[ Mrs Gisele Niles - The Archive Seafood Restaurant, Lower Manhattan ]

There hadn't been many message from her Joshua since he had left for the middle of nowhere, literally, over a year ago.  Granted, there hadn't been much to say the last few times he'd written, and there had been nothing concerning him happening back on Earth for that matter.  Not for so long as he insisted on playing at being a Starfleet officer.  Granted, once he would come to his sense, a few years' service and a retirement at the rank of Lieutenant would serve him well in finally entering a worthwhile career in politics or public service.  

That was, until word had come to her.  Perhaps the Niles family, and her own ancestors, would sooner be marched out of town on a rail than ever serve in Starfleet, she still had conduits into the organization.  Now, strictly within the civilian public servants working out of San Francisco, none of the uniformed flunkies... not that it wouldn't hurt to cultivate a few flag officers here and there.  And she found out that her son had stepped in it, and more than once at that.  Now, there was anger, and there was shame.  As a mother, of course she expected her son had done what he'd thought was best.  But to ignore the social graces she and her husband had worked so hard to instill in him?  Now that was something else entirely!  Clearly, he had forgotten who he was, and certainly Starfleet needed to know how he damn well was, and who his relatives were and what they could do for them... or to them.

And when she had learned, again through her connections, that his commanding officer, an Eastman no less, was coming to Earth, she had damn well sure made certain to secure a meeting with her.  Clear things up, and put things back to right.  

When she arrived at the restaurant's private transporter pad, she announced herself to the host and was led to a neat, older woman sitting at one of the outdoors tables facing the water.  "Doctor Eastman, I presume?"

Like hell she was going to give the woman the satisfaction of using her Starfleet rank!

[ Mrs Gisele Niles - The Archive Seafood Restaurant, Lower Manhattan ]

Well, it would seem she had indeed found the woman in question... who actually insisted on addressing her by name. Well, that tended to be something reserved for friends, family and intimates, but at least they were from suitably similar social circles so far as she could tell that they could be considered peers... And it must have been her way to try and establish dominance right then and there. "Then you may call me Gisele," she replied as she sat herself down.

The comment about doing her homework, though, was something Gisele took pointedly. There was no way that Eastman had not come here unprepared either, but at least this was the sort of battlefield she was used to, the ones where the knives were never out in the open, but were just as lethal.

"I understand you are my son's commanding officer, and that he's hit a spot of trouble."

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Tag Judith Eastman

[ Mrs Gisele Niles - The Archive Seafood Restaurant, Lower Manhattan ]

A non-committal answer. Interesting. Well, one should hope that someone with Doctor Eastman's parentage would indeed have learned to be cagey about things. Though those Starfleet types tended to be so prone to openness until and unless it suited them. Hell, she could not believe that the Starfleet personnel office refused her full access to her own son's files, citing privacy concerns. Well, at least she might be able to get some information from this woman... eventually.

Looking at the menu, a truly elegant affair truth be told, Gisele already knew what she would be ordering whenever the server would arrive; already she had researched the place and had gotten an advanced copy, and save for the wine card and perhaps desserts, she had already determined that nothing that was not marked as 'market price' would sit before her.

"So, Joshua went and made a fool of himself, as I expected he would eventually. Though I have to say I am impressed he made Lieutenant so quickly. Is that normal for an isolated post, or were there other factors?"

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Tag Judith Eastman

[ Mrs Gisele Niles - The Archive Seafood Restaurant, Lower Manhattan ]

Well, there was certainly a few things to think about. So, Joshua had shown 'potential' yet fell on his face like this? Well, clearly someone had misread him at some point all right. But then again, he'd decided to be contrary and headed into a field that he'd not been prepared for. It was bad enough his sister had decided to go into nursing rather than politics, but at least she was still part of the public service. But Starfleet? They were supposedly the Federation's troubleshooters, but in reality they were little more than hired help used to take care of things that were simply better suited to those who could not make the ranks of political, public service or diplomatic office.

Though the rest of her answer about some members of the senior staff? What could a promotion at the back end of nowhere, in a command area no one ever thought about, by some no-name commanders mean in the greater scheme of things?

However, the segue into appetizer choices came up, and Gisele looked briefly at the menu again. "I think I will go for the fresh-dived scallop carpaccio."

Now, to the real matter at hand. "Be honest with me now. Josh is on his own out there, and frankly he's in the middle of nowhere and has no opportunity to be seen. What would it take to get him a suitable patron, have him put somewhere worthwhile, and to make that blemish on his record disappear?"

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Tag Judith Eastman

[ Mrs Gisele Niles - The Archive Seafood Restaurant, Lower Manhattan ]

Time was a precious commodity, especially where people of their social standings were concerned. So many obligations and commitments needed to be seen to, that it never hurt to get to the crux of a matter, especially with someone one was not expecting to see again any time soon, if ever. However, it would seem that Doctor Eastman wanted to play coy.

Well, that game was one Gisele Niles could play as well.

"I'm sorry if I came across so strongly. I'm just a mother worried about her son's future; I'm sure you can understand what it's like to want what's best for one's child, no?"

Of course, she hardly believed Starfleet was a suitable place for Joshua Niles, but if he insisted on being there, well, the least she could do was to push for him to be where it would benefit his career, and his social standing.

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Tag Judith Eastman

[ Mrs Gisele Niles - The Archive Seafood Restaurant, Lower Manhattan ]

It took all of Gisele's self-control not to sneer at Eastman's words. That she considered Joshua, or any other officer under her command, to be a child she was responsible for? Really? Well, perhaps to some degree, but it was hardly her job to see that any of them would flourish and do what was best for them, rather than what was best for the service, was it?

However, she held her tongue about this for the time being, especially as being asked if she was ready to order. Well, of course she was. "Why yes, I am, thank you." And with said, she raised a dainty finger to signal their server they were ready for his attentions.

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Tag Judith Eastman

[ Mrs Gisele Niles - The Archive Seafood Restaurant, Lower Manhattan ]

When the waiter approached, Gisele took one last look at the menu and the wine card. Oh, she knew what she was getting all right. However, when Eastman spoke to the server as though he was a friend, she had to refrain from sneering. Of course one needed to be courteous, but not to the point of friendliness! "I will start with the fresh-dived scallop carpaccio, then the sea bass with quinoa and the fennel salad, with a bottle of the '76 Dagueneau Pouilly-Fume, with two glasses of course."

The wine pairing was, indeed, as important as the meal itself. And a good wine was certainly worth paying for! Speaking of which, maybe she should get a few cases of Joshua's favourite on whatever transport Doctor Eastman was taking; she might not approve of his career choice, but he was her son and it never hurt to let him know she still cared about him in some ways...

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Tag Judith Eastman