A Shopping Experience
Posted on 20 Jul 2020 @ 10:02am by Civilian Iola Hawkins
Mission:
Mission 4 - Race against the machine
Location: Quarters/Holodeck
Timeline: TBD
3265 words - 6.5 OF Standard Post Measure
Michael looked about his quarters.looking at how it was designed. He still wanted to add some other personal touches to it. As he gazed around, Michael remembered, he had promised Iola that he would help out in making her quarters more comfortable with some personal touches.
He wondered if she would like to do that, and promptly sent her a message.
"Iola, would it be all right if I stopped by your quarters?"
The Orion woman perked up at the sound of the familiar voice. "Please come," she answered, joy filtering through in her voice. "Now?"
"All right, I will come now." Michael responded. It didn't take him long to get to her quarters and pressed the chime to let her know that he had arrived. "I am here Iola."
He was greeted with the brightest of smiles as the door opened before him. "That's fast," she grinned, stepping aside to let him in. "What is reason of visit?"
"I was wondering if you would like to go on a shopping trip for clothing and things to make your quarters comfortable. It will be on the holodeck if you'd like to see what it is like to go shopping in different stores on Earth." He smiled, a slight dimple in his cheeks and a sparkle in his eyes.
She looked around in her so far pretty bare and undecorated quarters, then back at her guest. "I like that," she answered enthusiastically, "But I not know what I like. Back home...no shopping.. Slaves get everything needed, all simple." While she had a decorated room of sorts at home, she hadn't done that herself. And she had nothing beyond the simple dress she'd worn when she'd come aboard. Slaves had no need for fancy dress, did they?
"Well my lovely Iola, you are looking at a man who had been on shopping trips with his sisters. They, as well as my mother, told me that ladies do need nice things to wear that are comfortable, and yet beautiful. Its like a journey of discovery for a girl, or a boy to go shopping and learn what sort of styles they like to wear. Plus, nothing wrong with decorating a person's quarters with a personal touch to make it seem like a place where he or she belongs. Sort of like a refuge, when you wish to be comfortable to meditate, read, do hobbies you would like to develop or practice."
"I would like long dress," Iola said without pause, "already have comfortable chair and bed, do not need more furniture. Maybe a plant? Flowers?" She beamed at him. "You have sisters? How many? I not know about siblings, I not know where from. Orion, doctor said, but more I not know."
"I have three sisters, two older and one younger. I do have a brother also."Michael smiled fondly as he thought of his siblings. "As for plants for your quarters, they do add a nice touch. Bringing color and harmony in the room. You are Orion, has anyone showed you any history of your people?"
Iola shook her head. "No, doctor was supposed to teach but doctor disappeared. Lieutenant Datari has offered to teach language, he language... whizz?" She arched an eyebrow at him. "What is whizz?"
"A whiz is a nickname for someone who is really good at something. I can look up the information for you on your race, and I think it is great that Lieutenant Datari will help you learn Orion." Michael responded. "I am wondering where that Doctor disappeared as well."
The Orion woman shrugged. "She left, nurses say. Did not say where. You have big family, why not have own family? You... pretty man..."
Michael smiled at her compliment. "Thank you for the compliment. I don't mind being called a pretty man. However the correct word for a man would be handsome." he gently said," As for a family, I haven't had the time to find someone to have a family yet. I thought I did, at one time."
"Not make time?" Iola asked curiously, "slaves may find partner, if time earned. I not find partner, no-one suitable and I close to Don. Know Don secret, dangerous." She gave him a sad smile. "I want family, sometime."
"Slaves have to earn time to find a partner?Is there a way for slaves to gain their freedom? And I don't view you as a slave. You must be trusted by the Don to be here." Michael's brow furrowed, just the fact of slavery still existed just bugged him considerably. He knew that there were races who still believed in slavery, even now, there were still pockets of hidden slavery in different areas. It was an evil that just seemed to poke its dark head out of its holes.
"As for my making time to find someone, its more of allowing myself to get close enough with someone to develop a bond. Also, I am someone who likes to become friends with someone before getting into a romance. Whomever I end up with, I want to be friends besides just a bed partner."
"Earned wrong word." Iola shook her head, a little frustrated now. "Often work together, but good behaviour is awarded. My Don not just trust me..." She smiled in clear adoration of her master. "Don like parent...raised me. He feels I best person for this task, so I go." She listened to his explanation. "You have not allowed it before? Why not? There must be many women who want you."
"There are women who want me, I suppose. They found me charming, respectful, sometimes a little bit awkward which for some reason they like it. That is what a female friend of mine told me a while back. Some of them wanted me to be their bed partner just for a fling and that isn't something that I do." Michael giving a slight shoulder shrug. "There was a girl, whom I liked quite a bit, in fact, I loved her a great deal. And from what I could tell, she loved me just as much. We were going to get married....." Michael's voice drifted off and he looked at Iola, "I don't want to bore you with the details. After what happened, I threw myself into my studies and into becoming the best I could be where my duties were concerned. Which is why I didn't allow myself to get involved with anyone more than just being friends."
