Earth / paris-downtown

USS Odyssey

Earth / paris-downtown

[D] Kalen BOT 26-May-21 12:52 AM

*Kalen beamed down to the streets of Europe! He'd been in search of chocolate for some time, hearing about Belgian and Swiss and the like, but he'd also been told that he could obtain about whatever he wanted in the shops of Paris. Plus, he'd heard there was this very interesting place called 'Moulin Rouge" which sounded like loads of fun.* *For now, he'd appeared in the middle of some stone streets, with cutsey fresh cafes lining the corners. People laughing, drinking, eating. He already could tell he liked the feel of this place, opening up his half-Betazoid empathic senses to drink in all the joy from the tourists.* *His hair blew in the soft wind, which he pushed some of those bangs out of his face as he took a glance around for what he would do next. Kalen wore a sleek, well-tailored all black garb, fitting in with any of the musicians or artists around, though the soft points of his half-Vulcan ears set him apart from other visitors.*

Ensign Azrin Asix 26-May-21 01:20 PM

*On the contrary, this was* ***Paris,*** *the heart of the Federation Government, a city so frequented and inhabited by aliens that no one blinked an eye at another Vulcan on the streets, soft pointed ears notwithstanding. That Paris retained it's vibrant culture, with French still heard just as readily as Federation Standard, was a testament to the stubbornness of the French, a people who had fiercely protected their way of life since American Capitalism had first come calling.* *Today, their attention was drawn by a peal of delight from a redheaded trill hybrid in the middle of the walking street, her joy evident to everyone - empathic or not - as her face noticeably lit up. It was Azrin's day off, and so she was out of uniform, her simple comfortable green blouse and jeans somewhat plain for the fashion forward city. But the Starfleet issued PADD she was hugging to her chest surely gave her away, as she pulled it out again so she could read the transfer orders she'd been waiting months to receive. As beautiful as this city was, it had never been for her.* *The USS Odyssey. The ship that had just returned from a temporal anomaly? She'd added a section on that ship to Admiral Prolar's briefing packet a few days ago. A fortuitous bit of research.*

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[D] Kalen BOT 26-May-21 01:42 PM

*Not knowing where to even start in his hunt for chocolate and other debaucheries with so many options all around him, Kalen spun around a few times. He wasn't averse to decision-making on a foreign planet, he'd been in far worse jams when he was running his own ship, delivering lucrative goods to peoples whose cultures were far more complex than the rather pedestrian humans. Still, he gave a stroke of the beard out of habit while he considered.* *Then, the wave of joy hit him like a ten-ton truck. It was so prevalent and permeating, it almost felt like the seratonicyn drug he'd once tried on Epcar IV. His attention turned from the various cafes and shops to the source of it, noting the stunning red hair which drew his eyes like transparent steel to a magnet. Kalen observed her for a long moment, carefully assessing her movements, body language, and of course finer features.* *How did she look down at a PADD while she was walking in this beautiful city? He made the snap assessment of her, intrigued, before he very deliberately made it look like he was staring at the Eiffel Tower and enamored by it, and "accidentally" crossing right into her walking path.*

Ensign Azrin Asix 26-May-21 03:31 PM

*Because she spent most of her time in the Starfleet Offices in the Palais de la Concorde, a complex full of diplomats who had all long since mastered the art of reading from their PADDs while walking from one meeting to another. Even on it's slowest day, it was a flurry of activity in there. But the thing about working in a building where everyone read while they walked was that they'd long since developed an etiquette. Constant speeds on the appropriate sides of the walkway, the center clear for runners. So as Azrin walked down the street and reread her transfer orders for the fifth time, dredging everything she remembered about the Odyssey from her memory as she went, she was completely unprepared for someone to cross her path, and thus ran right into him.* "Oh! Sorry!" *A hurried step back put her at an acceptable distance again, the hand holding her PADD dropping to her side as dark eyes refocused on the world around her again. A vulcan maybe? He had the right ears, but was missing the normal severe haircut that logic favored. He was definitely dressed well enough for this city though, with dark well made clothes that suited him well.* "I really need to stop doing that," *Azrin admitted with a small laugh, raising the PADD slightly once more as an explanation.* "It's a bad habit."

