ten_fwd | Pacifica Plant Plot Resolution | PARTY POST

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Pacifica Plant Plot Resolution | PARTY POST | In The Botany Lab, Deck 10

"Enterprise's Head Botanist Keiko's log, Stardate 46172.364,

"My time on Pacifica was quite rewarding, and with the permission of a number of the locals, I have several new samples to study going forward.

"The first is a green herb they call Seajade. The Seajade seems to thrive in salt water, rather than fresh, but turns an astounding shade of teal in brackish water. It is used by the natives for cleaning impurities out of fresh water, which unfortunately kills the plant. I will be researching a way to increase its ability to live in water other than pure salt. I have been given several samples as well as some cuttings as this plant is rather common on the world.

"The second sample is called Dancer by the natives. It is a beautiful flower that for some reason is less common than the Seajade. The locals were somewhat evasive when asked about the properties. I noticed that some Dancer blooms were available for sale in the marketplace that serves off-planet guests, but no full plants, and no Dancer was sold in the main markets that the locals seemed to frequent. I questioned a scientist who studied me oddly for several minutes, then packed me a sample from her own lab, but asked that I not say where I got it. I was concerned at first, however I no longer am. I have also purchased samples of the cut plant as it is sold to tourists, to compare them. The bloom looks like a winged woman performing a ballet. It is quite lovely.

"The third sample is called Beachrunner. It was originally thought to be a weed on the world, and was removed wherever it was found for hundreds of years until about sixty years ago when a botanist from Oceanus IV discovered that it had curative properties when applied to the site of a burn caused by UV exposure. It is now one of the primary exports of the Genendo Botany Lab, which takes in enough money from the sale of Beachrunner alone to self-fund all of their research. While our technology can do the same, I bought some to study and will share my samples and my findings with Doctor Crusher.

"Computer, end log."

"Keiko's log, Stardate 46172.799,

"I have been working with these samples for hours. I have replanted all of the whole plants and have had my assistants working on properly labeling them with the information I was provided. The cuttings have been arranged and labeled for study. My hope is that Dancer, at least, will prove a fitting candidate for replanting in the Arboretum, however the evasiveness of the locals is making me hesitant. The more I think about it, the odder they seem to have been acting about it.

"And they aren't the only ones. Maybe I'm just tired. I should be tired, but I don't seem to be. I feel fine; happy, in fact. But it does seem as though everyone else has had either a little too much to drink or a little too little sleep. I understand that we are all excited to have had the chance to visit the planet and to gather samples, and it is exciting work studying them, however...

"I will be contacting Doctor Crusher if things do not change. There had been an incident on board the ship on Stardate 41209.2 where a widespread infection caused crew members to act as though they were intoxicated. We are all now inoculated against that, though, so whatever is happening now, while similar, does not seem as drastic or as quick to build. I will be setting this file to auto-send to Doctor Crusher if I have not canceled the command by 0800 tomorrow. I do not feel as though I am infected, of course, or I would have quarantined myself and my staff. It is always possible that they simply imbibed too much while on leave. Normally I might have an issue with this, but we've all been dealing with a lot recently, and there was a wedding. So long as everyone is sober and accounted for tomorrow, I will let it go. I'm in too good a mood to be angry, anyway.

"I have been working with Beachrunner mostly, though the others have been focusing on Dancer. I want all eyes on that one to unravel the mystery as soon as possible. Miles came in about an hour ago, and was so taken with the beauty of it that, rather than asking me when I was returning for dinner, he took one of the blooms to put up in our quarters. I almost stopped him, but he seemed so happy, and it was one of the ones from the tourist market. If there is some reason they should not be spread about, it is probably too late already. And he thought I would like to have it there. I have a wonderful husband.

"The only issue we have discovered so far with Dancer that could account for anything is the scent. When kept in an enclosed space the scent grows quickly to an almost unbearable level. It is pleasant, but too much of even a good thing is still too much. One of the techs has opened the vents and rerouted the ventilation system to circulate the air. Miles said even the corridors smelled nice as he came in.

"I am going to work some more on Beachrunner tonight, before I look over the Dancer notes to prepare them for the report to Doctor Crusher tomorrow. You know... one of these blooms would look quite lovely in her hair. I wonder why I didn't think of that before.

"Computer, end log."

It has been one full solar day since Keiko's last log was made, and in that time things aboard the Enterprise have grown truly unusual. The ship is well out of Pacifica's range by now, returned to open space, but things are not back to normal.

News of the Botany Lab's breakdown has spread by this point, as any are invited to help manage the issue.

