Magic Medicine

Posted on 09 Jun 2022 @ 6:56am by Lily Blake & Lieutenant Aria Rice

3,530 words; about a 18 minute read

Mission: Episode 18 - Cold Station 31
Location: Commander Blake's Quarters
Timeline: MD 07 - 1800

[ON]

Aria smiled warmly as she sat on the floor with Lily, her fingers carefully braiding the girl's hair. With the changes, Aria had offered to babysit outside of her duty shift...which meant she had time now. "You know, these small braids here will make you look like an Elf. It'll be ever so cute!" she said, her fingers moving carefully because she didn't want to pull her hair either.

Lily grinned at that, about to nod before she realised that would be a terrible idea. Sir Puffalot rested gently in her lap and she used her own hands to make his wings dance. "Not like Princess Lirha Elf....you mean like the wood elves?"

"Yes, like the wood elves," Aria said as she tied one of the braids before she moved to start another one. Two each side, it would be cute. "Or...a water sprite!" she stopped for a moment, thoughtful. "Or just like my Princess Lily, which is even better."

She titled her head to try and see her, laughing softly, her eyes shining. "Mummy says when I'm older I can have colour streaks in my hair like you. But only when I'm older. Seems a long way away."

"It will be there before you know it. I think you should enjoy what you have now," Aria said, hesitating before she finished braiding and leant to kiss her head. "Besides, I think I will have to avoid wearing the colours for a bit. Not really Starfleet dress code."

"Well they should be, they're amazing!" she replied with all the certainty of a child that it made perfect sense. She shifted so she was kneeling to face her, turning her head one way then the other. "Am I a good elf?"

"The best elf," Aria said and touched her cheek, nodding. "How do they feel? Not too tight?" she asked with some concern, reaching to get put the hairbrush and hairbands back in their box.

Lily shook her head with a bright smile, proud that it was true. "Why doesn't Starfleet let you have colour?" she asked with curiosity. "Life would be so sad with only vanilla ice cream."

"I don't know," Aria said and smiled, shaking her head. "You can have colours that are natural to your species. I know that much. Maybe they think it is distracting...imagine, you're on a diplomacy mission and your streaks distracts the ambassador so he insults the other ambassador and then they are all sulking and you get blamed!" she winked, screwing up her face. "Maybe that is why some of the greatest Starfleet Captains were bald..."

Lily laughed at the cheek in the statement, covering her mouth as she shook her head. "But...but...what if your colourful hair made them go 'wait, you're so cool, we have to be friends....'"

"I know!" Aria said with pretend-shock, shaking her head. "There's no respect...no respect for the awesome hair..." she smiled and stood, offering her hand to the girl.

She took it to pull herself up, not quite her usual bouncy self that could pop up and down like gravity didn't exist. "Well I love it. I'll send a letter to Starfleet and tell them they're wrong."

Aria looked at her, picking her up before she met her eyes, holding them. "You feeling alright, princess?" she asked, carrying her to the sofa and sitting down with her.

"Yeah," the girl said with a soft sigh despite the affirmation. "I woke up with a poorly ear. Mummy says I have to go to Sickbay for my checkup tomorrow so they can look then if it's still being silly," she frowned, covering the ear in question with a frown. "Will they poke a great big stick in there?"

"Of course they won't!" Aria looked at her with shock. "They'd never do that, promise. No, they'll just check it out and then take it from there. I used to get poorly tonsils when I was your age and that was icky enough..." she reached to touch her hair, just above the ear. "How about I replicate us some hot chocolate? Might make it feel better..."

Lily made a play of considering it carefully with pursed lips, even if there was absolutely no doubt in her mind. "I think it might make good medicine," she replied as if she'd thought about it seriously. "And if it had marshmallows on, then it would be magic medicine."

"Then we have to do that," Aria said firmly, nodding as she stood up. She walked to the replicator, smiling. "Computer, two cups of milk chocolate, hot, with marshmallows." She watched them materialise and picked them up, carrying them over. "Here...careful, it is still hot."

Lily snuggled up, pulling a blanket over her lap before taking the cup with a gentle smile. "You're the best! Who needs stinky sickbays when there's hot chocolate..."

