Sauna time

Posted on 26 Jul 2016 @ 10:14pm by Lieutenant Tuula Voutilainen M.D. & Lieutenant JG Eelim Galan
Edited on on 28 Jul 2016 @ 4:39pm

1,874 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Episode 11 - Divinum Mundi
Location: USS Galileo - Holodeck Two
Timeline: MD15

[ON]

It was late in the evening after a long shift in sickbay when Tuula's PADD chimed with a message, an invitation to the holodeck. Upon reading it, a wide grin appeared on her face and within a few minutes, she had changed, tossed on a bathrobe, and found herself rolling down the corridors towards the holodeck.

As the doors slid open, her vision was temporarily obscured by the holographic steam which filled the dark cave. Quickly, she pushed herself inside, and as the door closed beside her, she undid the belt on her white standard-issue bathrobe, revealing a black bikini underneath and all the ink she had collected over the years.

"Eelim," she whispered, as her eyes began to adjust to the darkness, enabling her to make out a Cardassian figure on the other side of the glowing rocks. Beads of sweat began appearing on her forehead, caused by both the heat and the anticipation. "Thank you for the invitation."

Eelim had been resting and taking in the heat like well...a lizard on a rock in the sun. He heard the door open and then Tuula's voice. He stood up and walked over to Tuula saying, "No problem." He grinned. "I figured it would keep your thoughts from dissecting me," teased.

"I still might," replied Tuula, jokingly, as she pushed herself closer towards the glowing rocks in the middle of the holographic cave. Taking a deep breath, she reached over and placed a hand on the rock and closed her eyes, slowly exhaling as all the stresses of the day melted away under the intense heat from the glowing rocks in the middle. The sauna was hotter than she was used to, but not quite uncomfortably so.

He Eelim rubbed the back of his neck. "Can I...um help you to the rock?"

"Sure," replied Tuula, tossing the now empty arms of her robe back over her chair. Wearing nothing but her bikini, she reached up towards Eelim and grabbed onto his shoulders to steady herself.

When Tuula grabbed his soulders Eelim he lifted her out of the chair and gently placed her on the rock, which he'd cooled enough for her so that she would not be uncomfortable. That's what he loved about holodecks. You could adjust the smallest detail.

As he placed her on the lounging rock he noticed her tattoos. "Very nice ink." Then he noticed her bikini. He blushed. What people didn't know was when a Cardssian blushes his neck ridges and the spoon like indentation on his forehead turn crimson.

"Thanks," replied Tuula, glancing down at the decorations on her skin for a moment, not noticing Eelim's blushing. "I just love everything about tattoos. The designs, the feeling of freedom when you decide what you want on your skin and just do it, and the sensation of the tattoo needle on my skin... it's just so exhilarating..." She paused for a minute and looked across the rock. "A sauna is the only thing comparable, though..."

"Although?" He promoted her, "What were you going to say next."

"Oh, it's nothing," replied Tuula, biting her lip for a moment. "It's just that where I'm from, it's traditional to sauna in the nude. It just feels a little strange to be wearing a bathing suit in a sauna."

Eelim blushed again this time his ears turned read too and the spoon like indentation on his forehead was glowing red. "Um...I don't think that would be a good idea."

A little disappointed, Tuula let go of the strings on her bikini, keeping it in place, for the moment at least. "Awwwwww, why not?" she asked, raising her head off her arms, which were folded underneath in a makeshift pillow, to look across at her Cardassian companion. She had never seen a Cardassian blush before, though she supposed she didn't spend too much time around their species. "Don't tell me you're uncomfortable with the female form..."

He looked back at her still red. "I'm engaged." And yes he was a bit uncomfortable with the female form seeing that he'd never actually seen one.

"Oh." Tuula tried to stifle a chuckle to spare Eelim further embarrassment, but it was no use. "You didn't really think I was trying to..." She trailed off, giggling like a schoolgirl for a moment, before taking a deep breath of the warm air. "No, no, you misunderstand..." She paused for a moment; in Finnish sauna culture, the sauna was a strictly non-sexual place, despite the nudity. "I don't see why two colleagues can't just sauna together in the nude without it being some sort of sexual thing. Besides," she added, pausing to try to give the clearly embarrassed Cardassian a reassuring smile, "I'm a doctor, remember?"

"Yes well... Let's just um...not." He rolled over on his back looking up at the cave. "Besides I don't know if I'm uncomfortable with the female form. Never seen one."

"Fine," replied Tuula, rolling onto her stomach, revealing both the tattoos of old Earth constellations and the glistening metallic flakes she had implanted in her skin by an artist on Akkadia. "I suppose if it will make you more comfortable-- wait, what?"

Tuula's head snapped back towards Eelim at the realiziation of what he just said. "You mean to say, you never..."

"Yeah well." He blushed again. Anyway...let's totally not go there. Got a question for you."

