Ebbtide II: Return to La Seyne-sur-Mer

Posted on Fri Apr 8th, 2022 @ 12:52am by Ensign Noah Balsam & Lieutenant Irynya

Mission: Sojourners of Time
Location: Holodeck
Timeline: Mission Day 3 at 2200

This post contains brief descriptions of and extended states of male and female nudity.

[Holodeck]
[Day 3]
[Hour 2200]

Previously...

Noah put his arms around himself in a sort of loose hug, "Maybe," he said tentatively with a glance at the gunmetal and white swoops of the LCARS. "But I-I think I'm done today.." He nodded with tentative assertion, "I've crashed enough... or ended up in the metallic hydrogen layer of a gas giant."

Irynya withdrew her hand, giving space where it seemed it was wanted. "Ok," she said kindness and gentleness infusing her tone. "But the offer for help still stands. Whenever you want it."

And Now...

She turned, staring out the fake viewscreen at the holographic field of stars for a moment. "Want to do something fun, instead?" She asked. "Milkshakes at Debbie's? Or... I don't know how much longer you have the holodeck, but an adventure somewhere?"

Noah's nod was tentative acceptance of the offer of help- but he said nothing more save for a sigh. "Umm," he hesitated with a resonant sound in his throat, his eyes looking at Irynya and then the holographic starfield. He had no adventures planned. He needed to eat. A lot of him wanted to go back to their shared quarters so he could paint models and program. But she might be there. And as much as he was trying to assert Timmoz's "what's mine is mine," it was hard.

He wanted- needed- a win at something, and not more confrontation with an irrational canid. "Umm." He knew he had the holo-deck for another thirty minutes. "Index." The androgyne interface appeared in silvery white. "Run holodeck program... um... search." Index phased and the computer chirped. A holographic panel appeared before Index as if she were holding it. Noah stood up out of the seat. His finger flick-scrolled and tapped. "Run La Plage Naturiste de Saint-Seylon."

The shuttle cockpit and stars disappeared. The temperature rose along with ambient humidity. Behind them, a scrubby, rocky cliff face rose. Before them an expanse of sunny,, dancing blue water.

Irynya's eyes widened as the holodeck shifted from the utilitarian aesthetic of the shuttle to the stunning view of the beach. She drew in a breath as she did, tasting the warmth in the air and the unique combination of salt and water. It reminded her of home even as she knew they weren't on Risa. "Where are we?" she breathed, excitement and appreciation sparking in her eyes as she turned to look at Noah. "It's beautiful."

"Southern France," Noah said. "I came here with, um, my roommates at the Academy before we all got assignments." He pointed at the stairs and walkway up the cliffs, "Up there's the town of Toulon. W-well not right there but down the road a little. But. They had good food there."

Iry's expression softened slightly, wanting to ask questions, but not wanting to rush him. She turned, taking in the view again and letting the lapping of waves lull her senses for a moment. After a few moments of companionable silence, she spoke again. "Is it a private beach?" she asked, curious. As far as she could tell the two of them were the only folks to be seen.

"Not... exactly." Noah had folded his arms over his chest in the silence. He'd crouched down and touched the coarse, brownish-black bits of sand. "I-I guess the program just assumes privacy. But we can add people if you want." He said. "When I came here there were a few people.." He rubbed the curly hair on the back of his nape.

"Oh," she said, uncertain. "I mean, only if you want them. It... What would be most relaxing for you? People or no people?"

Noah shrugged, answering neither yes or no but signaling acceptance of what was. From his crouch he dropped into a sit and proceeded to unfasten and shoulder off his uniform jacket in favor of the SOJO sleeveless t-shirt underneath. Instead he just sat up, brought his knees up and rested elbows on them. "It's pretty... but its still so alien to me."

