A Nice Day for a Nude Wedding, Part 2
Posted on Fri 30th Mar, 2018 @ 12:23pm by Lieutenant Colonel Brooklyn Wellington & Commander Mikaela Locke & Commander Paul Graves PsyD & Lieutenant Jacen Miller
1,938 words; about a 10 minute read
Mission:
Brushfires
Location: Deck 1554, The Riverwalk Buddhist Temple
Timeline: Current
Tags: Addams, Locke and Graves, toward top third
Jacen caught sight of Locke and Graves, who was motioning for him to join them. He sighed inwardly and began to make his way through the crowd. Given the immodest state that many of the wedding guests, he was very careful where he placed his hands when giving someone a nudge so he could get by. He also mumbled more than a few "excuse mes" and "pardon mes" as he made his was through the throng. Miller had no issue with nudity, but chosen to wear his dress uniform. Not out of any sense of modesty, but out of practicality. old habits die hard, after all. he said to himself. He nodded in greeting as he he approached the two who had been chatting idly while he had made his way across the room.
"Commander Locke. Doctor Addams. Doctor Graves." Jacen acknowledge each in turn before continuing, "I'm glad I'm not the only one who decided to wear their dress uniform. My invitation was verbal, and rather unspecific as to the desired attire for the occasion." Doing his best to appear nonchalant about the situation around him. Jacen was wary in large crowds. Too many opportunities for other people's mischief. He looked around at the temple. It was quite lovely, and cherry blossoms had always been one of his favorite flowers. Although he preferred Lilacs.
"It is quite lovely here. I had no idea that there was a place like this on Vanguard. I'll have to remember this place... I wonder how the monks would feel if I did some of my research here?" He said aloud, to no one in particular.
"One imagines they would feel rather like monks," Chlamydia Addams responded, holding up her left hand and flexing it as if feeling something. "What is it that you're researching?"
Jacen grinned impishly, "Oh... a little bit of this. A little bit of that. A spy must always be on the cutting edge of things. It helps us get into all sorts of mischief. Wouldn't you agree, Commander Locke?"
"I wouldn't know," Mikaela replied with a slight hint of mischievousness, "I never really considered myself a spy."
"Is that why you're wearing sleeves?" Addams asked teasingly. "To keep things hidden up them?"
"I'm guessing body art," Paul said. "It's not like these uniforms are roomy enough to hide anything else--which has been disastrous for my chocolate bar habit ever since I joined Starfleet."
Jacen grinned impishly at Graves "It is true, my dear Doctor Graves, that standard issue uniforms don't leave much room for...concealment. However, a moderately talented tailor can add hidden pockets here and there that can be quite useful. An excellent tailor can make the same pockets unnoticeable. I have several uniforms that can conceal several type one phasers, should the need arise."
Cocking an eyebrow and glancing slyly at Locke, he continued, "What interests me is an officer who has spent time with the Intelligence service, who doesn't think of herself as a spy. It makes one wonder what she might be hiding... I’m sure there is an absolutely fascinating psychological explanation for that. Wouldn't you agree, Doctor?
"Sometimes," Addams commented, "a cigar is just a cigar." Her eyes followed the new Captain as she approached the wedding altar. "I believe they're about to start."
Jade, Serena, and Marin were setting up the catered food in a large tent to the left and down the slope from the myōjin torii with its slightly curved lintels. "I think that's the last of the warming trays. Nice to be able to transport everything instantly instead of having to bring it on carts. It should stay nicely warm," Jade said with satisfaction. Sometimes it paid to know certain people.
"Are you going to the ceremony... you know... naked?" Serena asked.
Jade leveled a look at her. "Those who choose to do so are under no censure from me, but no, that will not be my own choice. In fact, I may miss it entirely, if we don't get the many layers of the cake set up on the table. Help me spread the lace cloth."
Serena opened the box containing the cloth, and exclaimed, "But it's black!"
Marin shook her head. "It's representative of the groom's contribution to the celebration."
"And it will look lovely with the white cake and red Betazed sentiments." Lantz waved her hands in a give-me motion, and Serena tossed one end of the long cloth to her. They smoothed it out and then began to assemble the many layers of cake ordered to serve all the guests.
Different cultures interested Gaden, he enjoyed studying them firsthand. So, when he received the invitation the wedding he was thrilled. He had arrived in a pair of teal scrubs, but now that he was there he was comfortable enough to disrobe And besides he wasn't ashamed of his body. He took off his top revealing a lithe sinewy torso. He didn't quite have a six-pack but it was close. He was slightly reluctant to take off his pants and underwear, but since most of the other guests were similarly unclothed, he was soon totally naked.
Alora, still clothed, was quietly walking around the room admiring the flowers and setting without unduly oggling the guests, some of which were now naked. She spotted a familiar face, and she kept her eyes to his face, "Gaden, they certainly went all out didn't they?" She asked from a close but polite distance away. Remembering the doctor from previous encounters.
