Kassia hasn't seen Jayme since their day at the "beach" with the kids and felt that it was time for another visit. Looking up the location of Jayme's quarters, she headed there and through Marine territory, where she was more than familiar.
As she reached Jayme's quarters she signaled the sensor and waited with an expectant smile on her face.
Her head snapped from where it was pillowed on her arms. Shit! I've fallen asleep studying! The door chimed again as she stood and bypassed the lock. The door opened and there stood Kassia. She smiled at the other woman knowing she probably looked like hell, but said, "Kassia. What a surprise?" Pausing and stepping aside, Jayme asked, "Come in, please."
"Thank you," she smiled as she stepped in. "How are you doing? I hear they're working you to the bone," she said with a bit of concern as she looked around the quarters. "Your stress-levels all right?" Her eyes gazed at Jayme curiously.
Running her fingers through her hair as the door closed, "No, my stress level has been pretty well maxed. But I am settling in and for the most part everyone has been helpful." She met Kassia's eyes and then looked away to where her study materials were tossed, she could see beyond the half wall to her bed--which was unmade and clothes on the floor. Kassia smiled and did a slow circle examining the quarters.
"You know, I think you could use a day off..." she smiled slyly. "Take some time, maybe spruse up your quarters. Make it look like someone actually lives here instead of just barely lives here... It would give you a chance to lower your stress levels a bit before getting back to the grind as well, which is something I think you really could use."
"I really could use a break. I've been in here all day studying. I've been meaning to go to your shop and the open markets..." Smiling, Jayme nodded.
"Good! Then today is your official day off, sanctioned by the Station's counselor," she grinned. "We can stop at my shop first, if you'd like and then we'll walk all over the Promenade!" There was a sparkle in Kassia's green eyes.
"Great, just give me a minute to change into a uniform that doesn't look slept in."
"All right," Kassia replied, with a smile.
She went into her room, grabbed a clean uniform out of her locker, and ducked into the bath to change. While there she washed her face and used a little concealer to hide the dark circles under her eyes and a little lip conditioner. That would have to do, she thought as she walked back into the common area to find Kassia looking at photos and her small collection of entertainment disc's. "Okay. I'm ready."
"Let's go!" she replied with enthusiasm. She quickly lead the way out of Marine country. It didn't take them long to reach the Promenade and more walking produced the entrance to Kassia's shop. There were crystals shimmering in the window where they hung. There were books and candle and all sorts of things being displayed. As they entered, there was a delicate fragrance in the air from burning incense. Danni saw them and smiled.
"Hey Kassia!" She greeted. "Here are business or pleassure today?" she teased.
"My friend is going to browse and see if she would like anything," Kassia said. "How's business been?"
"Brisk, as always!" Danni smiled.
"Are you interested in anything in particular?" Kassia asked Jayme.
Jayme watched Kassia move off with Dani. She closed her eyes and just enjoyed the fragrance wafting through the room. Jayme opened her eyes and started examining the the shelves and rows of items. Jayme picked up and smelled half a dozen candles and found a mellon and am cinnamon scented one that she really liked and made a mental note of them as she wandered some more. There were lots of crystals and incense to select from but nothing caught her interest, and I moved to the next row--which contained a large selection of disks, both video cinography, or music--both could be used to facilitate meditation and relaxation. There was a player and headset for trying out selections. Finding several, Jayme used the player and discovered several that touched her inner core.
"Meditation would definitely be a good way to lower your stress level," Kassia said as she came up and took a look at what Jayme was contemplating. She also handed her a purplish colored crystal that was smooth in texture, but had an inner glow. "This is a Turmarian Crystal. Holding it can produce a calming affect for some... Its suppose to work very well on Terrans."
Jayme moved off down the isle and found a black silk croached shawl. Hmm, what would I do with this? she thought to herself. She turned and looked at several other items before joining Kassia who was examining a new item.
"Well, here's a book on meditation, if you're interested," Kassia said. "We carrying several different ones. Different species have different ideas on meditating..."
"I was taught meditation my my paternal grandmother. When she taught me to use Healing Touch."
"Healing Touch?" Kassia replied. "Hmmmm... Very interesting... Do you have any psi abilities?"
"...psi? Oh. No. I can't mind speak or move objects or anything like that." Jayme placed a hand on her stomach that had growled.
Kassia wasn't convinced. She had a feeling and her feelings were usually correct. "Well, why don't you take the items you want up to Danni and then we can go grab some lunch! We can go to Harry's diner. They're pretty good, unless you have somewhere else you'd like to go?"
