Dinner with Dessert

Posted on Fri Aug 9th, 2019 @ 6:39pm by Lieutenant Jéanne-Thérèse Marsol & Commander Logan Vance

Mission: Down the Rabbit Hole
Location: Jéanne-Thérèse's Quarters
Timeline: MD: 2, Time: 1810

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Time: 1810
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Logan arrived a few minutes late. It had taken longer than he thought to get Amanda set up for dinner, helping with homework and doing a quick, promised espionage lesson. Once that was done, he had to shower and get changed into a casual blue t-shirt with a gray jacket and slacks. He was unsure where the dinner would lead, so sooner or later he would have to explain his situation much like he did with Adlyn. The entire ship would know soon enough but it wasn't general knowledge among the crew yet.

He ran through his head how to bring it up casually as he rang the chime.

Jéanne-Thérèse had spent the last couple of hours unpacking the important stuff and getting ready for dinner. She had gotten changed out of her uniform and dressed down. Dressed in a pair of olive green capris, a white tank top and a beige soft wrap sweater, she slipped into her brown dress flats as the chime went off. It was okay that he was running late, because so was she. "Come!" She called as she set out a bottle of chilled white wine was on the table.

Dinner was under serving tops keeping them warm. As he walked in, she smiled. "Hey. Excuse the mess. I'm still unpacking." On the buffet, was a display case next to the induction top she had used for dinner. She went to him and kissed his cheek. "Thanks for coming. Dinner is ready if you are."

"No worries. I'm still moving into my quarters too." It was more Amanda moving in as Logan always traveled light. "It's smells great. You didn't have to go to this much trouble though. You're going to spoil me and I won't be able to go back to replicated food," he chuckled.

"One of the few things to come out of that era: I do enjoy cooking. So no trouble. I'm more looking forward to it because it's been two weeks of only replicated food." As he took a seat, she removed the covers. "Pesto chicken with swiss cheese and roasted vegetables. Wine?" She asked as she took her own seat.

"Please," he offered his glass. She poured it about three quarters of the way full and he took a sip. "You weren't kidding. This is very, very good. What year is it?" The last time she'd spoken, she's mentioned the wine and owing him a case for their adventures in the 1940s, but honestly he never expected to see her again. Then again, that had been a recurring theme with Adlyn showing up here as well.

She looked at the bottle. “2385. Chardonnay is best between four and eight years old.” She raised her glass to meet his. “A toast to a great year.”

Logan didn't say anything as he clinked her glass and both drank. 2385 had been great for her, not so much for him for most of it. The lone exception had been getting his sister safe. "So how have you been keeping busy since you've been back? Aside from catching up on eight years of history you missed?"

Digging into her food as he had asked the question, she responded before taking a bite to eat, “been busy. Went home, saw the family, thankfully had the Academy lined up so I could get out of there with a legitimate excuse, finished my degree, so fully a Doctor instead of just a nurse, served the last couple of years on a boring deep space assignment. Par for course?” she took the bite of food, enjoying the freshness of the non straight replicated iteration. “How about you? Every time I tried calling seemed like you were out of the office or unreachable. I knew that was par for course for sure.”

Logan dug in as well and enjoyed it just as thoroughly as she did. She was an excellent cook and it was a shame he'd never gotten to sample it prior to now. "Well, after I got back, it was two more years running ops for Starfleet Intelligence. After that my… situation changed and I took a posting as Chief of Security on the Hawking. Been doing that the past three years before I was told to report here."

“Nice. Got to enjoy how things change, hmm?” she asked. “Sometimes they are a wrench or a toss back over four hundred years, and other times, it’s a pleasant surprise like someone walking through the rubble. So was it a good situational change, or something not sure about yet?”

He downed a significant portion of the wine in his glass before he answered. Even after three years, he found it odd to divulge this situation with Amanda. He wasn't so much embarrassed of her but more embarrassed by the inevitable questions that would come about how she came into his life and how he didn't know about her. "A little bit of both? Are you familiar with the Horus star in the Romulan system and what happened there?"

