STF

Plaza Exchange - A Night On The Town

Posted Dec. 6, 2022, 6:48 p.m. by Civilian Yavia Crockett (Nurse - Sacred Heart Hospital) (Jennifer Ward)

Posted by Major General Charles Tenkiller (Vice-Commander, Colonial Customs and Defense Agency) in Plaza Exchange - A Night On The Town

Posted by Civilian Yavia Crockett (Nurse - Sacred Heart Hospital) in Plaza Exchange - A Night On The Town

Posted by Major General Charles Tenkiller (Vice-Commander, Colonial Customs and Defense Agency) in Plaza Exchange - A Night On The Town
Posted by… suppressed (50) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)
The car slid through the city with ease and Tenkiller made small talk for the ten minute ride. Soon the car came to a stop outside a stretch of shop fronts and restaurants. The one the car stopped in front of was dark, but an older human male stood outside and smiled at Tenkiller and Yavia as they got out of the car.

“General.” he said with a nod of his head. “General’s attaché.” he added with a look at Yavia and a small smile. “Welcome.” and he touched a bioscanner and the lights came on inside and the door opened…

To the Turner Art Gallery.

Tenkiller

Yavia gave the man a serious and stern look and nodded, and when he turned around she grinned at Tenkiller. “Attaché sounds so much better than ‘private nurse’.” She stepped through the door and graced Turner with a smile, “Thank you.” She paused a few feet in, taking in the sights and sounds and the smells. The faint hint of machine oil and fired metal met her nose and the fainter scent of paint. The air scrubbers were a soft hum in the distance and lights were strategically placed to give the pieces the best light to reflect of the pigments and metal. Then she began to move about the room. Unlike the gallery opening where people followed a somewhat organized pattern, Yavia was all over the place. Moving from side of the room to the other or maybe only a few paces away. “Now tell me, what a man who knows ‘not much’ about art have in common with a man who’s work is art?”

Yavia

Tenkiller smiled and said “Frank and I go way back. I helped him set up a fee of his galleries… security systems and such… and he and I became friends. So now, when he has a new show, I get an invite. I get to see some new and amazing art… and some not so much…” and he laughed, “… and there you have it.”

Tenkiller

“How felicitous.” Yavia stared at the statue of the hands as it was right in the middle of the room. “Nice and Meet. How lovely. Most representations of FSL I have seen are only letters of the alphabet in some abbreviation. This is actual words. I wonder if the artist takes commissions? A few like this around the hospital would be delightful.”

She moved on approaching a wall of paintings. She gazed at them and then grinned, “They make my eyes dance. They seem simple paintings at first but the longer you look the more complicated the image. How very intriguing. I wonder if the effect was done on purpose.”

Yavia

Tenkiller shrugged as he looked at the piece. “Dunno. You’d have to ask Frank about it. He knows the artist. I usually just come ‘cause he has real beer in a bottle.” and he laughed.

They wandered around and looked at the pieces. There more than a few blank spots where sculptures and paintings had been. “Huh, guess the show went pretty good.” Tenkiller said softly. “Looks like almost half the pieces are spoken for.”

Tenkiller

“A success then? It is lovely to see places like this though. I’m not sure I agree that art is the top tier mark of a cultured society, but it is part of any society. When I first came to Oed the shops were mostly necessities and food. Or at least the ones on my walk from my apartment to the hospital. Now there is a lot more variety, more people, more…richness.” Coming back around near Turner. “The general tells me that you know the artists and know all about art and can tell me about it. Apparently his insight is limited to the quality of beer inside the bottles you offer.”

Turner laughed and said “The Major General is simply a connoisseur of… alternative… mediums.” and he smiled at her.

“Enlighten me, please, Mr Frank. Any piece or all of them, both artists or not. I wish to know more, though I am particularly intrigued by those three paintings over there.” The wording might be slightly comical but her interest and request was sincere and she gave him her full attention.

