Distraction Part III
Posted on Mon Feb 3rd, 2025 @ 8:41pm by Lieutenant Vura & Lieutenant Mira Jayna
Edited on on Tue Feb 4th, 2025 @ 7:08pm
2,252 words; about a 11 minute read
Mission:
Episode 16 - Silent Cries
Location: Holosuite, Zulg's Bar - Promenade Upper Level - Empok Nor
Timeline: MD001 1800 hrs
"Oh, you meant making pottery.... That's actually a hobby of mine. Never heard of it being referred to as 'throwing pots.' Come on, Jayna! Let's go do it! It would be wonderful to feel something right now and squish it."
Jayna raised an eyebrow as she considered it. She still wasn't fond of the counselor, but this might give her an opportunity to get to know the woman better and perhaps help her think better of Neil. "All right."
Vura led them towards a holosuite on Empok Nor, her sketch book clutched in her hand with her pencils besides them. "On Delta IV, this was quite a popular activity. We have so many artisans on the planet that you cannot walk a street without hitting a studio."
"That reminds me of stories I read of ancient Greece on Earth. They thought very highly of their artisans and philosophers."
The Counselor audibly hummed as she considered it. "There's probably a lot that my culture and the ancient Greeks had in common from what I understand. I don't know what you know about my culture, but we are most definitely a people that concentrate on expressing ourselves and experiencing sensations."
"I know very little about Deltans." There were far too many species in the galaxy to know them all, as far as Jayna was concerned. But she did know a little. "But if you are typical of your species, then you tend to be more interested in gaining new experiences while the ancient Greeks were more about gaining a greater understanding of their own culture and its philosophies and deities. So, while you are both deeply involved in the arts, yours is more a culture of breadth and their more of depth." She raised an eyebrow. "Or am I generalizing too much?"
"I don't know how typical that you could claim that I am. Most Deltans never leave home. As a species we tend to focus on inner space rather than outer space." The Deltan had to wonder a bit at Jayna's generalizing about her entire culture as not having a great deal of depth. Nothing further could be true. Perhaps it was her partial Vulcan heritage that she responded so tactlessly. "So, we do have a great deal of depth. It is just a matter of how you define breadth or depth, perhaps?"
"My comment on breadth is that, from what I've noticed, you appear to seek new experiences rather than focus on one or two. In contrast, many of the ancient Greeks in human literature and history tended to focus on philosophy, art, or politics. Thus, they tended to seek a depth of knowledge in that particular field or fields. It wasn't meant as a criticism."
Vura nodded. "I guess it would depend on the Deltan and their tastes. There are those who focus solely on seeking new experiences within one area, such as art. Take painting, for example. One might try developing numerous techniques that are only slightly different from the last to develop something completely different. I wish I could explain it better to you."
"I understand." They stopped in front of an unoccupied holosuite and Jayna turned to Vura. "I've only tried throwing pots once or twice, so I'll leave it to you to pick the program."
"How natural are you with the pots? I would not want to do something outside of your comfort zone, but I do want to push you a little."
"I've done this twice." Jayna raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean by pushing me out of my comfort zone? What are you thinking of doing?"
"I'm rather fond of jewelry. Do you want to try and create some earrings or a brooch?"
This she did find more appealing. "Out of what material?"
"Clay. It is still pottery, though it is not working with a wheel. You can properly call it ceramics. This is how things like porcelain and the like are created."
"I've never made jewelry out of clay. It's not something I wear, so I've had no interest." Jayde shrugged. "I don't think I've ever made jewelry at all. Have you?" It was an interesting concept. She wasn't even sure how to go about making jewelry from clay. She assumed it was baked in a kiln.
"Yes, I have," Vura admitted. "I occasionally will wear some of it, but I'm afraid that my quality is mediocre at best back home." She tsked at herself and shrugged apologetically. "Nonetheless, I like trying to do it or making ceramic animals. I've yet to get one that looked like it was ready to pounce out onto something."
It was at this point that Vura finally realized that Jayna said that she did not wear jewelry. "Is there a reason that you do not wear jewelry?"
"I wear it on occasion, but it's usually metal or stone. Jewelry is something people remember." She shrugged. It wasn't something she thought about much. "I've spent years in infiltration and generally prefer to blend in and not be noticed."
"So, you have taken on the persona of your position?" Vura wondered aloud. "I often wish that I could not be noticed, but Deltan...." She put her hands by her bald head facing outward to emphasize the point.
"I wouldn't say I take on the persona of my position, but I never got in the habit of dressing up and wearing jewelry. It's more the exception than the rule." She smiled at Vura. "But I also don't stand out like you do. You are hard to overlook."
"I am," Vura replied half proudly and half resigned. It could be a huge bother always being noticed and seen. Add the pheromones and she was a veritable cornucopia of visibility. "However, you yourself said that you did not like to be noticed and blend in, which is why I suggested that perhaps you were taken on the persona of your position."
The counselor lightly shrugged. "Just a small hypothesis. Maybe you got into your field because of that and your history." She placed a hand to her chest. "Sorry, it is sometimes hard to turn off the counselor. I did not mean to analyze you here. My inner monologue and my nature seem to have gotten away from me. We were here for creation." She let her arms spread out wide.