Irynya dropped down beside him, following suit and tugging free of her uniform jacket. She set it to the side and then leaned forward, resting her forearms on criss-crossed legs so that her wrists dangled in front of her. "It feels so familiar to me, and yet... also not. Like I am looking at home, but..." She shrugged, struggling with the right word for a moment before giving up. "What made you think of this spot?"

Gently done with a nuance of incredulity, Noah shrug with a lopsided smile, "I-I don't think I had a reason?" He looked out at the vista and the rolling crest of seafoam. "When I was here only Bokka was sure where he was going. He ended up a Struve Shipyards. Elizabeth wanted on the Inquiry but I-I don't think that worked out. And Diogenes didn't get into Antares Shipyards." His gaze went far away, "I should ask how they're doing. And my family."

Irynya tilted her head back, looking up into the bright blue of the sky as the muscles in her arms tugged into a stretch. "When did you speak with them last?" she asked, tone deceptively casual for such a probing question.

"My last day at Academy," Noah murmured. "Before I went to Antares Shipyard to meet the Sojourner." He gestured, "I-I didn't know that at the time though. I mean I got a notice to go to the shipyard and standby, Diogenes was so jealous..." Noah worried his eyebrows about that. "I didn't want him to be."

Hazel eyes fixed on Noah, thoughtful and assessing. "It's been a bit busy, hasn't it?" She asked, not expecting an answer. "What about your family?" Her eyes slid from him, a way of granting privacy without actually leaving in case he wanted the option for her not to read his expression.

"Killer mining drones and territorial Orions? Y-yeah." Noah admitted with a nod. "Well... my-my Dad works with Vassbinder Labs on Ganymede. My brother works on tRigil Kentauros... I haven't heard from him in a long-long time. My Mom is on Bajor with her new life-partner."

Irynya nodded, eyes fixed now on the sparkling blue water ahead of them. It felt like she should say something. Nudge him to say more perhaps, or encourage him to reach out to his family and to the friends he mentioned. But the silence that fell into the place felt natural and comfortable so she leaned into that, waiting to see if Noah had more to say rather than drawing it out. The quiet lap of the waves on the shore had a lulling effect, making her feel warm and relaxed and she uncurled her legs, stretching them out in front of her and crossing her boots at the ankles before leaning back slightly, supporting herself with her hands in the warm sand.

Noah, likewise, leaned back, crossed his ankles over each other, and extended his legs. His squinted up into the sky and thought. "Di-did I mention this is a nude beach? My friends didn't tell me until they shoved me into the transporter." He grinned his goofy, too-wide grin while he squinted again into the sun, face inclined.

Irynya's expression turned comical as surprise, amusement, and no small amount of mischief warred across her face. "Noah..." she said, turning to fix him with a teasing grin, "... you brought a Risian to a nude beach and then sat here in full uniform!?"

Noah shrugged with exaggerated innocence. His Betazoid-like eyes shifted open as he turned away from the sun. His brow rose. His other brow rose. Chuckling he started to tear out of his t-shirt. It whipped to the ground with a sandy scatter and he bug-arched, shoulder blades into the ground, to undo his trousers.

It took the Risian far too long to catch on, completely caught off guard by not only the removal of clothing, but the rapidness with which it was taking place. "What..." she started to ask before her eyes lit with understanding and she pulled her t-shirt over her head in one fluid movement, kicking off her boots as she did. She had the unfortunate disadvantage of more underclothing than her counterpart, but she was also no novice to rapidly stripping down. Deft fingers made quick work of clasps, and both thumbs hooked into pants and underwear and tugged them off together until all that was left was socks and a sports bra. She looked over to gauge how far ahead or behind she was, giggling as she bent to tug off her socks.

The lanky stick of Cadet was bent forward and stripping off his own socks and shoes, "Stoo-stupid long feet make it hard for pants..." he muttered before he arched again. His own thumbs scooped two layers off his lower extremities and dropped them on his t-shirt. He put those skinny legs under himself and lifted up. He put out his hand to help his friend up.