Jayme moved around and picked up the two 6 inch pillar candles to go with the three disks she'd decided on. At the desk Jayme handed over the items and her ID/Debit card.
After scanning the items and placing them in a bag Dani smiled and handed it over, "Enjoy those, and come back soon."
"What do you want to do after lunch?" Kassia asked.
At a booth in Harry's Diner, over menus, Jayme smiled at Kassia and replied. "Well there's the open market. I think I'd like to get a couple of living plants and a grow light. They'd like that half wall that seperates the common room from the sleeping room. Don't you think?"
"That's a great idea!" Kassia said. "Maybe you can get a couple of throw pillows for the couch while you're at it... add a little color to your quarters?" Kassia suggested.
"Color?" she mused, "What a concept. Most of my other quarters have been barracks style. Never had to fuss with this." Jayme's salad and Kassia's pasta arrived. "I guess maybe I should look into some casual wear, as all I own are uniforms, combat gear, and workout clothes."
"That might be a good idea," Kassia replied back with a grin. "You never know what you might do on your off-time and you might not always want to be in a uniform."
"Uggh, clothes shopping. I'm comfortable in my uniform." Taking a bite she thought about the people she'd seen moving around on the promanade, out the glass on the end of their booth. "Don't even know what's in style."
"That's not a problem. There are plenty of clothing shops on the Promenade as well," Kassia replied as she took a bite of her lunch.
Jayme nodded and smiled, "Maybe something comfortable and not form-fitting." Taking a sip of her cola. "Cola--its different but I like it." After a few more bites. "Can we get the clothes shopping out of the way before we go out to find plants?"
"That's easy enough to do," Kassia replied. "There's a place not more than two shops down from here that might have something to your liking," she replied. "And if not there, there's another place a few shops down from that one on the opposite side."
"Good." With that Jayme attacked the rest of her lunch while Kassia did the same. It wasn't long before one of the hostesses came to their table, and asked, "would you ladies care for desert?" Jayme looked at Kassia and relaxed back against the seat and shook her head 'no.'
"I think we're done," Kassia said with a smile.
After paying their bill, they quickly made their way to the first shop. Jayme and Kassia looked through the styles of clothing that could be replicated and some of the items that were actually in the store. Kassia saw a couple of things to her own liking and pulled out a lavender flowing dress.
"I might have to see about getting this for myself!" she said.
Jayme looked at the dress and could feel her face losing its color. "...a dress?" she said to the other woman in shock."
"You don't have to get one," Kassia replied. "I just happen to like to have a dress at my disposal from time to time." She had a wicked grin as she giggled.
"Whatever!" Jayme said as she moved off to examine a pair of stretch pants in an array of colors. She found a pair in black but looking at her uniform pants decided she needed to invest in something different and picked up a pair in white and a pair in darkest red. In an after thought she picked up the black too I can wear them to workout in. Satisfied, she moved off to check out a few other racks.
Kassia laughed to herself and shook her head as she looked at another piece of clothing, a jade green blouse that was a bit form fitting. "What do you think of this?" she asked as she held it up to herself.
Jayme laughed, "Love the color and I don't even need to ask who you really want to model that for?" Pulling the knit sweater in a varigated dark red, medium red, pink off the rack and holding it againt both the white pants then the red... Jayme felt movement to her right as the other woman moved up to see.
"Hey, Kassia what do you think of this combination?" Indicating the sweater and skin pants. Jayme asked.
Kassia smiled. "Very nice!" She replied. "I really like this one." She said as she held up a lavender sweater.
"Yeah, I liked it to but I really wanted something to go with these red pants."
"Oh well, I want this for me," she laughed, "But maybe this this for those pants?" She pulled out a cream colored sweater.
Jayme smiled and held the sweater againt all three colored pants. It worked well with all of them. "I think I'll get both the cream and red one." She pulled them all into her arms, now I just need some comfy shoes for off duty."
"That shouldn't be a problem," Kassia said as she led the way.
Jayme found a changing room and put on one of the pairs of pants she was interested in and began trying on shoes. Finally after twenty minutes she stood and looked at Kassia who was trying on boots that laced up the back. "Okay. I Like these." she said as Kassia looked up.
"Great!" Kassia replied. "What do you have in mind after this?"
With a sigh she looked at the pile of clothes which included socks and miscellaneous items like ear rings, and knew she had several bags of stuff at Kassia's Cave... "Lets take everything purchased so far and drop it off at my quarters. Then we can go shopping for plants and other houseware items?"
"Okay, sounds like a good idea!" she replied."
They paid for their purchases, picked up the bags and dropped them at Jayme's quarters. It wasn't long before they were looking at plants.