"So, you seemed intrigued by the jewelry but we came here for 'throwing pots,' as you called it. Which would you prefer? Or would you prefer something altogether different?"
"I thought you would like the tactile nature of working with clay on a pottery wheel." Jayna shrugged. "As I said, I've only tried it twice. I have no issues with trying it again if you wish. I've recently started learning to carve. It takes time and patience. Patience, I have, but I do not always have the time. Thus, I tend to gravitate to hobbies that can be done a little at a time. Is there something that interests you?"
"I appreciate you considering my tastes. It is very generous of you. However, when it comes to my interests, right now, I would have to say it is you. Did you know that you are very good at saying just enough about yourself that most people will accept the answers and move on? That's probably a great skill for your profession but it does make it hard to really get to know you. I mean, you've told me little about your interests and less about your current life."
One side of Jayna's mouth quirked up in a smile. "I am not generally a social person." There were only two people she really opened up to. Some of that was how she was raised. When she lived on Bajor, it was dangerous to talk too much. She was more interested in learning about others. "I'm more a listener than a talker. But, as you said, I did answer your questions."
"Yes, you did," Vura replied with an amused smile. "But you again ignored the part about how you say just enough to make most people accept your answers and move on. It is one thing to not be a social person. It is another to close yourself off."
The counselor clucked her tongue once and paused, considering her next words before continuing. "See, Jayna, we have been social for some time now and yet your guard is still up. Most non-social people would not want to continue with me. I know that I can sometimes be a bit much for non-Deltans. Yet, you're still making an effort to spend time with me. It is almost like you want to know something from me.... Maybe that's not it. But there's definitely something on your mind. Why don't you just tell me? My goal in life is not to make you uncomfortable."
"I'm making an effort to understand you. I think I owe you that rather than jump to conclusions." She paused, then decided to be blunt. "Twice I've been in the company of Neil Tremble and observed the way you treated him. You don't like him very much, do you?"
"What's to understand?" Vura asked curiously. She then giggled lightly. "I think I understand now. You must be in a relationship with the Commander! Oh, my! How silly of me not to notice this earlier!"
Jayna waved off the comment. "I wanted to understand you better to understand why you bristle when he speaks to you. You don't do that with others that I'm aware of."
"You're correct. I don't," Vura answered simply. "However, I don't think this is an appropriate conversation for us to have, Jayna. Just suffice it to say that we have very different views and I do not think they can be reconciled."
"Yes. I know you feel that way. As I said, I did not wish to make assumptions based on what I've seen. That is why I chose to come here. But I think it may not be a good idea for me to stay, now that you're aware of our relationship."
"I disagree, Jayna. Our relationship has nothing to do with that of mine and your boyfriend's. Though, I am very curious what assumptions that you had of me and whether they have been confirmed or dispelled."
Jayna answered with one word. "Yes," As for any kind of relationship she and the counselor might have, she wasn't sure about that, either. Vura was...unique.
"Yes?" Vura asked. "I don't understand."
"You asked if my assumptions of you had been confirmed or dispelled. The answer is yes." She shrugged. Not all answers were a simple yes or no. Often, they were both.
"I'm very confused," Vura admitted. "Perhaps you could clarify which it was." She paused for a moment and then suggested, "Maybe I do not wish to know. So, is there something that you would like to do? Something that you would enjoy?"
"Sorry." Jayna laughed. "It is truly both, and no, I don't want to elucidate." Then she shook her head. Explaining wouldn't help anyway. "As for what I want to do...I don't know. You said you like new experiences, but I don't know if you'd enjoy climbing a wall or navigating a ropes course. Or throwing knives." She shook her head. "Is there something you want to try?"
Vura tilted her head towards Jayna with an acknowledgement of her not wanting to share more. Pushing was rarely useful. If and when she wanted to open up to her, she would. There was always time. "As to what I would wish to try, I am open to anything. However, I doubt physical feats and I would do well together." She giggled lightly. "I might break a nail or..." she inhaled a breath and gasped dramatically. "Sweat!" She giggled lightly. "Perspiration is not particularly enjoyable when you have no hair to disperse it."
Jayna decided to accept that at face value. "And I like physical activity. Neil and I go running together when we have the time. But I'll cross that off my mental list" along with most activities she enjoyed. She wasn't sure the counselor would appreciate tactical games, either. "I think drawing is all that we have in common. That, and plants. I'd show you the woods I grew up in on Bajor, but that might include tree climbing. Does Empok Nor have anything of interest besides the promenade and the arboretum?"
"Oh, shopping is always enjoyable. You never know what you might find that way. In fact, that was how I found Edmund," she suddenly remembered, her face slowly turning into a pout.
That was the second reference to Edmund, if she counted the page in Vura's sketchbook. Jayna wasn't much of a window shopper. She preferred to get what she wanted and leave. But this was something that caught her interest. "Is something wrong?"
A Joint Post By
Lieutenant Vura
Chief Counselor, USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Mira Jayna
Intelligence Officer, The Cure
USS Pioneer
RSS Feed