<USS Avalon> "A Holodeck Picnic"
- From: CmdrSkyler@xxxxxxx
- To: avalon@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 26 Jul 2007 07:12:07 EDT
"A Holodeck Picnic"
Skyler, Tavi and Moreya
((Takes place before Friends and Lovers))
Looking at Moreya Skyler smiled. "You're not that late. We were
just sitting down to eat. So you are right on time. Isn't that right Tavi?"
Tavi was a little surprised at being the object of an apology for lateness.
She didn't quite know what to say, but grinned. "It's true," she agreed with
Skyler. "Late would be after we finished."
"Well, thank you both. I wouldn't want to hold up the meal any further -- I
am hungry myself!"
"Ok Miss Chef, why don't you pass out the food. After all you did fix it."
"I replicated it," Tavi corrected with a giggle, and passed around the
individual containers of food. "But some time maybe I can learn to cook."
~Should I worry about you being around a hot fire?~
"Cooking is an amazing, wonderful skill," Moreya said. "Also a very good
way to spread pleasure and joy."
Blinking, Tavi paused with her fork in hand, and gave Skyler an incredulous
look. ~I said cooking, not primitive survival.~ "Maybe there is somebody on
board who could teach me," she said aloud. "Some of the
science officers were saying cooking can be kind of like math. I like math."
"It can indeed be like math," Moreya said. "I'm not unskilled as a cook,
and I'd be glad to teach you."
Chuckling Skyler looked at Tavi. ~ You never know when you might need
primitive survival~ "I seem to recall some bread that you had made Moreya. It
was
rather tasty if I do say so myself."
Such an offer, coming from Moreya -- who was clearly busy, with many
responsibilities -- gave Tavi a funny warm feeling. It was the same feeling
she had
when Skyler expressed that they were a family. It was a feeling of being
accepted. Of belonging. "Thank you," Tavi said softly to Moreya.
"You are most welcome," Moreya replied, then turned her attention to her
container of food. "Are there any chopsticks among the utensils?" she asked.
"That's how we traditionally eat this dish." Looking through the basket
Skyler
finally found a pair of chopsticks and handed them to Moreya. "If you don't
mind my asking could you tell Tavi something about Delta IV? I think she
would find it interesting." I know I would.
Tavi nodded agreement. She didn't say anything because her mouth was full.
Leaning back Skyler slowly drank her tea. She was enjoying watching the
interaction between the two people she cared the most about.
"Well, let me see," Moreya said, deftly working the chopsticks to scoop up
bites of food. "Geologically, Delta IV is still a quite active planet. The
tropical zone is fairly wide, and the climate is often stormy. Many parts of
my world have been left to wilderness, and are beautiful to visit -- although
the storms, and the wildlife, can make things a bit dangerous."
"Aren't all planets a little dangerous?" asked Tavi, who had never lived on
a planet at all.
"Perhaps so," Moreya said. "Some more than others."
"Some planets are more turbulent than others. Either due to the environment
or the people living there. For now you are perfectly safe...as long as you
don't fall out of that tree. You little monkey."
"I've never lived on a planet," Tavi voiced her thought. In fact, she had
only set foot on planets a couple times in her travels, and only long enough
to stow away on another ship.
Moreya's eyes widened slightly. "Truly?" she said. "Well then, you have
quite a range of experience awaiting you."
Skyler got quiet for a bit. She hadn't really stepped foot on a planet since
her sister left and before that it was many many years ago.
"I dunno," said Tavi. "I might be afraid." Maybe not. But she might be.
It was something she'd have to
think about.
"I will be right there with you Tavi. We can experience it together. If that
is something you might want to do?"
"The unknown can be frightening," Moreya said. "But perhaps in time, with
those you trust to look after you, it will be worth it."
"I guess..." Tavi answered them both. But her thoughts were wandering
elsewhere. Holodeck scenes like this one were supposed to be like planets,
but
there was still the underlying knowledge that it was just a holodeck...So Tavi
wondered how it would feel to sit in a place like this where the arch of sky
was *really* far far away...
~ What is wrong little one?~
~Just thinking.~ She answered Skyler quickly, and took another bite of her
food.
~Do you want to talk about it later?~ Skyler wondered what was bothering
Tavi. Part of it had to be the changes that had suddenly occurred.
~Maybe.~ Tavi turned to Moreya. "You said you brought something with you,"
she tried to change the subject.
"Certainly," she said, setting aside the container of food she'd just
finished. For a replicated recipe, it was quite good. From a pocket, she
produced
a small cloth bundle and handed it to Tavi. "This is a gift for you."
For me? Tavi wondered. "Thank you," she remembered to say, taking the
bundle and gingerly unbundling it.
Inside was a strange looking thing -- it appeared almost like a triangular
piece of netting, with small beads strung into it, a small loop at one end,
and a large loop at the other. The beads sparkled when their facets caught the
light.
"That is very nice Moreya. Just what is it?" Skyler didn't want to sound too
dumb.
"What is it?" asked Tavi, examining the object at all angles. Then she
wondered if it was a religious object of some sort, and if asking what it was
would be rude. She giggled when Skyler asked too.
