Thought Cha' Might Like to Go to the Show

Posted on Thu May 24th, 2018 @ 12:30am by Reessem Nubohn KIA (*)

Mission: Mission 7 - Sabotage
Location: Deck 5 - Crew Quarters
Timeline: MD -07 18:00
1212 words - 2.4 OF Standard Post Measure

Deacon looked at the door chime and tried to act calm. He was dressed in his best clothes, and though both his trousers and shirt were neat and clean, he was keenly aware of the leather patches he had on his knees and the mismatched button he had sewn onto his shirt collar. Mina used to despair at the state of his wardrobe and lecture him on how he needed new clothes. He just laughed at her, in a good-natured way saying that he was a travelling man who just needed travelling clothes. As he pressed the chime on Reessem’s door he wondered why he never listened to her.

Reessem was just reading an old book when she heard the chime and looked up. "Come in?" She called wondering who would be coming to visit her after a shift. She wore just a loose shirt that clung off of her and a pair of leggins.

"Good Evening Mademoiselle," Deacon said as he gently stepped into her cabin, "I hope I'm not disturbing you." He couldn't help but smile warmly at her, but as he took in her relaxed clothes and the nearby book, the smile faded to an embarrassed grin, "Ah, terribly sorry, it looks like that's exactly what I'm doing."

“I am just resting and chilling out.” She said with a shrug as she indicated the sofa and sat down. “What can I do for you?” She wondered thinking she hadn’t seen him in a few days with how busy Engineering had been after Selina getting into trouble.

"Thank you," Deacon replied, sitting down next to her, "Well, I guess I wanted to show you some ideas I had for that figurehead," he added handing Reessem some sketches from an overstuffed folder he was carrying, "The faces are different composites of the crew." he laughed, "Which of course is a thinly veiled excuse to come by and say 'hello'."

Reessem smiled patiently before she blushed. "That figurehead needs to go and you know it." She laughed more than anything. It was adorable that he wanted to come and talk to her about the most ridiculous thing on the ship. The figurehead had been silly when it had been put on but now it was just silly and annoying as they couldn't get it down/

Deacon liked the blush, it looked good on her. But Reessem still deflected anything direct, she would be an expert at the Santulan Nrty, the 'Balanced Dance' where you must both lead and follow. It as one of the most difficult and intimate of dances. Deacon found himself wishing to dance with her like that, but for now this was enough.

"Don't you are considered such a thing!" he said in mock seriousness, tossing his portfolio down on the coffee table with a flourish, "She just needs a little care and attention." he added trying to look Reessem in the eye, "She needs to know she's loved." but Reessems gaze seemed to linger on the table.

Deacon looked down to see that some of his sketches had spilled out. Most were preliminary, nothing more than shapes, others you could tell who they were. There were Lhas' girls playing with the sea cow, you could almost hear the laughing and squealing as they were sprayed with water. The was the one with Dix and Mike as they played in the surf on the beach. Another with Jasper doing a kegstand. And yet another of Selina sitting with her legs curled beneath her in a chair.

"These are beautiful Deacon." She whispered picking up some of them. "You've really captured some of the people in these. You are really talented." Reessem looked up at the man and smiled brightly as she caught one of Selina before she turned sad thinking of how the woman was now lying in the ICU in a coma.

Deacon picked up Selina's sketch and smiled a sad smile, "Well there's a trick to it," he said looking at Selina's smile, "Honesty and vulnerability. It's not about just a matter of accuracy or precision, hell any computer can do that, better than I ever could," he admitted, "You have to be honest and draw the truth in what you see, and be vulnerable in committing your feelings to a piece of paper. You have to pour a little bit of your soul into it." He smiled looking back at her, "What do you think, Reessem, too deep for movie night?" he asked calling her by her given name for the first time.

She could truly see the truth of Selina in the drawing. It made her sadder the more she thought about it that the Engineer was lying hurt in sickbay more and more. "Oh totally to deep but I can go to the Movie night." She said hoping he meant them going to the movie night together. She arched an eyebrow at the use of her name but didn't comment, it sounded nice him using her name.

Deacon stood up and offered her his hand, "Then come on with me, " He said beaming a smile at her, "I'd love to have your company."

"I should change first?" She wondered softly looking at his offered hand as she wondered about her clothes. They weren't actually for going outside her quarters.

"You look perfect," Deacon said without thinking, then bit his lower lip wondering if his eyes betrayed him as badly as his mouth, "But as you can see," motioning to his clothes, "fashion is not my forte. So Reessem, I tell you what, I'll wait for you out on the corridor, so you can have some privacy, while you assemble your ensemble." Scooping up the sketches he turned to leave, not noticing the piece of rolled paper that had fallen from the table and now rested underneath the sofa, its edge barely visible.

The young woman nodded and quietly moved to the partition as she saw the man leave. It was such an interesting time in her life she didn't want to wait for a moment. Within moments to had joined him out in the corridor not even noticing the fallen piece of paper.

The paper had been impregnated with so much lead that it insisted on turning itself into tube. Unrolling it reveal what was a simple sketch really. Some vague planet and starscape occupied the background with a woman in the foreground. She was holding a roll in one hand, with a morsel of bread in the other held between her thumb and forefinger poised in front of a mouth wearing a shy smile. Her nose wrinkled slightly, between two sparkling eyes, one of which had strands from an unruly lock of hair falling just above her brow threatening to cover it. The beauty the artist found there was almost heart-wrenching. Each careful stroke of pencil lead a testament to the warmth he felt for his subject, from slightly chipped nail on the ring finger of her right hand to the three freckles on her cheek just below her eye. Freckles that Reessem knew well, she saw them in the mirror every morning.

OFF::

Deacon Kane
Chief Engineer
SS Mary Rose

Reessem Nubohn
Secretary
SS Mary Rose