Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Sharah Fayth (Medical) in Another New Ship

Posted by Lieutenant Markus Woods (Chief Science Officer) in Another New Ship

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Sharah Fayth (Medical) in Another New Ship
Posted by… suppressed (1) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

“I would love that. I love to read. Anything really. Books are....a haven amongst chaos.” She sipped her water. Sharah tried not to stare, at least not rudely, at him. Mark was unlike anyone she’d ever met. Well there were a very few people she had met that were like him, but even then he was unique. His presence felt like warm sunshine and the stillness of the pond and scents of the meadow after a summer storm…and quiet - but she didn’t know what quiet was.

“I don’t suppose you’ve ever played one in a holonovel have you?”

Fayth

At her question as to whether he’d ever played a Jedi in a holonovel, his face burned. “No?” Whether he had or nod not, he wasn’t sure if she would believe that to begin with. In truth, he’d thought about it as a kid. But since he’d gained his current abilities and started developing them? No. There’d always been too much going on. But now that she’d presented the idea, it intrigued him immensely. One of the great things about a holonovel, is for a time, you really could go to another place and be someone else. At least, your brain didn’t really know the difference. It was imagination on steroids, and about as real as one could ever get.

Sharah wasn’t sure why he seemed embarrassed at the idea. His thoughts conveyed a very exciting story collection. Holo novels were amazing and helped to direct one’s time and imagination. It also allowed, for Sharah anyway, for the chance to genuinely learn about and interact with people without her gift. She thought it sounded fun.

“I might have to try that,” he said as his shoulders dropped a little, his head tilted to one side just so. “Perhaps you might join me?”

Mark

“I think I would enjoy that. I might have to do some research on these Jedi first.” Then she tipped her head slightly in a similar fashion, “Or maybe not. More surprises that way. Learn as I go.” She picked her water up and there was a feeling I f curiosity and quiet contemplations from her before she smiled, “Just let me know when.”

Ever since they got there, every so often Sharah’s gaze would wander toward the wall between the living and sleeping area. Thought she tried not to because she didn’t want Markus to misunderstand where her thoughts were. But on the other side of that wall was a very distinct feeling. He had a plant in there, but one whose feelings were very similar to one she extremely familiar with. It seemed amplified, but that was probably because she was upset over that day and thinking about her own in her quarters.

Sharah

“Well, I’m sure we can come up for something to introduce you as we go. Perhaps an initiate?” He shrugged with the smile only turning brighter for a few moments. “As for when, I have a lot of data from our guests to crunch through. But maybe after?” He caught her glances toward his room and her wandering attention. She didn’t seem the time to be having bedroom thoughts in particular, especially since they’d met only an hour or two prior. But he id have something special in there: a bonsai tree from home.

“After is great. Our guest is rather…confusing. And those lights floating around his head appear to be attached to him in some way, but not really a part…” At the held up finger she drew silent and watched as he went into the bedroom. Her face flushed pink enough he’d know she was embarrassed, even though he’d feel it as well, at being caught distracted. Not that she hadn’t been paying attention to the conversation. In fact she’d been enjoying it, but it was like catching your favorite song playing near by and so you’d always recognize it when you hear it.

Remembering earlier he caught her attention with a little motion of his hand, then held one finger up in a silent ‘wait a moment’ and shifted to his feet, gliding over the carpeted floor. Disappearing through the doorway, he came back carrying a terracotta looking pot that was shallow but wide, with a miniature tree nestled in some rocks and rich soil. If one didn’t have a sense of perspective, it would have looked like a rather large and shapely tree growing on the pleasant slope of a mountain. Bringing it over, he sat down and sat it on the low table. The pot was around twenty-four centimeters wide, and easily eighteen wide, and at least twelve deep. The tree itself had a large, full canopy with branches in four directions, ideally the cardinal directions. But also each branch seemed to settle over a feature. A small divot that held water, like a small pool. A patch of rock. Over the side of the pot into empty air. And another over what appeared to be softly glowing crystals that resembled the embers of a fire. They surrounded the tree, and drew in to a central trunk and canopy, gently, over time trained into the shape.

Overall it seemed happy, the soil was damp and rich, with enough rocks to cling to for strength, and it was well-fed and neatly trimmed.

“I presume you wanted to meet this little guy,” he said with a small grin.

Mark

When Mark set the pot down, Sharah quietly moved off the couch and knelt on the floor. She glanced over at him, a very soft and content smile on her face. And the feeling of gratitude for sharing but more so for acceptance. There was a hint of apology tempered with the knowledge that she knew things like this would happen again despite her efforts. Her hands hovered about a half an inch away from the leaves. “Himalayan Cedar. He’s rather dignified, isn’t he?” She listened quietly for a moment, “He likes the crystals, they’re warm. The design is beautiful.” She contemplated something for a long quiet moment and then turned her head to look at him. ‘Mark? Would you let me share something with you?’ And he would get the impression that it had to do with her talents and plants.

Sharah

Tilting his head, if he’d have been a dog, she would have seen his ears perk at the use of his name. He wasn’t exactly the most fond of either version of his given name. Not when most people used it. But coming from her, the tone, cadence, and texture to it, all the associations that went into it .. he liked. It was almost relaxing. Curiosity and interest layered itself through his mental contact. That his little bonsai was generally happy, and liked the crystals made him smile, flooding him with a kind of relief, making him aware there was a held worry there he’d been oblivious to. At the same time, he was pleased that she used his name and that it didn’t grate on him like sandpaper, as when most people used it. ‘Sure? What do you have in mind, Sharah?‘

Mark