Guild icon USS Odyssey Earth / barcelona

USS Odyssey

Earth / barcelona

Lt. Survol 09-Jun-21 11:21 PM

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Dr. Rydel Aram BOT 09-Jun-21 11:46 PM

*Beaming in just before sunset, Rydel stood in front of the steps of the restaurant overlooking the water, waiting before large glass doors which opened into a glassed area and outside deck beyond to give a view of the sea, the marina and the stretch of beach beyond.* *He had his hair slicked and done, wearing white seersucker pants, light for the summer hot and humid air of Spain, which was cooling off with the sea breeze and the sun going down. He wore an untucked short-sleeve button down, light blue, with buttons undone just slightly over his chest to give himself a casual air. His Trill spots disappeared down his neck into the collar, though he still travelled with his small medical satchel with equipment -- despite the relaxed nature of the evening, not about to be potentially negligent in his duties if there were something wrong with the Captain.* *He waited with hands in pockets, shirt bunching just above his wrists, taking in the scenery with a quiet, reserved patience.*

Captain Ezarah Ryn 14-Jun-21 03:48 PM

*Ryn beamed in behind him a few minutes later. Her clothing was simple, but a well-tailored black dress – an easy feat in the age of replicators – had a classic elegance that worked in practically every situation. Dark hair was again pulled up in a French twist. But instead of heels, she had chosen sandals, practicality winning out for a potential trip to the beach.* “You know,” *She began mournfully, a slight smile indicating her teasing.* “Normally when I get asked out to dinner, they leave out that I’m their last, desperate resort. You’re lucky I need to stay on your good side.” *Ezarah had never visited this city before, and she had to admit that the view was breathtaking. She walked up next to him to take it all in before continuing.* “However, I apologize for being slightly late. I had so many reports piled up that my poor Yeoman could barely carry them all to my desk.”

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Dr. Rydel Aram BOT 14-Jun-21 05:03 PM

*Upon hearing her voice, Rydel turned around. The black dress caught him off guard as much as the wedding attire had the other day, if not moreso. It seemed to give her spots a new kind of elegance and mystery as they disappeared down into the fabric. He found himself unable to help but look her over, trying not to be too obvious about it and shifting his eyes away to the sunlight-splashed water rather quickly to keep himself from staring.* "Honestly, I assumed you'd say no. Both because it's... odd, and because you must be buried with duties. I'm honestly jealous of you in that regard. I wish I had a stack of papers to grade, or emails of questions from students." *He lamented his lost job, even though there was little he could do about it. When she walked next to him, he motioned around.* "This is Barcelona. My springball team came and played a match here back in my academy days and I fell in love with the place. This restaurant has been here the whole time, one of the little unchanging things that makes me feel at home." *He stood by her as he escorted her up the steps, instinctively reaching out as if to take her by the hand but then stopping himself. She was in perfect health. He didn't need to babysit her, despite Starfleet's orders.* "I trust you're feeling more or less recovered?"

Captain Ezarah Ryn 14-Jun-21 09:24 PM

"I feel perfectly normal. Like nothing ever happened at all. And I would like to keep it that way, which is why I can't bury myself in work. I could spend all night reading backlogged reports until the words all blur together, but they'll still be there tomorrow. When we're in space, we have to be all in at all times, always ready for the next adventure. But here we can afford to slow down, and we should. Like I said, after I ordered my yeoman to take some shore leave, I realized I needed to take my own advice." *Even captains needed a break. Everyone had their limit. Everyone would burn out eventually.* *Her eyes were still on the horizon as they walked up the stairs, enjoying the beginnings of the sunset, so Ezarah missed his hand reaching out. She hadn't missed his ever present medical bag though. A pleasant dinner, but he was still pretending this was work. Still uncomfortable with her then.* "Earth is full of little places like that. I enjoy walking around Paris and Rome for the same reasons. They're proud of their history, even the parts that most people would rather forget. Our own history is not nearly as chaotic. I remember being impressed that they survived long enough to develop warp drive. And even that was done rather uniquely."