Tuula sighed. She had been asked this question by curious guys on more than one occasion. Sometimes even on first dates, though those would usually be last dates as well. "Yes," she replied in an exasperated tone, "everything works down there, and yes, from time to time, I like to have--"

Seeing the look of horror on Eelim's face, she froze, her mouth hanging open for a second, herself a little embarrassed for the first time in this encounter. "Oh. That wasn't the question you were thinking of..."

"Definitely not." He scrubbed his hand over his face. "Let's get over that topic altogether. It's a surgery question actually."

"Oooh, surgery!" exclaimed Tuula, as she rolled herself over onto her side, excited for not only a change in subject, but one to one of her favourite subjects. "My specialty. Shoot."

"I read a story recently where a Romulan didn't like the shape of his ears so he had them made to look human. Is that possible? On a permanent basis?"

"Of course," replied Tuula, in a tone that was a little too enthusiastic. "It would actually be quite a simple procedure, just a couple cuts with a laser scalpel, and a little quick work with an autosuture, and you would be all set. You would be amazed at what's possible these days... why, we could even make you look like a Bajoran if you so desired... why do you ask?"

He shrugged. "Just wondering." He thought for a moment. "I love Dora Gale's books. She writes to well. I Read it there and was wondering if it was true." He grinned. "I knew you'd be interested in surgery."

Eelim was right; she was interested in surgery. But she found something even more curious -- the fact that someone who has yet to see the female form would be an avid reader of romance novelists. "Dora Gale?" Tuula raised an eyebrow. "My sister reads those books all the time. Aren't they kind of..."

He blushed again. "Yeah... okay. So I like romance novels." He shrugged. "It's not a big deal."

"Fair enough," replied Tuula, rolling herself over onto her side to better absorb the heat from the rock. Though, she figured it would be a good time to offer a little medical advice, to avoid a potentially embarrassing situation in sickbay later. "You know," she said in a nonchalant tone, "those novels aren't very accurate. To avoid chafing, you should really use a linen or a silk rope, not nylon."

Eelim groaned. "I don't want to know what books you've been reading but Dora Gale...well her books are about so much more. They talk about relationships, adventure... love." He sighed. He turned over to look at her. "I think that it's time for a subject change."

"Hey, I'm just trying to keep you out of sickbay with embarrassing injures," replied Tuula, pausing for a second to take a deep breath of the warm air and wipe some of the sweat off her face. "So... what's a Cardassian doing in Starfleet anyways? You know, aside from enjoying the holodecks and Earth romance novels."

Eelim shook his head. "It's my home. For a long while after I left Cardassia I didn't know what I wanted to do. Myra wanted to study fashion, I loved to Earth with her and I decided to go into Starfleet."

"Ooooh, fascinating," exclaimed Tuula. "I love fashion! My sister always says I have too many pairs of boots, but I think you can never have too many. You need the right pair to go with the right torn fishnets and spiked collars, you know what I mean?"

He smiled. "You and Myra would get along well. She has a ...what did she call it? Gothic style."

Tuula smiled. "What kind?" she asked, unable to conceal her excitement, "Victorian goth? Cybergoth? Lolita? Pastel goth? Steampunk? Vampiric goth? Deathrock? Classical? Industrial? Fetish?"

He blinked. Were there so many categories.... "I ... I don't know. I know she makes lots of flowing dresses with spider web designs and capes..." He thought a moment. "I have a catalogue of what she's made. I can give you one if you'd like."

"That would be great," exclaimed Tuula. "I've been thinking of updating my wardrobe lately. It's just too bad we aren't allowed to be a little more creative while on duty... It would be so nice if we could accessorize our uniforms with jewelry or chains or neck tattoos, wouldn't you agree?"

He smiled. "Yes that would be a sight to see." He thought for a moment. "Are you alright with the temperature? it's rather hot in
here. I can have the holodeck lower it if you wish."

"It's perfect," replied Tuula, her voice muffled by the towel as she wiped another layer of sweat from her face. "Okay, maybe it's a little warm," she added, trailing off before an idea hit her. "Thank you so much for the invite. But I feel our sauna session wouldn't be complete without indulging in another Finnish tradition..."

"Oh boy." He let the silence stretch. "Do I dare ask?"

"A post-sauna beer, of course," replied Tuula in a lighthearted tone. "You have to stay hydrated when you sauna... doctor's orders!"

He smiled. "That I can do." He stood up and walked over to Tuula. Effortlessly he lifted her and placed her back in her chair. "Sorry.... I should have asked first."

"It's all right," she replied, tossing the white standard issue robe over her shoulders and finding the arm holes. "Come on," she added tugging on his arm and motioning towards the door of the the holodeck, "I can replicate you some cold beer in my quarters..."

[OFF]

Lt. Tuula Voutilainen, MD
Medical Officer
USS Galileo

&

Lt. JG Eelim Galan
Security / Tactical Officer
USS Galileo

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