Thank You For Smoking

Posted on Wed Apr 12th, 2023 @ 4:24am by Lieutenant Commander Febin & Major Chiyo Shimada & Captain Elizabeth F. "Liz" Beurling & Alice Shimada

1,044 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Sand Sea Fun and Surf
Location: Risa

Chiyo and Alice were laying on a beach towel under a parasol set up on the beach. It was a public beach and not the private beach of the SFMC resort they were staying at, but Chiyo had been told that no visit to Risa was complete without visiting this particular beach. But so far, Chiyo had been less than impressed, not helped by the beach's popularity meaning that the beach was crowded.

Liz had just went off to go fetch some refreshments, and it was just Chiyo and Alice at their beach setup. Chiyo was on her stomach facing away from the water while Alice was sitting up facing towards it. Both were wearing one piece swimsuits.

"I must admit, it's nice to have a moment where Auntie Liz's cigarette smoke isn't blowing in my face." Alice sighed.

"Yeah, but with her around, sometimes it's best to just shut up and let her be her." Chiyo responded. "She already deals with regs wanting her to put out her cigarettes regularly, and she's my sister in arms, so I really can't complain too much."

"I know, it just makes the moments she steps away nicer.' Alice said.

Febin wore a shirt with buttons loose like most men on the paradise planet. He was carrying his flip-flops in his left hand while he walked across the sandy beach. He approached two women, he had overheard them and the keyword 'cigarette' made his physician's hairs stand against the back of his neck.

The two appeared to be mother and daughter. The one thing he had regretted in life was that during his marriage with Tamar, they never had children of their own. He blamed that on himself as he was committed to his profession and not on starting a family, something that Tamar didn't want in the first place which he didn't have a problem with.

In Haliianese he gave them a standard greeting that would translate into Federation Standard as, "The light shone upon you."

Chiyo heard the translated Haliianese in Federation standard via her universal translator and turned to face the stranger whom had appeared before them.

"Flattery don't charge these batteries, slick." She said. "Is there something else I can do for you?"

"Flattery? No, no... it simple friendly greeting on my homeworld of Halii, doesn't translate well into Federation Standard." Febin shook his head, "Also 'slick'? I am not this 'slick' person... you speak of... I am Febin." He curtly nodded his head to her.

"I see." Chiyo nodded. "Name's Chiyo Shimada. Pleasure to make acquaintance."

"Well met," Febin continued, "I don't wish to intrude on your familial gathering much longer." He bowed his head and started to carry on with his walk down the beach.

"What an odd fellow." Alice commented. "Its interesting, the kinds of characters you run into here on Risa."

Shortly thereafter, Chiyo and Alice were rejoined by Liz with their refreshments. A lit cigarette was still smoldering in Liz's hand.

"So, what did I miss?" Liz asked, taking a puff of the cigarette.

"Not much." Chiyo muttered, taking a sip of the slushie Liz had provided. "Ooh, Liz, you sly dog! Did you have rum put into this?"

"Sure did." Liz responded with a smirk. "Except for Alice's here... What? Don't give me that look! I may not be your average marine, but I wouldn't stoop so low as to feed alcohol to a minor."

Febin could smell the tobacco down the beach. He turned around to the mother and daughter he had spoken with briefly a mount ago where he gave them warnings about smoking tobacco. He returned to them and gave the new person the greeting he had given the two of them earlier, "The light shone upon you."

"Is there something I can do for you>"

Febin continued, "First and foremost smoking tobacco here at the resort and its beaches are prohibited. And second, it is unhealthy and doesn't offer any benefits to the health of yourself and those around to and not limited to the environment. Especially with the presence of a minor. Please extinguish your cigarette immediately."

There was a pause before Liz spoke up.

"How about you show a little respect for your elders, son?" She counter-proposed. "When you reach the magic triple digits like I have, I'd hope you'd be irked by someone younger than you telling you what to do."

"Age has nothing to do with it. As a physician, it is my duty to inform those that their life choices such as smoking tobacco may cause longterm and short-term health effects."

"And as long as you keep it purely informational, then we have no problem." Liz responded. "We have a problem once you start telling me to extinguish my cigarettes before they're done."

"Easy, Liz; we're not here to start fights!" Chiyo said, turning to Febin. "I'm sorry about her, sir; she's a bit... set in her ways. If you have a problem, we'll pack up and get out of here."

"Not a problem at all," Febin replied. He looked over to her, "Regardless, there's no reason to become hostile after I broached the subject in a friendly manner." He could sense that 'Liz' was still fuming over his statement, "If you quickly to become irritable maybe it is time to find alternatives to smoking tobacco."

Chiyo shot Liz a glare to get her to stand down.

"She gets... Defensive about her lifestyle." Chiyo explained. "I think it might be best if we pack up and head back to our hotel."

Doctor Febin nodded and watched the three women leave the beach for the resort. He knew he would be seeing the three of them again. He could feel it through his emotional telepathy. He rose his voice and placed his hand with the back of his hand facing them as a goodbye sign. According to Haliian social customs, it was rude to show the palm of your hand to new acquaintances. Then in Haliianese he spoke out to himself, "With peace may the light shine upon your path until we meet again."

OFF:

A Joint Post By:

Marine Captain Chiyo Shimada, Alice Shimada & Liz Beurling

and

Dr Febin

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