Posted Sept. 30, 2022, 12:13 p.m. by Lieutenant Sharah Fayth (Chief Star Fleet Medical Officer) (Jennifer Ward)
Posted by Captain Eela Dasca (Lt. Governor) in Sloane Square- Saturday Farmer’s Market
Posted by Lieutenant Sharah Fayth (Chief Star Fleet Medical Officer) in Sloane Square- Saturday Farmer’s Market
Posted by Captain Eela Dasca (Lt. Governor) in Sloane Square- Saturday Farmer’s Market
Posted by… suppressed (4) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Before the planetary shield was in place and the colony existed under the first dome, Sloan Square was dead centre. Open, park-like, it was the place from which the administration of the colony circled around. Eela had observed when she first arrived that if you did administration, or worked at the hospital or the new university, you would pass through or close to the square on a pretty regular basis, and thus she saw it as the heart of the public spaces. There were plenty of places to sit, including grassy areas, all nestled amongst water features and planters full of plants and flowers.One of the larger spaces allowed for the market to be erected every Saturday (just as Tenkiller had said), and the wide variety of vendors sold everything from produce to gourmet food items, to arts and crafts, and, as Fayth had pointed out, plants as well. There were also food stalls and as Eela stepped out of the slider with her new detail in place, she took in the medley of sights, smells and sounds. It was fantastic.
A part of her would just like to be just a woman going about some shopping but the reality was that even now dressed casually in stretch blue slacks and a loose boatneck sweater in black, she was still the Lieutenant Governor and people would still expect her to be that even if she were more approachable. Still, that didn’t preclude her from having downtime or a personal life and so she was intent on making the most of this precious time she had available to her.
Looking about, her mind settled on the one familiar presence and she grinned as she stepped towards Sharah, a bag with more cloth bags draped over the crook of her arm. She might not be moving energetically today, but she was sans cane and walking smoothly. “Morning,” she greeted warmly.
~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.
The raven haired doctor had only arrived a a handful of minutes earlier, crossing the park from the hospital side. She had taken the time to she’d her lab coat and change from her uniform into heather grey leggings and a knee length sweater dress with a wide collar the opened asymmetrically across her right shoulder and crapped over the opposite. She carried a solid bottom basket stuffed with other cloth bags. Sharah had felt the distinct presence of Eela Dacos approaching the square. Around her the presences were different. She had a new security detail today. The presences were different, unique, but their focus and mentality were the same as security everywhere. She could tell no more from the well trained individuals. Much like standing two people side by side and by vision alone know they were not the same person, but specifics were unattainable with just a brief glance.
Feeling the woman wanted to be just herself, she’d the mantle of Lt Gov if only for just a moment, to be seen as a person and not the job, Sharah smiled warmly and addressed her by name. “Eela. Good morning,” She took and squeezed both the woman’s hands in a welcoming and warm friendly manner. “Isn’t this wonderful? I’m not sure where to start. But I think I smelled coffee and hot chocolate coming from that direction, and pastry.” Her eyes danced, a rare moment of care freeness she wasn’t used to having.
Sharah
Eela squeezed Sharah’s hands briefly in return and the whole exchange felt very reminiscent of her childhood on Halii. She had been so used to maintaining a careful distance, especially on duty, that it really did feel nice to broach that touch barrier and feel connection with someone. “Onwards to the coffee! And then we get to do that thing that other people do. I think they call it meandering…” she said, her eyes alit.
“You may have to slow me down. I’m not sure I remember how to not rush from place to place.” While the sentiment was accurate, by way of her gifts Sharah’s gait fell into step of length and speed of Eela’s. Even without her empathic abilities, Sharah still would have allowed Eela to choose the pace they set. It was difficult to turn off ‘Dr Fayth’ but it was near impossible for Sharah to not be the caring, comforting, empathetic person she was.
Eela chuckled. “We’ll practice together, then. I swear after this week, even if my body hasn’t been moving at a breakneck speed, my brain has been.”
Moving towards a sister-stand to the coffee stall outside the Government Tower, Eela simply joined the line, turning to Fayth, her plain-clothes security unobtrusive but close by with all the people milling about. “So, other than this market, any plans for today?”
~Eela
Stepping into the line, which was moving a pace considering the crowd, Sharah gave it some thought. “I have rounds this afternoon to check in with a couple of patients, and after that, I’m supposed to be off duty. Unless there is an emergency or some situation that requires me to be there. I hope not though, Cmdr Woods and I are supposed to be cooking tonight.” The mention of the chief science officer brought with it a deep well of love and affection that was obvious in both Sharah’s feelings and on her expression, as well as peacefulness. At the mention of cooking though her face took on an almost child like delight. At the cart she ordered a hot chocolate, paid and moved out of the way for the next person. “What about you? Any other plans other than shopping?”