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[D] Kalen BOT 26-May-21 03:49 PM

*Kalen was quite prepared to be bumped into, and having Vulcan strength and balance didn't hurt either. Her lithe form bumped against what amounted to a brick wall. His eyes twinkled with amusement as she stumbled back, quickly replaced by a very-well practiced look of tender concern.* *As she stepped back, he deftly moved forward to gently reach out to touch her on the arm.* "Oh, honey, don't be sorry. I was so engulfed with the beauty... of the city that is... that I got in the way. I'm sure you're reading something incredibly fascinating." *He cocked his head a tiny degree to give a cute impression of what he considered his good side, looking at the PADD.* "Is it that enthralling?"

Ensign Azrin Asix 26-May-21 04:18 PM

*Oh no, this one was going to be trouble. The empath caught his amusement easily, in contrast to his outward demeanor. Also the complete lack of surprise that came from someone bumping into him. Azrin had to suppress another laugh that was bubbling up. An 'accidental' meeting on a picturesque street, it was like falling into a holo-romance. She suspected this often worked well for him, had his target not been a part betazoid who had spent the last few years around politicians.* "Quite boring actually," *Azrin assured him with a bright smile.* "All these documents are worded exactly the same, with fill in the blanks for names and locations. I wouldn't want to distract you from the beauty of the city." *Her own amusement was readily apparent. Even if the game was a bit cliché, nothing could ruin her mood right now. Besides, he was cute.*

[D] Kalen BOT 26-May-21 04:27 PM

*Being an empath himself, he caught the sudden shift in her reverie to one where she was aware of him. He cursed himself for not catching on immediately that she was going to be smarter than his average fare. Who else but an intelligent person would be spending time reading in the streets of all things? But she still seemed happy, and he had her attention.* "No distraction at all. I am woefully new here and don't even know where to start truly appreciating the beauty." *His eyes focused on her like lasers.* "I've been hoping a brilliant and lovely local guide would blink into existence and show me all the wonders. But that kind of thing only happens in holosuites, hmm?"

Ensign Azrin Asix 26-May-21 05:53 PM

"Are you reading my mind?" *She accused playfully. Vulcans tended towards darker eyes as well, but when he caught her eyes she could something of her own in there. Azrin could practically feel the hint of a fellow betazoid.* "That's not considered polite off Betazed, just so you know." *And as someone who'd never lived on Betazed, Azrin had always found it uncomfortable.* *Once her boundaries were set, she went back for the topic at hand.* "As for a local guide, I've been posted here for a few years, so I could probably show you around. But the first thing you need to know is to not call me a local guide in front of anyone who was actually born here. They're very proud of it."

[D] Kalen BOT 26-May-21 06:31 PM

“No one’s ever accused me of being polite before—Betazoid or otherwise. Though as much as I’m sure it’d be a delight to read your thoughts, I am only half.” *He followed with a brush back of his hair to expose the point of his ear more clearly, as an illustration.* “So the best I can do is sense how delightfully positive you are.” *His dark eyes shifted around, noting the others walking around. With her sheer joy she radiated, they all seemed blurred in comparison, as if life’s camera had a specific focus.* “Are they, now? I wouldn’t want to upset them...” *He made a mental note in case an amusing situation arose later. His brow furrowed intensely.* “I’ve heard there is a delicacy here in the form of a pastry injected with chocolate. You don’t happen to like chocolate, do you?”

Ensign Azrin Asix 26-May-21 07:42 PM

"I'm only half too," *She replied with a shrug, tapping the spots lining her face in a mimic of him showing off his ears. Oddities existed, and Azrin was one of them.* "And if you upset them, I'll have to work doubly hard to remain positive, and that won't make us feel good at all." *All that anger around her would certainly make her feel terrible, at least.* "A pain au chocolat?" *Her voice developed a bit of an accent as she pronounced the foreign word.* "They're divine, and you should definitely try one while you're here, but isn't it a bit early to be drinking?" *Azrin tapped one of her ears now in reference to his. Vulcans didn't react well to chocolate. She'd always thought it must be terrible for them.*