He looked over at her, maintaining the distance between them, and smiled, "They certainly did, it's a beautiful setting."
"Do you know them well? I tend to feel like I get caught up in my own work so much and with so many people, I tend to sort of know many people, but the inner circle, as it tends to be smaller." She smiled.
"No," the doctor replied, "I didn't know them well, I think everyone on the ship was invited. I mostly came out of respect and curiosity. I enjoy interacting with people whose lifestyle and beliefs differ from mine. I mean I don't normally walk around naked, but it is rather interesting. I'm Anjohl, Anjohl Gaden. I know I've seen you around. You're Alora aren't you, Alora Baro?"
"Same, it always feels a bit weird to come to things where I don't know the people well, but it seems rude not to, as you say, more respectful." She smiled, "You're braver than I. I appreciate other cultures but I'm not inclined to run around naked, at least not without more drinks first. Perhaps if they were closer friends...." She recalled a certain Academy graduation party in the moonlight, now that was a party. She continued, trying to continue to focus on his face as she talked, "I remember, you were also at Commander Graves's homecoming party, yes I'm Alora ..." she said, giving her given name, "Chief of Ops." She extended her hand because it seemed the polite thing to do and she hoped to talk to him more. A friendly face was always a welcomed sight.
"Yes, I was there, I remember you as well," he said as he took her hand. "You can call me Gaden, Alora. And yes, I don't exactly consider myself a prude, but I can't help being a little self-conscious. It usually takes more than a few drinks for me to take off my clothes, and there's usually not this much of an audience."
Her eyes of their own volition skimmed his chest before she pulled them back to his face, "I don't think you've anything to be concerned over, but I grant your point." The tone was honestly forthright with a hint of 'meant to be comforting'. She thought for a moment more, "Though the Betazoid have always been a free and accepting people, so I doubt being self-conscious would even occur to them." A thought occurring she grabbed two drinks off of a waiter's tray who had paused near them questioningly, "For courage?" She asked picking up two glasses and offering one.
He noticed where her eyes roved and was just glad they hadn't wandered lower. He took a drink from her with a smile and took a sip. "To courage. Speaking of which, may I be so bold as to ask you a personal question?"
A little embarrassed over the slight involuntary shift in attention however brief, Alora agreed readily enough, "Sure," She sipped her drink curious what he wanted to know.
"Do you follow the Prophets?" he asked, "would you consider yourself a spiritual woman? You don't have to answer if you don't want to."
Alora tilted her head briefly, considering; she had not expected that. She had a brief flash of memory wherein she had stood with a line of other children to be blessed by the Emissary at some ceremony or another. He seemed larger than life but with a sadness, she didn't understand. Then she nodded, "I try to, as best I can," she replied honestly.
"I know what you mean," he said. "My brother is a Priest, my sister almost an agnostic. I'm not a perfect follower, but, like you, I try. I wouldn't say I'm a pacifist, but I've tried to turn my back on violence, at least personally."
Alora smiled softly, "I'd like to think the Prophets are patient with our 'works in progress', I'm far from perfect myself but that's not a reason not to try." She paused for a moment then continued, "Sounds like your family runs the gamut, like many. I have a couple of relatives in the Order and most of the rest of us just do what we can." She smiled fondly "I have many family memories of debate and discussion over one text meaning or another, sometimes confusing but always with something to mull over."
"Perhaps we can discuss again, over dinner, with our clothes, well, my clothes on," Gaden suggested.
Alora laughed, "Yes, well, that will certainly aid focus on the discussion." Then she added, "I'd like that," she added with another smile.
Alora smiled, pleased for the couple as she sat quietly with the other guests.
Gaden too smiled, he could be sentimental at times and he was a closet romantic.
Wellington showed up, dressed up in a floral printed Kimono. She had debated about attending with her newfound duties, however, she now found herself at the entrance of the complex. 'I can't believe I'm doing this,' she thought before entering, spotting several people she knew before her attention went to the decorations and flowers. 'Very beautiful," she thought, continuing to make her way into the temple.
"You should have come naked," Sarah Suzuki, the chubby blonde with the little girl on her hip, said to her wife Hikari. She and the girl, their daughter Athena, were, in fact, both naked.
"These people have to work for me," Hikari murmured. "Many of them would never respect me again if they saw me naked. Besides," she said, poking the little girl's tummy, "we're going to have enough trouble convincing this one to put clothes on again. Aren't we, streaker?"
"Mmm-hmm!" the little girl answered with a giggle. "I'mma Betazed!"
"Sorry, sugar-dumpling," Hikari said, kissing her forehead. "You're a garden variety Human. And Humans wear clothes." She smiled at the pair and walked to the designated front of the ceremony, before the big orange / red gateway. She cleared her throat, looking around the small crowd. "Is everything ready?"
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