Portrait of the Artist as a Young Alien (Semi-Closed)

[GypsyGirl84]

"You're very sweet to say that," Luci giggled, "Especially when you take into account my limited number of limbs and overly centralized senses. But thank you," she added as she returned Steve's hug.
Stepping back from Steve, she asked."So do I need to pose some more, or do I need to give you some artistic solitude?"

 

[Aussie_Wolf]

"Well actually now I need to complete my sense of you if you don't mind," Steve told her. "Just like I did with your hair I need to run my tentacles over you so I can make your body appear just like your hair. I think I can do it in a way that won't bother you though," he told her hopefully. "I notice you seem to like hugs. I believe I can get the information I need from one of these hugs but it will have to be a slightly longer one and a bit firmer than the ones we have done before. I hope this will be acceptable or I will have to resort to just running my tentacles over your body."

Steve was trying to make her comfortable but he had to admit it to himself that he hoped she would choose the first option. He was actually coming to enjoy this activity she called hugs. Also he would be able to scan her entire upper body without her knowing including that area she didn't want him to touch. He did have sensory organs on his body area to. Not as good but they would do the job and it would not be invasive.

 

[GypsyGirl84]

"I kind of hoped you liked the hugs too," Luci said with a giggle. "But I'm probably getting the better part of the deal." In a high pitched voice she added,"You're so fluffy I can't stand it!" Luci laughed again as she added, "That's from a cartoon on Earth. If your computer has it as part of Earth culture, we can watch it together!"

"Anyway," Luci continued, stepping closer, "Why don't we start with the hug, and then if you need to touch my face more or something, we can do that too." Luci held her arms open for another hug."

 

[Aussie_Wolf]

Steve was glad and stepped forward. "Luci don't be scared but I am going to use four tentacles for this hug."

He reached for her and then stepped into the hug and proceeded to wrap his tentacles around them. He opened up all his sense pods and the data streamed into him as well as the pleasure, joy and happiness she was feeling at the moment. He was almost overwhelmed by that. She was not lying when she said she enjoyed hugging him.

He allowed one of the tips to get close to her face to gather data but it was not good enough. he would actually have to physically touch her. He wondered how she would react to that. He had all the data he needed but he held her for several seconds more before releasing her.

"Thank you Luci but there is just one more thing. I do need to touch your face. I am afraid I was not able to gather enough data from my observations to get a reading on it. I am sorry."

 

[GypsyGirl84]

"Only if you stop calling it 'gathering data'", Luci giggled. "And don't put anything up my nose," she laughed. "That's just gross!"

"But seriously," Luci continued, a bright smile on her face, "You're being artistic. Plus, you're just too adorable to say no to." With that, Luci closed her eyes, pressed her lips closed, and leaned her face toward Steve.

 

[Aussie_Wolf]

Steve lifted up a single tentacle and extended it slightly towards Luci. He rubbed the exposed skin part lightly over her face starting at her forehead. Her skin was very soft and smooth and as he moved down it only got softer. Her cheeks were like the softest material the Chiitin race produced, so soft you barely knew you were wearing it.

He traced her ears lightly then down her neck then back up over her chin then along her closed mouth and lips. He had enough now, he had traced her whole face including her eyes, nose, face, ears, neck, and mouth. He would be able to bring her to life any time he drew her now. He withdrew his tentacle a little reluctantly.

"Thank you Luci. I believe I will be able to do you justice now."

 

[GypsyGirl84]

"That was nice," Luci sighed. "You have a wonderful touch." Luci blushed, realizing how forward she was sounding. "I guess I need to leave you alone so you can get your preliminary stuff done." With an impish grin she asked, "Can I get a hug before I go, or do you only give those for creative purposes?"

 

[Aussie_Wolf]

In answer Steve stretched out two tentacles and easily pulled Luci too him for a hug.