Yavia

“Please, call me Franklin. Mister was my father.” and he led her to a painting of blues and blacks that seemed both coherent and organized, yet organic and flowing simultaneously. “To answer your first question, yes. I know both artists we are currently showing, although the painter is adamant that they stay anonymous. The sculptor is Eryn, a quite well-known artist who almost only shows her work on Risa. We are quite fortunate to have her. But first I wanted to show you this particular piece.” He stood looking at it for a moment and then, without looking away, he said “Tell me, Miss Crockett… what do you do for a living? Of course you are not his-” and he jerked his head at Tenkiller standing behind them and off to the side, “- attaché. One, he doesn’t trust anyone in his professional life that much to give them such control; and two you are far too beautiful to work for the likes of him.” and he looked at Tenkiller. “Hey! If I wanted that kind of sass, I could have taken her to the modern art exhibit at the Oed Museum.” Tenkiller said with a grin. Turner feigned pain in his chest and said “Be still my heart, those barbarians barely know a Goigains from a Matsulima.”

Turner

Yavia studied the painting in front of them as Franklin spoke briefly of the artists and then grew quiet in contemplation. Then he began to speak again. His first point about Tenkiller didn’t surprise her, most people didn’t like giving control of their lives over to anyone, even those they loved and trusted. The second point though made her glance at him briefly. Was the man simply charming or suffering from ‘the power of suggestion.’ Yavia had seen it before, when someone encountered herself or another Deltan. Their imaginations and rumor ran away with them. The banter drew a grin and she shrugged. She didn’t turn to look at either of them though, continued to study the painting. “I would disagree Franklin, I would argue that given the work that General Tenkiller does, he should be surrounded by beauty. There is no lack of adventure on Oed, but it is not all wisps and motes.” She turned her gaze on Franklin and said quit seriously, “Oh I am something much more invasive than an attaché. I’m a nurse.” Her eyes dancing with mischief she looked over her shoulder at Tenkiller and winked at him.

Yavia

“I do hope in the mental health field. His is in dire need of such assistance.” Turner said without missing a beat. “Bite me.” Tenkiller said with a laugh. Turner made a tsk-tsk-tsk sound and looked at Yavia, mock concern on his face. “Masochistic tendencies. First step on the downward slide, I’m afraid.” and both men laughed together.

Tenkiller

Yavia leaned in slightly and shook her head, “I’m afraid that is not my area of expertise, but I’ll do my best to help. However I have heard that the appreciation and creation of art does wonders for mental health patients. Perhaps you can enlighten us both.”

Yavia

Turner sighed melodramatically. “He is a lost cause, I’m afraid. But you… you I can happily assist. Now back to this piece…” and he turned back to the painting. “I ask what you do for a living because this is a singular artist. This piece… all of their pieces… seem to be visual representations of mathematical principles. Principles, I might add, that the artist is not trained or even familiar with. It is a most… singular… talent. This is a painting depicting, from what I have been told, is the propagation of random numbers in an isolated matrix. Whatever that means.”

Turner

Yavia studied the piece and tilted her head side to side. “Hmmm I have no idea what that means either. My math skills go as far as biological chemistry.” Her gaze moved momentarily to the next piece and back. “How intriguing. You say the artist is not familiar at all with the concepts depicted? So someone else must determine what they represent…I am curious what the artist says about people proclaiming the meaning…the depiction behind their work.”

“At first, they were confused. After all, they didn’t set out to paint such things. But now, I think they just paint because they enjoy it. The fact that it turns out to be such things is irrelevant to them.”

“How amazing it would be to instinctually understand such concepts of the universe. To understand them in this” she waved at the painting in front of them, “abstract way. Such concepts are abstract but to understand them we try to force them into concrete explanations…but art is also quite abstract. This artist must see the worlds from a very unique point of view.”

Yavia

Turner smiled and said “Oh, I think that is a most succinct perspective, Miss…”

Turner

“Or perhaps it is wishful thinking on my part. We impose our own perspectives, experiences, and opinions onto such things - art, literature, music. There is no way to know if I am right, so I will choose to believe it is so. I will enjoy the work of this anonymous artist as if I know something no one else does.” Yavia grinned at Turner and laughed quietly.

“What about this one?” She nodded her head to another painting, filled with warm bright colors.

