Simple Appreciation

Posted on Wed Apr 14th, 2021 @ 4:18pm by Nollel Livaam (*) & Chief Engineer Michael Burnstein
Edited on on Wed Apr 14th, 2021 @ 4:19pm

Mission: Mission 13: Stowaway
Location: Old Stardust City
Timeline: MD -13 19:00
1985 words - 4 OF Standard Post Measure

The famous Snowdolphin Bar, with its speciality “Geyser” cocktail and mulled Roman ales were normally the first stop for new arrivals on Freecloud but Nollel wanted nothing of the sort as she stepped off the transporter terminal and took it all in. The postcards and terminal holograms really did not do it justice as she took in the dimly lit streets and the old fashioned torches that lit them up. Despite this being the first time she had ever been to Freecloud she did not look out of place at all as she had thought she might have with her unique clothing style. It was so cold that her breath was visible in the air but the pale coat wrapped around her was keeping her a lot warmer than she had been expecting.

“Where would you like to go first? Anywhere other than the Grand Hotel and Casino Doradus?” She had no issue going there but she did not want to deal with spies and the sort yet. She wanted to spend a little time with Michael without everyone else around them constantly talking about the body swap incident or what they were going to do on the shore leave Gregnol had granted them.

"I'm glad to skip the hotel and casino. Been there, seen those, not really worth the price of the t-shirt," Burnie laughed. Honestly he was just happy to have an opportunity for a real date with Nollel. "The city's amazing though. If you want to see it, we could take an autosleigh tour and hop on and off to sample the food stands and check out the shops." He flashed a smile. "Did you know every type of firework in three quadrants is legal for sale here?"

“Ah yeah forgot you have been here before.” She said with a bit of an embarrassed smile directed at him before she turned back to the view in front of her. It was amazing for the girl from Ardana to see, the bright lights in the distance. She was sure even from up here she would appreciate Old Stardust City more than the technological minded new part. “I would love that. This is the first time I have seen a city like this before.” She admitted looping her arm through his with a pearl of laughter about fireworks and the legality of them on this world. “I did not but maybe we need to get some and have a firework display.” She mused.

"Now you're talking," Burnie replied merrily, enjoying walking arm-in-arm with her through the snow dusted lane that looked like it had been sprinkled with powdered sugar. "See the city, have a nice dinner, do some shopping, and then up on the over look by the Perfume Sea..." he flashed a grin, "...to make some fireworks."

“You old romantic.” She breathed. Nollel giggled and lay her head on his shoulder for a moment before they carried on walking joining a queue for the auto sleigh tour. It was just nice to be off the ship him and her and just them on a snowy planet. “I was reading the guide last night on bridge watch said that when the first southern winds of spring begin to blow, they bring moisture that has lots of tiny bioluminescent organisms that stick to everything and turn it blue and green. I think I like pink more.” She mused looking around at everything with wide eyes.

Burnie looked at her, face lifted to watch glittering dust floating across the rooftops, her eyes alight with wonder, the bits of sparkling pink settling in her pale hair like a fairy nimbus and perfectly highlighted her rosy pink in her cheeks "Yes," he agreed. "It really is beautiful."

Nollel watched the snow falling for a long moment before she realised the man was watching her intently and blushed even more under his gaze. She giggled a bit and shook her head, trying to not shrink under the gaze despite how she liked how it made her feel. “Stop it.” She breathed looping her arm even tighter through his stepping up a step in the line as the people in front got on their auto sleigh for their own tour. The silence was so comfortable that even when Nollel added over the latinium for the tickets she did not say anything other than a quick thank you before bundling onto to auto sleigh.

"Can't help enjoying the sights," Burnie said as he settled beside her, wrapping an arm around her, along with the heated blanket that had been draped over the back of the seat. "Old city tour," he told the holographic guide who was perched at the front like a driver and configured to be the very image of every high class coachman in old earth Victorian era period pieces - right down to the black frock jacket and top hat. "Wait till you see the dancing fountains on the boulevard - all different colors and they use antigravs to make some of them go sideways or in spirals."

"Feels like those Charles Dickens books I have been reading." Nollel grinned at him snuggle close as they shared the heated blanket. It sent warmth around her which was nice when she was still trying to get accustomed to the change in temperature. “I am sure it will be beautiful. I have never really seen snow before. Stratos City was perpetuity kept to a warm and inviting temperature.” She admitted shrugging as the coach started along what could only be describe as the main street taking them away from the holographic displays lighting up the night to burning torches. “I wonder if they are real?” She squinted trying to work it out.