[OOC: Party Post! Come get your top-levels and scenarios below! This post signifies the end of our February plots with some cool-off time before March begins. Hit up the OOC comm if you have any questions.]

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On Pacifica, he hadn't really noticed anything. Pacifica had been full of distractions. Distractions who had come with him from the ship and all that the planet had had to offer. Which was plenty for a guy still recovering from near-starvation and unknowable threats. On the ship, though, Cash has been learning everything that he can. Memorizing the layout, trying to get a feel for how the thing is run. It's instinct. Confined spaces still make him tense.

But then... he finds just... isn't. In fact, he feels pretty great. He doesn't even look both ways when he exits his room, finding he needs some fresh air while Luke is out and about, which means that someone could bump into him. This from a guy whose first concern had been something lunging out and trying to eat him, his first day on the Enterprise. He doesn't even bother to strap one of his guns to his person. A smile on his face, Cash goes for a leisurely walk at first before ending up at Ten Forward. He hums She'll be Comin' Round the Mountain as he strolls, ordering a glass of his favorite -- whiskey -- before he settles himself at the bar. Why limit his options? He's in the mood for talking.

Cash glances at the nearest, unfortunate soul and smiles brightly. "Afternoon."

Despite feeling like everything might be okay for once in a very long while, and despite his quickly improving mood, Luke has still been suffering many side effects of trauma. The nightmares are neverending and he jumps at every loud noise and sudden movement. Confined spaces make him nervous and he often finds himself searching for the nearest exit of every room he's in.

That is, until today.

Who needs a lightsaber when you're feeling so safe and relaxed? Luke doesn't even bother with his utility belt today, nor does he worry about where Cash has wandered off to. Luke is sure he's around somewhere.

Relaxing with his boyfriend does sound like an awful lot of fun, though, so Luke heads for the most likely place he can think of: Ten Forward. He quickly spots Cash and maneuvers up behind him, sliding both hands around to cover his eyes. "Need a hint?" he mutters close to Cash's ear.

His boyfriend is so relaxed that hands over his eyes, from behind, don't make him jump in his seat. In fact, he doesn't even move. Cash just smiles and taps his fingertips on the top of the bar. Back in Denouement, and when he'd first arrived on the ship, this would have been something to make his back go ram-rod straight and his fingers itch for his guns.

Which are back in his room for the first time in a while.

"Hmmm, no, I've got this," Cash says, pretending to be thoughtful and mull over a few options. As if he doesn't have that voice memorized. "Let me guess. You're a hand model. You've got nice hands."

Cash's response, pretending to guess at just whose hands are covering his eyes, makes Luke grin broadly. He even lets out a quiet, tiny chuckle that ruffles Cash's hair at the nape of his neck.

"You're very sweet. But wrong," he answers before gently kissing a spot just below his ear, caring very little for who sees them.

Ten Forward isn't packed but there are a decent number of people around. Luke feels so relaxed that he might do any number of things in front of so many people. He does like to keep an air of innocence, though. The tone of his next sentence sounds anything but innocent, however, uttered warmly against Cash's skin.

"Two more guesses before you lose." The way he says the word 'lose' makes it sound like losing might not be such a bad thing at all.

Normally, Cash doesn't like losing. Nobody does, he imagines, but he's spent a lot of time in dodgy establishments where losing means saying goodbye to a body part — or worse. Losing is synonymous with don't.

But he's the most relaxed he's been in... well, he doesn't really know. It was probably some other occasion with Luke, although any moment in Denouement had had an undercurrent of danger along with it. No one could let their guard down for long. Letting it down at all was a bad idea.

Here, his thoughts are completely away from that terrible place. And Ten Forward, for that matter. They're focused entirely on the man behind him, and how quickly he can lose.

"Hmmm. Okay." He pretends to consider, leaning back into Luke just a bit. "Professional Peek-a-Boo artist? Really bad mime who can only simulate a dark room?"

Normally, Luke wouldn't have even considered sneaking up behind Cash, let alone going right for his face from behind which even any normal person might flinch at. But right now he just can't help feeling like everything is just fine. He feels great and Cash seems to be feeling great and it's all great.

He laughs throatily and lets his forehead down onto Cash's shoulder. Those guesses really tickle him.

"So very, very close but still no," he says, the grin audible in his voice. He kisses Cash's neck one more time before removing his hands and hopping up onto the barstool next to him. "A mime doesn't share your bed every night, unless there's something I'm not aware of. You should be very, very ashamed for not even thinking of your own boyfriend."

Luke leans his elbow on the bar, chin in his hand, and does his best round-eyed pouty face at Cash. He's really rather good at those, actually.

