Painting by Numbers

Posted on 30 Sep 2023 @ 5:21pm by Laeon Wylde & Nesh Saalm

2,300 words; about a 12 minute read

Mission: Episode 18 - Cold Station 31
Location: Regula I - Level 17, Arboretum
Timeline: MD 17, 1415hrs

ON:

At some point while they'd been lounging on the picnic blanket in the arboretum, Laeon had shifted his sketching subject from the pond to Nesh. He took care over forming the curving script in his own language that he wove into the lines of her face and hair, but as he only used black, it didn't do the hue of her skin justice. "I wish we could have some real fresh air," he admitted.

"Next time," Nesh said as she smiled, shifting her head slightly as she painted, her brush picking up a turquoise to add to the canvas. "I am just glad to be off the ship for a bit. But glad to still have your company."

Laeon positively grinned at that, shaking his head. He was glad she was looking at her painting, because a hint of colour touched his cheeks. And why wouldn't it? Nesh was the kind of superstar any young man would want to be around. Smart, talented and beautiful in all ways. Even her temper had been beautiful. He'd seen it up close and personal when she'd been hurling kitchen implements at the Klingons. "Makes a change to cleaning pasta sauce off the walls..."

Nesh laughed at the words, biting her lip for a moment before she shrugged. "Was worth it though," she said, without any regret. "I really appreciate all you've done for me in the mess, Laeon. Not sure how I managed to kidnap you to work for me, but I am grateful."

Laeon gave a half shrug at that, smiling gently as he carefully mapped the line of her neck. "So long as it's helpful, I don't mind. I miss real food. It doesn't seem right, coming out of a machine. And Dad says he doesn't mind so long as I keep up with school, so..." he shrugged. "I bet you're glad to be done with that."

"We'll see when I am back on the ship. If I go back," Nesh said, floating the idea she had considered. Staying on Regula I. But the more time she had to relax, the more unsure she got on it. Like what Lirha would say.

Laeon paused at the words, lifting his head to watch her properly. He tucked some loose blond hair back behind his ear, trying not to look concerned. "If you come back?"

Nesh looked at him before she shrugged. "I am toying with the idea of staying here," she finally admitted. "I'm..." she didn't want to say she was unhappy. Although parts of her were. "...waiting for my sister to come back."

"Oh.." Laeon said softly, looking back to the pad balanced against his knees, silent as he sketched with a delicate hand. "Do you have friends on the station?"

"No," Nesh admitted and reached for her purple, frowning slightly. "Another...problem, I guess. I'd be alone, waiting for her...and in the process, leaving my friends behind. And starving."

"I'm sure they wouldn't let you starve," Laeon shook his head with a weak smile...even though he didn't want to encourage her. Quite the opposite in fact. "I mean...you should do what makes you happy."

Nesh looked at him before she put her paints down and moved over to him. She reached out, touching his cheek for a moment "What are you really thinking?" she asked, curious.

Laeon relaxed at the touch, smiling widely, able to hear her better for it. "That I don't want you to go," he replied honestly, but shrugged awkwardly. "Why would I? You're amazing. But...it's not up to me."

Nesh looked at him, her eyes gentle before she reached out to stroke his arm. "Means a lot," she admitted, holding his eyes. "I feel a bit isolated and lost, so...knowing you don't want me to go makes me feel better, Laeon."

His eyes widened with surprise and concern at the admission and he reached to take a hold of her hand. "How? You must have loads of friends. You're smart and funny and talented, I see how people talk to you in the mess..."

"I have been confined to quarters unless I am working. And the only person I had there was you...and it meant the universe to me," Nesh said, smiling gently as she held his hand. "So thank you, Laeon, for being there."

He blushed at the words but he shook his head with a soft smile. "All selfish," he assured, leaning to kiss her cheek. He knelt back quickly though, laughing softly. "I get to hang out with the greatest woman on the entire ship."

Nesh smiled and leant to kiss his cheek in return. "Well, seeing as you are one of the most beautiful people I've ever met, I will take that as a compliment...not that it is stiff competition on the ship at the moment."

Laeon laughed, clearly embarrassed as he shook his head, looking down to his sketch of her. Of course, she was an absolute dream. But it was one of those kind of dreams that wasn't meant to come true. But it was an enjoyable dream all the same. "I think all the steam in the kitchen is going to your head."

"No, that was the food poisoning from the first meal I made," Nesh said playfully, picking up her paints. "So just how are you coping with everything we've been through lately?" she asked him, glancing his way before back at her painting. She didn't want to put him like, in the spotlight.

"Me?" he asked her with surprise, clearing his throat as he looked around the garden, breathing the warm, blossom scented air in. "Well I didn't do anything," he said quietly, shaking his head slowly. "I never do. I just...wait it out."

"Isn't that hard?" Nesh asked, watching him for a long moment before down at her paints. "Just waiting it out? Nothing to...balance the emotions out? The experiences?"

Laeon was silent for a long moment, frowning as he picked up the charcoal to carefully start shading her hair. "The worst part is not knowing what's going on," he said quietly. "I mean, there's red alerts and then there's red alerts. We're never told anything. Is the engine about to explode? Are we about to be boarded? Is Dad alright or is he being totally irresponsible."

Nesh nodded, a slight frown coming to her. "And we just don't get told. We get stuck somewhere and we wait. Or this time...throw stuff..." she looked at Laeon, studying him for a moment. "You know, the way you worry about your Dad is the way I worry about my sister. Never know if she is alright or doing something really stupid that'll get her hurt. In the name of Starfleet."

