A Sweet Flower

Posted on Sat Jul 1, 2017 @ 10:09pm by Elsie Cusack & Commodore Michael Aravan

Mission: Shore Leave
Location: Sicily, Earth
Timeline: MD 16 || 1800 Hours

"Un fiore dolce per un fiore dolce," a soft male voice near Elsie said. It was a warm day at the beach where the Cusacks had chosen for their vacation and the salt breeze of the Mediterranean blew off the coast and mussed up many carefully coiffed hairstyles. The natives, such as the owner of the voice, a young man around sixteen or seventeen had short white hair but done with style which resisted the efforts of the breeze.

In his hand, he held a flower shaped chocolate ice cream cone and a smile on his face. He wore a white designer shirt with a cutout pattern over a black Adidas mesh shirt, a pair of white shorts and a pair of black, purple and white running shoes.

Elsie jumped slightly and turned to see who the voice belonged to. Turning around to see the ice cream being offered to her she pushed her hair to one side nervously before reaching out and accepting it cautiously. She was always quite cautious when accepting things from people she'd never met or didn't know very well as a result of Martha's constant warnings that she shouldn't trust anyone unless they gave her a reason to.

"Grazie" Elsie replied.

"Prego. Parli italiano?" the white haired youth asked with a smile as he looked at her and couldn't help but notice how pretty she was. "Or would you prefer Standard?"

Elsie paused for a moment to try and remember one of the phrases Lucia had taught her before they came down to the surface. Some of them were easy to remember but others not so. As she took a lick of her ice cream Elsie remembered and she replied.

"Non...molto bene?" Elsie responded.

"It's no problem for me to speak Standard," he said. "I'm Vincenzo. What's your name?"

Elsie giggled and blushed. She wasn't sure if what she said was correct or not but at least he spoke Federation Standard.

"I'm Elsie. This ice cream is delicious by the way" Elsie replied.

"Palermo has some of the best ice cream in the world," Vincenzo said. "During the Gelato Festival, two hundred ice cream masters from around the world come here to compete with each other. I admit, this isn't gelato, but I would not wish to spoil such a beautiful flower such as you so soon."

Elsie nodded. "My stepmother is Italian so she's told me all about all the amazing food you can get here - and yes she mentioned the ice cream. But you're sweet Vincenzo...almost as sweet as this ice cream - I love the pattern of it. My friends are going to be so jealous of this place"

"Thank you," he said with a shy smile. "It's called the Amorino ice cream flower and when I saw you here in the heat, I could not resist comparing you to it. So beautiful, sweet and exotic. Where are you from, Elsie?"

Elsie smiled cutely. She wasn't used to this sort of attention so she was still quite nervous - although she was trying her best to be herself and stay calm.

"You're such a charmer. I actually live on a starship with my parents - they're in Starfleet. I work in a bar there to earn my keep until I decide whether I want to join Starfleet or not - but I have a couple of years to decide because I have to be 18 to join. Are you local or are you just visiting?" Elsie asked.

"I live here," Vincenzo said. "You're very lucky to live on a starship and get to see so many new planets and different species. I've been on a trip to Risa before with my parents a year ago and it was amazing. I have never seen much of the stars beyond that, though. You have excellent parents to let you work in a bar."

Elsie shrugged. "Well...it's more of a restaurant than a bar I guess. But they're pretty cool - I love having two mums instead of a mum and a dad. My dad...it's a long story - the whole thing is. I've never been to Risa but I would like to go there at some point"

"It's a beautiful place," he said. "The entire planet is dedicated to pleasure, the climate is perfectly controlled and the sites to see are absolutely amazing. Two moms? That has to be very cool, except when they're trying to decide what's best for you. Do you get the option of deciding what you want?" He motioned towards a couple nearby chairs on the beach that were available for anyone.

Elsie walked over towards the chairs. Martha and Lucia were still in the water relaxing - in fact she could see them from where she was stood - but Elsie wanted them to have their own time. Elsie needed her own time too.

Elsie nodded. "Yes. They always let me choose what way I want to go but they'll always advise me if I need it. My dad was a traitor to Starfleet so I disowned him and went to live with my adoptive mother - she then got married to my stepmother and I ended up with two mums. My dad came back on the scene a bit later after redeeming himself and we still talk but I doubt we'll ever be that close again. What's your family like?"

Vincenzo took the seat next to her and couldn't help but admire her form for a moment. "I'm sorry to hear that about your dad," he said. "I hope you and he can resolve any issues when you get older. I live with my parents here in the city. My dad is an architect and my mom is a linguist for Federation ambassadors when universal translators don't work. She says it's an art form to know a language being spoken instead of having to depend on technology that may get an important word or phrase wrong. I know four languages because of her."

