No Beating Around the Barberry Bush

Posted on Sat Feb 12th, 2022 @ 9:01am by Lieutenant Percival Bálor Ph.D & Commander Grace Vetur

1,757 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: The Bandits of Black Rain
Location: USS Ontario | Deck 15 | Arboretum

A little excursion away from the science laboratories that were Percy's little shop of horrors, was the starship’s Arboretum located on the Ontario's fifteenth deck, primarily the recreational deck for the crew and passengers alike. It was also the deck that contained the auditorium and gymnasium in addition to the secondary crew lounge.

When he was off duty, Percy would often spend time walking around the Arboretum for inspiration and at times, clarity. Plants were his friends for the longest time, always speaking to him though not in the way that Amanda Rose probably hoped for. Had he actually heard voices from the plants or had conversations with them, she would undoubtedly be first in line to see to it that Percy was off the starship.

As the ship's leading botanist, Percy did have some say in what was grown in the gorgeous yet contained arboretum. There was more space for walking than there were actual plots for growing. What was grown in the arboretum was tame in comparison to what Percy planted and studied in the science labs.

The arboretum was ablaze with color lately. Things were in bloom, and the sweet and savory scents were an intoxicating aroma. It would deter most Vulcans and those sensitive to complex aromatics. There were plants related to garlic and chives in the arboretum, but also bushes of vibrancy. Several flowering plants budding and blossoming with hues of reds, oranges, and amber.

Percy had asked Commander Vetur to meet him in the arboretum while they were both off duty. He wanted her at a time where the uniform and pips were not quite at the forefront, and where he wouldn't feel he needed to be as coy around her. He stood near the bright burgundy barberry bush waiting for Grace.

Percy's request was a bit odd, but then, most of her encounters with the science officer were odd. So it was that Grace entered the arboretum with mild trepidation. Until the Ontario, she'd enjoyed spending time in the various arboretums and hydroponics bays. Percy, however, made them more like a trip down a rabbit hole where she never knew if she'd find herself in Wonderland or Dante's Inferno. As she was off-duty, she chose to wear a calf-length skirt in midnight blue with an ice-blue blouse.

She found him standing by a burgundy bush and raised an eyebrow at his choice. Percy used plants and colors intentionally and she was curious to learn what this was meant to convey. "Good evening."

Sometimes, a rose was just a rose, but was it ever with Percy? The half-Tellarite Chief Science Officer greeted his superior with a pleasant smile. She looked really nice in blue. "A pleasant one hopefully," remarked the lieutenant. "Though we do not tend to meet under pleasant circumstances. It usually is after I have done something wrong."

He chuckled a bit at his own admission to being a bit of a nuisance. "Not the case today, Commander. This is about the meeting we had not all that long ago. Frankly, I'm concerned."

She nodded. It was true that their meetings generally involved rabid vegetation of some form. She had no question what he was referring to in this case. "Lieutenant Rose."

Percy sighed "Yes, but this is not one of our cat and mouse quarrels," he replied knowing that Grace was well read on the animosity between Percy and Amanda. "I am genuinely concerned for her well-being. She came off as uncharacteristically combative. I've been trying to keep my distance from her personally and professionally. I was wondering if that was the best approach?"

"I think it is. For now." She sighed. "There's a lot going on with her. She's upset with me for taking the Captain away from her and with the Captain for not following through with his initial flirtation." Although right now there wasn't anything going on between Grace and Elijah. "She blames you for interfering with her budding relationship with Mr. Ra-Gruvloveii. I also believe she's upset with him for his apparent connection with Commander Ramona. She needs a friend, and neither of us can be that with the current situation."

Percy snorted and sighed. "I thought this was a Federation starship, not Starfleet Academy," quipped the Chief Science Officer. "Commander, I made my attempt to apologize to her, and I don't want her hurt feelings to get in the way of anything. I know she won't take me as a friend right now...maybe not ever, but that whole situation and interaction with Commander Ramona had me on edge. I'm not sure time is going to heal these wounds."

"No. She's not likely to talk to either of us right now. Isn't she friends with Lieutenant Stone? That might be an outlet for her. At least in the short term," Grace said. "I'm willing to give her a little time to get herself sorted out."

