Artrex's Gala: Viewing the Collection [prt 4]

Posted on Fri Oct 14th, 2022 @ 10:56am by Samanthia Akiashiro & Colonel S'er'in'e

Mission: The Archan Job
Location: Archa IV

IC

Samanthia turned slightly and stepped closer to S'er'in'e as she wrapped her arm around his waist, looking up at him. "Looks like the viewing of his collection will happen soon." Smiling softly up at him with warmth and pride showing in her stance as she gave him one arm hug. "I may bring you to more social functions here on Archa." Which even she would enjoy even more having S'er'in'e with her to prevent the more ardent males from crowding her and attention.

S'er'in'e looked down at his Mate when he felt her hug to him. His eyes however held a measure of shame or upset that he allowed harm to befall her. Even his other hand lifted to brush lightly the redness on her arm from the harsh grip of the male. "I am sorry he hurt you." It was obvious it bothered him, deeply. This was Afterall supposed to be a grand thing for Samanthia being able to see the collection, now marred by the act of one and the inaction of another.

"Don't be. It'll fade away," Samanthia spoke softly after noticing his look and direction. "I would've embarrassed him if you hadn't showed up." She gave him a soft yet confidence smile. "But is nice to have you here with me." She gently leaned against him, still in the gentle one arm hug to let him know she still thought highly of him with the warmth of love she held for him.

His expression softened at hearing her affirm she was alright. He also felt the lean, the hold on him with helped bring a reassuring warmth. "I hope I did not worry Selene, she has not seen me so before." He would make sure to make the proper tradition requirements at a later time. As he spoke he took in the view around him, where the key groups were, persons of import but also exits, tables of food and beverage positioning.

A slight murmur rippled through the gathering as more single Archon males slowly began to appear near the exits that lead deeper into mansion complex. One of the Archon males gave a nod towards Mr. Artrex as he gave a slight smile and interrupting the person talking to him. He stepped from a lone from the group he was with, giving a signal which the music stopped so that he may be heard.

"Ambassador Rewo'El, ..." Artrex mentioned a few more names of importance to include the Akiashiro's, " and guests. It is time see The Collection. Please follow me if you would like to see it." He turned to await Rewo'El to join him to lead the rest of his guest.

Samanthia's smile widen at the mention of the famed collection of Artrex's. She released S'er'in'e from the hug as she joined up with Akiashiro group, while waving for Selene and Professor Wanglestien to join them. Letting them get ahead of majority of the others who was also gathering find a place close enough to front to hear how Artrex acquired the objects of art, relics and artifacts of his collection. "This ought to be very interesting." She murmured just loud enough for S'er'in'e and Selene to hear.

Selene nodded as she reached out to give Samanthia's arm a gentle squeeze. "Oh yeah. We're gonna be in the limelight at the U!" She exclaimed back excitedly. Stepping back to join with Professor Wanglestien as they was led through various wide corridors with doors shut and a posted guard near them and at crossing corridors to prevent strays from wandering off the chosen route through the mansion to where the collection was stored.

S'er'in'e kept pace with the group as he took in the views but also keeping an eye on his Mate and those around her. He knew her focus would be on the collection and that was afterall what she came to see. Clearly the host was an avid collector and there were many items that clearly held some kind of import that was otherwise lost upon the feline. S'er'in'e did notice however the increased number of staff guarding doors, naturally there would be security present for such a event, but the sudden jump was surprising.

A few other guests that were coming to view the Collection, glanced at the Security as they passed them. "Kinda strange to have them appear." One remarked nodding towards the Security as they passed by. Another answered just as softly. "He has to shut down special monitors that are tied in with the rest of the grounds and house, in order to gain access to where he keeps his collection." A few murmurs rippled through the group as majority ignored the Security Personnel as wall decorations, but aware of what they represented.

Samanthia eyes darted about as if looking at the various low value art displayed along the route. Seeing the big vault like doors open and two visibly armed guards standing in casual attention each side of the opening to what lays beyond. She felt the building excitement building within her with each step. Moving a little quicker and in front of S'er'in'e as the group formed a single line to pass through into huge room that displayed artifacts, relics, jewelry and rare antique weapons dating back to the stone age of various planets across the galaxy.

