Posted by Civilian Urg’tohn, Son of the House of Duroc (Klingon Warrior) in Oed Museum- A Diplomatic Gala- Rousseau and Jal’na

Posted by Civilian Jal’na of House Duroc (Head of Physical Therapy - Sacred Heart Hospital) in Oed Museum- A Diplomatic Gala- Rousseau and Jal’na

Posted by Civilian Astrid Rousseau (Chief Justice) in Oed Museum- A Diplomatic Gala- Rousseau and Jal’na
Posted by… suppressed (18) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)
“Jal’na.” She said as though tasting the name on her tongue. Her French lilt combined somehow easily with the consonants and vowels. Astrid smiled warmly, obviously genuinely pleased by the compliment of familiarity that knowing someone as their first name implied. “Thank you. You may call me Astrid and I believe we too shall be friends.”

Jal’na inclined her head slightly, “I would be honored to count you among my friends, Astrid.” Such a strange twist her life had taken. Making friends with politicians. Jal’na found it amusing.

“If I remember the seating chart, we are at separate tables but they are side by side and the chairs are quite close. Please, come with me and we shall take our seats before the Governor’s assistant makes death glares at us all.”

Rousseau

The idea amused her of the formidable Ms Fen glaring at them. Everyone knew of the confrontation between Fen and Yavia. Jal’na admitted to herself that she was quite curious about who would have won. Jal’na walked beside the woman to their adjacent tables. She found her labeled seat beside Urg’s. It seemed to her that things were a little too controlled by assigning seats, but she wouldn’t speak of it. She was not a diplomat, nor did she wish to be. Urg was deep in conversation with the Vren captain discussing things to which she should probably pay attention; ships and weapons and power systems or something.

Jal’na, Lady Duroc

(snip for speeches)

After the speeches, Astrid was happy to eat the food and chat politely with the people at her table. She did lean over to the other table next to hers and whisper to Jal’na, “I thank the God’s every day that my job requires little in the way of public speaking.”

Rousseau, HoTJ

Jal’na listened to the speeches and clapped politely. Most non-Klingons didn’t appreciate the roars and fist pounding of tables that were so common of Klingon cultural approval. She had learned to reign that in over the years. Though if anyone deserved such boisterousness it was the Governor’s speech.

Jal’na grinned at Astrid, looking rather dangerous. “I am glad that I only have to speak to students.” She had hated having to speak to the whole gathering of House Duroc. Spur of the moment too. She’d done it, but she wasn’t comfortable with it. But it was a challenge she willing took on as Urg’s mate.

Jal’na, Lady Duroc

Finding camaraderie with the Klingon, she grinned back. There was something to be said for having conversation with people who were not waiting to ask for some task, favor, or advice. Friendship for her was a precious commodity. It was one of the reasons she valued Urg and his crew so much. She had enjoyed her lessons in physical altercation. Many days she left quite battered and bruised, sore until the next session, but it had been worth it. “Ah, you are a teacher? What area of study?”

Rousseau. HotJ

Jal’na threw back her head and laughed loudly. Her dark eyes glittered with mirth. “Teach? Oh no. I’m the head of Physical Therapy at Sacred Heart. We work in conjunction with OED University and Star Fleet Medical Academy. For those studying physical therapy, when it is time for their internships and practicums, I have the honor of doing their orientations and evaluations.” Jal’na chuckled again. She had no patience to teach in a classroom.

Jal’na, Lady Duroc

“Ah, still quite the formidable task churning out accomplished and knowledgeable professionals. After training with your husband’s crew, I could probably use some physical therapy. Yoga is not cutting it to keep me limber anymore and my ankle seems more weak than it should be.”

“You are always welcome to make an appointment for an evaluation. It could need some strengthening or just some rest. I know what the crew is capable of and how hard they train at it,” the woman grinned - all pointed teeth. She could make a solid career out of just running a medical clinic for House Duroc.

She shifted to face the woman a little more. “You know, I am always interested to talk to people who’s job is squarely juxtaposed between OED and Starfleet. Have you found that to be challenging?”

Rousseau, HOTJ

Jal’na shrugged. “The details of their course work is firmly laid out in the agreement between Sacred Heart and the learning institutions. There are very specific forms and criteria to be met before they can come train with us, and for passing while they are here. The new chief medical officer is quite a force. She doesn’t put up with nonsense or division of organizations. We are all there for the same purpose and we work towards that. Anyone who doesn’t, she doesn’t allow to stay. Usually the Fleet students work with Fleet doctors, so other than the initial orientation of expectations, I don’t deal with them too much.” She picked up her glass and drank heartily from it. “As for in general, it has been a struggle. Oed and Fleet have not always seen eye-to-eye, but we have changed that in the last year at Sacred Heart.”

Jal’na, Lady Duroc

She nodded. “Sacred Heart has done some significant growth in the last few years. It is a shining example of what collaboration can accomplish when the goal is to do right by OED V and its people. I love seeing it. I also love consulting on the legalize between Star Fleet and non Star Fleet entities. It’s what I worked on at the beginning of my career.”

Rousseau, HotJ

Jal’na smiled, it was very toothy. “We are all very proud of the work we are doing. It has not been easy, but it has been worth it.” Jal’na shook her head, “I have no head for legalize. I find it far too wordy with too much ambiguity. It takes much more patience to weed through than I posses. I have great respect for those that can. What started you into the legal profession, Astrid?”

Jal’na, Head of Physical Therapy - Sacred Heart Hospital

Astrid smiled warmly. “My mother was a judge on the New France Colony. She died when I was 13, but until then we were very close and we spent a great deal of time connecting over legal morality vs ethical morality. She often told me stories about cases she worked on. It may seem boring to some, but she told stories in the way that are them interesting and fun to hear. My dad was often in the background animating the stories with silly noises.”

