Judith Eastman
Civilian
Grandma
Posts: 2,593 Likes: 84 
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Civil Servant
Species: Human
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Post by Judith Eastman on Mar 6, 2021 20:53:39 GMT
[Capt. Judith Eastman(-Williams) - Home Life Florals, Promenade, Front Ear Station]Judy had a triple interest in Devra's shop: as a Captain, she wanted to see businesses on her promenade thrive; as a friend, she liked to see those she loved succeed; and as a wife, she needed a place to buy her husband some flowers. On account of a rush of meetings, she hadn't been able to make the formal opening, but she did want to drop by on opening day. She was able to drop by at about mid-afternoon, after a trip to the station gym (someone had to get Mabel through her annual physical), clad in a hot-pink zippered hoodie and matching leggings, her blonde hair in a tight bun. She held in her hand both her own gym bag (her purse inside it), and that of the exhausted Mabel (who had gone home to crash). "Do you have any orchids I could buy?" she asked, smiling as she announced her presence in this way.
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Jovireh Velal
Security & Tactical
[TI18]
Posts: 2,609
Likes: 55
Rank: Senior Chief Petty Officer
Position: Chief of Security/Tactical
Species: Betazoid/Romulan
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Post by Jovireh Velal on Mar 6, 2021 21:05:45 GMT
[Devra Kul - Front Ear Promenade - Home Life]While the first day being open for business hadn't been packed, it had been a steady success. Between the formerly empty space being closed off the past month, to the sudden burst of colors as she'd opened the door and moved a few select arrangements out front, there had been plenty of curious interest in the new business. Devra felt more alive than she had in years, and was humming a quiet tune to herself as she took the dip in guests to put together a couple more arrangements. Those had been the most popular so far... People who just wanted something beautiful either for a loved one or their own home, and weren't picky about the type of flowers they ordered. Hearing a familiar voice at the door, the Betazoid woman spun around to greet Judy with a bright smile. The station Captain had been the first she dared to hope call a friend here, and had been so helpful in getting everything started. "Orchids? Of course! Cut or potted?" With Humans being the primary species on board the station, Devra had made certain to start out with a decent supply of the most popular flowers from Earth. Her time working in a floral shop on the planet had definitely given her a good idea of what those were.
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Judith Eastman
Civilian
Grandma
Posts: 2,593 Likes: 84
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Civil Servant
Species: Human
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Post by Judith Eastman on Mar 6, 2021 21:56:32 GMT
[Capt. Judith Eastman(-Williams) - Home Life Florals]"This particular customer likes his plants potted. He misses his garden back on Earth," Judy answered, jauntily placing her hands on her hips as she shared this factoid about Max. Her husband was an artist, whether as a professional cook, an amateur painter, or a suburban dad who cared about his yard. "How's business going?" she asked, genuinely curious. There were all the signs of a strong opening day, but there was no way of knowing for certain without asking.
Tag Jovireh Velal
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Jovireh Velal
Security & Tactical
[TI18]
Posts: 2,609
Likes: 55
Rank: Senior Chief Petty Officer
Position: Chief of Security/Tactical
Species: Betazoid/Romulan
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Post by Jovireh Velal on Mar 6, 2021 22:30:18 GMT
[Devra Kul - Front Ear Promenade - Home Life]Nodding, she gestured for Judy to follow as she moved down the line of potted plants. "Which color would this customer prefer? I assume he has experience with orchids?" she asked, repeating the same phrasing Judy had used to refer to her husband. At least she assumed the flowers were for Max. Orchids were difficult keepers for those who were more familiar with hardier plants, but they thrived under the attention of a knowledgeable caretaker. Reaching the rows of orchids, she stepped aside so her newest customer could examine the array of white, pinks, purples and blues. The more rare colors had been a bit harder to get ahold of, but she was hoping to get those in soon. "It's actually been pretty steady up until about half an hour ago, and I've gotten a lot of promises from people in a hurry that they'd be back after their shift." The amount of excitement she had seen in peoples' eyes as they realized there were now real and fresh flowers available had definitely been uplifting. It seemed Max wasn't the only one who preferred to gift real flowers over replicated ones.
Tag Judith Eastman
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Judith Eastman
Civilian
Grandma
Posts: 2,593 Likes: 84
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Civil Servant
Species: Human
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Post by Judith Eastman on Mar 6, 2021 23:14:37 GMT
[Capt. Judith Eastman(-Williams) - Home Life]Judy leaned over the impressive collection of flowers, all looking quite healthy and beautiful. "The whites will be excellent, like the ones he had on Earth," she chose. She chuckled at the mention of hurrying crewmembers at the change of shift, all too familiar with that phenomenon. "The Academy makes them like little elementary schoolers, afraid to be so much as a second late. It can be adorable."She felt a little like a soccer mom, running an errand in her workout clothes, talking about kids (even in the abstract), but after spending decades running from that trope, she'd outgrown the fear.
