Grande Dame

Posted on 23 Mar 2015 @ 12:12am by Ambassador Solene von Lanthen & Lieutenant Asahi Kita

1,403 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Episode 08 - NIMBUS
Location: USS Galileo - Shuttlebay
Timeline: MD -03 1200 hrs

[ON]

When you live a long life, you get accustomed to waiting. You wait for dates to come, you wait for lovers to call, you wait for events to occur. When you live as a diplomat, you learn the artful form of waiting: patience. Patience was taking the stroll through live, measured and tempered, taking a stop to smell the roses and admire the view, confident that everything will be set right in the end. Sitting in the shuttle, looking out the window, the Galileo's new resident Diplomat that everything would be similarly all right on this new assignment, just as it had been before. Hearing a knock at the shuttle's aft door, Solene von Lanthen glanced back. It was time, time to really begin this latest adventure. Turning her chair around slowly, she pushed her self off the chair with her characteristic elegance and with ease of motion that did not show her true age.

Reaching the back of the shuttle she reached out a long, slim, elegant but aged hand to the panel and pressed the button that lowered the shuttle's gang plank. As it lowered she saw her pilot stepping back to form a short line with a young man who had delicate, but pointed features. Solene could tell that he was a precise and expert dresser, even with a Starfleet uniform on. She could feel that he knew fashion was the surest form of expression and a vital skill in the diplomatic corps.

Solene was not far from the truth. The purple-collared diplomat had spent most of the morning preparing his uniform for just such an arrival. No detail was left unnoticed, even down to his commbadge, which had been shined and made to look brand-new. Rarely did the Galileo receive such a prominent dignitary on board, which made the event all the more exceptional and deserving of an above average reception.

"Diplomat von Lanthen." Lyras bowed his head in respect, as if he were speaking with a form of El Aurian royalty. "It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Chief Petty Officer Lyras Ueda, and I shall act as your diplomatic liaison with Starfleet, as well as our Command Staff."

Solene's soft and somewhat maternal carriage, however refined, was exemplified at this moment when she gave a smile that did not open her mouth, but exhibited a very warm and beaming positive glow. "Hello Lyras," She said with a voice that was like a soft chime through the wind. Despite standing on ceremony earlier, she decided to use more informal first names at this juncture. Plus she always found the title 'chief' to be a rather...gaudy designation, unbefitting of a diplomatic individual.

"I do hope your journey to the Galileo was enjoyable." Despite his cool exterior, Lyras felt almost intimidated by the woman in front of him. Age was far from a factor when the hybrid initiated diplomatic dealings, though he had no doubt the diplomat in front of him had seen many years more than her appearance suggested. El-Aurians were not a race the hybrid interacted with on a regular basis. If there were any on board the Galileo, Lyras had not thought to ask. It wasn't polite, and he thought highly of his manners. "I must admit, you are the first dignitary we have received in quite some time. Nonetheless, I have accommodations prepared for you, and I can take you on tour of the vessel at any time."

Solene walked gracefully down the gang plank, were she wearing a dress she would have been floating, though her slightly outstretched, elegantly thin arm trailing slightly behind her. "Yes it was quite the journey, we missed you at Starbase but I don't mind a little shuttle ride every now and again." She said with a nod to her pilot. Stepping off the ramp without assistance though with a bit of a 'humph', Solene stood in front of her aide for a moment, sizing him up in a show of formality. She noticed his features and knew what they meant and gave a slight smile and a nod. "Stand at ease," Solene said, moving off towards the door and trying to tame a more substantial smile that was growing.

Though taken aback by her comment, the only facial display Lyras made was a singular blink of his eyes. He had not expected Solene to comment on his posture, though she had all reason to do so; Lyras had made all the effort to keep his posture as straight as could be up until this point. After a hesitant moment, he relaxed his shoulders, and his warm expression turned sheepish.

After another beat or two, Lyras' slight smile turned to a tiny frown. "I can have someone tend to your belongings, if you'd like, Diplomat von Lanthen?"

Solene stopped in her tracks for a moment and shifted her eyes around before an eruption of realization crossed her face. "Oh how could I have forgotten, of course Lyras, thank you my dear." She said with a kind smile. Age certainly did creep up on a person. "I travel light," She said, continuing to walk elegantly down the corridor. "for the most part." She added in a subtle aside. "How long have you been stationed here?" Solene asked, tilting her head at the architecture of the corridors. There wasn't much to admire but she was trying to give it a chance.

"Of course, we'll make sure that it arrives at your quarters safe and sound." Much to the pilot's dismay, as soon as he turned around Lyras was covertly making a motion toward the luggage compartment, and another toward the depths of the ship. The response was a silent grunt, but the pilot begrudgingly went to accomplish the task. Lyras, on the other hand, followed after Solene, keeping his pace just two steps behind her, both to give her room but hopefully not to alienate her. "About six months on the Galileo. There was a mention that they needed a diplomatic attachment, so I volunteered for the position."

Solene smirked. "And you haven't come to regret it, the... intimacy of the ship?" She asked with a slight grimace. Solene knew the ship was small but perhaps she had somehow imagined it larger in her head. She would get used to it of course, she had been in worse for longer periods of time, but it was such a depressing thing for mental images to be shattered a few minutes after arrival. If only there was some way to do a sort of open house before settling on an assignment. No matter.

Ah. And there was the question Lyras had received many times over. Whenever dignitaries looked down upon the size of the ship. However, he held the Nova class vessels high above most others in his mind, and he wasn't going to belittle it simply due to a few opinions. "I have not. My first assignment was on a Nova class vessel, over twenty years ago." He smiled weakly at Solene. "It offers a certain charm that I have come to enjoy. I may be clouded in my judgment, but the Galileo does have quite a lot to offer-"

*BZZZT!*'Chief Ueda? Are you there?' Lyras tapped on his commbadge, frowning. "Yes, what is it?"

'You're needed in the office-There are some last minute write-ups we want to go over about your articles on etiquette amongst Klingon war captains. It's vital we're all prepared for the NIMBUS exercises... ASAP.'

"Ah... I'm with Diplomat Solene von Lanthen, is it-"

'Sir, it's... fairly pressing.'

"... Ah..." Lyras smiled apologetically at the El Aurian diplomat. "I... do apologize. This does seem to be a matter I cannot avoid. Would you care to accompany me to the diplomatic offices? Perhaps we can... finish up maters there."

Solene had already started down the corridor, raising a hand to signal her enthusiasm. "Diplomacy is an art that waits for no man Lyras." The better part of diplomacy was faking it till you make it, and though Solene had absolutely no idea where she was going, she certainly looked confident striding off to nowhere.

OFF

Chief Petty Officer Lyras Ueda
Diplomatic Yeoman
USS Galileo

&

Ambassador Solene von Lanthen
Diplomat
USS Galileo

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