"You know you do not have to go if you don't wish to. You can stay here and do your own art if you wish." He told her. "However I understand if you want to go exploring. It is not everyday you get to see an Alien planet. Do not worry, the atmosphere outside is breathable for humans so feel free to explore. There are no predators that will disturb you and if they will let you the animals are safe to be touched and petted."

He let her go and then pointed towards the kitchen. "If you ask the cooler for a packed lunch it will actually provide you with several items and a container of your choice of juice. Then take the lift down near your room and it will lead you to the gardens out the back. I suggest you begin exploring there."

 

[GypsyGirl84]

Returning Steve's hug, Luci said, "I just hope you get at least half of what I get out of hugging you. I'll be back in an hour to make sure you're doing okay, then I'll make us a salad for lunch." Luci blew Steve a kiss before disappearing in the general direction of the gardens.

 

[Aussie_Wolf]

Steve knew he was getting pleasure from her hugs but after her words he wondered if he was supposed to be feeling anything else. He examined what he felt when she hugged him and all he could understand was that he felt better and closer to her when he did.

Well he would have to think about it later, he had some more sketching to do. This time he sat down and began to sketch in earnest putting a little more effort in.

 

[GypsyGirl84]

Luci felt a little wicked running around Steve's garden in only a bikini. True, it was almost too conservative an outfit to able to call a bikini, but it made her still feel as if she were living some lurid adventure, like Bo Derek in that old version of Tarzan.

Luci had to snort with laughter at that image. She was a million light years from Earth and any chance of a sex life. Plus, if she were on Earth, she had a father and four brothers who were intent on her not having a dating life, much less a sex life.

There was Steve, of course, but she didn't think he was capable of having a sex life. And if he were, he'd probably want a being who look more like him.

So when did I start wondering about the possibility of Steve being my first, Luci asked herself. Shaking her head, Luci left the garden and returned to Steve's studio.

"I promise I want be asking you every hour on how things are coming," Luci laughed. "But I really wanted to see the difference hugging means touching my face made."

 

[Aussie_Wolf]

Steve had been in the middle of another drawing when he heard Luci come in. He turned to her as his tentacles continued to draw. This one he was doing in fine shades of pastels, using a lot of earth tones on her skin to capture the delicacy of it, and dark shades of black and blue for her hair with white highlights.

He had yet to finish her eyes and lips but it was mostly done. Around his studio were now hung various pictures of her. Some were of just her face, some from the neck up, and some from the waist up. She was posed in many different ways with many different expressions on her face, from joy, to happiness. To sadness and devastated. He had run the entire gauntlet of emotions.

He had done them just like his sketches in all types of pencils and drawing tools. He had not used any paint yet. He was looking for his style first. Then he would get the paint involved. This was the way he always worked. He hoped she liked the pictures, all of them now had that special quality about the whole picture that the sketches had only shown about her hair.

 

[GypsyGirl84]

As Luci made her way through the second round of preliminary sketches, it was amazing to her the level of quality exhibited. Of course, considering Steve's finished products, Luci shouldn't have been that surprised. But still...

Luci was still impressed with the range of emotions Steve could display her in, as well as the different poses. All that from just touching my face and a hug, she thought with a smile, raising a hand to touch her cheek.

Something, though, was nagging at her. She was looking at a picture of her holding her hand at a certain angle, when she realized the quality of how other parts of her were displayed had improved. Parts of her that she wasn't aware were being so carefully observed.

Turning toward Steve, a bemused look on her face, she tried to remember how Steve had described his method. "Steve," Luci slowly asked, "Did you, um, did you 'gather data' on..." Luci made a vague gesture toward her breasts.

 

[Aussie_Wolf]

Steve blushed again. Luci had noticed that. He had not drawn many sketches with those assets showing but she had managed to find one. The truth was they did not give off as much of a sparkle as the rest of her, but they were indeed a lot better than they had been before.

"I apologize Luci. I had no wish to deceive you and I did not use any tentacles on that area just as you told me not to. I was able to do this because of all the hugging we have been doing. You see even my body has some sensory abilities and it is because of this I was able to build up an idea of what that part of your anatomy was like. I was going to tell you but the opportunity never seemed to come up."

