Posted by Civilian Astrid Rousseau (Chief Justice) in Batarael, Day 1- Gather

Posted by Captain Eela Dasca (Lt. Governor) in Batarael, Day 1- Gather

Posted by Civilian Cort Belanger (Executive Assistant to Lt. Gov.) in Batarael, Day 1- Gather
Posted by… suppressed (7) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

Eela simply slipped her arm through Astrid’s. “Well then, you’re in good hands my dear. Just stick with me.”

She leaned back and turned her head to look over at the lounge area of the patio. “Hey Roger!”

A red haired older human whom was sitting with Cort learned foward. “Yes?”

“Care to fill in Astrid about my nickname? I think she’s under some false impressions,” Eela said.

Roger laughed. “Her nickname is Koonita, which is a Haliian word that means ‘one who causes mischief whether by accident or design’. It goes along with the phrase, ‘Adan ne quo koonita’ which translates to ‘the cause of mischief is as it again’. I assure you she regularly earns her nickname, and in all the years I’ve known her I’ve never known it to not be true in some capacity.” His words might have sounded like a condemnation, but there was nothing but affection and regard in his tone and expression.

Eela exchanged a deep look with him before she looked back at Astrid. She shrugged with her free shoulder, even as a glimmer remained in her eyes.

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

Roger chuckled and gazed at Astrid. “If you really want to understand, you should ask her about some of the trouble she’s gotten into over the years.”

Kenzo arrived with a plate laden with samples of almost every thing. He took a seat next to Roger and said “I may need to impose upon your familiarity with Halian cuisine and custom, Admiral. This is not something I have been exposed to before.”

Hyrushi, Governor

Roger gave Kenzo a friendly smile. “They’re predominantly pescatarians, and I swear if Eela’s food choices are anything typical, they alos have quite the sweet tooth. ” He ganced up at Eela as she and Astrid came to join them in the lounge area. “What’s that one dessert you used to make on he Berlin? I swear it was the one dessert our captain actually enjoyed since he was decidely not a man who enjoyed sweets.”

Eela grinned. “Tintinada,” she said. “It’s hard to explain, but it’s a layered dish of a sort of custard and different fruits. But there’s a extremely flaky pastry layer over top and each serving is drizzled with cream that’s infused with herbs. So it’s sweet, but there’s a tang from the fruit and herbaceous bite from the cream. The kids hated it when they were little, but to be fair, it’s a bit strong for younger and more delicate taste buds.”

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

Kenzo nodded. ” It sounds very good. My father was very strict about sweets when I was growing up. He said they were a waste of effort and brought joy only to the consumer. I didn’t doubt him much until I was offered Antican honey bread.” He picked up his fork and stabbed a piece of chilled, pickled fish. ” That changed my entire attitude towards dessert, I must say.” and he ate the bite, nodding approvingly.

Eela led Astrid over to sit with Cort, Kenzo, and Roger. she moved as if nothing could bother jer just now, crossing her legs at the knee (despite knowing Jal’na would chide her the moment she saw it) and balanced her plate of food on her upper leg. “I think there is a dessert for everyone, you just have to experiment until you find the right one.”

She couldn’t help but feel a part of things as she was placed in the very middle of a group who knew each other very well and found the company happy. She couldnt help but smile at the possible antics Eela probably got herself into. She caught Eela’s gaze and simply shook her head ruefully at the woman before returning her attention to Roger and the others. “I will make a note of it and then I shall ask you to tell me the truth of what happened. Something tells me Eela will downplay her role in events that may or may not have occurred.”

Eela twirled her fork in her fingers and smirked. “Careful there, Kellen. Don’t forget MAD.”

Caridee approached at that moment with her younger brother Jourin in tow. “What’s mad?”

Eela and Roger exchanged a glance and spoke at the same time. “Mutually Assured Destruction.”

Eela grinned as her kids took up seats with the group, their own plates full of food and memories. “Basically, when you’ve known someone as long as Roger and I have known each other, you tend to know everything about them, including their secrets. In this case, he should be mindful that for every story he has of me, I probbaly have one of him.”

Roger smirked and eyed his frend with deep fondness. “Oh, I don’t know, could be worth the risk. Besides, I’ve not lived as nearly an interesting life as you.”

Eela snorted. “Deflector.”

“Learned from the best.”

Caridee chuckled. “And to think you to couldn’t stand each other when we first boarded the Berlin.”

~Eela & Co.

