Title: The Language of Flowers
Author: ZenosParadox
Category: Humor/Romance
Rating: PG-13
Summary: RS romance, Tu. While at odds with each other, Sato and Reed discover how to communicate through flowers. Sequel to Movie Night.
Disclaimer: The characters belong to Paramount, except for Tank and the Wallflower, but they're free for the taking. This fiction was written solely for personal enjoyment.
THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS
CHAPTER 1: PLANTING THE SEED
"You better run, you better hide! She's on the warpath!" Tucker said.
He grabbed Reed by the shoulder and turning him in the opposite direction from which he had been heading. Tucker was trying to lead Reed along almost in a trot before Reed dug in his heels and caused both men to stop.
"What are you talking about? Who's on a warpath and why in the world would the Armory Officer aboard ship hide from any crew member?" asked Reed, wondering if Tucker had gotten into the Captain's bourbon again.
"Hoshi! She's gunning for ya, Malcolm, and I think she wants blood or some other body part," said Tucker, grabbing Reed again to lead him away from the mess hall.
"Wait. WAIT!"
Reed looked into Tucker's eyes wondering whether Doctor Phlox had convinced the engineer to be a guinea pig for a new drug that was having side effects. Reed was generally the paranoid one, not Tucker.
"Why would Hoshi be mad at me? I haven't seen her all day since I've been in the armory and I certainly don't remember offending her last night at dinner or when I walked her to her quarters."
"Your security check of the ship, remember? Some people had to be displaced temporarily from their quarters because we have to reinforce the hull in those areas. You decided to include one area that was marginal. You could have ignored it, but no, you just had to be your usual anal-retentive self and have them all on your list."
"Commander, what does my attention to detail have to do with Hoshi being upset with me? Or is this some comedy you're trying to generate at my expense," asked Reed suspiciously.
"Well, you forgot one thing in your attention to detail. Hoshi's quarters ARE that entire marginal area!" Tucker declared triumphantly.
"I did not forget. I had eliminated her quarters because I saw no sense in overextending our resources," began Reed with confidence.
He saw Tucker shaking his head no. Then the Lieutenant remembered he had gotten distracted just before he sent the final list to the Captain. A false alarm had taken his attention away from the mundane nature of making a list.
"Bloody hell! I must not have saved the revised list. I must have sent the original list to the Captain," said Reed. "But how did Hoshi find out?"
"Well, I, uh, you know how sometimes ya get to talking and blurt out something you wish you hadn't?" Tucker began, not liking the expression that soon formed on Reed's face.
"No, but I assume you do?"
"Hoshi and I were eating lunch together and she mentioned the hull reinforcement project. I told her not to worry, that her quarters were marginal and that I was confident you'd avoid putting her on the list. Next thing I know she's roaring in my face about how no, you had in fact included her quarters. Then she said a couple of phrases that I never imagined were in her vocabulary, let me tell ya."
"I can't negate the order now. The work would have begun on her quarters first. How could I have been so--"
Just then, they heard it. Sato's voice, generally a pleasant stimulus, reverberated in the corridor.
"There you are, Lieutenant Reed," said Sato as she walked forcefully towards them with a determined look on her face.
"Ensign Sato, perhaps we should get out of the corridor," said Reed, opening the nearest door to find the library thankfully vacant. The three officers entered with Sato facing Reed directly as Tucker watched from the side.
Tucker was actually enjoying the way Sato was standing toe to toe with Reed. When her tirade began, it was even more amusing to see the Armory Officer backing away with each step the Communications Officer took forward. If only he had brought his camera!
"Hoshi, you know it's for your own good--" Reed began thinking he could take the high road in this discussion and knowing that he deserved to have her displeasure vented at him.
"Marginal! It was marginal, not unsafe. You could have cut me some slack without offending your sensibilities for security, but no! So, thank you, Lieutenant Reed, for making me pack everything up. All I got to keep out was a change of uniform and some toiletries. They even made me pack up Trudy and Rudy, you overzealous, bunny slipper hating lout!"
"Look, Hoshi, I admit it was an error on my part. I had intended to eliminate your quarters from the list but--"
"What! You mean all this inconvenience to me is a mistake in the first place! Malcolm Reed, you get me off that list right now! I want my bunny slippers back!"