[D] Kalen BOT 26-May-21 08:09 PM

*Kalen's very Betazoid eyes followed her graceful movement of her fingers from her spots to her ears before focusing on her lips. There was a playfulness to her he found appetizing... or perhaps it was still the thoughts of chocolate.* *Even more sensual was the way she turned on a dime to the accent for the French treat. T'Pel would mock him to death for thinking this unironically, but this creature was... fascinating.* "Time is a social construct, and as I mentioned, I'm new here. I'm not adjusted to anything local." *He brandished his most polished smile to her.* "Though I'm certainly willing to adapt. Where do you suggest we go, mon amie?" *Naturally, he had studied enough about the place to know a few catch phrases, even if his attempted accent wasn't nearly as elegant as hers. He never went into a foreign culture cold.*

Ensign Azrin Asix 26-May-21 09:23 PM

"There's a lovely little cafe down a side street not far from here. Coffee and pastries, and the outdoor seating area opens to a small courtyard lined with these beautiful little flower arrangements. According to the owner, they're been open for centuries, though his family acquired it much more recently. Apparently that makes them lesser in some way, but the food and atmosphere more than make up for it." *What would she know, a mere half a century ago, no one had lived on the colony she'd been born on.* *Azrin had flashed another smile - vibrant, authentic, and not the least bit polished - at his attempt to at French. The diplomat had always enjoyed learning of new languages and cultures. She always appreciated the effort, even when the execution could use a bit of work.* "My name is Azrin Asix, by the way. Because we really can't be friends until we're properly introduced."

[D] Kalen BOT 26-May-21 10:04 PM

*Her smile gave him pause when it flashed across her face. This truly was an innocent, picturesque. What was he doing here?* *But Kalen wasn't one for self-doubt to linger. He would much rather revel in the pleasure, and everything she radiated hit harder than chocolate, drugs, or anything he'd experienced in a long time.* *So much so he hadn't realized she was talking for a moment, having to shake off the sensation.* "Azrin Asix..." *He repeated. Now if only he could remember his name. He made a goofy face, finding humor to do wonders with awkward situations.* "....is not my name, of course. It's yours. Silly me. I'm Kalen. And you sound delightful. It sounds delightful, the cafe that is."

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Ensign Azrin Asix 27-May-21 01:06 AM

"Kalen," *she replied with another laugh, shaking her head slightly at the mistakes.* "Are you sure you haven't already found some chocolate today? We might need to start with the coffee instead." *Azrin had never been shy, and her picturesque upbringing and left her as far from jaded as was possible to be. She'd always made friends quickly and without reservation. It wasn't even the first time she'd befriended someone in the middle of the street.* "This way," *she nodded towards the appropriate direction as she spoke. An errant wisp of hair fell in her face, and Azrin tucked it behind her ear. It was a beautiful day, and she'd braided her hair in a hurry this morning, eager to get out and enjoy the sun.* *She set off down the street. It wasn't too crowded today. He would have room to walk beside her.*

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[D] Kalen BOT 27-May-21 01:17 AM

"I am naturally high, thank you very much." *Kalen brought a hand to his chest as if to demonstrate that sincerity before turning to keep pace beside her. Maybe there was room, but Kalen slyly brushed against her on "accident" a few times during the walk, no more than the fabric of his shirt gently against her blouse for a small tease. He didn't want to give away everything without getting some nice chocolate gifts out of her first -- he was no cheap date.* "How fortuitous. Tell me, Azrin Asix, what brings you to this city... no, this planet? That's probably a far more interesting question." *He scanned the streets for anything interesting, though most of what he saw as a mix of locals and tourism, along with several Starfleet uniforms which would go along with the place of import in the Federation. He'd always found those pajamas to look ridiculous, and was glad he wouldn't have to wear them.*

Ensign Azrin Asix 27-May-21 01:35 AM

"I don't think that's a good thing." *Azrin noted what he was doing with amusement. Like she'd thought before, this one was trouble, and he knew it. But the touches were no more than whispers, the opening moves of a game, so she let him get away with it. For now.* "I knew Talitha - the colony I was born on - like the back of my hand, and I wanted to see everything. Like everyone else who wants to see the universe, I came to Earth to attend Starfleet Academy. I just... haven't quite gotten to the 'everything' part yet." *The boundless joy that so intoxicated him was pervaded with a hint of wistfulness as her gaze turned to the sky. The light blue expanse above offered no hint of the stars that lay beyond, but Azrin imagined she could see them anyway.* "But I finally have a new assignment, so soon! Everything!" *Thinking of the transfer orders on her PADD, which she'd slipped into her bag when they'd started walking, brought her happiness back to the forefront again.* *Since she wasn't looking where she was going, Azrin really did wander off to the side and bump into him yet again.* "Oops, sorry. I keep doing that today." *That brought her focus back to Earth.* "And you? What brought you here?"

