JP - Lieutenant Robin Hopper & Aurora Iovianus: Garden Talk (Part 2)
Robin Hopper
((Fifteen Minutes Later – Grand Mezzanine))
The two women sat at a table, across from one another, each with a drink from the Brew Continuum in hand. The conversation on the journey to the coffee shop had carried on much the same, with Robin slowly chipping away at the backstory of Commander Iovianus’ life and family – yet she still felt like she was only getting small glimpses.
One thing Aurora and her son seemed to have in common was that neither of them gave much away without considerable effort. By comparison, Robin felt as though she couldn’t stop talking, and prayed she wasn’t irritating the Provincial Governor.
Hopper: ::Sipping her rooibos tea:: Alright, I’ve certainly done my fair share of ‘grilling’. You’ve been very gracious. I feel a lot more informed about Magna Roma and my two favourite citize– um, Magna Romans. I guess I should return the favour… Is there anything you’re curious about? Other than the lilies?
Aurora: How is life here on Amity? Is it very busy?
Hopper: ::Laughing:: You could say that.
Aurora: Do you interact very much with the diplomats?
Hopper: Some, yes. As a Department Head, part of my role involves bridging the gap between the Scientists working here on Amity and the Diplomatic a corps overseeing the direction of our overall mission in the Quadrant. Make sure that our work supports their efforts. I meet regularly with Ambassador Vataix and First Secretary Ukinix, as well as the other division leaders, like Commander— Well, your son.
Aurora: ::sipping from her coffee:: Do you know of anyone my son is interested in?
That gave Robin pause. Not only because the question caught her off guard – but also because she genuinely had never considered it. Was there someone that Lt. Commander Iovianus was ‘interested’ in? She decided to seek clarification.
Hopper: Ih— Uh— Interested in? Like… Professionally…?
Aurora: Well it wouldn’t be the first time romance started from work. There is room for romance isn’t there?
So she did mean that. Robin suddenly felt like she was being interrogated. That the entire conversation had been some sort of elaborate ruse to get her to ‘spill the beans’ on Cassian – not that she felt like she had any beans to spill. Still, she was worried of giving his mother the wrong impression, either way.
Hopper: Oh. ::Taking an extra-long sip of her tea, setting the cup down:: Well, sure. Some people find time for that. There are plenty of ‘Starfleet families’ – and there’s no prohibition against.. ::ahem:: ..casual ‘fraternization’... But I don’t really know about– well, uhh. Your son is a very private person.
Aurora: Well, at least he learned that lesson well. Family business is private business.
Robin blinked at that a few times. oO But… Weren’t you just trying to…? Oo She shook it off. Maybe it really had been a test.
Hopper: ::Small nod:: I can agree with that.
Aurora finished another small sip from her drink with a slight scrunch of her nose before sitting it back down. Her fingers interlaced and she crossed them over her lap.
Aurora: I tried from a very early age to make sure that my son had everything he needed for a happy life. He turned out to be more like his father than I could have imagined given the upbringing.
Hopper: The… Upbringing?
Robin took another sip of her drink. Cassian Iovianus’ mother was an interesting and captivating woman – but she was also perplexing. The science officer generally considered herself a socially intelligent and intuitive person, usually able to connect with nearly anyone, but more-and-more she was beginning to wonder if the Magna Roman matron wasn’t, in fact, more like her son than Robin had originally thought…
Aurora: Oh absolutely. I wanted so very much for him to take after me. More toward leadership than violence. All of us go into the service at one point or another. At least for a tour, I was an administrative specialist on Andoria for years. I was a lieutenant like you.
Hopper: ::Encouraging:: Mmm…
Aurora: But my Cassie just had to listen to the stories his father told him. He was a lieutenant colonel in the marines who moved over and worked as a ::Waving her hand as she thought:: Strategic Operations officer. That is why I kept him as the head of my personal security when I was appointed Governor.
Hopper: So, your husband – Commander Iov… Cassian’s father… He convinced him to follow his career path?
Aurora: My son was sold. He took part in the planetary guard and then the Centurion, and then Starfleet. All working in security. Dreadfully worrisome for a parent.
Hopper: Well, I can’t speak for the planetary guard on Magna Roma, or the Centurion, but at least in Starfleet, even here in the Delta Quadrant, serving in Security isn’t all that dangerous… statistically speaking. Starfleet may be a military organization, but our focus is on exploration, scientific discovery, diplomacy… ::Smiling:: He may as well be called a “safety officer”.
There was a pause in the conversation. Robin could tell that Mrs. Iovianus was not convinced. Obviously, she’d had many years to reach her present convictions and Lt. Hopper was not about to change her mind. oO Why am I even trying? Oo
Aurora: So you don’t need security, see I knew he should have been a politician. Instead of going to some backside place that doesn’t even need him.
How had the conversation become so centered on Cassian Iovianus? Didn’t they start out talking about plants? oO It was my fault. I said she should grill me on whatever she wanted… I should have stuck to flowers. Oo Still, the last thing Robin wanted was to get the Commander into hot water with his mother. She’d have to stick with it.
Hopper: I see your point… but politics isn’t without its pitfalls. My mom – Melissa – was a diplomat. Before she retired, she worked with the FDC… I’d always dreamed of exploring the stars, and I couldn’t figure out why she’d ever given that life up. I asked her once why she decided to retire to a little rock in the middle of nowhere and manage a farm.
Aurora: Oh, your mother was a diplomat as well? ::motioning with her hand for her to continue:: What did she have to say?
Hopper: She said, “small potatoes.” ::Slowly clasping her hands in front of her:: It took me a few years to really figure out that this wasn’t just some weird joke… To realize she meant shedding the weight of galactic politics – the decisions, the consequences, the lives she was affecting – and just… growing beans and cabbages. “Small potatoes”.
Aurora: She needed relief it sounds like.
Robin nodded.
Hopper: You know, your son really is very good at what he does… Maybe he wasn’t meant to be a politician. Maybe this is just his true calling.
Aurora: And I should be happy for him? ::smiling:: It is a nice thought. At least he has some level headed people around him like you that I know he can depend on. ::sitting back in her chair:: I must say I have enjoyed getting to talk with you today.
Robin mirrored Aurora, leaning back in her chair, feeling as though the interrogation were over.
Hopper: It’s been quite eye-opening for me too.
She looked down at the cold dregs at the bottom of her cup of tea. Offering Aurora a tired smile, she tilted her head.
Hopper: Well, I should get going. After all, the work never really stops – even on your days off – when you love your work.
Aurora: Of course. ::waving her hand:: I am sorry to have kept you from work, please do go ahead.
Hopper: ::Nodding:: If you ever need help resolving a physics conundrum – or intercropping your vegetable garden… I’m your gal. It was lovely to meet you, Aurora.
Aurora: A pleasure to meet you as well. I will keep your offer in mind.
Aurora watched Robin take her leave. It had been a pleasant conversation in a way. Aurora however had only one conundrum on her mind, that was finding the Ambassador. Her Cassie had been steadily trying to keep her away but she had not given up hope of trying to help her son advance like she knew he deserved.
With their conversation over, Robin stepped to the nearest matter reclamation unit and dropped her empty cup inside, before making her way towards the train station. She glanced down at her outfit, still covered in dust and dirt from her efforts in the park, and chuckled… She ought to have just pretended to be a groundskeeper. It might have been simpler. oO Small potatoes, Oo she reminded herself, as she jogged up to catch the train…
END
Lt. Robin Hopper
Chief Science Officer,
Amity Outpost
V239806K11
&
Aurora Iovianus
Regional Governor
O238506JO0