Yavia

Turner nodded and said “This is binary code, actually. The warmer colors are zero, the cooler ones one. I think the artist was having fun with the critics on this one. If you transfer the code into Standard, it says ‘Suck it, Chloë.’” and he laughed loudly. “She was a critic who kept insulting their work. Said it was too ‘simplistic and urbane’. She said, on record, that she could interpret any of their works. So… they made this one. As it wasn’t a mathematical permutation or a physical law, people were baffledfor some months. And then a young Vulcan artist decoded it. Oh the laughter that rang through the art world on that one.” and Turner laughed again before stage whispering to Yavia “No one likes her.”

Turner

Yavia laughed, “I wouldn’t like her either.” She studied the piece again. “Well it is impossible to make everyone happy all the time. Good for the artist for having fun with it. I like the piece even more for the sass. What is your favorite piece, Franklin?”

Yavia

Turner shrugged and said “A personal piece by this same artist. Except its not typical of their other works. Its a scenic landscape of their homeworld. Very different… I was very moved when they presented it to me. It hangs in my home so I can look at it everyday.”

Turner

“That is quite a gift if their talent for landscapes matches what I see here. Don’t worry I won’t ask which world.” Yavia moved on, “And what about the sculptor? Eryn you said her name was. What brought her work to Oed and your gallery?” The piece she approached was the most abstract of the current collection. Twisted metal in a ever growing twist and braid, adding pieces and bits that had no end or beginning, they were there and gone. The colors deep and subtle, but had a metallic sheen.

Yavia

Tenkiller chuckled and said “No tellin’ what that lady’s mind told her to do.” Turner smiled and said “She is… most unique, its true. But rarely is genius a product of being normal.” and he looked at Tenkiller. “Wouldn’t you agree, General?” Tenkiller smirked slightly and said “Genius presents in a while lotta different ways. Seen a lot of normal folks do some pretty amazing things at times.”

Tenkiller

Yavia looked at Tenkiller, “Ah so you have met her then? Eccentric?” Glancing at Turner she moved on to another piece. A floral representation, delicate and quite lovely. “I have heard that artists are quite temperamental and intense. Tell me do either of them donate to charities or some such? To a cause greater than their own pockets?”

Yavia

Tenkiller scoffed slightly and said “Saying Eryn is ‘eccentric’ is like saying Naussicans ‘kind of’ like meat. She’s bat-$#it crazy is what she is.” and Turner laughed. “Well, there has been that said on more than one occasion. She also is not what we would call ‘likable’. But as far as their temperaments go? I try and shy away form such matters. The personal life of an artist is just that… personal. But-” and his eyes darted to Tenkiller and back, “- the anonymous artist does give most of their earnings away to… various organizations and groups.”

Turner and Tenkiller

“Bat-$#it crazy is the fun kind of crazy - dangerous at times, but fun. There is never a dull moment. Yavia was studying another sculpture so missed the darting eyes. The piece looked like over done and burnt black, by accident, hamburger. A huge spire of pieces and then smashed in frustration by a huge hammer. Yavia could almost feel the reverberation of the hammer as she stared at it. She turned to glance at the last painting, smirking. “A philanthropist and a smart @$$. That’s my kind of person.”

Yavia

Tenkiller grinned and Turner held up a finger to him behind Yavia’s back and wiggled it back and forth. “They are… complex… but I believe truly that their heart is in the right place. Eryn is just crazy, but her art is truly quality and it sells, so she also has her purpose in life.” and he chuckled.

Turner

Yavia gave him a funny look and moved on to another piece that was truly stunning in the colors that had been created in the metal. She studied it a moment but as she moved away she paused turning back, tilting her head this way and that and then crouching to get a different perspective. She smirked then stood and moved on coming to the damaged piece. “Oh dear. What happened?”

Yavia

Turner looked actually sad. “Broken by the art installers. She said it was to be a gift to me, of all things. She was furious, but I think I will still keep it as it is. Token of memory, and all that.”

Turner

Yavia nodded then glanced back and forth from it to the other pieces. “Nothing else here is like this. This is delicate, exquisitely minute detail and form. The colors…they look like jewels, except light doesn’t pass through them but rather reflects. Not even the sculpture of the flowers is as rich.” Her fingers reached up and trailed along the filigree of her head and. “On Delta it takes roughly 2 months to get something like this. I can only imagine the amount of work put into that piece. Such a shame. I imagine she was very upset.”

