Stargazing

Posted on Fri Oct 14th, 2022 @ 12:45pm by Lieutenant Sky Jansen-Carey & Pix Osheena

Mission: The Lost Brother
Location: Ten Forward

Soran woke suddenly, he'd had a vivid dream. It wasn't a nightmare so that was progress, now he was awake. He knew he wouldn't go back to sleep, he considered going to sickbay. He shook his head, he didn't want to deal with Doctors. He looked at the liquor cabinet, no… That wouldn't do. He walked down to the Ten Forward. Moving to windows he took his harmonica out of pajama pocket and began to play. Playing to the stars was an act of catharsis for him. The woman tending bar had become used to this odd ritual and rarely spoke to him. He rarely came in when others were around which was a pity the music was so beautiful.

Sky too was having problems sleeping, she hadn’t wanted to disturb Xavier, and Talsi was on the late shift so she headed out for a walk to clear her head. Making her way to ten forward to sit in her usual spot stargazing, as the door opened the beautiful sound of the music Soran was playing made her pause by the doorway to listen and enjoy.

The woman behind the bar motioned silently to Sky to come over, "I try not to disturb him when he's playing."

She spoke in a whisper, "now what can I get you love?"

Lowering her voice Sky offered a smile. “I’d like a hot chocolate with marshmallows please.”

"He been coming in at least once a week, he plays at the window."

Sky nodded. “I’ll just sit and listen for a while.” She offered a smile before making her way quietly over to a seat she simply sat listening to the melody that Soran was playing, it was hauntingly beautiful.

The vent was propped open as Pix looked in, the Music was sad, normally Pix avoided Sad but she felt Sky and went to see if the sad tones were affecting her? Using the venting system; as Her Rutherford called it, gave her access to many places. She often came to Ten Forward and even on the bar upon occasion.

Pix descended to the corner of the bar; her glow muffled a bit with apprehension. She hid sensed who played the Melody; and still did not feel comfortable with Sky being close to this man. He had treat Pix like those who did not believe; she did not seem to exist, he did not seem to see her as an entity. Always looking around her, avoiding eye contact or even noting her presence. And the severe emotions his 'exchanges' with Sky also put Pix on edge.

Pix moved so the kind woman's tending to drinks and such could note her ; she gesture with her hands to mimic drinking then showing a large Mug like shape that gave the impression of a double sized mug Pix had brought and left for her own use. and with a final twirling of her right hand the 'Twister' of several fruit juices that she drank was conveyed to the Tending Woman who Pix really is fond of the way she always serves Pix like a normal being come to ingest good things.

"This is a surprise, I guess you couldn't sleep either?" The woman smiled. "I've got just the thing for you dear."

Sherry poured something into a her mug, "here's some Karvino juice, it's Soran's favorite too. Don't tell him I told you that, it would hurt his tough image."

She chuckled softly.

Pix raised an eyebrow; liking something the man of inner turmoil likes, she thought the Tending Woman; Pix heard the name Sherry being compared to a drink of some sort once but did not get the relevance. She trusted this Sherry and always got warmth from the woman that help Pix with her own being. Sheer was an individual that cared for people; she also tended to have better insights about mood despite being unable to sense. She observed and deduced the best actions, on a level that impressed Pix for not having the 'Insight Gift' like Sky and herself.

He was becoming a brighter source; a small hint of warmth came off Soran rather than the cold she got from his indifference and avoidance of Pix. The sip of the juice was also a good choice of liquid. Still she did not trust a man like him ; raising a toast to Sherry to show Pix liking the choice, the Small one took flight to approach from Sky's blind side.

Pix sensed the concentration of Sky; or enjoyment or whatever kept her friend's concentration. Knowing that Pix flight plan was to put Negative acceleration to 'Walk' through the air over Sky's shoulder and decend to the table looking at the sad tones of the man playing to the stars.. Giving Sky a casual glance over Pix's shoulder; raised her glass with a wink (Very close to the Doc's where she had learned it) before looking back at the Man 'Soran' and beginning to ponder something.