"But you will now?" the young woman asked hopefully. "How long until we get to holodeck?" She could see that recounting his past relations was something that caused discomfort and she was going to do her best to make him forget.
"Not long, its just around that curve, and here we are." Michael stated with a smile. He keyed in the code for his holo program stating, "Hawkins shopping program" he then turned to Iola. "This I had designed awhile back, for part of the station I had been assigned to. "
The door opened and on the other side of the portal was an entry way which led into an atrium park like setting. There were trees, some citrus and other fruits with non fruit bearing trees. Footpaths led the way through the area leading to where shops were set up. Small fountains bubbled merrily away with flowers planted around, and benches where a person can sit to enjoy the view. Near one fountain purple irises grew, the blossoms open.
She grabbed his hand with both of hers, squeezing them in excitement as her eyes widened while taking it all in. "You made this?" she asked in clear amazement. "So much food! So... pretty! Can I touch?"
Michael chuckled, delighted with her reaction. "You can touch, go ahead and enjoy." He had worked long and hard with this program, making certain the fruits tasted just right like the fresh fruit he had grown up with, the flowers having the proper scents. You could say, he mused to himself, this was a record of memories.
"What are these?" Iola asked as she skipped off and returned with an armful of several fruits. "And those?" she pointed at the purple flowers near the fountain. "Where do we find dress?" She was acting like a young girl on her very first shopping trip which, in essence, it actually was. "Want long comfortable dress, not... party dress."
"Those flowers are called irises, and just over there is a dress shop. The fruit you have, orange, apples, peach and a nectarine. In another area there are cherry trees. Lets go to the shop, there are various sorts of dresses you can find. I think I may know just the sort of dresses you may like." heading in the direction of the shop by way of the fountain and irises. He stopped to smell the iris, smiling, remembering the iris in his mother's garden.
"Flower has special meaning?" the perceptive Orion asked as she studied him, "what is cherry?" She sniffed at the fruits in her arms, relishing the taste as she took a bite of the peach. Her expression soured as she took a bite of the orange, tossing it away. "Bah...so bitter," she muttered, not realizing she was supposed to remove the skin from the fruit.
Michael did a mental facepalm, "Whoops, I had forgotten you may not have had an orange before."He went and retrieved another orange, peeling it for Iola. "Here, try this now. The fruit that you liked is a peach. And this one is a cherry." indicating the fruit. " You need to be careful as there is a pit inside the cherry, its hard and can break a tooth." plucking one and eating it. "As for the flower, my mother has some of these in her garden back home. She had other colors but I prefered the purple ones. To me they smelled better."
"I like purple, and I glad you like purple." She smiled brightly at him, flicking her violet hair back across her shoulder. "Maybe... purple dress?" She cast him a hopeful look. "My name... also means purple... I looked up. Iola means violet, is purple too."
Michael looked at her skin, and her lovely, luxurious hair. "There will be one, Iola, something that you should like, something that you can be comfortable in. It will be of your own choice." he pictured the color scheme in his mind, a dress that she could move gracefully and easily in. A beautiful flower.
"My choice." She grabbed his arm and started to pull him past the shops. "You tell me if look okay? Tell me honest, if not?" She stopped abruptly, pressing her nose against one of the windows. "How about that one?" A bright yellow dress stood out, quite the contrast to both her skin and her hair.
Looking at the dress and then at Iola, Michael smiled, "Lets go inside and try the dress on." In his own opinion, Michael thought Iola with her green skin and purple hair,she was like a beautiful flower. Yellow looked good with purple, as well as green, if you thought about the color scheme of things.
She wasn't going to have him tell her twice and she pulled him inside the store. A delighted shopkeeper handed her the desired dress and showed her where she could try it on. Within minutes, she returned, twirling around in the bright yellow dress. "Too much, I think," she said as she caught her reflection. "Too bright?" She looked around at the vast array of dresses. "You pick one?"
Michael looked at the dress, it did look great on her, however he thought one with a slightly darker hue would look outstanding.
"How about the same style but in a darker shade, a yellow gold. Would be complimentary to her skin and hair. And.." he looked at Iola. "A dark purple which will bring out the color of your beautiful blue eyes." he looked at the styling of the dress. "Are you able to move freely in the dress?"
He mentally thanked his sisters for insisting on taking him shopping and making him aware of the different aspects of choosing clothing.
Iola nodded, twirling a few times more, wiggling this way and that. "Very comfortable," she reported, her eyes traveling to the darker yellow dress. "That one pretty," she said, "for casual." She pointed at the purple one. "And that for work?"
"And one more just to have a variety, a dark burgundy. " pointing towards a dress in a similar style, dark red with a purplish hue. "This will look good as well." A warm smile. "My sisters have told me, when you get some new clothing, you need some shoes. Something that looks good but don't make you fall down."
"No heels.." She seemed adamant about that. "No shoes that make me wobble. Just... flat." She twirled around in her yellow dress, then turned and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Thank you," she said gratefully.