Setting down her fork, she looked at him. “Of course, I was in medical school at the time. They sent out us to assist with the refugees. You didn’t supernova that star did you?” she asked half jokingly. He could time travel, and he did rescue her. Anything could be technically on the books.

He blinked, completely caught off guard by the question. "Uhhhh, no, no of course not. Holy shit, Jéanne…" he shook his head. "No. But I was in the middle of dealing with the fallout. In the middle of everything, I have a young Lieutenant walk into my office with the curious case of a twelve year old girl they found on one of the ships. A half human, half Romulan girl. So of course, with everything they was going on they looked into if she had family in the Federation. Which brought them to me…"

She shrugged. “What? You were making it to be some big deal. A child is a big deal, just not that big of a deal. Usually consulting adults, it’s either due to will or failure of birth control. Considering your former line of work, I’m going to assume it was more of the latter. Is your daughter aboard the ship now?” she asked. “

"She is. And might not be a big reveal to you but it was a pretty big deal to me," he replied. "It's been three years and we're still adjusting to the changes it's meant to both of us. And neither one of us are completely comfortable with how to describe the situation. It was a pretty big adjustment on my last ship. And now with people I know being on the ship, it's a little more awkward. But I told her you were here and she'd like to meet you. She's interested in all of my… friends."

Jéanne-Thérèse smiled. “You should have said something; she could have come to dinner, Logan. I understand how it can be tough, especially because it was something that you had no idea about. I’m clinical about those types of things because that’s my job and who I am. Most people don’t understand why I disappeared off the radar for eight years because I’m not allowed to tell them. When I finally get the permission needed to tell them, they freak out or get really creeped out about it. Big life changes are that, life changes.” She took his hand and rubbed it reassuringly. “I know some people freak out when they hear someone has kids. So it doesn’t need to be awkward with me. A kid is that, a kid. I take it her mother didn’t survive nova?” she asked a little more gently this time.

"No, she didn't," he confirmed. "I didn't see her again after my assignment in '73 so it wasn't really that hard of a hit for me. Amanda was… conflicted. Apparently her mother blamed her for their loss of status after they found out Amanda was half human. She never abused her but she didn't show much love either. She ran away right before the supernova. It's the only reason she survived."

“She seems as resourceful as her father, and mixed families come with their own baggage and unique quirks.” She didn’t ask if he wanted more but filled up his glass with more wine for him. It seemed like something that he wouldn’t mind having at this point in time. “It’ll take time; eventually you’ll get to that cohesive family unit. Otherwise, you’ll turn out broken like the rest of us out in this universe. The question then becomes, how broken.” She smiled reassuringly and finished what little left she had of her dinner.

"So reassuring," he shook his head. "We're getting there. Small steps. I do love her. More than I thought I could love another person outside of my sister," he said as he poked at the rest of his food. He took another big drink of the wine. "It's why I transferred to a starship. She was more comfortable with it. Did you ever think about kids? Settling down?"

Having finished her food, she rested one hand on her lap and sipped wine. “Good,” she said referring to them working through it. Then she went to answer his questions. “Thought about it. Losing almost a decade to another time was a big kill factor for it. I was too young and stupid with the Dominion War. Really I went from war to war, thinking about it… I mean, I’d like to. It’s not like it is war time anymore. It also has to do with not finding the right man yet.” She laughed at a thought she had while she paused, spinning the glass of wine around. “I guess I’ll just blame the wars.”

"Never know. You're still young enough. Plenty of young strapping men on this ship," he smiled. "Unfortunately it would be difficult for you to end up in my situation unknowingly," he teased. "I could always set you up?"

That caused her to laugh. “Yeah pretty hard to be a mother without knowing I gave birth,” she returned the joke. “I might take you up on that; we’ll just have to see how the waters are once everyone gets aboard. Did you want to invite Amanda for dessert?” she asked as he finished the last of his meal. “I cheated partially on the dessert because of time constraints. There’s enough.”

He thought about it for a minute and didn't see a reason Amanda should miss out. He was about to contact her over the comm when he stopped himself. He put up one finger as he excused himself and went to the door. It opened and no one was on the other side. Maybe she had listened for once. "Vance to Amanda."