"Holographic flames. There's a repeating pattern to the flickers," Burnie said pointing up and along the row. "It's well done though. The sequence is 152 unique flame tongue sequences over about a minute and a half and they stagger the start sequence randomly across the lamp posts so there's no obvious pattern unless you really watch them carefully." He ducked his head, smiling a little self-consciously at what that said about his fascination with flames. "Which obviously I did last time I was here."

The small blonde looked up at what he was talking about for a moment before looking back at him and grinning at his fascination. She shook her head at his self conscious smile. It was one of the many reasons she had fallen hard for him. She should not have doubted that he would know whether they were real or not in an instant. She kept forgetting that he’d been here before. ”Should have known you would know but never change.” She teased nudging him with her shoulder before she watched the flames intently trying to see what had given them away.

"I've been a geek too long to change now," he laughed. It was such a relief to be with someone who didn't that off-puttingly boring or weird, though he was glad he'd spent the hour or so studying the torches to work out the algorithm when the minor obsession distracting him from the rest of what the city offered had only annoyed Liha. He wanted Nollel to get to really enjoy the experience, and get to focus on the things she wanted to see ...Which wasn't to say he couldn't suggest some spots. "If you'd like hot cocoa, there's a cocoa bar up ahead. They have everything from the original Aztec version with chili pepper to Bajoran cocoa with jumja to old earth style with milk and tiny marshmallows."

“I love you just the way you are.” She said without thinking before her eyes grew wide. It was not something either had said or anything so the way it came out so easy stunned her and made her hit the terminal that would stop the auto sleigh at the next point. “We have known each other for six months, of course, I like hot chocolate. Love Betazoid hot chocolate. Just over that bridge right?” She stammered through as the sleigh stopped at the next available stop.

"Yes!" Burnie said, hopping out and offering a hand to help her step down. "I love the Aztec version, but ...little marshmallows... mmm." He grinned enthusiastically. "Even better, you can do tastings, just like with wine - order a couple of samplers and try them all to see what you like best."

Nollel took the offered hand and kept it even after they got out of the sledge and started down the street towards the bridge. "I love little marshmallows the pink ones are good on those s'mores." She enjoyed just hanging out in the engineering workshop doing random things like that. "Well I am sure I will find something I will like."

"I'm sure they have your favorite Betazoid version, but no reason to try everything else." Burnie squuezed her hands, practically skipping across the bridge toward the stand. As much as he liked hot cocoa, this wouldn't be nearly as much fun without her and he was relishing the idea of showing her so much more of all the good things out in universe. He couldn't lay them out for her on a silver platter, but he could steer her toward all the little places he knew to find them. As they got to the stand, he spotted an open spot at the bar and quickly pulled her over to it. The counter menu popped up as soon as it sensed their presence. "Thirty-one flavors of hot cocoa," he said, presenting it to her happily. "Take your pick."

Nollel grinned and she was pulled close to him until the bar. The menu appeared and she looked at it confused for a moment before she realised that it was not in Federation standard but Ardanian. She had grown so used to not seeing her native tongue she had almost forgotten what it was like to see it.

Quickly changing it to standard so they could both look she pointed to the Betazoid hot chocolate adding marshmallow and cream without hesitation. She moved a little to allow him to pick as she looked around. It was not hard to miss how popular the place was with people of all shapes and sizes pushing against them. “Ten minute waiting time.” A computer voice announced as the menu disappeared.

Burnie sat back, smiling at Nollel and in anticipation of his spiced cocoa sampler. It was a perfect night - a little cold, but the area right by the bar was heated and the old section of the city was lit and decorated with all sorts of people out and about to enjoy it. "There must be people all over the quadrant here," he remarked.

Nollel wished it was a bit warmer herself but she was certainly just enjoying the time away from the ship and just be them for a little bit. "More than just our quadrant." She commented back noticing more than a few species that were far from home. "It really is a special place. I can see why they fiercely maintain independence." She murmured.

"That's the truth," Burnie agreed. "Look over there." He nodded toward a Romulan and Klingon walking arm in arm like lovers. "That is not a sight you see anywhere else, because nearly anywhere else someone from one or the other species would try to kill them. This probably the one place in the universe they can openly love who they love."

The woman smiled at the side that greeted her of the Romulan in the Klingon together. It was a beautiful sight and the man was right anywhere else people will be attempting to kill them. “Makes me appreciate what I managed to find.” She said aloud before she could stop herself.

Burnie leaned over and kissed her temple. "Me too."