Lt. Sheila Bailey - Romance Is In The Air
Aly Drolet
((Holosuite, Dome, Starbase 118))
Likewise, to the waiting, the ride was relievely short, as well as the walk to the holosuite. Sheila herself hardly knew what to say as the two of them walked side by side. Even so, She was giddy to merely be in Dune’s presence once more. If she wasn’t careful she would babble on and on, never letting Dune get a word in edgewise. Once they reached the holosuite Sheila only had to type in her program's code in order to get it up and running. Then they stepped inside.
Entering the holosuite left Sheila breathless. To their backs was the dense, lush, deep green Elaysian jungle. Dark rust red cliffs peeking out over a sea of green. However, it was not the jungle she was here to explore. No, beneath their feet, likely getting in between their toes and in their shoes, was sand. Sand as rust red as the cliffs, yet as soft as silk, ground smooth. For miles the sand stretched, until it disappeared into a thin line. Above them was bright, robin egg blue sky, soft cotton like clouds sprinkling the sky. A cheerful pastel yellow sun smiling down on them provided warmth. Despite all that, what Sheila was most interested in lay before them. Stretching out til it met the horizon was the sea. Sharp black rocks jutted up creating waves near the shore. Waves white when they meet the rocks, foaming. Salty water kelp green when kissing the sand. Beyond the rocks the water was calm, merely bobbing up and down, sparkling a crystal clear mid toned aqua-teal. However, the single most important feature was the small sailboat anchored in the shallow water. The boat itself was white, along with it’s two hoisted sails.
Bailey: May I introduce you to the Elaysian coast!
Dune: …wow.
The Elaysian coast was known for, besides being scattered with many small villages containing close knit communities, having breathtaking beaches, with silky smooth sand, it’s pristine warm waters and fishing industry. Such water, the sea, was bathtub temperature warm, ideal for floating in for hours. And many did just that, forgetting their troubles, with the robin egg blue sky smiling down on them. If they weren’t swimming, many Elaysian’s took to small boats, often fishing for mermaid sharks, a small warm water, flat faced fish. Or merely sailing for hours, sometimes day, in order to reach the many far off islands. Such secluded islands made ideal vacation spots, full of excotic, mouthwateringly sweet fruit, and soft, gentle breezes.
However, Sheila and her family had not lived near the coast in any way. Instead she had, as a child, the dense, lush, deep green Elaysian jungle in which to play. And most of the time that had been enough. The rainforest was equally as scenic, and likewise equally as warm. Ideal for a child’s fanciful imagination to run wild, allowing them to chase after fairies and jump after sprites. Even so, Sheila longed for the ability to sail away on ancient waterways, following the former path of the Butterfly Queen, where she guided the first sailors as they touched land in every corner of Elaysia. Naturally, however, she would not have been the first person to take on such a journey. Many had attempted to follow The Queen’s path. And likewise many had been unsuccessful. Though today’s outing was not about fulfilling that particular childhood fantasy.
Today, Sheila had decided, while visibly vibrating with genuine exhilaration, that herself, and now Dune, were going to go sailing, catching the breeze. Perhaps a light bit of fishing would be had. In turn they could simply take to the open water, conversing, as they navigated their way to their own private island, a place made specially for the two of them.
Dune: Will we be going sailing?
Bailey: ::Blushing, her smile not having yet left her lips:: That was my plan.
Sheila, already racing off towards the boat, gripped Dune’s hand, through sheer joy and passion, leading him down to the water’s edge. The boat paled in comparison to the magnificence surrounding them. Though before she took to the latter, to climb aboard, she dropped Dune’s hand, embarrassment creeping up inside her. Embarrassed at her carelessness, for not being more cautious around the Kelpian. Not that she suspected maliciousness from him, he had already proved himself to be a gentleman. Nevertheless she was normally more cautious, not nearly as open with expressing her emotions. Sheila had been hurt, and badly, far too many times by those she thought she had considered a friend, if not something more, that being cautious had become her natural instinct. When had that changed? She wasn’t even sure she could articulate what she was feeling, the warmth, tingling, passion of emotions overtaking her, inside and out. Despite that Sheila did continue to smile as she watched dune sit down near the mooring, slender hands holding tight to the rope. Sheila, herself, likewise took up a position not far away at the helm.
Dune: I assume we can set off at leisure?
Bailey: Just as soon as we raise the anchor.
Dune: I look forward to it.
Sheila, after raising the anchor and near expertly, through little practice, spun the wheel, causing the rudder in turn to move. They were now underway, heading for open waters, guided by the docile waves as they rocked the boat back and forth. In turn the wind flapped the two hoisted sails. The breeze carrying a scent of crisp salt, slightly sour, yet sweet like honeysuckles.
Dune: ::with a soft yawn:: Do we have a set destination in mind?
Sheila at first had planned to plot a course towards the closest island, the Isle of Fay. However she was now bursting to ask Dune several questions, and not just to get to know him better. Yes, of course, she did want to get to know him, to know every inch of him well and compit it to memory. However, the other part of her wanted to break all tradition and be completely straightforward, no dancing around how she felt. Sheila wanted Dune to know her nearly as much as she was willing to learn about him. Though, normally, Sheila took to expressing her feelings far after she had gotten to know someone. The exception of course had been Lukin. She had expressed her emotion to him on their second meeting, only because they had been standing on ceremony. Even with feelings of safety around Lukin, she had been clear headed, her emotions subtle, a sense of doubt filling her. With Dune there was no doubt. Due to such emotions, she changed course. Instead of heading for the Isle of Fay they would anchor off the coast, bobbing with the waves.
Bailey: We did, but I changed my mind.
Dune: Response
Bailey: Tell me though what do you think? I’m interested to know your impression of Elaysia.
Dune: Response
Bailey: Did I grow up on the coast? Oh universe no. My family lived far inland. I had the jungle as my back garden. Even then the coast has inspired me, as it has many. A great deal of Elaysian folk stories and myths take place out here.
Dune: Response
Bailey: ::Stepping away from the wheel for a moment:: Not to avoid the subject but do you mind if I ask your opinion on something, perhaps a touch personal?
Dune: Response
Bailey: Well…I’m just wondering what you would think if this was actually considered a date.
Dune: Response
Lieutenant Sheila Bailey
Medical Officer
Starbase 118 Ops
M239512BG0
"I don't want to feel like I have to change myself or my image." - Florence Pugh