Aria laughed softly, curling up as well as she watched her. "Well, sickbays are good if you should get worse. But for now, let's try this...home remedy instead," she sipped hers, sighing softly. "You know, I love hot chocolate. Like...a comforting hug in a mug."

Lily giggled at that idea, liking the image of it as she nodded gently, watching her with curious eyes. "What was your favourite? When you were little?"

Aria thought about it, biting her lip. "Hot milk chocolate, with whipped cream and honeycomb pieces..." she finally admitted, shaking her head. "My Dad he...there was this café, on Luna, and...he'd take me there and I would have it. And then I'd be bouncing from the sugar!"

"Oh!" Lily grinned, leaning forward in her eagerness to hear more about little Aria. "Was there ice cream? I bet there was ice cream..."

Aria smiled as she nodded, watching her. "Different flavours. If I was really good...I got some," she said lightly. And she had. Her Dad had spoiled her whenever he was at home. She was grateful for those memories. "My favourite one was chocolate."

"I like chocolate if there's mint," Lily gave a wicked smile at that, biting on her lip as she watched her with clear fondness. "Were you good at lessons?"

"I wasn't good at all my lessons," Aria said with clear honesty, watching the girl as she sipped her hot chocolate. "I was good at language...and I loved dance. But I didn't do well with sciences, until I got extra lessons. But I had to work hard because I wanted to be in Starfleet."

"Dance?" the girl perked up at that, grinning as she held her cup close, as if just having it wrapped her in comfort. "Can you do dance lessons with me too?"

Aria looked at her with surprise before she nodded. "If you want to, we can ask your Mummy..." she said, but in truth she didn't think Scarlet would have an issue with it. As long as it was just for fun. "What sort of dancing do you like?"

"Um..." Lily bit her lip, looking around as she tried to think about what dances there were in the world. "Um...the ones where you get to twirl? And...and the ones where you get to leap in the air like a cat...and...um...the ones where it takes a long time to gobble all your air back up after..."

"Ballet, I think..." she said before she sighed, shaking her head. "But, it does come with risks if you do it too much..." she said, her voice gentle. "Blisters, those little lumps...so if I teach you, you have to promise to be honest if it hurts."

"I can do that," Lily smiled warmly to her, nodding quickly before she changed her mind. "Mummy says I should always be honest, that...it can be tricky, but...in the long, long run, it's the better option," the way she took care with each word made it obvious that she was trying to remember it as Scarlet had said.

Aria chuckled and reached to touch her cheek. "Your Mummy is right," she said, her voice soft. "I'll talk to her. Can't make promises, she might think you are a little young to start."

"It's not fair...everyone's older than me here," Lily gave a great, theatrical sigh, but in truth, she didn't look particularly scarred by the issue.

"Oh, don't worry...one day, it won't be like that and then you'll miss it," Aria teased, sitting back with a soft sigh. "Let me clean this up. And you know what, we should draw your Mummy a lovely picture, something...as happy as you are!"

"Maybe," she watched her, biting her lip for a long moment. "She doesn't seem very happy at the moment," she said quietly. "She does the...blinky thing, like when she's tired."

"Well..." Aria considered the best way of saying it. "We had to go quickly, you know? And the new Captain, she is different. It's like...when you get a different teacher. You suddenly have to adjust to how they work, and you want to show what a good student you are as well, so you push yourself a little further. And your Mummy, she is working very hard to help the new Captain. So she'll be tired...but I think what she is the most sad about is that she is working so much she doesn't get the chance to spend loads of time with you."

Lily nodded, her teeth worrying her bottom lip as she watched her with large, blue eyes. "Makes me sad too," she admitted quietly.

Aria nodded and opened her arms to her, inviting her to a hug. "I know, my little dragon," she said quietly. "Come here..."

The young girl set the cup down carefully before moving to snuggle in the arms, holding her tightly as she closed her eyes. "You miss her too?"

"I do," Aria admitted before she let out a breath. "You know I love your Mummy. But luckily for me, I get to see you!" she stroked her back, soothingly. "And that means the universe to me. I love us spending time together, I just wish we could have your Mummy here as well."

"I love it too," Lily's smile came back at that, enjoying the simplicity of a hug as she relaxed with a soft sigh. "You would be an amazing Mummy."

"I think I am a better friend and auntie," Aria said as she stroked her hair for a moment, careful with the new braids. "Which, if you ask me, is more than enough for me right now."

