Notes of Affection 1

Posted on Fri Sep 25th, 2015 @ 1:10pm by Chief Warrant Officer Jemner

1,815 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Of Gods and Men
Location: Ten Forward
Timeline: Prior to Beautifully Muted

ON:
 
It seemed like a quiet enough start to the day; breakfast, some guitar practice and then off to her shift. Somehow things seemed a little brighter today, even looking out on the darkness of space and all the stars. It almost made life seem simpler than what it truly is. Like meeting someone and falling in love could be easier than what it seemed or turning a complicated multi stage translation into a one page letter from home to be translated over. Michelle sat in the same place that she had been when she wound up singing to Jemnar. She could almost see his reflection in the glass jut like the night before, even though she knew he was not there. She was enjoying her fruit salad with vanilla yoghurt and a dash of honey and hot Chocolate on the side. She was about half way through when she took a good sip of the hot Chocolate and tuned the Guitar up.
 
A simple strum and before long her hand was sliding along the neck of the guitar, picking up and holding strings to create notes and a melody began. Soft and sweet and sounding rather warm she sat and strummed, occasionally pausing for more of her breakfast or a sip of the hot Chocolate. She was that happy and comfortable in the moment that she did not notice the commotion that her own presence was causing.
 
Softtouch had entered the Ten Forward as it was a request for the quick run before he goes on duty, he was just making his way to the bar when he noticed the music floating on the place. He gave a slight smile as he hesitated to listen. 
 
"That's her!"
 
"Little Miss Serenader? " The two males talked between themselves.
 
"Yeah, you should have heard her last night." Chimed in a third. "Some old Earth song that I'm sure a good handful of males will be looking up."
 
"Wonder who she was singing it for? Lucky guy, makes me wonder if she's taken at all?" Chimed in a fourth over their shoulders.
 
"We could always go over there and find out." The first suggested. "Of course; it is every man for himself, so long as she is available."
 
The group sauntered over to the table and each found a spot to sit or lean back and admire the young lady while she played. How delicately she took a sip from the cup or took a mouthful of her breakfast. A simple little creature with her figure hidden behind the guitar, a certain sweetness in her voice and a rather quiet nature. She played along for a few bars, pausing for another sip and picking back up where she left off, not even missing a note.
 
"Hi there Beautiful! What ya playing?" Crooned one of the men, trying to sound smooth.
 
"Hey Sweetness, would you mind playing for me?" said another that was leaning on the table.
 
"Don't mind those two, my muse." Said a third straddling a chair backwards. "So what was that wonderful song you were playing last night?"
 
Suddenly there were other voices around her and feeling way too close for comfort. "Uh, Hi? I'm just practising and having my breakfast. Nothing fancy." She replied feeling very awkward.
 
"Ah, a subtle flower, humble and unassuming. Don't worry about those who would crowd you, darling. You have talent, it was obvious you were playing for another last night. So, does that mean that you have someone that you share such passion with? I would be happy to do so if there is not."
 
Softtouch felt a pull as he looked in her direction, her sparkling eyes did not have the same hue as last night, she was playing but not with the same emotion. What came off her now was a little bit of a hard wave, she did not want this attention; she was reverting back into herself in a way. Softtouch tilted his head as the fact most Earth Women like a little attention so he was gong to shrug his shoulders but something had him echoing in the room. It seemed to come from that part of the room. 
 
"Back off, Mister Fancy Pants. Who said she's yours yet, plenty of other candidates. Like me." Replied the male 'holding up' the table.
 
"or me." replied the chair sitter.
 
"Or even me." Crooned Mr Smooth Operator.
 
Michelle didn't even have a chance to shrink away into the background. So many fussing over her just because she happened to have carried a tune in public and that was with playing a Guitar at the same time. *For them, it's probably just a crush, them wanting to have a fling with someone who' slightly famous on board. These guys are fighting over me like a steak or the last slice of a nice cake.* Michelle tried to finish off her breakfast as nicely as she could while being bombarded, leaving the guitar perched on her lap. she nursed the cup of hot Chocolate as they tried to out class each other for her attention. She slowly sipped at it hoping they would just give up.
 
