The Music of the Night - Part 2

Posted on Fri 31st May, 2019 @ 7:50pm by Commander Paul Graves PsyD & Commander Mikaela Locke

1,099 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: A Diplomatic Affair
Location: Deck 636 - Outside the Kirk Theatre / Deck 1552 - Paul Graves' House
Timeline: MD-03: 2200

“Oh my life,” Mikaela Locke exclaimed as she and her date, Paul Graves, crossed the atrium of the Kirk Theatre, “That was incredible!”

"Humans have astounding imaginations," Paul said.

Mikaela laughed out loud as she wrapped her arm around his, “That we do,” she said, with a broad, slightly seductive smile, “That we do. Did you know,” she continued, as they headed towards the exit, “When the show first opened, in the 20th century, the actress who played Christine, never sang that stupid-high note at the end of the duet, live?”

"She didn't?" Paul gave Mikaela a startled look. "Well, it's a relief to know that she was normal, just like the rest of us. I wonder if the actress playing Christine tonight was, er, 'assisted' with it. And why, in the Four Deities, would the composer put such a high note there, to begin with? My throat ached just at imagining trying to sing something that high-pitched."

Mikaela felt different tonight - more open and relaxed around him than he'd ever seen her. Paul clasped his hand with hers so their fingers interlaced. "And yet, her singing sounded so free and effortless."

"Indeed," Mikaela said, grateful that Paul had taken the initiative and held her hand. "Apparently, at the time, the composer's partner originated the role - essentially it was written for her. He put the note in for her to sing simply because she could do it. Ironically, It was only later they realised there was a difference between doing it once and doing it eight shows a week for a whole season."

"That's a good point," Paul agreed. "I'd think even most professional opera singers would find that high a register a challenge after just a few performances." They filed out of the auditorium and then out of the theatre with the rest of the crowd. They strolled along the flower gardens near the outside walls of the theatre. The lighting had been dimmed to resemble evening, and even the ambient noise seemed quieter than it did during first shift hours.

"Are you interested in some dinner?" Paul asked. "We can go out somewhere, or we could go to my place, and I can make omelettes."

Mikaela suddenly realised that, although she had had time to get out of Ops and get herself ready for the show, she actually hadn't stopped to eat yet. As such, hunger had snuck up on her somewhat unexpectedly. She smiled, trying to decide whether Paul would be offended if she turned down his offer of omelettes. Finally, she decided that, since she had no prior frame of reference, she had absolutely no evidence to suggest that he wasn't an excellent cook. "Omelettes sound wonderful," she replied.

"It doesn't have to be omelettes, by the way," Paul said as they walked toward the turbolift, "they're just quick and easy, and you can dress them up the way you like."

Mikaela suddenly panicked that Paul could sense her unease regarding his cooking, "No, no," she quickly clarified, sincerely, "Omelettes are just fine."

Paul chuckled. "Mikaela, you are never going to offend me by what you really feel. I'm more worried about offending you because I can't exactly turn it off--not for extended periods of time, anyway. I worry about passively invading your privacy. I guess that's something we'll have to work out. But okay, omelettes, it is."

"I guess it is," Mikaela said with a smile. She took his arm again and they headed across the concourse towards the turbolift that would take them down the nine-hundred or so decks to Paul's quarters.

The ambient temperature of Deck 1552 was cooler than for the rest of Tivoli Gardens, as it was supposed to imitate a temperate forest environment, Paul shivered slightly and slid an arm around Mikaela as they walked. "Not much farther," he said as they exited the turbolift.

The lights were dimmed in deference to the late hour, making it easier to pretend that they were actually in a forest. Paul inhaled deeply of the pine and cedar scent, which had been part of his reason for wanting a home on this deck. They walked on a carpet of pine needles until they arrived at the Betazoid-style cottage that he'd bought. "Home, sweet home," he murmured, and then said more loudly, to the house, "Lights."

Exterior and interior lighting flicked on as they headed up the front walk.

"Okay," said Mikaela, who had been completely confused about where they were heading for the last few minutes, but now was completely in awe of the beautiful little house that Paul had brought her to, "How did I not know that you lived down here? I just assumed that you lived in the senior staff quarters, like the rest of us."

"I wanted a place with some space," Paul said. "When I found out that Dr. Addams had bought a home down here, I thought I would give Tivoli Gardens a look. I talked to Mr. Oto, the realtor, and arranged to have this built. Getting the promotion to Lt. Commander helped. I couldn't have afforded this on a lieutenant's salary."

It was a two-story stone cottage with a large, stained-glass window in front that came to almost a gothic arch, with a smaller such arch leading into a semi-enclosed front porch and the front door. In the back, a square tower rose higher than the peak of the wooden roof, its lower half dressed in stone, while the upper half was constructed of wooden beams and glass windows that would let in the light when the vertical blinds were drawn. "My bedroom and study are in the tower, and everything else is in the main area of the house," Paul explained. "I didn't realize you didn't know about it. I thought you came to the housewarming party a year ago, but that must have been while you were away from the base."

“I guess so,” Mikaela said, not really paying attention to what he was saying, instead, captivated by the stone, the wooden beams and the tower. She turned back to Paul. “It’s absolutely beautiful,” she beamed, “I love it. I imagine it feels like coming home to a different world after a long day in a Starfleet office.”

"It really does," Paul said. "I feel so much more relaxed, here. Sometimes, in regular quarters, no amount of shielding is enough. Here is just restful. Come on in," Paul invited as he held the door open for her.

 

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