Actually he hadn't because he thought she might stop if she knew he could do something like that just by hugging her. He had to admit he had become very fond of her hugs.

 

[GypsyGirl84]

"It's okay, Steve, I know you were just doing it for artistic reasons," Luci replied, as she made sure she kept the tremor out of her voice. She suddenly realized she had been indulging in a little fantasy, which was just foolish. Wasn't she having a grand adventure as it was? She was on an alien world, for Pete's sake, with an alien artist who was as famous as Kanye West thought he was. Steve was being polite and friendly and was just putting up with her physical affection because he had to. She was probably just some gross primitive creature he had to put up with for the sake of his art.

"Listen, you have a lot of work to do, so I'll go see if I can use your kitchen to make us a couple of taco salads," Luci said with a bright smile as she quickly darted out of Steve's studio and headed to the kitchen.

 

[Aussie_Wolf]

As Luci was telling him about going to the kitchen to make some lunch and smiling, Steve could sense intense waves of sadness coming from her. He wondered what had caused this and how she could be smiling yet be so sad at the same time. This sort of thing always confused him. He had found a lot of beings were able to do this, say one thing but be thinking or projecting another. He had learned to ignore it, but Luci was a friend and this time he wanted to help.

As he made his way towards the kitchen he suddenly realized what he was thinking. Since when had he started to think of her as a friend. He had so few and none of a different species, and yet in just one day Luci had become very dear to him. He blushed a little but hurried on. He didn't over think it, he just knew that it was the truth. This woman from a distant world was indeed his friend and he would do whatever it took to make her happy again.

He entered the kitchen and saw her making something. He made his way over and looked at her. "Luci I know that you are sad. You can't hide your feelings from an Empath you know. Please tell me what is wrong, I would like to help you, after all you are my friend."

 

[GypsyGirl84]

At least he was her friend, Luci thought to herself. He really is a very kind and considerate being.

"I'm just being silly," Luci said, as the computerized kitchen formed two decent replica taco shells and began baking them. She then had the computer to begin chopping up the closest things she could find to cheddar cheese, tomatoes and lettuce before she turned back around to face Steve.

"I think I've probably been overly affectionate with you, and I want to apologize for that," she began. "I mean, this could have been a really bad experience, but you've been nothing but kind and open and generous. And you're so soft and pretty," Luci gushed. "I want to cuddle you like a big teddy bear. And you've put up with it, because you're a good person and an amazing artist. But I know I'm not your type." Luci gave a sad laugh as she cupped her breasts through her top. "If you were a human guy, you would have wanted to feel these because...well, they're big boobs." Luci dropped her hands by her side and shrugged. "You just wanted to paint a better picture. So I promise to let you touch wherever you need to, and to stop hanging on you," Luci concluded with a sad air of resignation.

 

[Aussie_Wolf]

Steve listened to what Luci was saying and he read her energies and he used his experiences of all his travels and he put it all together and finally he understood what she was talking about. As he did he blushed furiously. In fact he almost turned black he was blushing that hard. So that was her problem. She thought he was more than a good friend and she actually was looking at him as a prospective mate.

He would never have dreamed it could ever happen to him. Never had any species ever looked at him with that in mind. He had just been the alien that could make art exceptionally well, and they wanted him for that aspect only. How much money they could make off of him or they could brag about having spent to have an original one of his artworks in their homes.

Yet here was Luci who he had grown very fond of complaining that he did not want to touch her because she thought he only wanted to touch her for his art. He couldn't let her feel this way because it was not true.

"Luci, I may not be a human male, and yes I am sorry I can not see the appeal in your ahh big boobs as you call them. However I do want to touch you and not just because of my art. You are the only being I have met who has judged me for me and has liked me. You like touching me and I admit that I have come to like our hugs. I don't want you to feel sad because you think that I don't like you, because I do Luci. You are the first being in this entire Galaxy that I have had these feelings for."

