Worlds Away

Posted on Tue May 2nd, 2023 @ 7:46am by Ziu'Liherasefra & Petty Officer, 3rd Class Lottie Daglish

Mission: Sojurn
Location: Personal quarters, Realia
Timeline: After zingo-bajingo times.
3037 words - 6.1 OF Standard Post Measure

"Did you leave many people behind?"

Plenty of times, when she opted to stay in a place long enough to seek itinerate work, Lihera often chose to simply live out of her ship. It was cheaper to pay the slight increase in docking fee given she had to park the vessel anyway, and also meant that she had everything she needed on hand rather than trying to cart things backwards and forwards. Realia was different, primarily because of the climate, but also because the natives were just that little more hospitable than other places. Sometimes she was tempted by the separate habitats that tourists favoured but, mostly, she accepted a medium-sized suite in one of the hotels and found it accommodating enough.

The huge, circular bed was a great start; the in-ground hot tub that became a central feature of the living space, right in front of the large open fire that flickered and smelled authentic despite being automated, was another drawcard. Aside from the bathroom facilities, the suite was one large room, with only a small service area equipped with a replicator to deal with any self-prepared food and beverages. Hera had never bothered renting something with cooking facilities; her schedule almost always put her out of the place during mealtimes anyway.

What the room did offer, however, aside from the aforementioned, was a beautiful view out of the glass wall that ran as a feature along an entire side of the suite. Heavy drapes covered it as desired, but it was entirely possible to sit soaking in beautifully-heated water whilst watching the starlight ripple and distort on the surface of the harbour and forget, for a moment, than an entire city continued to go about its business just below. There weren't many uninterrupted views like this, it drove the price up considerably, but it was worth it if only for a week. Right now, it could have been twice as expensive and still the best investment Hera had made for a while.

How the pair of them were not exhausted, she could not really say. Certainly, having stepped into the hot tub to catch their breaths, Hera could claim to feel utterly satiated but that wasn't quite the same as being ready to sleep. There was something too unique about the tickle of damp hair beneath her nose, and the simple privilege of being able to drizzle warm water against Lottie's decorated skin as the human sat, after some insistence, leaning back against her host. Conversation, once reinstated, had once again returned to the sharing of personal background. Right now, they were talking about families.

Lottie had calmed down enough that she was relaxed and just sat there watching the starlight stretching out across the sky. "Not anyone of any consequence." She admitted gently as she finally decided on her words. "four brothers but they won't mind. Not many of them would have noticed I was not around so it's not a big deal at all." It felt odd to be saying that but in a family where boys had been more respected if was not a bad thing for her to forge her own path. She had quite enjoyed the path she had chosen right to where she was right now. "What about you?" Lottie wondered shifting a little to look at the woman.

Hera seemed to take a moment to consider it. "It's not the same, of course," she eventually conceded. "I am a decent distance from home but not so far that I'm unable to return in decent time if I chose. I..." Her brow flickered with the stirrings of a faint frown. "My presence there is uncomfortable. I do not behave as they would have me behave, mostly because I do not think the way they would have me think. My parents are good people, and I am their first child. It may be a while before they are able to conceive again but I don't suppose it will be in anyone's best interest if I have much to do with a sibling if one does eventuate."

Lottie nodded and offered a kiss to her cheek before she looked back to the stars. “Is there any particular reason why you do not fit the moulds that they think you should?” She wondered finally thinking they they were likely a long living species if they had a daughter as old as Hera looked and had time to conceived again.

Once again, the alien woman gave her response some thought before speaking. "I mentioned earlier that my people are often sought as intermediaries. Our psionic function is a big part of that but there is also the matter of our guiding principles. Prior to their efforts in brokering peace between the two other nations we share our planet with, the Ziu'ni lived in relative isolation within their forests. An even temperance is considered vital, we are not typically prone to excess in either emotional response or pursuit of gratification. We are fortunate to live many cycles and longevity brings with it a sense of responsibility and moderation." The words sounded almost rehearsed. "I am considered chaotic. An incident several years ago opened my eyes and broadened my expectations. Afterwards, it became very hard to be content with such limited boundaries, despite the apparent idyllic existence most tend to expect we enjoy. I wanted to experience more, and for that I am viewed as an unstable influence."

“Mischievous but I do not see unstable.” Lottie teased a little as she turned to look at the woman. She grinned and shook her head at the rehearsed words and tone. “I think you are perfect the way you are.” She said simply staring at her. She was never going to be able to get enough of watching her. She had such a unique personality and looks it was hard to not fall for.

