Posted by Civilian Jezem (Upstanding Citizen) in Forging the Future

Posted by Civilian Eryn Romanov (Colonial Intelligence Agent) in Forging the Future

Posted by Civilian Thyr Th’arialat (Resident) in Forging the Future
Posted by… suppressed (9) by the Post Ghost! 👻
<snip>
“I heard you the first time,” Jezem huffed dismissively and boarded the transport behind Shivan. While the shuttle carried them away, Jezem used a console on the inside of the transport to browse the store catalogue which did not list prices. Poor Shivan. Nothing is going to go his way, and now he’s trapped. Caught in the unfortunate winds of Jezem’s whims. “What’s got your panties in a twist over a simple shopping trip?” He couldn’t help but tease.

Jezem

“If it’s comfortable and does what it’s supposed to, I don’t care what it looks like,” Shivan replied with a shrug, gesturing to his current outfit, which fit those requirements. “I just wanna get something that works. And I still can’t bend very well. Dressing in regular clothes is going to hurt.”

~ Thyr

“Then don’t undress yourself. Go find some sweet thing to do that for you.” Jezem teased with a bawdy smirk. “I’m sure we’ll find something that suits your needs.” He added with a hum before closing the console screen. They weren’t far from their destination.

Jezem

Shivan made a face and then came up with a way to harass Jezem. “You’re a sweet thing, maybe you should be my personal dressing aid all day. Shopping trip’s your idea, anyway.” He gave Jezem a playful, teasing look.

~ Thyr

Jezem’s expression remained amused, but there was a flash of something dangerous in his eyes. He stepped towards Shivan with languid, easy grace and leaned close to the andorian. “I’m sweet am I? Careful, honey, even the sweetest of fruits can be poisoned. Are you sure you want my hands on your. . .” He drifted off, seemingly hunting for the right word, “Your vulnerable flesh?” Some of Jezem’s favorite poisons were those he could apply to the tips of his nails then quickly and suddenly deliver to his target with them none the wiser until it was too late.

Jezem

Shivan recognized the look, he remembered Jezem’s methods. Grinning confidently, not letting his gaze drift from Jezem he said, “Oh, yes, I really do.” He did not lean away from Jezem, instead holding his position, seemingly completely unintimidated by Jezem.

~ Thyr

This idiot. Jezem leaned close only to shove his hand onto Shivan’s face to gently push the other’s head back, “You are shameless. What would Argam think if he heard you saying such things? Are you trying to be a homewrecker?” How curious. An interaction they’ve never had before. Turns out they could do something other than argue and fight. The orion backed off and settled into a seat across from Shivan. Several moments later their shuttle dropped down into a high-end shopping district. Jezem would lead the way from here to the store of his choice.

Jezem

Still unintimidated, Shivan looked down at Jezem with a little shrug. “Argam trusts you. What I asked was innocent, not the request of someone who… wants you.” When the shuttle landed, Shivan followed Jezem into the store. “This the place?”

~ Thyr

“This is the place,” Jezem said and breezed into the store that lacked the utilitarian design and layout of a commercial store where space was maximized for the presentation and sale of goods. Here, the store had various displays with attractive decorations built around various changing rooms. There were only one of each item on display and clerks waited in the wings. One approached Jezem and Shivan and offered them both refreshments while subtly pointing them towards an open changing room.

Jezem spoke first, and ordered several protective clothes. Despite all appearances, this was a shop that specialized in well-made clothes able to withstand wear and tear of practical work.

Jezem

This store had to be way outside his budget. This was one of those fancy-pants places where you weren’t even allowed to shop on your own. The clothes Jezem asked for were taken to the fitting room for Shivan. Undressing was easy, he was still wearing Orion wear. Dressing on the other hand, was harder. The shirt was easy. The pants were not so easy. He couldn’t lean down far enough to pull them up. It took him nearly half an hour to figure out how to pull them up and he had no idea how to get them off. They fit okay. Shivan stepped out of the dressing room. “Alright, Jezem, how about these?”

~ Thyr

Jezem plopped himself onto a plush divan and graciously accepted the tray of fresh fruit and cheese placed upon a low table before him. Someone else brought out bottle of wine chilling in a matte black ice bucket. The orion sipped on wine, and ate his fill of locally produced fruit and dairy products all while Shivan struggled against fabric in the another room.

