Posted by Civilian Karina Enger (Director of Education) in Another Night, Another Swim

Posted by Civilian Jewel Stone (Police Detective) in Another Night, Another Swim

Posted by Civilian Karina Enger (Director of Education) in Another Night, Another Swim
Posted by… suppressed (43) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Standing near the edge of the rooftop pool of the Miscall apartment complex, Jewel stretched her shoulders and back. She was wearing a pair of bikini bottoms and a mid-drift swim tank. It was late , it was always late when she got home, and was the reason she was still single. Her stress level was still very high from the days events, something she was trying to forget.

The pool was technically closing in 20 minutes but she had gotten permission to use the pool after hours given her schedule as long as she was quiet and no one complained. She was in great shape, her lean toned muscle from all the exercises, she was arguably in better shape than someone half her age. She had to be, her job could be physically demanding and dangerous. Nights she spent swimming and doing yoga, early morning she would kick box and lift in the apartment gym.

Laying out her matt and towel she laid across her legs preparing to enter her yoga routine. The stretch ached as her muscles relaxed more it felt great.

Detective Inspector Jewel Stone

Karina had had a long day. Her work wasn’t physically demanding, but she felt like it was. She was carrying the day’s stress in her neck and between her shoulder blades. She had a headache from sitting hunched over a computer staring at the screen most of the day.

Getting home, she tried to sit back and relax, but she was too tense, too overdone from the day. The pool was still open. She wasn’t a great swimmer, but the water relaxed her and gave her something physical to do. She slipped into her copper colored one piece with the open midriff. She took the lift to the roof and stepped onto the cool tiled space.

Jewels face turned from her knees as someone walked out of the lift, ‘odd people are not usually up her this late’ she thought. She did not recognize the woman which was not a surprise however, as she had been in the building two years and had really not met anyone. She was far to busy and almost ever around when others were.

Her eyes scanned the space. She saw a woman she wasn’t overly familiar with, doing yoga by the pool. She was in exceptionally good shape. Karina was fit, but she was by no means as tone. She smiled and nodded politely before putting her towel down and slipping into the water. It was still warm and she groaned softly as she let her body become weightless.

Enger, DOE
Stone returned her nod as she moved past and pushed her face back into her knees trying to extend past them. When she heard the groan she turned her face toward the pool, Jewel as anything but shy, in fact she loved to socialize she just did not a a lot of opportunity to do so in a non work setting. “Rough day?”, her she asked softly taking the chance to be social while she could.

Detective Inspector Jewel Stone

Karina raised her head and let her feet sink toward the bottom of the pool. “Too many rough days back to back.” The woman’s voice was slightly mechanical in nature, but she had kind eyes. She also had large developed temporal lobes behind her ears, marking her as Cairn (if the woman knew anything about other species). “I hope I am not disturbing you.”

Enger, DOE

She had not noticed that the woman as Cairn, she was not intimately familiar with them but she had a grasp of most of the know species the frequented federation space. “No you are not bothering me even a little, I don’t get to socialize much” she responded. “It’s nice” she said as she rolled out of her stretch and stood up, her eight pack abs flexed as she stretched her arms above her head. She then sat down at the edge of the pool her feet entering the water, she was not going to get much yoga in while talking so she reversed course and decided to work toward swimming.

“Sorry you had rough couple days, hard when they come one after another. ” she said stirring her feet in the water. “I don’t catch people up her this late normally.” she noted , she was going to ask the woman if she wanted to talk but it felt in appropriate . “Been living her long?” she asked.

Detective Inspector Jewl Stone

The woman smiled and moved through the water, obviously not a strong swimmer. “It happens. Cyc… rhythms of life.” She shook her head no. “I work late most days. Today I returned early.” Her head tipped to the side, taking in the woman’s form. She was even more fit than she realized. If she was caught staring, Karina wasn’t embarrassed by it. “Four years, but I have not… settled in,” the woman said. “I am Karina Enger.”