Sky was absorbed in the music Soran was playing, her glance was momentarily diverted to Pix offering a smile, before she looked back at Soran again.

Soran continued to play; he was barely aware of his surroundings as he played to the stars. He put his heart into the music entertaining memories of his old friend's. He could see Pix's glow against the window as he played and it sparked a memory of a time he watched the aurora lights on Davin IV with someone dear to him. He hadn't thought about this in years and he was grateful to remember it now. He began to play 'When the Ren begins the Dance.' a folk song of his people. A tune that ironically was played at both weddings and funerals and had a variety of dances associated with it. He hadn't played this tune in years, It had been the favorite of his old sweetheart. A tear ran down his cheek, it was a bitter sweet tune summed up his feelings at the moment.

Sky’s eyes watered as the tear ran down Soran’s cheek, more because she was lost in the emotion of the moment. She snapped herself out of it, and wiped away a couple of tears before sipping her hot chocolate. She offered Pix a smile as she looked at her tiny friend.

Pix met the glance of Soran in the reflective glass and tilt her head to the side; the first focus upon her and she was still Leary of him. The emotional 'tag' of her and a pleasant something gave Pix a little pause from her wanting to fly away. Still, Sky had an emotional connection, more than most would and that is still what concerned her. She did feel the smile of Sky and returned her own, raising her own little mug to Sky.

Pix began to 'whistle' in mimic of the tune he played; translating it through her hearing it. She was able to match and flow the tones of the hamanica in accompanying the sounds in a form of duet. It was her focus with her eyes closed and her hands swaying and moving like a conductor to herself. Directing the song she heard and played with him.

She did not miss a note he played in her 'blending' of beautiful sounds. It almost seemed as though she knew the song yet to the trained rear she was just a perfect one sharing the music, this was a form of how her people communicated; as one of Pix's friends was bonded to a singing bird; or a song bird of Earth, and would often 'sing' with her Bonded One or other birds in harmony. It is known Pix has the Doc's cheerful whistle impression down pat.

Soran felt his mood lift as Pix harmonized with his tune, his memories went back to his childhood. He finished his tune turned and gave Pix a peaceful smile. He always had an easier time expressing emotion through music and it seemed the tiny lady understood. She resembled species from his people's mythology, so he played a tune associated with the flight of these small creatures. It sounded odd just to people who were unfamiliar with his people's lore; it sounded almost like a bird song.

Pix closed her eyes as the next tune began; her head bobbed slightly in time with the new song as she absorbed it and then she began to 'follow and harmonize ' with the man again, it also reminded her of the time she spent with 'Teetle' and her Bird of Bonding, the songs they had done together. Sounds of nature were not all that different to pass along as the 'music' that Pix learned was defined as the sounds made from certain instruments; she believed they were 'wind type' that she could closely mimic.

This type of communication is common among the diversity of her people, it did seem to stand out in this vast place the Ship went to, few people could mimic the sounds they heard without artificial means. It really was a shame as Music sooths and being able to harmonize have a calming effect when shared. Pix enjoyed such opportunities as it was among the few 'sound exchanges' she has with people since her natural vocal range is not understood among the masses. It was just a pretty sound, like making the songs together with instruments or the 'sounds of nature.' throughout the universe.

Sky smiled warmly as she enjoyed the combination of Soran’s music and Pix’s harmonies. It was nice to see the two of them seemingly start to bond through the use of music.

The Angosian moved gracefully toward the table as he finished the tune, "Thank you Pix."

Sherry put a mug in front of him as he sat down, he nodded to her and she retreated back behind the bar. He took a sip of the Karvino juice.

Pix open her eyes and noted the approach of Soran, she gave a courtesy and then with a flutter of wings she moved to sit on Sky's shoulder., crossing her legs properly under her long skirt. Pointing to his mug and then to her own she smiled and licked her lips to convey it was ag good drink. Her glow had brightened in the slightest as she took a sip of her own juice.

