tradition, before he continued on.
"Without further ado and before either of these two can come to their senses, we will proceed with this holy and everlasting sacrament.
Do you Junjie Han take Tamaska Esmeray Holt as your wedded wife and promise with all your heart to love honor and
keep her through good times and bad, forsaking all others, keeping thee only unto her so long as you both shall live?”
Junjie looking into Tamaska's eyes. " With honor and all the love in my heart, I do take Tamaska to be my wife. " he said humbly.
"And do you Tamaska Esmeray Holt take Junjie Han as your wedded husband and promise with all your heart to love, honor
and keep him through good times and bad, forsaking all others, keeping thee only unto him so long as you both shall live?"
Tamaska smiled through misty eyes, realizing it was happening. "I do" she replied with firmness and love shining from her eyes.
"Then please repeat after me, I take you to be my loving partner, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish forever." Keiben paused to allow both to repeat his words in unison, their eyes not flinching from the other through the entire speech.
Junjie only heard Keibens words as he looked into Tam's eyes and saw only her. The woman he loved with all of his heart and would spend the rest of his days with. " I Junjie Han do take Tamaska to be my loving partner, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and cherish forever. "
" I Tamaska Esmeray Holt do take Junjie to be my loving partner, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and cherish forever. "
"Now, by the power vested in me by the United Federation of Planets, as master and captain of this Station, I now pronounce you husband and wife." he leaned in to Junjie and Tam, his own smile beaming at the pair. "You may now kiss your wife Junjie!"
"And I get to kiss my husband" Tamaska replied before leaning forward to get a kiss from him.
Without a word, Junjie leaned forward and tenderly kissed Tamaska and then stood up and helped Tamaska to her feet. " I believe this is where we exchange rings Mrs. Han. " He set a ring box down with two rings inside and slid the ring onto her finger. " I shall always love you and be there for you, and as long as your with me then there isn't anything we can't handle together. " He said as he pulled her close for another kiss.
Mel found herself smiling widely. She locked eyes with her own husband, memories of their day in her mind as well as her happiness for her friends and colleagues. Her fingers rubbed her own rings. She couldn't remember what was next. Or the tradition. Did they throw rice, confetti anything like that?
After the exchange of rings and while the couple kissed to cement their vows of mariage, a glass case was opened butterflies flew out, their wings of a bluish green hue and some were of a reddish hue soared into the air. These butterflies were native to China, and were symbols of longevity and metamorphisis among other things. Some flew to the guests that were there, landing upon fingers, shoulders or even a head or two.
Tamaska looked up with delight at the display, then taking Junjie's hand she turned to those who had attended the wedding, "Thank you for coming and joining in this special ceremony. There is refreshments that is in the other room."
Junjie smiled as he put his arm around Tamaska's waist. " There is a buffet set up for your dining pleasure, there are some holovid recorders set on each table. If you'd like please record a thought or message for us, we thank you for coming to share this special time with us and we will always cherish and treasure it. " Junjie took Tamaska by the hand and went into the feast hall, as the guest were to follow and begin the celebration with food and dance.
END
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