Moreya smiled warmly. "It is a piece of jewelry," she said. "On Earth, it
is sometimes called a hand-flower. I can show you how to wear it. Let me
have it -- and whichever hand you'd like to wear it on."
Tavi held it out, with her left hand.
Moreya took the hand-flower, and stretched the large loop, until it fit over
Tavi's hand. She let it go and the loop fit snug, but comfortably. Moreya
stretched the smaller loop, and slid it over Tavi's second finger. The
triangular netting now lay neatly across the back of Tavi's hand. "There you
are,"
Moreya said. "Very becoming."
Nodding her head in agreement Skyler replied, "Yes, it makes you look all
grown up."
That sounded a little silly -- as if a piece of jewelry could make her look
grown up! Tavi blushed and giggled. "Thank you, Moreya," she said more
seriously. "It really is pretty."
"You are most welcome," Moreya said. "Did someone mention there was cake?"
Tavi scrambled to take the single-serving containers of cake from the picnic
basket and pass them out. "Chocolate cake," she affirmed.
"Chocolate," said Moreya appreciatively. "One of the finest plants to
evolve anywhere in the galaxy."
"What, no ice cream to go with it?" Smiling at Tavi Skyler felt at peace.
She was with family and it felt good.
"Do we need ice cream?" Tavi asked, pausing before opening her serving of
cake.
"No, we don't need ice cream. I'm just teasing you. This is fine just the
way it is."
"Very good cake," Moreya agreed.
The girl relaxed and began to eat her cake. It was indeed very good.
After finishing her cake, Skyler laid down and looked up at the sky. "If you
are real quiet you can hear the fish in the pond playing."
"Do they play?" Tavi asked in a very quiet voice. She could hear little
splish-splash sounds that seemed like playing, but it might not be playing if
that's just how fish were.
"Sure they do. All creatures have somekind of play. It gives them time to
relax and enjoy themselves. Just like you were when you were in the tree."
Moreya added, "For many creatures, play is a means of learning as well.
Earth's felines, for example. Their young learn hunting skills through play
with one another."
Tavi was silent, thoughtful. She had, she thought, missed out on a lot in
her young life. Some things that could never be made up. But she had so much
to be thankful for, too.
"Tavi, if you are done you can go play. I will clean up this mess. And that
gift really does make you look grown up." Skyler smiled at the girl.
"Thank you," Tavi said automatically. Her feet carried her back toward the
tall tree, and she started to climb once again.
Skyler was quiet for a while before she spoke. "Something is bothering her
Moreya. Something I don't know if I can help with."
"She has had to endure a very difficult life, before you met her," Moreya
said. "And many, many changes since. It will take time for her to integrate
all of it. But I am sure if she needs your help, she will ask."
Looking at her friend she nodded her head. "I am not worried about that.
Just before we left to come here she started to 'hear' my thoughts and I could
hear hers. That has never happened before."
The Deltan's eyes widened. "Remarkable. Given your Betazed heritage, a
certain amount of telepathy is to be expected -- but I'm not so familiar with
Tavi."
"Neither am I. In fact just before you got here we were talking and she
hesitated for lack of a better word. I asked her what she was doing and she
replied she was getting permission from her friend to tell me about
her." Turning Skyler watched as Tavi climbed up the tree. ~Please be
careful.
I don't want anything to happen to you.~
Tavi's response was a wordless acknowledgment as she kept climbing.
"Her friend?"
"Someone named Meg. She is the niece of another crew member. I'm not sure I
understand what is going on. What are the chances she is part Betazoid or some
such thing?"
"There are a great many species in the Federation who have telepathic
capability, and other psychic gifts as well. I doubt there is anything to be
worried about, but you can always talk to Meg, of course."
"I suppose. However I think I would rather talk to Tavi first. I don't want
her thinking I am going behind her back. I'm still trying to build the trust
factor. It just threw us both for a loop."
Moreya nodded. "That's very wise, to speak with her first. I certainly
don't blame you for being surprised."
"I'm still learning this parenting stuff. And to think I always thought my
parents were so mean. I guess it's all in your perspective." Skyler hesitated
a moment before speaking. "Are you sure you don't mind
coming tonight?"
Moreya smiled and said softly, "Mind? My dear, I'm very much looking
forward to it."
"I must admit I am as well. Although I look forward to spending anytime with
you."
Skyler looked at the tree, "Hey tree monkey. You ready to head back?"
Tavi was near the top of the tall tree. It took her a minute to scramble
down.
"That was an enjoyable picnic Tavi. Thank you for suggesting it. And Thank
you Moreya for joining us. It made for a pleasant afternoon."
"I had fun, too," said Tavi. She gathered up the few things that Skyler
hadn't already picked up. "And thank you very much for the present," she
added
to Moreya.
"I'm glad I could come and share the picnic with both of you," Moreya said.
"And you are most welcome. Enjoy it."
"Ok turkey. I think it is almost time for bed and you look like you could
use some sleep. I will see you later Moreya." Together Tavi and Skyler walked
out along with Moreya.
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