He turns to lean against the bar, eyeing that expression he's getting. Luke has just the right eyes and lips for it. But it still looks ridiculous. Or maybe that's just because he feels like laughing about everything and anything right now. God, it's hard to think. How many drinks has he had? Isn't this his first?

Casting those thoughts out for the time being, Cash shakes his head. "Look, I'm sorry I never told you about the invisible mime before, but he's real shy. He just needed more time in that shrinking, invisible room of his."

There's no way Cash can keep that up for much longer, not in his present state, and he bursts out into a quiet chuckle. Reaching out, he strokes his fingers down Luke's arm.

"I think about my boyfriend a lot, you know. He's gorgeous. Ridiculously brave. Oh, and he makes real cute noises when you tickle him. I bet you'd like him."

Luke starts losing it long before Cash does and he abandons his pouting for laughing into his hand. While he's never been a dour person, Luke's noticed how much easier it is for him to find things to smile about lately, especially this past day or two. In fact, sometimes he finds himself smiling about nothing.

But right now he has one extremely beautiful, funny, and flirty boyfriend who's rather good at getting him to smile at any time at all.

Those fingers lightly stroking his arm send fluttery tingles of pleasure across his skin and his smile softens as he glances down at Cash's hand, then back up to meet his eyes. He's quickly laughing again, though, out of shyness this time. His cheeks have gone noticeably pink and he pauses to let himself recover for a moment before reaching up one hand around the back of Cash's neck to draw him close.

He leans in too, until their noses brush. "Maybe," he utters at barely above a whisper, "but right now I'm only thinking about you." It only takes a tilt of his head to bring their lips together softly.

While he feels really, really good right now, he at least has the sense not to gross out everyone else at the bar with an over-enthusiastic display. He draws away after just long enough to leave his warmth and taste on Cash's lips, and his hand slides down his jaw, thumb brushing his cheek gently.

"How come I can't go more than ten minutes without wanting to take you back to bed?" He says it quietly enough to avoid letting others overhear, but his helpless smirk is plastered plainly on his face.

His hand stays on Luke's arm, and as they part, he shakes his head slightly and takes another sip of his drink. As Luke's also fond of the contents — whiskey — he offers it to him afterward. Cash hasn't been drinking like a fish since he got to the Enterprise, but he hasn't been able to slow the habit too much. There's a dependence there that's probably not good, something he picked up to fill the void and make him care less about everything, and deep down he knows it.

Well, on any other day he does. Right now, he just likes how it tastes. How it burns down his throat. And he likes looking at his very attractive boyfriend, especially when he's so close.

"I'm not supposed to be dissuading you, am I?" Cash shrugs, grinning. "That doesn't sound too fun. If it helps, I feel the same way about you."

He leans forward to kisses Luke's forehead softly, his own movement just as brief as Luke's. He doubts anyone in Ten Forward wants a show. Although, now that he thinks about it, people have been kissing a lot more than they were before. Hm.

Before Cash can really think about that, his thoughts change tack and leave that process in the dust. And he goes with them readily.

"If this bucket of bolts could take you anywhere in the Multiverse, anywhere," he suddenly asks, "but not for more than, say, a day, where would you go?"

Every little bit of physical contact feels like the best kind of teasing and Luke's grin stays firmly in place. No one has ever been able to thoroughly charm him the way Cash does. That sweet affection does things to Luke and today he feels especially weak to it.

At first the answer to Cash's question seems obvious and Luke answers it quickly. "Anywhere I could be with you."

Then he chuckles softly, knowing that that's probably not the kind of answer Cash was hoping for. His fingers toy around Cash's jawline, and his eyes follow them, plainly admiring his love's face.

He shrugs, attempting to come up with a more serious answer. "Uhm. I don't know, I can't think of any one particular place. Most of the places I've been weren't exactly somewhere you'd choose to go for a vacation." After another moment to think it over Luke starts to realize that maybe his first answer hadn't been so silly.

He really does just want to be with Cash. His tone softens and his thumb gently brushes Cash's lower lip. "Somewhere new where I could explore and get into trouble with you."

Cash chuckles, his gaze soft as he looks back at Luke. "Hmm, get into trouble, huh?"

He's not too sure of his own answer, other than the obvious -- that he'd have Luke with him. Somewhere fun, somewhere interesting. Perhaps not quite as relaxing as the planet they'd recently visited, but he wouldn't complain if that was the case. They'd certainly had some fun there.

"Well, if I was going somewhere with you... maybe Coney Island," he says, turning it over in his mind. He can smell the popcorn vividly, even two universes or more away. "If you like roller coasters and other rides like that."