 

[GypsyGirl84]

Luci nodded, suddenly realizing she had been put into the friend zone and that, perhaps, bizarre as it might sound, perhaps she didn't want to be just in the friend zone. Put those thoughts away for now, Luci told herself. Steve wants to be your friend, and you should be happy with that. Besides, she thought to herself wryly, how many dates have I had to turn down and tell the guy we could be just friends.

"I like being your friend and hugging you too, Steve," Luci said as she stepped over and gave him a tight hug. Just then, the computer indicated the taco shells were done. "Let me make some salsa, then we can have lunch. And afterwards, I say we take a break from painting. I don't suppose you have a swimming pool, do you?"

 

[Aussie_Wolf]

Steve knew what she was talking about but he didn't have one of those, but he could offer her something similar.

"A pool, no I am afraid not, but I have something you might like. You will be able to get that costume wet yet Luci," he told her giggling his musical laugh.

"However I would like to keep it a surprise till after lunch. It will be fun to finally be able to surprise you for a change."

 

[GypsyGirl84]

"Oh, trust me, Steve, it's been one big surprise after another with you," Luci giggled. "But I can wait until after lunch." Luci took a taste of the salsa she had just made and grinned. "Not as spicy as I like it, but perfect for your first time," she told Steve. She mixed the equivalents of shredded lettuce and cheddar cheese the kitchen had provided, along with small round blue fruit that tasted pretty close to cherry tomatoes and filled the taco shell bowls. She ladeled on the salsa, then set one bowl in front of Stevw and the other in front of herself.

"So what do you think?" Luci asked as she put a 'cherry tomato' in her mouth.

 

[Aussie_Wolf]

Steve tried the mix and was pleasantly surprised. It was delicious. The flavors exploded in his mouth as this new food hit it. He then tried the whole thing eating half of it in one bite and again he was surprised. There was a hard outer shell that was crisp but was easily eaten, and the semi spicy filling, but now their was also a cool food that complimented the spicy filling, playing on the taste, both cooling and refreshing yet increasing the heat at the same time. It was intriguing. Then there was what he knew to be cheese that again dulled the spiciness but added a new dimension to the taste with it's own tanginess and richness.

"This is magnificent. I never knew Earth food was so complex in it's flavors. Is there more dishes like this and could you make the food spicier. It is a little bland for me. I am used to the meals from the Halcercatan's from Delta Centi. I do believe you might enjoy some of their dishes if this is the food you like. I will have to cook you up something from them sometime."

 

[GypsyGirl84]

"Absolutely I can make it spicier," Luci said with a laugh, "but spicier does not necessarily equate as better. For example, there is a type of gravy made in a place called Oaxaca, that is a blend of dozens of ingredients. As you can imagine, it is important that one spice does not shout out the others. And my Tia Lupe would tell you to try to make the meal last more than two bites," Luci added with a giggle.

"Also remember that this only one example, and a meager one at that, of just one of a hundred different type of cuisines from Earth." Luci broke off a small part of her shell and popped it into her mouth. "As soon as you ate finished, I'll put the rest of my salad in the refrigerator. I can't wait to see what this surprise is," Luci said with a sparkle in her eyes.

 

[Aussie_Wolf]

Steve nodded. He understood what Luci was talking about. He had learned to cook for himself and knew the value of making sure that one ingredient didn't overpower another. Each should compliment the other to truly make the whole dish a masterpiece.

"I think I would enjoy meeting this Tia Lupe. They sound very wise."

He quickly finished his lunch enjoying every bite, then cleaned himself up and looked over at Luci.

"If you are ready I can show you the surprise now, however you are going to have to trust me a little. I am going to cover your face with my tentacles so you can't peek and guide you. Will that be alright? It won't be until we get closer to it though and it will be outside."

 

[GypsyGirl84]

"You know the rule," Luci said with a giggle. "Just nothing in the ears and the nose."

Luci put up the rest of her salad and turned to Steve. "You lead, and I'll follow. And let me know when we get close and I need to be blindfolded."