Michael nodded, grinning from ear to ear, caught up in Iola's sheer delight. "You are most welcome".
He wasn't expecting Iola's reaction, her arms encircling about his neck. Instinctively his arms went around her, tried taking a step backwards as he fought to keep his balance. His heel caught on something, falling backwards, one hand rising protectively to Iola's head, Michael took the brunt of the fall on his shoulders and back, knocking the wind out of him momentarily.
"Oof!" The Orion woman exclaimed. "You okay?" She rested her hands on his shoulders to push herself up.
Michael's arms slid to the floor as he regained his breath. He silently nodded to Iola then ventured out a squeaky "Yes, I am okay." then cleared his throat to where it was back to normal.
"Are you okay, Iola?" propping himself up with one elbow. "Sorry I wasn't able to keep my balance there." giving a slight chuckle. "I think I tripped on something."
"Sorry I fall on you," Iola apologized as she crawled back to her feet. She carefully dusted herself off and inspected her prospect new dress for damage. "Tripped? Or was hug not okay?" She had seen others hug, obviously, but had never really engaged in the activity herself.
"The hug was great, it was unexpected and I was a bit surprised. Pleasantly surprised." Michael replied, making his own way to his feet. "Would you like to try a hug again?" a warm twinkle in his eyes, his arms open in case Iola wished to do so.
She studied him as if to see whether he was serious. Then she carefully stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him as though he was made of glass. "Better?" she asked.
Michael gently wrapped his arms around Iola. "Don't worry, I won't break." he murmured softly.
It felt very nice holding someone in his arms, her embrace soothing, and yet a little bit exciting, feeling his heart rate pick up. He did like Iola, to what extent he wasn't certain.
She rested her head against his chest, listening to his heartbeat for a few seconds. "Are you nervous?" she asked quietly, lifting her head to look up at him. "Your heart is faster....your breathe faster. Are you sick?"
"Not ill, maybe a little bit nervous. "Michael replied gazing into Iola's eyes. "You are an attractive lady, and your lovely nature is enough to make a man's heart race."
"Is it?" She pulled back, staring at him. "Why?"
Michael was taken aback for a moment, his mind racing on how to answer Iola's question. Iola was sweet, innocent and relatively untouched, from what she had mentioned, she lived a basically sheltered life. Whomever her 'owner' was, it seemed they treated her like a valued part of a family.
Michael released Iola from his embrace, took her hand and led her over towards a full length mirror. "Look at yourself in the mirror, Iola. You are beautiful, men would be very attracted to you. I find you attractive." he paused, looking at her as a whole. " The length of your hair, the way you walk with a natural grace. The color of your eyes, your physical form, all combine in an attractive work of art."
Michael stopped, giving a little bit of a sigh. He didn't know if he was explaining things too well. He wished his sister could be there to give him some advice. "I don't know if I am explaining things too well. " he confessed.
"I do not know," Iola answered as she regarded her full length figure. "I never had time to see men, my Don did say I should. I old enough... I do want mate but I want mate to be a good one. Permanent." She looked at him via her reflection. "I want little ones, when time is right but do not want little ones to be slave."
"Those are really good goals, Iola, you should be free, it truly makes me angry for people to be slaves." He looked at her in the mirror. "How would a person go about freeing you from slavery." he asked quietly. "Perhaps this is something we can talk to the Captain about."
"I not know," Iola answered honestly. "Earn it? I not know... but I not unhappy with my Don. I treated well, rewarded well." She turned to face him. "I here now, Don sent me here, be envoy, learn new things. Almost as good as freedom?"
Michael somberly nodded, "It is is a lot like being free, but still you are bound to your Don, and yet, it sounds more like the Don considers you as family. It is a perplexing situation you are in. I am glad you are an envoy and that your Don is allowing you to become educated. Most times, slaves are not allowed to be educated, they are only kept to do things that only a master wants them to do. Or forced to do things." A memory coming to his mind.
"I knew a woman who had once been a slave, she wasn't as fortunate as you to have someone like your Don. However, she managed to become free, became educated and now has her own business, a restaurant." he paused then continued. "in thinking about it, yes you do have more of the appearance of freedom.Though you do need to truly be free, free to choose where you would like to go and without having an invisible tether, of someone owning you."
"Maybe, in time," Iola answered, "for now, I happy. Make friends, learn things." She gestured at herself. "New clothes." She turned and kissed his cheek. "That okay to do?" she asked uncertainly.
Michael smiled gently. "Yes, that is all right. If I may." he softly kissed Iola's cheek in return. "I enjoyed taking you out shopping."
"It fun," she agreed, "maybe do again? Get you new things too?"
"Maybe do again.l probably need to get some new clothing as well." he said. "All right, there are your shoes." looking towards the shopkeeper who had them in hand along with the dresses.
Iola beamed at the shopkeeper, extending her hands to receive her new clothes. "I keep this one on," she said, indicating the yellow dress and matching shoes. She hooked her free arm through Michael's now. "We go home, I make you dinner." It was, judging by the tone of her voice, not exactly a request.
Michael smiled and nodded.