Perhaps it's fairly telling that if he'd go anywhere, he'd right back to New York, but he hasn't been anywhere else in the Multiverse he'd rather see, just yet.

As he listens, Luke takes a sip of Cash's whiskey, then he tilts his head curiously. Evidently he's never heard of Coney Island, which doesn't surprise him. It sounds like something from Cash's home world.

He shrugs softly. "I've never been on a roller coaster before. Or any rides for that matter."

The war had left very little time for vacations, and before that Luke had never even traveled off of his drab, dusty homeworld. He's had many adventures and done many things, but he's somehow missed out on many experiences that most people would consider fundamental and a part of growing up.

"I'm guessing Coney Island is an amusement park?"

"It's a place, more than an amusement park," Cash explains, a finger tracing idle squiggles on Luke's arm. "But I guess most folks would call it that. It's in New York, where I lived before I got involved in the War. There's carnival rides, roller coasters, an aquarium, all kinds of stuff."

He'd only visited a few times, thanks to his line of work, but each occasion had made an impression on him. His smile is fond, half of Luke and half of the memories of the ocean and all those happy faces around him.

"It's on the ocean front." A thought occurs to him. "You know, I hear the fancy holodecks on this ship can simulate a lot of things. Maybe Coney Island's one of 'em."

As he listens, Luke's smile slowly grows, but it's only a gentle one. He can tell that Cash is extremely fond of the place and he loves hearing about things from Cash's homeworld.

Though when Cash mentions the holodecks, Luke's smile immediately changes, as if suddenly being powered by totally different joyful thoughts altogether. Hearing the stories is nice but actually getting to see it? And being with Cash only makes it that much better.

Luke grins as his fingers trace down Cash's jaw and his thumb rubs at his chin. "Alright then... why are we still sitting here?"

While it's tempting to just stay where he is, and enjoy the attention that Luke is currently giving him, what he says can't be ignored. He grins, swallowing half of what's left of his whiskey and wordlessly handing Luke the rest.

"You make a fine point, Mister Skywalker."

Before, he could only talk about home. And maybe this won't be home exactly, but it 'll be close. And that's something. Getting to his feet, Cash jauntily holds out his arm.

"Shall we?"

While part of Luke very much wants to request Cash's company back in their room for a bit first, he thinks that teasing him for a while out in "public" (as public as a holodeck gets, that is) might make for even more exciting activities in their room later.

He gladly downs the rest of the offered whiskey and smirks at Cash as he swallows it, though his nose wrinkles just a bit as it burns his throat.

"This is our first real date, isn't it?" He slides off the bar stool and takes Cash's offered arm, grinning as he always does at his boyfriend's affectionate charms.

Cash feigns bewilderment as he leads the way out of the room and in the direction of the holodecks. His efforts to memorize the ship have been going rather well. Though they're helped by the fact that Cash is naturally gifted as far as orienting himself are concerned — something which had kept him alive, as an agent of the OSS.

"You sayin' that wiping out scarecrows and demons wasn't date material?"

He's almost certainly feeling better, thanks to the pollen he hasn't picked up on, if he's mentioning the scarecrows in casual conversation. Normally, that's what most of his nightmares are about. That and being forced to shoot the people he cares about, as if he's a secondary rider in his own body.

But right now, his attention is firmly on the man he has on his arm.

"Or games of chance in dirty pubs?"

It's a pretty big ship, and even though he technically knows the way, Luke doesn't exactly frequent that area. He gladly lets Cash lead the way. It even feels a little romantic, being swept off somewhere by a tall, handsome man. As romantic as holographic imagery can be.

Since Luke's never seen exactly what the holodecks can do, however, he's about to be pleasantly surprised. He's seen plenty of holo technology but he's never seen anything like this before.

And because of the sheer joy that would naturally accompany getting to finally spend time with one's significant other this way, Luke still hasn't picked up on just how oddly cheerful the both of them are. Sure, they've both managed to forget their other problems at quite convenient times, but it's easy to see that as gradual recovery.

Things have been pretty great here.

"I seem to remember you being a little embarrassed about calling our visits to the dirty pub 'dates'," he says with eyebrows raised up at Cash. "The faces you made..." Yes, he's going to keep reminding him of that for a long time to come.

He makes an exasperated, and joking, noise in the back of his throat as he glances down at Luke. "A guy's nervous once and nobody lets you forget it."

Well, not that anyone else here would be in the position to bring it up. They've left all of that behind. Good and bad. But it's worth it, to be safe. And there are a few familiar faces here. More for Luke than Cash, but Cash isn't bothered. He can make friends easily enough.