=^=Yes, father?=^= she replied.

"Miss Marsol has invited you over some dessert she made if you're interested." Amanda had taken a liking to many of the sweets he had introduced her to, despite thinking they were far too sweet the first time she tried them.

=^=Dessert? I… suppose I could take a break from homework.=^=

"I assume you already know where her quarters are?"

=^=Of course.=^=

Logan just shook his head. "I'll see you soon."

“So, she’s coming then?” Jéanne asked. When he nodded, she smiled. “Good.” She started clearing the table. There wasn’t much left to clear. Since she didn’t have what she requested yet from Engineering through, she set the dishes on the replicator and dematerialized the dishes. At least it provided for easy cleanup.

"Just so you're aware, Amanda tends to ask… interesting questions about the women in my life. She knows about my reputation and lacks some of the tact of someone her age should have," he warned her.

Jéanne quirked an eyebrow. “She wouldn’t have lasted long in France,” she laughed lightly. “Don’t worry, it can’t be worse than what the inquisitions did. Then again, as your daughter, it could be,” she razzed him lightly. “More wine?” she asked as the bottle was now nearly empty.

"Please," he picked up his glass for her to fill.

Amanda arrived just a few minutes later and when Jéanne answered the door, she stood with her hands behind her back, politely waiting to be invited in.

“Amanda, please, come in,” Jéanne offered with a nice gentle smile, showing her through the door to the lounge area. “I’m glad you were able to make it for dessert. I hope you like strawberries.”

Amanda entered with a thoughtful look on her face. "Those are the red ones with seeds on the outside, correct?"

Logan nodded. "You like them. Not as much as blueberries though."

"They are most enjoyable baked into pancakes," she continued the thought. She turned to Jéanne, "Thank you for your invitation." Her eyes drifted to her father to see if she'd been polite enough. He seemed pleased.

“Blueberries are most delicious in pancakes, I agree. Please, take a seat.” She went to the small fridge in the corner by the buffet. She opened it and pulled out a tray of French strawberry custard tarts and placed it on the coffee table. “Can I get you something to drink?” she asked of his daughter.

"No wine," Logan said immediately.

Amanda hid her disappointment pretty well. "I will just have some water please." She sat down and picked up one of the tarts to try it. After a bite, she nodded her head. "These are very good." Amanda and her father traded a look. "Thank you for making them," she added.

“You’re welcome,” she said as she went and replicated a glass of water for Amanda. “They were my favorite growing up on the farm. As much as I don’t have a great relationship with my mother, I do appreciate that she taught me how to make these.” Jéanne handed her the glass of water and sat across from her in a chair and grabbed one of the tarts.

"Were you an embarrassment to your mother?" Amanda asked.

Jéanne thought a moment. “Maybe? I don’t know. My parents were very against me leaving when I was eighteen to go to the Academy to become a doctor, which was something I wanted to do since I was a little girl. One night, when I was sixteen, we got into such a heated argument over it as they wanted me to take over the family farm and vineyard. I packed my bags and left. Over the years my father opened up more to talking to me. My mother, not so much. We pretty much stayed estranged until I returned home a couple of years ago. She’ll talk to me, but still isn’t pleased that I left. I would probably say that it isn’t like the embarrassment your mother placed on you. I know that that can be particularly difficult and painful.”

Amanda furrowed her brow and looked at Logan. Logan frowned. "Amanda doesn't like it when I talk about her past. However in this case, I thought she might benefit from talking with someone else who had a strained relationship with their mother."

"My relationship with my mother no longer matters. She is dead," Amanda stated coldly.

"I beg to differ," Logan replied.

“I have to agree with your father, Amanda. She may no longer be living; what she did while she was living left an everlasting impression on you. You are who you are today because of the way that she treated you. I am who I am today because of the way that my relationship was with my parents. I am a sum of my experiences, and if I had actually left at eighteen instead? My life would not be anything that it is today. There is much I would love to change about my past itself. Then I remember that I like who I am today and I wouldn’t be the Jéanne-Thérèse I am if I had changed those instances.” She smiled to reassure the young woman. “You’re coming to the age that you’re able to forge forwards to try to be the best version of yourself.”