"I'm sorry, they would have started repairs this afternoon and the area around your quarters would have been first on the list. There's no quick fix to the problem," said Reed. Tucker nodded in the affirmative. He had checked the progress on the work before dinner.
"And I don't hate your bunny slippers, Hoshi, but they are safer in cargo in case there's a breach while the team is working. You wouldn't want them shot out of the ship, mangled as the passed through a breach--," added Reed, stopping suddenly when he noticed how wide Sato's eyes had gotten.
"Malcolm, I could just-Oh!" said Sato in frustration. Her arms crossed her chest in a very familiar pose.
"You know, Malcolm, we could reassign Hoshi and Ensign Wall to your quarters while repairs are being made to theirs. I checked after lunch and right now they're on cots in the crewman's quarters. But with everyone else, it's a bit overcrowded. You could bunk down with me while they finish reinforcing the hull," offered Trip.
"What? But that's--"
"Perfect! Just perfect. I'll go get my duffel bag. Better hurry and get the things you'll need out of your quarters, Malcolm. I want to get to sleep early tonight," said Hoshi with a wicked smile and a nod of her head to Trip.
"Very well. Show up at 2100, but not a minute before. I need time to secure things in my cabin," said Malcolm calmly.
Hoshi practically danced out the door, but stuck her head back in to say, "I'm still upset with you, Malcolm."
Malcolm looked at Trip with murder in his eyes. "Commander, the next time you're tempted to offer my quarters as a peace offering, please consult with me first."
"Come on, Malcolm. I bet you have security codes on every piece of furniture in your quarters. Besides, now at least Hoshi's not wanting to eject you out of an airlock. And think of the fun we'll have, playing cards, eating pecan pie, reading comic books..."
It was at that point Reed decided he would suit up in his EV suit to accelerate the process of reinforcing the hull with the team working on the exterior of the ship. So Hoshi had actually accomplished ejecting him out of the nearest airlock in her own manner. He just hadn't expected Trip to be her accomplice. Double shift just became a very attractive idea.
-------
Sato met her temporary roommate, Ensign Flora Wall, outside of Reed's quarters. She smiled lightly at the woman who merely snorted through her nose.
Ensign Wall was a rather mousy looking young woman with nondescript, shoulder length brown hair that persistently covered her face. It was difficult to distinguish the color of her eyes because she always looked down. Wall was of medium height, but her uniform looked as if it were at least one size too large.
The Ensign had received the nickname of Wallflower as a play on her name, but it was actually quite descriptive of her appearance and personality. She was assigned to Engineering where she specialized in the water system on board, but she found she spent most of her time acting as a plumber.
"Hello, I'm Hoshi Sato." The communications officer extended her hand as she again tried to greet her temporary roommate.
"Flora Wall," responded the Wallflower as she shook Sato's hand rather limply while looking at the floor. Sato, ever sensitive to people's voices, found the nasally, high pitched tone emitted from Ensign Wall just a bit noxious. The snort at the end of the brief introduction did little to enhance the meeting.
At that moment Reed opened his door. "Please come in," he said.
Sato walked in, giving Reed a cold shoulder, while Flora Wall shuffled in behind her. Sato looked around expectantly, noticing that Reed had removed most of the personal touches to his quarters.
Well good, she thought, let him see what it feels like to get kicked out of your home. Then Hoshi saw them! Her bunny slippers! They sat on Malcolm's desk jubilant in their welcome to his quarters. A handwritten note was propped in front of them that read: I'm Sorry.
"I have removed any items I should need for the next few days--"
"I thought it was going to take a week to complete the work?" chimed Hoshi as she lovingly stroked her Bunny Slippers.
"I've added someone to the exterior crew who'll work double shifts. That should ensure you'll have access to your quarters in less time. I've secured the closet and all drawers in my quarters. I don't intend to insult you by mistrust, but there are items here that could prove hazardous to you if you were to stumble upon them. I'll leave you ladies to settle in."
At this point the Wallflower turned to go deposit her toothbrush into the bathroom. As Malcolm took his duffel bag and headed for the door, Hoshi stopped him. He turned around only to have Hoshi kiss him softly on his lips. "Malcolm, thank you."
