Breathtaking View

Posted on Fri Dec 18th, 2020 @ 3:18am by Councilor Kohek Cilona of Vashti & Captain Ryan Walsh & Councilor Idris Kizak of Betazed & Councilor Ana-Maria Alexandrescu of United Ficus & Councilor Enoral Gaen & High Commissioner Jasmine Haynes

2,883 words; about a 14 minute read

Mission: Cheese
Location: Café des Artistes
Timeline: 2430-08-29, 18:00

Located near the Office of the President of the United Federation of Planet near the Champs Elysées, the Café des Artistes was a small restaurant and a popular destination for visitors to Paris, France. Not only that but it was a frequent place visited by diplomats visiting Earth. The most impressive part of the cafe was that it offered an excellent view of the centuries old Eiffel Tower in the city center. Birds could be heard singing as they flew through the skies above and lights reflected off the glass tabletops. Young couples sit throughout the cafe amidst the politicos also there.

Councilor Kohek Cilona sighed as she studied the visitors to the restaurant from her chair. While the view was as impressive and awe inspiring as she had heard, she couldn't help but think of her native Romulus. As a Romulan refugee from before the supernova destroyed her world she knew of many places like this one in her homeworld that were no more. Now, as the Councilor from Vashti, she still knew nothing like this. The nearest amalgam of such a place was a small tavern where Romulans congregated and not many others.

"Qezh," she muttered.

The waiter interrupted her inner melodrama with a menu, "Some wine, some cheese, a perfect tarte tatin?"

The Councilor looked up from the menu that had been placed before her, "I'm afraid that I am not hungry."

"Ah like so many others," the waiter said with a distinctive brogue. "Perhaps you are here for the view? Or perhaps something else?" He noted that the Romulan Councilor had been looking at a young man when he'd first arrived.

"The view is satisfactory," she commented - not wanting to admit to even herself that it had impressed her. "Perhaps I will have something." She looked at the menu - written in the dead language known as French - and the translator built into her contact lenses began to decode it into Romulan standard. "Is there an item you would recommend?" Nearby whispers could be heard from the other tables.

The waiter nodded, "Trust in me. I will bring you something exquisite." He scurried away.

Kohek retreated into her chair and pondered the surroundings. Not long ago the possibility of a Romulan being in the very heart of the Federation was an impossibility. Now here she was a member of the Federation Council representing the Romulan refugees that the Federation had once turned their back upon. It was a useless gesture to contemplate that the Romulans really were still nothing more than refugees. While the Free State had acquired Vulcan, Vashti was still a Federation world and chose to remain one for fear of the Tal'Shiar. The Sister Nuns had spent decades keeping them out of the sphere of the dreaded Romulan Secret Police that it only seemed appropriate to be here. If they survived being here.

As she waited for her food she looked around wondering if she would see any other familiar faces.

A tall Trill man entered the café, relishing the scents of the exquisite cuisine. Enoral had spent a fair amount of time in the Federation capitol, as most officers from the Diplomatic Corps had. He absentmindedly ran a hand through his blond coiffure. The waiter seated him next to a Vulcanoid, who was contriving to examine the establishment’s patrons without being too obvious.

“ un menu du jour s'il vous plaît.” The Trill said. His French was flawed but passable. “Et du vin.”

Not far way the Romulan Councilor glanced over at the Trill that was ordering. She thought that she had recognized him as the new Trill Councilor that had recently been selected to represent them in the Council. She hadn't recalled officially meeting him, she intentionally didn't get out much, and instead returned her focus to the datapad that she'd brought with her.

The waiter returned and handed a tray of assorted meats and cheeses. He picked up the goblet and poured the deep red Bordeaux, "I hope that you enjoy. This was a very good year."

"I am certain it will be acceptable," Kohek answered as she accepted, "Jolan tru."

Idris and his husband Jozan, their boys were back home with a babysitter, entered the Café des Artistes as they had a booking. Idris noticed both the Trill and the Vashti Councilors, the Betazoid nodding to both of them as a wait staff approached and guided Jozan to their booked table.

After a brief telepathic conversation with Jozan, Idris approached the other councilors. "Greetings, fancy meeting the both of you here."

Enoral was taken a bit by surprise. He stood to his full height of two meters, out of respect for the Betazoid. Idris was currently the senior Centralist of the Council, and someone Enoral would likely work with often. The Vulcanoid, however, remained unknown to the Trill. Apparently Idris knew them. “Councilor Kizak, what a pleasure.” And then turning to the Vulcanoid woman. “ Hello,I’m Enoral Tr....Gaen of Trill, pleased to meet you as well.”

