Retail therapy

Posted on Wednesday 25 January 2017 @ 20:03 by Captain Melody Jones & Commander Save'ena (Sav) Tillatix

Mission: Intermission
Location: Airlock, Promonade - Starbase 306
Timeline: MD11 late morning
2412 words - 4.8 OF Standard Post Measure

ON:

Melody stood at the Merlin's airlock waiting for Save'ena. They had arranged to go aboard the Starbase and browse the shops and possibly get a bite to eat. Her face lit up when she saw her coming down the corridor.

Sav was dressed in a summer style dress, yellow in coloration, with diamond light blue and yellow leggings approached Melody. She smiled as she had a long strap darker yellow purse with her and a darker yellow L'Tandrey duty sashe on running from left shoulder to right hip. As she came up to Melody, she said, "Hey, Good Lookin'."

Melody opened her arms wide "Hey Sweetie, you ready to do some shopping?"

Sav went right into that hug, moving her head aside so that Melody could smell of her scent behind her whiskers. "You would not believe HOW ready I am for this." While Sav was not one to really go out shopping, not since the incident, that Melody had invited her, and was willing to go shopping with the wall-flower Mephetian, made this trip a much, desired trip.

Melody smiled "Good, Lets get going" As she was off duty, she had opted to wear a casual green dress. "We can see if anyone has a couple of real wood hope chests" as she took Save'ena's hand. As she was out of uniform, she wasn't wearing her new rank pips "Oh by the way" she tried to mention casually "Our new First Officer really likes you" and gave Sav a coy look.

A puzzled look grew across Sav's face. "Our New? first officer?" Sav closed her eyes, hoping it was not she who had driven away the old one. "Umm, dare I ask, who is he, and why would he like me, the odd one out?"

"Well, you do know Her very well." Melody said casually examining her nails, hoping the penny would drop.

A very pleased expression grew upon Sav's muzzle and face as she grabbed Melody into a hug. "Congratulations, Melody, Congratulations. It couldn't have happened to a more deserving gal." She drew back from Melody, "So, does this promotion come with a jump in rank as well, hmmm?"

Melody nodded "Lieutenant Commander."

Sav whispered, "Cool, so you're buying lunch, heh," as she encased Melody into a tighter hug, moving her head to be along side Melody's, then moving her muzzle down to breath of Melody's neck for a space. A nice, full hug performed, Sav now moved back saying, "Just for you, mmkays?" Turning to walk with Melody, she churred, "Nice scent.. and your perfume choice is good too. Wanna share your secret?" Sav, having freshly showered and sonic dried herself, didn't wear any as she wanted her natural smell of Vanilla-Cinnamon to be present.

Melody leaned in close and whispered "A little known supplier on Betazed sends me a bottle of his special stash every now and then. It's really rare so I tend to only wear it on special occasions and when I'm with someone...... really special."

Sav churred gently, saying, "So I gather we're going to meet him for lunch, eh?" She gave Melody a kiss to her cheek, "Thanks, you're very special too, you know." Sav did not continue to say 'for befriending somebody like me'.

As the two came off of the umbilical, Sav could not believe the amount of people out and about in the meeting room for the Merlin. Then, she remembered the ship was also going under refit, besides getting new fighters. She surged forward, leading Melody through the intermix of people. "Common, let's get outta here before we're drafted for some task."

The newly commissioned Starbase was huge and just beyond the umbilical was a large open area with several turbolifts and a station layout on the far wall.

After the ready room was the main ship hallway ring that moved around the inside of the Starbase to connect to ships. Sav turned to Melody, "Which way to the shopping ring? And, as your a Lt. Commander now, you have access to the Command deck shops. Wanna check out how the upper echelon live and shop? Of course, there is always the Officer's deck, and Enlisted, if you think we could get away with it." Unknown to Sav, as CAG, she had ready access to the Command Deck shops as well.

After studying the layout for a moment, Melody gabbed Sav's hand "Lets try the command level" and pulled her towards the turbolift. The lift came to a halt and the door opened to a grand plaza of many shops and restaurants. Melody stood for a moment and simply said "Wow!"