Sky grinned at the communication going on between Pix and Soran. “It’s nice to see the two of you getting along, music is a wonderful way of expressing feelings without having to talk about them. That was beautiful by the way.”

"Thank you so I take it you ladies couldn't sleep either." He said quietly and nodded to Pix. "I see you like Karvino juice too."

Pix took a drink of the juice and shrugged.

Sky sipped her drink before answering. “I’ve been having nightmares lately, that and headaches.” She shrugged her shoulders. “Going for a walk clears my head.”

Soran sat quietly for a moment, a sense of peace had come over as he had harmonized with Pix. His inner turmoil wasn't gone, but he was calm.

"I'm sorry my nightmares have transferred to you as well." He said. "I've tried so hard not to burden others with my pain."

“It’s not your fault Ren” Sky offered a warm smile. “Nothing like that has ever happened to me before. My abilities have never pulled me so deeply into a mind before, I let my guard down and I shouldn’t have. Now we move on, I’ll learn to cope with it.”

"I'll help in any way I can," he paused and looked at at Pix. "Does your mood affect the others?"

Sky looked at Pix, she knew only too well how powerful Pix was for a small species. Though she was curious to learn more about Pix.

Pix had gotten her little mug to the table and sat with her arms crossed and had scoot a little closer to Sky. Pix was not liking this conversation and Sky did not obviously realize how she might be opening that Humanoid term "Pandora's Box' buy allowing herself to be drawn into another's mind uncontrolled. Like a submersible with a punctured tank she is sinking in Pix's opinion deeper into the uncharted waters.

Looking to Soran Pix closed her eyes and thought of her home, the subtle winds touched the tree branches, varied pressure to allow the echo of the wind as though played like an instrument like his 'Harmonica. Allowing the feeling of the breeze on his face, the calming rhythm of nature being expressed in her projection; as she did with Sky, the burden of what is pushing on him seemed a bit lighter and the softy fluttering of her wings gave him the coolness of a southern breeze coming up up from the snow to cool him and his body. The imagery was so vivid it almost felt as though Soran were standing beside Pix and sky in that place.

Pix opened her eyes and the images faded from Soran as well as Sky

Soran had a peaceful smile as the images appeared in his head.

Sky too smiled as she saw the images Pix was projecting to them. As the images faded she looked at Pix offering a warm smile. “Thank you Pix.”

Pix crossed her arms with a defiant grin as she lean closer to sky like a pal... her bravado was not apparent except that the physical connection between Pix and Sky let her friend sense that it was far more taxing on her than Pix would allow herself to show 'Him' as she was drained. Most telepaths know that reaching an unknown mind is taxing. Pix was not going to act like nothing happened, she just used a lot to make a firm enough connect to project images to him.

She whistled a harmonica version of Camptown races...

He chuckled. "My people would have stories about a species of small winged beings who come in the spring and make the flowers bloom and guide the birds back to their nests. We called them the Thienee."

“In Human tradition its Fairies, I doubt that Betazoid beliefs would be much different.” Sky grinned. “I guess they’re all roughly based on your people Pix.” She gazed at her small friend concerned that Pix had overtaxed herself. “Perhaps we should let you get some rest, I’ll walk you back to Sickbay if you like?”

Sky gave away the bluff in Pix's opinion, that allowed her to not stiffle the yawn and deep breath. Looking to 'Him' she tilt her head and tapped her chin in thought before her wings fluttered and she raised herself off Sky's shoulder and hovered over to Soran be close enough to extend her little hand in a gesture that came with a feeling of a singe emotional phrase 'Bygones be Bygones..."

Soran smiled and brought the harmonica to his lips and played a few bars of the bird-like song in answer. Pix had somehow lifted his spirits in a way he has felt in a long time.

Pix began to emulate the song of a native bird on her planet that was very close to the song of Earth's Nightingale.

Smiling Sky simply sat listening to the beauty of the combined Melody.