"Mummy says that little girls are quite a handful," Lily giggled all the same against her, clearly finding it funny rather than a criticism.

"Oh, I know! I was!" Aria smiled as she kissed her hair, hugging her with a smile. "But you know, little girls are also the best. Just saying. We grow up to be amazing. But we gotta practice, and we start out as little handfuls for our Mummy."

"Did you go on all sorts of play adventures too?" Lily grinned, tilting her head up and resting her chin on Aria so she could watch and be comfortable at the same time.

"Oh, I did escape into many good places...using books," Aria said, her eyes shining. "I went on so many adventures, my darling. Promise."

"Can we do an adventure? In the holodeck? With a dragon?" she asked her, her eyes lighting up at the idea. "Please, please, please? You can pick who you are first...."

Aria laughed, watching her fondly. "We can, but not tonight. We'll do an adventure," she promised, reaching to touch her cheek with love.

"Yeah!" she settled her head on her, satisfied with the promise. She trusted Aria. She was a multicolour princess, there was no way she was going to break her promise. "Mummy says you're going to have a real life 'venture soon."

"I suppose we are," Aria said and stroked over her hair, thinking about it. "But you know what? Those aren't as fun with dragons as the adventures we will be having on the holodeck when we're done here! Promise. I will even make cupcakes to bring with us. To...help feed the dragons."

"And us?" Lily checked, looking up to her with eyes wide and full of alarm at the idea she might not get one of Aria's famously good cupcakes.

"And us," Aria assured her, quickly, not wanting her to think she wouldn't get one. "And us, I promise! Or else I might cry..." she winked, before she kissed her hair.

"Me too," she huffed, but with an easy smile, shaking her head firmly against her. "Can...we think of something nice to do for Mummy? To cheer her up when she gets back?"

Aria smiled, stroking over her hair. "How about...we make her something nice to eat? Something she can have when she comes back?" she asked, her voice soft.

"That's a great idea," the girl smiled warmly, trying to push herself off of the sofa, getting stuck half way with her foot tucked under them. "Magic sprinkles on fluffy bread..."

Aria chuckled warmly, getting off the sofa before she picked her up. "We could bake bread..." she finally said, meeting her eyes. "It'll take time, but we can do it. And then your mummy can eat it when she comes back with whatever she wants on it."

"Amazing idea," Lily grinned, climbing up onto the stool to be at a better height. "But...er...I don't know how..."

"I'll teach you," Aria said before she took a PADD, biting her lip as she found a recipe. "So baking is more like science, and cooking is like art. Baking bread, we will use yeast to make it rise..." she went and got Lily's apron, putting it on her. "It'll be fun, I promise! Loads of touching, so we need clean hands."

"Wash wash wash the hands then," Lily sang softly as she moved with her to clean them off. "You're so good at this...you could be a...a famous chef!"

"But then I couldn't be a Security officer, and keep the people I love safe!" Aria countered, leading her with her. She washed her own hands, but helped Lily as well. "We are going to replicate some things we need first. Flour, water, yeast, salt and olive oil. I will get those sorted. And we need a big bowl!"

Lily nodded as she followed her dutifully back to the kitchen, but looked up to her with wide, curious eyes, so distracted she almost walked into a kitchen stool. "Do you have to do marching? And shooting? And...and have a shield?"

Aria smiled as she replicated what they needed. She got the bowl and measuring cups too, placing it all on the counter. "No marching, sweetheart. Not like...when I was at the academy. And I know how to use a shield, from riot training years ago. And I can shoot...but mostly, I have to use my brains and talk to the ship, and she helps me!"

"Of course she does, the Lady in the Ship knows eeeeverything..." Lily laughed warmly, clambering back up onto a stool to be closer to the action.

Aria laughed warmly, starting to add the flour to the bowl. "So here's a trick. Salt kills yeast. So I am going to keep those separate," she said, her voice playful. "And I make a little well here, then..." she added the oil and water before she started mixing. "So now I am mixing it all so that it can...well, become a dough!"

"It's....alive?" Lily looked at the forming dough with awe and a new level of respect and bewilderment.

"Yes!" Aria nodded, with excitement. "It's alive. It's one of the great magics..." she said and smiled as she put some flour on the counter before tipping it over. "So now we are going to knead it..." she started, slowly, to show her. "Come here and try it."

