In reply to Dr. Alison Verault (msg # 327):

    The server listened to the order patiently and smiled.  She said “Honey, we brew that kinda thing in our sleep.  You sound like a chocolate lover, we are trying out a new triple chocolate cookie recipe.  As a promotion, if you buy two we will add some cream cheese between them for a cookie sandwich.  Our only request is that you give us an honest opinion about whether it should be on our permanent menu.”

    The barista part of the business spills out onto the walkway with little barista tables and Hollywood style director chairs.  A frame with the words “Joseph MacPherson: owner”. Rather than a picture, it’s a flat screen of him playing guitar on one of the director’s chairs,

https://youtu.be/xoR3WR4U2VA
This message was last edited by the player at 13:27, Tue 17 Jan 2023.

(Current Time)

Zob was up early he sat in the living room area having a smoke from his traditional smokewood stockpile, 'You need to cool your temper Zob you are gonna end up killing somebody one of these days... he deserved the punch but i shouldn't of lost my cool and struck him like that... ill apologize after bit'

he then got dressed slipped on his weapons belt and headed down to the hanger dec wanting to get a glimpse of the new folks that and he would have to go and grab his gear for the run.

------> To Hanger Dec

"Oh, that's right; I'd forgot that Finland has conscription."

"My god, how utterly decadent!" she responded to the barista, regarding the cream-cheese cookie sandwich.  "Hardly on my diet. But of course, we'll take one, with full report to follow!"

She glanced at the screen, listening briefly to the music. "I know what old Earth movie that comes from.  One that makes your eyes roll and tear up in roughly equal measure.  He's good," she added, meaning the guitarist-owner.

But in answering Tarja's question, there was a slight pause. "My father's a colonel in the ESN," she supplied.   Then veered from it:

"You know, I have kind of a thing for swans.  The whooper swan is Finland's national bird, if I remember. Did you have any out where you lived?"

The lady returned with the required drinks and two plates, each with a triple chocolate cheese cookie sandwich garnished with a sprig of mint.

”Ah so that is the reason you serve on military ship, the following of footsteps” Tarja replied as she picked up her coffee, completely missing the awkward look in Alison’s eyes or the way she quickly changed the subject by asking about Whooping Swans which Tarja was more than happy to discuss ”yes, there were several lakes around where I grew up so I saw them regularly, they were one the first things I sketched” she said before taking a sip of her drink and enjoying the rich taste ”hmm is nice coffee, I think I will have to get Andruss to take me here sometime…so father is with fleet, yes?”

"I agree, quite good," she said as to the coffee. "It's pleasant here, too.  The proprietor's music is a nice touch.  I'll definitely be coming back myself."   

On dad: "Yes; he is with the fleet.  But no, I didn't follow in his footsteps, exactly."  Understatement of the millennium...

"I began in a civilian practice.  And ended up with an ESN veteran as a patient. One who wasn't satisfied with the treatment he was getting through the VA.  He was happy with my work, and recommended friends that were also veterans.   Word got back to the ESN about my successes with them, and they courted me to enlist."      She took another sip of her coffee, had a piece of the cookie as well.

"Mm, that is good.   So, you're an artist, then?  Or at least like to draw?"

Flex

She would listen as Alison explained how she had gone from a private practice to the military after working with a couple of veterans rather than following in the footsteps of her father as Tarja had first assumed she had. With them both agreeing that they would be making a return trip to the cafe as they drank their coffee and sampled the dessert, Alison would go on to ask if she was an artist promoting a look of embarrassment from her ”not artist no, I just enjoy sitting and drawing birds and animals…it helps me relax, also can be done in warzone” she replied, not really considering herself an artist or what she did as art.

Flex ::

"Ah, I see.  Well, that's a good hobby; it's nice these days when someone still does something by hand, with all the graphics software that's available. And great that it helps you relax a bit out in the field. Sometimes, I wish I'd been born in the period when people had to write letters by hand, or diaries, and before art relied so heavily on digital mediums." 

The server finishes up with an order, and nonchalantly grabs a book from a rack and sets it at their table.  It details art supplies that “Cup-o-Joe coffee and hobby shop can special order including a small list of basics that are always kept on hand.

Flex

”There were no computers on front…just frozen mud” Tarja said with a shrug and a gesture as she explained as to why she used paper and pencil before giving Alison a look that inferred that what she had said didn’t make a lot of sense ”just because technology exists doesn’t mean you have to use it…if you want to write journal then just buy pen and book and spend half hour writing about day…no one has to read it but you” she replied as she idly flicked through the brochure to the art supplies where she would quietly note that they did indeed have boxes of pencils and sketchbooks in stock.

