Lesson 2 Abandoned

Posted on Sat Mar 30th, 2024 @ 3:02am by Lieutenant JG T'lenn & Lieutenant JG Jason Williams III

1,794 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: The Menagerie: side stories & mischief making
Location: Holodeck 3
Timeline: MD, 5 1700 hours, After Meditations Lesson 2

"Instead of letting yourself succumb to the panic, you are in control," T'lenn told him. "Take in your surroundings. What do you see? What do you hear? What do you smell? It is important to be present when one is grounding oneself."

Opening his eyes, Jason looked around him, finally stopping on T'lenn. "I see the holographic temple, along with the various infrared swirls of energy that created it. I see you, and your rapidly beating pulse. I can see the variations in heat all over your body as you sit there. I can see your pupils dilating when I talk about you." He took in a deep breath, then continued. "I can smell the soft, pleasing aroma of the Kr'intalla Blossom, which is coming from you." Closing his eyes, he turned his heard to the side, then spoke softly. "I can hear your breaths and your heartbeat. It is very strong." He opened his eyes again and looked at her.

Seeing how his words were affecting her, he decided to go for it. "May I kiss you?"

"Having is not so pleasing a thing as wanting, Jason," T'lenn responded, matching his gaze. "You said you wanted to learn meditation. Yet you resist the exercises."

He shook his head slightly. "I disagree. If the something that you want is wonderful, how can having it be less pleasing? And I am not resisting. Each person attains things at different levels and speeds. I already feel more in control of my fear than before we started the lessons. It makes me want to continue learning." He paused briefly before adding, "I do think you are a very wonderful, highly intelligent, incredibly sexy woman. I apologize if my words embarass you. They are not meant to be anything more that pure and honest compliments."

T'lenn's breathing intensified as she remained seated in her position despite being subject to the emotional intensity that Jason was emitting as well his continued advances. "Emotions betray your ability to apply logic," T'lenn persisted. "What you seem to feel, is not always what is."

He tilted his head slightly as he considered her words. "No.." he paused a beat, before continuing. "I told you exactly how I feel. There is nothing confusing about that. I am attracted to you. Now, whether you reciprocate those feelings back or not, is up to you. I find you fascinating, and, given the chance, would love to get to know you more."

The holodeck gave the appearance of a large room, lit only by candlelight. The two of them sitting on the floor, a mere meter of space between them. Jason continued to confront her with his feelings, despite her continued attempts to parry the topic altogether. The dim lighting cast shadows behind Jason as he spoke, and T'lenn fought against her body's urge to take fast and shallow breaths. Using her years of meditative practice to keep her breathing steady and calm.

"Attraction is also deceptive, and often in direct opposition to logic," T'lenn countered. Logic was the one thing that T'lenn could hold on to at the moment. Jason was impulsive, she reminded herself. And much too Human.

He took a few beats to consider her words again, before finally replying. "Attraction isn't deceptive, it actually is quite logical if you really think about it. Just like a pair of opposing magnets, where opposite poles are drawn together," he stood and moved closer to T'lenn, offering his hand to her to stand with him.

T'lenn declined his assistance, easily standing up from her cross-legged position without difficulty. "You remind me of how the Humans were described by the Vulcans who worked with Starfleet during its inception. Doggedly persistent," she responded. She did not say the words cruelly, or even with her usual Vulcan coolness.

"Like opposing poles, I am attracted to you. I find you remarkable and breathtaking. Given the chance, I would share the rest of my life with you." He reached up to gently move a few stray hairs that had fallen over her face when she stood up.

T'lenn was unsure what he intended to do with his hand. Other than the unprovoked kiss the two had not touched. T'lenn raised her own hand to stop whatever advances he was about to make and caught his hand in hers, palm to palm, with her fingers wrapped around the back of his hand.

He could have escaped her grip if he had wanted, but she surprisingly found herself not letting go as her eyes met his. Physical touch was different for Vulcans than humans - less common, and therefore more intimate.

Her eyes met his in that moment. "I believe that what you actually want is something quite dangerous," she whispered softly as she loosened her hold on his hand.

As T'lenn loosened her grip on his hand, Jason wrapped his fingers around hers, his eyes never leaving hers. "All I want," he said as he moved her hand to place it over his heart. "Is you." His voice, though a whisper, conveyed incredible power in both little words.

