Art Connection Part I
Posted on Thu May 18th, 2023 @ 5:18pm by Lieutenant Vura & Captain Edmund Merrick
Edited on on Thu May 18th, 2023 @ 11:10pm
0 words; about a 1 minute read
Mission:
Episode 14 - The Poseidon Adventure
Location: Poseidon Station Various
Timeline: MD006 1300 hrs
In his quarters upon the USS Pioneer, Edmund was busily making notes upon art supplies he was needing. Charcoal, pastels, colored pencils, regular sketch pencils, perhaps even acrylics. He wanted to try his hand at doing some painting. Since they were on shore leave, he had been interested in seeing if they had an art supply store, upon examination, he found one. It was named Color your life. He liked the name of the store and once his list was done, he headed to the station. The information base had stated it was on Promenade Level 68-5, and that was where he was headed.
The turbo lift door opened and Edmund stepped inside, taking a look outside of the glass doors of the promenade lift towards the Arboretum. "Level 68" he said to the computer.
The first day of being on the ship was hectic. While much of the crew was still on shore leave, Vura had been busy getting her quarters and office in order. Little did she expect to have her first clients from the ship coming in and contacting her. Eventually, however, they stopped coming and she decided to get into something much more comfortable than a uniform.
Comfortable for Vura, was probably not comfortable for most people. Most people might consider athletic wear, a sweatsuit, or yoga pants comfortable. However, the Deltan would not be caught dead in public in those types of outfits. Instead, she opted for a periwinkle swing dress. The skirt portion of the dress opened up to a blue and grey floral pattern that showed more when she walked. She wore a matching pair of periwinkle three inch heels. To complete the outfit, she wore two gold bracelets on her left arm and made up her face with rose blush, blue and purple eyeshadow, and rose lip gloss.
She decided that she would do something relaxing that would avoid most people and please her artistic senses. Though she was not very good by Deltan standards, she felt that some sketching might clear her head some and she heard that there were some unique plants and trees in the Arboretum. She threw her a magazine of colored sketching pencils into her left hand along with a sketch pad and headed out.
Once Vura arrived at the station, she searched for a turbolift that would get her to where she was going. Just as she spotted it, she heard someone call "Level 68" and started to watch the turbolift doors close. She called out, "Wait!" and started to run towards the turbolift, her heels clacking noisily on the floor as she quickened her pace. "Hold it, please!"
A hand reached out, gripping the edge of the lift door, it opened back up. Beyond it stood a blonde haired man in a short sleeved light blue tee shirt, which was loosely fitted around him, a pair of dark blue jeans and a comfortable pair of work boots. The blonde-haired man kept it open until the woman got inside. He took in her outfit, noticing the graceful movement of how the outfit flowed as she ran. He was reminded of the outfits that his wife had worn when they were off duty, she liked to wear feminine clothing. He did like the look of the outfit and this lady knew how to pull it off as well. In his mind's eye he was already drawing an image of her in his mind - the outfit plus the colors she chose to wear.
"Where to miss?" he asked, "I'm heading to an art supply store."
"Were you, now?" she responded coyly. "Funny, I was on my way to do some sketches in the Arboretum here." She gave him a quick once over. He did not look like an artist and there was just something about him that seemed familiar. "Need some help picking out your supplies?"
"That will be my next stop, once I acquire more supplies. If you want to come with, I've got no problem with that." giving a shrug and small smile. "I don't mean to be too forward but, I like the coior combination of your outfit, along with your make up, fits with you mentioning you wanting to do some sketching." Edmund replied.
"There is no such thing as too forward with a Deltan, and you clearly have keen senses of observation and exquisite taste," Vura replied with a flirtatious smile. "Well, it seems that the fates have put us together for the day. So, we should know more about each other, don't you think?" She gave the man a knowing wink while nodding her head slightly downward. "I'm Vura," she concluded.