Reed nodded and left the two new roommates to get acquainted. Neither Reed nor Sato realized that the Wallflower had seen their little exchange.
Reed breathed a sigh of relief as he headed toward Tucker's quarters. Being in Sato's good graces had become very important to him.
--------
Back in Reed's quarters, Flora Wall looked at Sato in surprise as she fully stepped out of the bathroom. She wondered why Sato hadn't just moved in with Reed for a few days without kicking him out of his quarters. Appearances must mean everything to the woman.
"Don't worry, I'm used to being the third wheel, but you could have told me what to expect." Flora's frown was punctuated by her usual snort at the end of her statements.
Sato could make no sense of the hostile attitude that was emanating from the Wallflower. In an attempt to be congenial, Sato said, "There's a cot and a bed. Do you want to flip for the bed or just trade out each night?"
"That's alright. You take the bed. You'd be more used to it," said Flora with a snort at the end.
"Uh, thanks," responded Sato, still puzzled by her roommate's attitude.
Sato is probably very familiar with Reed's bed, Flora thought. Flora didn't look forward to spending an hour or two walking the corridors while the two lovers enjoyed each other. Now, what lame excuse would they give Flora? Ah, target practice or something like that, she bet. The Wallflower was soon snoring.
-------
"So, did the ladies get settled in?" asked Trip as Malcolm sat on the cot in Trip's quarters as he tested the comfort of the mattress.
"I suppose. I think at least that Hoshi's not as upset with me as she was before," replied Malcolm, reaching out to catch a PADD that Trip was throwing at him. Comics.
"Why do you say that? Did you kiss and make up?" asked Trip. He noticed Malcolm's flush.
Trip smirked as he followed with, "Now, how about some pecan pie?"
****
Chapter 2 & 3 coming up.
Author notes:
The meanings of the flowers can vary, but I went with the ones that were on my list. A sequel to Movie Night written to redeem Tank. 10 pages. Written May, 2002 and posted at LD.
No reviews are necessary. Thanks for taking the time to read.
Author: ZenosParadox
Category: Humor/Romance
Rating: PG-13
Summary: RS romance, Tu. While at odds with each other, Sato and Reed discover how to communicate through flowers. Sequel to Movie Night.
Disclaimer: The characters belong to Paramount, except for Tank and the Wallflower, but they're free for the taking. This fiction was written solely for personal enjoyment.
THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS
CHAPTER 1: PLANTING THE SEED
"You better run, you better hide! She's on the warpath!" Tucker said.
He grabbed Reed by the shoulder and turning him in the opposite direction from which he had been heading. Tucker was trying to lead Reed along almost in a trot before Reed dug in his heels and caused both men to stop.
"What are you talking about? Who's on a warpath and why in the world would the Armory Officer aboard ship hide from any crew member?" asked Reed, wondering if Tucker had gotten into the Captain's bourbon again.
"Hoshi! She's gunning for ya, Malcolm, and I think she wants blood or some other body part," said Tucker, grabbing Reed again to lead him away from the mess hall.
"Wait. WAIT!"
Reed looked into Tucker's eyes wondering whether Doctor Phlox had convinced the engineer to be a guinea pig for a new drug that was having side effects. Reed was generally the paranoid one, not Tucker.
"Why would Hoshi be mad at me? I haven't seen her all day since I've been in the armory and I certainly don't remember offending her last night at dinner or when I walked her to her quarters."
"Your security check of the ship, remember? Some people had to be displaced temporarily from their quarters because we have to reinforce the hull in those areas. You decided to include one area that was marginal. You could have ignored it, but no, you just had to be your usual anal-retentive self and have them all on your list."
"Commander, what does my attention to detail have to do with Hoshi being upset with me? Or is this some comedy you're trying to generate at my expense," asked Reed suspiciously.
"Well, you forgot one thing in your attention to detail. Hoshi's quarters ARE that entire marginal area!" Tucker declared triumphantly.
"I did not forget. I had eliminated her quarters because I saw no sense in overextending our resources," began Reed with confidence.