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Dr. Rydel Aram BOT 14-Jun-21 09:35 PM

*Rydel held the door for the captain as they entered, before talking to the hostess, dropping his name for the reservation where he had specifically requested a place on the deck outside, overlooking the water. From this vantage, one could see all of the buildings down the shoreline, glistening with reflected sunlight.* *The skies turned to a pink coloration by the time they took their seat, a small candle encased in a bulbous glass flickering in the center of the table. Rydel pulled out his chair and took a seat, letting his bag drop to the ground by his side and lean against the chair without a second glance.* *Perhaps it was "work", but he knew he wouldn't likely have to perform any duties in reality. It still was uncomfortable, and the bag was a crutch. He definitely had not expected her to agree to be here, and now, all he could think to himself was "So... now what?"* *A waiter arrived with menus, of which Rydel set his down, apparently having been her enough to know the lay of the land. He looked at Ezarah expectantly.* "Do you trust me?"

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Captain Ezarah Ryn 16-Jun-21 05:36 PM

“Well you did save my life, so that should quality you for a modicum of trust.” *He clearly knew his way around, based on the ease of their entry and seating. The view was spectacular, and based on the positioning of the other tables, it was clear that he’d gotten the best seat in the house. Aram had said this was his favorite restaurant. She could tell he frequented the place and was comfortable here.* *Maybe that was why he’d invited her, Ezarah mused. Embarrassed to have lost control last time, and seeking to seeking to regain his footing on familiar terf.* “However, we’ve only ever shared a drink together, so for all I know, your taste in food could be abysmal.” *She sat back in her chair, picking up the menu without looking at it.* *Then she made her decision, laying it back down off to the side of the table.* “I’m an explorer,” *Ryn explained, before continuing ruefully.* “And I did a tour on Qo’nos in my youth. Nothing on Earth can compare to what my stomach endured there.”

Dr. Rydel Aram BOT 16-Jun-21 07:03 PM

*The suspense over food choices! He watched her for a moment while she gave her cursory scan of the menu and set it down before breaking out with possibly the first genuine smile he'd had in her presence, albeit a small one. Wasting no time, he raised a hand to flag down the waiter from a nearby table.* *Once the waiter came over, Rydel surprisingly communicated with the man in Spanish, ratting off five or six items, along with a bottle of Rioja wine. He thanked the waiter and turned his attention back to Ryn.* "And Spanish food is conducive to exploring. They traditionally make these small plates to share called tapas, so it may sound like a lot of food but it's not all that daunting. I like the variety." *He cast his eyes out to the water again where the horizon slowly darkened into deeper reds.* "Culturally, they're very relaxed, I should warn. You might be stuck with me for awhile."

Captain Ezarah Ryn 16-Jun-21 07:56 PM

*The suspense was planned. Couldn't let him get too comfortable. Besides, a small victory was all the more sweeter when it felt more earned, as evidenced by the hint of a smile she spotted after acquiescing. Aram was truly comfortable here. Ezarah could work with that. A different side of him would let her glean more of his personality.* "Far beyond tonight. Admiral O'Neil denied my request to let you stay at the Academy." *It had been one of the first messages she'd seen after her PADD was returned.* "I hope that doesn't ruin your evening, since you already seem resigned to the transfer." *Spanish again. At least she recognized it this time around - thank you Yeoman de la Cavalleria. But at this rate she was going to have to learn the language, it was popping up too frequently.* "I haven't the slightest idea what you said, so it's going to be an adventure."