Glancing around Yavia didn’t see any piece she hadn’t looked at, perhaps not for long but she had looked. She made her way closer to Tenkiller. “You have a lovely establishment, Franklin. Thank you for opening it.

Yavia

“It was my pleasure. A vision such as yourself should have something pleasant to look at since you are staring at that buffoons face all night.” Turner said with a smile at Tenkiller. “Meh… you’re just jealous I have all my own hair.” and both men laughed.

Turner took Yavia’s hand and said “I do hope you will come back and see the shows. You will always be on the guest list.” and he squeezed it gently before letting go. He looked at Tenkiller and said “Skip, try not to mess this up, won’t you? She is simply marvelous.” Tenkiller smiled and shook Turner’s hand. “I know. Thats why I asked her out.”

“Thank you, I will do that when time permits.” Yavia laughed, a rich almost musical sound. “You two are laying it on a bit thick.”

Turner escorted them to the door and waved as they got in their waiting car. Tenkiller looked at Yavia and said “Hope you liked it.”

Tenkiller

She slid into the car looking relaxed and content. “I did very much. Something I’ve never done before, thank you.”

Yavia

Tenkiller smiled and sat next to her. “Well, I gotta try and impress ya somehow. I mean, how else will I get another date if I just do the regular stuff?” and he laughed. “Got one more thing in mind, if you want. But I don’t wanna keep up too late, i know ya got work.”

Tenkiller

Yavia quicked a brow. “I think you are doing just fine.” She set her hand iver his. “I work the mid shift tomorrow. I have time, lead on.”

Yavia

The car took them a short distance and then stopped at a public transporter. “C’mon. Follow me.” he said.

They waited for a brief moment while two groups ahead of them stepped onto the pad and vanished in swirling lights. While they waited, Tenkiller’s hand took hers and he held it gently, smiling at her.

Yavia was openly curious as her hand slipped into his. They were getting looks, mostly because she was Deltan and people reacted to what they thought they knew.

When it was their turn, Tenkiller keyed in some coordinates and then motioned for them to step up. He felt the familiar tingle of energy and his vision blurred as they moved from the city…

To an unoccupied transporter room with no windows. Tenkiller looked at V and said “Welcome to my world.” and he stepped to the door and it slid open.

The room beyond was massive… and wholly empty. It was a giant circle with the transporter room in the center. The wall that stretched all around was a floor to ceiling window that looked out over the Oed V orbital platform from a very high vantage point. “Observation Tower. Let’s you get a full view of everything.” He offered her his arm and walked her out to the window.

Yavia tucked her hand into his elbow and glanced around the space, huge, massive, and their steps echoed in the empty space.

Below was the massive platform dotted with thousands of tiny points of light. Windows, warning lights, landing areas, no-travel areas… all silently shimmering in the coldness of space. He slowly turned her around and then they could look at the planet itself. It took up almost all of the back side of the room’s view, a bright ball far above and below them. Ships, hundreds of them, drifted and moved slowly and quickly between them and the planet.

Tenkiller

Yavia moved closer to the window staring at the massive sphere that was now her home. She breathed out a soft gasp. Her voice was whisper soft. “It’s all over the news, people talk about it constantly. Hell I have even met Lucas and Molly Holloway. You don’t quite grasp the changes until you see it.” She stared up and down at the planet. “I remember my first glimpse of Oed. There was one small dot of life in the vastness. Now look at it.” The atmospheric shield was up, and though the planet was still mostly barren signs of returning life were spreading. It was beautiful.

Yavia

Standing behind her, Tenkiller stared at the beauty before him. Not the planet or the sweeping vista… but that singular woman. He stared, and not out of physical desire (although that was there in spades as well); but in awe. She was without a doubt one of the most beautiful things he had ever seen. And her personality, wit, and intellect made her all the more wonderful. “Yeah…” he said softly. “I don’t think I’ve seen anything prettier.”

Tenkiller

Her eyes met his in the reflection in the windows and she blushed softly. “Thank you.” The feelings flowing off of him felt good, made her smile, and made warmth spread out from her stomach. “Now saying things like that makes me inclined to more than just one more date.”