Elsie nodded and continued to eat her ice cream as she listened to Vincenzo speaking. She missed her father more than she let on and even after his plea for forgiveness Elsie just didn't know if she could forgive his actions. There were four years in the past but it was the severity of them that gave Elsie reason to delay any decision on whether she wanted Tony to be a part of her life again.

"That sounds amazing. My parents are both officers and I was thinking about it myself but sometimes I just don't know whether I'm capable of sticking at it for four years. I guess I don't have to apply at 18 but I don't know. I've got other things to keep me busy while I think about it" Elsie replied.

"You could always take the pre-entrance classes for the Academy," Vincenzo suggested. "I thought about taking some and trying out when I'm ready. What division are your parents in?"

Elsie nodded. "True...I'll see what they're like when I get back to the ship and find out what they're like. I'm more of a Science geek so that's probably my preferred field if I do go into Starfleet. My mum works in Tactical and my stepmum works in Security - they met on another starship about four years ago and we've all managed to stick together ever since"

He suddenly looked nervous and licked his lips before he glanced around. "Wow. I bet they're really protective of you," he said. "Not that I wouldn't blame them at all. I bet you have to convince them just to go out with any boys on your own."

"They make me feel safe and have taught me a few tricks to keep me safe. As for boys well...I've never really had one before...and even though he's not around my dad would probably have something to say too. I can see them from here but I won't show you just yet - that would be telling" Elsie replied - grinning.

"Uhh..." Vincenzo thought quickly. "Well, it's not like you're doing anything other than eating an ice cream, right?" he asked. Now he felt as if two pairs of eyes were watching his every move and despite his attraction to her, he was now feeling more than a little paranoid. "No boys, ever?"

Elsie giggled. "Relax - I'm just eating ice cream with someone. And no - no boys. Never"

"You can't say that now, though," he said with a charming smile. "Is it as bad as you heard it would be?"

"I can't...but I would say that because anyone who buys me ice cream goes into my good books. It's the same with my mum and cake - so if you annoy her just buy her cake and she'll forget about it and move you a few places down her list" Elsie responded.

"So would she let you go out with a boy if he bought her a cake before he asked?" Vincenzo asked.

Elsie giggled. "I think you'd have to ask both of them first. I'd start with my stepmum first and then my mum...and I'd buy the cake to try and to try and impress my mum after you ask her"

"Noted," he said with a laugh. "Your stepmom first, then your mom. Which one is easier to convince?"

"My stepmum. My mum carries a phaser around with her although she never says where - and she usually listens to my stepmum when she tries to convince her not to shoot someone. They're not mean or anything but they're just really protective and don't want me to get hurt like I was when my dad ran away" Elsie responded.

"A ph-ph-phaser?" Vincenzo stuttered. "Umm....how many people has she shot?" Now he really thought about a plan of escape, but he had no idea who or where her parents were.

Elsie giggled again. "Plenty - but I wouldn't worry about it unless you hurt me. I'm sure you don't plan on doing that - buying me an ice cream is a good way to me putting a good word in to my parents if I decide to tell them I'm meeting a boy for dinner instead of going out with them for dinner"

"Would you go out to dinner with me?" he asked before his paranoia could shut his mouth. "I'll even get you a gelato chocolate from the best place in Palermo."

"Let me ask my parents first...they'd probably want to meet you just to make sure but I doubt they'll shoot you just for being near me. But of course that depends on where you plan on taking me out. I have standards when it comes to dining you see" Elsie responded with a grin.

"The world is my oyster," Vincenzo declared grandly as he gestured all around them. "But you are a rare pearl who would be subjected to only the best setting."

Elsie giggled and blushed nervously. She wasn't used to the attention and she did think Vincenzo was a very charming and polite young man - and she was sure Martha and Lucia would be more than willing to let Elsie go out to dinner with him.

"You're such a charmer Vincenzo. Where do you learn all these lines of yours?" Elsie asked.

"Lines?" he asked with a blank look. "Why, I merely speak what my mind and heart tell me. To say anything else other than what I meant would be a lie and I would not lie to you, Fiore Dolce."

"Sweet flower? That's adorable...nobody's ever called me that before - you're quite handsome yourself. I've seen a few cute guys before but you're right up there - my stepmum's sisters have told me all about how cute the guys are around here. They weren't wrong" Elsie responded.

Vincenzo blushed a little but smiled broadly. "I will take that as a compliment to your taste," he said. "Just as discerning as your tastebuds for the treat I see you have finished. Would you care for something to drink?"

Elsie had finished the ice cream and she had enjoyed it very much. She was looking forward to telling her parents in the hope they would get to try some as well.

