Posted by Civilian Dorma Fen (Governor’s Assistant) in Aria’s Kitchen- Breakfast

Posted by Civilian Cort Belanger (Executive Assistant to Lt. Gov.) in Aria’s Kitchen- Breakfast

Posted by Civilian Dorma Fen (Governor’s Assistant) in Aria’s Kitchen- Breakfast
Posted by… suppressed (2) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

She smirked slightly. “I did say that, didn’t I?” and she chuckled softly. Setting aside the menu, she said “My family has known Hyrushi’s for almost six hundred years. We have always worked with or for them. Every generation, every family within our ‘clan’, for all that time. Japan is a very … traditional… culture, and our relationship with his family, his ‘clan’, is well established. I met Kenzo Hyrushi for the first time when I was six and he was sixteen. His father was a distant relative of my grandfather, and Kenzo and his dad had come to pay their respects on his one hundredth birthday. I was working in the restaurant I told you about, the one my family runs. Anyway, I was watching from a hiding spot, which I wasn’t supposed to be doing-” and she laughed slightly, “- as all these older men and women I had heard stories about from my mother and father came to wish my grandfather well. Side note: I was really good at hiding when I was little. Like… really good. So I had no worries that I wasn’t seen. That is until this very reserved and very quiet teenager who was standing in the reception line all the way across the courtyard just turns and looks right at me… and he had black eyes!” she said with mock fear. “I had no idea what a Betazoid was, so I thought what any six year old Japanese kid with a vivid imagination would think - ‘That’s an Oni.’, a Japanese demon.” and she laughed at the memory. “So anyway, my eyes go wide and the Oni just smiles at me and puts his finger to his lips.” and she repeated the universal gesture for ‘Be quiet’. “He then turned, waited for his turn to speak to my grandfather, and then walked away. He walked right past my not-so-great hiding spot and stops. He holds out his hand and says ‘Chīsana ko mo issho ni kite kudasai.’… ‘Come along, little one.’ I don’t know why, but i came out and took his hand and he walked me over to one of the elders. He pushed me forward, set his hands on my shoulders, and said ‘Imōto wa manabu junbi ga dekite imasu.’ … ‘Little sister is ready to learn.’.” She took a breath and looked out the window, seeing sights decades in the past and millions of miles away. She stayed quiet for a long moment and then looked at Cort. “From that day on, I was no longer a simple cook’s helper. I was sent to a private school, taught languages, manners, protocols, history… anything I wanted and more. And every month until the war started, Kenzo would come and sit with me and ask how I was doing and if I needed anything. And if I did, he got it for me. And if I was doing poorly, I got a vid-call.” She smiled out the window again. “He never yelled. Never scolded. He just asked me why and what he could do to help. And I would be honest and tell him. We would talk about it. And then I would do better. He never pushed or mandated or got angry…” and then she looked at Cort again. “Well, except when the first boy broke my heart.” and she smiled and shook her head. “Then he got really mad. Didn’t do much for my social life at school, but everybody knew after that that you didn’t mess around with me.” and she grinned.

Dorma Fen

Cort had listened intently as she wove the story and quite often it made him smile. “I can see that of him. He’s protective of those he believes are in his realm of care.” It looked different depending on the context, but could Hyrushi be intimidating when he wanted to be? Oh yes. “It sounds like a special bond and I’m glad you’ve had that.” He sure though that Dorma was quick to remind him that she could look after herself, even if her work life made that rather difficult. It as okay, he was the same.

He leaned in as he thought about the man losing his temper with someone and spoke quietly just for her ears. “Between us? I’m not sure whose reaction I’m more worried about if and when they figure out who is responsible for Dash’s death. Her, or him. Either or both could be quite the disaster, one way or another.”

Cort Belanger, Executive Assistant to Lt. Gov.

Dorma chuckled and shook her head. “I think you forgot another option outside of her and him.” and she fixed him with one of the most serious looks she had ever given him. “Both.” and she shook her head. “You and I know that they are both going to use whatever they can to find the one or ones that did this. But if they are working together?” and she took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “The only word that comes to mind is ‘biblical’…”

Dorma Fen, Governor’s Aide

“We can’t let that happen,” he said, equally serious. “Even if they were exceptionally cautious, these things always come out. It would destroy them and anything good that’s happening on this colony.”

Out of the corner of his eyes he saw the hostess returning and offered her a light smile, ready to order as if they had not just laid down a path to ruin.

Cort Belanger, Executive Assistant to Lt. Gov.

Aria looked at them and said “Okay, honeys. What’ll it be?” Dorma smiled and said “I would like the banana pancakes, western omelet with hasbrowns, and biscuits and gravy… but only if they are good!” Aria chuckled and said “Best in this or any other galaxy, sugar.” She looked at Cort. “And for you, baby?”

Dorma Fen

“The special for me, eggs sunny-side up, and I’ll have it with the pancakes.” Yep, not training diet approved but that jus amused him. Besides, who knew how today would go and he might as well ensure he ate a solid meal before he delved into the fray.

He waited till Aria left with their orders and looked at Dorma. “So, did you come to any conculsions after you went back to the office?”

Cort Belanger, Executive Assistant to Lt. Gov.