A-shopping we will go.

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8/5/99

You walk towards the Richly Appointed Hallway.

Richly Appointed Hallway

Second only to the Grand Hall itself, this is probably the most elegantly appointed location in the entire Complex. This is where the day to day business of diplomacy occurs. The floor is of the same highly polished black marbles as the rest of the building, but it is covered with thick rugs, each woven in a pattern of rich color. The walls are richly paneled in wood with polished brass trim, and examples of the art of a hundred different worlds are set into neat niches. Doors lead off into a wealth of networked offices, both those of diplomats and those of the professionals that provide services to the diplomats. A great deal of the business does not go on behind those closed doors however, but is done at one of the islands of comfortable chairs and low tables scattered about the area. The acoustics are such that sound does not carry far beyond these nests of comfort and convenience.

At the end of the hall farthest from the Atrium are a series of doors made of lacquered black oak and frosted glass. The AF logo is sandblasted into the glass.

Contents:

Clara

Obvious exits:

Hellenic Embassy AF Offices General Office Atrium

You walk here from the General Office.

Clara is standing just outside the door leading into the AF offices, scribbling on a clipboard, brows furrowed heavily, on booted foot tapping lightly. She's slightly disturbed, this is obvious, although not really irritated. Just worried.

Corian, a case with a set of datacrystals in hand, makes her way out of the office. Her brows quirk as she spots you, and she heads over to your side. "Clara?" she inquires quietly. "Is everything all right?"

Clara doesn't exactly start at the voice, but does snap her head up in obvious startlement before relaxing with a sigh and a slight smile. "Corian, hello. Everything's fine, really. Just...dealing with bureaucratic messes. How are you today?"

"I am doing quite well," Corian replies, taking a moment to tuck away a datacrystal. "Just dealing with a bit of contract work for the diplomats." With a gesture towards the office in question, she inquires, "Is there anything I can do to help?"

"Unless you can physically drag your brothers in for their annual exams, probably not," Clara responds with an exasperated if fond expression. "I wouldn't trade either of them for the world, but right now I could tranq them both and haul them in over the fender of a skimmer, and call them trophies. She glances towards the door with a quirked grin. "Busy, still? Or do you have some time?"

Corian shakes her head, with a warm smile. "I have finished for the afternoon--or, at least, finished that which requires my presence here. I will need to do some translating, but that can wait for later." Brows lifting, she adds, "And my brothers are being difficult? I can attempt to assist with that, but perhaps a few words to Honalee? I am uncertain whether that would work with Niko, but with Riley, perhaps... and perhaps a few words to Elasia, for Niko?"

Clara actually looks sheepish, tucking her datapad into a pocket of her lapcoat and the pen up behind one ear. "I already promised Niko I wouldn't tell Ela," she admits, embarrassed. "He did the 'cute pathetic male' thing at me and I melted. Evil man. Honalee might be just the thing, though...actually I was thinking of hitting the outdoor market for some things for dinner. Care to come along?"

Corian offers, all innocence, "Ah, but I made no such promise--and this seems like information Elasia should have, yes? It is in my brother's best interest to cooperate, is it not?" She manages the sweetness and light thing very well, doesn't she? At the query, though, she gets an honestly pleased smile. "That would be wonderful, yes. I have been meaning to go there, but have never quite found the time."

Clara tilts her head, eyes lighting with decided mischievous amusement. "Of course, you're absolutely right. And it really is information vital to Elasia. I wouldn't want her to worry of course," she agrees smoothly, starting at a comfortable walking pace to the doorway. "You'll like the market, I think. The produce is amazing, seriously. I'm thinking of making eggplant lasagna for dinner, since it means I can use the oven and not the stove."

"Eggplant lasagna is good," Corian says amiably, falling into step with you. "Perhaps I will come up with something similar. It is near time for me to make a few lasagnas, and having one be eggplant would make for a variety." With a firm nod, she adds, "I will have to have a chat with Elasia, then."

[Travelspam deleted.]

