Posted by Captain Eela Dasca (Lt. Governor) in Friendship and Raw Fish

Posted by Civilian Kenzo B’tren-Hyrushi (Governor) in Friendship and Raw Fish

Posted by Captain Eela Dasca (Lt. Governor) in Friendship and Raw Fish
Posted by… suppressed (6) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

She held up her hands. “All right, as you wish,” she said smiling. The lingering effect of her telepathy left a warmth in her skin even after he removed his hand. It was like being wrapped in a cozy blanket.

Eela folded her arms on the counter and sipped on her sake. “So, like many psi-positive species Haliians need to way to clear the mind from all the input. We need to be able to let all that sensory input go. We have forms of meditation that we are taught to do daily, but after my accident I’ve struggled to access the ability. That’s been its own frustration, because instead of letting the day go and starting anew, I tend to carry things forward more than I would like. It’s hard to get space and distance. But there is a ritual using a herbal decoction that can let you drop your barriers entirely and still feel connected. It’s like a gentle awareness that you don’t have to control so you can just let it exist without interference. One of the ingredients does produce a mild psychotropic effect but the amount used is small and measured exactly.” She leaned forward. “It’s not used often, just as a mental reset. I’ve not trusted myself to be in a good place to handle it properly but I think I’m reaching a point where it is becoming necessary. But Kenzo? Oh, when I’ve done the ritual in the past it’s the closest I’ve come to reproducing that feeling from the crystal caves.”

~Eela

Kenzo cleaned and thought and then said “If you feel the need for the ceremony, I will watch over you while you do it. And if you like, I know of several spaces that may be conducive to the ceremony.”

Kenzo

“That might be interesting. As much as I enjoy the space I’ve created in my home it is not my first choice, even if I might be able to make it work out in my patio garden. Traditionally, it’s conducted out in nature.” His non-reaction to her suggestion was a good enough answer. Eela still thought he might find the experience enlightening, but you had to participate willingly and without coercion.

~Eela

Kenzo looked past her to the large and lush garden outside. “Do it here.” and he pointed. “We would be safe from prying eyes, you wouldn’t have to be in a new place, and afterwards we can rest if needed.” He finished cleaning and then said “Dessert? Or would you like to go sit and talk more?”

Kenzo

“We can’t do both? Or is dessert a limited time offer?” Eela said with a gleam. Doing the ritual here wasn’t so different than her place since it meant being off the ground, but she knew there were ways to make it work.

~Eela

“We can do both, but bring your chopsticks with you to the patio. I’ll be right out.”

She snapped her chopsticks together a couple times with a grin and slipped very carefully off the stool. And then braced her hand on the counter for a moment. “Damn cerebellum,” she said. It was true, but the sake probably had a little bit to do with it as well. Or maybe a lot. Could go either way.

A few minutes later, Kenzo walked out with a tray and set it on the small table between the lounge chairs. On it was a bottle of whiskey, two glasses, and two small covered bowls. He lifted the lids to reveal small oval pods in different colors that were obviously frozen. “Mochi ice cream. The ice cream is wrapped in mochi, a short-grain japanese glutinous rice, and sometimes other things like water, sugar, and cornstarch. The rice is pounded into paste and molded into the desired shape, then wrapped around the ice cream.”

Kenzo

“Interesting,” she said, eyeing the fascinating dessert. She certainly hadn’t had anything of his description before. “I’ve never had rice and ice cream in the same bite before.”

Eela carefully picked one up and popped it in her mouth and her face went through a series of contortions as she processed what she was tasting. Or maybe not quite processing. Her brain couldn’t make sense of it and Eela liked it but also wasn’t sure about it. After she finished chewing. “That is the most confusing and interesting thing I’ve eaten in some time.”

~Eela

Kenzo looked at her and simply raised his eyebrows slightly and smiled slightly. He shrugged and said “Well, your schedule has been very full lately.” and he took a piece and popped it in his mouth. He then poured two glasses of whiskey.

Kenzo

“I know. I really should do something about that,” Eela said, maybe talking about expanding her culinary horizons, or maybe not.

She lifted the glass to her lips, sip deeply, and allowed herself to relax into into the propped up lounge chair. Her thoughts were relaxed and far away from the Vren or Starfleet or anything else work related. “Is there anythjj in g you want to make more time for?”

~Eela

Kenzo was silent for a long time. He drank a few times, looking out over the garden, before he said “I… would like to not be alone outside of work. It has been some time since I was intrigued enough by anyone to consider investing time in a relationship. And I have no prospects, of course. I just…” He took a long drink. “I am tired of being alone, I think.”

Kenzo