When Jason had placed her hand on his chest he had closed the gap between them significantly. T'lenn was only a couple of inches shorter than he was, she broke eye contact, looking over Jason's shoulder instead of directly at him before responding. "Perhaps you would be better matched with someone who could appreciate your emotional overtures," T'lenn countered carefully. She was attracted to him, but he threatened her emotional stability - suppression rather - and the idea terrified her.

While he kept holding her hand against his chest, Jason reached up with his free hand and gently lifted T'lenn's chin, so their eyes could meet again. For a few beats, he didn't say anything, he just looked deep into her eyes, almost as if he was peering into her soul. In a voice that was still quiet, yet equally powerful as before, he finally spoke. "I don't want to be with anyone else. Life is too short to play games. In the short time I have known you, I have felt calmer than I can ever remember. You are mesmerizing, T'lenn. What are you afraid of? To close off your heart to a possible love, simply because you don't want to loose control, is illogical. You can't control love. It's one of the few things in life that defies all attempts of control."

As he spoke, they got closer and closer, until their lips were barely a hair's breadth apart.

"You do not understand what it is to be Vulcan." T'lenn closed her eyes and angled her face downward, away from his piercing gaze. "Our emotions are not like yours. To explore them... can be dangerous."

He gently lifted her chin again, looking into her eyes. He had changed his to look as much like is original eyes as the cpu could accomplish. "I trust you, T'lenn." He then kissed her again. This time, however, it was a slow, gentle kiss.

T'lenn didn't pull away from Jason this time, though the first couple of seconds were awkward as she was unsure of herself in the moment and hesitated before reciprocating the gesture, a soft and gentle kiss. When their lips parted, T'lenn stayed there, inside one another's space for a moment. She took in the moment, close enough to hear a faint heartbeat in his chest, feel his energy.

She then took a step back and checked her clothing, smoothing out an imaginary crease before looking up. "That was... " she paused, unable to find a word, "Unexpected."

T'lenn took a deep breath and continued to collect herself.

Realizing that the next few steps were critical, Jason stayed where he was, allowing T'lenn to step back for her own comfort. "What makes you say that?" He asked with a soft smile on his face.

"The purpose of this evening was for you to practice meditation," T'lenn stated, regaining her usual composure. "I fear I have not taught you much at all."

T'lenn looked beyond Jason, toward the candles lighting the room as she gathered her next thoughts. She turned again to face him. "Instead I let my emotions take control over my actions. That is not typical."

Jason dipped his head respectfully. "Meditation can take many forms. You don't need to just sit still and breath slowly." He took a breath, then asked. "Have you ever gone Orbital skydiving?"

"I have not," T'lenn responded, having never had a reason for such an occasion, real or simulated.

"You should try it," he said with a smile. "Then you might understand what I'm saying. When I jump, my mind goes blank from the rush. During the descent through an atmosphere, I'm forced to empty my mind of everything unnecessary, and just focus on the moment."

T'lenn raised her eyebrows in skepticism at his suggestion. "Perhaps... we should try something more simple first, such as an evening meal."

"I'd love that," he said softly, with a handsome, lop-sided grin. "Would you be more comfortable having it in a private or public setting?"

T'lenn's head tilted slightly to the side as she processed Jason's reaction. In a slightly too serious tone for the moment she replied, "I recommend we go to one of the smaller restaurants on board. The Eclipse Bistro, if that is agreeable to you."

Jason nodded as he replied. "Never been, but I've heard some good things about it." He paused a beat then asked, "Would tonight be too soon?"

"We both will require sustenance this evening. Your suggestion is not without logic," T'lenn responded.

"Then, shall I meet you at your quarters, at 2000 hours, and we can go there together?" He asked the question, hopeful that she would say yes.

"That is agreeable," T'lenn nodded, taking a few steps away from Jason, finally breaking the tension between them that had been created by how close they had remained standing to one another. "I'll end the holoprogram, unless you would like to remain here and attempt meditation without distraction."

"Please leave it on. I would like to try again. I will save and deactivate the program before I leave the Holodeck."

"As you wish." T'lenn gave Jason a courteous nod before calling for the arch. When it appeared she turned to leave, then remembered her manners. She turned back around, "I shall see you at 2000 hours. I wish you well on your meditations."

He bowed his head slightly, then watched her leave. When he was alone again, he returned to the cushion and sat down. He told the computer to set an alarm for an hour from then. He then closed his eyes and tried to clear his mind, as T'lenn had instructed.

~OFF~

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