Enger, DOE

Jewel smiled warmly “Jewel Stone,” her soft voice was inviting . “I thought I was the only night owl in the building” she said with a small snort, as she slid into the water. ” she was avoiding the What do you do talk because people reacted odd around her once they new she was a detective. Might as well get it over with she thought. “So what’s got you up all hours of the night?” she asked as she pulled herself gracefully around the surface.

Detective Inspector Jewl Stone

Karina watched her move easily through the water with envy. Karina had been given an excellent crash course in swimming, but she was not that skilled. Compared to Jewel she probably looked like a drowning cat. “I am the director of education for Oed. It is an endless task.” Everyone knew about the new university that had opened two years prior. And with the dome gone, people were moving to Oed in droves. They didn’t have enough buildings for the school children. “What about you, Jewel?”

Enger, DOE

Jewel settled into a tread in the deeper end of the pool, might as well work out while I work, she thought. “Wow, I was not expecting that to be honest, that’s a lot of work” she said, that’s a lot of work,she knows that Jewel she said to her self, she found her self now taking her in for the first time, she was quite stunning. She blushed and hid it by dipping her head backwards.

Karina laughed softly, it was a slightly odd sound with the mechanical edge to it. “It is.”

here we go, mybe since she was busy and worked for the government she will understand she thought, Jewel really wanted a friend that she could just be herself around, “Im a Detective Inspector for the city” she noted waiting for the woman’s expression to shift.

Detective Inspector Jewl Stone

Karina had tipped back to let the water tug her hair back. She looked up with interest. “Really?” She didn’t look repulsed or put off at all. Just genuinely intrigued. “That must be fas… fasci.” Of course now that she was tired the word would not form. She took a breath, “fascinating.”

Enger, DOE

Jewel did not really react one way or the other to her vocal studder. Fascinating, I guess someone on the outside would think that, and in a way it was she thought. “I guess it can be” she said her stress appearing revealing her worry lines in more detail. “It can be very taxing emotionally if you let it” she noted not wanting to sugar coat it to much. “The influx of new people has certainly made things interesting as of late, I’m guessing the same is true for your work” She said continuing to tread water, she was not even breathing hard.

Detective Inspector Jewel Stone

Karina didn’t venture as far into the deep water as Jewel. She could tread water where she was, but with a hand she could stretch and reach the side if she got into trouble. “Yes, I believe it can be heavy on the mind. The science of for ren sics has intrigued me.”

She nodded with a sigh and a roll of stiff shoulders. “Yes. It is good to see Oed grow. Not so good for headaches.”

Enger, DOE

She continued to tread water trying to work her core strength while talking, it was a good work out. She watched the woman roll her shoulders trying to shake out the tension . I could offer to work that kink out of her neck, but that would be a little weird she thought, “There’s a hot tub over there, we can take the conversation over there if you would like? Might work the kinks out” she suggested.

Detective Inspector Jewel Stone

Karina’s eyes snapped up and toward the hot tub. “I forget it is there.” She stretched out her arms, moving across the water toward the ladder. Karina gripped the rail and pulled herself up out of the water. “Shall we?” she asked over her shoulder. The breeze rushed past and she shivered, it raising goose bumps on her skin.

Enger, DOE

Jewel smiled, “Sounds nice actually” she said looking at her as she exited the pool she subconsciously licked her lips. “Cold?” she asked as she did a soft breast stroke to the stairs.

Karina nodded. “The air is cold and so is the water.” She didn’t reach for the towel though. She was watching Jewel instead. How had she missed seeing this woman living in her building?

_She is really pretty, _ she thought but brushed it off. Grabbing the handle she stepped up the stairs the soft layer of clear hair stood on end, goose bumps forming all over her. “Crap” she said laughing, not really thinking she giggle grabbing onto Enger’s arm, pulling her to the hot tub, “Lets get in before we freeze to death” she said starting to move toward the pool.

Detective Inspector Jewel Stone

Karina laughed and put her other hand over Jewel’s hand on her arm and did a rushed speed walk to the hot tub and sank into the hot water. Her face scrunched up and she puffed out a breath over the sting of the heat. No sound came out though. Karine sank down to her chin innthe water and sighed.