Irynya grinned, crossing her arms and digging her fingers under the band of the sports bra and then arching her own back, muscles tightening and rolling as she tugged the thing free. Annoyingly the garment seemed reluctant to be removed and it took her a second to tug it free of both arms, tossing it to the side before accepting Noah's hand and coming to her feet. "Well that was unexpected," she said with a laugh, not dropping Noah's hand once they were standing.

Noah kept his eyes at a respectful eye level and, though he was fiercely pink-flushed, he shrugged. "I-I can be spontaneous. Race you."

She squeezed his hand lightly, eyes dancing as she watched his cheeks flush a dark pink. "I don't bite, Noah," she giggled before acquiescing to his suggestion. "You're on."

Noah sheepishly grinned, "I-I know, neither do I." He crouched in an amateur mockery of a racer's stance. "One.... two.... three.... Go!" His giraffish legs pushed feet against the sand in a humanoid version of a tire spin. Uneven and trying to get traction in the slippery sand, Noah got it. Stark and slender propelled itself down toward the water in a jog.

Irynya settled into a slight crouch bordering on a lunge a moment after Noah bent into his own stance. The warm breeze of the scene rustled through her ponytail and she found herself thankful that it was up, if still quite loose. Long hair would definitely be a hindrance in a race. At the sound of his Go! she leaned into her forward foot pushing off with the toes of her back foot and kicking up sand as she rushed forward, laughter streaming out of her as she half sprinted half stumbled toward the water, keeping close pace with her friend.

Flinching and tightening torso muscles braced when Noah reached the water's threshold. First, his knees as his momentum tumbled him forward and the water fought to lift him, he lost verticality. Flowering petals of frothed up water gurgled when his body crashed into its warmth and with a wet yelp Noah's curly head went under with a last twist of his neck. His eyes squinted. He was in. He resurfaced a drowned and sopping wet visage of an apple-faced face and lank black curls- some hanging like seaweed in a drape over his eagle nose. He stood unsteadily up, the water rolling in and out just under his thigh gap. To his dismay, he hadn't made it very far into the surf before it'd won.

Irynya's feet had found their steadiness just in time to reach the water's edge. She splashed into the water, dancing up onto her tiptoes as surf rushed around to her ankles. Knees pulled higher as she half leapt over the water's height until she was into her knees and then she half walked forward, feeling with her feet and watching the incoming swells. Once she was up to her waist she stood her ground, waiting for the swell and then dove into the peak of water, coming up several feet further out than Noah had. She ran her hands back along her temples, slicking back any loose strands while an enormous grin settled on her face. Letting the water determine her movement she made her way back to her friend, water swirling low on her hips as warm droplets ran down her skin to rejoin the waves.

Noah extricated his curls from his nose bridge first with a head flick and then with more successful fingers rakes. "So-so a fun fact... I come from a moon whose cities are completely underwater... and I couldn't even swim until I had to do pre-trials for the Academy." He admitted. "The first time I ever even saw an ocean from above, I was in-in a shuttle heading down to the Hong Kong shuttle terminus on Earth. The one near Victoria Harbor?" His glance stayed polite... mostly. He hesitated a brief glance down, long enough to confirm that Irynya's breasts were about as perfect as he remembered Elizabeth Hawkins's being.

She caught him looking and grinned, the curve of her lips almost rakish. "I grew up on the beach. I'm pretty sure I could swim before I could walk," she said, hands moving to fist against her hips, outlining the curve of her waist. The water was doing nothing to provide coverage from where they stood and she made no move to hide her own features or the way her eyes wandered. She took a moment to actually look at him, and if possible, her grin broadened further. "You're allowed to look, Noah," she said. "You're allowed, well... your lines are far more conservative than mine," she finished with a shrug.

"Ri-right I know. I'm not dead. But there's a difference between a friendly look and a leer." Noah's wet and dripping hands made a waver motion, "Just... you know... finding that line. But," he hesitantly gestured, "They're-they're very nice. You should life model." He commented with a lip nibble out of caution.