Sav echoed Melody, saying "Wow!", but then reality returned with its ugly side.

At the entrance to the plaza was a sensor doorway manned by a PO2 with two guards watched over by an Ensign. The Ensign motioned them forward, saying, "ID's please."

Sav brought out her ident card while saying, "I'm with her." The Ensign's eyes narrowed lightly but that look disappeared upon seeing 'CAG, USS Merlin'. A light quizzical and appreciative look came over his face at seeing an obviously very young female of Lieutenant rank having made CAG for a Line Ship. He smiled, "Welcome, Miss Tillatix." He now looked expectantly at Melody.

Melody handed her I.D Card over to the Ensign.

He ran her ID through and again was doubly impressed. This young Terran lady was already XO of a line ship. He now did a polite bow, "Welcome, M'lady Jones." He motioned to the plaze, "From your reactions, this is both of your first times to visit. It is rather unique, to say the least. Please, both of you pass through the scanner and then enjoy your shopping experience."

Melody blushed slightly at the special treatment, then thought to herself........ She better get use to this.

There was a motion from the scanner operator. Ensign Brueden stopped the two at the end of the sensor ring. "Excuse me, ladies." A guard came over with a padd. The Ensign looked at it, then nodded. He picked up two red bands. "Miss Tillatix, would you please wear these bands on your wrists? They denote you have claws so that there is less inclination of brash reactions towards you and Miss Jones. There are civilian captains and XO's about, besides visiting dignitaries, and we don't want anything amiss to happen, alright?"

Sav blinked at the red bands, this being the first time she has ever had to wear such. She looked at Melody, then the plaza, then dutifully put them on. "Alright, understood" she said in a small voice. That people would think she would use them for anything other than self defense, but, then again, this was Starfleet, and she was of an extremely rare race. 'Deal with it girl, for Melody's sake' she thought to herself. She looked at Melody, smiling, "So, ready?"

Melody picked up on Sav's mmomentary discomfort. She reached for Sav's hand and gave it another squeeze and looked her in the eyes offering her support. What she said out loud was "Sure, lets go."

Sav smiled, feeling the mood lift from Melody's upbeat attitude and the subtle squeeze on her hand. She waved goodbye to the guard post and walked side by side with Melody, letting their whims take them where they may go. Well, not really 'their', but Melody's whims as Sav just was not one for shopping, except for basic necessities. Heck, the sun dress and stockings were from the replicator, last minute decision to brighten Melody's day.

Walking though the vast array of shops, Melody suddenly saw something that caught her eye and started to pull Sav towards a shop that had a lot of hand made wooden furniture and display pieces. Inside there was a man using a laser carver on what looked like a fresh bow of a tree. As the two ladies approached, he stopped and looked up "Ah good afternoon ladies, and how may I help you?"

Melody spoke first "I was wondering if you made hope chests to store keepsakes and valuables."

The man smiled "Ah yes, I think I might have one in my stores."

Melody continued "Well I need two you see, one for me and one for my friend here."

Sav had gladly taken a step back from Melody to let her lead the charge and the conversation for shopping. However, when she heard Melody say 'one for my friend', she glanced at Melody with a perplexed look on her face. She did not say anything, not yet.

The man thought for a moment "Let me have a look, I'll be right back" and with that he disappeared into the back of the store.

With the Terran male gone, Sav raised an eyebrow and said, "Say, Melody, I know why you need a hope chest, for your keepsakes and future marriage and all.. but, I don't really have anything for a hope chest, and no real need of one right now." Sav kept her thought of 'probably never' within herself. This day was for Melody and nothing was going to spoil that.

Melody looked at her "I was thinking since you lost your original you need a new one so you start filling it with new memories, and hopefully some new memories together don't you think?"