Flex   "A Com is a computer. Many have a screen.  Some even a basic holo projector.  There are graphics packages that can be used on that sort of device.   Fun to play around with, but still takes someone with talent to make something worthwhile."     OOC:  I'm pretty sure a Com is this settings' equivalent of a smart phone.  And there are definitely graphics apps for smart phones.  I'm sure by this time they've only improved.   

"Yes, I'm quite aware I can do whatever I want to," she supplied.   "But it's not so rewarding to hand craft a letter, when the receiving person isn't going to reply in kind, doesn't get the appeal of it, and probably wishes you just sent a holo vid instead." 

"Hey, the cookies' fantastic," she let the server know.  "Keep it on the menu, for sure!"   

Flex

Tarja would give an understanding nod, with it sounding like Alison was looking for a like minded pen friend or two rather than a hobby ”Yes, dessert is very nice” Tarja added, having enjoyed the dessert and Alison’s company ”I should probably let you get back…thank you for spending time with me, I haven’t had time to really meet anyone…I’ve been busy trying to get unit trained and ready…today’s training op went badly” she quietly confessed looking just a little despondent as she did so.

Flex

Alison smiled, "For sure, it's been great getting to know you some.   I've been interested to speak with you, and hear about Finland, since we first met in the tunnels.   Believe me, I know how it goes; duty can sure eat up your time.  But social life is important, and worth making time for.   We'll call this a wrap, then, and say 'until next time.'"   

----->>>  Doc Alison's Office
This message was last edited by the player at 18:25, Wed 25 Jan 2023.

Flex

”yes, it was nice just talking to someone about other things than duty…guess I will have to try and meet people” Tarja replied as she finished the last of her coffee, unsure as to when exactly she would find the time to do so with everything that was going ”yes, until next time I think” Tarja would then say as she got to her feet and return to her duties.

——> The next day

<< Roll from Doc henry's  office.

  reaching  his  home, it was late,  Roll  took the  few steps of the stop to the door and sighed. There was spray paint on his  door, that said  'empire lover'..and 'Larg weirdo'... the paint  would wash off, but someone had to do it. Roll was ,,,just too tired to.

 he  got the mail , opened the door  and went inside..

 It was rather  clean inside, no one there to mess it up, Placing hie things  in the living  area,Roll went upstairs,   took a  shower and changed  clothes, putting the  dirty thing in the  hamper..he would have to ask  Sneak where to wash them.

 The little  guy craweled into bet, his new   weapon on the night stand.., and he fell into a troublig sleep..

(( end  day))

Roy made no preamble or announcement as he headed for Roll's home, but he certainly didn't do anything to minimize people recognizing him.  Without ceremony, he proceeded to the front door and launched into scrubbing away the offensive markings, his anger fueling his efforts.

Haley sat in her chair in the school.  She smiled at Casey and many of the stem kids. Some regular kids too as she listened tothe instructor.  Now in 1st grade Haley felt more confident in her learning she was understanding the meaning of 'compound words', and the differences between 'I, We, and Them'.  She practiced her writing.  she was having a bit of difficulty getting her lowercase b's and d's down though.  Casey was asked to stand and read aloud off her tablet, a few boys whispered snarky remarks about her speaking.  Haley told them "Iffen you can't say something nice you should shut up" Her southern accent apparent. They were going to reply but a few other stemkids that like Haley and Roll gave them looks as if to dare them to try something.

  There was a Boy, close to 10 years old, he had a Black  eye and  a busted  lipe. Roy would recognize him  as Runner, the  'de facto' leader of the Stem kids in the  Civi section

 He walked up the steps, grabbed  one of the sponges  and  begins to help.I don't know  why they do this? They  treat us Stem kids different.. Its not our fault out Moms  and that got  rid of us...or  died? and i don't know which is worse?

 They really   pick on Roll, You know? 'cause  no one wanted him, 'cept that while skinned lady.. Roll has  been fighting  back.. they don't like that, we found a place  down  the  tunnel branch that leads to the Hold, where that Civie  Girl got  killed when she lead the troops to help fight the Boarders in  here... we have  fights.. Us  against Civi kids.. They even punch the little girls!

  he stops  and  looks at Roy,we  all feel  bad...you know? Roll doesn't have  a new Mommy  or  Daddy... His  Mom, is out somewhere in the Black looking for  a guy who left them?..