"I've been leered at before." Irynya's expression was still appraising but had shifted from something playful to something closer to earnestness. "I'm pretty sure you couldn't leer at me if you actually tried." She offered Noah a warm open sort of smile, hands dropping from her waist to move slowly through the water, letting the warmth run between her fingers. As she did the Risian instinct toward acquiescence kicked into gear in the back of her head. What's mine is yours was very permissive, but it was equally aware of which party was least willing to partake. The less permissive would always dictate the way any encounter went. But that didn't make her unaware of the fact that she was standing a very short distance from a friend with a particularly well-formed body. Her eyes flicked down from his face and she tucked her bottom lip between her teeth before returning to his face. "Thanks by the way. You'd make an excellent model yourself."

Gentle doubt, unvoiced, raised at Noah's eyebrow. He could leer. It just didn't seem the right thing to do. Ever. He'd felt like, like it or not, he'd leered in wonder at Irynya's boss despite feeling nothing more than pheromonal draw. And one of Elizabeth's partners in Sophomore year- a Xahean girl- had been a frequent visit in his midnight movie. "Thanks," he said humbly, torn between the discomfort of attention and the praise. He put his own hands on his skinny hips, "Low gravity body girls or boys or whatever else you are... c-come and get it." He chuckled softly. "Just be my friend first..."

Noah looked back and squinted into the sun. He wiped his nose as beads of briny water were still rivuleting off of it. "Anyway.... being from a low grav world, I had to spend a lot of time in water to get used to the therapies. I know you're from the beach but have you ever slept in water?'

Iry's eyebrows raised slightly at the question, fingers still threading through the water, though now moving in front of her rather than to the side. "No," she said, curiosity infusing her tone, "I can't say that I have."

"Like... being in the womb..." Noah commented cryptically. "Gentle rocking... no pressure on your joints.... I've never slept better."

They weren't standing that far apart. Two feet at most. Far enough that she had her hands in front of her, but close enough that she had to be careful of them. She watched his face as he spoke, taking in the humility and uncertainty, the softness of his laugh, and, without much thought put into it, did the thing that seemed most appropriate to her. Pulling her hands out to the side she closed the gap between the two of them, let the swell of water raise her up onto her tiptoes, and softly, almost tentatively pressed her lips to his.

Noah blinked and smiled at the last minute. With the soft crackle of lips, soft flex of pliable lips and cluck of them easing apart, the kiss was done. She'd almost kissed his teeth in his boyish surprise. He smiled amiably. "Hi." He seemed to recognize it as what it felt like: a kiss between friends.

"Hi," she said, tone quiet, aware. She appreciated that he hadn't jerked away. She hadn't been entirely sure that he wouldn't. This kind of exchange, the intimacy that can exist within a friendship without being more -- an intimacy that was so common among Risians -- wasn't new to her. She was aware, however, of how new it was to him and as ever with that kind of newness came a sort of burden of care. "Was that ok?"

"A kiss?" Noah blinked, his eyebrows knitting, 'Sh-sure, friends kiss." His eyes rounded, "I mean I wasn't expecting it... sorry about... this..." he gestured in a slice probably meant to apologize for his last-minute smile. He folded his skinny lanky arms over his chest, "It's-it's sort of like looking. There's looking and then there's leering. I think. I guess?' His eye narrowed, emphatic, "I'm-I'm going to stop talking now... sorry... science..."

It was probably the look on his face... probably... that made her giggle, but there was really no helping it. "If science is what works for you then that's fine by me," she said with a laugh. "Wanna try that again, though?" She tilted her head to the side. "For science, of course." A bit of the space between them had returned, but not nearly as much as before, so she had to tilt her head slightly to look up at him.