Sharah
Ordering a large latte, Dasca stepped over as well, smiling at the wave of emotions from Sharah hit her. At a much earlier point in her separation it might have made her uncomfortable or maybe just a bit sad, but at least right now she was glad for the younger woman. “Well, as it happens, I’ll be cooking dinner as well, though it could end up being tomorrow. We shall see. But other than that, I am knee deep in more reports than I have hours.” She flashed Fayth a grin. “But don’t worry, I fully plan to take breaks to do a bit of decorating.”
“Maybe you will find something here to add to your meal or decorate your space. They seem to have a bit of everything. Oh and you will have that painting you bought to add to the space. Wasn’t the frame like a honeyed oak color?”
The thought of the painting brought a swirl of emotion (both positive and negative) from Eela before she could tamp down on them. “Yes, I do. I was debating where it should go, but I have a room I’m using for exercise and physio and I think that that is where the painting needs to be.” Again, it was that strange knowledge that it was so poignant and seeing it could stop her in her tracks. But it was a reminder too of how far she had come and where she wanted to go as well. Everything in balance.
Their drinks came up and Eela handed Sharah her hot chocolate. Sipping her latte, Dasca stepped around a group of people, ever mindful of trying to leave a bit of space between her and crowds. “Do you get to cook much?” she asked as they moved towards the market tables.
~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.
Sharah shook her head as she took a sip of rich hot decadence. “Mmmm.” She moved away from the crowd waiting for their orders and toward the next nearest stall that had a huge assortment of fruit grown in green houses on the colony. “Actually, I am just learning. I…was never allowed to cook growing up. And at the Academy, who had time for it when you had replicators.”
Sharah
Dasca smiled. “Ahh, well you are now on a wonderful journey, I promise you. And a place like Oed? Endless inspiration,” she said as she see her latte down the edge of the table and began to inspect the options on the table.
“So I keep being told. My efforts are…mediocre at best, but Markus is very patient. I had a counselor once that tried teaching me how to bake bread. It was always either over or under kneaded.” Those classes had been fun, but exhausting. The purpose hadn’t been to make bread though, but to exercise her concentration and focus.
The stall owner moved over to greet her customers and looked momentarily surprised before smiling. “Lieutenant Governor Dasca, it’s nice to see you at the market.”
“Good morning,” Eela greeted warmly, her demeanour remaining relaxed and decidedly ‘off-duty’. “I’ve been looking forward to seeing what is here. Do you have any Triscan pears?” she asked as she picked up a large oblong red fruit that had green spots on it, eyeing it curiously.
“Not currently, though Amail might have some. They have a stand on the other side of the market. Carry all sorts of produce from that sector.”
Sharah found a Geocuri and Fade Marang that looked of good quality and purchased them, placing them in one of her bags and moving to the next stall. Picking up and sniffing, squeezing, and examining them. It reminded her of the time spent with her father or even Uncle Olly. She missed them both terribly.
“Perfect, thank you,” Dasca said before turning back to Sharah. “I know what you mean about replicators though. I am so grateful for them. But early in my career I found I was missing something, and it took me a bit to realize it was the weekly meal my family would cook. My parents were very much of the mind that regardless of how much advanced technology you had access to, you should be able to do things for yourself, including feed yourself. So once a week we cooked together. And after I got married, I resumed that tradition and we taught our children the same. I’ve not always been able to keep it up-“-she leaned in towards Fayth-“sometime I’ll tell you about the time we ‘cooked’ with rations during the war- and these last few years have been hard for that since I’ve been all over the place and not in a position to cook necessarily, but here? It might be the thing that keeps me sane.” It was one defining feature of her life, of her family roots, that could ground her in the chaos she had landed within.
~Eela Dasca. Lt. Gov.
“I know what you mean,” a fond smile appeared and warmth of a happy memory suffused her being. “We ate all our meals together. My father is an agricultural specialist. He helped rebuild the farms on Betazed after the Dominion War. We never had a replicator, always ate fresh foods and together as a family. I miss it.” Another seemingly random, chaotic event, that their first real interaction together, Markus had been cooking. It was the first real meal she had eaten with anyone since the Ark Angel. “Sharing a real meal together is such a moving emotional experience. Helping to prepare it, even in a small way, is an honor.” One she hadn’t been aware she was missing out on because of her mother’s strict precautions.
The next stall held more of a variety of produce, but the one past snagged Sharah’s attention. Tomatos! Bushels of them. Markus was always going on about making sauce from scratch. Sharah probably purchased more than he needed, but she could take the seeds and grow her own afterwards.
Sharah
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