Enger, DOE
Jewel laughed all the way to the hot tube, it had been a long time since she laughed with anyone else, most the time she was just laughing at a holo movie. She sank all the way under the water, the heat releasing the blood flow and her muscles relaxed. “Wooo, that feels great!” she laughed sitting up she leaned against the tub her arms spread out on the lip of the tub. “So tell me, what do you like to do for fun?” she asked trying to return to some small talk, she felt very relaxed.

Detective Inspector Jewel Stone

“Fun?” The word was drawn out in that mechanical hint. Like she was testing it out. “What is this word?” she asked with obvious sarcasm. “I used to have time for fun. I enjoy music. Playing music or try - ing. And animals. I used to foster animals.” Karina laid her head back on the wall and let out a sigh. Most people would moan as the muscles released, but the sound was too deep for her vocal enhancer. She watched Jewel as they talked, she seemed to naturally fill up the space with her presence. “You?”

Enger, DOE

Jewel leaned forward, the steam from the the surface of the rumbling water curled around her face, the warm mist soothing her. She let out a soft sigh as she listened to what Karina was saying. She related on so many levels and was enjoying the company. “I used to have a dog, but my x girlfriend took her, ” she said remembering, “Better that way I guess, i’m never home,and when I am I’m sleeping” some frustration escaped her otherwise composed demeanor. “Fun, honestly this is the most fun I have had in a long time, I was hoping to live vicariously through you” she laughed. “I used to rock climb, and hike a lot, now I mostly sit in the dark by my in a blanket, reading or watching movies” she said laying her head back.

Detective Inspector Jewel Stone

“Better but still hurts,” Karina said with insight about the dog. “I like to be outside.” Karina lifted a hand, hot steam floating off her skin, and waved it to encompass everything. “The outside of Oed is not fully grown yet. But it is more every day.”

“Someday I’ll take a vacation and go somewhere off world” she said her voice indicated it was more of a dream than a reality. She stirred the top of the water with her fingers as she listened.

“Have you always lived on Oed?” Many people had. Karina had not, but she liked it here, and had no intention of leaving.

“If you want to live vi…” her brows drew together over the word. She shook her head. “Live through others, come watch the people at the university. Better than holo shows.” She laughed again.

Her eyes widened, “Oh I love people watching” she said her voice squeaked up and octave. “Sometimes I make up stories about them while i’m eating my lunch” she noted.

Karina smiled at the slight change in Jewel’s voice. The excitement. “You should come to the university then. Lots of places to eat, I could show you the best places to watch.” She offered without thinking.

“I want a pet, but I am not home enough.”

Enger, DOE

Jewel was surprised by the invite but receptive, there was a slight problem though because her job had a tendency to get in the way of schedulels. It was best to just be honest she thought. “Well, I would love too, how does tomorrow sound, around noon? Just be aware that my job may interrupt or cause me to have to reschedule ” she asked, her mouth was suddenly parched.

“I understand. Keeping a colony safe is a life style, not just a career. Sometimes, I have to cancel too.” It was the nature of the position.

“I’m thirsty, do you want something she asked, turning her back to Karina to exit the hot tub, every muscle in her body flex as as she pulled herself out of the hottub, water cascaded from her hair down her back. She was prepared for the cold as it hit her body once again sending hair and goosebumps to attention as she raised on her tiptoes to avoid the cold ground. “Cold, Cold, Cold” she repeated as she move to the replicator.

Detective Inspector Jewel Stone

It was a beautiful thing to watch, all that muscle and grace. Jewel had longer hair than Karina had realized. “Anything fruity, but no synthehol.” Karina’s laugh floated out over the water as Jewel ran. “Get back in the warm water,” she suggested.

Enger, DOE
“2 strawberry Kiwi lemonades” she said, the two drinks quickly materialized in a swirl of light, she did not run back her feet and body was starting get get used to the temperature. She walked slowly, one foot in front of the other, leaning slightly forward presenting the two drinks as she walked. She wiggled the drinks slightly as she approached the tub. “This my favorite drink” she said sliding back into the water next to Karina, not to close but an intentional shift in posture. “I hope you like it” she said handing her the glass.

