Just Hold Still Please

Posted on Thu Jan 25th, 2024 @ 9:26pm by Captain Shran dh'Klar & Lieutenant Inara Senn

Mission: Hard Earned Peace
Location: Captain's Ready Room

Inara entered the bridge with a blank canvas and her paint kit and pushed the captain's door chime.

Shran was sitting at his desk, reports stacked on his desk, one pulled up on his computer screen, but his mind was elsewhere. When the door chimed it brought him back to the here and now. "Come" he said, exhaustion apparent in his voice.

Inara entered. "Hello Captain. I have come to paint you."

Shran looked just about as worn as he sounded. "I don't remember volunteering for such a thing. I don't even let Deanna paint me. I, um, well you see..." he began to trail off, so much obviously on his mind.

"It helps... get my mind off things." Inara explained.

Shran grumbled to himself. "Very well, but I am still trying to work myself lieutenant. I do understand needing to get your mind off of things, especially with all that has happened over the last several days."

"I do believe you will be impressed, Captain." Inara set up and began to prepare the canvas, getting a good view of the captain. She began the process of creating the outline.

Shran shifted in his chair as he looked back to his computer. "I am willing to let you paint lieutenant, but I'm not disrobing. I don't know you that well" he said with a small grin without looking at Inara.

"With all due respect, Captain. I am not responding to that, as I do not have that much indigo to paint a naked Andorian." She hid a smirk.

"Thank those gods for that" Shran replied jovially. "I have to admit lieutenant, I was told you painted a great many portraits. That was what the transporter chief who brought all your belongs aboard says anyway. I confess a slight desire to compare your work to that of Deanna's, or rather I should say Lt Cmdr Celes."

"Oh, so it's a competition? We should bring her up here and have her paint you too."

Shran began to grumble under his breath. "I simply said I would be interested in comparing your work to hers, nothing more. I have no desire to turn this ship into some floating art colony." He started mumbling to himself once again, "Damn women trying to take over my ship. Soon it'll be tea parties and wanting to redecorate things with pastels. I should reset the environmental controls to mimic Andoria. See how many of them can handle that" he said feeling quite amused with the idea, a smile coming across his face.

"You are certainly full of such delightful ideas, Sir." She smirked.

Shran continued his grumbling. "Woman thinks I am joking. When the temperature drops to -3 C she won't think it is a joke" he said to himself, laughing at his own comments. He looked over at Inara who continued to paint, "Computer, adjust environmental systems to Enviromental setting Shran 1."

As the computer chimed its acknowledgement, Shran giggled as the temperature began to rapidly drop. "Have you been to Andoria, lieutenant?"

"Unfortunately it is only half done now, as the paint will freeze before I can apply it. I managed to do your head, but the rest of it will have to wait until the thaw." She smirked. "Let me know if you ever want me to finish it." She displayed the painting that had his head and a blank canvas around it.

Shran laughed. "I really can be cold as ice" he joked. "If only I could freeze Hela in such an easy fashion" he said with a smirk.