Amanda shrugged. "If she had not been a fool and fell for my father's subterfuge, i would not exist. And if she had not treated me poorly, I would not have fled the Romulan system before it was destroyed and I would be dead. I guess if you look at it that way, you may have a point."

"I don't know that's exactly what she meant…" Logan chimed in.

“Actually, that’s exactly what I meant. She is a sum of her experiences. We all are. So as much as there was strife, remember, you are here because of that. You had the tenacity to leave when you did, which allowed you out of that system before destruction. Another tart?” she asked.

"I decline," Amanda replied, then paused. "I mean… no, thank you." She took a moment's contemplation before she continued, "I still do not respect her and I'm not sorry she's dead."

Logan cringed at the sentiment but didn't say anything.

The doctor smiled. "My dear, you do not need to respect her or mourn her loss. There are plenty of people that I do not respect or mourn their loss. Those that come into our lives and leave are experiences. They may leave a lasting impact on us; it doesn't mean we have to like them."

Amanda nodded and turned to Logan. "Of all your sexual conquests I've met, I think I like this one the most."

Logan facepalmed. "Amanda, dear… I'm pretty sure Jéanne-Thérèse would very much like to not be referred to as a sexual conquest."

She turned to look at Jéanne, "then how should I refer to you in relation to my father?"

That did cause Jéanne a slight blush, because the way she saw what had happened five years prior was more of her own conquest than his. “Amanda, what all has your father told you about us?” she asked. She wasn’t about to break her rules and regulations that were shoved down her throat, but it was something that the story seemed to need being set straight.

Logan shook his head. "Nothing like that," he defended himself.

Amanda shrugged, "he tells me very little but I know his reputation. And he's quick to discuss things about me with women he's slept with. He did the same thing with Lt. Cmdr. Rowley last night."`

Jéanne knew that Logan wouldn’t just be telling his daughter things, so she figured it was a fish for information. "Let me spin you a dit then," Jéanne-Thérèse said. "Your father was assigned a mission, one that should have been duck soup; wrong, it was a snafu. He got shot, and I was at the place that I needed to be at to help him out. I was able to help him finish his mission. In the process of me saving his life, he saved mine." She smiled looking up at Logan when she spoke. "Socrates said it the best, 'be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle'. It is something that I still live with today. I wouldn't be the person I am without your father. As for our encounter, which you referred to, that was a mutual understanding; s'envoyer en l'air if you will." Even if the universal translator would have translated that, it wouldn't have made much sense.

Amanda shrugged again, "My father is good at what he does. This is why I want to be as good or better than him when I become an agent. It is why I try to learn. However he does not talk about certain parts of his job and I do not understand why. It seems to be an effective strategy he is reluctant to instruct me on."

"Because you're only sixteen and don't need to know about that… ever," Logan could not sound more overprotective.

"There is a time and place and a place in time for everything. Neither are here now. One thing you do need to know about spooks, they will never ever tell you the full story," Jéanne smiled. "With that said, if you do need someone to talk to, you're more than welcome to talk to me. Fair warning, you might not like the answer you get or an answer at all. Being an adult is just that: fine balances." She finished her wine.

Eyeing her suspiciously to see if she was being honest about her offer or not, Amanda then turned to Logan who shrugged, indicating he had nothing to do with it. "I have read that the French are notorious for their seduction techniques, so maybe it would be beneficial to learn from you."

The French woman just laughed. The collaboration horizontale was primarily responsible for the saying french women could seduce. They of course were punished for collaborating with the Germans. It was desperate times with needs and most of the French men prisoners of war. "Histories and narratives are written and rewritten. It's all about perspective and the angle you want to betray. I would probably say I'm not one for seduction as there was no room for that on the frontlines of war. Now if you want to learn to be true to you, that I can certainly help you with."

Amanda looked confused. "So which one of you seduced the other?" She wanted to know.

