Art Connection Part IV
Posted on Thu May 18th, 2023 @ 5:21pm by Lieutenant Vura & Captain Edmund Merrick
Edited on on Thu May 18th, 2023 @ 11:27pm
0 words; about a 1 minute read
Mission:
Episode 14 - The Poseidon Adventure
Location: Poseidon Statiion Various
Timeline: MD006 1600 hrs
"That almost sounds like a quote I have heard before, 'We'll always have Paris' from some book or even a movie." Another smile. "I do believe I need to get going, would you like me to walk you back to the ship or do you wish to stay here and commune with the spirits here." Edmund giving a nod towards the butterflies.
That was the question, was it not? What did Vura want? Certainly she could stay here and sketch but she has mostly enjoyed her time with Edmund. If she said that she wanted to stay here, Edmund would leave and their time would be at an end; however, if she said she wanted to walk back, she would not be here to sketch. "I think that you can escort me back," she finally decided. "Besides, that will give me a little more time with you before you flit about to your future paramour." She turned her back on Edmund, slowly walked to the bench, picked up her supplies, and said, "Ready when you are."
Once more shifting his canvas bags, Edmund watched as Vura retrieved her supplies, his eyes following her movements. When she was ready, he retraced their steps through the semi hidden pathway and stepped out of the arboretum, he looked back towards the curtain of honeysuckle and the lowered limb giving a smile of memory. "I never knew what would happen when coming to the art store, didn't realize that I'd be making a connection, unexpectedly."
"In fairness, Edmund, had you not held the turbolift, I doubt we would have had this day. And, well, I insisted on accompanying you." Vura smiled warmly at Edmund as they walked. "One never knows what the future holds, but it is unwritten and all yours to grasp for the taking, if you want it."
"This is true, we will see how things go or if I am just too rusty on the dating scene. If I fall, I fall, but I will get back to my feet and try again. It will be the only thing I can do." Edmund answered, giving a glance towards Vura. "The future is unpredictable, ever flowing, constantly changing."
"That it is," Vura agreed. "A wise person told me that the only thing that is certain is change. As to your dating, even being rusty, I think you're going to be just fine. You're a genuine person Edmund, and that's a fine quality." She then beamed at Edmund. "I'm really pleased to see you embracing this experience."
Edmund gave a smile and a nod. "It's a really strange feeling like I'm stepping out into freedom, mind you, it is a bit scary like someone who has been in captivity for so long and now no longer being locked up. There is the unknown, but I am ready, even if there is a chance for heartbreak, I feel that Vivian would be pleased." arriving at the lift to take them back to where they can get back to the ship.
"I believe so, Edmund," Vura replied softly. "I think she would be happy to see you striving for happiness. You're doing the right thing, I assure you. And I'm here to support you." She reached out her hand impulsively to touch Edmund but then stopped herself just short of his shoulder.
Edmund picked up on that, and turned to face Vura. "Flesh to flesh contact is dangerous, yes? However, a touch on clothing, not so much is it. Provides a barrier, so the pheromones will not make too much of an effect." wriggling his shoulder towards her with a chuckle. "Touch the shoulder where the cloth covers, not having any sort of contact isn't good either." tilting his head to the right slightly. "I know maybe I am playing with fire but, still a contact on cloth is still good as well."
Vura shook her head slowly and sadly. "It is too much of a risk, Edmund. You've already been exposed to my pheromones today. It is my fault. I was just having a little fun but now...." She hung her head, her voice sorrowful. "I don't want to hurt you, Edmund. I don't want to take that risk. You've been hurt enough. Maybe, another time. The accumulation can be..." she paused before continuing, "quite overwhelming."
"Even through the cloth covering." Edmund mused as they continued on, "I don't see that you have hurt me, nonetheless, about these pheromones, are they mostly by touch or, is it also conveyed through the air, like the scent of a lovely perfume, which is rather subtle. And as for your fun, it opened a door that was closed tightly so... not a bad thing there."
"I have not hurt you yet," Vura informed Edmund slightly curtly. "The pheromones are most heavily conveyed through touch. Depending on the Deltan, they might affect people around them, like make them more noticeable to others. More like interest creation, if you would.... As you said, it would be more akin to noticing a lovely perfume. I get a lot of looks when I'm nearby, from my experience. However, our pheromones are not obviously lust-inducing via air, like an Orion. But close contact, that's another matter, and the reason for that is we have touch telepathy. So, clothes does not guard as much as you might think. We're, by your standards, an extremely sensual race. You might even call us hedonistic. But something like sex to us, is almost the same as how you might interpret a hug or a kiss on the cheek. Our telepathy with each other, which is not limited to touch, well, let's just say that we're a lot more creative...." She gave a short throaty laugh before falling back into silence for a moment.
Before Edmund could speak, she continued, "I am so very happy for you that my frivolity opened a door. I am so happy for you that you now feel that you can move forward. However, in truth, my fun was a risk to you. Sometimes the Oath combined with the pheromones can be an awful burden."
"Well, now that I know more about Deltans, thanks to you, I will do well to remember it." Edmund giving a puff of air out of his mouth. "I won't avoid you, though; but, I will also make certain not to put you into an awkward situation either." After another pause then he asked, "The touch of a Deltan causes, well, excitement and passion, is there also an opposite effect that can be done as well?"
"Not that I know. Our touch does have pain reducing abilities but does nothing to cure injuries. Probably has something to do with increasing endorphins. Worse, non-Deltans who have had intimacy with us, risk insanity." Her head bowed low. "I came here to help and heal, not hurt anyone, Edmund."