Yavia

“I hope so…” he said as he walked up behind her and put his hands on her waist, “… because I would really like more than just one. I think I’d like as many as I can get.”

Tenkiller

Every sensation was savored. From the firm but careful hold on her waist, to the feathered warmth across her skin, the rumble of his voice in her ear. They were experienced in their wholeness and enjoyed. Her arms crossed across herself and her hands rested over his. Her gaze still on his in the glass, her smile lost all itsteasing and was left with just warmth. “I would really like that, too.” She stood quietly watching Oed pass before them, in no hurry to rush things, for awhile. “What is your favorite view outside these windows?”

Yavia

Tenkiller smiled and held her just a bit tighter. “Well… if you look right over… there.” and he pointed to a large structure floating further out from the planet than the platform itself. “That is the repair and refit gantry. It can hold anything up to a Pendragon-class starship.” The gantry was a skeletal structure, looking more like a giant, unfinished skyscraper laying on its side than anything else. But there was a glint and glimmer coming from it that made it seem almost… alive.

Tenkiller

Yavia turned her gaze to look at the gantry. She studied it, trying to imagine how a ship would fit. Of course she had no idea what a pendragon class ship looked like. Yavia had never had an interest or need to know such things. As long as the ship ran she was happy. “It opens to adjust to the ship?”

Yavia

Tenkiller smiled. “Kinda. It expands out from the center, like an iris. That open area in the middle is where a ship would be, and the gantry around it allows for technicians to work all around it all the time.”

Tenkiller

Her head tipped to the side looking at it. “Like sliding the ship into a mesh mechanical bag? That’s…impressive.” Yavia laughed softly. “It is, truly, I just have no point of reference. I never paid much attention to ships other than name and docking port. I know a lot goes into it, but not the details. Exactly how big is a pendragon?”

Yavia

“Oh, let’s see…” He looked out at the myriad ships moving in the slow ballet around the Orbital Platform. Spying a large merchant ship, he pointed at it. “See that big red cargo ship? That is about a hundred meters long, fifty meters wide and maybe twenty five meters tall at its highest point. So a Pendragon is five of those long, four wide, and four tall.”

Tenkiller

Yavia stared at the ship, piecing the image together and looking back at the gantry, trying to imagine it opening large enough for something that size. “That’s a lot of cargo ships,” she grinned and glanced back over her shoulder at him briefly. “Why is the gantry your favorite?”

Yavia

He looked at it and shrugged. “I dunno. And I guess its my favorite right now. The best view from up here will be in about six months. The planet will have orbited a bit further around, and we’ll have an amazing view of the system just off to the left of this. You can’t see the other plants with the naked eye, but they shine really bright like red, blue, and gold stars.”

Tenkiller

“That sounds like quite a vision. You will have to take a picture for me.” She stared off to the left, “You haven’t been here long enough for a full orbit yet, so maybe you will see even more amazing things.”

Yavia

“Picture? I could do that… or maybe you’ll want to come back. I happen to know a guy that can get you in here.” and he laughed softly. “Now…” and he turned her to face him, hands still on her waist, “… tell me all about you. Not just the highlight reel.” and he winked.

Tenkiller

“Oh? Do you think he would want to bring me back? I would be most appreciative,” and V winked at him. She set her hands quite lightly on his upper arms, a tiny spark of sensation passing between them. “Hmmm…well it’s rather a cliché story. I love my work, everything about it, even the sad parts. Working end of life care there are a lot of sad parts. I was with my last patient 3 years before he passed. He was quite wealthy. He had siblings and children in spades. They were all quite spoiled. He left me a small sum, no fortune by any means, and two small shares from his last investment. He had also arranged for services from an investment accountant. His family thought it was quite wonderful that he thought of me, since I had been ‘out of work’ for three years.” She rolled her eyes a little. “That was until they had to divide their fortune amongst themselves and they squandered it. Then they claimed I stole it. See I did quite well with the investments he left me, and the accountant invested the money that was left me. I have quite the nest egg now. I could live meagerly off of it for a couple of years. Instead I keep working and it allows me to do things for others and occasionally spoil myself.”

