Posted by Captain Eela Dasca (Lt. Governor) in Eden Café- A Lunch Catch-Up

Posted by Civilian Kenzo B’tren-Hyrushi (Governor) in Eden Café- A Lunch Catch-Up

Posted by Captain Eela Dasca (Lt. Governor) in Eden Café- A Lunch Catch-Up
Posted by… suppressed (6) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Her week was weird, no two ways about it: days off, in the office, working from home, coming and going, video calls, you name it, there had been everything. All of it had been in the aftermath of Cory and in preparation for the Vren. It was as she had made clear: she needed to be on. Now was not the time to falter publicly. So as much as she could she was dealing with the ups and downs of her personal life with the help of those that cared about her and trying to keep it more or less private.

Or at least it had been that way until her and Karilan went to lunch. Something about her first little foray into public after she had returned home and to work had emboldened her. Enough that the woman who had shown up to the showcase with Dashiel Jones had been, perhaps not healed in the way it might same, but she was choosing which of the broken pieces she wanted to be there and what she might be ready to let go of. As always it was a messy process, but at least professionally she had managed to be on point and focused.

The Eden Café was a bright little place with plants growing everywhere and little flowering pots as centrepieces. It served vegetarian fare and she was curious to try it given she rarely ate meat (fish only on special occasions), and in her travels she had found it a mixed quality if a replicator wasn’t available. She hoped Kenzo wouldn’t mind, but she suspected he’d curious enough to try it out with her.

They needed this bit of time to talk. Normally they met every day to touch base on work things, but those sometimes brief meetings allowed them to also connect on a personal level to see where they were both at. It allowed them to help and adjust accordingly. It was the beautiful thing about their friendship because it had arisen organically and wasn’t something they ever agreed on. It just happened. Which is why she had sent a message letting him know she was having lunch here (she’d been out of the office all morning at meetings) and that he was welcome to join her. She was glad when he had accepted.

Sitting there dressed still professionally but a bit more relaxed in a stretchy dark green dress with long sleeves and a fully pleated skirt that flared when she moved. A multi-strand and multicolour necklace rested on her collarbones, sitting just above the neckline. She had ordered them a pitcher a cold water and was sitting there reading a PADD.

~Eela

His arrival was preceded by the ever-present security detail that entered first. It took far less time to prep the space as Eela’s team had already done it. On the clear signal, the doors opened and Governor Hyrushi entered. He was wearing a dark red, almost black suit with a brighter red vest and tie over a dark gray shirt. He walked to the table and took off the coat and hung it on the back of his chair and said “Thank you for the invitation. If I had to eat one more replicated sandwich in three minutes between calls, I was going to throw myself out of my office window.” and he sat down, giving her a small smile with the incline of his head.

Kenzo

She had set down the PADD as he approached and gave Kenzo a smile. “Good thing the windows don’t open. It think that’s supposed to be a feature,” Eela deadpanned, though her eyes were alight.

“Honestly, we’re both passing by each other form one thing to the next that I didn’t want to get to the gala and realize we’ve not said more than a few words before or after a meeting.” She folded her arms on the table. “So, how’s your week been for you?

~Eela

Kenzo took a drink of water and shook his head. “No, we start with you. You are my focus right now… we can talk about me after. How are you, Eela?” He moved his foot so it rested against hers, and there was the familiar brush of his mind against hers. The connection said You can speak or not, but I am here if you want to share.

Kenzo

While she was certainly still full of a mixture of complicated emotions, the one thing he’d notice that was different than even the other day in his office was that she was more grounded. “Goodness, where to start. Some days I’m amazed so few have passed. I don’t think I’ve had as chaotic two weeks as I’ve had right now. And while a lot of it is still really difficult, there have been…” She paused as she took in a deep breath, allowing herself to feel that utter joy and delight from both her time with Karilan this week, and also her date with Dash. “I’m not going to try and say that I’m not struggling with reality at times, but the things I do know are bringing me this sense of certainty I don’t think I’ve had in a very long time.”

~Eela

Kenzo nodded in understanding and said “Reality is a fickle mistress.” and took a drink. He looked at the menu and then said “I am glad that happiness has found you, Eela. I sincerely believe that you one of the most deserving of it. I am hesitantly hopeful that that positivity will carry through to the Vren’s arrival… which is what? Ten seconds away?” he joked dryly.

Kenzo

She shook her head. “I feel like I’ve at least had a chance to catch my breath. Can you imagine if they had been arriving the day after Cory showed up?” She shuddered slightly. “What a worse nightmare.

A server came by and offered them a couple menus. “Welcome to the Eden Café, Sir, Ma’am. We’re honoured to have you. Our specials today are a parthas and sweet potato tartlet with a spring wine glaze. It comes with a side salad of your choice. We also have an uttaberry crepe, and our soup of the days is roasted tomato and red pepper with without chilli crisps. It comes withe fresh baked bread. Can I get either of you something to drink to start?”

~Eela

Kenzo shook his head slightly and said “I am fine with water, thank you.” as he took the menu.

“Lemonade for me,” Eela said to the server sho nodded and stepped away.

He looked at the menu and said “Regardless of what is on here, I getting the soup for certain.”

Kenzo

“The soups are supposed to be amazing. Elema put me on to this place. She highly recommended the mushroom risotto, and they even have a kateriak, which is a Haliian layered savoury pie with a really flaky crust.” The menus had a good selection of entree salads and most of the food was lighter fare, but they seemed to focus on quality rather than an abundance of choices in each category.

She had plenty she could talk about, but Kenzo was all too good at shifting the conversation. “Now, back to my question. How are you doing?” she said softly, her hazel eyes gazing intently at her dear friend.

~Eela

Kenzo set the menu aside and folded his hands on the table. He looked at her for a moment and then sighed slightly. “I am tired. I am frustrated and I am more than a little apprehensive about the next three to five days. I say three to five because I believe that if something horrendous is to happen, that is the time frame I expect it would occur. And lastly…” He looked away for a moment and then shook his head and looked back at Eela. “I find myself drawn to someone that I cannot… will not… pursue. And it is… distressing. But… it shall pass.”

Kenzo