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Dr. Rydel Aram BOT 16-Jun-21 09:08 PM

*Rydel didn't look surprised nor fazed in the slightest at the news he'd already come to accept days ago. The wine came at that opportune time, poured some to Rydel for the small taste, which he accepted and gave his approval before filling both of their glasses.* "I presumed it would be the case. Admirals rarely change their minds based on the protests of their subordinates, I found." *He drew his glass toward himself again, shifting his gaze between the liquid and the sunset beyond so he could somewhat smoothly avoid staring at her.* "Spanish food isn't all that exotic, you'll find. A lot of it relies on a savory spice called saffron which gives it a unique flavor.... Looks like we're losing our daylight already." *With that he held his glass as if it were a pointer toward the water, the sun setting on the opposite side of the building causing the shadows to fall quickly and the sky to darken into the soft glow of the city's lights.* "Not as grandiose an effect as it would be if we were on a western shoreline, but it's beautiful." *Much like Ryn looked this evening, but he'd barely had a sip of wine so it was easy enough to avoid voicing that inconvenient fact.*

Captain Ezarah Ryn 16-Jun-21 09:57 PM

"I've been very persuasive in the past," *She kept her voice light, though the comment brought up painful memories. Ezarah had convinced Spyre to divert tens of thousands of lightyears back to Earth, back as a mere lieutenant commander. Those events had skyrocketed her career, but they left a bitter taste in her throat. She would have preferred the long route, rather than uncovering a conspiracy at the highest level - but too late to save the ship's original first officer.* *Ryn picked up the wine, swirling it in her glass to aerate the liquid. The dark crimson of the setting sun reflected through the glass, creating her own little light show.* "A new spice and a unique flavor on an alien world, how is that not exotic? Every new culinary experience doesn't have to be showy and painful to digest. Even the smallest thing can be an adventure with the right mindset." *Earth was so commonplace to Starfleet officers these days, no matter what planet they'd originally hailed from. But Ryn still remembered the days before the first explorers left Trill, how they would have dreamed to visit this distant little world.* "When one lives in space, it's easy to forget how beautiful a planet-side sunset can be, no matter what direction you're facing." *Her gaze shifted from the light in her glass to the sunset itself.* "We're been in space for so long now, sometimes we forget to appreciate how miraculous this really is. We travel to other worlds and take it for granted." *But part of her was Drezden Ryn, so she could never quite forget the wonder.*

Dr. Rydel Aram BOT 16-Jun-21 11:36 PM

"We take a lot for granted planetside, too. It's a little different when you know you're going to leave, and this might be a last chance..." *A last chance at what? The words lingered but he couldn't find any means to finish the sentence that sounded anything but foolish.* *The candle flickered in the darkening sky as the plates of food arrived -- shrimp, mushrooms, cold tomato soup, an assortment of cured meats and spanish cheeses, with all the plates it filled up the table nicely. By habit, he picked up his glass, swirling his glass along with her in an almost mirroring motion before drinking the light yet peppery flavored wine.* *The way she spoke so passionately about space, exploration, adventure, it enthralled him in a way that made him envious. How did someone have such passion, such clear direction for their lives? It was something he hadn't had since his youth, which he almost recovered before making that one mistake in surgery...* *He took another deep swig of his glass at the thought, cursing himself in his head for not simply living in the moment, enjoying her company. Why overanalyze things? This evening was perfect. He set his glass down, placing his napkin neatly in his lap before meeting her eyes.* "You have such an elegant outlook on life. I'm envious."

Captain Ezarah Ryn 17-Jun-21 12:00 AM

"You say that now," *She replied, taking a sip of wine as an excuse to pause and build up anticipation once again. It was quite good, the light flavor suiting her tastes. Ezarah wondered if he'd remembered her choice of wine from the wedding while picking it out. Or maybe he'd gotten lucky.* "But I doubt the envy will remain once you know the cause." *The glass was returned to the table as Ezarah's eyes were again drawn to the sunset, from the sun's dark reflection on the building to how it colored the waves below. But her gaze seemed further away than that, looking beyond the horizon to something much further away.* "My first host, Drezden, wanted nothing more than to travel the stars. They captured him, enthralled his mind and soul. But he couldn't, because we didn't have the technology to go." *Oh how he would hate this, the man so uncomfortable around symbionts.* "He spent his life creating it - and in that he succeeded - but he never did set foot on an alien world or see a foreign star up close." "An all encompassing obsession like that... is not advised for joined trill. They want us to be more well rounded. It was probably a mistake to give him a symbiont, particularly one fresh from the pools. His love of the stars remained a bit too strongly. They've finally given up I think. They do their best to give the symbiont new experiences, but they always have to find hosts that want to explore."

