[JP] Ensign Alix Harford & Commander Alora DeVeau - "Alora’s Flora"
Amanda Nordstrom
((Alora’s Quarters, Denali Station))
It had been quite a lovely day. After a trip out to the city proper where Alora stumbled upon a plant shop as well as newer friends, she’d joined Kettick and Vahin at the Arboretum, then returned home. Shyla had taken her nap upon her mother’s back, a position the child hadn’t protest, and had awoken to a world of flora surrounding her, tall trees and an abundance of flowers that sweetened the air with their divine aromas. Babbling happily, she had gazed, wide eyed at all around her, occasionally reaching out of the carrier to stretch for something, then withdrawing. After a while, she fussed, and Alora had bid her companions to go on while she paused to nurse the babe. Once satisfied, Alora had continued her day.
After returning home, Alora gave Kettick and Vahin their gifts, then Shyla received food, a bath, and cuddles with a story as she drifted off to sleep. For the child, bedtime had come, but for the mother, it was now an evening of relaxation, and hopefully one uninterrupted. She had just sat down at the piano, her fingers dancing over the keys of ivory and ebony, drawing out an eloquent melody when the computer chirped. Immediately pausing, Alora turned and faced the door, even as she called the standard command to the computer to open its doors to the visitor.
DeVeau: Come in.
Harford: Good evening.
Alix Had lost herself to a very present evening of wandering the streets of Denali contemplating her life, her career, and what was missing. The spa had relieved her stress just enough to free her mind and kissing herself in solitude until the artificial dusk of the Ring had been just what she needed. She'd lost track of time however, having intended to drop by Commander DeVeau's apartment earlier.
At the sight of the visitor, Alora’s face brightened. She had hoped to see Alix earlier, but the doctor had mentioned a spa, and there was no way she was going to interrupt that.
DeVeau: Alix! I’m glad you came!
Harford: Thank you Comman– uh, Alora.
It still felt strange to call the petite, dark haired woman by her first name. Though Alora looked youthful, younger even than Alix, she knew better. There was a brilliant mind and dedicated leader behind the woman's soft, kind face.
Rising from her seat, Alora greeted the woman more properly rather than hovering over the piano. She had been afraid the Ensign would hesitate at coming by, but she was happy to see that the woman had indeed visited.
DeVeau: Did you enjoy the spa?
Harford: I did, it was lovely. I'm sorry to come by so late. I lost myself and time this evening. Is Shyla in bed?
Alora waved her hand in a dismissive manner. She wouldn’t be in bed for another few hours, so it didn’t matter if someone came by. Truthfully, she enjoyed company. Sometimes, she needed company.
DeVeau: No, it’s fine. Shyla’s asleep and hopefully she’ll stay that way through the night.
While Alix listened, smiling, she took the opportunity to look around Alora’s apartment. Save for the solid walls and furniture, it could easily have been mistaken for a greenhouse. Everywhere her eyes traveled, there were plants. She gasped lightly at one she thought she recognized.
Harford: Is that a Night Blooming Jasmine?
It was a favorite flower in her mother's garden growing up. The plant looked familiar though a little different than Alix remembered. It was just starting to open as dusk had just fallen, and the hobby botanist itched to get a closer look.
Alora’s eyes followed Alix’s and she smiled, then nodded.
DeVeau: It is. I actually have a number of plants from all across the galaxy.
Obviously she had to limit herself because she only had so much room, but thankfully she had more room at Ops and even more at Denali. It was glorious, really.
Continuing to look around as she listened and nodded approvingly, Alix began to understand why Alora had been so intent on her and the other’s visiting her apartment. The Chief Scientist really did have a vast and beautiful collection. Some of which Alix was certain were alien.
Harford: How have you cultivated such a wonderful collection? Which is your favourite?
She couldn't help it. The questions bubbled out of her as her curiosity clamored for attention.
Oh that was a perfect question to ask. Alora’s eyes twinkled as the conversation turned to one of her shelves and stepped over. Motioning to a series of flowers, the petals taking on a variety of colours, all the leaves fuzzy, but displaying a number of shades of green, some flecked with white or even pink, she smiled.
DeVeau: This variety is my favourite.
Harford: Are they ::hesitates thinking:: violets? African Violets.
Nodding, Alora lightly rubbed one of the leaves, then released it to motion toward the rest of her collection. If one looked closely, they would realise that African Violets took up about a quarter of her collection - at least the collection that was visible.
DeVeau: It’s how I really got my start. My specialties are in botany and zoology.
Though she also had a medical degree thanks to the year she went back to Earth and spent furthering her education, but while she was glad she had done so, she still struggled to identify herself as such. She would always first and foremost be a botanist and zoologist.
Harford: They’re gorgeous. Why do you keep so many?
Slender fingers flitted gently across the leaves as Harford admired the shelf of plants.
DeVeau: Actually, I wanted to ask you something.
Harford: Sure, ask away.
DeVeau: What’s your favourite colour?
Harford: Like a dark olive green, though I’m also fond of blues and pinks.
Alix turned to regard the other woman, head tilted slightly.
Harford: Why do you ask?
