Vox Populi

Posted on Sun Apr 19th, 2020 @ 2:39pm by Lieutenant JG Matthew Plumeri

1,224 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Episode 106 – Stalemate
Location: Vox's Shop
Timeline: MD02 - 1400

[ON:]

Having some free time, Matthew went onboard Starbase 23. He decided to do some browsing and just looking and mingling among the crowds of people that made up Starbase 23. As he walked along the wide corridors of the shopping area, he spied a medium sized Art merchant. It looked like it had just opened. It had that "new store" look to it and so, he drew closer to look at some of the offerings inside.

Vox was busy re-arranging new works that he had finally removed from storage and was now able to display them in his shop. He had not yet noticed the young Lieutenant entering the shop.

Venturing inside, Matthew started browsing. There was such a wide variety here to look at. Bolian vases, Andorian crystal and Vulcan sculpture presented such a wide variety. Matt heard someone else inside the shop and said, "Hello there? Is this shop new?"


"Oh hi, welcome to my shop. It's new in terms of being on Starbase 23 but my original shop is on Starbase 400. I was fortunate enough to be able to save a good amount of the collection before evacuating. See anything you like?" Vox replied.

"You are a member of Starbase 400's civillian crew then? I'm pleased to meet you. I was transferred from the Galileo to SB400 two days ago. I'm sorry that you and everyone got displaced. It's good to see that you are setting up your business again." Matt continued, "I've got shared quarters now with a couple of other junior officers. But I was looking for something that I could hang on the wall."

"Good to meet you too. What sort of thing are you looking for? What do you like?" Vox asked.

"Well, I am kind of looking for...something to help me meditate? Something like a landscape? Something with a lot of detail and yet. I kind of want it tranquil too. I share quarters so it can't be too big" Matt answered with a slightly apologetic look.

"So, something small that's tranquil, detailed and helps with meditation. Let me have a look at what I have in the collection. " Vox picked up his tablet and began to search his records. "Ah, follow me," He said leading Matthew over to a section of the gallery. He stopped in front of a medium-sized painting of a sunset in the background of a deep blue ocean horizon with a rocky shore in the foreground with the waves foaming white in and over the rocks.

"Is this something you had in mind?" He asked.

Matt followed the man over to a different section of the shop. The painting was very nice indeed, "Oooo...that's very nice. It makes me think of home. Only, my home has twin suns. I like the ocean and waves. I like how the artist has used yellow and white to make the sun so bright and...it feels so hot." He talked with his hands as well. Careful not to touch the painting but using his hands to illustrate his points. "I like it. I like the size too. I don't mean to be too picky. What else have you got? You're Trill, aren't you? Anything from your world?"

"I am yes. I have a few from my homeworld. Follow me." Vox lead him to another area of the gallery and pointed to four different paintings, similar to the previous one. "These are all by the Trill artist Joran Dah. " he added.

They all looked good but Matt was drawn to one in particular. It was a painting of the Hoobishian Baths where they met with the sea. There were coastal rocks and coastal trees and the sun setting. There were people and animals in the scene. "I like this one. Yeah. The way the water is so deep and tranquil. The ship on the horizon, the shoreline. Yeah." He took in a breath, as if he could smell the baths themselves, "How much for this one?"

"They are all 5 strips of latinum of 10 credits." Vox replied.

Matthew only had four credits period. He didn't let on though. He said, "Sounds reasonable. Well, I should also look at something smaller too. Doesn't havve to be a landscape. Could be anything really. Anything else come to mind?" he asked trying not to look cheap.


"I have to make a quick call to a dealer in 5 minutes so, have a good look around the gallery and I will be back shortly. Make a note of the code number underneath the paintings you like. " Vox replied.

"Sure thing. Thanks, I'll just poke around ay?" Matt looked up and down a few more racks and, finding something more in his price range, selected it. Costing only a single credit, it was small painting with no frame. A winding road leading up to a waterfall and the light from two suns coming streaming through the canopy of trees. The water cascading onto the rocks below. He handed it to the shop keeper and said, "I'll take this how about?"

"Sure, it's an exceptional painting. That's a little more than the other one. That one is 6 strips. " Vox replied.

Plumeri flipped the painting over, "Oh? it must be mis-marked then?" he tapped the sticker, '1 FEDCRED'. "Did I get it from the wrong shelf?" he asked politely.


"No it's me not putting it in the right grouping. Tell you what. As a good gesture. Have it for 1 Fedcred. " Vox replied.

Matt said, "That's very good of you sir, but I don't want to take advantage of the situation. I can find something else if this is too steep a loss. It's no biggie. I'm not an 'art dealer' over here. It just looked good to me."

"No, I insist. Besides, being the artist I am allowed to change the price. Well, I was, the picture was painted by my second host Azrel. Anyway. it's yours for 1 Fedcred." Vox said with a smile.

Matt grinned back, happy, "Oh dang! I had no idea man." He reached over to the PaDD and signed into his financial account. Transferring the single credit over to Raekwon, he shook his head apologetically and said, "I, y'know, Starfleet pays me in Slarban peanuts and good intentions." He looked away kind of embarrassed, "I just don't have a lot of dough. Right now I mean." He looked up, "So, thanks. I appreciate it. This will really help."

"Glad I can help. Feel free to visit anytime you wish. " Vox replied.

Matt nodded, "I'll be back!" He stopped mid-stride and asked, "Hey? Would you mind signing it? I don't get a chance to meet the artist much less collect their work."

"Well ok but I am Raekwon Vox now and the painting was done by my 2nd host Azrel. But sure no problem." He said. He got out his pen and signed the bottom of the picture, mimicking Azrel's signature. "Azrel often forgot to sign her work. Too busy getting on with her next one to remember to sign off the last." Vox added.

Looking at the signature, Matt was very happy indeed. "Sweet! Thank you Raekwon Vox. I'll be seeing you around!" He said and then he left the shop.


[OFF:]

LTJG. Matthew Plumeri
Science Officer/Historian
USS Endeavor
NCC-72802

&

Raekwon Vox
Serenity Gallery Owner

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