Welcome to the Club

Posted on Sat 6th Apr, 2013 @ 4:33am by

1,468 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: http://sb109.sim-station.net/index.php/sim/missions/id/3
Location: Targ Restaurant
Timeline: Current, 1428

It was always interesting to see new businesses open on the Promenade. With a capacity for 300,000 civilians and crew, though only half that now lived on Protector, and one hundred decks of Promenade, there was something new fairly frequently. It was Miss Lantz's responsibility, as Chair of the Promenade Business Association, to welcome new business owners. With that in mind, she stopped outside a new Klingon restaurant on Deck 582. The sign was up, and it looked as if it would be open for business within the day.

She stepped inside the open door and called out, "Hello? Anyone here?" With the door open, she presumed someone was there.

"Just a moment, I will be right with you." T'scholk was excited to see someone else and to also take a break from setting up his cookware. As he came around the corner he saw his guest. "Hello, how are you doing on this lovely day?" the Romulan asked, his blue eyes almost glowing in the dark.

"Very well, thank you for asking," Jade said, confused at seeing a Romulan. "I thought this was a Klingon Restaurant. I must have misunderstood. I'm here as the representative for the Promenade Business Association. I'm Jade Lantz, owner of Orchids & Jazz on 600." She held out her hand to him. She seemed to remember that Romulans shook hands, too. "Welcome to Starbase Protector."

"Why, thank you." T'scholk extended his hand and broadened his smile. "Well, its everything, Klingon, Earth, Bajoran, just about anything you want to eat I can usually make." T'scholk paused. "I must say I saw your place when I arrived. I am dying to hear real Jazz music. It has been too long since I heard good jazz music. I'm sorry, may I offer you some tea or something else to drink? I make an excellent raktojino."

"Actually, some lemon herbal tea would be very nice," Jade said, looking around. "You've done an interesting interior. So calling it Targ isn't entirely indicative of the nature of food offered here?" she asked, watching him make the tea for her. She was surprised that he'd pulled out a container and taken an actual teabag from it. That was unusual most places, and she liked it.

"Well to be quite honest, I had a restaurant on Kronos. Nothing fancy, but it became popular." T'scholk carefully watched the kettle to make sure it was at optimal temperature. "Unfortunately there was a fire, and I decided to travel to Bajor, then to Earth. The food alone in a place called New Orleans was worth the trip." T'scholk carefully grabbed the kettle and and placed the tea bag in the ceramic cup. "I do apologize. I despise replicators, they take away so much of the taste away. Do you require sugar?"

"No sugar. No apologies, either, this is by far better, in my opinion!" She sat down at a table. "I hope you'll join me for a few minutes before you have to get back to work. Yes, I have fond memories of New Orleans. Of course, it was the birthplace of jazz music, or at least the jazz my club is known for. I spent quite a bit of time there learning to play the saxophone. Misspent youth," she grinned at him.

"Nothing is ever misspent doing what you love." T'scholk sat down and started to pour the hot water into the cups. "I spent years trying to get to a place that I love to do. Granted, depending on where I live, many people think I am a Romulan or Vulcan suffering from a mental disorder." T'scholk smiled as he grabbed the cup and saucer and handed it to Jade.

Jade laughed out loud. "I can imagine. And I hope you don't find this offensive, but a Romulan with a sense of humor is rare, in my experience. Maybe I haven't known enough of them. I like what you said about nothing being misspent when you love what you are doing. That's a great thought. Thank you."

Picking up her spoon, she absently stirred the tea as the color deepened. She had spent her time well, using his measuring stick. She would have to remember that. "Have you heard about Tivoli Gardens yet?"

"I have not. I haven't been able to tour as much as I would like to." T'scholk took a sip of his tea. "And to be quite honest, most of us Romulans do not have a sense of humor. I find it odd that I was able to develop and keep mine after the Dominion war."

"So what is this Tivoli Gardens?" T'scholk said sounding curious.

Jade filed his comment about humor to reflect on later. She often did that as she listened to people. "It's something we are creating here on base, on several decks. It's recreation and science and vacation fun and nature, just a lot of different things to different people. There will be a small river, forested areas ... well, really, it's whatever we want to plan it to be. We being a committee made up of civilians from the Promenade shops and Starfleet personnel." If she kept going, she could talk for hours about the project!

"It's one reason I stopped by. Since you are new and won't know a lot of people, I thought you might enjoy serving on that planning committee. Or, to be honest, I thought I could talk you into it, not that you'd enjoy it so much. I didn't realize what a charming person you would be."

"I don't think it would take much...is it called leg twisting? For me to be apart of this committee. I do have a question, is there a place where we can have a small garden so I can grow some vegetables?" T'scholk smiled, he was still wondering if it was called leg twisting, he at least knew it was an appendage to coax someone to be a part of something.

"I think arm twisting is the appropriate term, though I would happily twist someone's leg, if I thought it would work," Jade smiled. "Oh, yes, we have gardens, river condos, forest, prairie, even desert in the planning stages. The rough outlines are decided, but we need the committee to plan the details. To pretty it up, so to speak. Are you thinking of vegetables for your restaurant?" she asked curiously. The man had many talents!

"I think vegetables for every restaurant. I find that fresh vegetables, herbs, and fruits help morale. I even grew some on the ship I served on, much to the chagrin of my first officer. But this garden would help all the people on the station, we could even hold festivals. Even cooking lessons." T'scholk stopped. "I do apologize but I get excited about these things. One thing about all of us Romulans that we have in common is our passion."

"Don't apologize," Jade said. "This is exactly what I want at our planning sessions - ideas! You have some good ones. Bring them. Think about it between now and our first meeting next week." She took a long drink from her cup.

"The tea is perfect. Maybe I can get you to grow these herbs, too," she joked.

T'scholk stood up and walked over to a cabinet. "I would love to be a part of this community and of course I will grow tea." T'scholk grabbed a small silver canister from the cabinet. "If you like this herbal tea I would love to have your opinion on this blend. It is made from herbs from Bajor, Romulus and a few from China. I blended it myself and put it in these tea bags." He casually strolled over to Jade and handed her the canister. "A gift from one passionate person to another."

"Thank you. I will try it and give you my honest opinion. The container is beautiful," she said, running her finger over the embossed design. "I'll be sure to return it to you. Does it have a story?" As an El Aurian, Jade was a collector of stories.

"It does, I collected various ceramic containers to change the metal containers, to me they lack artistic touch. This particular container's story is for another time but the container is also part of the gift." T'scholk said with a smile. "I anticipate our next meeting will be just as enjoyable, thank you for your visit and remember my restaurant is always open. I will see you at the committee." With that T'scholk kept his smile and watched Jade leave. 'I think I will like it here.' he said to himself.

"Oh, time to open up!" with the push of a button the sign lit up and already a few people walked in. "Welcome to Heart of Targ."

 

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