Lt. Haukea-Willow: Pieces of Me.
Aly Drolet
((The I’vish Gallery, Shi’Kahr District, Starbase 118))
Distracted Haukea processed half of what Madison had spoken regarding the agenda, noticing the arrival of Gogigobo Fairhug, to which she raised her camera, capturing an authentic stereoscopic image.
Willow: ::With two stereoscopic images in hand:: I took your advice Gogigobo, here! ::She handed each of them the photo she had taken of them::
Fairhug: ::taking the image and looking down at it:: What's this?
Marsh: Interesting, developing a new hobby?
Willow: I tried something new, I hope you like them.
Fairhug: ::now realising what he is looking at:: Ahh! Very candid. At least I know how I look now.
While photography, chiefly holophotography, was not a new hobby for Haukea, having use of an instant-holocamera was in fact a new experience for the Risian. To capture candid images, developed nearly instantaneously, placed her skills on a pedestal, erasing the necessity for perfection before development began. The images themselves provided a realistic view of how she saw the crew, engaging in honest, present connection.
Today, after an initial attempt, Haukea scrutinized the reactions of Madison and Gogigobo as they examined the photos she had captured, one for each. For Madison she merely raised an eyebrow, an indication of apparent surprise regarding Gogi’s comment.
Gogigobo’s image itself, when viewed properly, produced an authentic dimensional photo, the Commander placed distinctly in the foreground, wearing a tuxedo of dark green, accentuated by a black bow tie and white shirt. Haukea herself shared an equal fondness for the represented shades of green and black.
Marsh: It looks fantastic.
Willow: Good, I’m glad. What do you both think of the Gallery?
The I’vish Gallery, to Haukea, was distinctive in the tone, mood, quality and type of art it displayed, resonating with her emotional intelligence in the intensity and suppression represented by Vulcan’s, through their culture.
Vulcan’s, akin to her own, experienced high intensity emotions, choosing to lock them away, finding them difficult to understand. Here, in their physical representation, the Risian acknowledged her own skill, passion and experience in the emotional representation of a photo.
Fairhug: It's certainly impressive. A perfect venue for our awards ceremony, I think.
Marsh: What can I say? I know how to pick a great spot!
Madison Marsh, even unknowingly, had chosen a poignant location, causing the security chief a thin smile, fiddling with her camera.
Fairhug: Have either of you been here before?
Despite her affinity for the photographic arts, Haukea had not visited the I’vish Gallery before, nor in fact much of the Shi’Kahr District. Vulcan society, while holding one meaningful similarity to her own, was not forefront in her mind when investigating the base.
Marsh: I haven’t been, but I wanted to try something diverse and posh.
Willow: The Shi’Kahr District is usually not on my patrol rounds, nor is it a place I gravitate towards. So, no. I have not visited the gallery before.
Fairhug: ::looking around:: It's not really my kind of thing, but I think I might give it a try one time. It's always good to expand your horizons, right?
Gogigobo Fairhug, as Haukea had previously learned, gave significantly practical and heartfelt advice, his current statement indicating a common thread to their last conversation. Which, now, was why she had replicated the cherry red camera, gone out to the Night Garden, S’zurak in toe, attempting to regain confidence with new experiences.
Marsh: Right, it doesn’t hurt to try something new. Well, for the most part at least.
Willow: New challenges, connection. You taught me, Gogi, how important they are.
Fairhug: ::Head inclining towards the camera:: Perhaps you'll be putting on an exhibition of your own, one day, Haukea.
Willow: You really think? My style is nothing compared to this.
Haukea largely captured images of flora, even painted it too, back when she had the chance. Her style, personal, realistic, complete with memory, was incomparable to that of the Vulcan art surrounding them, of which she considered was of an abstract nature.
Yet, to find fulfillment in the public display of her own photographs, perhaps paintings too, created satisfaction beyond belief. Possibly upon retirement from Starfleet she would have an exhibition displaying the connection found within the organization.
Marsh: I think that’s a fabulous idea. Here let’s go check out the Vulcan style of photography.
Willow: Why not. I could likely learn a thing or two.
Fairhug: I must admit, I am intrigued.
Continuing through the gallery Madison led them towards a photographic display. The indicated photos, realistic in nature, captured stoicism while in meditational discourse, slightly abstract in meaning, color and composition indicating a representation of emotions, serenity.