Laeon looked to her with surprise, letting out a soft breath. He finally nodded though, smiling weakly. "He's such a hypocrite," he whispered. "I can't do this and I can't do that, but he does really really stupid things. Is Lirha the same?"

"Oh totally!" Nesh laughed at that, shaking her head. "Like, she got to have her Starfleet career, basically do whatever she wanted, marry whoever she wanted...then gets all iffy when I want to follow my passion? And then gets surprised when I stowaway and get out of the arranged marriage?" she tutted, a frown coming to her. "One rule for them, one for us. I forgive...but I never forget. So one day I can turn the tables and be all disapproving..." she smiled quickly, looking at Laeon.

"Arranged marriage..." Laeon whispered, shaking his head with confusion as he watched her intently, as if she had the answer to everything. "It sounds so heartless, I don't understand it."

"Neither do I, but I didn't want to figure it out tied to a man," Nesh said quickly, smiling suddenly. "So I came here. And my sister was...furious. Sure, more about the stowaway thing rather than...you know, telling her! But even so."

"I'm glad you did it," Laeon interrupted boldly, lowering the charcoal absently. "If you didn't want to do it and you weren't happy, I'm glad you made your own story."

Nesh looked at him before she nodded, looking back at her canvas. "I'm learning that you only got one life. And you can't please everyone either. So...I need to do what I want. It's a bit on hold at the moment obviously, while we're out here, but...even so. I'd rather be in a mess than in science, and I think that when we get back to normal I...want to look at my options." It was more truthful. Sure, she could go to Regula I, a big part of her wanted to. But there was more to do closer to the core planets.

"I wouldn't say it was on hold," Laeon shook his head with a gentle smile, offering over the tin of paints that had more colours. "Artists need experience...inspiration. That's what you're building right now."

"Inspiration and contacts," Nesh said with a smile, taking it and looking at the colours. "Which colour describes how you're feeling right now, Laeon?"

"This one...here..." he tapped his fingertip against the edge of the tin. It was almost an emerald green, a colour not dissimilar to the hue of her skin.

Nesh smiled as she took looked at him, her eyes shining. "Maybe you should work it into your drawing," she said, a soft whisper.

Laeon smiled warmly at that, nodding as he dipped his fingertip into the water and then onto the colour, using his finger to carefully shade around the edge of her face. "You'll be okay you know," he said gently, watching his work. "Whichever you pick, you'll be okay."

"Thanks," Nesh watched him, studying his features. She knew he aged slowly, but since she had first met him she had seen small changes in him. Perhaps it was the confidence. "Same for you, you know. With your future."

He looked up to her with surprise at that before offering a small but grateful smile. "I'll figure something out. My uncle's an actor, did you know that? He's in a bunch of holonovels and holoplays."

"No!" she laughed as she shifted closer, holding his eyes. "No, I had no idea! You never told me...now I am just offended. I bet he's good though!"

Laeon laughed softly, nodding as he watched her with the energy of someone suddenly indulging in gossip. "He is. And it's not what he was destined to be. So...perhaps it can work. Jaq Wylde, he's done..." he tried to think of a few of the holos he was in, rubbing the back of his head thoughtfully. "...Storms of Risa...the Iliad...Ts'arnan Tears...Pride and Prejudice..."

"Oh! Ts'arnan Tears! He played...oh..." Nesh tapped her leg, clearly thinking. "Re'agon? Am I right? Because he had a look about you now that I am thinking about it!"

"Yeah!" he laughed, colour touching his skin as he rested his chin on his knees. "Yeah, that's him! My dad makes fun of him, but I know he's pleased and proud deep down."

"And he really has a look..." she said before she raised an eyebrow. "Your father, he frowns a lot. I think your uncle has an easier time smiling, like you do...so the resemblance is more noticeable."

Laeon smiled at that, unable to help it as he laughed softly. "I...think he took to Federation life easier than Dad," he half whispered. "He...wanted to move on. Move away from it."

"Can't blame him," Nesh said and smiled, tilting her head. She had picked up bits and pieces, from being around Laeon. "But remember, you're neither of them. Your own creature, with your own destiny. Whatever you decide. Don't let Starfleet trap you unless you want it. Nothing is worse than joining just to please others. I did. Regretted it longer than I like to admit before I left. Okay, not left left as I am still on a Starfleet vessel, but at least I don't wear the uniform."

Laeon watched her with obvious interest at the words. He knew of some of her journey to this point, but he hadn't seen it as an obvious cautionary tale of joining the fleet. "Did you...did you join because you wanted to be like your sister? Or just be with her?" he asked quietly, very quietly, almost as if to let her ignore it if she wanted.

"I joined to make her happy," Nesh admitted before she shook her head. "Because I convinced myself that it was what I wanted, even when it wasn't."

Laeon searched her eyes knowingly despite his youthfulness. He'd seen it, in his father. The lack of fulfilment. "There's so many things you could do," he grinned, motioning to her art. "This is just one. I really liked the art group you ran, you're a great teacher. Or...imagine if you became a diplomat! Ambassador...done the Orion way. Or you could get yourself your own little ship...the blazing adventures of Nesh..."

"I like the idea of my own ship," Nesh suddenly said, watching him. "Travelling the galaxy, painting...trading my art. Maybe with a small crew."

"I mean, that sounds pretty badass..." Laeon laughed softly at the thought of it, imagining her on the bridge of a cosy little bird. "Trade exotics from world to world...offer VIP quarters for travelling civilians."

"Maybe even have another artist on my ship..." Nesh tempted, her eyes shining. "One day, maybe. And with a standing invite for you."

OFF:

Nesh Saalm
Chef
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Rice]

Laeon Wylde
Civilian Dependant
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Blake]

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