Good Vibrations
Posted on 25 Feb 2016 @ 3:33pm by Petty Officer 3rd Class Veri RN & Ensign James Langley
1,583 words; about a 8 minute read
Mission:
Episode 10 - Symposium
Location: USS Galileo; Deck 4; Veri's Quarters
Timeline: MD 11; 0100 Hours
[ON]
Here it was. Quarters: Petty Officer Third Class Veri. As he stood there in front of the entrance to the quarters James was still a bit unsure if he should even be indulging in the nurse's offer of supposed inner peace. The fact that it was requested to be administered outside of sickbay just made it seem even more strange. But it did sound promising and even if it did only amount to a big nothing it at least seemed to be a very clever way of picking someone up.
He signaled his arrival at the young nurse's quarters with the press of a button. “Uhh, Hello? It's me, James.”
"Erm..." It took a moment before Veri recalled that she did indeed give him permission to come to her. Why did a guy with such good hair have to distract her so?
Fertility gods be damned! She sighed, took a deep breath and focused only on the hair as she opened her door with a warm smile.
"We are not mating, so you do not need to be nervous," Veri assured him as she waved him inside and began to set out some meditation mats on the floor.
She was in her PJs, but the problems with Jynn had her so stressed, she found it hard to sleep through the night. So she was glad for a different distraction.
“I wouldn't dream of it,” James stated as he blushed a bit at the rather outright declaration of non-coitus just seconds after stepping in the door. And the statement certainly didn't help his situation as he became more embarrassed, calculating the repercussions of what he had said. “Which is to say nothing of your appearance! Just...” Shit.
“What are the mats for? Meditation? Prayer? Stretching,” he quickly asked in an obvious redirect from the downward spiral he had almost fallen into.
"I suppose what my people do is akin to meditation," Veri thought for a moment as she sat on one mat and pointed to the other across from her. "We employ a few techniques to maintain focus in a celibate atmosphere, to be honest. But those same techniques can be taught to others for application in other areas, such as the source of your pain."
The wounds for James were still fresh and it felt as though the mere mention of them was enough to open them up and feel the pain again. He tried to steel himself, but he wasn't the strongest person. It may not have shown outwardly, but inwardly there was a turmoil that could be felt by any empath. A sorrowful wrenching of the inner soul. Still, his voice remained calm and he pressed on. “You make it sound so easy. What sort of mental abilities are required? Is this a telepathic thing or something a little more easy to attain?”
"Meditation. Simple meditation, really, is one of the techniques we employ," Veri explained animated. "I can teach you, but it is something that shows progress over time. The other technique I wish to teach you is called Reverse Obsession."
“Sounds like a band name,” James chuckled lightly. “It does sound interesting, though. What is that?”
"It is focusing on something else equally important to you," Veri explained with a massive grin. "Mind you, you aren't ignoring the thoughts you currently have that causes pain. Nor replacing them. You simply are thinking about something just as, if not more, powerful."
James sat himself down on the gestured to mat, keeping his attention on Veri as she spoke. It seemed that this was one of those times that he'd be better off listening than making any more sarcastic comments. Maybe he could learn something. But he wondered if there was anything more important at all. It certainly didn't feel like it. Just how effective would the meditation be?
"So let's sit... or lay. Some people prefer to lay back on mats to relax," Veri spoke with a blush, and quickly amended, "I personally like sitting. But what you want to do is pick something you like - hate, and crave it in thought."
“I'll follow your lead. I'll probably learn better that way.” He had always found it easier to learn by doing to a point where you almost mirrored the teacher's motions in an almost autonomic way and so he had set himself on a sort of autopilot, watching Veri's moves and following them near flawlessly, even if it was just a simple act of sitting.
"What is the most powerful thought, memory, or desire you have that can match or surpass that which causes you grief?" Veri asked gently as she tucked her legs under her.
Nothing was the first answer that came to James' mind as he found himself in the same position. But that was awfully negative and she wouldn't have liked that much... “To move on?” It was a question moreso than an answer. Could that desire possibly match that which caused it? He would certainly liked to have thought so. A moment later and he gave a subdued nod. “To move on,” he confirmed.
"I obsess over hair so that I do not obsess over physically-appealing people," Veri explained to him sheepishly. "Maybe you should sit a moment and reflect on things you like."
With a deep sigh James closed his eyes and began to picture the nicer things of his life. “I like puzzles. And art.” He was visualizing the blending of the two as he spoke. “The way art can be so puzzling and puzzles can be so artful. It's amazing how much the two share in common,” he spoke as he let a small smile cross his lips.
"I know the perfect thing to obsess over then," Veri smiled brightly. "Vulcan logic bombs. They are both geometrically artistic and insanely difficult to figure out... I used to try them, but while my mathematically prowess was great, I lacked the spatial awareness Vulcans have to finish a solo puzzle in under an hour."
"Well that just sounds lovely!" In an instant James' small smile had turned into a broad grin. He could get giddy as a schoolboy when it came to playing games and solving puzzles and now here he was being presented with one he had never heard of, which was obviously a problem. "Tell me more!"
"Kal-toh," Veri spoke happily as she went under her bed and started pulling out boxes. "I normally let the computer play, which it's on par with a Vulcan puzzle master."
The thought of fun and exciting puzzles with another person excited James. More-so than he had been in a long time. Combined with the fact that he knew that the Vulcans' sense of logic made for some insanely enlightening puzzles he could barely contain himself. “Get it going, then! I may not be a Vulcan or a computer, but I'd like to think I could beat them and you in a game of wits and puzzle solving,” he replied with a wink that was more instinctive than anything else.
"I am not very good at it," Veri warned as she brought it out and set it up for them. "The purpose is to unravel the chaos, one shaft at a time. One who forms the sphere first, wins the match."
“Got time for some fun and games?” James was excited. It may have seemed rather basic but whatever was going on he was beginning to feel at ease. Maybe it was the change in scenery or the new people, like this lovely one, that he was running into, but he was starting to feel better. “We could start a game night!”
"If you like this game, sure," Veri smiled brightly. "So... erm... You're supposed to pull a rod that you think will unravel the chaos."
“Great! I can do that. Uhh.” He focused intently on the game she had brought out. Nothing about it really looked familiar, but her statement made it sound simple enough. But he knew Vulcans. This was not going tbe simple at all. “Hmm. So, when do I go?”
"Anytime," Veri laughed easily. Who knew a game might would make him relax.
“Hmmm, unravel the chaos,” James began to muse as he looked over the puzzle game thing. “That sounds very un-Vulcan. Dangerous even. Or by unraveling the chaos do we bring about knowledge and order? Expose it for what it really is? Well, let's just see what happens when I do this,” he spoke as he gave a part of the puzzle a tug.
The chaotic sphere only seemed to reshape and shuffle the metal rods into an equally chaotic mess. Veri's pick from the middle got the exact same effect.
"My best score is twenty-seven rods," Veri told him with a frown. "Vulcans say a true logic master of this game can beat it in fifteen moves or less."
“I'll get it,” James said as he gave another confident tug to the puzzle. There was a bit of movement, but nothing of much substance. It looked like it was going to be a while. “Mind if I stick around,” he questioned with a playful smile.
"All right!" Veri agreed with a shake of her head. She loved watched his hair shine more than playing the game.
[OFF]
Ensign James Langley
Intelligence Officer
USS Galileo
[PNPCed by Jynn]
PO3 Veri
Surgical Nurse
USS Galileo
[PNPCed by Gyce]
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