"Peek-a-boo I See You!"
Posted on Tue Jun 23rd, 2020 @ 1:29am by Lieutenant John Sandoval & Sue Donym & Lieutenant JG Aeryn Jameson & Ensign Emmanuelle Larose
Edited on on Fri Jul 10th, 2020 @ 5:23pm
Mission:
Death in Paradise
Location: Paradise Station Promenade
Timeline: Current
A Mission Post by Lieutenant JG Aeryn Jameson & Lieutenant John Sandoval & Ensign Emmanuelle Larose
Mission: Death in Paradise
Location: Paradise Station Promenade
Timeline: Current
Date: Tue Dec 11th, 2018 @ 5:05pm
John had been given a couple of assignments: to ensure the crew was aware of any rules and regulations they needed to follow aboard Paradise Station and to eventually meet up with Mr. Mindo and his team. The first was easy; his team had already prepared a draft memorandum that set out the behaviour that was expected of the crew. John gave it a final once-over, made some edits given his recent first-hand experience (making absolutely sure it included instructions to leave phasers behind), and ordered the memorandum distributed to all crewmembers along with the Captain's permission to begin coming over in small groups, per his terms.
The second mission could be done more slowly, and so John found his way to the shopping promenade, the one closest to where the Pandora was docked, and began walking it in search of the engineering team. By this time, many crewmembers were boarding the station and exploring on their own. He hoped to bump into one of them as he explored.
Despite best efforts, he could not shake Ensign Larose.
“I’m fine, Ensign,” he insisted. “This next job is simple cultural exchange and some window shopping. We're safe. Return to the ship. Or go have fun.”
“Negative, sir,” was the Ensign’s reply. “I can't vouch the safety of the station. I'm by your side until we're both back on the ship.”
John sighed. “Have it your way, Emmanuelle.”
“Tout à fait,” she replied with a smug grin. She liked that her charge was Canadian; he was one of too few Federation Standard speakers that pronounced it correctly.
Aeryn was walking along the promenade, having boarded the station with plans to get a present for the future birth of Krysia's child and to buy a little something sexy to wear for John. Looking around she smiled as she caught site of John & Larose, "So how goes the Diplomatic side of things?" She grinned as she caught them up.
John was surprised to see Aeryn come up behind him, and jumped a bit as she startled him, which made him laugh. Emmanuelle just smiled, having seen Aeryn out of the corner of her eye and didn’t say anything.
“It went well!” said John. “The suffering of the Irokari will be slightly reduced because of us.”
"That's good to hear" Aeryn smiled warmly. "So what's your plan now?"
“I’m on my way to meet Mindo, but I'm taking advantage of the walk and was going to do some window-shopping,” John said. He stuck out the elbow of his caneless arm in an exaggerated manner, offering his arm to Aeryn. “Care to walk with me?”
"Of course I would!" She beamed a smile as she took his arm and walked with him. She'd missed having him with her aboard ship.
Emmanuelle fell behind them, still keeping her eyes open. “Did you have anything specific you wanted to do out here?” John asked.
"Well I'd like to find a present for Krysia & James' baby. I know she's still got months left but who knows when we'll get the chance for proper shopping again! Plus I thought I'd buy something a little...special for us, or rather you!" She grinned.
“Oh, goodness,” John said, blushing a little and hoping his escort was out of earshot (though pretty sure she wasn’t). “What, uh, do you mean by ‘special for us,’ meaning me?”
"You'll just have to wait and see." She smiled warmly. "Is there anything in particular you want to get?"
“I’m not actually sure yet,” he answered. “I don’t know that I need to buy anything. But I like seeing what there is to buy. Something might catch my attention. I haven’t packed any useable currency anyway; I didn’t think I’d be able to shop. I thought I’d need to return to the ship first.”
John saw a shop that was brightly lit and coloured in soft blues, pinks, greens, and yellows. He could see some clothing on racks, all of it very small, and surrounded by miscellaneous other items.
“Looks to me,” John said, “that baby supply stores have a universal design. Shall we?”
"Why not!" Aeryn grinned and nodded. "I might just find something nice in here." She lead on walking into the shop first.
John stepped aside as Aeryn picked at items. He wasn’t exactly comfortable around anything kid-related, never having spent much time around kids since he was one.
Aeryn smiled politely as they were approached by the store keeper, looking at John in amusement as the owner seemed to think they were an expecting couple. "Actually...we're looking for a present for a friend." She smiled warmly, something gender neutral." Her eyes fell on a large cuddly bear in a gift set with clothing and a few other items. "What do you think?" She looked at John as she pointed to it.
He looked for a second, studying it closely. “Cute. Gender neutral. Comprehensive. I like it.”
"So have you considered having children at any point?" She looked at John curiously. "Would your wife like to have a baby?"
“We’ve talked about it,” John answered. “Smart for any couple to discuss kids, especially before you get married. But truth be told neither of us want kids, at least right now. Partly because of how career-focussed we are. Partly because we’re not together, and we don’t want to raise a child when one of us isn’t present.” He leaned a bit closer, figuring his next sentence was more intimate. “I should tell you that I take birth control very seriously. I still need to meet with the CMO about getting injections on Pandora, but I don’t take risks, and have even considered a more permanent solution. So we can have our fun.” He smiled widely at that last phrase and pulled back to normal range. “How about you? Any thought to children one day?”
