Raven accepted the tablet with a polite nod, though he barely needed it. His eyes skimmed the menu out of habit more than necessity, old reflexes from briefings and manifests before settling on what already felt decided.
“Fried potatoes. Königsberger Klopse,” he said quietly, handing the tablet back to the butler. “Capers heavy. White sauce proper. And… cherry honey mead, if you have it.”
The butler inclined his head, already gone before Raven finished the sentence.
As the staff moved away, Raven took a moment to let the setting sink in. The open pavilion. Salt in the air. The low rhythm of waves rolling in and retreating again. It was almost disarming the kind of place designed to make people forget themselves. He didn’t. His gaze kept drifting, subtle and habitual, mapping sightlines, exits, the spacing between staff, the shimmer of the water beyond the lights. Even paradise had angles.
“Hidden showrooms that stay hidden,” Raven replied to Cait at last, his voice calm, approving. “That’s all we ever ask for. The less interesting something looks on a scanner, the longer it survives.”
He rested his forearms lightly on the table, fingers interlaced.
“Our people will adapt to your procedures. No uniforms. No patterns. Cargo moves as curiosities, not shipments. Anything sensitive stays compartmentalized until a buyer is confirmed.” A brief pause. “And if something ever draws attention it shouldn’t… it won’t lead back here.”
The drinks arrived first. Raven lifted the glass of cherry honey mead, the deep red catching the pavilion lights. He inhaled once..... sweet, sharp, familiar. For just a heartbeat, the years peeled back.
“Rheinland knew how to make winters bearable,” he said, almost to himself, then raised the glass slightly toward Stephanie.“And how to remind you what you were fighting for.”
He took a measured sip, then another, slower this time.
“When the Barbados showroom is ready,” Raven continued, business easing back into his tone, “we’ll seed it carefully. Relics first. Artifacts that invite curiosity. Azurite stays controlled...... information spreads faster than cargo.” His eyes flicked briefly to Cait. “If your R&D people find a use for it, we’ll expand supply. If not, it remains invitation only.”
The first plates began to arrive, steam rising into the warm night air. Raven watched the Königsberger Klopse set before him, the familiar scent grounding in a way he hadn’t expected.
“For now,” he said, settling back slightly,“we eat. Deals like this last longer when they start human.”
And as the waves rolled in again, Raven allowed himself this small luxury of the rare feeling that, for once, the ground beneath his feet was not swaying.
Sparrow watched Raven as the tension in his shoulders fractionally released. It was a microscopic change, invisible to anyone who hadn't commanded him through the darkest years of their exile, but to her, it was monumental. A profound, quiet warmth bloomed in her chest. Seeing her officers find a sliver of peace, even for just a meal, was a victory in itself.
When her own plate was placed before her - a beautifully seared local catch garnished with island spices, a deliberate choice to ground herself in the present rather than the past - she picked up her fork but didn't immediately eat. Instead, she looked between Caitlyn and Stephanie.
"He is absolutely right", Sparrow said, her voice softer now, stripped of the sharp edge of the strategist, leaving only the profound sincerity of the Shepherd."The shadows we operate in are incredibly cold. If we forget how to break bread, how to share a table and a moment of genuine comfort, we risk forgetting what it is we are trying to save."
She raised her glass of brandy, the faint violet shimmer still swirling in its depths, catching the ambient light of the pavilion.
"You are offering us more than just a showroom or a logistics hub, Chairwoman. You are offering us a hearth in a very vast, very unforgiving house. For that, you have my profound gratitude, and the unwavering reliability of my organization."
She met both of their eyes, her gaze steady and deeply earnest.
"To new friends",she toasted quietly,"and to our family."
She took a sip, the fiery liquid settling pleasantly in her stomach alongside the scent of the ocean breeze. For tonight, she would allow herself to simply be Lia, sharing a beautiful meal with allies, knowing that today they had woven a very strong, vital thread into their lifeline.
Steph: Of course, we have this, we have a lovely Chef from Rheinland working for us. My Wife hired him to keep me from being Homesick too much. And it's quite nice to get the food I grew up with in a place that is as beautiful as our Samson Resort.
She said and smiled while Cait nodded. Samson was a little paradise on Curacao, and for Cait and Steph, it was the best place in the Universe. The two women would lean back in the chairs as they waited for the food. And soon after, the Maid would return with the Drinks. For Raven, they would have a Vintage Mead that was Aged to Perfection and had a Wonderful Aroma of Cherrys. The Bottle showed that it came from an Old Traditional Mead Maker that only did a Couple of Hundred Bottles a Year.
Cait: This is from my Personal Stock. I myself am a Rum Lover ever since I was old enough to drink. But that doesn't mean I don't value other kinds of alcohol. Please Consider this Bottle as a Personal Present of Mine. I hope it will serve you well for many other occasions of Celebration. And your Right to live in the Shadows can be Cold and tend to make you forget how to be a human. I know that all too well, as I grew up amongst Junkers.
She spoke with a warm smile as the food arrived, and she would inhale the lovely smell of a fresh-cooked meal that was made to perfection. While others believed Rheinland Cuisine was nothing more than meat and potatoes, Cait had learned that it was far more varied and Unique than most would love to believe. She had learned to love it, of course, a great source of that was that Steph would influence her quite a lot. Cait had started to love the Roulade the most. The Meaty Roll was delicious, and combined with a dark Gravy and some dumplings, it was the perfect dish for her.
Cait: Yes to us and to a bright future for all of us. I am sure that we will have a great time and a profitable one too.
Cait and Steph would Raise there Glasses and would make a smile at their guests. The breeze from the Ocean was soft and warm and would bring a light smell of the Sea from the Beach. Some Cries of birds could be heard in the sky, and if they looked out to sea, they could see how they would go down and hunt for fish in the ocean. The day was calm and beautiful, and the sun would slowly go down with each minute that passed.