Softtouch put his hands upon her shoulders from behind; the contact with her gave him a bit of a jolt; he could tell she was like a soft flower as men fought to pluck her from her root, she wanted nothing more than the sun upon her and the gentle breeze kissing her face. He instinctively used his thumbs to caress between her spine to her shoulder blade with a lightest hint of a touch and hoped the reassuring motions would calm her. She wanted to be shown affection, he gathered that in the kissing of her hand last night and especially in that exchange after the dance. 
 
He moved his head as though to whisper in her left ear but instead; as he could not do so, kissed the ridge of her ear lightly. She had such supple skin that he could not resist that or the smell of her shampoo or the warmth of her emotional blanket tossed out after her ear was kissed. 
 
As Michelle nursed the cup she barely felt another presence behind her; it was not until she felt the hands to the shoulders that she became truly aware. A tingle went down her spine and felt like it rebounded back up again. A light touch, almost practised yet caring. So soft, affectionate in a way; something she could crave till the night's end. She leant back a little into the touch and then felt the breath on the back of her left ear. A light kiss sent a sure blush to her cheeks and practically sent a small jolt through her heart. It seemed like someone was trying to bail her out of this and was doing a very good job of making her feel fantastic in the process. Her hand moved in a practised way, balancing the Guitar on her lap as she turned he head slightly to look up and behind her. *Please, please; don't be another jerk.* The sight to greet her eyes warmed her heart and made it jump just a touch. There stood Jemnar, hands on her back. He had been the one to kiss her ear. Right now, this was about as close to Heaven as you could get while your feet were still on the ground.
 
While she looked up to him he gave her a kind; almost sly in the sparkle of his expression, he winked to her as his left hand moved to his PADD from the belt and almost casually placed it down on the table where she could see the words 'Arboretum, 1830 hours, with Guitar?'
 
A soft yet sly smile and a wink; could it get any better. She picked up on his subtle gesture to look to the PADD, the other men were so tied up in their own little scuffle that they would barely notice a thing. A simple little message; a suggestion for another meeting. Her heart jumped in delight. *He wants to see me again! Maybe we could actually get to know each other!* She looked back up to him, blushed but a happy smile on her face. "I'd love to. I'll be looking forward to it." she said, the delight evident on her face.
 
Softtouch gave her a peck on the cheek and a wink as he stood for a mock salute to the other men at the table and turned on his heels. He moved to the bar and took the prepared food for the Medical staff he had been asked to fetch on his way to shift then walked out out of the 10-Forward with a glance over his shoulder to Michelle before departing.
 
Suddenly all four of the men seemed to have their attention drawn out of their own tussle and back to the girl. Noticing the man with her and the way she was with him. "Did any of you remember her saying he was taken?" Asked the some what reverse seated man.
 
"I do not believe that we actually gave her a chance to respond to us?! As far as I recall we were bombarding her, just a touch." replied 'Fancy Pants.
 
Michelle finished off the last of her breakfast and downed the chocolate, watching Jemnar leave as she did so. She got up and put her dishes in the nearest replicator and hit recycle. She came back strapped her Guitar over her shoulder and left the men to their discussion. Surely they would not chase her, if they had any sense and could ready body language they should back off. Michelle came up to her shift and gently popped the Guitar down as she settled in. 
 
The end of shift came sooner than Michelle had really noticed. The time had flown by as if it had wings of it's own; the completed translations had piled up a lot more than she had really expected, still it was nice to see. She tried to sneak out nice and quietly, hopefully under the radar. Sadly it was not the case, Kate had cornered her and grilled her out for a good half hour after shift about what had happened the night before. It had really cut down on the amount of time she had to get ready to meet Jemnar. Michelle moved as quickly as she could and rather nimbly through the corridors to get to her quarters. She laid the Guitar down on the bed and almost dived into her closet space to figure out something to wear. Being in the garden space she needed something that was pretty and had some decency to it for being able to sit down. She found a nice layered dress, got changed over and headed off.

TBC

 

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