Tag Jovireh Velal
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Jovireh Velal
Security & Tactical
[TI18]
Posts: 2,609
Likes: 55
Rank: Senior Chief Petty Officer
Position: Chief of Security/Tactical
Species: Betazoid/Romulan
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Post by Jovireh Velal on Mar 7, 2021 0:36:50 GMT
[Devra Kul - Front Ear Promenade - Home Life]"Excellent choice," the new business owner agreed, carefully lifting the pot from the rack and carrying it towards the counter. She glanced over her shoulder with a smile. "That was one thing I enjoyed about living in San Francisco... So many youngsters, always so eager to make a good impression on someone. Though it was the more... seasoned generations that frequented the shop the most. Those who had learned the value of little things on random days, as opposed to grand gestures reserved for special occasions." She avoided use of the term 'old', as age was quite relevant with the vast amount of different species that now resided on Earth. Setting the pot on the counter, she got to work preparing it to be carried on the walk back to the couple's quarters.
Tag Judith Eastman
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Judith Eastman
Civilian
Grandma
Posts: 2,593 Likes: 84
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Civil Servant
Species: Human
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Post by Judith Eastman on Mar 7, 2021 1:12:57 GMT
[Capt. Judith Eastman(-Williams) - Home Life]Judy moved the gym bags onto her forearm, ready to carry one more thing, and prepared her thumb to sign off on the purchase. "That's maturity for you. The youngsters, with their spectacles, are great to watch, but the... consistency that comes with the decades is very underrated," she agreed, and her mind wandered back to Caldonia, to her great mistake of trusting Harmon's youthful judgement without even asking. Feeling inexplicably hot, she made a motion of wiping sweat from her forehead (though there was none) and unzipped her sweatshirt (the sports bra - a flaunt of fitness maintained despite heart disease - underneath was in the same hot pink shade as the rest of the ensemble); even without telepathy, one could tell that something of what she'd just said was weighing on her.
Tag Jovireh Velal
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Jovireh Velal
Security & Tactical
[TI18]
Posts: 2,609
Likes: 55
Rank: Senior Chief Petty Officer
Position: Chief of Security/Tactical
Species: Betazoid/Romulan
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Post by Jovireh Velal on Mar 7, 2021 5:02:09 GMT
[Devra Kul - Front Ear Promenade - Home Life]Devra handed over the reader for the thumbprint authorization, when she noticed the sudden shift in the other woman's demeanor. The unzipped sweatshirt was the most obvious sign that Judy's thoughts were somewhere other than maintaining modesty in public. While Betazoids were never bothered by such things, she'd learned early on after moving to Earth that Humans usually were. At first she was concerned it might be a sudden onset of a health emergency, but she didn't pick up any of the panic or confusion that normally came with those. Instead, the Captain felt distracted, suddenly distanced, and Devra realized it was likely more of a mental health emergency. "You know... I've been so excited all day, I haven't eaten since this morning. If you're not in any great hurry, would you like to join me for lunch?" Contrary to her daughter's belief, the Betazoid woman did have some tactful skills. She knew a direct inquiry would likely be brushed off in a hurried reassurance. "I was thinking about trying out Frontier Bakery down the way." The benefit of being a business owner, she could close up shop for an extended lunch and there was no one to be upset by it. Any missed sales could be made up another day.
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Judith Eastman
Civilian
Grandma
Posts: 2,593 Likes: 84
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Civil Servant
Species: Human
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Post by Judith Eastman on Mar 7, 2021 5:21:15 GMT
[Capt. Judith Eastman(-Williams) - Home Life]It took Judy a moment to realize that she was putting out some rather... obvious signals. Wiping down sweat beads that weren't there... that was unlike her. And Devra had caught on. She placed her thumb on the scanner, and then took the orchids. "Sure. I'm actually finished with work for the day," she accepted. "I had to get up at 0400 today for calls to Earth, and I haven't had a proper lunch since I've been training Mabel for her fitness eval. She's the best assistant I've ever had, but she runs a 13-minute mile and Starfleet won't have that."It was deflection, though Judy was hardly aware she was doing it. Her own subconscious was sending conflicting cues, a sign of just how conflicted the Captain was.
Tag Jovireh Velal
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Jovireh Velal
Security & Tactical
[TI18]
Posts: 2,609
Likes: 55
Rank: Senior Chief Petty Officer
Position: Chief of Security/Tactical
Species: Betazoid/Romulan
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Post by Jovireh Velal on Mar 7, 2021 5:41:45 GMT
[Devra Kul - Front Ear Promenade - Home Life]Had Judy declined her offer, Devra would have respected her obvious desire for privacy, but she was grateful that wasn't the case. It might be early yet to consider the other woman a friend, but she still hoped she'd be able to help her feel better about whatever was troubling her, if only for a time. Betazoids as a culture were far more open and forthcoming than most, though Devra had learned quite about an individual's boundaries and need for emotional privacy from her late husband. There were times she still needed to remind herself just how much her daughter had taken after him. But she had learned that if someone wanted to talk about what was bothering them, oftentimes you simply needed to provide them the ability to do so, and let them know they could trust you. That was something that Devra liked to think she was good at. So as Judy took the orchids, she returned the padd to it's place behind the counter and grabbed the "Be back soon" sign. "Mabel seems like a wonderful young woman," she commented simply as she crossed the shop and hung the sign on the door. There was no need to try and dig down to the root of what was bothering Judy just yet. It would be easier once they were settled with their food.