Once they entered Jayme's quarters she set her stuff down and ordered glasses of Iced wather with lemon twist for them. Kassia accepts her's as she takes her seat, "How about changing out of your uniform into one of the new outfits?" Jayme swallowed wrong and did some coughing before shrugging. "I could."
"Probably would be a good idea!" Kassia said. "Why don't you go ahead and do that."
Jayme picked up the red sweater, the black stretch pants, and the new soft low top boots and headed into her room to change. She exited and Kassia smiled and finished her water. "Feels weird not to be in uniform." Jayme said as she finished her drink."
"I know," Kassia said, "It probably will for a while until you get use to it. But its good for you to do this... I believe it's time you got used to this." She smiled and finished her own drink. "Are you ready to go?"
"I think so." Jayme looked back over at her study area and sighed, squared her shoulders, smiled and headed for the door right behind Kassia. "Any idea where to get plants and accessories?
"Sure," Kassia replied. "Just follow me."
She lead Jayme back out to the promenade and around a few corners to an area that was full of vendors selling plants and flowers.
"I think you might find what you're looking for here."
The two women browsed awile and finally a vender noticed them talking and pointing at various plants. "Good morning ladies. How my I be of service?"
Jayme hesitated a minute and then said, "I've some quarters and it's missing that 'homey feeling' and I thought plants."
"Plants are always a good choice as they also filter the air, and while they may not be warm and fuzzy like a pet or significant other, they will listen to you talk for hours without interuption or think badly of your singing." He smiled. "Now, this fern does well and just requires some misting and watering now an then but does like good lighting. And that philodendrum that you where pointing to earlier is a good choice for beginners as they are almost indestructible. They send out long runners and leaves to cascade over walls or large pottery."
"I like both," Kassia replied as she looked at both plants. "They're both beautiful..."
"I like them too. How about one medium fern and two of the medium hard to kill ones. I'll also need a grow light of some kind to hang above that partial wall to give them light. Oh, and a misty bottle...."
The vender smiled. "No problem. You ladies have other shopping planned?" Jayme nodded her head, then said, "Yes."
"I could have them packaged and ready for pick up in, say, an hour?"
Jayme looked at Kassia. "That would be great. Thank you." Jayme and Kassia left the hot house with a laugh.
"Now how about some throw pillows for that couch of yours?" Kassia asked as they entered yet another shop.
"Big fluffy ones. Hm, I like those emerald green ones," she said as she picked one up and hugged it to her chest. "How many, and do you think they should all be the same color? I've never had a room I could decorate."
"Well, maybe they could be different colors... maybe four pillows, greens and golds?" Kassia suggested.
"Sounds like you've done this before?" Jayme said as they tossed two green and two gold pillows into the cart. As they wound their way around the aisles, Jayme spotted a crocheted table cloth with a tag indicating that it was imported from the Martian Indian Coop. Jayme recognized the design as her grandmothers and grabbed Kassia's arm. "Hey...hey, this was made by my paternal grandmother!" Jayme said with exhuberance.
"Really??" Kassia looked at it. "That is exquisite work!"
"Yeah, and to find it this far out on the 'rim of no where,'" Jayme thought about the table that more often is used for the desk as the desk alcove wasn't meant for heavy study. She pulled the one that would fit on her bedside table and one for the main room. With a contented little sigh they moved down the row finding lots of neat stuff but nothing she couldn't live without. They headed to the checkout. Jayme carded through and knew her funds had just take a huge hit but she hadn't spent any of her pay from her previous posting on the Phoenix.
"How do you feel about calling the Colonel and seeing if he'd join us for dinner at my place--or would it be better to meet him at Soma or Harry's after we drop this stuff off at my place?" Jayme asked Kassia.
"I think Tarik might go for that," Kassia smiled. "But where is completely up to you."
They both had their hands full as they walked into the Gardener's Hothouse. "Ladies, I see you've been very busy with the shopping and have your hands full. For no extra charge we have a small transporter that can transport your purchases to your quarters."
Surprised showed on both womens' faces. Jayme finally was able to nod 'yes', then said, "I would really appreciate that. Would it be a problem to send these with the plants?" She handed a bag to him and pointed to the other three.
"No problem. Just need your housing address." Jayme gave the man the address and watched as her belongings disappeared. They then walked back to the desk and he rang up the sale. "I added literature on the plants and included everything you would need."
"Thank you." Statisfied, both women stepped into the promenade. "Well we don't have to deliver stuff. How about we go to the Soma and have Tarik join us there? I can settle the new items tomorrow," Jayme suggested.