He saw Tucker shaking his head no. Then the Lieutenant remembered he had gotten distracted just before he sent the final list to the Captain. A false alarm had taken his attention away from the mundane nature of making a list.
"Bloody hell! I must not have saved the revised list. I must have sent the original list to the Captain," said Reed. "But how did Hoshi find out?"
"Well, I, uh, you know how sometimes ya get to talking and blurt out something you wish you hadn't?" Tucker began, not liking the expression that soon formed on Reed's face.
"No, but I assume you do?"
"Hoshi and I were eating lunch together and she mentioned the hull reinforcement project. I told her not to worry, that her quarters were marginal and that I was confident you'd avoid putting her on the list. Next thing I know she's roaring in my face about how no, you had in fact included her quarters. Then she said a couple of phrases that I never imagined were in her vocabulary, let me tell ya."
"I can't negate the order now. The work would have begun on her quarters first. How could I have been so--"
Just then, they heard it. Sato's voice, generally a pleasant stimulus, reverberated in the corridor.
"There you are, Lieutenant Reed," said Sato as she walked forcefully towards them with a determined look on her face.
"Ensign Sato, perhaps we should get out of the corridor," said Reed, opening the nearest door to find the library thankfully vacant. The three officers entered with Sato facing Reed directly as Tucker watched from the side.
Tucker was actually enjoying the way Sato was standing toe to toe with Reed. When her tirade began, it was even more amusing to see the Armory Officer backing away with each step the Communications Officer took forward. If only he had brought his camera!
"Hoshi, you know it's for your own good--" Reed began thinking he could take the high road in this discussion and knowing that he deserved to have her displeasure vented at him.
"Marginal! It was marginal, not unsafe. You could have cut me some slack without offending your sensibilities for security, but no! So, thank you, Lieutenant Reed, for making me pack everything up. All I got to keep out was a change of uniform and some toiletries. They even made me pack up Trudy and Rudy, you overzealous, bunny slipper hating lout!"
"Look, Hoshi, I admit it was an error on my part. I had intended to eliminate your quarters from the list but--"
"What! You mean all this inconvenience to me is a mistake in the first place! Malcolm Reed, you get me off that list right now! I want my bunny slippers back!"
"I'm sorry, they would have started repairs this afternoon and the area around your quarters would have been first on the list. There's no quick fix to the problem," said Reed. Tucker nodded in the affirmative. He had checked the progress on the work before dinner.
"And I don't hate your bunny slippers, Hoshi, but they are safer in cargo in case there's a breach while the team is working. You wouldn't want them shot out of the ship, mangled as the passed through a breach--," added Reed, stopping suddenly when he noticed how wide Sato's eyes had gotten.
"Malcolm, I could just-Oh!" said Sato in frustration. Her arms crossed her chest in a very familiar pose.
"You know, Malcolm, we could reassign Hoshi and Ensign Wall to your quarters while repairs are being made to theirs. I checked after lunch and right now they're on cots in the crewman's quarters. But with everyone else, it's a bit overcrowded. You could bunk down with me while they finish reinforcing the hull," offered Trip.
"What? But that's--"
"Perfect! Just perfect. I'll go get my duffel bag. Better hurry and get the things you'll need out of your quarters, Malcolm. I want to get to sleep early tonight," said Hoshi with a wicked smile and a nod of her head to Trip.
"Very well. Show up at 2100, but not a minute before. I need time to secure things in my cabin," said Malcolm calmly.
Hoshi practically danced out the door, but stuck her head back in to say, "I'm still upset with you, Malcolm."
Malcolm looked at Trip with murder in his eyes. "Commander, the next time you're tempted to offer my quarters as a peace offering, please consult with me first."
"Come on, Malcolm. I bet you have security codes on every piece of furniture in your quarters. Besides, now at least Hoshi's not wanting to eject you out of an airlock. And think of the fun we'll have, playing cards, eating pecan pie, reading comic books..."
It was at that point Reed decided he would suit up in his EV suit to accelerate the process of reinforcing the hull with the team working on the exterior of the ship. So Hoshi had actually accomplished ejecting him out of the nearest airlock in her own manner. He just hadn't expected Trip to be her accomplice. Double shift just became a very attractive idea.