"That would be great...I'll have a fruit juice please" Elsie responded.

"I shall return," he promised her as he got up and headed to the boardwalk where a number of vendors were. A few minutes later, he returned with two large cones of what looked like colored ice. "Italian ice for the Princess of Palermo," he said as he offered her one. "Strawberry for you and peach for myself."

Elsie accepted her drink and took a sip of it before placing it down next to her. She wasn't used to being spoken to in such a respectful and charming manner - it was a shame it wasn't going to last forever. The Cusacks were due back on the Triumphant in around 10 days or so as Martha wanted to make sure they had an evening to wind down and get used to their surroundings again.

"This tastes amazing - just like everything else I've had since I've been here. Grazie" Elsie replied.

"Prego," Vincenzo said with a smile after he took a sip of his. "If we cannot please ourselves, how would be expect to please anyone else with our treats?" He asked. "We put pride into everything we do, as it should be. What ship do your parents serve on?"

Elsie grinned. "Oh but that would be telling Vincenzo. Maybe they can tell you themselves if you're feeling up to meeting them - after all - you'll have to meet them at some point if you want to take me out to dinner"

"Then that I shall do," he said. "For I truly wish to enjoy the rarest treat I have ever seen while providing a meal fit for a Queen."

"Well as I work in a restaurant so I'm pretty picky about where I eat - but on saying that I'm sure your taste in ice cream and drinks reflects well on your tastes in dining at restaurants. I can't wait to try some more of your local dishes" Elsie responded.

"Then you shall have them" Vincenzo promised her. "We have some of the best ricotta gnocchi and Stracciatella soup known in the four quadrants," he boasted.

Elsie smiled. "That sounds familiar actually - my stepmum mentioned something about that being one of her family's best dishes. I haven't tried it yet but I guess I'm willing to let you take me out to try it one night. My stepmum does most of the cooking anyway - my mum hates cooking with a passion"

He reached into a shirt pocket and pulled out a small pad of paper and a pen and wrote his com address on it before he handed it to her. "For when they wish to speak to me, but until then, I shall continue to enjoy your company. We have many wonderful dishes here and I know of a place that offers many platters so you can sample what you wish."

Elsie accepted the paper and folded it up before putting it into her pocket for safekeeping.

"You can enjoy my company for as long as you want. They wanted to have some time to themselves in the water so I came up here to read - that was until you came and brought me an ice cream of course. Now I'm going to have dinner bought for me too - talk about things working out for the best" Elsie responded.

"Ah, but you are a feast for my eyes, Fiore Dolce," Vincenzo declared. "My heart shall break when you leave and never shall I know beauty again, but until you leave, I hope to have every moment that I am granted in your company."

Elsie beamed. "I'd like that. I'm here for another ten days or so - so plenty of time to enjoy eachother's company. I'm sure you'll find someone else prettier than me after I've gone though Vincenzo - trust me - I'm nothing that special"

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder," he said as he took another sip of his ice before it fully melted. "And yours is a beauty born of innocence which is as fresh as a new spring day."

Elsie blushed deeply and looked down at the floor. She knew exactly what Martha and Lucia would say if they were there now - but they weren't - and at least for now that was probably a good thing. Reaching for her drink and taking a long and slow sip of it Elsie wasn't sure what to say in response. He was a charmer and he made her feel good about herself - but it was still very early days.

"That's so sweet. Nobody's ever said anything like that to me before" Elsie replied.

"It's true," Vincenzo insisted and smiled at her blush. "You must truly be on a ship where no one appreciates true beauty."

Elsie giggled. "Oh I'm not sure about that. It's just nobody I've come across is as sweet and romantic as you are. If I seem dismissive I apologise - it's just nobody has ever been as nice to me as this before. I'm new to dating so I might need a bit of help. Maybe my parents can help with that..."

"Just do what you have been, Elsie," he told her. "Simply appreciate as much as I do and enjoy the moments in life that bring you joy. It is the best way to live your life."

Elsie nodded. "I think I can do that. You've made me feel a lot more positive about myself already and I'd love to spend more time with you. My parents are protective but I don't think they'd shoot you - unless you hurt me then they probably would. As long as you promise not to hurt me then for the rest of my time here I think I can be your princess"

"If they are as wonderful as you, I foresee the two of us having a wonderful time here," Vincenzo promised. "And I would not dream of hurting you. That is not in my nature, my sweet flower."

Elsie smiled. "My parents are amazing. They've always wanted me to be happy and they've always made me feel like their own even though none of us share the same blood. I believe you though Vincenzo - maybe I can meet your parents too"

"Perhaps after dinner - if your parents will give you the time - I can take you to meet them," he said. "I think they would like you. You are a very sweet girl and they say that I need someone wholesome in my life to make me a better person."