"That's right, you do most of your ahead, don't you? I have to admit, I rather envy that talent," Clara decides, strolling along towards the market, which isn't terribly noisy, but does -smell- wonderful. Fresh veggies do that. "I've really found some wonderful recipes lately for various items like that, but I never have the patience to cook for more than a half hour or so."

Corian takes a moment to look and to smell and just to enjoy the market. "I do that, yes," she says, with a smie. "It makes for quicker dinners in the long run, and spending a day cooking is very relaxing--especially when I make some for Jay as well." Her expression is rather fondly amused. "Poor man, he really likes the lasagna, and it really isn't any trouble to make an extra one for him."

"Poor man, my foot," Clara notes with a quiet laugh, pausing at one vendor to examine some squash that really isn't all that aroused. "He really is a sweet person, though, very much. He came right to the rescue when I was having some computer problems. He's an...educational friend. How is Tarrant?"

Corian points out, with a brief laugh, "Well, cooking is not quite his strong point." She doesn't ask about the squash's gourds, instead investigating a nearby fruit display. "And Tarrant is doing quite well, though he has been rather busy with research of late. We are anticipating a departure soon for an assignment."

"Ladies and computers are Jay's strong points, along with being an utter dear," Clara decides with an easy laugh, making her squashy purchases which are put into a net bag. Heading down farther to the same fruit stand, she glances sidelong with a wistful grin. "You'll both be careful, of course?"

Corian inclines her head. "Of course," she replies equably. "It is important to be careful. That makes completion of the assignment much more feasible, after all." Not to mention, though she doesn't say it, getting away from the assignment in one piece. "I just hope that it will not be very long. Cold weather does not agree with either of us."

Clara brightens slightly at finding an entire selection of papayas and plantains, and goes about selecting several of each. Poor Riley. "No, neither of you are really meant for cold," she agrees sympathetically, then considers one of the papayas with a quiet chuckle. "The two of you need an assignment to Jamaica back on Earth. Much warmer."

"I would not object to that," Corian says, with a brief laugh. She finally settles on a selection of fruits, and the fixings for her lasagna with some eggplant tossed in as well. "I cannot help but wonder if our employers chose this assignment with that in mind--though they can hardly pick the weather of those places with more difficult languages."

"And since the languages spoken back home are fairly common, aside from Patois, I can see why that's seldom on the list," Clara agrees affably, moving on back to more normal veggies, especially after espying the eggplant you found. "I want a dress this color," she decides thoughtfully, then adds, "How is that language coming along that you were learning? The really lovely one..."

Corian actually does smile at that. "Oh, quite well. With the exception of a few regional colloquialisms--which I will learn on the way there--I have learned it as well as I can without actually being on planet. It really is a joy to speak; what a shame that nobody here actually speaks it."

"I'd offer to try," Clara explains with a quick, warm smile before pausing to consider an entire stall of various types of cheesery. "Except I'm still brain full of trying to learn Kashidian. I still have problems writing it, although reading isn't so bad anymore."

Corian finds a stall, nearby, with fresh-made pasta. Ooh, Christmas--or whatever it is Corian celebrates--is coming early! She all but pounces on some tortellini, then offers a sympathetic smile. "Kashidian is not an easy language, and Alvandi is somewhat more complicated. You see, the tonal variants of the speech change the meaning phrases. Words and tone both contribute to the meaning, so just using a different pitch on one syllable can change the meaning of a phrase. It is a very detailed language, very enthralling, but also very complex."

Clara murmurs an order for sliced mozerella, a fair amount of it. She believes in the power of cheesy lasagna evidently, as well as another amount of sliced cheddar. Happy sandwiches. "Chinese back home is somewhat like that, I believe. It's a language my grandfather speaks, but I don't. It's fascinating to listen to, but the Alvandi really was more lovely."

Corian inclines her head, making her pasta purchase and really looking quite thrilled. "It has its roots in Terran Chinese, I believe, though I have not had much of a chance to do linguistic analysis of the language." And, amazingly, she looks just a bit disappointed by this. She could be very happy tucked away in a library for the rest of her life, yes. Well, if Tarrant were there. She heads over to get mozzerella as well. It's key and vital for lasagna, after all. "And perhaps some garlic bread," she muses aloud.