The dimple emerged. "My departure was by mutual agreement. My parents were sad, as was I, but it was difficult for them to feel constantly obliged to mediate for me. They are highly revered," she added, "and probably amongst our best-travelled. It's probably not surprising they produced a misfit who can't seem to sit still for too long." She watched the human for a moment, equally as entranced by her exotic colouring, and reached out a hand to tuck a strand of damp hair behind Lottie's ear. "What about other connections?" Hera's gaze became two search lights on high-beam. "Friends? A spouse, perhaps?"

“No spouse apart from my marine friend with benefits.” She lugged watching her gaze. She had been fun but it had no been anything like the evening that she had with Hera. “Friends by the boatload I am a medic so I know everyone but no one of consequence of who I have a a deep connection with.” It was not a horrible existence at all, she had no regrets in the slightest.

Hera seemed to consider this and, after a moment, nodded gently. Her eyes wandered then to the water's surface and then upwards to view beyond the window. "I have many acquaintances," she eventually confessed. "Part of travelling alone has made that a requirement of being able to settle anywhere for any length of time. Most of them are work-related, some have become reliable company but not many have an opportunity to extend proper friendship. There are several I left behind, of course." Her smile as she looked back failed to hide its melancholy. "And I severed a pair-bonding that hurt someone a great deal. I do regret that, though..." Her nose twitched. "I have come to learn quite a lot about myself in regards to my preferences when it comes to intimacy." An eyebrow lifted coyly. "I don't think they are going to leave me very likely to carry children any time soon."

“So very delicately put.” Lottie laughed just a little and leant forward kissing her softly hoping to lift the melancholy just a little. She knew the stigma of your preferences not being quite what your family wanted but it was of the many reasons she joined Earth Starfleet and went out among the stars. Thought she did not think it would involve being intimate with an alien from an alien planet.

"The odds are stacked against me anyway," Hera laughed, clearly not of a mindset to stay pessimistic for long. "We may live a considerable time but that only leads to a very drawn out birth-rate. It wasn't such a problem when we were confined to our forests, but stepping beyond the boundaries brought risk that culled our numbers somewhat." Heaving an audible sigh, Hera smiled and released her residual hold on Lottie so that the pair could, for a moment, float in relative solitude. Unabashed, the Ziu'ni used the opportunity to rise from the water and leave a faint water trail as she walked, naked, to replicate the tea she'd been promising for the last half hour.

"It sounds like we're both wandering from situations that didn't compel us to stay. You have arguably made more of yourself," Lihera added, returning with two cool glassed of chilled tea and lowering herself to the side to slip in and hand one to Lottie. "What made you choose a medical career?"

The human woman had lost all thoughts as she watched the woman walk to the replicator and grinned goofily at how ridiculous it was to watch sometime like that but the woman moved in ways that amazed her. She was pretty sure she had missed half the conversation but she nodded. “Thank you.” She finally whispered regaining her wits enough. “I chose it as I was always that person wanting to care and be something more.” She shrugged. “It just came at the right time and place.” Everything had fallen into place at the right time.

Hera considered that a moment over a sip of her drink and then nodded. "As it happens, my family, prior to a swing towards diplomacy and ambassadorship, were traditionally medics. It was one of the two acceptable avenues I could have taken and I opted for music and performance instead. With a side order of aeronautical engineering once I got a taste for it." The alien grinned. "I wouldn't say the Ziu'ni never use technology but they're certainly not enamoured with it. It's a little hard to tinker with old-fashioned pulley-systems in any sort of innovative way."

Lottie sipped the drink and grinned at the sweet taste. It was lovely and refreshing. “Hard to tinker with perfection.” It was hard to fix something as innovative as that. But technology was where her planet was heading but in a few 100 years her planet would hopefully be as advanced as this planet and carrying on its journey to be a hub for the future.

"Don't you start," Hera laughed. "I understand the inherent beauty of simple designs but you have to admit, the Realians grasp of technological advancement is inspirational. It's hard to believe that only a few generations ago, they were a bunch of sea-faring ice worshippers." Reaching back, she put what remained of her drink on the side of the tub and settled back. "Now they're a bunch of sea-faring ice worshippers with really cool toys."

“The really cool toys is definitely making life nicer at the moment.” Lottie sighed happily as she put her drink down on the side and just savoured the view taking everything in. It was hard to not think in what her crewmates would be doing out there when they were all she had.

Catching the air of wistfulness, Hera tilted her head to the side and watched the human for a moment. "It's been hard, I would guess. From what you've said, your travels this far out weren't intentional or anticipated. The universe is a big place to get lost in." She smiled sympathetically. "And this region of space has certainly...got character." Hera screwed up her nose. "I'm sure the Realians will fill your command team in on which direction is best to avoid."