He glanced up from the honest to gods paper catelouge and gave Shivan’s appearance a cursory glance. “It’s a good fit, try on these next,” He motioned to a woman carrying a heavier long-sleeve shirt, another style of pants and two pairs of sturdy work boots. “Try these next.”

Jezem

“Jezeeeem,” Shivan complained, looking at the next outfit and two pairs of boots. “If these fit, why do I need to try those on?” He asked, taking the clothes from the store worker to be polite. Not to mention, he was certain everything here was out of his price range, not that he was going to say that aloud. “Can’t we just shop by size?”

~ Thyr

“No, because clothes of the same size can hang on the body in completely different ways. Just because something is the same size doesn’t mean it will look just as nice.” Jezem said with the authority of a person experienced in such things. “Try these on with the boots and then we can leave,” He added, hoping to tempt Shivan into complying.

Jezem

Shivan gave Jezem a pouty look and then disappeared into the fitting room with the shirt, pants, and two pairs of boots. Near twenty minutes later, he came out wearing the shirt, the pants, and one of the pairs of boots, hand pressed to his side. “Happy?”

~ Thyr

This time when Shivan returned Jezem was surrounded by boxes of purchased goods. He gave Shivan another look over, approving, “Excellent,” Then turned to the store clerk finalizing his purchases, “And he’ll wear that out,” In one graceful movement Jezem stood and waltzed towards Shivan without a care in the world, “Since I purchased so much the store allowed you a discount on one item. I did the math and you can buy the other pair of shoes for 200 credits.”

Jezem

When Shivan stepped out and saw what Jezem was buying, he pointed a finger, “Those had best be for you.” Then he groaned and shook his head. “Alright, alright, fine… I’ll buy the pair of shoes.” He muttered, “Can’t believe they’re 200 credits after the discount.” Apparently, he was wearing this outfit out, so he tugged on the shirt to straighten it and quickly swiped the clothes he’d arrived in, his Orion outfit, from the dressing room.

~ Thyr

“You’re paying for quality, don’t forget that,” Jezem said, entirely unrepentant. “We got your clothes, now take me to your new boss. We need to have a few words her and I,” There was a flash of something dangerous behind Jezem’s eyes. Eryn wasn’t the type of person to give someone a bad deal but Shivan wasn’t in the best negotiating position and there are plenty of people in this universe, even decent sort, who would take advantage of that.

Jezem

Shivan shook his head. “I can’t pay you back. I don’t even wanna know how much all that cost you.” Then he nodded, “I told you, you can come to my meet with her, tomorrow at 0700 sharp. Then you can have all the words you want.” He gave Jezem a look and then, “Captain.”

~ Thyr

“Did I ask you to pay me back?” Jezem answered, then added, like it came to him as an afterthought, “If you must think of it as an investment on your future. So you better keep this job and give it your all.” Perhaps the extra motivation is something Shivan needs. The orion sighed, “If you think calling me that gets you whatever you want. . . then you better not abuse it. Come on, let’s get groceries for dinner tonight.”

Jezem

Shivan sighed, not liking that idea. Giving ‘his all’ to legitimate jobs never went well. Jezem was going to be disappointed… And Shivan didn’t know why that idea bothered him so much. “I was talking more about your ordering me about, vetting my jobs.”

As they were walking out of the store, “Why do you give a crap about my future? Especially…” He gestured to their purchase, “this much of a crap?”

~ Thyr

As they walked, Jezem stayed silent for a long moment. Carefully considering his answer. “I could count the people I care about on two hands. Being able to. . . take care of those people is new to me. Not in the captain way of making sure everyone has supplies or food. But in a-,” He grimaced, “Selfless way. For the first time in my life I can give without expecting anything in return. It’s. . . new and I still can’t tell if I hate it or not.”

Jezem

Shivan blinked at the implication he was on the list of less than ten that Jezem cared about. Jezem’s statement was touching, but in a way Shivan was afraid to accept. What if Jezem decided he didn’t like being selfless? Then Shivan’s pathetic self would be out a… Well back to square one, really. It was a major fear in the back of his mind, and the reason he refused to put all his eggs in the Jezem basket, figuratively speaking. Awkwardly changing the topic, he said, “So.... Grocery shopping. What a strange concept to me.”