 Roll has us?   He  has that Haley Girl and  N that Nikki Lady,, Orria  and him are friends... You, The LC guy, Mr  Zob, Doc henry and Can? That sounds like a lot of people... he moves the    sponge  to   point at the door,But when you come home, and  are by yourself... it doesn't seem like  any? I mean.. he can stay with people...but this is his house? and its  empty.. he looked like he wanted to say more  but  couldn't, and went back to scrubbing

(Next Day)

Zob responded to the call of vandalism as it wasn't that far away from his home he showed up a few minutes after Roy did and as he saw the writing he gave a frown and helped with the scrubbing, "We are gonna put a stop to this but do we have any leads so far?"

 The Kid looked at Zob,I  mean? I can guess..but that doesn't mean they did it...we find out? the Pack  will take care of it.

Zob shook his head he understood Runners way of thinking but the SM had the authority to root this cancer out at the source, "I promise you Runner the SM and me will do everything we can to put a end to this for good but any lead is better then nothing it gives us a possible clue of who to look out for"

Roy paused in his efforts when Runner came up to help, giving a nod of appreciation.  Runner was there for the same reason he was...they looked after their own.  But as Runner spoke, Roy's anger simmered...and he scrubbed all the way through the base coat of paint more than once.

He was about to respond when Zob came up and joined in.  "We're going to find out who's doing it...and they're going to find out that the ESN takes care of its own."  He looked over at Runner.

"Roll may be the only one staying here...but he has a family.  Most of us don't have room in our quarters for him to stay there...and he's become independent enough that I don't know if he would.  But just like your pack watches out for him, so do we."  And, he'd scrubbed through all the paint again.

He keyed his comm.  "Lyri, get a maintenance crew down here to Roll's home to touch up the paint."  He paused for a moment, picking his words. "These cleaning measures are a little more aggressive than I'd expected..."

He glanced at his chrono...a little over five minutes before Runner joined him, plus another five or so walking down from QM.  He made a mental note to ask the maintenance personnel for an estimate of what they got paid per hour...he was working out just how he wanted to address whatever miscreant was responsible...

 As they worked  and were nearing , getting  done, Runner  would talk, just to  feel less nervous  around Roy and Zob.

 There's this  Kid.... Tony Barcoli?  he's  like ..16...17.. he picks on  Roll alot.  i was out here  with Roll and some stem Kids,  and him and his buddies where making  fun of Roll and gregor The LC  guy came.. don't know why> But he sat right on the stoop with us..he set Casey   and Parrot, to get all of a  soda  from that little  guy's coffee shop, down the
 way?

  LC, says, he doen't like Tony bcause he's  Itallian? I don't even know what palent  that  colony is on?. He said his family  didn't get along with   those people, all the way back  to the  old wars.

Roy chuckled a little, his anger redirecting slightly.  "Sounds like there's plenty of reasons to dislike Tony without bringing his ancestry into it..." he quipped.

"Italy's not a colony, it's a nation, back on Earth.  Shouldn't matter a whole lot...with only a few exceptions, nations became nothing but lines on maps a long time ago.  There's a few that stand aloof from the rest, and always have, but I'd be willing to bet Shadow's never set foot in Italy.  He knew a lot of bad people, where he grew up, whose ancestors came from Italy, and that's really colored a lot of his perceptions."

He sighed a little bit, adding, "Every time I think I've managed to get him to move past all that, some shit like this happens and makes it all fresh for him again."  He paused, looking at Runner for a moment, then dunked his sponge and started in scrubbing again.

"Shadow's a good guy, at his heart...but he's got some bad habits.  Judging people on who he thinks they are, instead of finding out if they're really as bad as he believes, is one of 'em.  It works for him, as a fighter pilot...he's always active, thinking ahead, keeping control of the situation as much as he can and making the bad guys react to what he's doing.  But when it comes to dealing with people, face to face, it sometimes makes him kind of an a... jerk.  He means well...but he can be a jerk."  He grinned, mostly to himself, as he caught himself.  Sure, Runner had probably heard worse...but that didn't mean that he had to validate it.

  Runner   gave a  shrug,he can be a jerk if he wants... he stood up for us a few times..... Tony  told   Roll one time, that  Th LC guy doesn;t have friends.. Rols  says  he has  bunches....then  tony made  fun of Mr Shade..., roll hit  Tomy across the face with his lunch box.... Roll don't have  a lunch box  no more..