Dr. Rydel Aram BOT 17-Jun-21 01:41 AM

*He'd been about to break the ice by going for the food, if only to demonstrate the new experience for her would be safe, until the talk of the symbionts began. Even with the events of the last few days, even with her being admittedly attractive, the thought of the picking and choosing Trill host lives for these creatures, choosing "qualities" almost arbitrarily, it made his stomach twist.* *He brought his hand back to his side rather than take the fork he'd been going for, turning his attention right back out to the water. His expression flattened some, but he wasn't going to make a big scene, not again. Nor would he let it ruing his last evening on Earth... for who knew how long. His thoughts returned to how things were taken for granted, and he'd taken for granted that his situation would never change... and yet, now it did.* "Perhaps the commission should consider and weigh more what's good for the host and their experiences." *It couldn't help but come out bitter, and he tightened his lips, not going to shy away or demonstrate any cowardice. He shook his head.* "No. I'm sorry. Let's enjoy ourselves. We have a beautiful night, beautiful food, beautiful..." *He paused briefly in his words this time, possibly for dramatic effect, but he showed a glimmer of self-doubt. "...company. Let's eat." \*Determined to enjoy himself and forget his hangups, he grabbed a slice of bread from the basket, placing a slice of manchego cheese and a slice of the cured jamon atop of it before holding it up with a half-forced smile to take a bite.*

Captain Ezarah Ryn 17-Jun-21 09:23 PM

"They consider what is best for everyone. It's called a joining for a reason. We have to be compatible. A host who never wants to leave Trill wouldn't be suitable for a symbiont who wants nothing more than to explore. Ryn has a calling, so they find hosts who share that." *With her part said, Ezarah decided to let it go.* "I did tell you that you wouldn't like it. A different topic then." *She didn't miss the hesitation before he complimented her presence, but chose not to push on that as well. Aram struck her as quite a conflicted man. So determined to hate symbionts after the Commission had wronged him twice over, yet he seemed to like her at the same time.* *Unfortunately for him, Ezarah was not content with a man who hated part of who she was. So when the time was right, she'd bring it up again. And again. And again.* "Are you going to tell me what I'm eating?" *She copied his motions, picking up a piece of bread and adding the meat and cheese.* "Surprises are good and all, but I would like some explanations after the fact."

Dr. Rydel Aram BOT 17-Jun-21 09:45 PM

*He hadn't at all considered the whole scope of being around a joined Trill when he'd extended the invite. But on a professional level, he had to get used to it... even if this wasn't entirely professional. Another rabbit hole he didn't want to send his thoughts down.* *With the sky darkening, there was little left to focus on except for Ezarah in front of him, backlit by the deck's modest and soft lights, and the candlelight bringing her entirely into focus at the table. The wine loosened him to some degree, but he maintained a much more reserved control than he had at the wedding, something he wasn't going to let go.* *She knew exactly what to say to get under his skin, even as she promised a different topic. He kept quiet and listened, keeping eyes fixed on her like he was interested, and not trying to give any reaction.* *When she mentioned the food it made him burst into genuine laughter.* "Right. I've been so preoccupied I forgot about it." *He went around the table clockwise starting with the small plates closest to him.* "This is a shrimp with a pequillo pepper sauce, mushrooms with garlic, a pork shoulder in red wine sauce, some salt cod mashed potato concoction -- it's good, and assorted spanish cheeses and cured meats. Medically speaking, probably not the healthiest, but I can vouch that they all taste great."

Narrator BOT 21-Jun-21 01:12 PM

They finished the delicious dinner, taking care to keep the conversation pleasant to avoid any sensitive topics. Then they left, Ryn back to the ship and Aram for his final night on Earth.

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