"I'm Edmund, lovely name for a lovely woman. Well then I won't ignore that fact." He not holding out a hand towards her to shake her hand. He wondered about that knowing wink, did she know something that he didn't know. Giving a mental shrug, when the turbo lift stopped upon the floor they needed to be on, with a slight blow he gestured, "Ladies first."
Vura exited the turbolift and then politely waited for Edmund to step on out. She left a small crook in her arm on her free side, in case he wished to take her arm and lead her by the elbow, but not so large to be noticed or commented upon if he chose otherwise. She made the pose look natural and happenstance. "Well, Edmund, lead on. I'm afraid that I'm mostly new here and have little idea of where I am going. Tell me, do you live on the Station or are you from elsewhere."
Edmund noticed that she had crooked hers out. He wasn't quite certain as to exactly what to do. He wasn't really that familiar with Deltans, even if he had been in security. "Um... so, would you like to take my arm? " crooking his own elbow towards her. "I'm not one to just grab onto a lady. Just seems a bit rude on my part."
"I'll take anything that I can get," she replied with a smirk in her tone. She took the proffered elbow and gently placed her hand on the inside of it. "Please, lead me on."
"Take anything you can get?" This elicited a glance at Vura. "I'm not certain as to what you are meaning unless it is my helping you and that works for me." walking alongside her through the promenade.
As they headed in the direction to Color Your Life, Merrick paused to look at the pet store they were passing by. "Pink Tail Co, Exotic Pet Store from what I was reading, I don't know if they have a cat I'd like to acquire for a pet." He looked at the other stores they would be passing by, The Cheap Compass Pawn Store and the other side of the art supply store was, Lolli & Pops. "They certainly have quite the variety of shops here."
Vura was infinitely amused at the naivety of Edmund and toying with him was going to be a true pleasure. "Yes, they do have a great deal of stores and shopping around can be fun, but at some point, you have to get down to business." She grinned mischievously at Edmund. Purposely continuing to float innuendos towards Edmund, she asked, "Tell me, Edmund, what exactly are you looking for today?"
Edmund was feeling a bit confused, "Um... I am looking for art supplies and a place to sketch. And just see what else is here to offer. I've already gone to see the dancers in Elysian Dreams and left after having some drinks and a slap in the face from a pickpocket. She wasn't too happy that I didn't want what she offered." He shrugged. "I didn't mean to insult her but, I just wasn't interested. Why would I be, if she was trying to rob me? And I actually said that to her, hence the slap in the face."
"Well, I thought that we already determined that we would be sketching in the Arboretum," Vura replied simply. She thought about telling him about the superiority of Deltan dancers but feared that she might scare him completely off and that would not be fun. "I think you have a lot to learn about women, though, Edmund. I'm guessing that you're single."
"Yes, I am, however, I know a little bit about women and also I won't tolerate anyone who decides to rob someone or tries to rob someone. It's just my mindset. It's asking for trouble in all honesty, and I wasn't attracted to her. Even if she was not bad looking, I had no desire to take her to bed. My mind went into security mode." Edmund stated matter of factly. "She made a smooth move in slapping me and then she slipped away as I naturally loosened my grip."
"You're just so precious," Vura informed Edmund with a pleasant chuckle. "Tell me, Edmund, what do you do when you're not escorting adequate looking Deltan women to an art store."
As they neared the art store, Edmund growled slightly then turned to face Vura, "Why, why would you say something like that of yourself? An adequate looking Deltan woman? Can't you realize your own beauty? I hope you weren't called ugly when you were young, if so, I hope you realize just how beautiful you are." He turned to look at the store front and into the shop itself. " I knew a woman who truly thought she was ugly; this was due to her father having told her she was. He unfortunately thought that would get her fighting spirit up and she would prove him wrong."
He huffed slightly, then turned once more towards Vura, "She did end up realizing one day that she was beautiful and that she wasn't ugly. Oh, how her inner beauty showed outwardly. She was even more radiantly beautiful than she had been before. I never thought her ugly though not one whit." Edmund realized he got on a soap box and gave an awkward smile, holding the back of his neck. "Sorry, guess you triggered something there."