Tag Judith Eastman
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Judith Eastman
Civilian
Grandma
Posts: 2,593 Likes: 84
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Civil Servant
Species: Human
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Post by Judith Eastman on Mar 7, 2021 5:53:27 GMT
[Capt. Judith Eastman(-Williams) - Promenade]Balancing the various items in her hands, Judy walked with Devra out into the Promenade. It was a little empty at this hour, rather more intimate without the waves of fleeters. "She is extraordinary. She's definitely going places," she agreed on the topic of Mabel. The young woman didn't look like it, but Judy was sure she could be an excellent Captain someday. "I just hope I'm not saddling her with too many of my bad habits. Especially after Caldonia."And there it was, the allusion to what truly troubled her. Just about everyone had heard at least some of what had happened on the planet, but only a few had heard of just how personally the Captain had taken it.
Tag Jovireh Velal
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Jovireh Velal
Security & Tactical
[TI18]
Posts: 2,609
Likes: 55
Rank: Senior Chief Petty Officer
Position: Chief of Security/Tactical
Species: Betazoid/Romulan
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Post by Jovireh Velal on Mar 7, 2021 6:10:35 GMT
[Devra Kul - Front Ear Promenade - Home Life]"Every protégé decides for themselves which aspects of their mentor they want to take on themselves," she answered the statement about bad habits, hoping to be at least slightly reassuring on that aspect. At the mention of Caldonia though, the drop in the Captain's voice was audible, and Devra paused only briefly to remember where she'd heard that name from. Ah yes... Jovireh was concerned about a friend there. She gave the other woman a soft, understanding smile. "I do my best not to pry into the specifics of Starfleet business... but from what I've heard, people made their own choices, and you followed orders." Devra had no idea what 'bad habits' the Captain was referring to, but if her daughter held no ill-will for the abandonment of her friend, then she trusted the reasons and extended circumstances weren't the Captain's choice.
Tag Judith Eastman
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Judith Eastman
Civilian
Grandma
Posts: 2,593 Likes: 84
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Civil Servant
Species: Human
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Post by Judith Eastman on Mar 7, 2021 6:39:28 GMT
[Capt. Judith Eastman(-Williams) - Promenade]Judy took a very deep breath, as her face turned a little redder. Hearing the phrase "you followed orders" made her feel dirty, even though it was true. "That's the simple version, but in all honesty... well, how can I put this?" she began, grasping for the right terms. "There's an old saying on Earth, that in any venture, there are known knowns, things we know we know. There are known unknowns, things we know we don't know, and we can account for. There are also unknown unknowns, things we don't even know that we don't know, and those are usually the ones that get you, but it wasn't even those, this time," she philosophized. "What got me was the unknown knowns, the things that I found it convenient not to know. There were signs, Devra, and I just didn't see them."Judy's voice grew a little shaky, and her face remained red. "Let's have lunch in my quarters instead," she suggested. Some part of her wanted to open up to the woman, and that part was currently in the driver's seat, but she didn't want to do it on the promenade.
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Jovireh Velal
Security & Tactical
[TI18]
Posts: 2,609
Likes: 55
Rank: Senior Chief Petty Officer
Position: Chief of Security/Tactical
Species: Betazoid/Romulan
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Post by Jovireh Velal on Mar 7, 2021 7:17:57 GMT
[Devra Kul - Front Ear Promenade - Home Life]Devra listened quietly, grateful that the other woman seemed to be willing to talk to her, at least as much as she was able to. The description of knowns and unknowns was slightly hard to follow, and she highly doubted she'd be able to repeat it if asked, but she understood the general meaning well enough. At the request to have lunch in Judy's quarters, Devra nodded with a soft smile, taking that as a good sign of a level of comfort. Remaining on the Promenade would have allowed a protective barrier, a reason to keep from opening up too much if she didn't want to. Requesting the privacy and comfort of her own home said a lot to her. "Whatever you prefer," she replied to the suggestion, shifting direction to walk towards the nearest turbolift instead. It was likely a good thing the Captain didn't have to worry about getting back to work that afternoon. Devra had a feeling this would be a difficult conversation for her.
Tag Judith Eastman
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Judith Eastman
Civilian
Grandma
Posts: 2,593 Likes: 84
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Civil Servant
Species: Human
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Post by Judith Eastman on Mar 7, 2021 14:02:53 GMT
[Capt. Judith Eastman(-Williams) - Promenade -> Turbolift]"Thank you," Judy said softly, as she walked to the lift as well. =A= "Deck 3," =A= she ordered it, as soon as they entered, and then looked at Devra. "You know, there's a strong gossip industry on the station, just thirsting for something to yak about. Now I generally don't mind it, but I do have to watch my step and my mouth in public spaces," she remarked. She hadn't yet fallen victim to the Dirt Dude's prying eyes (whoever he was), but when it happened, "Why is Captain Eastman Crying?" wasn't the headline she wanted to read.
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