Days of Leisure, part 2

Posted on Sun Oct 30th, 2011 @ 7:41am by Commander Raven Adams & Alvar Walder

1,080 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Orbital Yard Project Athena I
Location: Oriental Tea Room, Typhon

ON

[OLD]

"That would be great." At the same time, she would go through serious withdrawals when she had to sleep alone in her quarters again.

[NEW]

They walked off the turbolift and headed in a new direction, quickly finding the side corridor where the bookstore was located.

'Wow,' breathed Bennett as they entered. It was a small place. Smaller than he had thought possible, and there were more books in here than there seemed space. Piles tottered by the door, stacks stood on the floors around the shelving units. Even the old, tufty-haired, bespectacled man who sat at the counter seemed papery somehow.

He almost forgot Sam on his arm as he started glancing this way and that at the books. He did not know where to start.

Sam was speechless. This place was amazing. She'd never seen so many books in one small space before. She kissed Curzon on the cheek and slipped away to find the history section.

For his part Bennett went to look for some new poetry - and perhaps a hitherto un-found copy of Murakami he could read. There's just so much here, he thought, touching random books as he went along.

Sam was shamelessly reading his mind as they browsed so she could pick the perfect book for him. She casually made her way to an attendant. "Do you have Murakami?"

The attendant checked through a PADD and shook his head. "Sorry."

"Can you find or order anything?"

He looked again. "There's one, but it'll take two days to get here."

Sam nodded. "Okay. Order it. Have it sent to me directly." She made the arrangements and wandered off to see what else she could find.

Bennett had found a slim volume of poetry - Blake, one he did not own yet. He tucked it under his arm and went in search of more. He kept half an eye out for something that Sam would like. He knew that the jewellery he had bought her was expensive, but it was nice to have the money to spend and someone to spend it on. He looked closer at some likely-looking piles.

Sam continued to browse. She found a book on Rihannsu mythos she didn't have and an intriguing book on the ruins at the bottom of Lake Titicaca. She found a recreation of an illuminated collection of the works of William Shakespeare for Curzon as well. Then, finally done, she went to the front to make her purchases.

Having found a selection of Rihannsu poetry (three volumes, handsomely bound) and a beautiful paper copy of Chaucer, Bennett likewise headed for the counter to purchase. On his way there he managed to spot a collected works of Gramsci's Prison Notebooks and snagged them as well. Hardback. Not to be sneezed at. He lined up behind Sam.

Sam made her purchase and waited outside for Curzon. She slipped her books into a leather bag and slung it over her shoulder. She turned to grin at Curzon when he emerged. "That was productive. I'm glad I don't find more shops like that. I'd run out of living space."

'I don't know ... I think I'd draw the line at needing kitchen-space and a place to sleep. Everything else is fair game,' replied Bennett as he slipped the paper bag full of books under his arm. Holding Sam's hand he asked, 'where to next?'

Her stomach rumbled, making her chuckle. "I think food should be next."

The two turned down the main concourse and began to look for a place to eat.

As they were wandering down the Promenade once more, Bennett spotted the alleyway down to the old English Teahouse. 'How about we go back to the place we went last time? Seemed they had a good selection of food there ...'

Sam noticed a sign for an Oriental Tea Room. "As much as I love the Old English Teahouse, how about we try that one today?"

'Sounds good - it's nice to have variety and all that,' smiled Bennett as he looked the place over. It was done up in a pseudo-traditional Chinese manner, it even had the arched roofs that marked Cantonese architecture. Overall it was a pleasing effect. 'After you,' he said, holding the door open for Sam.

"Thank you," she said, smiling at Curzon as she walked into the Tea Room.

Inside was the height of simplicity. The walls were whitewashed and plain, with only a few pieces of parchment with oriental writings on them. A script he was not familiar with, and could not place the name. On the far wall was the only sign of opulence, a large yin-yang symbol edged in gold, and beneath it a smiling jade Buddha. Syncretism as always in the Oriental cultures being prominent.

In a far corner a small cat with large eyes and a beaming mouth stood with an arm that seemed to be waving at them. For luck, Bennett remembered.

He chose a secluded spot, away from the centre of the rooms. Sitting Sam down in her own chair, he took his place on the opposite side, waiting their server who would come in time. Bennett smiled across at her, and held her hand.

Sam didn't mind waiting for service. She simply liked sitting and holding Curzon's hand.

Aeshia approached the two. She smiled, not wanting to interrupt the two. She quietly cleared her throat, in case she was interrupting. If they were busy, she'd simply give them a few minutes more.

Sam felt the woman approach and turned to smile at her. "Hello."

Bennett nodded his head, 'morning.'

"Good morning. You like tea? Or maybe foods?" Aeshia asked, with a slight bow to both of them.

'Tea to begin with, please,' replied Bennett pleasantly, passing over the garbled diction. 'Something traditional in a pot. We'll order some food afterwards I think ...' he looked at Sam for confirmation.

"Tea and food sounds great," Sam replied to both of them. "What do you recommend?" she asked Aeshia.

"Traditional tea is traditional. I get you green tea. I not know what to recommend. I not know what you like to eat. Why everyone expect Aeshia to know what they want to eat?" Aeshia asked, as she headed off to go brew the tea.

(To be continued...)


Captain Curzon Bennett
Commanding Officer
USS Jefferson

Commander Samantha York
Executive Officer
USS Jefferson

Aeshia Dew
Owner
Oriental Tea Room
Starbase Typhon

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