Karina raised up just slightly from the water. Enough the cold air shivered her shoulders. She grabbed both glasses to hold while Jewel got back in the water. “It looks fun.” Karina said taking a sip. The cold was a sharp contrast to the hot water and sour rasp was fun.

“Lets see where were we, My foster parents moved here in the mid 80’s” she said “I want to say 85 but I can’t remember.” she said her eyes searching for her response to the drink

Detective Inspector Jewel Stone

Karina grinned even as her mouth puckered at the sour taste. “Oh that’s good. I like lemonade, but… kwiwee? I have not had.”

“First timer,” she said with a grin, “I can’t get enough of it, but I can’t drink to much there’s a lot of sugar in it” she said taking another light sip, while keeping eye contact over her glass.

“You do not look like sugar bothers you at all,” Karina said, giving Jewel a direct once over.

Jewel cheeks flushed a little Karina’s eyes looked her over. “I don’t eat a lot of sugar, that’s what helps me stay this way” she said smiling “I have to stay in good shape for my job” she said a hint of defensiveness in her voice. “I do eat a lot of fruit though but it metabolizes differently

Karina didn’t quite catch the hint of defensiveness. But she nodded taking the comment at face value. “Your job is very physically demanding, yes? So after long hours then you have to workout?”

Jewel melted a little as Karina inquired about her job and her workout routine, she was not judging Jewel for what most people considered an unhealthy obsession with her fitness, her job was physically demanding sure, but there was something else too it something inside her that she did not fully understand and had a harder time explaining. She turned her head sideways a little, he long dark lashes batted a few times. “It is, and working out calms me down enough so I can sleep.” she said, “If i’m truthful, it runs deeper than that, something inside me that I don’t fully understand drives me too it” she said looking away not really understanding why she was being so detailed, and a little embarrassed that she had over shared.

Karina wondered if it was the fact she had no memory that drive her. To make sure she could protect herself. Jewel said she had no idea what had happened to her. That had to be scary and drive a deep need to protect herself. “There is nothing wrong with needing to do something you are driven to do. Unless it hurts you.” It was a qualifier she often had to use with her students, and it slipped out by habit. “I used to work out more.”

Did she just mom me Jewel thought to herself, how cute,she turned her face back toward Karina,” I work out a lot, you should join me. I’m on the roof at night and in the gym first thing in the morning, I kickbox and lift weights you should Join me. ” she said her voice getting excited.

“I am not much for kick box, but I could join you for the other. If it is early enough. My day starts very early. It is…” she tipped her head back and forth, “quiet. Time for me before meetings and demands.”

She looked at her a little excitement on her face. “I could teach you if you want,” she said, “Oh and I’m normally in the Gym by 5am, unless I got in super late” he prefaced.

“I could come for half an hour. My work starts at 6 a.m.” Karina could probably adjust that. She liked the quiet to get things done, but she did nit have to be there that early.

“If your ready to go, 20 min is a good starting piont” she said hopefully, “I,” she paused. “I don’t want you to be late for work, I could move back to 4:30 if that would help?” she really needed a friend some one who would understand her busy schedule and not through pans at her head.

Karina laughed again. “Please no. I am not a… morning person. 5 will be just fine.” Karina liked to sleep in and relax and have a slow start to the morning. That was a thing of her distant past though.

Jewel laughed, “That’s great, i’ll take the extra sleep believe me” she said. “Besides the workout will boost your energy for the morning before you get your first coffee. ” she said looking at her, “Do you drink coffee?” she asked

“Ra… ra… Forgive me. I can not say the word.” She sounded so frustrated. “Klingon coffee. Coffee is not strong enough now.”

Jewel smiled, “Sorry? you don’t need to apologize, I’m not sure I can say it .. Ra.. KAHH,TTTaaJJino” she said in her best Klingon impression her voice low and gruff and serious. She poked her in the rib softly.