Room in general was dimly lit, yet each display had their own source of light to bring out finer nuances of the object on display. Gasps and exclamations of delight escape from the guest as their eyes fell on the treasure trove of the displayed items.

"Ambassador, VIP's, Guests.... My Collection! I wish I could claim acquisition of all the pieces you will view at your leisure. Majority of the pieces have been acquired by my ancestors for a bunch of generations since they came into wealth to afford this. I've added a few pieces myself." Artrex stood at rigid attention, beaming with pride of his wealth and status before them.

Samanthia dropped back to the side of S'er'in'e once passed the bottleneck of the entrance to the gallery. "Oooooooo" She purred softly as her eyes flitted from object to the next within view of her. "I could spend infinity in this room, just studying this." She whispered to Selene as she had stopped next to her on the opposite side of S'er'in'e, getting a giggle from Selene.

"I agree!" Selene sharply whispered back in excitement, then winced when receiving a jab from Professor Wanglestien. "Oh, cut that out, Prof. Or I'll dump you and hang out with S'er'in'e after I steal him away from Samanthia." She then turned and gave S'er'in'e a seductive and appreciative glance.

Samanthia gave a soft giggle as she glanced up at S'er'in'e to see his response to Selene's remark.

"As honored, I am afraid it is not I that one should focus on, My Mate however might have something to say about such advances." He tried to afford a smile but as with anything, his Mate determined much in the relationship, such as inclusions.

Selene looked at Samanthia as for permission to steal S'er'in'e away. Samanthia smiled with a shake of her head and slight hugging of S'er'in'e's arm to show her possessiveness of S'er'in'e, then releasing him as Selene gave a mock pout and gave a playful whine. "I guess I'll settle for Wanglestien even though we're lovers at one time." Selene look softened a bit at a quick glance at Samanthia.

Professor straighten up with in a prideful manner and a glint in his eyes, knowing full well he wouldn't have a chance in Hades with Selene if it weren't for the viewing of the famed Artrex Collection. He placed a hand on Selene's center lower back in appreciation of being with her. "Let's split off from group, Miss Selene."

Selene gave Samanthia and S'er'in'e a wave as the two broke from the group to take their own path through display stands of the collection as other were doing.

Samanthia blushed a little at the mention of being lovers with Selene. She recovered as she nodded in response to the wave as she led S'er'in'e off in a different direction, pausing occasionally to stop and read the info plaque on the object of interest.

A question burned but he was not sure how to ask it. The very nature of it puzzled him and part of him wondered if he misheard. "My Mate, I have a question." He spoke softly so those around would not hear. "What did Miss Selene mean by being lovers at one time?" All he knew was that Selene was a classmate at the university that Samanthia would sometimes stay with for classes for ease of attending the university grounds but it gave him thought that he didn't know Samanthia was attracted to women also.

Samanthia paused for a bit, then turned slowly to face S'er'in'e as she made eye contact. "I was. And still have strong feelings for her." She spoke just as softly, knowing he was curious. Samanthia moved closer and gave him a hug. "Also I love you just as much with trust that you'll provide and protect me even in the mind blowing ways of intimacies. I am yours, just as you're mine. And I don't share once the vows are taken and I don't stray either."

She released him, looking thoughtful. "If Selene needed help, I'd help her in a heartbeat. We've became really good close friends. We even claim kinship of being sisters, even though we don't have same biological parents. I have good strong feelings for her. Hopefully she has for me. But we've moved on, having different lovers. She single and is searching still for her perfect mate. Where I've found mine." She reached out taking his hand in hers, looking up at him.

S'er'in'e listened to every word his Mate uttered softly and he could hear the truth in them, even those about her past. He had to wonder if perhaps his question was a stupid one to her since such things are simply not done in the Caste. He knew he had much still to learn about Human ways, things that while alien to him were things he needed to know about to help him in the relationship with Samanthia. There were times when he'd do research to broaden his understanding and knowledge, be observant of those around him as he walked about the station from one venue to the other. Things like cuddling, holding hands even something as simple as leaning against each other, which he knew he'd need to be careful about since he was considerably taller and heavier than Samanthia. "I understand." While it was the truth, it was obvious that the relationship she had with Selene would be something he'd need time to process.

