Flutter Bugs

Posted on 11 Apr 2023 @ 10:31pm by Aiden Dhow

Mission: M3 - Into the Deep
Location: Itonian Colony
Timeline: MD 03 1030
1550 words - 3.1 OF Standard Post Measure

“Whatcha doin’?”

The question came from somewhere around Aiden’s knees as he paused to take some photos of the market square. Frowning, he peered down to find a grubby child peering up at him. Small point-tipped ears split the dark mop of hair on its head – the state in no way helped by the dusty hands that continually pushed it out of its eyes. Aiden wasn’t sure if it was male or female – only that it was Romulan, as were the majority of the refugees. Choosing to ignore the question, he turned and started across the square.

His meeting with the elders had gone smoothly, all things considered. Kitaan had spoken for him, addressing him as family and acknowledging his presence here was not to seek asylum (and thus, take up space needed by the Refugees). Rather, he was taking the chance to capture the essence of the community so that the Obsidianites, as well as the Federation, could have a better grasp of what was going on and how they were functioning within their new home. It all sounded wonderful, and Aiden saw no reason to correct the man; his real reason for being down here was just a chance to make some money. If Ms. Hart liked what he showed her, that was a definite possibility.

“Is it hard to hear if your head’s so high up?” The voice again – muffled, now, by the milling crowds but still piercing enough to be understood. He shot a glance down at the child … did it have no parents, then? “Mr. Noah’s tall, but he wears a badge. Maybe it lets him hear better.” Now it was hopping along beside him. Aiden stifled a groan.

“I hear you fine, I’m just ignoring you.” Lifting the camera to his gaze, he sited along the various booths, focusing on the snatches of color from hanging pendants and the wares visible between passing bodies.

“How can you gunor me if you’re talking to me?” Now the small hand with who knew what muck smearing it was tugging on his pants leg. “Huh? What’s your name?”

Lowering the camera, Aiden resigned himself to the moment. “If I tell you, will you go away?” He peered about, hoping that the child’s parents were somewhere close – surely they didn’t just allow their offspring to wander at will.

A wide grin met his question as dark eyes glimmered in the late morning sun. “I’ll tell you my name. I’m Ayalou. What is that thing?” Now she was pointing at the camera; the last thing Aiden needed was the equipment getting damaged. “Whatsit do?”

He was starting to get curious glances from passers-by; though Aiden doubted there was any threat here in this sanctuary, the surroundings were different enough to keep him on edge. Maybe he should have taken up Kit’s offer of a tour, but the man was busy and it wasn’t like Aiden would be able to get lost. The community was a bowl for the most part, with the only egress to the world outside heavily guarded. Still … he wasn’t of these people. Sure, some were El Aurian, but they were dark, weathered beings – desert dwellers before they even came here. With his pale skin and lack of Romulan features, Aiden stuck out like a sore thumb.

“I bet you’re tryin’ to catch something. I like to catch flutters, but they only come out when its getting dark. Are there day flutters? Do they like flying up high?”

Aiden pinched the bridge of his nose, eyes squeezed shut against the glare as well as the irritation steadily building. “Don’t you have someone looking for you around here?” Opening his eyes, he peered about the crowd himself, but couldn’t pick out any individual looking particularly anxious. Granted, if they’d managed to lose this nuisance, he wouldn’t blame them.

“I think flutters maybe fly high when it’s light outside and come down low to nap at night.” She was tugging on his pantleg now. “Can I see ‘em?”

A passing elbow knocked absently against his back, causing Aiden to fumble the camera. Thankfully his reflexes and the neck-strap combined to rescue it from falling into the dust. Regaining his composure, he checked the lens before letting out a resigned breath. “It’s a camera. It takes pictures of things that I see.”

“Can I see?” The child was standing on its tip-toes now. Something about the face struck him as feminine; Aiden knew the moment he applied more than existence to the child, he was sealing his fate, but at this rate he was either going to be hiding out in Kit’s apartment or heading back to the planet with little to show for his time if he didn’t make some sort of peace with the creature.

“It’s not a toy; and there’s nothing to see. I have to go back to the station to develop the pictures.” Not entirely true, he knew, but she … damn it, he was calling it a ‘she’ now … didn’t need to know.

The girl … yes, girl, then … pouted. “But I wanna see? Howzit work?”

“Ayalou!”
Aiden glanced up at the voice, stilling in response as his eyes tracked across the crowd to find one figure shuffling about, ducking and weaving as if looking for something small and underfoot. “That’s your name, isn’t it?” He peered at the girl who was trying to reach for his camera as it hung from the strap.

“Yup.” The tips of her fingers brushed the underside of the camera seconds before Aiden ducked down and scooped her up beneath her armpits. “Hey!”

Wrinkling his nose at the odd array of smells coming off of her garment, Aiden turned back to where he’d last seen the figure. Adjusting Ayalou somewhat awkwardly against his hip, he waved. It took a moment before the figure looked up and locked eyes with him.

The shock of going up wore off quickly as Ayalou realized this now put her at range to better inspect the camera thing. She reached out to tug on the strap and try to pull it closer. “Hands off.” The words rumbled slightly but did little to deter her efforts.

Aiden quit waving as he caught the hand and pulled it away from the strap. “I’ll hang you by your heels if you don’t keep those to yourself, huh?” He realized he could set the girl back down, but knowing his luck she’d wander off before the man reached them.

Xerne wiped sweat from his brow as he drew closer to the stranger currently holding his child. Approaching cautiously, he sized up the man who was currently trying to control Ayalou’s grasping hands to no avail. “Ayalou, what did I say about running off in the Market?”

The question distracted the girl long enough for Aiden to adjust his grip and move the camera out of range. He regarded the man and decided he seemed familiar enough to Ayalou as she was giggling and squirming in his grasp. “I … ah …” He held the girl out for the man – Aiden was sure he was her father – to take her back “She’s rather small, and I did not think you would see her from where you were.”

Accepting his child, Xerne peered more closely at the stranger. He was young – granted, all the El Aurians here seemed a good deal younger than they likely were, but this one had a certain air to him that spoke of genuine youth. He looked somewhat familiar, though he couldn’t place why. Still, he had kept Ayalou safe. “My daughter tends to use her small size against me.” The comment elicited a hint of a smile. “I thank you for not letting her run off again.”

As if he’d had a choice. Tamping the thought down, Aiden nodded his head. “She was curious about my camera.” Among other things, but at the moment that seemed to still be somewhat of a focal point. “Ah … perhaps I can bring her back some pictures when I return.”

“You’re leaving?” Ayalou’s restless fidgeting stilled as a frown curved her mouth.

“I’m sure Mister …”

“Dhow.” The name came out before Aiden considered what he was saying, but it sparked recognition in the man. “My name is Aiden Dhow.”

“You must be related to the Commander. That would be why I thought you looked familiar.” Xerne sighed in relief. So he was a kinsman of the El Aurian councilmember. “Xerne tr’Azaoc. And this one is Ayalou.” He turned to point at a booth on the other side of the market. “That is my family’s market spot. If this one is not there, I will be at least.”

Attempting to wrap his mind around the name, Aiden nodded and lifted the camera, snapping a quick shot of the booth in question before smiling. “To help me remember.” The man nodded and waved farewell as he headed back into the crowd with his wayward child in tow. Aiden watched them head off for a moment before turning back to his work.