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[D] Kalen BOT 27-May-21 10:33 AM

*He refrained from comment as to whether it was a good thing or not. One didn't impress the opposing side in negotiations by showing one had to win at every minor point. The game was all about making the other side feel like they were winning.* *Instead, he chose to listen to her story, turning his attention skyward and shielding his eyes from the sun as he did.* "Sounds like you've got everything figured out. I've nothing so grandiose or noble. I'm just here for my sister. Don't tell her though, she doesn't need a big head about it." *Mid-step, Kalen didn't have the nice preparation he did for the last bump, stumbling, but recovering his footing rather adroitly when she bumped into him. He turned his attention back to Azrin, a nice excuse to look at her directly, defaulting to the Vulcan brow quirk they were so famous for.* *He had to assume it was intentional, despite her air of innocence. Game on. His eyes had a devilish glimmer as his lips upticked into a smirk, smoothly sliding his arm around her waist, a firm and confident touch to pull her closer to him, as if trying to sturdy her.* "If space legs got you wobbly, tour guide, you could have said something. I'm here to help." (edited)

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Ensign Azrin Asix 27-May-21 02:28 PM

"We're not in space," *She replied immediately, then belatedly caught onto his game as he pulled her to him. Azrin caught his eyes again, then her ever present smile was back in full force, playful this time as she slipped out of his grasp.* "This way!" *Her hand caught his as she dragged him left, nimbly stepping through the people walking in the opposite direction to enter a quaint alleyway - the side street she'd mentioned earlier. The air was cooler in here, the buildings angled in a way so the sun only hit one of the walls, old crumbling brickwork held up by trailing vines, a vibrant bit of life that had first convinced Azrin to explore down this way.* "The cafe is right down here." *A halo of light could be seen at the end of the alley, the entrance to the courtyard where their destination was tucked away, a hidden little paradise.*

[D] Kalen BOT 27-May-21 05:39 PM

*The smile was enough to make anyone melt, giving him pause for long enough to let her slip away, though Kalen was already addicted to the touch, wondering how he'd get it back when she grabbed his hand.* *He allowed her to lead him down the streets into the alley, where his mind started to wander to very devilish thoughts with a randy sizing up of his opponent, imagining what they could do in the shadows when she spoke again.* *Kalen caught sight of the cafe, giving her hand a little squeeze so he could let go and follow her into this adventure.* "Do you always take strange men down dark allies? Not that I'm complaining."

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Ensign Azrin Asix 27-May-21 11:59 PM

*Azrin stopped walking then, spinning around to face him once more and dropping his hand. The smile finally faded into a more inquisitive expression, her head ever so slightly tilting to the side as she studied him.* "Is there a reason I shouldn't have?" *She asked quietly.* *There was a difference between being trusting and being naïve. Earth was one of the safest planets in the Federation - a utopia. A place that typically considered themselves past the times when a woman had to worry about walking down a dark alley with a man she'd just met. And Azrin had sensed nothing dangerous from him thus far.* *What he wanted had been clear from the start. Azrin didn't mind that. She enjoyed the game, and those emotions never failed to make her heart race. But it was something he had to ask for. Not take.*

[D] Kalen BOT 28-May-21 12:14 AM

*Her sudden move caused him to stop in his tracks, facing her. His first instinct was to move closer, but he froze, meeting her inquisitive eyes with his.* *Unlike her, he'd been on some of the most dangerous backwater planets on the frontier. Even with his quip, it had crossed her mind that this might be some kind of honeypot to harvest his organs or something equally dastardly. Perhaps he was jaded... but she was too perfect.* *Suddenly, the dark alleyway, her angelic face with a soft glow around it from the cafe beyond... it even caused Kalen to break. He remained focused on her, facing his confessor.* "I've not been the most... traditionally moral person in my life."