Samanthia watched him as they stood there amongst the collections of rarities, artifacts of past masters and even simple bowls and weapons from ancient times. She smiled softly with warmth for the big Caitian she held hands with. "Have you ever been attracted to another female Caitian while living on Cait? Ever thought that what it would be like to know many different lovers?" " She moved slowly to the next item on display, signaling her intentions as not to throw S'er'in'e off balance.

"I left the Homeworld at a young age when duty, honor and service came first. While my color elevated my standing my training came first ultimately leading to Starfleet before anything else came to mind." Considering S'er'in'e spent nearly all his youth around males and the only females present were his Mother and the Proctor of his training. "It, is not our way." He answered her second question. "We Mate to one, alone and only." S'er'in'e knew that upon Samanthia's death be it from old age or accident, he would not be far behind. A life's detail that he accepted long ago.

Samanthia nodded sagely at him before her attention was drawn to a picture carved onto stone, of a man wielding staff with a sphere on top of it. Lines emanated from it in a cone fashion onto a crowd of weird looking creatures coming towards the staff wielding man. "Sphere of Jas," She muttered as she looked the carved picture on a stone tablet. Then she read the plaque to confirm what she resumed was the picture of Sphere of Jas being used to fend off hostile creatures.

She looked back at S'er'in'e after she lost interest after reading the plaque and display. "I hope Cait comes up with something to help to prolong Caitians life after losing a mate. It's a shame that all that knowledge and skills is lost before it can be shared with others. Maybe you ought to start a journal of your life experiences and knowledge gained since leaving Cait. This way it can be passed on to some young Cait to read to be better informed on what to expect when leaving Cait Homeworld." Speaking as she moved onto the next display.

There was logic to her comment and he couldn't deny that, but in the question of death came one of life. "My Mate." He spoke but paused. "H..have you..." The sheer uncharacteristic style of what he was saying hinted at the difficulty or seriousness of his question. "Have you..thought about more....offspring..at all?" It was something he'd thought about for a little while now but was not sure how to broach the topic. The female was the decider in such things and while he was trying hard to keep to an equal footing as she'd asked, it was still none the less a difficult question to ask.

Samanthia stopped dead in the pathway between the displays, creating a blockage as she turned and looked up at S'er'in'e. She took both his big hands in hers. "I'd love to have more children." She spoke softly. "Mariah is my last child I can ever have." She looked down demurely while holding his hands. "The treatment I went through to have a child of our union, messed something up inside me. Unless a miracle happens to prove medical science wrong. We're lucky to have our daughter. As I'm reaching the age where my body goes through changes where I can't have babies any more. Even living in space, my allotted time to have children is coming to an end. Mine just ended sooner." She looked up at him.

To S'er'in'e it was a double-edged sword, the want for a child and the measures taken to have one came with the cost of not being able to have more. He wondered what if she didn't take the treatments and what might have happened then. The most damning part was, did S'er'in'e cause injury to a female, Mate or not, indirectly? Had he caused this damage to Samanthia because of the treatments she needed to make conception easier? The thoughts caused the black stripes on his facial fur to shift as the accompanying emotion played its part. Was he to blame?

He'd not considered age as a factor also, he knew female fertility declined with age, it was no different with female Caitian's but sometimes it was easy to forget that some species don't last as long as those all too familiar to him. "I...see." As much as he tried to remember tonight was about his Mate, this new dark cloud would linger over him as he pondered if he...was in some way to blame.

Samanthia saw the subtle shift of his black stripes as she listened. She knew he was troubled, but nature was always a cruel mistress. She stepped up against him, wrapping her arms around his waist. Showing him no matter what demons he was dealing with at this time, she still loved the big furry cat that was her mate in her arms. "Let it go and don't worry about it. It was my choice also." Resting her head against his chest, breathing in his masculine scent and feeling the vibrant life within him.

It was hard for him to let it go, it struck to the core of his traditions, he would try in light of the moment and where they were but knew it would haunt him for a while yet. He understood it was her choice also, but were it not for him perhaps it wouldn't be this way. When Samanthia held him his arms went around her holding her firmly and closely knowing it also served to wipe over the scent that other male left upon her. He didn't say anything in reply, he was not sure what he could say in this moment to sway things in one direction or another but for now he'd wait patiently.