“Yeah, they have offered to update our star charts and other things.” The human said smiling as she carried on watching the planet below. “I think space has character wherever you are. I know the area around Earth certainly has.” Lottie was sure in her faith in the command team to do the best they could in this unique circumstance.

For a long, thoughtful moment, silence reigned. Hera had hardly anticipated her evening would take this turn and thus couldn't have been prepared for the feeling of quiet uncertainty about the human's imminent departure. It wasn't in Hera's scope of experience to usually feel overly disappointed about goodbyes but then, if she thought about it, those goodbyes had never seemed final. It wasn't as if she had no capacity to return to any of the places she'd been so far. This was...different.

"So do you think you'll make it home?," she eventually asked, gentle eyes scanning Lottie's face.

“I do not know but that is the adventure and why I became part of Earth Starfleet to see what is out there. And it’s been on hell of an adventure.” Lottie was not at all disappointed in anything she had done so far. It was amazing and perfect in both how mundane it had become at point to absurd in the chaos.

And that drew a wistful sigh from the Ziu'ni. "I envy you, Lottie Daglish. You seem entirely content with your life no matter the hardships it throws at you, and you seem to also have found a way to experience the unknown." Hera's gaze drifted towards the view. "My people could never understand why I would want to pursue the strange and unfamiliar. They view the outside world more in terms of its risks than its benefits. I've never found either to have particular dominance but I would certainly rank the benefits as being well-worth it." Her eyes once again found the other woman's and, as if to seal the sentiment, Hera drifted over to ingratiate herself somewhat into Lottie's lap, hands smoothing back the dark hair she had toyed with at every opportunity all night. "Some of them are even breath-taking."

The way her name was said was breath taking and sent shivers down her spine. “Got to agree on the breath taking argument. Lottie shifted a little to pull her closer looking up at her. “Very breath-taking.”

Long, slender fingers, their paleness almost iridescent in the moonlight, tucked Lottie's hair behind her ears in gentle, repetitive strokes as Hera seemed content to just soak in the sight of her. "Have you any idea how long you're people intend to stay here?," she asked quietly, desiring the knowledge whilst finding herself already saddened by the inevitability of it. There was so much left to explore, so much left to learn, and yet she could feel the opportunities trickle through her fingers like tiny grains of sand.

“Afraid not. Not much on our ship is being fix until after the festival.” She said brightly leaning up to take her face in her hands and pressing a kiss to her. “Lots of time.” She firmly proclaimed.

"I hope so." And whilst it wasn't typical of her to voice such wistfulness after several hours, Hera still found her desire to be quite sincere. It wasn't just Lottie, though the woman played a significant role. This crew from so far away represented an entire portion of the universe previously unknown and that fascinated the alien. "And I hope this isn't the last I see of you," she admitted, settling her forehead against Lottie's. "Though you are under no obligation to stay in contact."

“Are you kicking me out right now?” Lottie wondered intrigued by the sudden change in her lover's tone and mood.

Hera seemed surprised. "Of course not." Under the paler lighting, the ripple of pink through to lavender was less startling as the woman sat back and studied Lottie's face. "No, of course not," she repeated softly. "I'm just very aware that you have your work, and other commitments." She smiled softly. "I was not your first choice of company for the evening, after all. I would like to see you again," Hera added, "but I don't want you to feel any pressure regarding it." The Ziu'ni was no stranger to fleeting trysts, it seemed to be the best she could manage, and having met the human whilst she was waiting for someone else... There was no sense in coveting a free spirit.

"I would very much like to see you again," Lottie said simply. It was not something she had thought about before now but the night had been the best she had had in years. It had been brilliant and full of surprises and passion that had come out of no where. "You were not my first choice of course but you were my last choice that got to spend the night with me and me with you."

"We could go exploring the next time you have any free time. I work the same shift tomorrow myself if you want to meet me after it, and then I haven't booked anything for a couple of days. I usually try to enjoy at least some of the festival without work commitments." Still comfortably cosied up, Lihera leaned forward to kiss a water droplet from the end of Lottie's nose. "But there are a few things we could do that most tourists don't get to, like the submersibles tonight. I can probably convince a guide to take us up through the highland cave system if you want to see some amazing phosphorescent ice formations."

“That should line up with with shift in sickbay so it is a date.” The brunette said simply already thinking ahead to the following day.

There was a pause as the translation protocols tried to land on a culturally-applicable variation on the term 'date' that Hera could understand but she still looked somewhat mystified even as she nodded her approval. "To remember, hopefully."