House Beautiful

Posted on Sun 14th May, 2017 @ 2:46am by Lieutenant Thomas Maynard
Edited on on Thu 8th Jun, 2017 @ 2:14pm

1,398 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Unity Week
Location: Deck 635: Scent Of Love
Timeline: MD 1, late morning

Thomas had finally gotten out of speaking to Solan Jekkar. As good as it was for him to meet new people, he didn't really have time for it. Work was work; saying hello to people was not. Talking to a florist right now was a necessity, though, for Thomas. He walked through the Main Promenade which was bustling with activity, people everywhere. He kept his head down as he walked and hoped that none of the few people he had met actually stopped him, only looking up for a glance to find Scent of Love. It wasn't long before he found it. The give away were the flowers outside the shop, all different kinds, all screaming different things towards him. He quickly entered the shop so no one would see him; a florist wasn't the kind of place he wanted to be seen.

"Alerio, is that math homework finished?" Flavia called over her shoulder as she came out into the shop.

"Yes, Mom," the eleven-year old said. She could hear the eye-rolling in his voice and smiled, as she walked toward her customer.

"Good morning ... or is it afternoon already? I lose track when I'm with the flowers. Is there something specific you'd like today, or did you come to browse?" The florist took a deep breath, closing her eyes. "Doesn't a flower shop smell just heavenly?"

"I think it's just tipped over to the afternoon. Heavenly is one word for it, probably not a word I would use. I am a newbie on the station, a newbie who has a plain office in need of sprucing up," Thomas replied with no emotion.

"Sprucing is our specialty!" Flavia exclaimed. "I expect you'd like something that doesn't flower, given what you've said. Are you looking for a large floor plant, or perhaps several table containers? I have both available, and I'm thinking you want something that needs very little maintenance. We do provide a plant maintenance service for a small fee, of course."

She wondered why someone seemingly not genuinely fond of plants wanted them in his office, but it was none of her business. Wait, maybe he didn't really want a plant. "We also have some select pieces of art which might be to your taste."

He kept silence as Flavia continued to talk, before piping up, "Well now you mention art, if I can have a look at them?" he asked, "But then I was looking for a plant for my desk. And a photo. But I've not decided on what photo yet. So yeah I suppose something that needs little maintenance." He stopped as he realized he was babbling too much.

"Let's take care of that plant first, then." Flavia led him to an area on the central right side of the shop. "These have no blooms, and no scent. They are pretty hard to kill. Most of them are succulents, like this red one; it's called a campfire plant and comes from a large continent on Earth. I think it's called Arrica or Africa ... something like that."

"Africa," Tom stated.

She moved down to the end of the shelf. "Or what about this one? Also from Earth, called a Jade ... actually, it just occurred to me that it's named after my favorite restaurant owner. Oh, well, not really, of course. The plant long precedes any El Aurian still alive, I'm sure." Turning around, she said, "There's also this one, more leafy, not a succulent, but it gets its moisture from the air. The problem is that it can grow long trailers everywhere," she said, frowning. Then she brightened, "But of course, you can keep cutting them off and have a lovely full plant!"

Turning to her customer, she asked, "So do any of those appeal to you?"

Tom glanced at the flowers she had shown him. "I think maybe the leafy one or the campfire one. I can see both of those on my desk and giving that 'sprucy' feel!" He let out a half smile.

"One of each perhaps, repotted into a slightly larger container? The Pothos comes in green or this variegated green and white. Either would look good behind the Campfire succulent. I can have it delivered to you in about an hour, if you like," Flavia offered.

"We will go with green and white." He pondered to himself. "An hour would be great."

"Excellent!" She made a note on her padd, and then continued. "Now for a piece of artwork. You must have an inside office without a view of space. Some people, of course, find that view very disturbing, anyway. If you follow me, I'll show you a selection of the larger wall art we keep on hand." Flavia led him to the opposite end of the shop, where there were about a dozen paintings hanging on the wall at different levels.

"If you would like a view of space, I can offer this lovely one by Ivanova. Just a one word name, archaic. It's rumored she was once a fighter pilot. Anyway, this is not her original "Blue Nebula Space Station", but reproduction techniques give it the appearance of an actual painting." The florist let him think about it for a few seconds and then pointed out a sepia sailing ship.

Thomas didn't say anything but merely observed the first piece Flavia showed him, then went with her onto the second one.

"Now this one appeals to a lot of naval officers ... and others like it, because I don't sell more than one of anything for the base. There's nothing more disconcerting that walking into someone else's space and seeing your painting on the wall, is there? This sepia version of a small sailing ship is called "A Star to Steer Her By". Also a reproduction of course. I think the original hangs in the Capital Art Museum on Luna. The artist, of course, is Adan Frobisher."

"Mm," Thomas muttered in reply, deep in thought with what he was being shown. He had to stand there and imagine these pieces in his office and which one he could see in his office day in, day out. The one where the beauty struck him in the face the most.

Turning to the other corner wall, Flavia suggested a third and fourth painting. "You may like something of old Earth a little more. This one is not a painting at all, but a black and white photograph taken .... well, I'm not exactly sure. During that conflict known as World War II on Earth, I think, so mid-20th century. It shows the Tetons in the background and since it's titled "Snake River", I'm sure that's this river." Pausing a moment, she caught her breath as he looked.

"Or finally, and I have no idea where this one was taken, but still a tree alone, reaching out into the water ... very evocative of strength and survival, don't you think? It's also a photograph, and this one is a 23rd century artist, Paolo Rivera. He was experimenting with going back to early 20th century photography, though where he found such equipment, I have no idea ... unless it was replicated perhaps? Any of those take your fancy?"

He pondered her question for a moment, "They are all beautiful in their own ways." He spoke softly and gently, as if his old and ragged look almost disappeared for a split second. "The black and white photographs are beautiful; I could imagine them in my office and looking at them and smiling. But I think the first one, the one by Ivanova, is the one I need. I can see myself getting lost in the picture. The middle looks as if something or someone is calling out for me just to reach and touch them." He paused, a slight tear came to his eye as he thought of his deceased wife. He let it roll down his face. "This one."

"This one it is," Flavia agreed quietly, slipping the painting off the wall. "Shall I wrap it for you to take, or deliver it with the plant?"

"Deliver it with the plant, no point carrying bits if I can get it delivered," he said, briefly wiping the tear away.

Flavia didn't know what to say that would comfort the man, so she said nothing except, "I'll take care of it right away."

 

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