Posted by Major General Charles Tenkiller (Vice-Commander, Colonial Customs and Defense Agency) in Plaza Exchange - Skipping Class

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Sharah Fayth (Chief Star Fleet Medical Officer) in Plaza Exchange - Skipping Class

Posted by Major General Charles Tenkiller (Vice-Commander, Colonial Customs and Defense Agency) in Plaza Exchange - Skipping Class
Posted by… suppressed (8) by the Post Ghost! 👻
It was a quarter to one when Tenkiller arrived at the Plaza Exchange, Oed’s own bazaar and mecca for deals… both legitimate and otherwise. The vendors were out and there was music and the stomach of street food and everything was vibrant colors.

Tenkiller leaned up against the wall of a nearby storefront. He was no longer in uniform; now he was dressed in blue jeans, brown boots, a Western-style red and white checked shirt… and a cowboy hat pulled low over his eyes to shield them from the bright Oed sun.

Tenkiller

Ilena was a good friend. A small request and half an hour after Charles left, Ilena called the house saying Sharah was needed at the hospital. In her office she had changed into jeans and sandles, with a sleevless deep red button down. She used a single clip to pull her Medusa like curls out of her face and tucked her combadge into her pocket.

10 minutes to 1 Sharah was moving her way through the entrance to the Plaza Exchange. If the PE was vibrant on the senses it was no less so on the telepathic senses. She was listening for the one presence in the crowd she wanted to find, and avoiding others. She felt him immediately, spotting him through the crowd took a bit longer. The four gods help her, he was wearing that hat. ‘Charles, it should be illegal for you to look that good.’

Sharah

His keen eyes spied her before she saw him, and he stood just right so the hat would have its full effect. He smiled as she approached and gave her a flirtatious wink. “Hey there, sexy. Come here often?” he asked when she was about ten feet away. He pushed off rhe wall, met her halfway, and touched the brim of his hat with a nod at her. “Why Miss Sharah… you look simply beautiful. Hope whatever guy is lucky enough to be meetin’ ya appreciates how lucky his is.” and he smiled and kissed her, right there on the sidewalk.

Tenkiller

Sexy? He had to be talking about himself. Sharah smiled at him and the pink in her cheeks had nothing to do with the sun. “No, just once, but today I had an invitation I did not want to ignore.” Her stomach flipped and flopped as he walked toward her and she felt way too hot for the temperature today. Could people tell how crazy and giddy she was about him? Did she even care? “I am pretty sure he knows how lucky we both are and that I am totally crazy about him.” His kisses were like water needed to live. She kissed him back and didn’t even care about the notice they were getting. She was with Charles so it didn’t matter.

Sharah

“Oh, he knows.” he said with a grin after they were done border-line making out on the sidewalk. “And he is crazy about you, too.” He took her hand and said “C’mon. Let’s get a drink.” He laced his fingers into hers and they walked slowly down the sidewalk away from the noise and display of the Exchange until they came to a narrow, pedestrian-only street. Turning down the right side, Charles led her to a place that certainly stood out.

The outside looked like a beach bungalow. Inside, chaise lounges set against a holographic backdrop of beach, ocean, waves, and sun turned the inside of the building into the very essence of the name of the establishment:

A Day At The Beach.

Charles asked for seating for two away from everything, and the host nodded. They led the couple to the back area where the scene shifted into a secluded cove covered by swaying palm trees. Charles gestured to a lounge chair and then leaned back in the chair next to her. “This place is great. And… since you don’t drink, they have the largest selection of real fruit juices on Oed.” and he grinned.

Tenkiller

Sharah leaned back in the chair and looked at him, “Thank you.” No he didn’t do it to seek thanks, he did it because he cared. Sharah thanked him because his action mattered to her and she wanted him to know that. She looked up at the holographic scene, “This is very cool. You know all the best places.” She grabbed a menu off the table and began to read. “We would have to come here every week for 3 years to try all this.” She read through them, “Hmmm a Minty Tickle made with Soft Mangosteen juice and mint or a Forest Starlight made with Daydream Berry and Dromiard?”

Sharah

Charles snorted. “Minty Tickle? Sounds like something V would do to you.” and he laughed. He looked at his menu and said “What about the Silence Is Golden? Goldrode berry, arctic rose, and lemonade?” He looked at all the drinks and then said “Oh, here we go. Spicy tomato, Bitter Jackdaw fruit, and Deltan hot pepper. Thats gonna be epic.” and he closed his menu.

Tenkiller

Sharah laughed, “It does! I don’t know if I should tell her that though.” The menu was perused a moment longer. “I will try your spicy tomato. I have a feeling I will regret it. And....Silence is Golden. Lemonade sounds safe enough. Oh it comes as a slush. I’m getting that.” When the waiter came that’s what she ordered.

Sharah

After ordering, Charles looked at her and said “So how are doing, my love? I imagine the whole mess was aot to handle. You ok?” He reached out and took her hand in his, and then he smiled. “I have everything to say, you handled it a hell of a lot better than I did.” and he chuckled.

Tenkiller

Sharah breathed deeply and shook her head, even as he squeezed his hand. “I don’t think I am. I can’t stand to be in the same area as Eela. My empathy and telepathy are overwhelming, but it allows me to not only know what people feel but to understand why they feel it and why they react the way they do. It has…made me very unjudgemental. She has a right to be angry, it is even understandable that she focused that anger and fear on the nearest people. It was a given it would happen, but…I’m angry.” Sharah stared off into the middle distance. “There is a lot of anger about this going around as it spreads. And the spread has nothing to do with the media vid. People who were involved and those that need to be in the know. A small amount but it’s like....A light house in the storm. It’s hard to ignore. I know that is affecting how I feel. And Eela’s anger and resentment and fear is too. It’s easier with so many minds between me and her now, but I am still angry at her, which isn’t fair to Eela. Yavia knew though. It’s why she sent me to my room.”

“I’m not…well, I haven’t been. You and Yavia know that. I feel better, but I am not well yet. I don’t really know if that is a true possibility. There is no break. And then add the rampant fear about the Vren and I feel pretty raw.”

Sharah

Charles nodded in understanding and said “I’m really sorry, Sharah. I wish there was something… anything… I could do to help.” He squeezed her hand and said “You know I am so in love with you, right? You amaze me everyday, and the fact you are with me just… it blows my mind. But part of that is trying to share each others burdens. And I would do anything to try and share yours.”

Tenkiller

Sharah looked over at him, “I know you would, but I am so glad you can’t. I would not wish this on anyone. That’s why I’m so afraid to have kids. Not that I don’t want them, but I can’t risk passing this on.” She waved at her head with her free hand. She leaned over and kissed his hand. “You do help. You and Yavia. You two kind of…hold me together when I can’t control it, when it gets away from me. I noticed it after that first weekend. I’m not sure what changed or how. At home it’s tangible, but even here next to you, I can feel it. Home has become a sanctuary that I never thought I would have.”

“It blows all our minds we’re together, really. I try not to think about the how or the why too much. That leads to me needing to be distracted, and as much fun as that can be, I would rather you not have to drag me out of that dark place again.” Sharah looked at him in the chair next to her and just smiled. “I love you so much, Charles, and I am thankful every day for you.” It was becoming easier to let herself make that connection with him and Yavia. To allow herself to make that connection, to let her heart connect and share how she felt, how he made her feel and how she felt about him, “How are you?”

Sharah