“Oh really?” Cort said with a grin. “This feels like a story that must be told.” He grinned even more when Eela simply raised a brow at him. In truth she seemed about as relaxed as he had seen her in awhile, perhaps since she arrived. There had been moments here and there, but especially after her ex-husband’s ‘visit’, there had been a tension in Dasca that she just couldn’t shake. Dash had helped, that much had been obvious, but therein lay the complication. So seeing her this way right now was good. It made him feel like he too could take a deep breath. Tonight they could set all the worries to the side and just enjoy the spirit of this Haliian holiday, especially if that got Eela to tell some more stories.

Cort Belanger, Executive Assistant to Lt. Gov.

“Oh, it absolutely does,” Jourin said with a grin. “Though I wasn’t even born yet.

Roger chuckled. “It’s not so complicated a tale. We were a small science vessel when we suddenly got word we were getting a therapist assigned to the ship. This was back when that was not common and they were only just starting to do so as a permanent position. I… well, not to put too fine a point on it, was not thrilled. We had a very smooth running ship and I didn’t see why our ship needed one. We weren’t front lines and rarely had dramatic things happened, so it was rare that the crew needed trauma counselling. But this is what Command told us, so I sucked it up and sure enough, one day our new counsellor arrived with her spouse and”-he pointed at Caridee-“a very precocious four year old. Said child was the first off the transporter pad, and simply stuck her hand out to the captain and then me and introduced herself as if this was perfectly normal for her. Her parents went with it, but I knew we were in trouble, that things were going to get interesting.

Roger’s expression shifted into something ever so slightly sheepish. “Of course, I did myself no favours and am ashamed to say that I was not the best example for the crew and, um, well, was a bit of an ass and refused to come have the chat she”-he did air quotes”invited us to have. But I quickly learned my lesson.”

“Yes, and pray tell, what was that lesson my dear?” Eela asked, the perfect picture of innocence.

Roger chuckled and grinned. “Never ever play a game of chicken with someone who can mark you as unfit for duty and revoke your command clearance.”

People burst into laughter. “Did you really?” Elema said before laughing more.

Eela grinned and gave a shrug with one shoulder. “Not a tactic I was fond of deploying, but very effective when needed.” She shot Kenzo a glance and grinned. She doubted he was surprised in any way.

Sharah made her way over to Jal’na. Her friend was much taller than her, but next to her husband she was tiny. “Well what do you think Jal’na?” She was eager to talk to her friend, and see how she was doing.

Dr. Fayth, DoMSS

Jal’na grinned, “I think this is good for Eela. I also think my husband is saying what we are all thinking. Though, I have to admire that Deltan for trying to intervene. Eela’s daughter has redirected the conversation for the moment, but Urg won’t let it go.” She grinned at Sharah, “You know how he is about those that he considers under his protection.”

Jal’na, Lady Duroc

“If that is how he is with those he considers under his protection-” a voice said from behind them as said Deltan approached them with a wary glance at Lord Duroc, “- then I shudder to think what he is like to those he considers enemies.” She looked at Jal’na and Sharah, extending a hand to the former. “Your husband is quite the imposing figure, Lady Jal’na. I am Karilan Massat, one of Eela’s friends.” The Deltan was beautiful… or maybe handsome?… but it was almost impossible to tell which.

Karilan Massat, Owner - Quill and Parchment Bookstore

Jal’na reach out and shook Karilan’s hand. “Just Jal’na please. The ‘Lady’ only serves in the council.” Not that she would ever deal with them unless necessary. “Oh yes, you own the Quill and Parchment. Eela told me you installed the casings for her books.”

Jal’na, Lady Duroc

Sharah smiled. “Hello Karilan. It’s nice to see you again.” Her smile was warm and genuine. She didn’t know Karilan very well, but she knew how much they meant to Eela.

Dr. Fayth, DoMSS

Karilan smiled at Sharah and said “Hello, Doctor. It is a pleasure to be seen.” and they laughed softly.

Karilan Massat, Owner - Quill and Parchment Bookstore

Sharah laughed, “How have you been? I need to come by your shop soon. I’ve run out of things to read.”

Dr. Fayth, DoMSS

Bump

Hyrushi, Governor

Veering right for Karilan was baby Alais, was seemed determined to visit all the people, especially ones she liked. Given that Karilan was practically living at the Penthouse with Eela, Alais was becoming rather familiar with the Deltan. And she was now acquainted with Jal’na and to a lesser extent, Sharah, but she seemed to be quite happy to be there with them. She shifted from all fours to a sitting position and clapped her hands, babbling with a grin on her face.