Elsie smiled sweetly and nodded. That sounded like a plan to her - dinner and then meeting his parents. She knew this was only going to be a short thing but it was going to be short and sweet - and she was going to enjoy every single second of it.

"Well I've got the rest of my holiday to try and do that haven't I? I'm sure I will like your parents just as much as I hope you will like mine. I'm glad my mum agreed to come on holiday because she's usually buried in work or doesn't like doing social things - but without that I wouldn't have met you" Elsie responded.

"My parents have told me that if you do not stop and smell the flowers once in awhile, your nose will be filled with work and you will not be able to appreciate the flowers even when they are right in front of you," Vincenzo told her. "You would like them as surely as I am sure your moms will like me. As long as I bring cake." he winked.

Elsie nodded. "Yeah..I can agree with that. I usually work in the restaurant but that's about it - maybe I will go and start in the pre-Academy classes when I get back and see what they're like too. If you bring the cake along with you then my mum will see you in a different light - but I'm sure like your parents want the best for you - she just wants the best for me"

"What's her favorite kind?" he asked. "I don't want to make it too obvious, but she deserves it for having such a wonderful daughter. My parents are awesome, too. I want to make them proud."

"I'm sure you already have made them proud. My mum's favourite cake is Victoria sponge. I had the chef in the restaurant make her one recently to cheer her up - she ate the lot but I guess she enjoyed it" Elsie responded.

"I'm sure I can find one for her," Vincenzo said with a smile. "If not, I'll see if I can make one. That should be interesting, but I'm not bad in the kitchen. How about you?"

Elsie shrugged. "It depends on what I'm doing really. The chef in the kitchen where I work has let me watch him cook a few things and help a little but I can't do anything of note...yet"

"Then we can work on creating an epic mess together," he laughed. "I'm always up for something new and if I can learn something while doing it, even better."

Elsie giggled sweetly as she took another long sip of her drink before putting it back down gently on the floor.

"The one time I tried cooking my mum went berserk. I managed to get half of it over the kitchen - although I kind of get why because she likes things in a specific way. I haven't tried since but my stepmum usually does most of it anyway - she's cooked some amazing family recipes" Elsie replied.

"Or I could buy one," Vincenzo laughed. "That would probably be safer and more edible than if we tried."

Elsie nodded. "Buying one is a good idea. I tried making one but I er...ruined it...and nobody wanted to eat it. The chef where I work is really good at making them though so I might ask him if he can give me the recipe when we get back. Are you sure you could get one around here?"

"I'm not even sure what a Victoria sponge is, to be honest," he said with a laugh. "But I know a great bakery."

"If you know a great bakery then I'm sure they'll be able to bake one for you. If you get one freshly made then that will certainly give you some bonus points from my mum. The more of those you get the more chance she'll let you take me on a date" Elsie replied.

"Where should I bring it to if I find one?" Vincenzo asked her. "After all, I don't know where you're staying and it would look weird if I wandered all over the beach trying to find you again."

Elsie smiled. "Bring it along to the date. I'd imagine my mum will want to at least bring me to the restaurant to make sure I get there safely and all that. At least she can eat the cake with my stepmum while you're treating me to the amazing food you said this part of the world has to offer"

"Yes, but I still don't know where to show up, Elsie," he said. "I have no idea where you're staying at with your parents."

"Well we can choose a time and place now and I'll meet you there. I'd imagine my mum might be a bit...you know...about me giving our apartment's address out to people I've just met. What's your favourite restaurant?" Elsie responded.

Vincenzo smiled. "That would be the Moscabianca," he said. "It's at thirty-six Corso Mazzini. My parents told me they got engaged there. Still, if they don't let you go on the date with me, you'll know a good place to eat."

Elsie smiled reassuringly. "I'm sure they will Vincenzo. As long as they know where I am and who I'm with then I don't think they'll say no - besides - you'll get to meet my mum too. My parents got engaged in an arboretum on a starship four years ago - I think it was destroyed but I'm not sure. I guess it doesn't matter"

"That sounds romantic even though I'm sorry the ship was destroyed," Vincenzo said. "Such places are rare and should be preserved forever when true love is involved. As for myself, I should get to that bakery and get dressed for our date."

He started to get up, then paused. "Uh, what would be a good time for you?"

"That would have been nice but I guess ships get destroyed from time to time. How does 20:00 hours sound? I'll go and find my parents and say a friend's invited me for dinner - and that he's offered to get a cake for them to share" Elsie replied.

"That sounds good to me," Vincenzo said. "Until then, Fiore Dolce?"

Elsie smiled. "Until then"