Yavia

“I would call you lots of things, but none of them are ‘spoiled’.” and he smiled at her. “But I hope that the family isn’t still coming after you. I tend to take it personally when folks I like are treated poorly.” he squeezed her hand and looked out at the vista before them. “Besides… it’s been a bit since I had ta put somebody in their place. I kinda miss it.” and he chuckled.

Tenkiller

Yavia shrugged. “It went to court and the judge threw it out. Every so often they try to find some new argument to use. My lawyer takes care of it.” His last statement made her laugh. “Harris’ fake doctor wasn’t recent enough for you? Or the protests? We will have to find a way to keep you entertained.”

Yavia

“We?” he asked softly and drew her close. “What about just you?” He leaned in slowly and gave her a gentle kiss.

Pulling back slightly, he smiled and said “Ya know… I could kinda get used to that.” and he kissed her again, much longer than the first one.

Her hands slid up to rest on his shoulders as she leaned in, “I’d like you to get used to that.” Then he kissed her again and warmth and pleasure swirled out from her hands to him.

After a few moments, he stood up straight and said “Well, consider me entertained. And transfixed. And whatever else words mean that ‘cause my brain ain’t firing on all thrusters right about now.” and he chuckled.

Tenkiller

It took her a moment before Yavia was thinking enough to step back by just a breath and let her hands slide back. “What an enchanting thing to say.” She took a breath, “Truthful secrete, my brain’s not working either.”

Yavia

“Well, maybe we can forego conscious thought for a few minutes.” and he pulled her back close for another kiss; a long, deep, uninterrupted kiss…

That was totally interrupted a minute later by the sound of the door to the Transporter room opening. Tenkiller slowly pulled away and scowled slightly. He put his finger to his lips as they both heard two men giggling, followed by hushed whispers… and then silence. Tenkiller looked at V and smiled and took a breath. He made sure that he hadn’t smeared V’s makeup (and that he didn’t have any on him) and then loudly cleared his throat.

Yavia’s cheeks turned pink. Not out of embarrassment, she found it funny and awkward and it was one of life’s moments that she would choose to remember with joy. She reached up and rubbed a small smudge of lipstick off him and winked. The feelings of the two men were very aparent, from amorous to startlement to guarded apprehension as they stepped around the corner.

A moment later, a CCDA Corporal (judging by his uniform that was in a state of slight disarray) came slowly around the corner. His eyes went wide when he saw Tenkiller standing there with his arms crossed on his chest. His scowl spoke volumes, but his feelings were one of genuine amusement. “Well good evening, Corporal. And who else is joining us this evening?” he asked sternly. Another figure in a CCDA uniform (also askew) came around the corner looking terribly embarrassed. The first man stammered “M-M-M-M-Maj-j-j-or G-G-G-General S-s-s-ir! I-I-I-I-I-” and Tenkiller held up a hand. “Easy, there Corporal. You’re gonna get vapor lock if’n ya ain’t careful.” He looked at V and winked, then turned back to the two. “Now… typically I would be askin’ what all ya got going on to be up here… but I think that kinda speaks fer itself, yeah?” The two men looked at each other and went pale. “Now I just got one question fer the both of ya. Either one of ya on duty right now? And don’t lie… I’m gonna check.” Bothe men stood up as straight as they could at full attention and said in unison “Sir! No Sir!”. Tenkiller nodded his head and took V’s hand. “Then in that case… if’n y’all’ll excuse us… we are gonna be on our way.”

He led V past the two men and then he leaned in close to them and said softly “Next time, you fellas should check the logs before coming up. Make sure anyone that beamed in has beamed out. And if ya need some… ‘alone time’… ya put the transporter is diagnostic mode and it’ll keep ya from being interrupted for about forty-five minutes.” and he grinned and winked at them before leading V away. “You guys make sure you report to your next shift on time, ya hear?” and there was a “YES SIR!” from around the corner.

Tenkiller led V back into the transporter room and let the door close. He looked at her and shrugged. “Sorry about that. But these CCDA junior Enlisted guys have to live up here for two years after joining the CCDA. If they found some kinda respite from the monotony, I ain’t gonna be the one to burst that particular bubble.”