Logan sighed and turned to Jéanne. "I know this isn't normal and this is why I was never meant to have children," he shook his head. He was only half serious but it was conversations like this that made him feel wholly inadequate to the task.

"Human culture is so confusing," Amanda sighed.

"Yes. Our culture is very confusing." Jéanne said at that and got up from the chair to wish them off. "Well thank you for coming for dessert, Amanda. I did give your father a hard time about dinner. So next time, I'll make sure you have an invitation for dinner. Logan, it was nice to see you again." She embraced Logan and whispered something in his ear out of ear shot from his daughter.

Logan half smiled and considered what she said but knew he had to get Amanda home. "It was good to see you too," he said as he stood. "I should be getting her home so she can get up for her studies tomorrow."

"Can I come to see Lt. Marsol to talk to her later, father?" Amanda asked.

"She did offer and I don't see a reason why not," he replied. "Just make sure you talk to me about it first."

Amanda turned to Jéanne. "It was nice to meet you," she offered her hand. "I look forward to talking to you soon."

"It was nice to meet you too, Amanda. You'll be a good secret squirrel one day." Jéanne laughed lightly as she shook her hand and showed them to the door. "Bonne nuit, mes amis."

"Good night, Jéanne," Logan smiled as the door closed.

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Scene: Corridor
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"She wanted you to stay over, didn't she?" Amanda asked.

"Why do you think that?"

"Body language. Like you taught me," she explained. "You haven't seen each other in a long time. She likes you. You like her. It's not hard to figure out."

"Maybe not but it's not always that simple," he pointed out.

"You mean, not anymore. Because I'm here."

"That's only part of it," he replied honestly. "My job is different now. And we're going to be serving on the same ship. That complicates things."

"Because of Lt. Cmdr. Rowley?" she questioned.

"Among other things," he acknowledged again. "Either way, it wasn't the right time," he said as he put his arm around her. "And I need to make sure you've done your homework and have gotten to bed. That's my top priority right now."

"If you say so but I'm perfectly capable of these things on my own."

"That doesn't absolve me of the responsibility to make sure it happens," he said with finality as they reached their quarters. "Get changed for bed while I look over your work."

"Yes, father."

Twenty minutes later, Amanda was fast asleep and Logan was settling in himself. That was when he realized he'd forgotten the wine Jéanne had brought for him. He checked the time. She likely wouldn't be asleep yet and it wouldn't take long. He could use a little night cap. He hopped up and quickly started on his way back.

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Scene: Marsol's Quarters
Time: 2218
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Jéanne had finally put her prized possession in the display unit after Logan had left and finished unpacking her crate of things. She was reading through the reports of the ship ams what crew had been assigned when the chime rang. She untucked her leg and walked over barefoot to the door and smiled when the door opened. "I guess you've come back twice now." She smirked showing him in. "Come in."

Logan entered, "I realized I forgot the wine you brought for me. So I thought I'd come by. I figured you wouldn't be in bed yet. I hope it's not too late."

"Well, it was more of a down payment from my own stash until I can get a shipment from my parents," she said smiling. "I'll go grab some. As for you, it's never too late." She leaned up and kissed him lightly on the cheek.

He smiled and squeezed her shoulder as she felt to get the wine. He wandered over to a jacket on the display unit. He recognized it as the one she'd worn in the 1940s and included the medal she'd been awarded. He was careful not to touch it but he could still get a close look while he waited. The Red Cross medal was one he recognized from the old picture he'd left in 1944 that had led him to her in the first place. It still had a bit of shine despite taking the long away around to get to this time.

She came out with three bottles: a rosé, a white, and a red. "Wasn't sure which you liked better. So you can have one of each." She smiled as she saw him looking at the jacket. "Funny story. Apparently when you whisked an injured and concussed French woman out of Caen in 1944, she left everything behind. Barbarent in his infinite wisdom decided to keep the jacket, my service pin and medal. Sealed it in a time capsule with the photo which was open by none other than Admiral Novak. It was my parting gift as I was allowed to return to active duty after isolation."