Karina let out a snort and jumped to the side out of reflex when her side was poked. She didn’t seem offended at all, but contemplative. I wonder if she is ticklish as well. “Many have no pay…tience with my difficulties. Some words are hard to form.”

She placed her hand on Karina’s shoulder. “I’m and Inspector, I have patience for days” she said her eyes were filled with understanding .

Karina smiled and patted her hand. “It does not happen much now. But the vocal enhancer is still a machine.”

Foster parents. Karina had taught many students in that situation. She didn’t pry. She barely knew the woman. On Vair the information would be openly given, but Karina had been around enough to know that others prized privacy. “My father was Ambassador to the Federation. We moved a lot.”

Enger, DOE

“That must have been difficult,” she said shifting to face Karina placing one bent leg between them, her neck was getting tired, she leaned forward on her thigh resting her chin on her knee.

“Sometimes yes it was hard. Not always. I thought it was exciting. That is why I left home,” Karina mused. She had her family with her always, so nothing was harder than they could handle together.

“I don’t remember my childhood, I was found outside a Cardasian internment camp. I don’t remember anything before I woke up” she noted smiling over her knee.

Detective Inspector Jewel Stone

Karina’s eyes softened, “That must have been … ” she paused to make sure she had the word, “terrifying. They never found any distant family?” How scary to wake up alone with no memory and no family to protect you.

Enger, DOE

The lights from the tub were reflecting in her eyes, she smiled warmly. “They never found any genetic matches in the system. I might have family out there,” she said and then took another sip of the drink. “My sister is amazing though and I have a great family. How about you do you have any siblings?” she asked watching her.

Detective Inspector Jewel Stone

“I have a younger sister and younger brother. They are both still on Vair in school. What does your sister do?”

Enger, DOE

“My younger sister Tamsin,” she said with a little smile that said she absolutely adored her little sister. “She works in environmental, she audits the work to make sure things aren’t causing the environment problems, I don’t really understand it.” she said, I can’t wait to tell her about this woman, she is amazing she thought. “I adore my little Tamsy, she is such a good sister” she said.

Detective Inspector Jewel Stone

Karina smiled at the tone in Jewel’s voice. The love. “She is here on Oed? You get to see her often?”

Enger, DOE
“hu, oh yes sorry she works for Environmental here on Oed, she’s working with the terraformers now from what i understand.” she said apologetically. “Oh” she said suddenly and practically jumped out of the hot tube grabbed a PaDD that was sitting next to her things and skiped back to the hot tub. Bending over she sat the PaDD on it’s stand and next to Kariana a close as it could got without going in the water. She pressed play and then slid back into the water next to her. “Deltan Opera” she said “It’s amazing she said settling back against her leg.

Detective Inspector Jewel Stone

Karina watched her jump out of the water and hurry away and back. It was a good view, but the excited way Jewel rushed, the small exclamation they were all adorable. Jewel was adorable.

Karina watched her set up the PaDD. Music. Karina adored music. She closed her eyes on a sigh, letting her head rest back and listened.

Enger, DOE

Jewel scooted a little closer as she turned around laying her head back as well, she really did not say much as the opera played she just let the hot tube spray little mist bubble over her as the day’s worries and stress bubbled away with them. “Its so emotional, up and down , it’s hard to follow sometimes” she said in a low whisper like she was being careful not to scare the music away.

Detective Inspector Jewel Stone

“Mystical,” Karina agreed. It was moving, touching the soul. The water bubbled, adding another layer of ambiance.

Enger, DOE

“Makes me dream of a life where I’m not working all the time.” her nerves shot through the roof and her heart raced for a moment as the question popped into her head, was she seeing anyone, she though no most likely but it was to soon, she just felt so comfortable and she was so nice and pretty. what if she was not interested or she scared he off really just just wanted a date, oh god my head she thought as the emotion of the opera consumed her. NO NO I’ll wait “what do you dream about?” she asked calmly, even though her heart was beating out of her chest.