Tenkiller

Yavia waited for the door to close and begin to laugh very softly. She didn’t want to embarrass the two younger officers, but the whole thing was amusing. And TKs amusement over it just made more so. “Don’t apologize. I’m not worried, embarrassed, or offended. They obviously have promise if they had the same idea you did.” She stepped back into his arms and kissed him, slow and lingering, unfortunately not enough privacy for an uninterrupted one. “Where to now, General?”

Yavia

Tenkiller held her close and said “Well, I’m fresh outta surprises for the night. Do you have anything in mind? I’m open to suggestions.”

Tenkiller

Yavia thought it about it a moment and then moved over toward the transporter pad. “Well it would be hard to top this, but…I have an idea. We have to go back by my place.”

Yavia

“I’m likin’ that idea already!” he said with a grin. He punched in the coordinates for where they left the ground car, and then stepped up on the pad.

Soon they were back on the planet, and the car was waiting. He held the door for her and then climbed in after her and the car began to move. It was later at night, so there wasn’t as much traffic or people present. Soon, they pulled in front her building and he helped her out of the car and walked with her into the lobby of her building.

Tenkiller

Yavia waved to the guard at the desk and they took the lift to her floor and stopped at her door. She grinned at him and opened the door but didn’t go in. She reached in, grabbed a canvas bag and closed the door. She took his hand and led him to a back lift and down to the ground floor. They slipped out a back entrance. They stepped into a back alley between buildings, and she led him through a veritable maze of passageways. There wasn’t quiet enough light, but she moved unerringly. She’d gone this way many times.

The space opened up suddenly to a meadow. An honest natural meadow. It was faced with the backs of buildings on all sides, but no access roads or drives. None of the lights of Oed City proper reached here. It was pitch black except for starlight. Trees had been planted and were now a couple of feet taller than an average human. In daylight the evidence of planned flower beds and trails could be seen, but in the dark it was just untamed and wild. The grass was high and there was evidence of flowers all about. “As best I can tell this was another planned green space, but it was forgotten about. It’s grown wild.” She led him out toward the middle. She let go of his hand and reached into the bag, unfurling a blanket and put it on the ground. She grabbed his hand and pulled him down next to her and then stretched out on her back. “It is the only place in the colony I have found where the light pollution doesn’t touch.” The sky above them was vast and dark, but full of stars.

Yavia

Tenkiller laid back and looked, but part of his head was working. Without knowing it, he was both with V and plotting-slash-planning. Nothing romantic… work plotting. His brain by its nature was geared to protect and plan, so it was working through the route and taking in what stars and traffic could be seen above them. So while his conscious brain was smelling her and the trees, feeling her body against his… his subconcious was working on how to make this place a dead-drop for his CI’s to leave messages… until suddenly he just stopped and was wholly in the moment with her.

“This is pretty amazing.” was all he said.

Tenkiller

She stared up at the stars while he thought about whatever it was going through his head. She breathed in the night air, the soap or aftershave he used, the trees and the grass. Mostly the silence. The sound of the city was blocked by the buildings and there wasn’t much in the way of a breeze here either. It was dark and hard to see until the eyes adjusted to the light given by the stars, and then everything was cast in a soft silver tinged shadow.

“It’s what I miss most about Delta. We have no real religion but we celebrate the rhythms of nature in an almost religious like manner. Everything flows with the natural shapes and land around us. We would never consider something that would stop us from gazing at the stars. I read records of the first time Deltans went to other planets. Across worlds it was always the same, how strange it was to not see the stars when they looked up. This is my favorite spot in the whole colony.”

Yavia

Tenkiller nodded and then looked at her and smiled. “I’m thinkin’ that right here might be my favorite spot, too.” he said as he took her hand in his and gave it a soft squeeze.

Tenkiller

Yavia really liked how he held her hand and didn’t balk about it. Didn’t have the sick giddy feeling some people got when they got near her simply because she was Deltan. He was just genuine. Her fingers wrapped around his hand and they stayed like that for awhile, in the dark in the middle of what felt like no where.

Yavia


Posts on Oed V

In topic

Posted since


© 1991-2024 STF. Terms of Service

Version 1.15.9