“You would think she’d want food first, but socializing seems to be the focus,” a dark haired Napean male said. Kian hadn’t been around as much, as often the one looking after the babe in his and Caridee’s apartment downstairs from Eela’s, but he seemed rather at ease amongst the group of people he didn’t know all too well. He carried a small plate of finger food that gave him a chance to eat before Alais made that difficult. “I’m hoping she’ll wear herself out soon, but that might be a bit too much wishful thinking. She seems to know a good party when she finds one, not unlike her mother and grandmother,” he said with a grin.

~Eela & Co.

Karilan scooped the babe up off the floor and set her on their hip. They smiled at her as she grinned and babbled; and then lowered their head so Alais could touch their hairless head. She laughed as she ran her fingers over the bare skin and then softly smacked her palm against Karilan ‘s scalp. Karilan raised their head and smiled. “A better massage I have never had.”

Karilan Massat, Owner - Quill and Parchment Bookstore

Sharah grinned. “She will be a social butterfly. Always making friends, I’m sure.” She smiled at the child. Babes were so easy to understand, and Alais was a character. She peeked a glance at Jal’na across the way and wondered briefly, but kept her curiosity to herself.

Dr. Fayth, DoMSS

Rousseau, HotJ

“It does seem that way,” Kian said as he watched his infant daughter place her hands on Karilan’s cheeks, her dark eyes boring into them. “She also has a pretty spot on sense of who she likes and who rates as someone to avoid. We were wandering around the city yesterday and she would tell us instantly if someone made her nervous, even before my own empathy picked it up.”

“Now only if we can convicne her that rest is as important as adenture and play, then maybe Caridee and I will make it through this first year,” Kian said with a laugh. There was something lovely about the energy here at Eela’s right now and while he was generally a more quiet person, he found himself at ease amongst his mother-in-law’s friends.

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

Sharah laughed, “But there is so much to see and hear and feel. She can’t risk missing anything.” She watched as Alais gave Karilan her undivided attention. “I’m sure if you need sleep, Eela will be more than happy to spoil her for awhile.”

Dr. Fayth, DoMSS

“And if she won’t, I certainly will.” They smiled at Alais and then spoke to her. “You would just love the bookstore, I think. Lots of pictures and smells and company.” and they laughed.

Karilan Massat, Owner - Quill and Parchment Bookstore

Jal’na watched with amusement. “In that case, bring her by the Embassy some time. There is always lots of people and color, and sound to entertain.”

Jal’na, Lady Duroc

Kian smiled. “We might just have to do that. And we’re looking forward to exploring more of the colony after things have calmed down a little.” He glanced out onto the patio where his wife was gathered with her mother and brother and her mother’s friends. “Something tells me we’ll get to do more exploring than we originally expected, too. And in all honestly, the more trusted people willing to babysit, the better. For everyone’s sake,” he said with a warm smile as he reached out to Alais and tapped her on the nose, making her smile and gurgle. They had kept to the apartment out of an abundance of caution after Dash’s murder and Eela’s security team was insistent that they go no where alone. He and Dee understood, of course, but that didn’t make their situation any easier. This was the most people their little family had been around since the gala for the Vren.

~Eela & Co.

Astrid smiled at Roger and then at Eela. They seemed to have that comfort that came from long and close friendship. She envied them such a relationship. Now that she finally settled on OED V, perhaps she would get there. She had a tumultuous upbringing followed by a laser focus on her career in her younger adult years. She had learned though, not everything was about the law. “Well, I can imagine that when push comes to shove Eela can get the results she desires. Something tells me she is not only resilient, but also creative.”

Rousseau, HotJ

Cort chuckled. “I can only imagine after the glimpses we’ve seen so far. But I have to admit I’m very curious about something,” he said, shifting his gaze to Jourin and Caridee. “I really want to know what it was like having the starship captain be your mother. If either of you have your mother’s way of getting into mischief, that must have been something else.”

Caridee let out a feigned huff. “It was so annoying. I mean, I couldn’t get away with anything,” she said, channeling a petulant teen voice.

Eela gazed at her deeply, eyebrows lifted. “My dear, if you didn’t want to get brought to the captain’s ready room by ship’s security, you shouldn’t have been making out with young ensigns in restricted areas.” Caridee smirked and took a sip from her wine glass.

Jourin burst out laughing. “Is that what happened? I could never get either of them to tell me.”

Worth it, Caridee mouthed, making Eela burst out laughing.

Cort Belanger, Executive Assistant to Lt. Gov.