Posted by Civilian Jezem (Upstanding Citizen) in Summer Heat Can’t Stop Me (Tag Eryn)

Posted by Civilian Eryn Romanov (Colonial Intelligence Agent) in Summer Heat Can’t Stop Me (Tag Eryn)

Posted by Civilian Jezem (Upstanding Citizen) in Summer Heat Can’t Stop Me (Tag Eryn)
Posted by… suppressed (20) by the Post Ghost! 👻
One night, several minutes before midnight, Eryn’s comms chimed with a new message. It read:

You’re the worst person I know on this rock, so let’s meet up and drink wine because Sisters you are the only person I can tolerate right now. Pick a time and a place and I’ll be there.

Jezem

Eryn looked at the comm and laughed. Oh wow. What was Jezem up to? It had taken longer than she expected.

Russian Tea Room. Half an hour. Eryn dressed in something much more elegant than usual. An ankle length oriental style dress with a mandarin collar and a slit to her thigh. She took her private slider after leaving a note for Vonn and headed to the Tea Room. She parked and made her way inside the opulent establishment. “Ms Romanov,” the maître d’ greeted and looked around. “Is Gran not joining you tonight?”

Eryn smiled, “No, he is indisposed. I have a companion arriving. Name of Jezem, please show him to my usual table.” He nodded and led her toward the back of the main room.

Eryn

Shortly after Eryn took her seat at her usual table Jezem arrived at the Russian Tea Room. Dressed in fine white silks that tightly wrapped his body, held in place by bands of gold and white leather. He was decorated from head to toe with glittering gold jewelry inlaid with pearls and smooth white stones that turned pink in bright light.

He gave his name to the maître d’ who lead him through and into the back where Eryn waited. Jezem slid into the seat across from here, “Eryn,” He said by way of greeting, “What wine do you recommend?” The orion seemed like his usual self, impassive and indifferent to the world around him but there were signs that not all was well. There were subtle dark spots under his eyes and he seems to have lost some weight since Eryn last saw him.

Jezem

She knew of course that Shivan had been ill. She had checked when he had disappeared for a few days. Given the look of Jezem those two were up to their usual sibling rivalries. “I have ordered a bottle of Veinas Demi-Sec.” It was a very expensive and smooth wine. One of the few wines produced Aldebaran. Known for their spirits and beer, their wines were equally impressive, but difficult to make and very rare.

Eryn

Jezem paused, considering the selection of wine. Expensive and rare. Perfect. “Good choice,” He said, leaning back into his chair to regard their surroundings with poorly masked contempt, “This place a personal favorite of yours?” Jezem asked in the tone of someone unimpressed. All part of the game, of course. He hated that this was the kind of restaurant he would have chosen on his own.

Jezem

“A friend introduced me. I enjoy zhe atmosphere. Zhe service is also exceptional.” She gave him a pointed look, “And perfectly discrete.”

The waiter approached with the bottle and two glasses. Eryn waived at Jezem to inspect the wine.

Eryn

Jezem caught that look. Interesting. Perhaps he will have to bring Argam here some time. Jezem studied the label when presented to him and nodded to the waiter to pour his glass. The label and color are correct, Jezem thought his mind automatically catelouging details and recalling various tidbits of information such as the best markets for a buyer and who would pay extorbanant fees for such a bottle. Hells, he still read economic reports for fun. He smelled the bouque before taking a small sip, letting the wine play across his tongue and mouth.

“This will do,” He said, and took another small sip of the wine. After the waiter left Jezem casually said, “Sèan Ivan. . . what do you know of him?”

Jezem

Eryn chuckled as she picked up her glass and then took a slow savoring sip. “Thyr’s new would be savoir?” She shrugged. “Highly trained and skilled in his position. Spent some time on Earth before being assigned to Oed. Takes his work seriously and willing to help anyone. Over all one of the few decent people in the universe.”

Eryn

Jezem hummed. None of that was new information to him. He doubted Eryn would spill his secrets or gossip about skeletons in closets. “You know that if Thyr’s old employers find him that the good counselor could be in danger as well?” Jezem thought back to his conversation with the man. Though he hadn’t realized the extent of the danger surrounding Shivan, neither had he backed down when he did. If he had cut all contact with the andorian then he would have been far safer. “I would assume you have a plan in place in case the man needs needs to take a sudden vacation?”

Jezem

Eryn swirled her glass, “Of course he is. If he went into counseling Thyr after saving him from a bar fight and didn’t seek necessary background information, Iven is a fool.” She shrugged to the other. “Should Thyr’s old employers find him, warning will be given and assistance will be offered. He can take it or not. It isn’t my job to protect Star Fleet when they are wreckers. I assume you and your husband have an out in place?”

Eryn

“Is that even a question?” Jezem said, “Argam and I know their games and when we cut ties with the criminal world we kept a few within the organization itself. There are certain individuals that owe us favors. With a few calls I can ensure that it will be a long time before they catch a single glimpse of us.” It wasn’t his exit strategy that he was worried about. Those favors could keep him and Argam safe but they were useless for Shivan. This wasn’t the conversation he wanted to have with Eryn, however. “It was the counselor I was concerned about, he’s playing a dangerous game and he didn’t seem to appreciate my warning about setting up an exit plan.

Eryn chuckled darkly, “He is Fleet. Zhey zhink zhey are invincible and protected by zhe synthetic material of zheir uniforms. ‘We signed on for danger,’ and other drivel from drinking too much of zhe kool-aid. If he is an idiot zhat is not our nor Thyr’s problem.”

“There was one other thing. Tandra Mika. What do you know about her?”