To Haukea, she hardly knew what to make of them, an insurmountable distance between her highly realistic style and the more abstractly Vulcan.
Marsh: I can sense the inner calmness portrayed in these. They aren’t loud or full of technicolor. Much more neutral and relaxed.
Willow: When you know what to look for you can see the slight shift in color composition and lighting. Enough to provide an abstract element to the photograph.
Fairhug: I must admit, I'd never thought of photography as something Vulcans would pass their time doing.
Marsh: ::Patting Haukea’s shoulder:: See! You can totally do this as well. The next Ansel Adams, I can see it now clear as day.
Willow: Who?
Haukea, knew mostly of ancient Earth painters such as Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet and Georgia O'Keeffe; admiring their color composition, brush strokes and subject. Who, gaining from context, likely a photographer, was Ansel Adams, Haukea could not say. However, if MaTison was making the comparison, it likely meant she thought highly of her ability, despite not yet having viewed her own work.
Gogigobo on the other hand, merely, angled towards Haukea, shrugged, equally unsure.
Madison: Response
Willow: Oh! ::Smiling:: I still think my photos would be out of place among such high caliber Vulcan art. I shoot simplistically. I find my angles, lighting and composition first. I don’t do alterations afterwards. Mostly I’m photographing flora, or people, but never like this.
Haukea gestured to the photo before them, a Vulcan sat, legs crossed, in meditation.
Fairhug: Well, all styles have their merits. I'm no artist in any sense of the word, but it's all a matter of opinion, ultimately, is it not?
Madison: Response
Willow: Well, in that case, if you say it's so good, I should get you copies to hang in your offices.
Haukea herself certainly considered providing copies of her latest ‘venture, the flowers, Vulcan Fire Lilies, Icelandic Poppies and Desert Roses from The Night Garden. Surely Madison would appreciate the flora. Yet, with Gogigobo, Haukea considered a more personal item, perhaps an image from their upcoming hike.
Madison: Response
Fairhug: I definitely would! I've been trying to put my own touches on the CO's office, but it still feels like Sal's to me.
Willow: I’m sure it will always be Sal’s office. Memory has a way of sticking around in places.
Marsh: Response
Fairhug: I guess it will, eventually. I'm certainly spending enough time in there. More than I even imagined.
Willow: Believe me. I know what that’s like. Though I’m sure some artwork is what’s missing. For your office too, Madison.
Marsh: Response
Often, when occupying a space so frequently overturned or long used by a singular individual, it became difficult for the previous owner to leave. They hung around like a ghost. Even, in objects personally owned, oneself was the ghost, haunting as a previous version of your identity.
Haukea herself certainly found strain, though unacknowledged, in working from behind a leftover, previously used, heavy wooden desk. Though, despite it, recognizing and accepting the effects of such memories allowed for the space to become your own, personalized. Perhaps, and Haukea would never forget, individually selected and framed photographs from a friend would be that anchor for Gogigobo. Madison, it would likely have her blushing, counting the seconds til the end of her shift, a longing for Haukea.
Surrounded by friends, platonic, lovers, The Risian’s smile grew as Gogi laughed.
Fairhug: Well, an authentic Haukea-Willow would certainly help.
Willow: I’ll get you one from our upcoming hike. And Madison, if you like, I have a recent selection of flora photographs from the Night Garden you are welcome to choose from.
Marsh: Response
Something then attracted Gogigobo’s attention, head turned round the gallery, watching the gathering crowd. Haukea figured, as Commanding Officer of an entire starbase, Gogigobo was timing his welcome and awards with scheduled, practiced ease.
Fairhug: Well, I guess I had better start the proceedings. ::gesturing to the photo they were looking at:: But I'm sure there'll be time to check some more out later.
Willow: That would be lovely. What you say Maddie? Come back later?
Marsh: Response
Fairhug: ::smiling:: Catch you after.
Willow: Later. Good Luck.
Marsh: Response
Gogigobo Fairhug, practiced, poised, proud, moved through the gallery, reaching the stage, ready to start their latest round of awards.
Haukea herself turned towards Madison, love in her eyes.
Willow: ::To Marsh, taking her hand:: Shall we find a table?
Marsh: Response
Lt. Haukea-Willow
Chief of Security - Crisis Response
Starbase 118 Ops
M239512BG0
Ad Astra Per Aspera/To The Stars With Difficulty - Una Chin-Riley