Edmund nodded, "Of that I am sure of. And you have done well. And intimacy with a Deltan, who isn't Deltan, yes that does sound much like the fae of Earth mythology. My question is this. What happens to a Deltan who is intimate with a non-Deltan does that do something to them?"
Now the turbo lift stopped at the floor which would lead them to go back to the ship.
"Nothing," Vura answered matter-of-fact. "Nothing happens to the Deltan who has intimacy with a non-Deltan, Edmund." She noticed the turbolift stopped. "Those who do not go insane, well, they cannot get enough of us. Do you remember Ilia's story?"
Edmund went through his memory and managed to dig up that tale, and he sucked in a breath through his teeth. "Ah yes, that... definitely became problematic for the two individuals." having a look of understanding. "Just don't be upset at yourself for the little play you did, it proved to be beneficial. I know that that may not be the case for others." As he thought more of it. "Are Deltans affected by others who have pheromones? Or would that counteract another race's pheromones?"
The turbolift door opened and Vura started to walk through it and then stopped regarding the question regarding other races' pheromones. She turned back to him and answered, "I really don't know. So few of us have ever left Delta IV in the last few hundred years that I doubt anyone has done a study."
She tilted her head to her right and asked, "Why are you so curious, Edmund? Most people just accept our situation and move on."
"It is all about learning, and also looking at strategic situations. Let's say for some strange reason a few of us get overcome by pheromones exuded by another species that has pheromones, sure there are countermeasures but, would your pheromones help to facilitate a quicker recovery? " Edmund was serious in the direction of his questioning.
The Deltan stared for a moment, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. Edmund really was oblivious when it came to understanding people. She griped playfully, "Strategy? And here I thought that you were concerned about my situation...."
Her hands went to her hips again, her art supplies pressing against one side. "And if any of those things happen on this ship, we have greater problems than my pheromones. Why should anything like that ever get to this ship in the first place?"
"You are right, there would be a problem if they were to get past security and the marines. Let me clarify, if we were on an away mission and you were on it," Edmund continued. "Never say never that you wouldn't be a part of a mission. One never knows. I am looking at possible plans, just in case. I know my questioning makes me sound like I don't care about what you will be dealing with and are dealing with. It is just something that came to my mind."
"I know an away mission with me could happen. It is not frequent, though. And, if I happened to get on an away mission, everyone would be well briefed. Every contingency can't be planned, Edmund. And why should it be? Life is meant to be experienced, not planned."
"I know that, and I agree." Edmund let out a breath through his nose, as he stepped through the door onto the ramp which led to the walk way to the Pioneer, he looked out through the transparent aluminum towards the Planet Aquil, then the panorama of stars. "I truly don't have that many contingencies, I just try to roll with the punches or just hit the mat when life knocks me down." He turned his gaze back to Vura. "This time I am getting back up to my feet."
"Good," Vura answered as she cleared the turbolift and let it jet off to wherever and whoever needed it next. "Though off your feet could be more fun," she flirted. "So, don't worry about my pheromones or all the possible contingencies. Just concentrate on what's in front of you, including Miss Fabulous, whoever she might be."
Edmund laughed, "This is true, being knocked off my feet in a certain manner at a certain time can be rather fun," his mind going back to when Vivian had done just that. "I will have to agree with you." A twinkle in his eyes. He shifted his treasures just slightly. Before they stepped onto the ship, Edmund took another look out towards the stars, "This definitely has been a day to remember."
"It has," Vura replied warmly. She made a note of Edmund's adjustment but said nothing. "Perhaps you could continue the good vibrations by asking Miss Fabulous out on a date after you leave me." She sighed dramatically, "Always the other woman, I am."
Edmund raised an eyebrow at Vura's remark then gave a slight chuckle. "Vura, you are definitely one of a kind, as there can never be a twin of you. Some may try to be you, but they won't be able to. As for the other lady, we'll see what happens, or if I choke. I have a long road ahead of me to get over my other pattern." He stepped inside the ship to head down the corridor, remembering the time when he first joined the ship it was on shore leave.
"You know, like me, you have joined the ship whilst it is on shore leave. That is what I did as well, I joined the ship when it was on Shore Leave on Empok Nor." Edmund looked at Vura. "Now I will take my leave and hopefully you will have a good time on this shore leave. I've enjoyed my time with you."
Vura could not resist herself and playfully responded with a silky voice, "You have not yet experienced enjoyment with me, Edmund. If you did, we would both have to resign from Starfleet and I'm pretty sure neither of us want that, do we?"
She snickered and then continued, "But yes, Edmund, it has been an enjoyable encounter. I will look forward to you reporting to me that you made a successful date request from Miss Fabulous. Perhaps then, I will get the name of the woman who could attract your attention more than I." She nodded in the direction of the air, as if conceding to the mystery woman.
"Possibly you will get the name of the mystery woman. It depends, though, on what happens. Until next time, Vura." Giving a sweeping theatrical bow, which was still graceful even though he was carrying artistic items. He straightened up and strode down the corridor, whistling a tune, from an old Earth artist Johnny Nash, "I can see clearly now."
Vura giggled at the display and walked off in the other direction. Her thirst for drawing had been quenched, even though she had done none. She looked again at Edmund's sketch and decided she would find a place for it in her quarters. I just have to figure out an appropriate frame.
A Joint Post By
Lieutenant Vura
Chief Counselor, USS Pioneer
Captain Edmund Merrick
The Cure Executive Officer, USS Pioneer
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