The Silent Sonata Part I
Posted on Mon Oct 14th, 2024 @ 10:23am by Lieutenant Narin Valen & Lieutenant Mignon Mejia
Edited on on Mon Oct 14th, 2024 @ 9:52pm
0 words; about a 1 minute read
Mission:
Episode 16 - Silent Cries
Location: The Quarters of Mignon Mejia - Deck 3 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD003 1800 hrs
As things aboard the ship began to settle back into routine, Narin remembered his promise to Lieutenant Mejia—to lend her his favorite fantasy trilogy, Chronicles of Elarian by Taran Inariel. Narin stood outside her quarters and pressed the door chime, waiting for a response. As the seconds passed, he realized she might not even be there—he hadn’t let her know he was coming.
The door opened just then. "Hi. Sorry, I had to put my brush in turpentine and turn off the music." She was wearing a pair of paint-spattered jeans and a t-shirt that said Hobbits Rule. She stepped back. "Come in. What can I do for you?"
"Thank you," Narin said as he stepped inside, accepting the invitation. "I believe I promised to lend you a few books," he added, extending them toward her. Noticing her comment about the brush dipped in turpentine and her paint-stained jeans, Narin looked at her with curiosity. "What are you painting?" he asked.
She glanced at her easel. "Believe it or not, a hobbit hole on Betazed. Just because I was thinking about the book and what it might look like if Hobbiton was set on another world." She was a little embarrassed at her whimsy.
"Please put the books on the shelf over there." She indicated a bookshelf filled with books and knickknacks. "Give me a minute and I'll wash up." She didn't give him time to answer, but hurried into the bathroom to wash the splotches of paint off her hands and arms. She already had what she needed next to the sink. She thought about changing her t-shirt, but she was going to go back to her painting once he left, so didn't bother. Besides, he'd already seen what a mess she was.
She finger-combed her hair and went back out to where Narin was waiting. "Have you read Lord of the Rings?"
As she ran off to wash up, Narin placed the books on the shelf she had indicated. He carefully stacked them, their titles facing outward into the room. The spines read: The Prophecy of Ashes, The Rising Storm, and The Shattered Crown.
He glanced around the room as he waited for her to return. He couldn’t help but wonder where this place called Hobbiton was and what exactly a hobbit hole might be. He’d never heard of anything like it on Betazed.
Narin was just about to turn his attention back to the shelf when he heard her footsteps and the sound of her voice. He glanced in her direction, taking in the sight of her dressed casually in a t-shirt and jeans, a stark contrast to the jumpsuit he was used to seeing her wear. His thoughts drifted to something his sister had mentioned earlier, and he felt embarrassment for even allowing the thought to cross his mind. Hoping she didn’t notice his momentary distraction. “I have not,” he replied, then followed up with his own question. “Where is Hobbiton, and what exactly is a hobbit hole?”
She laughed and went over to the bookshelf to retrieve a hardback. She turned and handed him the book. It was the Lord of the Rings trilogy. "I'll swap you books."
She paused, then turned back to her bookshelf. "No, you should start with this first. The Hobbit." She took another book off the shelf and handed it to him.
For a moment, he wondered what he’d said that was so funny, but when she handed him the books, he made the connection—Hobbiton and hobbit holes had something to do with the books in his hands. “A fair trade,” he said, looking down at the books then at her. “So, can I see your painting, or are you going to make me wait until I’ve read these and actually know what a hobbit hole is?”
"Well, I could make you wait...but as long as you don't expect too much, I'll show you. It's basically my version of a hobbit hole if Middle Earth was on Betazed." She led him over to her easel and waved a hand toward it. "Seriously, though, you can let me know what you think. It's still a work in progress."
He quickly set The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings on the shelf, not wanting to carry them around, and then followed her to the easel. Though he was still a bit confused about what exactly a hobbit hole was, he was eager to see it. Maybe seeing her work would help him understand. As he looked at the painting, he saw a house built into a gentle hillside, with a rounded door, and windows. He saw where she blended elements of Betazoid architecture into the design.
“So, that’s what a hobbit hole is,” he said with a smile. "I really like it,” he said.
"Or my version of one." She smiled. "Hobbits are shorter than humans with hairy feet and a propensity to eat a number of meals each day. They are also friendly and social, according to the books. Their homes are mostly underground with lots of passages and rooms. I wanted to paint one that looked like it might have been on Betazed."
“They sound like fascinating folks, and I can definitely see how this place would be perfect for hosting gatherings and entertaining,” Narin said, looking over at her. “You mentioned it’s still a work in progress. I'd like to see it once you’ve finished it.”
"Okay." She didn't generally show off her work, but she liked the new officer and they shared a love of fantasy, so he'd appreciate the painting in a way others didn't. "She waved to the couch. "Would you like to sit down and have a drink or something? I should have asked that when you first arrived. Sorry."
“Sure,” he said, pausing briefly to consider his drink choice before deciding to go with the flow, “Surprise me.” He settled onto the couch. “And honestly, you have nothing to apologize for. I showed up unannounced and probably disrupted your creative flow. If anything, I should be the one apologizing.”
"I tend to disrupt my own flow," she admitted as she went over to the replicator. She decided to share one of her favorite drinks from home. "Computer, two glasses of Mignon's cactus juice."
She brought the two glasses over to Narin and sat on the other end of the couch so she could turn to face him. "This is a blend of chopped cactus, orange, and lemon, mixed with coconut water. It's something my mom used to make. Well, she probably still does, I'm just not around for it anymore."
Narin accepted the glass, eyeing its contents with curiosity. “Cactus juice, huh? That’s a first for me,” he said as he took a sip. “Wow, that’s refreshing.” He took another, larger sip, savoring the taste. “I might need to borrow the recipe for this.”
"Any time. It's also in the replicator because fresh cactus is hard to come by. Even so, I enjoy it. Especially when I'm working." She took a sip, enjoying the blend of flavors. "What foods do you like?"
“When I was growing up, my mother worked for the government, which meant she often traveled to different planets and because of that, I was exposed to a wide variety of foods, but it wasn’t until I lived on Earth that I truly discovered what good food really is.” He paused to take another sip of the cactus juice before continuing. “I really enjoy Japanese food. Things like a sushi platter or a steaming bowl of ramen. And I have a soft spot for foods with a bit of a kick, so a fiery curry always hits the spot for me.” He looked over at her, suddenly feeling a bit hungry. “What about you?”
"I like spicy food, but it's generally Mexican or South American. Rice, beans, tortillas, salsa, meat. I also like fried yucca, potatoes, and pasta from a variety of countries and salad." She grinned. "But only if it has a lot of toppings with it. I mostly eat local-ish, but I do like ramen." She shrugged. "Definitely not as varied as the foods you like."
“Mexican and South American foods are packed with so much flavor. Very delicious, though they can be a bit heavy especially when you got a full plate of carne asada, rice, and beans,” he said with a smile. "I am curious, when we’re out in space, how do you manage to eat local-ish? What would you consider ‘local’ Pioneer food?”
"I use the replicator. Or I'll replicate ingredients and make my own." Then she grinned. "Or I'll use the holodeck to visit someplace near home and get a meal in a local café. For the other question, I really don't think the Pioneer has its own type of food. For that, you need to go to Empok Nor. They have a number of restaurants there."
“Does that mean you’re a good cook then?” Narin asked with a curious smile.
"I'm decent. At least for what I cook. I've no interest in making anything fancy, but I do enjoy cooking from time to time."
A Joint Post By
Lieutenant Narin Valen
Assistant Chief Science Officer, USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Mignon Mejia
Alien Archaeologist/Anthropologist, USS Pioneer
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