Detective Inspector Jewel Stone

It took Karina a moment to realize Jewel was meaning desires or goals or wants. Not actual dreams. Dreams in sleep for Cairn were very different, the lack of it made her feel quite isolated sometimes. “A successful university that does not need me all the time. So I can sleep in and maybe take a day off.” Those were realistic. “One day a family.” She would have to work a lot less than she did now.

Enger, DOE

She turned her head to look at Karina, “That sounds nice, I would like to see earth one day, ” she said looking her face over in details, the freckles and eyes held her captive. “A family, if only life would allow for a family” she said with longing. “I would have to keep a girlfriend for more than a few months” she said with a discouraged sniff. “It’s always the same, I can handle it, they say” she said some sadness in her voice. “Then months later, your never home, you leave all hours of the night. Ya ya ya” she said mockingly circling her hands in the air around nothing..

Detective Inspector Jewel Stone

“You should go. To Earth. Do… do not wait.” She smiled ruefully though, knowing how hard that was to practice.

“I am sorry it is like that for you. One day. Do not give up.” She stretched out her legs with a shake of her head. “I work to many hours to meet anyone. I only see employees and students all day. Then…” she contemplated how to word it. “I am me, and my childhood. My… culture. It upsets others.”

Enger, DOE

Jewel could not help but glance her over, she was so pretty. Jewels heart started racing again despite the calm of the music “I must admit I don’t know a lot about your people, I know your telepaths and don’t have vocal coders? why would people have a problem with your culture or childhood” she was genuine in her tone, curious even, but she still semi floated in the water trying to keep her body just under the surface to keep warm.

Detective Inspector Jewel Stone

“Our people are blunt. We are very open. We have no priv - acy. No topic is… taboo. We are not easily embarrased in that way. My father was an ambassador, but I was raised with our values. It… makes people uncomfortable.” Jewel was incredibly nice to talk to. “When I am blunt they assume I am using my telepathy without their permission.” Karina rolled her eyes. “We are not able to communicate with non telepaths. I have been accused of lying. It creates mistrust.”

Enger, DOE

Jewels heart was racing now, blunt the word had stuck so hard in her mind that she almost did not hear the rest of what Karina was saying, her head starting swimming around so fast she hardly knew what she was thinking. “I really like you” she blurted out like a bleat from a goat and then almost died of a heart attack

Detective Inspector Jewel Stone

Karina’s eyes widened being unused to bluntness from others. “I like you as well. I would like to take you to dinner.”

Enger, DOE

“I understan,” she had been so ready for rejection she had planed out her entire escape already, her heart skipped a beat and then melted. “Oh” was all that came out at first she sat silently in shock for a long time, like it knew what was going on the opera turned intense creating an odd tension.

She understood? Karina blinked. Had her voice malfunctioned? Then she smiled softly and reached over and brushed some hair behind Jewel’s shoulder. “The music is apt for the moment, is it not?”

Jewels eyes almost rolled back in her head when she touched her, she leaned a little into the touch without really thinking about it.

Karina’s eyes tracked the movement and her expression. Curious about this woman she repeated the light touch.

Jewel sighed softly at the second touch, she shook her head slightly drawing her mind back to reality.

She studied the woman’s face or the truth of it. “I would love that, I would still like to people watch with you tomorrow if that’s ok?” she liked blunt, blunt was easy do social dancing that she did not have time for.

Detective Inspector Jewel Stone

“I would like it very much if you did. Then we can plan dinner. If you must cancel, you will honor a rain…check.” Karina watched her face, her eyes. It wasn’t a question, but a statement. A hopeful statement.

Enger, DOE
“So, where are you taking me?” she asked playfully trying to distract herself from doing something stupid.

Detective Inspector Jewel Stone

“I have a few places in mind. But do you like to be surprised, Jewel?” Her mechanical voice turned the w into a ‘wh’ sound and gave the L a bit of a bell sound.

Enger, DOE

Jewel Squeaked with excitement. “I love surprises, Just tell me what to wear!” she said day dreaming about it she let her head fall back again a large smile on her face.

Detective Inspector Jewel Stone