Lily rolled her sleeves up, showing she meant business as she climbed onto the closer stool. She touched the dough carefully, giggling at the squidgy texture of it. "It's quite strong!"

"It is," Aria nodded and smiled as she moved behind her. "Put some pressure on it..." she showed her how to knead, her eyes gentle. "And have a go as well! When you get tired, you tell me..."

Lily pushed at the dough, trying to match Aria in the motions, but she didn't have the same strength. She laughed at how tough it was though, pushing with her whole body. "You are so strong, Aria! You are...strong as a Klingon!"

Aria laughed, watching her before she shook her head. "I wish! I would never meet a jar to defeat me..." she said, her voice playful. "You're doing really well, Lily!"

"So..." the girl mused on it with all the seriousness that should be given to a great mystery of the universe. "If bread is alive...does massaging it like this wake it all up?"

"Sort of, yes! And the warmth," Aria said as she nodded, before she helped her knead it. "And then it has to rest, for an hour, until it is twice the size. I think we should do your bath then, so you are nice and clean in your jammies..."

"It's not fair, you don't get bedtime," Lily grumbled, her lips pursing at not wanting to miss out as she prodded shapes into the bread dough with her fingertip.

"I wish I had bedtime!" Aria suddenly confessed, smiling as she covered the dough before she led Lily to wash her hands. "I might have a nap with you to be honest. Been so busy with the new Captain, I just don't get the time to sleep anymore."

"That sounds amazing," Lily grinned, reaching out to put too much soap in her hand, frothing it up as she rubbed her hands together vigorously. "Wanna swap? I be you for a day and you be me!"

Aria laughed, nodding before she kissed her hair. "I would love that! You could sit in Security, bossing people around, and I could sit here and paint!" And truthfully, she loved that idea.

Lily clapped despite the foamy soap, looking to her with bright eyes. "That's the bestest idea we've ever had! I'm gonna perdition the First Officer."

"You do that," Aria laughed warmly, helping her rinse her hands before drying them. "I think that is the bestest idea tonight to be honest."

***

Aria smiled as she cut up the fresh bread, looking at Lily, who was in her pyjamas now. "Here..." she put some butter on it, offering it to her. The bread was still slightly warm, so the butter had started to melt.

Lily took an impossibly big bite, her eyes closing as she moaned, her whole body scrunching up with delight. "Ids do gooood..." she managed to get out as she ate.

"Yes you did!" Aria laughed, her eyes shining as she took some as well, biting into it. "Mm...you are my bestest baker. Your Mummy will be so impressed."

"Mummy can't do the cooking with the food," Lily shook his head but with a light shrug. "The Lady in the Ship helps her. We can show her, right?"

"We can, but you know what? Your Mummy works hard, and I understand if she doesn't find this sort of cooking fun. But if you do, I can teach you more?" Aria asked, her eyes warm as she took another bite. She chewed, thinking about it. "It would be nice to pass on some of my recipes."

"Yeah! Deal," the girl took the perceived offer on the table before it was withdrawn. "Can we make something with more sugar in next time?" her smile broadened to a grin, her eyes shining with the prospect.

"Maybe cake?" Aria asked, laughing as she reached out to touch the tip of her nose. "Would you like cake, is that what I am hearing?"

"You're a good detective," she giggled fondly, her nose wrinkling with the tickle of the touch.

"Of course I am," Aria said, her voice playful. "I am after all the Chief of Security. Have to be a good detective..." she winked, glancing at the time. "It's almost bedtime, Lily."

"Noooooooo...." Lily groaned, covering her face, slowly collapsing against Aria, trying to hide her head under her stylish little waistcoat, but there wasn't much room with the petite size of the Security Chief.

Aria laughed and wrapped her arms around her with love, kissing her hair. "Now, now...space princesses don't cry about bedtime. And I'll read you a story too!"

The girl made a raspberry sound, but shrugged awkwardly in reluctant agreement. "A really long one?"

"A really long one," Aria promised, stroking over her hair as she smiled. "A really long, good one, with dragons..."

[OFF]

Lt. Aria Rice
Chief of Security
USS Galileo-A

&

Lily Blake
Civilian Child
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Blake]

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