Interesting. Chivalrous and defensive. I may have to keep him around more. Vura grinned like the cat that ate the canary. "I can see that I have. I do not believe myself to be ugly and I am more than satisfied with my personal appearance, Edmund. There is no need to get upset. However, from where I come from, I am fairly average in my physical appearance. It is not a slight on myself, I assure you. That being said, I'm more than pleased that you think of me as beautiful. Perhaps when we get you some supplies, you will find me an adequate subject for your art." Her grin turned more upwards and her brown eyes became lighter.
"I was thinking of doing some sketches of you, just rough ones, then working on one with colors. It may not do justice to you, but I will endeavor to do my best." Edmund said, wiith a slight smile. Crooking his arm towards Vura once more, "Shall we?"
The inside of the store had a scent of paints, some wood, and light citrus. Edmund took a deep breath, enjoying the scents. "A spot of paradise here." he breathed out, just feeling like a kid in a candy store. He stepped away from Vura, already eager to see the various media there.
A woman dressed in a dark purple tunic, and bo ho yoga pants, and flexible black yoga shoes upon her feet. Her waist length, very dark brown hair, was loose and flowing, with the exception of a strand of hair caught back by a barrette which had silk flowers. One thing that stood out to Edmund's mind was the woman's natural white streak upon the right side of her hair
"Welcome to Color Your Life. My name is Polgara. Please do some browsing, and enjoy." the shop owner said with a warm genuine smile.
Amused and pleased at Edmund’s reactions, especially the fact that he considered this store paradise. “I appreciate the welcome, Polgara,” Vura replied warmly. “I already have my supplies for the day but Edmund here looks like he might buy your entire lovely store. I may have to remember this place for another time in the future.”
She then looked over towards Edmund and called to him, “Are you finding what you need, Edmund?”
Edmund was lost in the world of art supplies, he had to get a small basket which was slung on his arm as he made his way through the selection process. A couple of medium sketch books found their way into the basket along with colored pencils, pastels, and even crayons which were of a fantastic quality. He even got a book which had lessons in Acrylic paints. He looked at watercolors, wondering if he should purchase them. Maybe later, then again... In his basket went the water colors as well as a pad made just for that. Charcoal, and the art pencils he wished for and also things to blend the charcoal with and can't forget the erasers which were needed for erasing minor mistakes when making a sketch.
He heard Vura's question as if from a distance and turned towards her. "Oh, um yes I am finding a lot I am needing," flashing her a rather elated smile.
Polgara gave out a laugh, "Well I am glad he is liking the store and it looks like there are still things upon the shelves." as Merrick came up to the register to pay for the supplies.
On the way to the register Merrick added an easel with which to use for when working on his acrylic paints, and also the brushes and bowls and also the palette with which to mix the paints. His arms were filled besides the basket.
I wonder if I have played with him too much. His response of 'I am finding a lot I am needing is worrisome. My pheromones may just be doing too much to him. Then again, he seems to be rather enjoying his shopping trip. Maybe art is more powerful than pheromones to him? Vura shook her head. "So it seems," she admitted. "He could be in a hurry to get somewhere. It would not be the first time that I met a man who got over excited just to be in my presence."
"Well you would be someone who would make another person want to be around you." Polgara replied, with a slight smile. "It takes passion to do art, and he must have a lot of passion in his body, to be acquiring as much art supplies as he has."
Edmund having gotten the purchases paid for, now with canvas bags, holding his treasure trove. He walked up to where Vura and Polgara stood.
To Polgara he spoke, "Thank you, I have truly enjoyed my visit. I plan on coming back this way again."
Polgara gave a regal nod towards him then looked to Vura, "You both are welcome to come back when you need some supplies."
A Joint Post By
Lieutenant Vura
Chief Counselor, USS Pioneer
Captain Edmund Merrick
The Cure Executive Officer, USS Pioneer
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