"Oh I actually I-I meant science as...over-analyzing... but..." He nibbled at his lip-corner. "Sure. Um." He turned more fully to her rather than the angle. He slouched down some to take the work of getting to his height off her, considering the rolling tide. And this time he planned to be more attentive to where he stuffed his nose- rather than a mash against her cheek. "Kennedy knows you kiss friends, ri-right? I mean.... full consent.... um... feels right."

She considered, but only for a moment. "We've talked about it, yes," she said, though her voice gave away a slight hesitation. "He knows and understands it's normal for me culturally. And he's accepted that I'm going to be snuggly with you and with Timmoz. But does he know that I am here, kissing you, right now... no."

Dark eyes searched Noah's face, trying to gauge his reaction. "On Risa, a partner is only involved in consent when they are married. I understand that's not normal for humans, so Kennedy and I are working toward a middle ground of some sort. For something that moves toward Jamaharon, though, you would need to consent formally as well."

"Tha-that's different," Noah said, eyes round while he blew a breath up into his sodden and un-swaying bangs. "Humans usually do it when they decide they are... um...." He grimaced his wide smile, "Well the ancient term is 'go steady' but now we just say when we choose to be exclusive. But before that, um, casual dating? Its more open."

"Different, yes," she echoed with a chuckle, eyes still watching his face; tracking his reaction to her answer instinctively. Her teeth tugged on her bottom lip, mirth sparking in her eyes as she caught and held Noah's gaze. "So... for science?" she asked again, the question more statement than inquiry as she let the swell of the water tug her toward him, closing the small gap again and finding his lips with her own, this time with a bit more care to give him a chance to react.

With tentative gentleness, Noah bat his eyes once while she closed in. He put his arm around her floating ribs and- this time- made sure to tilt his beakish nose. Kissing wasn't new to him. But it was nice. Noah always worried he needed more practice with it. But he had a pretty good teacher and so he copied her lead. The soft clucks of folding lips breaking and making air pockets with their flexes was nearly drowned by the surf running an obscuring game over their lower halves.

She aimed to give him a bit more chaste space at first, holding herself carefully and using the movement of the surf around them to guide her rather than anchoring the two of them together. Her hands rested on his shoulders, but when he did not pull back from the kiss after a few moments she ran her hands softly down his biceps using gentle pressure to adjust his arms downward to a more comfortable position.

With a swell of water she stepped closer, winding her arms around his neck. Carefully she ran her tongue along his lips, giving him a choice to respond or pull back as their chests pressed together.

Noah's nostrils flared in liplock as a feeling he wasn't sure he had a right to feel, surfaced. When her breasts touched the angular flatness of his chest he felt a fresh prickle down his spine. When she stepped into his intimate space, that some fresh crawl winked his rear iris. He flushed some. But when he felt his body reacting, first the tingle of life and then a stir as tissues opened to draw in blood... that was when Noah gently broke the kiss. His sex swelled in the current of the Mediterranean and he nimbled his lip apologetically, "M-maybe just kissing..."

The Risian pulled back, reading Noah's hesitance and with a measured step backward, granted space. She was careful as she unwound herself, hands returning to stir the water, another swell of the waves making her retreat appear a natural consequence rather than the calculated dance of consent. Like him, her own natural reactions were in play, breathing heightened and lips slightly swollen from kissing. But unlike her friend, her tells were far less physically obvious. She didn't begrudge him the desire to not have those tells read or the concern about misunderstanding or misinterpretation. She was Risian, after all, and ja'risia ceremony or not, he didn't have the same background. In short, she understood.

When they weren't touching anymore she offered him a smile, kind and understanding in the turn of her mouth, soothing and openness in the relaxation of her arms where they fell loosely out to her sides. "Ok," she said and she channeled every bit of calm acceptance that she could into that single word, eager to place him at ease.