Clara aahs softly, eyes lighting up at this suggestion. "Oh, garlic bread...wonderful stuff. I believe there's a baker a bit farther down? It's this round Delthusian bread, but it really is heavenly stuff. A little heavy on the garlic, though..."

Corian inquires, with a smile, "There is such a thing?" Looking just a bit sheepish, she adds, "I really do like garlic. Conveniently, Tarrant enjoys it as well, otherwise I would have a bit of a difficulty. It is fun to make fresh as well, with melted mozzerella cheese on it."

Clara lifts a hand to her chest in a reverent gesture, a purely pleased smile in place. "Never, never, never too much garlic. So long as you have industrial strength toothepaste," she adds with a chuckle, pausing at a stand with various citrus fruits. "Mozerella and diced tomatos and fresh garlic, absolutely. Heavenly stuff. Have you ever had portabello fajitas?"

Rhys walks here from the Java Quarter.

Rhys has arrived.

Corian shakes her head, with a quizzical little smile. "With the mushrooms? I do not believe I have, no. But, then, mushrooms and I do not quite get along." It's inconceivable for this player to have a character who likes mushrooms, after all.

Rhys walks in in civvies, a bag for the shopping tossed over one shoulder. In short succession a loaf of French bread, a box of fresh eggs and a bag of tomatoes are added to the bag - all this before he even looks around properly

Clara is at a stand a little ways down with Corian, already having a net bag with various fruits, veggies, and cheese in it, and snickering quietly. "Whoops. Okay, I won't suggest it then as a vegetarian dish of devine proportions."

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Corian, with a similar bag, pauses to cast a friendly smile towards Rhys, then nods to Clara, with a quiet chuckle. "It would not go over very well for me, no. Perhaps Tarrant, though? I have yet to make a dish with mushrooms for him, so he may well like them, and I just do not know it."

Rhys examines a set of peppers and is apparently unsatisfied, for he wanders further down, to meet with Corian and Clara. He returns the friendly smile, adding a bow. "Good afternoon, ladies"

Clara reaches out to ruffle the pilot's hair mid bow before returning to selecting a selection of limes. Most of her choices seem aimed towards Caribbean dishes, though, like this is a surprise? "Hey there, flyboy. They finally let you off duty?" she asks affably, then nods at Corian. "True enough, and you can add all sorts of vegetables to it, like corn, carrots, zuchini, etcetera. Grill it all up in a lime based marinade..." Happy sigh.

Rhys nods, with a smile. "Just about. I finally came off alert this noon, so I shouldn't be making too hurried an exit"

Corian replies pleasantly to Rhys, "Good afternoon." Though she nods at the recitation of vegetables from Clara, she still doesn't look likely to try mushrooms any time soon. "The rest of it sounds good, at least," she says, with a chuckle.

Clara readjust the net bag over one arm, turning away to grin at Rhys. "Wonderful, very good indeed. Ali will be pleased to have you home tonight, then. Planning on cooking for her? Corian, you have no idea what you're missing. Mushrooms are splendid," she adds, teasing.

Rhys snaps his fingers. "Mushrooms! Thank you - I knew I'd left something off my list." He nods to Clara. "Indeed I am - stuffed shells, I think, and whatever I can come up with for dessert"

Corian just shakes her head at Clara, gray eyes amused. "I will have to take your word for that." Then there's a message from her com-unit--a childish voice, and many s-sounds. "Ah, excuse me, please?" She pays for that last purchase, offering the pair a smile. "I do need to take care of this."

Rhys nods. "Of course," he smiles to Corian. "Have a good day"

Clara can't help but grin at the voice from the com unit and nods. "Of course. Have a good day, Corian. Thanks for keeping me company."

"Of course, Clara," Corian replies pleasantly. "And do enjoy the stuffed shells," she adds to Rhys, before she makes a graceful exit.

You walk towards the Java Quarter.

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