That was odd, a Trill is usually proud of being Joined that they'd not nearly forget the Symbiont name, Idris wondered what that was about only because he is married to a Joined Trill. He smiled at the attractive Trill Councilor. "Pleasure to meet you as well," Idris said before he turned to the Vashti Councilor. "Councilor Cilona," he said with a headbob of respect.

The Romulan Councilor gave a single nod as she took a sip of her Bordeaux. It did not have the same palate as her favored Romulan ale, but it would do for now. She returned to her meal as the others spoke.

The Betazoid had read up on Kohek's council file among the rest of the council members as well. "This is my first time here," Idris glanced between them. "Do you have any recommendations?" He asked with a smile. He didn't want to talk about anything council related.

Enoral smiled and nodded. “Yes I used to eat here sometimes when I was with Starfleet. But my menu recommendations will cost you, Councilor. I’m afraid you and your husband will have to join me for lunch” said the Trill.

"Join you?" Idris was a little taken aback, "I wouldn't want to impose our crazy on you Councilor, and cost," he laughed, "my husband earns more than you can imagine." He grinned.

The Trill’s brows knit together in uncomprehending “What does your husband’s financials have to do with lunch?”

The Betazoid blinked. "You said that your food and drinks recommendations will cost us?" Idris asked confused.

Enoral laughed in realization. “And here I was, worried that Betazoid comprehension would dominate all matters. The cost of the meal is sitting with me. In other words I’m asking you and your husband to join me.”

Idris laughed a little too uncomfortable then smiled. "Well I'll ask, no guarantees." He laughed genuinely this time. "Excuse me," he added and walked over to Jozan and explained the situation.

The couple came back over to Enoral and Jozan spoke first. "Hello Councilor, where are you sitting?"

"Though I saw several other Councilors here, maybe we can join them?" Idris asked.

Jasmine leaned closer to Ryan, and with a warm smile on her face she leaned in to whisper in his ear. She noticed he was picking at it. "You have barely touched your food, Captain Walsh." She was curious why that was. She made sure her voice was low, not to interrupt the large discussion going on in the room.

Ryan looked over at Jasmine and smiled. “I was thinking about the roller coaster of life and how fast it changes, especially since I took this position.” He took a drink from his glass. “And how happy I am to be here with you.”

"I am so glad you are here, too." Jasmine said, with a big grin on her face, as she continued to listen in to the conversation at large. At the moment, she was not really needed, just there to take notes for the President.

Ryan sensed Jasmine didn’t want to talk at the moment but he couldn’t help but say one more thing. “This is a nice place, we should come here again.” He then looked at the view of the Eiffel Tower, appearing to be engrossed in it while he was listening as well to what was going on around them. It was instinctive.

Ana-Maria arrived at the cafe. She was shown to a table near where the others where sitting. She placed an ordered and waited for it as she read her PaDD.

The Romulan Councilor noted the newcomer to join them. Looking over her shoulder at the new arrival she called out, "Councilor Alexandrescu?"

Ana-Maria turned her strangely green/blue eyes towards the other woman. "Yes?"

The typically reserved Romulan from Vashti shifted, "My apologies for startling you if I did. I have not seen you previously in a setting other than the Council Chambers. It is agreeable to see you in a social atmosphere." The same could be said about her. Kohek Cilona was many things but a conversationalist and social butterfly were not among them.

"You didn't startle me." Ana-Maria stated with a small smile. "Normally I don't come to this cafe, but I wanted out of the building." She said putting her PaDD down on the table. "So how are you enjoying Paris?"

"It is a great deal different than what I have become accustomed too on Vashti," she thought back to her native world of Vashti. She had lived there ever since the Warrior Nuns - the Qowat Milat - had led she and her family there due to the pending destruction of Romulus. Her world was impoverished, broken. It was a lot different than the resource rich Earth. "The closest I have to a place like this is a bar known as the Gregarious Gorn."

"This place isn't to bad." Ana-Maria stated, with a sideways glance and smirk at the Romulan. "Nothing beats home cooking and a drink in good company. You are invited to join me at my place in the future."

Councilor Cilona grinned, "I may have to take you up on that offer." She knew that she needed to start generating allies in the Federation Council and perhaps this was a golden opportunity to do so. She looked around and took another sip from her wine goblet as she noticed two others had come in, "Do you know the new Chief of Staff and the Starfleet Liaison? They look a bit chummy."

"Miss Haynes is Starfleet. She use to be the Chief of Security on the Enterprise, or Starfleet One, if you prefer." Ana-Maria stated barely looking at the girl. "She had ran with the security detachment here a few years ago." She added. "Captain Walsh is also security and is on the Starbase One, normally, but is an Security Adviser on the Enterprise, also." She said. "Now it seems that they officially in love and on a impromptu date."