Sav hrmphed out lightly, "If you're really sure about this, yeah, it would be more fun put items in together than just you." Sav heard a noise as the guy was bringing out a grav cart with several hope chests of differing sizes. She churred out in pleasure as she began looking for 'just that right one' for Melody and her belongings, with extra room to put in more stuff later.

Melody looked over the selection and picked out a rather ornate medium size chest with intricate carvings of birds on the lid. Melody like the idea of the birds in flight. "Well, i would like this one" She turned to Save'ena "Have you picked one Sweetie?"

Sav, while looking through the boxes, had more watched Melody than looking for one herself. However, now that Melody had hers, Sav glanced over the boxes, looking for one that had a tree or forest scene. She found one, a medium small chest with tree leaves on top and meadow scenes on all four walls. She pulled it out and asked, "Is this one okay?"

"Thats a nice choice Sweetie" Melody turned back to the owner "Yes that one and that one please. Beam this one to the First Officers quarters and that one to the CAG quarters on the USS Merlin, bay 3. Charge them both to Lieutenant Commander Melody Jones" she said as she showed the man her I.D. Card. "This is my treat sweetie, don't argue just accept it ok? She told Sav, gently wagging a finger in mock chiding.

Sav had opened her mouth to protest, but then closed it so as to not make a scene with Melody in front of the Store owner. Now she was glad she had picked a smaller one, even though it was still expensive because of its decor.

The owner made some notes on a pad that was hanging off his belt "Excellent choice my dear and thank you very much."

Melody smiled and inclined her head in acknowledgement. She turned back to Sav "Shall we explore a bit further or would you like a bite to eat. i hear the is a little Klingon restaurant nearby that sounds interesting. Whatcha think?"

Sav raised an eyebrow, "A Klingon Restaurant? Isn't that a little.. out of the ordinary?" Sav shook her head in a quick motion and said, "Whatever floats your boat, let's go."

Sav followed Melody out of the shop, then came up to walk beside her. She kept looking around, enjoying the sights, while wondering what was so special about 'Klingon' food that people always talked about it. She felt self-conscious when they passed by a swim suite shop, a lingerie shop, and an Adult Boutique. If she had had a normal life, all of those would be fun to browse in. But, with what happened, they would just remind her of what she could not have. She looked down at her feet, sighing, and trying to not have tears appear in her eyes.

Melody was taking in all the sights of the promenade when she turned at saw Save'ena's face. She immediately stopped and moved a little closer "Hey there, are you ok? I didn't mean to embarrass you in the last shop, i just wanted to get you a nice hope chest. Do you want to sit a moment or is there anywhere you want to go?"

Sav stopped when Melody stopped. She shook her head, "I'm okay, and you didn't embarrass me, honest." She sighed, and continued, "I saw those shops of the latest swim wear and lingerie fashions, and they reminded me about the healing mesh holding my insides together still being there, putting a damper on my mood. Sorry."

Melody would have like to broach the subject of the mesh. Why was it stil in there? Why hadn't it been absorbed? Or removed? But she decided that it was not a suitable conversation for right now. What she said out loud was "It's ok Sweetie" and gave her a reassuring smile.

Sav glanced up and saw the Klingon restaurant ahead, easily picked out by its 'Klingon' head waiter at the podium in front. Sav pointed it out to get their shopping excursion back on track, "I think I found the Restaurant in question. What do you think? Real Klingon, or makeup?"

Melody was still a little troubled by Sav's melancholy mood. She gently placed a hand on Sav's elbow. "We can go somewhere else if you prefer."

Sav snorted out in humor, "No no, let's go see what the rave is. After all, being adventurous with food is generally one of the more safer types of adventuring, eh?"

"I have wanted to try some fresh gagh and some fine blood wine" Melody gestured with her hand "Shall we?"

Sav raised an eyebrow, "I have heard of those, but never partaken of them. Let's go see if the truth matches the hype..."

OFF:

Lieutenant Save'ena Tillatix
CAG / Uroboros Squadron Leader
Bridge Command Specialist
USS Merlin

Lieutenant Commander Melody Jones
Executive Officer
USS Merlin