A wave nearly staggered Noah and he waved arms to balance himself like Elizabeth had shown him in San Francisco once. He put his hands on his hips a moment later. But that wasn't adequate. Hands pushed into the water and he covered himself. Noah sniffed, grimacing, "S-sorry. It just does that. Um. Autonomic function." His dark eyes shifted to the horizon and back. His mouth shaped, making a rounded "Ohm," sound. "But-but you're a good kisser. It's nice. But again," he shrugged, "Sorry. Um."

"Noah," she said, invoking his name with a sort of affectionate dryness of tone. "I know the basics of how human anatomy works. You don't need to apologize for your body doing what it is wired to do." Though her tone was level her eyes sparked a mixture of amusement and appreciation. A swell of water bumped at her hip and she leaned into it, feeling the swirl and tug of it around her legs with the practiced instinct of someone who grew up in the water. "I mean... umm ... me too, for what it's worth. I just don't have the same physical tells you so. Doesn't mean they're not there right now." She chewed her lower lip a moment, thoughtful, and then fixed him with a mischievous grin. "You're a good kisser yourself, you know."

Noah broadly smiled at the compliment. "Thanks," he said of the compliment. Water dripped a waning bead off his nose from what had been rivulets from when he'd surfaced. "So," his brows knitted and he folded the ranginess of his arms across his chest again. "On Risa... friends just... go nude, they kiss, they touch? But.... I-I mean I'm guessing its so normal that you-you don't have the um." He gestured, "Well I'll just uh, say it. The erection problem."

Irynya tilted her head to the sky, starring up into the brilliant blue for a second before returning her gaze to Noah and shaking her head. "No, that reaction is pretty common," she shrugged, nibbling at the corner of a lip while she sorted out how to explain. It was much easier to clarify how Jamaharon worked when she was setting Sheldon and Tamblem up with each other. That was a much more surface layer version than the way it worked among friends. Amongst friends things were much more fluid. "Among friends we practice Jamaharon as an ethos... a lifestyle of sorts," she explained. "Umm... How much do you know about Jamaharon?"

Noah hesitated to react, eventually choosing a stiff shake of the head, "A-about as much as I know about Pon Farr. And the Plaktow." He admitted. "I got a C+ in Exo-Sociology... I was really distracted with Theoretical Systems Architecture at the time. We-we were studying Borg holistic-node resource prioritizers." He shrugged, "But-but you were saying. Um. I don't know much about Jamaharon. Except its supposed to be very relaxing."

She nodded, a cheeky grin forming on her face. "Well we can exchange. Sometime you can explain to me the thrill of Borg holistic-node resource prioritizers." She giggled at the thought, appreciating her friend's interest in the subject even as her own clear deficiency in that area was on display. She stirred the water with her hands again, looking out to sea and then back to the sand. "Stay in the water or back to shore?" she asked, wanting to confirm his preference before she explained this particular bit of Risian cultural lore.

"My time's almost up anyway," Noah said, twisting to look at the area where the arch would no doubt appear once his time elapsed. He replanted feet carefully in the gritty sand that had washed and rolled around his feet until they were buried. He turned himself to shore. "Index." The androgyne hovered in white like she was walking on water. "Is there a scheduled use of the Holodeck at 2230?"

Index phased and then spoke. "Affirmative. Kelly, Brian. Chief Petty Officer. 2230 to 2300. The Holodeck is then closed for self-diagnostic and cache removal."

Irynya turned with him, angling her body toward the shore and the depiction of Index hovering over the water. She didn't wait once the holographic individual confirmed the impending end to Noah's Holodeck time, but instead began the slow trudge back toward the shore, curling her toes into the warm soft sand beneath the waves as much for grip as for anything else. As she exited the water, goosebumps raised on her skin. Once she was fully out of the water she picked her way back to their clothes resuming her bra and t-shirt before pulling on her underwear and then lastly pants, socks, and boots. Her jacket remained slung over her shoulder.