-------
Sato met her temporary roommate, Ensign Flora Wall, outside of Reed's quarters. She smiled lightly at the woman who merely snorted through her nose.
Ensign Wall was a rather mousy looking young woman with nondescript, shoulder length brown hair that persistently covered her face. It was difficult to distinguish the color of her eyes because she always looked down. Wall was of medium height, but her uniform looked as if it were at least one size too large.
The Ensign had received the nickname of Wallflower as a play on her name, but it was actually quite descriptive of her appearance and personality. She was assigned to Engineering where she specialized in the water system on board, but she found she spent most of her time acting as a plumber.
"Hello, I'm Hoshi Sato." The communications officer extended her hand as she again tried to greet her temporary roommate.
"Flora Wall," responded the Wallflower as she shook Sato's hand rather limply while looking at the floor. Sato, ever sensitive to people's voices, found the nasally, high pitched tone emitted from Ensign Wall just a bit noxious. The snort at the end of the brief introduction did little to enhance the meeting.
At that moment Reed opened his door. "Please come in," he said.
Sato walked in, giving Reed a cold shoulder, while Flora Wall shuffled in behind her. Sato looked around expectantly, noticing that Reed had removed most of the personal touches to his quarters.
Well good, she thought, let him see what it feels like to get kicked out of your home. Then Hoshi saw them! Her bunny slippers! They sat on Malcolm's desk jubilant in their welcome to his quarters. A handwritten note was propped in front of them that read: I'm Sorry.
"I have removed any items I should need for the next few days--"
"I thought it was going to take a week to complete the work?" chimed Hoshi as she lovingly stroked her Bunny Slippers.
"I've added someone to the exterior crew who'll work double shifts. That should ensure you'll have access to your quarters in less time. I've secured the closet and all drawers in my quarters. I don't intend to insult you by mistrust, but there are items here that could prove hazardous to you if you were to stumble upon them. I'll leave you ladies to settle in."
At this point the Wallflower turned to go deposit her toothbrush into the bathroom. As Malcolm took his duffel bag and headed for the door, Hoshi stopped him. He turned around only to have Hoshi kiss him softly on his lips. "Malcolm, thank you."
Reed nodded and left the two new roommates to get acquainted. Neither Reed nor Sato realized that the Wallflower had seen their little exchange.
Reed breathed a sigh of relief as he headed toward Tucker's quarters. Being in Sato's good graces had become very important to him.
--------
Back in Reed's quarters, Flora Wall looked at Sato in surprise as she fully stepped out of the bathroom. She wondered why Sato hadn't just moved in with Reed for a few days without kicking him out of his quarters. Appearances must mean everything to the woman.
"Don't worry, I'm used to being the third wheel, but you could have told me what to expect." Flora's frown was punctuated by her usual snort at the end of her statements.
Sato could make no sense of the hostile attitude that was emanating from the Wallflower. In an attempt to be congenial, Sato said, "There's a cot and a bed. Do you want to flip for the bed or just trade out each night?"
"That's alright. You take the bed. You'd be more used to it," said Flora with a snort at the end.
"Uh, thanks," responded Sato, still puzzled by her roommate's attitude.
Sato is probably very familiar with Reed's bed, Flora thought. Flora didn't look forward to spending an hour or two walking the corridors while the two lovers enjoyed each other. Now, what lame excuse would they give Flora? Ah, target practice or something like that, she bet. The Wallflower was soon snoring.
-------
"So, did the ladies get settled in?" asked Trip as Malcolm sat on the cot in Trip's quarters as he tested the comfort of the mattress.
"I suppose. I think at least that Hoshi's not as upset with me as she was before," replied Malcolm, reaching out to catch a PADD that Trip was throwing at him. Comics.
"Why do you say that? Did you kiss and make up?" asked Trip. He noticed Malcolm's flush.
Trip smirked as he followed with, "Now, how about some pecan pie?"
****
Chapter 2 & 3 coming up.
Author notes:
The meanings of the flowers can vary, but I went with the ones that were on my list. A sequel to Movie Night written to redeem Tank. 10 pages. Written May, 2002 and posted at LD.
No reviews are necessary. Thanks for taking the time to read.