Posted by Lieutenant Sharah Fayth (Chief Star Fleet Medical Officer) in Expanding the Offerings

Posted by Captain Eela Dasca (Lt. Governor) in Expanding the Offerings

Posted by Lieutenant Sharah Fayth (Chief Star Fleet Medical Officer) in Expanding the Offerings
Posted by… suppressed (3) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snips)

Sipping her drink, Eela nodded. For a very brief moment she hadn’t had to think about her next move and how security would handle it. But she would have anyway going back to the office. It was less distressing now and they had all found a rhythm to their interactions that was comfortable. “Easily done.”

“As for Cort”-she smiled warmly-“that man has a gift, as I’m sure most senior assistants do in such a high pressure job. But it’s more than that. He’s not easily ruffled. Yes he was giving me a hard time for mucking with the carefully planned schedule, but that’s just banter. And Elema, the other staffer, is actually fairly new to working in the Lieutenant Governor’s Office and he just naturally took her under his wing.” Dasca shook her head, still amused. “And he gives you a serious competition for who nags me the most to take care of myself. The man reads me as if he’s the telepath. It’s a little unnerving but I’ve learned to just nod and accept it.”

Sharah giggled, “But the question is - does he give Jal’na a run for her money?”

“But the thing you most need to know about him is that for a man who used to train for triathlons, he has an unabashed love for baked goods. The more indulgent, the better!”

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov

Sharah nodded, “I know just the thing. Yavia turned me onto it. You know it’sgood if she melts over it.” She pulled out a small pocket sized PaDD. “It’s called Risk it for a Busicutt. Absolutely devine sweets. I know there is the bakery at the book store that is amazing, but this place isn’t as well known, but it is so indulgent. Over the top really. What do Cort and Elema like?”

“Anything cream-filled and with chocolate. Can’t blame them really,” Dasca said with a grin, happily eating the last bites of her pot pie.

Sharah placed her order for White wine cream Steamed chocolate Pudding and looked up, “Done. They will be delivered in half an hour.” Sharah finished her sandwich and drink in quick order. “Ready?”

Fayth

With a nod, Eela settled up the bill and headed out. Her main ‘shadow’ today was Agent Mangioni and as soon as they stepped outside, she leaned in and spoke to him quietly. He quickly communicated the change in plan to the rest of the team and gave Dasca a nod to proceed.

She smiled and turned to Sharah. “How far is this place you want to stop at? I was going to just walk back to the office but I don’t mind a walking detour. But if it’s far, then we’ll call for a ride.”

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov

Sharah gave it caredul thought. “About four blocks in the opposite direction, so not far, but we might appreciate the car after we are done shopping.” It all depended on what all Eela wanted once they got there and Sharah didn’t have a anti-grav sled with her.

Fayth

An amused look swept across Eela’s face. “A shopping spree? Unexpected but interesting. Okay, let’s walk and we’ll see what happens after,” she said, gesturing for Fayth to lead the way. She hadn’t been to this shop her friend had mentioned, so she was immensely curious.

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov

Sharah turned south and started at a leisurely pace past the four blocks. It took them in the opposite direction of the government tower, but Sharah thought it was worth it. Leaf In Peace was down a side alley, between two buildings on the block. But it was a wide alley, with lots of traffic and access to several shops. Sharah turned into a door on the left and the humidity hit immediately. The next apparent observation was the bright UV light that was heavily blocked by the amount of foliage over head. The shop was a veritable jungle. There was a soft breeze from the forced air that helped regulate the temperature. Sharah smiled at Eela, “Pick something you like, my treat, but stay away from that far corner, most Haliians are allergic to the pollen of those plants.”

Fayth

Eela shot Sharah a look and smirked. “Good to know. I’ve been fortunate to not really come across anything I’m allergic too,” she said as she moved to the left and let her gaze drift up, down and around, breathing in the damp air. For a moment she just closed her eyes and took in the scent of lushness, that unmistakable smell of green plants and damp soil that she couldn’t place to anywhere specific but felt like a natal memory, or something at least from when she was younger that she had forgotten. It reminded her of a place but damned if she could recall.

So her friend wanted to buy her a plant. She wasn’t exactly sure the root of the offer but Eela had no issues accepting the gift. This was not like her moment of hesitation with the painting where she had to consider whether someone was trying to bribe her discreetly. No, this was an act of kindness between friends. Simple.

Her eyes led her about the store, fingers gracing each plant that struck her fancy but she was looking for something and she wasn’t sure exactly what but Dasca suspected she’d know when she had found it. “The temptation to fill my apartment with all of this is rather overwhelming, so be forewarned the greenery inside might start to match the greenery outside,” she said with a delighted smile.

Finally, after several minutes just happily browsing, something pulled Eela across the store, but away from that back corner. It wasn’t the striking colours of the long trailing plant itself, with its chartreuse heart shaped leaves, edged in black with bright pink veining. No, something deeper drew her and it wasn’t until she reached out and touched the plant and it curled up its leaves that she understood. Hung from the ceiling, it clearly expressed seismonastic movements that some plants demonstrated to protect from pests or prevent water loss from evaporation, but this plant was different than others and Eela couldn’t figure out exactly why. yes, it moved when she touched it, but as her finger hovered over it again and gentle stroked the curled up leaf, it slowly began to unfurl.

Eela wasn’t jaded, but she certainly had had a difficult few years and few things surprised her. So as she turned at the hips towards Sharah with wonder in her eyes, she also felt a strange sensation flood her body that in this moment she couldn’t quite name. “This one,” she whispered.

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov