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 Civilian Kenzo B’tren-Hyrushi (Governor) in Eden Café- A Lunch Catch-Up
Posted by… suppressed (7) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

Kenzo’s black eyes flashed at her and a slight smile touched his lips as he took a drink. He then said “True.... perhaps you weren’t the only one ‘stuck’, then.” and he chuckled… which was his equivalent of a full laugh.

Kenzo

Her smile was genuine and fuller as she sipped her lemonade again. “Sometimes we don’t know we are until after. But I do think we’re both benefitting greatly from the newfound knowledge.” And indeed how she had herself. While Eela (especially this week) was keeping her eyes off whatever people were gossiping about on the colony, she did know that her date with Dash had definitely had people talking, and there was something so very freeing about not caring one bit what they were saying. She had looked and felt amazing and she wasn’t going to apologize for being so abundantly herself in public. Not anymore. She was well and truly done with that.

~Eela

“Even if it is slight, I agree.” Kenzo said and then set his glass to the side. Clasping his hands in front of jim and on the table, he said “To business. Where are we on the Embassy build, and have the final preparations for the gala been completed? Tangentially, what have you heard from your side about our letter to the Chamber?”

Hyrushi, Governor

She nodded, more to herself than anything. “The Embassy renovations are proceeding well. The Ambassador and Mr. Jones are fully situated in the offices and able to conduct business accordingly. The event space is about 75 percent done and should be finished my next week in case we want to use it for further gatherings. The residential build is coming along, but it’ll be probably another couple weeks before they all can move in.”

Eela took a sip of her water and continued. “We are set to for the gala. The order of events that we agreed on with Mathis is finalized and the catering staff have the expected timings with provisions in cause of delays. The Vren food situation is well in hand and they assure us they will not need advance prep time. The plan is that they will have it all ready to go and it will be transported directly with all the expected security clearances and procedures.” It was important that there was no interference with their food, but also that they made sure that it was only food brought to the Oed Museum. I assume you’ve drafted a speech already?” she said, waiting on answering the last question to see if he had further areas he wanted her to elaborate on.

~Eela

“Dont think I missed your silence on the last part.” Kenzo said with a cock of his eyebrow. “And yes. Finished it this morning. I think I am going to keep it private, as well. No review or editing by the staff. Of everything goes well, excellent. But if something happens, then I can take responsibility alone.”

Kenzo

She studied him for a moment. “Which is fair, and much how we have been doing things. Caputo won’t like that, I’m sure, but it’s not her ass on the line. I know you’ll strike the right chord, as will Mathis.”

Eela’s eyes glittered as she gazed at Kenzo. “And it wasn’t silence, just… waiting for the appropriate moment to discuss it. I think there’s a Haliian phrase that fits this circumstance. “Adan ne quo koonita. Koonita translates loosely to ‘one who causes mischief either by accident or design’, and the phrase basically means the cause of mischief is as it again.” It might seem like a bad thing, but Eela was highly amused. “Koonita, by the way, is Roger’s nickname for me,” she said with a laugh.

“A more appropriate moniker I can’t imagine.” Kenzo said with a slight grin.

“Let’s just say that those at Starfleet Command whose opinions I respect and care about all seem to be under the impression that I am simply doing my job as dictated by not only my job description, but the mandate of our people. The others?” She laughed more. “Oh, I’ve pissed a few people off, Kenzo, and they are rueing the day i was appointed. These are the same people that are unhappy I aired a certain Admiral’s dirty laundry so publicly. Did you know that since he was arrested and they began investigating him further, there’s all sorts of financial fraud being revealed?” Eela shook her head. “I don’t mind being the koonita if it serves a purpose.”

~Eela

“And a nobel purpose it is.” Kenzo said. The waiter arrived with their food and set it down, refilled drinks, and departed. Kenzo looked at Eela for a moment and then mumbled Hm and he looked down and began to eat.

Kenzo

The tartlet on the specials menu glistened from the glaze and she eyed it with intrigue. Eating time was precious and given how little of it they had lately, Eela intended to savour it. So she ate for a few minutes, enjoying the beautiful pastry and surprisingly creamy filling. Who knew these particular root vegetables could be so interesting in a filling?

“So, any word from your contacts about the response? Mathis seems to have received a somewhat neutral response that tells me that behind it some of the council is a tad miffed.” She was curious if his perception was the same or different.

~Eela

Kenzo was enjoying the food more than he expected. He wiped his mouth and then said “I have heard that there were a few jowls flapping about putting the upstart colony in its place. I also heard that that was shut down quickly lest the sentiment find its way back here. And surprisingly, I have seen a clip of one of your Admirals… Karen, I believe… being cornered and asked directly if they intended to make a critical statement about the letter due to their more… adamant… stance on limited colonial government freedoms to which they replied that they felt Oed V was well within our rights to express our stance so clearly and concisely. And they further felt that the conditions expressed were not at all unreasonable. The reporter seemed… well… more than a little surprised. ‘Shock’ would perhaps be a more accurate description.”

Kenzo

She snorted. “I can imagine. You know, I understand that various individuals have taken actions over the years, I sometimes wonder how much of Oed’s issues are not quite the wide scale interference that sometimes it appeared to be. Neglect, yes, but I’ve been seeing more and more that it’s one hand not knowing what the other hand is doing and the lack of communication creates more conflict than is needed.”

~Eela

Kenzo looked directly at her and said “The Federation has grown too large to administrate itself effectively.” with a degree of confidence that made the words seem rooted in indisputable fact. “Oed V’s issues are not unique.. they are symptomatic. As fast as we can travel.. as quickly as we can communicate over vast distances… there is simply too much of it. That does not mean I think the Federation is failing. I simply believe that it, in its current organizational status, is not capable of maintaining itself as it is.”

Kenzo

“That’s fair,” she said with a nod as she twirled her fork between her fingers. “And that’s to say nothing of the aftermath of the Dominion War. Rebuilding efforts don’t happen on the scale of months. It’s years upon years. And those resources have to come from somewhere. And that’s not even considering the situation with the Romulans and the refugees in that situation.” Eela shook her head. “It does create for a mess of a situation, though I think we’re making it work for us in our own way.”

She set her fork down and folded her arms on the table. There was a subtle shift in her energy, the lightness fading a bit, though she was careful not to let her guard down fully in a public place. “I’m having an odd time this week. On more than one occasion I’ve been talking about the gala, and I’m not lying to them, I am optimistic about it. But I’m acutely aware that everyone is looking to us to set the tone, to know how to feel about it all. If they see us confident and ease with the prospect, then they won’t panic and they are more likely to give this a chance. But… your worries? I feel them too,” she said softly. “It’s hard not to, no matter how many times I’ve walked into intense diplomatic situations. Actually, maybe that’s why too. We’re both aware of how hard these can be, even when both sides come to the table with the best of intentions.”

~Eela