Posted March 31, 2023, 6:21 p.m. by Civilian Cort Belanger (Executive Assistant to Lt. Gov.) (Lindsay B)
Posted by Civilian Dorma Fen (Governor’s Assistant) in You Won, But Did You Really?
Posted by Civilian Cort Belanger (Executive Assistant to Lt. Gov.) in You Won, But Did You Really?
Posted by Civilian Dorma Fen (Governor’s Assistant) in You Won, But Did You Really?
Posted by… suppressed (2) by the Post Ghost! 👻(snip)
“It’s open to everyone. And there is a monk there who educates the public on the Shinto and Buddhist religions.” she offered. “You should go. I think you would find it a nice respite from our typical chaos.”
Cort was genuinely surprised by the invitation. “You know, I might just do that.” It would be good to clear his head a bit ahead of the Vren arrival. And while things in the office were under control, they were dealing with not only their usual operations, but also the press on three fronts. And then there were the ways in which every assistant navigated the personal details of their boss’ life. When the personal became public, things could get very messy, but they were all managing pretty well from his perspective.
Again the dishes were cleared and then another student arrived. They carried two small plates with a single, very small brown sphere on them in a streak of bright yellow paste. “Chef. Sir. I present to you what I am calling the ‘Honey Bomb’. And Chef, no, before you ask. This is not intended as dessert, but instead as a palate reset between highly flavorful courses. The sphere is a burned honey shell surrounding a puree of Tarkasian mint, Devalian sage, Cardassian carrot, and Deltan hot pepper. I suggest a drink of water before and after and, hopefully, you will experience a brief tingling sensation followed by… well… nothing. You should have no residuals to taste on your tongues at all. Enjoy.” and they turned and left. Dorma looked a bit impressed and said “Highly complex to make, but if it achieves a palate neutral profile, I will want them to teach me jow to make it.” She popped the small marble in her mouth and bit down. Her eyes went wide for a moment, and then she started to laugh. “Oh my… that is brilliant.” and she began making notes.
Dorma Fen
Cort took a sip of water, trusting the student’s recommendation, before eating the sphere. A myriad of flavours all coalesced into something neutral and his brain was honestly confused for a moment. He took the other sip of water. “Huh. I…” He looked at Dorma with some confusion. “I have no idea how that works. Feels like a magic trick, even if it’s probably just chemistry,” he said with a chuckle before he recorded his reaction. It indeed seemed to neutralize a lot of the lingering flavours from before and he noted as such.
~Cort Belanger
Dorma leaned back and looked at him got a moment and then said “Why me? Why not any of the nurses from the hospital? Or any of the other bachelorettes?”
Dorma Fen
Cort met her gaze and thought over how best to explain a strange set of events. “Only one person in the Tower knows that I had drafted a resignation letter two weeks before they appointed Dasca and it was sitting on my computer while I mulled over returning to the Red Cross. Our office had been through constant turnover and it honestly wasn’t great for myself or Elema. We were both very unhappy. Things have been significantly improved and I an really enjoying my work again, and the three of us assistants in that office all get along and we have a bit of fun where we can. And I had a thought that it would be nice for us to get to know you better aside from the usual perfunctory exchanges the work demands. Because let’s face it, no one knows how hard our jobs are but those in the same position. I was simply going to invite you with with us for lunch sometimes if we could swing us all all being out at the same time, but the right time hadn’t come up with the Vren now in play.” He sighed. “I’m going to be honest with you that at the auction, it hadn’t been my intention. I never got the impression you would have appreciated it, even if I do want to get to know you. And then the Governor “-he paused and gathered himself, trying to decide if this was a good or bad idea-“said you wanted me to bid. So I figured we could at least get to know each other and it didn’t have to be a big deal. But when I won and I saw your reaction, I understood what had happened. And no, I don’t enjoy being manipulated anymore than you do. But, you’re excellent company, Dorma, and I am enjoying this evening so far, for what it’s worth.”
~Cort Belanger
Dorma stared hard at him for a very long, uncomfortable moment…
And then she grinned.
“I know.” she said with a slight laugh. “And I know it was Hyrushi’s idea. And I am not mad, nor have I been mad. You should know something about Governor Hyrushi… he knows everyone in that tower. Even if they don’t know him. He knew you and your team were unhappy. And he knew that Captain Dasca’s arrival had changed a lot of that. And he knew that you, me, Elma… even San’nt in Colonial Relations… were just about at our wits end.” She smiled at him and said “But he knew you were the most stressed. And he values your presence in the Lieutenant Governor’s office. He respects your abilities a great deal. Elma as well. So… he decided to distract you. Give you something else to fixate on outside of the Vren and the ten million other things you and I deal with on the daily. And don’t be mad or upset with him, Cort… please.” She smiled broadly and said “It may have been a joint idea between me and him. Because I too appreciate what you do. I didn’t know you were thinking of resigning… but I hope you don’t. We are stronger with you than without you.”
Dorma Fen
He stared at her like she had suddenly grown another head. And then he threw back his head and laughed with his whole body. And yes he was laughing a bit at himself too.
Cort got a hold of himself, shook his head, and held out a hand to her. “Well played.”
“And no worries about the resignation. I deleted it after Eela made that statement to the press with Lord Duroc. I figured if that was how Day Three was going to go it was worth staying around for to see what the rest of our days were going to be like. Though I’m glad she has Lt. Watts to deal with the Starfleet reports. I’ve got enough of my own. Sherri can have them.”
~Cort Belanger
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