"Fascinating," the Vashti Councilor commented. "You appear to be well versed on the gossip of the President's transport." She filed this information away inside her head for a rainy day.

Ryan listened to Ana-Maria speak and smiled to himself at her summation of him and Jasmine. He almost replied but waited to see what Jasmine would have to say about this woman discussing their personal lives.

"You know we can hear you, right?" Jasmine said, in a calm and relaxing voice. She was not going to let this Ana-Marie person ruin her date with Ryan. This was not a full blown date, they had some work to do. But there was no reason that they need to keep the two things separate. Well in her eyes, she did not need too. She wondered, why Ana-Marie was bringing this up to the councilor.

Ana-Maria smiled at the young couple. "Yes I know you can hear me, Miss Haynes." She stated. "There is nothing wrong with you two having a relationship. I'm happy that you can find someone." Then she gave a wink to the two of them, before turning her attention to the Romulan. "I make it a note when the President leaves Earth. You never know when he will need to place an embargo on what ever government that needs it." She said picking her PaDD back up.

“I am so happy we have your permission,” Ryan returned, though there was little sincerity in his voice. “I wasn’t aware whether High Commisioner Haynes and I had a relationship or not was up for debate.” He didn’t care if the whole universe knew, he was annoyed at their conversation.

"Relax Ryan, I do not believe she meant ill contentment in her conversation with Councilor Vashti." Jasmine said, still in a calm voice. She wanted to tell Ryan to shut up, and relax. She made a mental note to talk to him later. Now that she was going into politics. He needed to use to the idea, that their personal lives will be objectified.

“You are right,” Ryan said, smiling at the others. “I apologize, I shouldn’t have come on so strong.” He should have went with his first instinct to just keep his mouth shut. “Excuse me.” He headed over to get a refill on his ice tea.

"I wasn't giving you two permission, I'm truly happy that you both found happiness." Ana-Maria said. "I would suggest that he get use to your private life being very public." She stated with a smile. "It comes with the political territory, you both have chosen. I'm sure by this time tomorrow, people will be talking about me asking the Romulan Counciler over for dinner." Then she grinned. "Let the rumors fly and get blown out of proportions. I have thick skin and don't care. I was elected to do a job and I will do it to the best of my abilities. If they have an issue with who I spend my free time with, then they can elect someone else for my position."

Kohek looked at those gathered, "Perhaps we are all lucky that we are not on my native Romulus. If we were the intelligence service would be running a very careful analysis of every action that we take even here." She lifted her wine glass and shifted the liquid around, "there would probably be a tracer in the wine I am drinking or the chese we are eating. Every action cataloged for later use for the good of the Empire." She studied the two on their date, "Your presence together would cause some heads to turn, but would be assumed to be for political benefit between the military and Senate." She put the glass back on the table and grinned, "Good thing we aren't there."

Jasmine looked to Ryan, and she had a big grin on her face. she had listened in. And was also grateful, they were not under the scrutinize eyes of the romulan star empire. The worse thing they had to fear was the Federation News Network. She did not say a word, just stared at him for the moment.

Ryan headed back over with his refill and came back beside Jasmine. He smiled at her, trusting she knew he had regretted his words and it wouldn’t happen again. Deciding to change the subject he spoke. “This is a nice place.”

"Yeah its pretty nice. The company is top notch too." Jasmine said with a sarcastic tone. She was taking a little stab at Ana-Maria. But she was doing it in stride, trying to show how a diplomat would respond.

Ryan loved Jasmine’s personality. She was confident and a quick thinker, perfect for her new position. He was happy to be by her side.

Jasmine and Ryan continued to eat for a bit, after finishing their meal, she looked over to him. "So lets get out of here." She said, with a big grin on her face. Anywhere but here, would be nice for them.

“I’m with you,” Ryan agreed with a smile of his own. He wanted to be out from under the microscope.

Jasmine took Ryan's hand. For once, she did not have to hide her affection for him. Since she had resigned from Starfleet, she was allowed to pursue her feelings for Ryan. She took his hand, as they left the Café.

Ryan was glad to be leaving, he would rather spend their time elsewhere.

Councilor Cilona looked at her dinner guest, "I am afraid that I must prepare for tomorrow's session of the Council. It is certain to be of interest for us all I believe. Will I see you there?"

"Of course." Ana-Maria stated. "I'm here until Council is out of session." She added. She gave Jasmine and Ryan a look and a smile. She made a mental note to review their files to see if they are going to cause problems with the up coming events.

"Jolan Tru," the Romulan woman said in farewell as she rose from the table to leave.

"Jolan Tru," Ana-Maria said as she stood to take her leave as well.

 

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