Posted by Civilian Yavia Crockett (Nurse - Sacred Heart Hospital) in Ash & Petal Teashop - Weeks After Opening

Posted by Civilian Talen Veyl (New Arrival) in Ash & Petal Teashop - Weeks After Opening

Posted by Civilian Yavia Crockett (Nurse - Sacred Heart Hospital) in Ash & Petal Teashop - Weeks After Opening
Posted by… suppressed (11) by the Post Ghost! 👻

<snip>

Talen gave a slight chuckle. “Well, I’ve never been too keen on ferengi cuisine and drinks. Perhaps the other tease will be more in line with your tastes.”

He then reached for the ice blue pot and gently poured another cup for each of them. “This is a special andorian blend. The glacial infusion is what gives the tea a slight shock as it hits your tongue. And it’s very cold. Do not worry though. No risk of frostbite!” he ended on a chuckle.

The drink was a vibrant icy blue. There was a hint of fuity flavor to it, giving it a particular andorian sweetness to it.

It was cold and sent shivers down her spine and made goose bumps pebble her skin. It was just what was needed on the more barren areas of Oed. The work was hot out in the never ending sun. “This is very good. The fruit…” she took another sip, eyes closed focusing on the flavor, “4 different fruits?”

His lips curled into an appreciative grin. “Very good! Now the real test: Can you name those 4 fruits?” He asked with a hint of mischevious challenge.

Yavia took another sip, letting the tea sit on her tongue for a moment, “I taste Xixu, Vithi … no Vithi bulb, tuber root, and…” she took another ship, her face showing extreme concentration, “ah, Yutann?” she queried.

Talen gave a slow round of applause. “Excellent work there! Perhaps you ought to consider work creating teas?” He added small laugh at the end.

“Oh that might be a fun hobby. You should offer little workshops or such. I can think of several people who would enjoy that,” Yavia mused.

He chuckled. “I’ve actually been entertaining the very thought this past week. I’m glad to here it might be well received.”

After taking a sip, he added, “The cold is meant to create focus, leaving distractions to fall to the wayside.” He blew a slight breathe out, allowing the chill to be seen in the air.

For Talen, the rest of the shop was just the edge of everything in the moment. His eyes focused in on Yavia, curiosity catching him off guard. “I am curious, besides your job, what keeps you here on Oed?” he asked. “And please, if you feel like asking any questions, be my guest.”

-Talen Veyl, Ash & Petal

“Family, friends, community. I love Oed. I’ve lived many places, but this is the only one that ever made me want to stay. I love everything about this colony.” She took another sip and the cold made her shiver again. “Delightful,” she hummed. “Why did you come to Oed Talen? It’s very out of the way.”

Yavia

Talen was glad the Andorian tea seemed to work nicely for Yavia. He laughed at her shiver. “It’s certainly very unique. I’m happy it’s to your liking.”

“It very much is. It’s unique and shocking. Just the kind of thing I enjoy. I’ll take some of this one home,” Yavia decided.

“Excellent! I’ll be sure to add that to your order when we are done here.” He said.

Talen then gave her a head nod at her at question. “It is indeed out of the way. But that’s a big reason I chose here. You see, I am trill and joined. Veyl is my symbiote. He has been around for many, many years. And I’m only in my 30s. He’s been all over the place, and my heart was set to do things a little differently when I was told I would be his new host. I obviously still wanted to be of benefit to a community and create roots somewhere. Veyl needed some time to be remote from the center of all the hubbub going on in the Federation, so this seemed like a perfect opportunity. Turns out i was right!”

“You must have stories to tell. So many chances to try out different lives for your symbiote, and the chance to know those experiences for you as the host in just one lifetime.”

He nodded. “It can be both a blessing and a curse,” he said with a light chuckle. “Depends on the lives once lived.”

He took another sip of the frosty drink before asking, “With me being so new here, I’m curious where you think I ought to pay a visit to in the near future? For such a small colony, Oed seems to have a lot going for it these days.” Again, his eyes remained fixed on her, naturally.

-Talen Veyl, Ash & Petal

“Hmmm, well I would first suggest the farmer’s market at Sloane Square. Every Saturday. It is a huge event and you will get to experience the vibrant array of people and culture that Oed offers. I would also suggest the museum,” she paused to take another longer sip of the tea. Again her skin shivered and she grinned. “Oh and the Klingon Embassy of House Duroc. Their gardens are open to the public and they are just stunning.”

Yavia

Talen reclined and listened, logging the places into his head for further evaluation. “Those all sound quite interesting. I will be certain to give them all a try! Do you go to any of them often?”

“Regularly. Though I haven’t been to the museum recently. They are planning a new living history exhibit that I can’t wait to see once it is opened.”

After her reply, he set his empty cup down and grabbed a hold of the hot vibrant red tea. “Are you ready for the Betazoid Dream Infusion?”

Yavia finished the Andorian tea and nodded. “Yes, I’m very curious about this one.”

He proceeded to pour it into their empty cups. Talen was more careful in taking his sip this time. “Mmmmm…that’s good.” The tea had a hot and flowery note to it with the very present pulsefire berries. The berries gave a vibrant sweet fruit taste while also inducing a stronger sense of empathy. “The Pulsefire berries are the source of energy you experience. The crash after such a burst is different. It’s more like heightened energy with a gentle settling. Add that effect with the betazoid ingredients, and those with empathic abilities experience them a bit stronger for a time. Sometimes the effect is instant. Do you feel any of it?”