Alora didn’t respond with anything other than a smile at first, one that glimmered with a hint of mischief. Her eyes turned away from the woman to the array of flowers set before her. All of her violets were clustered together, the fuzzy leafed plants displaying a wide variety of colours, not only in their blossoms, but also on the leaves. She knew she would gift one to the visitor; the only question was, which one?
Alix watched as DeVeau shuffled through the Violets. The passion was evident on the Commander’s face. She really enjoyed plants, but she was certain that Alora loved them. They were her pride and joy and the care she took of them all was evident. Alix had a nice little collection, but it was nothing compared to the green that was nearly taking over the Chief Science Officer’s apartment.
Harford: ::pensively:: You know, I saw you speak once. At a conference in Montana last… May I believe.
Alora paused in her perusal to turn back to Alix, surprise registering over her features.
DeVeau: The one about tachyon radiation exposure on Saintpaulia ionantha?
Harford: Mhm… That very lecture. It was very interesting the way you connected botany to something so much bigger.
Something flickered in her face, a hint of sorrow that was gone almost as soon as it was there - or perhaps it hadn’t been there, and what was seen upon Alora’s visage was merely a trick of the light. Turning back to her flowers, she lifted a hand which traced an invisible path from left to right as she considered each of the flora in turn, then paused before moving to a different shelf.
DeVeau: It was actually the second time I’ve given that lecture.
Harford: Is it? I wasn’t aware of the first.
DeVeau: The first time was about…oh, I guess it was seven years ago, now. It’s all still theoretical.
But she knew there had to be a way to employ it. Still, that was not a project she wanted to involve herself in any longer.
There was something dismissive about the way the Chief Science Officer had spoken her last sentence, It's all still theoretical. Though she briefly cocked her head in contemplation, Harford chose to let that particular topic fade into the background. She studied the experienced botanist contemplatively for a moment. How many projects would she herself someday choose to let fade into the background? At this early point in her career, Alix was still driven by an unquenchable thirst for answers, but surely over time that would fade. It would have to, right?
Stepping to the side, Alora continued to let her eyes sift through the offerings. Finally, her hand froze before a small, blue pot and she plucked it from its perch.
DeVeau: Here we go! This one is called “Rebel’s Splatter Kake.”
Turning, she held the pot out. Inside of it squatted a small African violet, quite young, but already with two blossoms on it. Each petal boasted a background of pink with splatters of purplish blue, and every single petal was rimmed in white with a burst of brilliant yellow anthers at the center, all off set on rich, emerald green foliage.
DeVeau: I’d like you to have this.
Harford: Oh, wow… I- I don't know what to say. ::long pause:: Thank you, Alora. It's beautiful.
DeVeau: I’m glad you like it.
Taking the offered pot in her hand, Alix felt a warmth spread through her chest. The gesture of sharing something so dear held an unspoken intimacy. Somehow this plant linked her to the other woman, as if a silent thread stretched between them. An intense urge to reciprocate almost drove Alix to open up and share the thoughts that had been troubling her. However, just as she began to speak, a soft cry echoed out from the other room and broke the spell she'd been under.
Harford: Alora I- ::baby cries:: I'd better let you see to Shlya.
A soft, genuine smile warmed Alix's features as she regarded the other woman. It was sometimes hard to see Starfleet Officers as maternal figures, but not Alora; there was something almost maternally protective about her. As she took a step back to exit the apartment a sadness filled her remembering her littlest sister. Their's was a unique bond, part sibling and part parent. She missed Allison dearly.
Alora turned and started toward the room, thought she paused to look back at her guest.
DeVeau: I’m sure I can get her down quickly if you’d like to stay a while.
Harford: No it's getting late anyway. I'll leave you and Shyla to your evening.
Nodding, Alora’s smile flickered back to life. She was glad that Alix had, at the very least, come by to accept the gift offered. She held up a finger, feeling it far too quick a farewell to leave it there before popping into the other room. Emerging a moment later, Shyla was in her arms, wrapped in a sleeping sack, pressed tightly against her mother.
DeVeau: Well, thank you for coming by. I’ll see you tomorrow I’m sure.
Harford: Thank you again for the Rebel’s Splatter Kake. ::bobs the pot upward in her grasp:: I’ll take good care of it.
DeVeau: I know you will. Feel free to come again.
Although Shyla was a joy and Alora could no longer imagine a life without the child, she still appreciated the companionship of other adults. Even with the baby - or perhaps, especially so since her birth - Alora’s quarters felt so large and empty.
Harford: I enjoyed seeing your collection. Perhaps I'll get the chance again soon.
DeVeau: I would like that.
After exchanging goodnight wishes, Alix stepped out of the Commander’s apartment and quietly made her way back to her own. She stared contemplatively into the petals of the African Violet, both seeing it and not seeing it. Someday she'd speak to Allison again, and her other sisters. Surely. For now, she needed to shake the longing for home and figure out how to address her growing doubt in her career and, more pressing, her fear of state ships.
*********************
Ensign Alix Harford
Medical Officer
USS Astraeus, NCC-70652
D240104AH2
&
Commander Alora DeVeau
Chief Science Officer &
Second Officer
Denali Station
&
Matriarch of the 15th House
Betazed
M239008AD0