"Well I...would like children one day. I've always liked children but there's no mad rush on it, maybe one day when the time is right." She smiled warmly lowering her voice as she leaned a little closer to him. "Don't worry I take birth control seriously too." She smiled as she turned back to the gift set deciding to settle on it for Krysia. "I'll take it." Paying the storekeeper she arranged for the present to be delivered to the ship for her to save her carrying it around. She smiled at John "So where would you like to go now?"
“I think I saw an antique shop a bit further down,” said John, by way of suggestion. The two walked towards it, and began looking at a variety of old alien artifacts, likely at least a century old each. Furniture pieces, decorations, even books.
One specific piece caught his eye. A cane, with a jet black wood staff and a handle the colour of gold-pressed latinum. Bright red jewels adorned each side of the handle.
“What do you think?” John said, showing it to Aeryn.
“It’s...different” She took a better look. “I prefer more wooden coloured than black wood but I do like the handle.”
He studied it further. He showed it to the shopkeeper, who spouted something in a language that his universal translator worked out to meaning “500 credits.”
John set it back down. “I’m going to come back in a day or so," he told the shopkeeper. "I’ll have currency, but also a tricorder. I want to scan it.” He turned back to Aeryn. “Anything you like, or shall we move on?”
“Actually....” She walked over to a wooden rocking chair by the window. “I do like this rocking chair. It’s one of those silly fantasies of mine from when I was young. I always wanted one, but maybe I should think about it for a little while first if a cane is 500 credits I have no doubt this chair would be a whole lot more!”
“Quite probably,” John agreed. “It is a cute chair though, and your quarters have room.” John decided to sit in the chair. “It’s quite comfy too, actually.”
"I'll have a think on it" She smiled as she looked at him. "Actually it looks like it suits you, that maybe a plus point for buying it."
“Thanks,” John said. He held is arm out. “Help me up please?”
"Of course!" Aeryn smiled as she gently helped him up from the rocking chair. "Is there anywhere else you'd like to look at?"
“Not here,” John said. “Let’s keep walking.” The two left the antique shop and continued window-shopping and people-watching. John was content to walk semi-aimlessly down the promenade with Aeryn. Happy, even. He was glad he found someone fun to spend time with.
He looked back and still saw Emmanuelle. Not butting into his fun, but everpresent.
“What do you think of my security attaché?” John asked.
"She's very dedicated" Aeryn smiled. "She's very protective isn't she?"
“She won’t leave me the hell alone, but she keeps her distance when privacy is warranted,” John said. “I like her. Security Chief Griffin will probably let me keep her around.”
"Well if you like her then that's what matters." Aeryn grinned as she looked around the shops as they walked. It was enjoyable having John around to be with.
“I like this place,” John said. “I’ve not been to too many ports that are as diverse as this. Small numbers of people from worlds we’ve never even heard of. The Federation celebrates diversity, but you never see this much of it in our borders.”
“I guess you’re right there. It makes you wonder why we don’t see so much diversity on Federation stations, I’d have thought with the free movement people get on Federation Stations it would draw in more cultures.”
“I think,” John said, “that when I’m an old man, and I’m senior enough to get to pick what I do, I’d try to set up a Federation embassy in a place like this.” John looked on wistfully. “Imagine how many cultures we’d get to interact with, learn from, trade with, all from a port like this. And Katherine might even find it livable and could continue educating from here. Not quite a white-picket fence, but something to dream about.”
“I guess” Aeryn couldn’t help but feel a little envious, she liked John a lot but she had no ‘actual’ relationship with him she was just his fun on the side that his wife happened to know about. “I’m not sure what I’ll do in my later years.”
“Well, we’re both still quite young,” John said. “Probably at least a century left to think on it.”
"That's true" Aeryn smiled warmly. "Right now I'm looking forward to more time with you once our duties permit. Hence the..." She lowered her voice. "Special something I have in mind." She grinned a wry grin. "I thought I'd, shall we say, spice things up a little?"
John smiled back widely. “Sounds like fun!” John said. “Well, if you want to look for whatever you have in mind, I’ll leave you to it. I wouldn’t want to ruin any surprise you have in mind. Plus I do need to catch up with Mindo. He shouldn't be much farther.”
“Agreed” Aeryn grinned. “Let’s just say I’ll be counting down the hours until you get back to the ship.” She smiled.
John leaned in and gave Aeryn a firm kiss on the lips. He then turned down a side corridor to explore more shops, leaving Aeryn to find what she was looking for. Emmanuelle caught up with him. She gave her charge a smile and gentle elbow to the ribs. A subtle 'attaboy.'
Watching him go Aeryn couldn’t help but think what a lucky woman Katherine was to have a husband like John and how lucky she was to be the other woman in his life. With that she headed off to find her little surprise for when he got back.
OFF