She didn’t often talk about her family… in fact she hadn’t spoken about them at all since coming to OED and it felt almost like she had pushed through a barrier of silence discussing them now. “After she passed, it seemed only natural for me to follow in her footsteps. Legalese was almost a second language for me by then. One of many I know.”

Rousseau, HotJ

“My brother followed after my father. It has made them very close. It is good to carry on those ideals and principles from one generation to the next. What did your father do?”

Jal’na, Lady Duroc

“He is a prominent politician on New France.” Her demeanor changed slightly as she began speaking of him. She leaned back and crossed her arms unconsciously. “He remarried and seems to be happy with his new wife. She suits his political life.”

Rousseau, HotJ

Jal’na briefly considered the contrast. She was for all intents and purposes, a politician’s wife. Klingon politics were much more feudal than Federation politics. She noticed the posture. “You do not like her?”

Jal’na, Lady Duroc

Astrid gave a heavy sigh and shook her head. “No, I do not.” Before she could continue and brush the subject aside as unimportant, Astrid felt that niggling feeling she had felt upon arrival to the event. Her brow furrowed in concern and she turned her head to look around. She had no jdea what she was looking for but something bothered her in this crowd. Her hand strayed to the back of her neck, automatically smoothing down the tiny hairs that seems suddenly electrified.

“You ever get the feeling.... you were being watched?”

Rousseau, HotJ

Jal’na smirked, “Constantly. It is taking some getting used to, having guards constantly watching me.” She motioned with her hand and a man melted from the shadows and approached her. “See what I mean?” she laughed and then spoke quietly to the man who nodded and disappeared just as silently. “He will look and see if there is cause for your feeling.”

Jal’na, Lady Duroc

The feeling melted away as soon as she said something. This only made her concern grow. She nodded to Lady Duroc as one of her guards went to inspect the surroundings. One of her own guards joined him as they had also noticed Astrids concern. “Lord Duroc gave me several people for my guard. I can’t thank him enough for that alone. I don’t know what it is tonight. I’m used to them, but it doesn’t feel like them. Betazoid senses.” She placed her hand on her chest over her heart.

Jal’na nodded, “Listen to your instincts then. If it is not them and you are uneasy warn your guards. Urg’tohn and I are happy to send extra personnel to increase your security.”

“It just feels different.” The man who had been watching Astrid, simply returned his full attention to the group he was having a conversation with. He had spooked her and had he the time before her guards would have noticed, he would have smiled a smile that had haunted her for years. But now was not the time. This, was not the place.

Rousseau. HotJ

“I am sure they will discover who is bothering you. It might take a little time, but my husband has trained then all very well,” Jal’na assured her.

Jal’na, Lady Duroc

Astrid nods, trying to Hine in on the feeling, but just as quickly as it came, it left and she felt confusion. She returned her attention to Jal’na. “I have no doubt they will. I just feel off. Might be dressed up and no one to impress.” She grinned. “No partner for me these days.”

Rousseau, HotJ

Jal’na nodded, “For me it is the opposite. I used to go to all these events on my own, or with colleagues from the hospital. Now I have Urg, and I am aware of how everyone watches us. One of the reporters outside asked I he had killed my family and I was forced to marry him.” She snorted as if she thought that was the most absurd and prejudicial view of Klingon culture.

Jal’na, Lady Duroc

Mildly horrified on Jal’nas behalf she gaped, her mouth open in shock for several seconds and then she closed her mouth and merely shook her head, muttering a soft klingon curse or two under her breath.

Jal’na just laughed. “It is of no benefit to be offended by the ignorant.”

“Ignorance and sensationalism often go hand in hand though neither is good for the soul.” She looked over at her friend and smiled as he continued to engage in animated conversation. Her gaze softened. It was obvious she cared for him a great deal. “He seems to fill the room with warmth. Doesn’t he?”

Rousseau, HotJ

Lady Duroc watched the other woman watch her husband with narrowed eyes. She picked up her glass and drank deeply, “If you can call a raging inferno that consumes all in its path simply giving warmth, then I suppose so.” She took another drink. “He will rewrite what it means to be Klingon and bring in a new age of Glory for us all.”

Jal’na, Lady Duroc

Her gaze shifted back to Jal’na for a moment in confusion and then realized her non klingon sensibilities had not been a compliment. She simply nodded and looked back at him. “I wonder how he will do that beyond being honorable and passionate?”

Haven, CoS

Jal’na’s gaze landed on the massive form of her husband. “He has rewritten our history, Astrid. Brought to light the truth. He is not just honorable and passionate. He is loud and physical about it. He is forcing our people to examine where we have gone astray. What honor really is. And the true meaning of being Klingon. He is forcing our society to take a hard look at ourselves and speak truths that have long been placated or hidden. No he will not simply be honorable and passionate, he will draf the empire back to glory and true honor, kicking and screaming the whole way. And we will sing songs of his conquests unlike any that have come since Kahless.”

Jal’na, Lady Duroc

Looking at him in animated conversation, she could imagine his wife’s words to be very true. If anyone could do that, Lord Duroc could. His personality was larger than life and built on a firm foundation.

The giant head of the massive Klingon turned suddenly in their direction, as if he felt the eyes on him. He grinned a feral grin and raised his tankard to the two women and then went back to his ‘discussion’.

Urg, Lord Duroc

She smiled, chuckled and lifted her glass back before drinking the rest. “May your every word be true Jal’na and may he accomplish it in his lifetime with ripples to a Millenia after ”

Rousseau, Hotj