Once they were both fully clothed again she fixed Noah with a thoughtful sort of expression. "If you ever want to understand more about Jamaharon... the ethos, I mean... not the sexy tourist version... I'm glad to share. Touch plays a role, certainly, but it's far from the whole thing and more of a side effect than the main point. It might... clarify some things for you." She shrugged just as the arch signaling that the time was well and truly finished.

"Your time has elapsed. Please vacate the Holodeck, Balsam, Noah." The computer chimed gently.

With a grin, Irynya stuck her hand out, offering it to her friend with a warm smile. "Shall we?"

Noah, who had folded his jacket over his arm and instead chosen to go home in his t-shirt, nodded. "I-I do. I mean," he glanced at the Arch with urgency, just based on his internal politeness. He put his feet into motion to follow Irynya out. "So there's a tourist version and a real version? Sort of like Anbo-Jytsu? Or touring Bhala?"He brought his jacket and arms to rest in front of himself as he strolled out. "I didn't actually think Jamaharon was sex. Actually, I-I thought it was more like... Pranayama? Or massage." he shrugged, "Or both."

The Risian was quiet for a moment as they walked, gathering her thoughts. "The tourist version is more of a misconception -- sort of a caricature of Jamaharon," she explained. "Sex is, frequently, a part of the ethos, but it's not the point of it. Jamaharon is about experience and exploration and learning. It's about uncovering. As a sort of... way of living... it is about seeking out experiences and people to share and explore with."

She tried to remember how she had explained it to Sheldon what felt like an age ago now. "For example, visiting your Doctor Who program... for me... that was Jamaharon. Or at least it falls within that ethos. Kissing you just now... also Jamaharon. There is a sort of formal acknowledgement when two people deliberately undertake Jamaharon together, but for most Risians it's a lifestyle as much as anything else."

They reached the Turbolift and stepped inside. "Deck four," the Risian directed before returning to her explanation. "So... something like Pranayama could also be a component. Or massage. Or sex. Or sharing new food with a friend. When you uncover another person you get closer to them and that takes lots of forms."

Noah rubbed the flat of his beaky nose. "So... whatever gives you great pleasure?" He asked with a blink of black eyes in her direction. "On Enceladus, we adopted a Danish trait. It's called Hygge. It means special coziness. Guh-good food, good atmosphere, good drinks, good company."

Irynya considered that for a moment, stepping out of the Turbolift as the doors whooshed apart on their deck. "Pleasure is certainly part of it," she finally explained. "Hygge sounds kind of amazing. With Jamaharon, though, the main focus is uncovering and discovering. One of the reasons physical intimacy is often a part of it is that it quickly breaks down barriers that can make exploring difficult. But sometimes exploring means engaging with things that make us uncomfortable or uncertain in order to explore and discover." She darted a glance over at her friend, an appreciative smile settling on her face. "You tend to naturally lean towards Jamaharon. You're curious and warm and open."

Noah accepted in silence that he was just too Human to fully grasp this complex cultural element. He could only guess and estimate based on his own limited experiences. Jamaharon sounded fascinating. But he couldn't understand it fully without experiencing it. And right now, Noah felt, he just had to keep swimming. He had a roommate who hated him, a basic piloting certification eluding him, a nearly untouched phaser and self-defense certification a long shadow, and the ticking time of his cadet cruise movging toward either graduation and commission or... something else.

"I-I like to think I am," he said with a flush. "When things are right." His brows knitted, "But what is Jamaharon for. What are you exploring... um.... discovering."

If Irynya was phased by the probing question she didn't show it, though it did, again, take her a moment to answer and they were nearly to the door of their quarters when she did. "We... believe... I think believe is the best word for it though in no way would I classify Jamaharon as a religious practice... We believe that the most important things in life are authenticity and living life passionately and with sincerity. And to do this we focus on the moment we are in. We take great pleasure in learning and sharing experiences because they are exactly that... authentic and sincere... and often passionate."