~ Thyr

Maybe Shivan was right to worry. Jezem himself didn’t know if he liked this. . . softer side of himself. Unsure if kindness was a luxury a man like him could ever afford. He breathed easier as they moved on to easier, simpler topics. He rolled his eyes, “I would have let you and the others shop for the food if I could have trusted any of you to stay in budget and not recklessly spend on whatever your whims were.” Much easier to vet a supplier and then buy in bulk and have it all delivered to the ship. Orion spices made up for any lacking quality.

Jezem

Shivan shook his head, “I didn’t really grocery shop before Pavlajia either.” He looked embarrassed, “I don’t actually know how to cook. Or like… Meal plan, or anything.” He was glad to be talking about something lighter. He might have to set up an emergency ‘Jezem’s kicking me out’ bag.

~ Thyr

Jezem shot Shivan a pitying look some how came across as fond, “Search the intranet. Go the library. But I suppose I can teach you a thing or two to get you started. They’re not as hard as you’re likely making them out to be.”

Jezem

Shivan made a face. “Being a criminal was easier.” He sighed a long, heavy sigh. “Wish that hadn’t gone down the gutter. Let’s take a seat somewhere.” He suggested, still holding his side. “All that trying things on… didn’t do too well for me.”

~ Thyr

“Well, duh, and more exciting. Welcome to the mundane life enjoyed by the vast majority of the universe. You’ve become commonplace.” Jezem condescendingly patted Shivan’s shoulder, all while smirking at the mention of his sore and battered body. “There’s a bench over there. We wouldn’t want to overexert yourself before your big day.” Jezem let Shivan lean on him as they made their way over to the bench.

Shivan rested for nearly 20 minutes, spending the time complaining about the mundanities of life. Then they waited for the shuttle.

The Orion let him have as much rest as he needed before calling for a shuttle to take them home. Where Jezem let Shivan take up as much space on the couch and lay for as long as he desired while Orion soaps played in the background.

It was on the couch that Shivan fell asleep again, watching Orion soaps, curled up on the sofa.

The next morning Jezem prepared a hearty breakfast and ensured Shivan got up and had plenty of time to bathe, dress and eat before they needed to depart.

Jezem

Shivan was up in the morning, not wanting to be late. If anything, he had always been timely. Well… Barring any unfortunate holdups. He used the sonic shower (it actually wasn’t that bad, bathing was much faster in there), then went to the bedroom and dressed in one of the outfits they’d bought the day before which took him a while. Finally he went out and eased himself into a chair to eat. “You’re still planning on having your little chat with her?”

Jezem looked up from where he placed the finishing touches on Shivan’s lunch. The boxed lunch looked more ready for a photoshoot than it was to be someone’s meal. The important thing was that it tasted as good as it looked. Which was quite tasty. The orion gave the andorian a look that amounted to: “don’t ask stupid questions”.

At 0700 sharp, they arrived where Eryn had requested he meet with her.

~ Thyr

Eryn was leaned against a wall of a building, one leg bent with her foot flat to the wall. She was wearing leathereque pants, that carried far too many weapons, a short sleeved t-shirt that met the waist band but gave a hint of scarring beneath, and a utility belt hung low on her hips. Her white blonde hair was spikey from dampness, but drying in the brisk breeze. She spotted them the moment they arrived. Didn’t know anything about Jezem? HA! She of course had known Jezem and his husband had arrived on Oed, and there was no way Jezem didn’t know about ‘Thyr.’ Well this was going to be interesting. She supposed Jezem was going to give her a good warning, interrogation session and what not. She smirked.

Romanov

Jezem approached Eryn, dressed in his typical orion attire and no less armed. His weapons just happened to double as glittering, golden jewelry. ‘I hate that smirk’, Jezem thought, and let his irritation flash across his eyes. “It’s been a while, Eryn,” He said in a easy, lilting tone that didn’t match the coldness of his eyes. He won’t waste time posturing. She knew what he was capable of.

Jezem

Shivan wore the expensive work clothes Jezem had purchased. He followed behind Jezem the same way he used to on Pavlajia: like the backup muscle. Except this time he was a pathetic nobody, and Jezem was… protecting him? What world were they in again? “0700. I came, as promised.” He commented. He shot Jezem a look as he added, “Somebody decided I’m too stupid to live. Or make deals for myself.” Not that he didn’t appreciate Jezem, but he did feel like it made him look even more pathetic than he already was.

~ Thyr