"Time capsule, eh? I guess that's one way to keep track of it," Logan replied as he took the box containing the three bottles and then set it aside for the moment. It made him wonder how the two got separated over the centuries. "It still looks good. I bet it would still fit even if you ever got the urge."

"It was itchy then; it'll be itchy now," she smirked as she leaned against the edge of the dining table, she may have had a bit too much to drink herself tonight and was feeling it. "I was surprised how well it kept being over four hundred years old. So hermetically sealed display case. A reminder that good can come out of nightmares."

"Good enough for role play," he teased her with a laugh. "And it wasn't all bad, was it? I remember the end being pretty positive."

She just rolled her eyes. "You're the only person that knows the truth besides Novak. I got the option to read my family in and I couldn't even do it." She shrugged. "I'd say I'm more cynical than I was. Got to see more of France than I ever thought possible. Had some great sex at the end; oh and I like to read books," she added as a disconnected afterthought.

Logan wasn't sure what her desire to read had to do with what they were discussing but it seemed to confirm she was on the tipsy side. "More cynical? I would have thought you coming home against all odds would have made you more hopeful. You bucked the odds and won. Not many people can say that."

"True. Nine years in a nightmare? The conditions there? Eh it is what it was. My highlight and shock factor was when you actually came back."

"Mine was when you showed up here," he countered. "I mean the odds are only slightly better than me showing up in 1940 to find you."

Jéanne-Thérèse smiled. "I think the Captain's words were a couple weeks ago were 'you have shown yourself adept under pressure and are able to perform in difficult situations'." She laughed before continuing, "oh that Vulcan has no idea. She doesn't know yet and she has yet to inquire for me to read her in."

"When she does, she'll probably just turn you over to me to rein in," he chuckled as he walked over to her. "Then again, I wasn't the one in control the last time I saw you. Not that I minded," he stroked her cheek. "It was a nice change of pace. The beautiful woman pursuing me for a change."

Her eyes closed at the soft caress of her cheek. "Well, I strictly remember it as you having started it," she smiled. She opened her eyes and looked up into his. "That option is always still there if you're want for that even with your change of circumstance," she playfully smirked as she rested her right palm on his chest.

Logan covered her hand with his own and pressed his forehead against hers. His lips were less than an inch from Jéanne's before he stopped himself. He had to get back. He knew this. Amanda could take care of herself but it was still his responsibility to look after her. "I should…"

She closed the gap and started kissing him, stopping him from his thoughts. Her arms wrapped around his neck as she leaned up and into him. Her heart quickened as they stayed that way for a good minute until he pulled his lips from hers rubbing her cheek bone with his thumb.

He took a deep breath and tried to clear his head of both the alcohol and her perfume. "I have to go," he forced out. "As I said, things are… different for me now. I'm trying to get the best father I can. That means being a little more… responsible with my love life. Maybe a rain check… when I have more time and I'm not expected home."

Leaning forwards, she kissed him again. "Consider it the long tease; I’ll accept your ‘maybe’ a rain check," she smiled as she pulled away. It was pleasant. She had enjoyed her time with him. Never expected to see him again after he rescued her five years prior. Now that she had, she was open for something as simple as no strings attached or something more. "You know where to find me if that maybe turns to a definite on your side. With that said, you probably should get back before you're missed."

"You still owe me a check up on my leg," he reminded. "If nothing else, I'll come by and see you when I'm off duty to take care of that. Make sure you're settling in ok."

“I do. It’d be better to look at your leg in Sickbay, so just give me a heads up when you would like me to take a look at it to make sure I’m available,” she smiled. “Enjoy the wine and have a good evening.” She kissed him on the cheek goodbye.

"You too," he winked and picked up the box. "I'll see you soon."

He took a deep breath as he exited her quarters, knowing he had narrowly escaped. Not escaped Jéanne-Thérèse but escaped the intoxication of the old lifestyle. The lifestyle he was sure would tempt him even more on this ship.

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Commander Logan Vance
XO, USS Andromeda

And

Lt. Jéanne-Thérèse Marsol
Assistant Chief Medical Officer