-Talen Veyl

Yavia lifted the cup and sipped delicately. She wanted to enjoy the aroma and the flavor before she had enough for the other effects. “That is certainly an unique explosion of flavors.” She took another longer sip that time. She sat with it for a moment, in no need to rush. “Hmmm.... not yet. But Deltan empathy is partially driven by touch. I’m curious, what is the effect on species that have dormant or non-existent telepathic empathy?”

Yavia

Talen replied to her question. “For those who have dormant empathy, they may find themselves experiencing something like little blips of what others may be feeling. They may even be totally unaware that it’s the tea effecting them too. For those without telepathic or empathic abilities, most find themselves significantly rejuvenated. Sometimes, people experience this and feel less inhibited to do things outside of their comfort zone. Of course, with any tea, it ultimately depends on the person and what they can handle.” He gave her a warm grin before taking another sip.

“You mention touch empathy. I don’t think I’ve seen that in action to be fair. How does that work exactly?” he asked curiously.

-Talen Veyl, Ash & Petal

“Deltans can sense the emotions of people around them. We can even influence them. However we need to touch the person to do that. Not just emotion but physical feelings as well. Like pain. We can stop it or cause it. The range is limited, but as long as we stay in visual range, the effect will be as long as we can maintain it.”

Yavia

Talen leaned back in thought. “That’s actually quite fascinating! I’ve always heard Deltans had a sense of empathy and were actually quite advanced biologically from most other species. Truth be told, I’ve never met a Deltan until now. What an exquisite gift. You can stop pain? That must come in handy as a nurse I bet?” He was genuinely interested in things Yavia shared. And keeping the conversation going was helpful in keeping his focus on her as a person instead of her as a work of art. She was certainly beautiful, and he had noticed it more as the interactions continued. But he didn’t let that run the conversation. He took another careful sip of the energizing tea as he listened to her response.

-Talen Veyl, Ash & Petal

She nodded sipping at the tea freely. “It is very useful, but it can be a heavy burden as well. Sometimes it can be cruel to use such an ability, and sometimes it’s the final mercy.” Yavia studied him for a moment, “Would you like experience it?”

Yavia

Talen paused for a moment as he considered her offer. He got the impression that it was not an offer made lightly. Most empaths and telepaths were careful about who they shared such things with. He took it as an honor and naturally accepted. “I would be remiss to deny that experience. If we do that, do I need to prepare in some way? What should I be expecting?” he asked, curiosity getting the best of him.

-Talen Veyl, Ash & Petal

Yavia shook her head, “No need to prepare. You’ll experience a sense of complete contentment. If that emotion is alright with you. I have no desire to force anything upon you. Or perhaps you have an injury that is paining you. I could ease it for a time.”

Yavia

An eyebrow raised at her mention of him feeling complete contentment. Being a trill had it’s advantages. But few rarely spoke of the disadvantages. Constantly having that other personality and memories pressing against oneself sometimes could take a toll on the host. Veyl had been through a lot, and a part of Talen was itching to get some mental relief, even for a time. A distraction perhaps? But this opportunity seemed quite optimal. “I don’t necessarily have an injury that needs easing. Though I must admit, sometimes I experience some mental strain on myself when it comes to sharing memories with Veyl. It’s more an emotional burden then a physical one. Some memories of Veyl’s are still fresh, and that pain can seep into my own psyche for obvious reasons. Is it possible that this–ability–of yours could…I don’t know…provide some sort of relief in that regard, even for a time?” As he spoke, he made the palms of his hands available. His hands were rough from obvious use in the garden.

-Talen Veyl, Ash & Petal

Yavia regarded him a moment in thought. “I have worked with Trill before, but that was for physical pain. I can do as you ask, but I am unsure how complete it will be. You and your symbiote are the same but also distinct. If either of you are uncomfortable in any way, tell me at once.” Yavia would sense it of course, but it was important that autonomy and independence were respected.

She reached out and delicately took his hands in hers and met his gaze with her own soft one. It was noticeable after a moment, the sense of calm, acceptance, ease, happiness just on the edge of euphoria, serenity that slowly slipped over him like a blanket.

Yavia

His eyes met hers as her hands took his own. He could feel what she had mentioned earlier. A peace he hadn’t known in some time enclosed him, warming his soul in a way. He had felt Veyl’s resistance to it, but that too faded rather quickly. Everything felt so different. Brighter and ebbing into euphoric.

Talen’s eyes never left her. Yavia’s perfect deltan symmetry only served to build up the enhanced state.

Veyl’s own feelings would have been felt by Yavia. She would have sensed for a brief moment hesitation on the symbiote’s part. In a heartbeat, she would have felt the emotions of a past memory. A secret decision had been made. And their was initially acceptance in it, but later regret. The emotions behind it then became jumbled and soon matched that of what Talen felt, though in a somewhat more subdued way.

“This is…” he started, pausing to consider his words carefully. His hands were still in hers and his eyes searched his surroundings for a moment before settling back on her. “Beautiful…”

-Talen Veyl, Ash & Petal