[JP] Second Secretary Aitas, Sakon, and Berit Maro - A Sommelier of Houses
Niev Galanis
(( ‘Sustenance’, ShiKahr District, Amity Outpost ))
The restaurant was a maze of small rooms, each containing little more than a low table and a pattern of sand under a glass floor. From the lack of noise around them, it had actually been soundproofed to Vulcan standards.
A touch of privacy. Enough that Aitas gave her father a hug, and Berit a kiss on the cheek. Aurelio was off at a lesson about the establishment of Betazoid colonies in the area, which Aitas rather expected he might fall asleep during. He had been so excited to have a beach again after all those weeks of travel.
Aitas: I’m sorry I’ve been so busy. There’s been a truly incredible amount of paperwork to deal with.
Which was absolutely true. That she had an unfortunate habit of letting herself get too busy, that she’d been quite reasonably concerned about Jakarn, and that there had been no one on Amity to discourage the worst of such habits…well, that didn’t need to be said.
Sakon: All the more reason why you should relax. We’ll have plenty of time over dinner. ::he tilted his head to indicate one of the menus. Rather than a printed sheet the options were actually carved into a thin layer of wood.:: And we were thinking of visiting the art gallery afterward.
They hadn’t actually discussed it, but he gave Berit that tiny curl of a lip that was as close as Sakon got to a proper smile.
Maro: I do find myself very curious what sorts of things wind up in a Delta Quadrant art gallery. You can learn so much about a place by looking at the sort of things the locals create.
Aitas: I haven’t gotten a good look yet. Though I am very curious if they have any depictions of space serpents.
Sakon quite pointedly stared down at his own menu and contemplated the different varieties of sliced vegetables with sauce.
He’d ask about the space serpents later. But the small twinkle in Berit’s eyes suggested he wasn’t quite as patient.
Maro: Space serpents, you say? Whatever puts that on your mind?
Aitas: Just being reminded of how quick the Federation can be to dismiss some matters as merely local legends. But I would love to hear your thoughts on the art. I still haven’t decorated my quarters; a few good pieces would help me pull it all together.
Sakon didn’t sigh audibly, but given that everyone in the room was some combination of empathic or telepathic, the sensation was clear enough.
Sakon: Of course you haven’t. Perhaps we should start with selecting dinner?
Maro: Ah, but what are legends except history that’s had a few drinks? There’s almost always a bit of truth hidden somewhere in there. As for the art—I’ll keep an eye out. But there’s no place for sub-par creativity in your home, so don’t be disappointed if none of them makes the cut. Speaking of cuts and serpents, I’m thinking of some sort of seafood.
Sakon flipped the menu over and indicated a small subsection on the back. While the restaurant may not have catered exclusively to Vulcans, its menu was largely vegetarian.
Sakon: These two, then. And one more dish to share.
Aitas tapped a finger at one particular point on her own menu and nodded.
Aitas: I’ve something in mind. And, ::she shot Berit a look:: I’m going to come home and find you’ve decorated the entire place, aren’t I?
A very affable kind of smile spread across Berit’s face, his head tilting forward in playful deference toward Aitas.
Maro: I might have already done so. I suppose you’ll just have to wait until you get home to find out, hm?
She let out an amused groan and rubbed a hand across her forehead.
Aitas: I’ll make an appointment to ask someone from science about plants I can’t kill easily, in that case. And I’ll owe you both another set of dinner reservations. I’m sure I could get the two of you one at The Lighthouse, if you’d like.
Her own little sort of revenge. She certainly hadn’t gotten any of her stubbornly overworking habits from her father.
Not at all.
Sakon just looked between the both of them and pressed the button to summon the server.
Maro: Well, at least I can’t say the Federation didn’t put their best foot forward all the way out here. I was worried all the talk about it having a touch of home had been overblown. No wonder so many from Betazed make the trip out here.
For his part, Berit seemed to welcome the idea of his step-daughter’s revenge. The Betazoid had certainly seemed in a good mood ever since coming on board. The server didn’t leave the group waiting along, appearing at the doorway of the small room not long after Berit’s comment.
Sakon ordered for the group, and while his request didn’t result in even a raised eyebrow, those empaths in the group might have noticed a slight chill in the air at the request for seafood. One of them might have even been caught rolling his eyes.
Aitas simply remained quiet until the server had left, then leaned in a little more.
Aitas: It’s still a long trip. I appreciate you both coming all this way. ::she smiled, just a little:: There’s even quite a few members of the Houses out here, though don’t mention that to Grandmother. She has enough ideas already.
Sakon: She always does.
Cocking his head to the side, a familiar, mischievous kind of grin spread across Berit’s features at the mention
Maro: I’ll do my best, but you both know I’m something of a… sommelier when it comes to just what all of our favorite nobles are up to. Have you seen any notable faces yet?
Aitas: Keehani Ukinix is running the diplomatic corps on the station now. We’ve not worked together too often, but she’s been pleasant enough. Not the sort to start going off about ‘telepathic worth’.
She didn’t exactly sound optimistic about that opinion extending to the rest of the local nobility. The joys of experience, perhaps.
Sakon: Your grandmother fusses too much.
Maro: We can’t all be as lucky as the Terrans. "Solving" Betazed’s stratification was never going to be as simple as moving past currency and scarcity. Ukinix, you said? I’ll have to check and see if I’ve ever chatted one up.
Aitas: Not many of them around for a while. But I haven’t kept track of all the details.
One of the few lingering touches of defiance against her Grandmother’s ambitions, no matter how much they’d generally come to terms.
Amusement openly spread across Berit’s face as he sensed that all too familiar hint of emotion from his step-daughter. He could hardly blame her for her feelings on it all, given the history there, but from the ‘social archivist’s’ view he couldn’t help find her stubborn lack of interest endearing.
Maro: Oh, don’t you worry about that. That’s what you and your father have me for.
Her tone warmed at that. Perhaps there was even a hint of a smile.
Aitas: That we do.
Fin
Berit Maro
Art Dealer
A240106NG2
&
Sakon
Xenobiologist
&
Second Secretary Aitas
Federation Diplomatic Corps
Amity Outpost
O239307A10