Sun, Sand and Surf - Part Two

Posted on Wed Feb 26th, 2020 @ 1:54pm by Commodore Siaxx "Bluemoon" Dvald-Vaxx MD & Jillian "Phoenix" Sullivan

Mission: Mission 15: Old Ghosts
Location: Various Locations - USS Roanoke
Timeline: 1800Hrs, December 9th, 2390

Lt Commander Siaxx Dvald smiled as she flipped the fish that she had caught earlier, she had caught two fish which were about a foot in length, she had then spent most of the afternoon removing the heads, the guts and the skeletons.

She noticed that Phoenix seemed to be enjoying herself and her painting so she decided to leave her alone and let her carry on. She had never seen the creative side of Phoenix, as such she was willing to go to extreme lengths to encourage it, so if this meant she left her girlfriend alone for the afternoon, then that was what she did.

She looked down at the other fish on the Barbecue as she grasped it with the pair of tongs in her hand as she grasped the fish before she flipped it.

She smiled as she turned her attention to Phoenix as she slipped the lid back on the barbecue.

Phoenix had just put the finishing touches on her painting. Which that depicted a very lovely orange and yellow sunset, with a pretty blue Siaxx playing on the beach with Dora and Shonax.

Siaxx smiled as she went over to her girlfriend. "Hey... how....oh my god."

"It's how I wanna remember you, forever this picture stands," Phoenix smiled, covered in various blotches of paint.

Siaxx smiled. "Wow... Phoenix.. that's amazing.." she gently placed her hand on Phoenix's shoulder. "I got just the place for it. On the opposite wall from the bed, so when we wake up... we can look at this." she commented with a smile. "This... is incredible.."

"You know you've tamed much of the beast in me," Phoenix spoke as she wrapped an arm around Siaxx's lithe form. "Ya stick with me, through very dark times, as well as good too."

Siaxx smiled. "You stuck with me too..." she responded. "Through the good and when I was at my worst.." she added quietly. "I owe Torilla a special debt... for getting it through to me, that what I was doing was wrong.."

In Phoenix's bag, was a burgundy square box that held a white-gold ring with an opal-shaped sapphire. As nervous as she was, this moment felt right and unforced. Thus Phoenix began to pat herself for something she knew was in the same compartment as the ring.

"You mind handing me my brush towel from my bag?" Phoenix asked.

"Sure." Siaxx commented as she went off to collect the bag that Phoenix requested, the Bolian came back with the item in hand. "Here you go."

Phoenix just shook her head and laughed. "There is a box in the. Red color. It's yours to open, Dear."

Siaxx blinked as she plucked the box from where it was siting in the box, she opened it and her heart melted. "Oh... wow.." she paused as she turned to Phoenix, instantly figuring it out. "Yes... I will marry you." she plucked the ring and she gently slid it onto her finger, it was a perfect fit. "It looks beautiful..." she blinked. "Just like you Jill..."

"I'm in no rush. When an' where, is up to you, Dear." Phoenix pointed out as she drew Siaxx into her and hugged her tightly.

"Well we must have your family there..." Siaxx commented. "I need to sort my family out before we can invite them..." she mused. "But we can worry about that later.." she smiled. "Dinner is almost ready."

'I'm famished," Phoenix smiled brightly as she began to put her panting station away.

"Well... I made up a batter for the two fish I caught earlier so.... I'm not sure how its going to turn out." Siaxx explained. "If all else fails, we can always use the shuttles on-board replicator." she looked up as she gave the clouds the once over. "Mmm...Cirrocumulus clouds.." Siaxx mumbled. "Mackerel sky... pretty but otherwise harmless.." she then looked around as she spotted Cirrus clouds, with their classic long bands of whispy clouds blown by high winds into long streamers. "Okay... we have good weather for the rest of our time here..."

"I'm good with makin' it last," Phoenix promised with a sigh. "Clouds a big thing with your folks?"

"I can read the clouds." Siaxx pointed up. "My grandfather thought it was something I needed to know... all terrestrial planets all share the same things, especially in the cases of clouds.."

"So what's your favorite cloud?"

Siaxx smiled as she considered the question, she answered with "Cirrus clouds, they look so lovely and so delicate but you need high winds to create them..." she explained. "My grandfathers greatest gift to me.... being able to read the clouds, the skies and the stars..."

"You should of been a cloud reader then," Phoenix smiled brightly as she kissed Siaxx on the cheek. "You really enjoy this stuff."

"Something like that..." Siaxx responded with a smile. "Being able to read the skies and the stars is something of a dying tradition among many peoples these days..." the Bolian explained. "my grandfather felt it was important for the young generation to know of it..." as she smiled at Phoenix.

"Me an' my brothers used ta play in the gardens behind tha house while Mom picked strawberries." Phoenix sighed happily upon that thought. "We used ta run to tha creek at the end of tha day an' listen to Mom talk about how the seeds grow in the dirt and create more strawberries for us ta eat."

Siaxx smiled as she pictured the scene in her mind. "Sounds great.." she commented. "Do you want children? she decided to come right out with it

"I already have one," Phoenix answered with a blink of confusion. "Did I want her? No. Not at that time... Now? I dunno. I get the impression if I wanted one, you don' think too highly about me doin' a good job."

Siaxx regarded Phoenix as she nodded. "Yes.. I know what you mean.... but it was shortsighted of me to assume you wouldn't be a good mother... considering I've never seen you in that situation... I'm sorry Jill..." Siaxx responded.

"You've a righ' ta believe the way you do. I am a drunk after all," Phoenix sounded very gloomy to admit that.

"Do I?" Siaxx responded. "You always were too hard on yourself Jill. Its not right..." the Bolian said softly. "You wear your anger like a shroud... but its like a chain, holding you back..." she said quietly. "The woman who painted that masterpiece wasn't an angry woman..." she added. "My belief is wrong... you have the capacity for so much more... I just never let myself see it.. and if I truly was right.. then Dora would fear you and Shonax would too... and they love you." she paused. "Thats gotta count for something..."

"I wanna shed that shroud," Phoenix admitted with a nod. "It's not easy though. But I'm glad you're here to make it easier on me."

Siaxx smiled. "The first step in dealing with an issue....is realizing there is an issue." she commented as she gently took Phoenix's hand in hers. "We will face it.. together."

"I love you," Phoenix spoke before she kissed Siaxx on the cheek.

"I love you too.." Siaxx responded. "Now... What say we eat dinner?"

"I'm all for it," Phoenix agreed wholeheartedly.

Siaxx went over to the Barbecue, she pulled the lid off to find that the fish were starting to burn as Siaxx swore something that would make any self-respecting woman's head explode, she snatched the tongs and the plate as she pulled off both fish. "Shit... I think this....might be a write off.." she sighed. "Let me try it.." she picked up a knife and with a gentleness which spoke of her experience as a nurse and a Doctor, she sliced a chunk off and with the tip, she speared it and popped it into her mouth. "Mmm... borderline passable..." she paused, she clearly wasn't sure.