And right now, he feels like he can make a whole lot of them.

"I'm sure the replicator can give you curtains, if you're still hankerin' for 'em," Cash jokes.

Luke's eyebrows go up even further and his smile fades slightly as he looks up at Cash in blatant surprise. "You were nervous?" The idea of Cash being nervous about what could have only roughly been called a date at the time is almost too cute for him to handle.

His grin returns and he even chuckles softly as he hugs Cash's arm and rests his head against his shoulder. This. This is the sort of thing that goes straight to his heart and makes him fall even further in love. Someone showing him their vulnerabilities, especially when they have a history of pretending they don't have any, always succeeds at drawing him in.

"Is that why you were acting all tough and oblivious?"

Cash wrinkles his nose, glancing anywhere but at the man on his shoulder. He'd considered himself out of practice, and outings with attractive company typically took place in a location where he didn't know anyone. Or only knew the bartender. To be surrounded by familiar people, while trying not to say anything too stupid, had been a new experience.

And it had rattled him a bit in the beginning. He likes to think he'd gotten better as the evening had worn on.

"Maybe," he says evasively. He doesn't shrug, but only because he doesn't want to unseat Luke. It feels nice to have him there. "A little. Wasn't a very romantic date. We can start correctin' that now that we've got access to anywhere the holodeck's programmed to. Or when the ship stops at another planet."

There it is, that face again, the one with the wrinkled nose. Luke grins up at him, thoroughly enjoying watching the struggle. Not for any sadistic reason, but simply because he finds the display pretty adorable.

He nudges Cash playfully. "You know something, knowing how you really felt makes it seem a lot more romantic. In retrospect, at least."

Their walk has taken them to the lift and Luke gives it instructions as they step inside. As the door closes and they appear to be alone, Luke's voice takes on a slightly sheepish tone, though he still feels oddly confident, as if he could tell anyone just about anything at the moment.

"And sometimes... sometimes when you play it cool or pretend not to care it just seems like you're not all that interested in me." He quickly catches himself and shrugs. "Well, I know better now of course, but it's still nice to know the truth."

It's strange. Normally he'd be nervous about bringing up such a subject, but right now he feels completely relaxed. He hasn't even stopped smiling.

Everything feels great right now. Cash thinks he could talk about anything with Luke and feel great. Certainly he feels a lot like that on a good day, but it wouldn't matter the subject. Anything. He's unlikely to think of anything off the weathered path, though, so to speak -- because at the moment his mind is focusing on happy things. Things that make him feel fuzzy.

He slides his arm around Luke's lower back and pulls him close, pressing a soft kiss into the top of his head before he looks down at him earnestly.

"I know m' bad at showing what I feel," Cash murmurs, voice warm. There's nowhere else he'd rather be. "M' sorry about that. But I love you, n' I care about you, n' every day I'm just so grateful I found you again."

By now Luke's decided that being held by Cash is just about the best feeling in the world, especially when it's coupled with a kiss or two. Or many. Preferably many.

His hands slide up Cash's arms and then around his shoulders as he leans into him comfortably with a satisfied smile on his face. He goes decidedly pink and his gaze lowers sheepishly as Cash starts to open up. Despite what Cash says, it seems that no other response could have made Luke happier.

Once he manages to look up at Cash again from under long eyelashes, he tells him in a soft, lowered voice, "You're better at it than you think you are."

And then Luke leans his head in, pulling Cash to him as he does so, letting their foreheads press together and their noses just touch. "Well I want you to know that I'm crazy about you."

Everything is usually fuzzy and nice with Luke, so Cash doesn't suspect that anything's out of the ordinary with his system and how it's handling the situation. Aren't you supposed to feel this happy when the object of your affections says that they're crazy about you, after all?

Cash smiles happily and nuzzles his nose against Luke's. "The feeling's mutual."

While he thinks he's a lot better than the callous asshole he used to be -- or pretended to be, depending on one's point of view -- maybe he's got a lot of room for improvement. Most people do, he reminds himself. Nobody's perfect, even if they seem that way. Meeting Luke has made him a much happier person, and he'd certainly made Denouement much more tolerable. Losing him had been a real blow that had taken most of the wind out of his sails.

He idly rubs circles with his thumb against Luke's side as he enjoys their closeness. Whenever the lift doors open, it'll be too soon. But they do have the holodeck to look forward to.

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Pacifica Plant Plot Resolution | PARTY POST | In The Botany Lab, Deck 10

Cash Gillingwater | Infected | OTA

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