Percy nodded "I mean, sure. We could do that and see what delightful traits our fragile and thorny rose picks up being in the care of Stone's ever so gentle gardening," the man said clearly not thrilled with that.

"Alternatively," he continued. "You could order Rose and I on some mundane mission together. Put the two of us in a shuttle for a day in two? Maybe see if we can suss it out." Percy was not fully expecting Grace to be happy with his suggestion, but he was grasping at whatever he could.

She couldn't help smiling at that suggestion. "You know, locking the two of you away in a shuttle could prove interesting. Let's give her two weeks to see if she can sort it out herself. If not, you can look for a reason to send the two of you off on a short trip." They'd either come back with some sort of truce, or black and blue. Either should prove productive.

"See," Percy said with a smile. "My ideas are brazen and unorthodox, but they can be useful. I was inspired last night while reading up on some Earth's history. These Camp David Accords gave me the idea. Sometimes, you just need forced time together to listen to one another."

The Chief Science Officer took a seat on a small retaining wall. "Amanda was the main thing I wanted to discuss, but I do have another, and I need a bit of advice."

She raised an eyebrow. "And that is?"

"How do you know," Percy began. "That you've met someone that's right. I mean, how soon is too soon to know you have something special?" He was hesitant to put a label on how he was feeling, but to say he felt as if his metaphysical heart was amid the clouds, was an understatement.

"That's the difficult part. You aren't always certain, at first," she said, sitting down a short distance from him. "You'll know it in both your heart and your head. It can't be one or the other. You need to have some similar interests, and you need to be different enough to grow together. You want to be best friends as well as lovers. Sometimes it happens quickly, sometimes it develops with time." She smiled wryly. "That's why it can be difficult to be sure."

"If the other person is too pushy or too passive, it may not work out. If they don't take no for an answer or always say yes, it may not work out." She shook her head and continued. "The only way you can be sure is to give it time. Think of it like a seed. You plant the seed and nurture it. Then, as it develops, you'll be able to tell if it's a good seed or not. Relationships take work, just like plants. If your brain and your gut tell you this person is worth it, then give it a shot. At least then you'll know if it's worth it or not."

Percy nodded with the assessment, and the analogy made perfect sense to him. "Lieutenant Commander Ra-Gruvloveii is worth it," stated Percy actually stating clearly what was already likely presumed, that he was referring to Yiv, but now he wasn't hiding it.

He was never ashamed of his feeling for Yiv, but he had not wanted to cost Yiv anything career wise. Percy did not want to be the albatross around the Efrosian's neck, but as time went on, he came to the realization that he was not the albatross. "There's a weed in the garden, Commander, and she's twisting and tangling herself around my plant. I'm hoping that she uncoils herself in time."

The Half-Tellarite was amused with the conversation he and Grace were having, but there was more he had to ask. "I have been having a date here and there with Yiv, but I haven't so much as formally labeled it as a relationship. I just wanted to be upfront about it with you, and hopefully have your encouragement to explore that relationship."

"It's entirely up to the two of you," Grace replied. "I know Amanda is interested in him, too. As, apparently, is Commander Romana. But it's up to Yiv where he chooses to focus his attentions. As for me, as long as it doesn't affect your jobs, and you don't flaunt it in front of the counselor, I'm fine with it and wish you both luck."

Percy nodded. "The Romulan was never really a factor. Yiv told me nothing happened between them. So, yeah it is really just Amanda that is an issue, but it doesn't bother me. She can try to pursue him if she wants. I won't let it interfere with anything."

"No, I do not expect anything to develop with the Romulan commander. It simply underlined the fact that he is Efrosian." Grace shook her head. That in and of itself should be taken into account. "As I said, it's entirely up to him where he chooses to spend his time. I ask that all parties act professionally. At least in public."

Percy agreed with what she was saying. "I can't speak for Amanda, Commander, but you will not have any problems from me." Percy meant what he said to her. "That's all I really wanted, Commander. I'll take your advice to heart."

"Thank you," she said, smiling. "I wish you good fortune."

"Thank you, for the support, Commander" the Chief Science Officer replied.
____
OFF

Lieutenant Commander Grace Vetur
Executive Officer
USS Ontario

Lieutenant Percival Bálor, Ph.D
Chief Science Officer
USS Ontario

 

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