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Ensign Azrin Asix 28-May-21 02:36 PM

*Azrin knew she'd ruined it. The push and pull of their interactions, sparks flying as they'd raced together towards something electric. She'd dragged them off course quite literally, out of the sun and into the muck. Worse, Azrin could feel the moment he broke, almost as though as piece of her had shattered along with him.* *She'd grown up on the frontier, but Azrin knew that her little planet was quite unique, a shining jewel in the dark. Even when a nightmare had come to visit, her people had handled it like they'd handled everything, with compassion, understanding, and negotiation. When she'd left to explore the wider universe, she had brought those ideals along with her.* *Her PADD buzzed in her pocket, and Azrin ignored it for a moment, focused on Kalen instead. The confession didn't deter her in the least, she filled with a desire to help him instead.* "Not many people have been. In the history of this city alone there are endless examples. What matters is that we try to be better."

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[D] Kalen BOT 28-May-21 03:00 PM

*What in the hell had he just been blurting? He was in shock at himself but Azrin in the soft glow of the cafe’s lights had been more than otherworldly. When she felt the moment pop, so did he, and more than anything he wanted it back.* *And yet for some odd reason it hasn’t scared her away. It made her all the more intriguing. If he believed in a Deity he would have promised a complete life change if the supreme powers of the universe would just let him have a taste...* *His PADD buzzed too, which was odd. Only priority calls could be coming through right now.* *He smoothly ran a hand back through his hair while he figured out how to pivot the moment and switched to a coy smile.* “I think both of us are buzzing. Vulcan ears are sensitive.”

Ensign Azrin Asix 28-May-21 03:19 PM

*She wanted to accuse him of avoiding the subject, but she knew that wouldn't help anything. If he wasn't comfortable talking about it to a person he'd just met, then who was she to push? Azrin started at him for a long moment. It was hard to get a good look, their positioning in the alleyway draping his face in shadow, almost invisible among his dark choice of attire.* *The undercurrent of emotions between them didn't change, but it was clear Kalen wanted them to. So Azrin let it go, pulling out her PADD and breaking from his eyes so she could read.* "Oh," *Already? She hadn't even gotten the transfer orders until an hour ago.* "I have to go to work." *She didn't want to leave it like this.*

[D] Kalen BOT 28-May-21 03:27 PM

*Kalen was about to check his own when his eyes widened with some panic. This was the worst possible moment!* *With no time to return to his typically suave ways, he held out his hand to her, palm up, so she would take it. A fairly intimate gesture for a Vulcan she likely didn’t even process when she’d taken it the first time.* *He didn’t shy away from looking her directly in the eyes, deadly serious. His voice lowered both in pitch and to a near whisper.* “I’d like to see you again. I’m going to give you my comm info. If you’re going off to the stars, we don’t have time for games. No three day wait or any of that nonsense. Okay?”

Ensign Azrin Asix 28-May-21 03:45 PM

*The momentary panic that radiated off him brought her gaze back up with a start. Only to find that the way he was looking at her took her breath away. The mood had changed again, and Azrin couldn't believe she was weathering all these waves without being pulled under.* "Ok," *The word came out on a quiet breath, just as quiet and intimate.* "At the cafe?"

[D] Kalen BOT 28-May-21 03:47 PM

“Wherever you are, I’ll be.” *He couldn’t believe he’d said the words but he meant them more than he’d meant anything is his entire life.* *He finally pulled out his own PADD then, not bothering to look at the priority message yet. What could be more important than this? He transmitted his digits to her, as much as it pained him to look away from the radiant beauty before him.*

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Ensign Azrin Asix 28-May-21 03:58 PM

*Another buzz from her PADD, which Azrin couldn't bring herself to look at, sure that it was merely the receipt of his frequency. She knew she had to leave and break the moment, so in a moment of impulsiveness, Azrin decided to do it with a bang.* *Finally taking the offered hand, Azrin used it to pull him closer and kiss him on the cheek. A light tease, before whispering in his ear.* "A tall order. Like I said, I plan to be everywhere." *Then she was gone, brushing past him and running back down the alley, into the sun and the transporter station a few blocks away.*

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[D] Kalen BOT 28-May-21 04:54 PM

*Kalen stood there for a moment, catching his breath. With her beaming away, she seemed like a mirage, an intense empathic impression on his mind, pulled away so suddenly it was like she wasn’t even real.* *When he snapped out of it, he finally read the admirals message. He hoped he wasn’t too late, though he didn’t terribly mind, as he didn’t have much reverence for rank and title. All the same he called for transport so he could see what this was about.*

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