Flowers and Time

Posted on Wed Jun 19th, 2019 @ 8:03pm by Commodore Jane Saulitis & Commander Dominic Aldrich

Mission: The Fool's Odyssey
Location: Zeria's Garden
Timeline: MD 05 11:00 Hours
1188 words - 2.4 OF Standard Post Measure

Dominic, having just recently spoken with Shev, decided to seek out Zeria. She had told him that she would show him the library. While he knew where the library was, he was still an outsider to the people here and didn't want to simply enter the space without some sort of escort that knew their way around the various relationships in town. Also, she might just know where to point him to begin looking for answers. He also had a pretty good idea of where to find her.

Wiping her brow, Zeria mumbled about the sun being way too hot today. She wouldn't be out here at all after watering early that morning if she hadn't noticed that the taboli melons were going to go bad if they were allowed to stay on the vines any longer. So here she was, cutting them free and putting them in her hand pulled cart to hopefully get them out of the weather and onto people's tables as soon as possible. She heard a sound and turned toward the edge of the garden, one of the Starfleet officers was standing there. She grabbed the handles on her cart and pulled it over toward him.

As Dominic watched her approach he gave a kind nod and said, "Good morning, Zeria. I was hoping you would help me out and accompany me to the library as we discussed a few days ago." He then noticed the sweat on her face and the strain in her features and began to stumble over his words. "I mean, uh, after your work....of course..." He then paused for a moment. "Can I help you in any way?"

Zeria stopped what she was doing and looked at him for a minute. "Sure, if you don't mind getting your hands dirty. You can wheel that over to the house for me while I go back and get the tools I left." She suddenly felt self conscious and wasn't sure why. Walking back to her spot she picked up the tools and found him next to her house. "Come on in, would you like some fresh melon?"

Dominic nodded tentatively and said, "Sure, I've got time." As he entered the home, he felt a tension rise within him and he took a breath. He was not great at personal interactions, but for some reason he was intrigued by this woman he barely knew anything about. Looking around the modest home he asked, trying to make small talk, "Do you provide produce for the entire village?"

Zeria chuckled. "Feels that way, doesn't it? No, I usually sell what I grow and keep a little for myself but I always put aside extra for families in need." She took a melon and sliced it in half then cut slices from that and handed him one. The inside was as bright green as the rind was orange. "I promise it won't hurt you, I've never met a species that couldn't handle this. They keep it in stock at the resorts. It's sweet," she assured him as she chewed the bite she'd just taken.

Reaching out, he took the piece and chewed it. It was sweet, but not in an over-bearing way, somewhat like a cantaloupe. "That is very good, thank you," Dominic said with a small grin. "So, what else do you like to do other than gardening?" He paused, "That is, if you don't mind me asking."

She didn't mind. If he wanted to ask questions because it made him more comfortable, that was all right with her. "Hmm, I'm an odd creature. I crave the winter because it allows me to be still and read, think, do some soul searching and while I'm doing that soul searching I crave the sun and warmth of the summer. During the summer when I'm pushing or pulling carts around in the heat I want to see snow again so I have time to be still again. I would say my hobbies are wanting what I don't have." She chuckled.

"Well, that is a perpetual problem for many people. We tend to seek that which we don't have. We are always searching for something that completes us and makes us feel as if there are no further problems to solve. I tend to have somewhat of the opposite problem. I get so focused on one thing that I lose sight of everything and everyone not directly related to that one point of focus." He then smiled a very small smile, "It doesn't buy many friends, as you can imagine."

"Well, it appears you have plenty of time to amend that. And guess what? You've already made one." She tossed her melon rind into a bucket she used to haul items to the compost pile. Then she handed him a clean rag to wipe off his fingers. "Come, I will show you to the library and help you find what you need. I'm Zeria by the way, I know you know my name but I'm unsure of what I should call you?"

Dominic was suddenly embarrassed, "My apologies for forgetting my manners. I'm Dominic." Shaking his head slightly, "I suppose my name got lost in everything going on."

"You're lost, confused and I am not the resident expert on manners, especially another species. I think you're forgiven. It seemed unfair to call you Starfleet when there are other Starfleets around. Have to have some way to tell you apart," she joked, giving him the slightest hint of a wink. "Come, library." She didn't pull him but brushed the sleeve of his uniform with her hand as she walked out of the dwelling. "It's not the best library but hopefully it will have the answers you are looking for."

Dominic followed her our with a small grin. "Well, it's the only library available right? So, it's the best library now as far as I'm concerned." He closed the door behind him and walked side by side with Zeria and, for the first time in days, feeling like he was in a good place.

"Very true. I am in awe to think what information your starship must have on it. I've always wanted to see a Starship." Zeria muttered as if she were talking to herself. "But it would have been selfish of me to leave my responsibilities here."

"Perhaps," Dominic replied, "when we phase back, assuming we do, I can give you a tour of the Majestic. The only hiccup would be that we have no idea how long a time there is between phases and if it is even predictable. You may end up there stuck with us instead of us here with you."

"I know. I may never get to see it. But I can dream." She nearly sighed. "I'll tell myself not to worry about it right now, there's time for things to happen in the future. Come, the library awaits." Zeria nearly took his hand but made herself step back and wave him forward instead.


Zeria
Local Gardener/Question asker
PNPC by Saulitis

Lt. Cmdr. Dominic Aldrich
Chief Science Officer