Jezem

Eryn seemed to process the name. She was remembering what Gran told her about his outing with her. “She has been all over in her short time in Star Fleet. Only a few years. Zhe moves vere not because of discipline or lack of skill. Quite zhe opposite. She is very good as a doctor and a counselor. She has advanced degrees in both. A bit of…she sees zhings black and white. Zhere is no gray areas. It is wrong or right. She holds herself to zhat standard, and she is extremely compassionate. Vhy?”

Eryn

“She interrupted my meeting with the counselor, and she’s his superior. Should Thyr do something stupid like break the law the one he’ll report to is her.” She could either be a non issue or a pain in Jezem’s rear. People who saw the world in black and white were the absolute worst. So caught up in their own moral superiority and lust for authoritarian control they were blind to all else. Jezem will keep her within his peripheral.

Eryn shrugged, “Maybe not. He is treating Thyr on his own time and Thyr is not a Star Fleet officer. Thyr should make zhe best use of zhis opportunity zhat he can and not break zhe law.” She sipped the wine. “At least not for a little vhile.”

Jezem sipped on his wine, relishing in the the initial burst of flavor that mellowed into notes of ripe fruit, smoked wood and a third alien flavor he could not quite describe. Mint but redder? Peppermint but warmer? “So what have you been up to?” Jezem asked her, not really caring about her life but asked to keep their little conversation going. After a week of being bedridden he missed being social.

Jezem

“Do you really care Jezem?” She grinned and then shrugged. “Vatching and listening. Creating art and selling it. Must keep up my life style some how. And you? You and Argam have made quite zhe change.”

Eryn

“Argam’s business has taken off. We’re fully staffed now and the market has been more than favorable. I’ve been filling in as his secretary since his usual one is on maternity leave and Argam forgot about training her replacement. So of course I’m picking up the slack but what can you do?” Argam had an excellent mind for the big picture but not so much the little details. Blessedly for him, that’s where Jezem shined, “We’ve been discusing investing in local businesses. Argam also wants to patronize an artist, said it was always his dream to be an art patron. I don’t suppose you know of any starving artists suffering for their art?”

Jezem

“Vhere I set Thyr up is a vhole arts district. Many different artists and styles zhere. I vould also suggest zhat Argam speak to a man named Turner. Runs Turner’s gallery. Very good at vhat he does, honest and knows how to make a profit. He knows all zhe artists.”

Eryn

“Turner of Turner’s Gallery. . . I’ll pass that on to him.” That will make Argam happy. A sappy smile somehow slid onto Jezem’s face before he could hide it behind a sip of wine, “What sort of art do you do again?”

Jezem

“Metal sculpting. Not quite unlike zhe vork Thyr does. At least in zhe basics. I find zhat hammering and twisting zhe metal is zheraputic.” Eryn nodded and waived to the waiter that was standing off waiting for permission to approach. He placed a charcuterie down with a variety of cheeses, fruit, bread, and crackers. Bowed slightly and left without a word.

Eryn

Everyone says art is theraputic. Oh, go paint you’ll feel like a new person! Go scuplt clay to work out your aggression and make Christmas gifts in one go! The only kind of art Jezem stood behind was the art and craft of food. Mostly because he cooked and since he does it then it’s valid and correct. Everyone else is weird and wrong. He picked at the offering of foods, creating little stacked combos for taste and complexity of favor.

“I can’t imagine Thyr doing art.” Jezem said, trying and failing to imagine Thyr twisting some metal pieces together and alling it the ‘inner turmoil of the sad ex criminal who can’t commit crime anymore’. “He needs a hobby though, something that isn’t punching and fighting.”

Jezem

Eryn laughed. “No, nor can I. I do not zhink Thyr vould do vell ‘doing art’.” She took a small slice of the bread and some of the cheese. She ate for a moment, then wiped her fingers and mouth. “Yes he does. He vill get into trouble. Normally I vould suggest he tutor or take up a new type of martial arts. Zhat could be bad for him. It also vould not hurt if he tried to meet zhe other artists and vendors on his block.” She shrugged. She wasn’t suggesting Thyr be social, but it was good for business and for safety.

Eryn

Jezem popped bites of sour fruit and hard cheese into his mouth before giving Eryn a flat look, “I’ve told him that. I also told that counselor. Thyr needs to build his business reputation and make some casual friends but noooo, that’s not a ‘realistic’ goal.” The counselor had asked for his expert opinion and Jezem gave it. Shivan’s survival hinged on him controlling his anger and building his fake identity. “Meeting the local vendors would be a good start but when he’s not at his shop working then he’s begging me for food and coming over to my place to watch the next episodes of our soaps. And he never, never fails to fall asleep to three episodes in.”

Jezem

Eryn shook her head as she swirled her glass slowly. “It vould be a shame if Thyr vere to squander zhis opportunity. He has to get past zhe anger and commit to zhis new life. Otherwise…” Of course Jezem knew. If Shivan didn’t commit to being Thyr, then he would be noticed, people get curious, and then he would be caught.

Eryn

He scowled, “Speaking of squander. . . You’re welcome, because Thyr had no idea how to run a business until I sat him down and made him learn.” From everything to managing inventory, arranging suppliers, calculating cost of sale and break even point. It was a grueling few days of intense lecture and study but Shivan passed Jezem’s test. The rest was up to Shivan to actually follow through. The Federation wasn’t perfect but by the Sisters did they love their free and expansive access education and learning tools.

Jezem

“Zhere is a finance advisor at zhe bank at his disposal. Of course he is too stubborn to make use of it.” Eryn smirked, “He should be zhanking you, zhough you have mine as vell. Zhough I am not surprised. He is still your crew is he not? And you, Jezem are one of zhe most loyal people I have ever met.”

Eryn