She pulled to a halt just shy of their door, a complicated set of emotions settling on her features and she tugged Noah's arm to stop him with her. "Today. Kissing you. To me... that was sharing and exploring and discovering. It was an experience that neither of us had before because neither of us have kissed each other before. And it led to... a lot... of discovery. If we were doing that in a formal setting of Jamaharon we'd be sharing more with each other about our reactions, exploring those to see where they led, focusing on one heartbeat or one breath or one experience at a time. There is something compelling about simply responding to what is happening, accepting it, and letting it teach you about yourself and about someone else."

Noah began a half-shake of his head. He didn't fully understand. He understood the importance, the gravity. But... why focus on single moments so much, he wondered? People were constantly changing and evolving. He wasn't who he was even an hour ago. But maybe that kind of measure was unimportant to the overall?

She nibbled her lower lip a moment, her own strength of feeling on the topic had come out in her tone of voice. This thing that felt so very integral to everyday life... something she'd simply grown up completely steeped in... was hard to explain in the context of someone who simply hadn't been raised that way and she very much wanted him to understand, or at least accept, that this was a part of who she was.

"OK," he said with his amiable smile. His arms swayed. "I-I mean I don't completely get it but I know its important. So..." His brows troubled at his nose bridge. "I understand why Jamaharon would be..." he gestured between them, "This... but what about the Hor'gahn... uh... thing? And displaying it because you-you seek Jamaharon?" He blinked, "So strangers Jamaharon too?"

The Risian's expression shifted from earnestness to something more mirthful. "A horga'hn is a formal way to signal consent," she explained. "And yes, strangers participate in Jamaharon all the time. I mean... meeting someone new is, in some ways, the purest form of discovery. The point where nothing has been uncovered yet. It's a very hopeful place." Her neck tensed slightly as her shoulders rose in a shrug.

"The tourist version looks at the horga'hn as a way to signify openness to sex. But, really it's just meant to show you're willing to be vulnerable and open." She chuckled then. "I mean... Sheldon has one of mine from when we were on shoreleave. A Risian won't approach an offworlder for Jamaharon without one and he was thoroughly flummoxed by the utter lack of interest he seemed to be getting." She laughed as she said it, shaking her head. "Maybe I'll give you one someday."

Noah's smile was incredulous as much as it was goofy. His eyes blinked as he tried to form words, "Wai-wait, Sheldon's done Jamaharon? Or tried to?"

Irynya's grin broadened. "Oh yes. Absolutely. The way he tells it he's enjoyed Jamaharon repeatedly thanks to that little statuette." She popped her eyebrows at him suggestively before her expression turned comical as a possible misunderstanding kicked into place. "Not with me... just... umm... to be clear. That's not where Sheldon's interests lie."

Noah lopsided his smile, "I-I see," he said, his mouth rounding into a soundless, "Oh," while Irynya clarified. A pair of crewmen walked by with their own conversations muted between them, a momentary distraction that caught Noah's glance and then back. He stepped inside their quarters with the whisper-swish of the doors opening. He looked at his room with some trepidation, balling and unballing fists. He hoped she wasn't in there. But she probably was.

"Well, I'm-I'm going to bed." He said. "Too bad I'm not a Borg. I could download piloting skills from the Collective and fuh-finish the test."

The Risian had followed her lanky roommate into the common room, watching as his body language shifted from the amusement of the corridor to the anxiety of returning to his room. She frowned, but only for a moment before moving closer, and snagging both of his hands. "You'll get it, Noah," she said warmly. "The piloting, the roommate weirdness. You'll get it." Before he had a chance to reply to that she stepped into him, popping up onto her tiptoes and pressing a chaste kiss to his lips. She grinned as she pulled away, dropping his hands and then, with a glance over her shoulder, she disappeared into her room.

=/\= A Dalliance By =/\=

Lieutenant JG Irynya
Assistant Chief Flight Controller

Midshipman Noah Balsam
Systems Specialist