A cup of coffee gives a smile
Posted on Mon Sep 15, 2025 @ 4:35am by Commander Cara Letsul & Civilian Lirana Faux
1,966 words; about a 10 minute read
Mission:
Time After Time
Location: Rex’s Roast
Timeline: MD017 0900
Cara needed a bit of a pick me up, a cup of coffee. She didn't want to make her own, she wanted something different. And she didn't want to go back to the cafe upon the promenade observation deck. There were other businesses to go look at, and there seemed to be some new ones that have arrived upon the station.
Looking at the selections, there was a place that caught her eye. Rex's Roast. And the coffee selections were rather unique.
"Coffee with sparkles in it? Sunbeam Hug? This I have to investigate. I wonder who named this." Cara's eyes lighting up with interest. "And what will it taste like? And will they have cinnamon rolls?"
It didn't take long for Cara to head towards the Promenade and where Rex's Roast was located. She wasn't wearing her command uniform, she instead wanted to experience this in her civvies. A simple purple peasant blouse, her skirt was black and full, with pockets. They had to have pockets. Upon her feet were a pair of unadorned black slip on shoes.
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Rex's Roast
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Cara stopped outside of the coffee shop, just taking a deep breath of the delicious aroma that wafted its way through the door when a customer had stepped out, with a smile.
"Seems like a great place to go into." she commented to the customer who had just stepped out.
"Yes, and enjoy, it is a lovely warm and cozy place to have coffee in." The customer giving a wave as they proceeded on their way.
Cara liked the sound of that, and stepped inside the shop.
Lirana looked up from the table she was sitting at, while she had been sorting out orders. She had gone for a more cozy, unassuming look. Warm wood accents, mismatched furniture, and a mild Terrin flair it was enough to make the space feel inviting and homey. Behind the counter, her holographic assistant, Jeeves, serves drinks with impeccable timing. Lirana stood, but the sound of a familiar voice almost made her stop dead in her tracks.
She covered her mouth, "it can't be," she almost squealed. Doing her best to channel her inner Terrin, she darted behind the counter. "I've got this one," she barked, "go make yourself useful where else." Her demeanor was so out of character that even a couple customers stopped and looked up.
"Let me guess, the Admiral Special. Black, hot, and full of regret," she didn't bother waiting for a reply.
Cara was so taken back by what the owner of the shop said, she couldn't speak at first. Confusion, surprise, and maybe a little bit hurt, flinching as if she had been slapped. The words that came from the woman stung.
A small part of herself was urging Cara to just turn around and leave, much like she had done when T'Lul the chief Counselor, had caused her to do so. That was when the Vulcan woman was so rude as to talking over personal matters with the Commodore, and not truly talking with Cara being part of the command staff. The meeting was supposed to be a meeting of introduction to the Chief Counselor, and the command staff, finding out about how people were, and not a discussion of ponfar.
Cara drew in a breath, quickly calming herself, a cool head was needed here.
"Miss- I believe you have mistaken me for someone else. I came here to try out one of your selections. It is called Sunbeam Hug?"
Cara gave a smile, she couldn't help it, just the mere mention of that coffee, just elicited a smile from her.
"Sunbeam hug," Lirana turned to prep the drink. Her tone was somewhere between sarcasm and sentiment, "You always were a bit on the delicate side." She glanced over to her shoulder, her eyes narrowing. "The only person who could drink black coffee, and still somehow be sweeter than the cup itself."
She tossed the glass on the careful, with a soft clink, "one Sunbeam Regret." she stated. "You ran to one station trying to outrun your past," Lirana leaned over the counter, "you know he saw right through you, right?" She let a small smile cross her lips, "Every damn time."
"I trust you're not about to come begging for another job? We're fully staffed!"
As if on cue, a massive man came out carrying a tub of clean dishes, "Oh, hello Miss Cara," Andre grinned, "it's really good to see you again..."
Lirana rolled her eyes, "he never was that subtle," she muttered.
Cara blinked a couple of times, she needed her eyes checked. It didn't register that the owner of Rex's shop was Trill. Maybe her mind blocked it from her at first.
"Andre? Uh...Faux?" Cara was slightly bewildered at this turn of events looking from one to the other.
"I'm not looking for another job. I've got one already, I'm the XO of this fine station. And I am not running from my past. Not this time. I was called and I answered, StarFleet decided that I needed to be here. And well-"
Cara took a look outside of the shop towards the station as a whole a bit of a smile.
"I am not gonna fight them on this, I feel that I am supposed to be here." a pause, "By the way, what is the name I should call you by, besides Faux." Cara turning her attention back to Lirana.
Lirana started to laugh, "that took way longer than I expected," she rolled up a towel and smacked Andre with it, "if you hadn't come out, I could have kept that going a bit longer." Before she could say anything else, a small little girl ran out of the back room and grabbed onto Lirana's leg.
"Mommy, mommy," Sela looked up with tears in her eyes, "Torin wouldn't let me..."
Before she could finish Torin ran out, he was immediately defensive. "She wouldn't stop..."
"You two figure it out, if Mommy has to get involved, I swear neither of you will like it. Now," she pointed to Cara. Her stern look replaced by a warm smile, "I want you to say hi to an old friend." Sela ran off with a slight nod, but Torin stood there analyzing Cara for a bit.
"Let me guess, a friend of "his", he referred to the symbiont. He rolled his eyes, "great.."
Lirana blushed. "I suppose you're going to have more than a few questions," she said, gesturing to a nearby table, "and Faux is fine, we're still getting used to it. This whole joining thing has been an adventure."
Cara analyzed Torin right back, the boy couldn't be more than what, five years old? She saw the intelligence in his eyes, a young boy having to grow up faster than what he was supposed to.
A gentle look in Cara's eyes could be seen, a smile of understanding.
"Sure lets have a seat and I do have questions." Cara walking over towards the indicated table.
Cara paused and turned to face Andre, "it is good to see you as well, my friend, we will have to do some catching up soon."
She looked at Torin, "It was lovely meeting you as well." Cara having a warm smile towards the boy.
Taking a seat, she remarked "This is a lovely shop, and cozy."
Lirana settled into a chair across from Cara, resting her elbows on the table. "Cozy was the ideas," she said, "I wanted something different from that lounge on 50. I wanted this place to be a second living room, a place where people could feel comfortable. She glanced over to Andre, "he was like a lost puppy, it was really sad. It's different now but still the same." She paused, "still likes to call me Boss," she shuttered.
"So, XO. I'm guessing that comes with good a story?"
"Probably not as interesting as to how this came to be." Cara motioning towards Lirana. "I will satisfy your curiosity though."
Cara took a moment to sample the Sunbeam Hug coffee, liking the flavor of jt. She was also enchanted by the edible glitter, upon the foam. The glitter stayed on her lips for the moment even after she had kicked her lips. She dabbed her lips with a napkin, yet still some there.
"This is really good." Cara smiling .
Lirana smirked, watching Cara wrestle with the glitter. “Careful, drink too many of those and you’ll end up sparkling.” She leaned back in her chair, folding her arms with a sort of practiced ease, eyes never leaving Cara’s face.
“But I’m glad you like it. The Sunbeam Hug was my daughter's idea.”
She tilted her head. “You know, I didn’t actually think I’d see you again or anyone else for that fact. Galaxies are big… and yet…” she tapped the table with a fingertip, “..here you are, sitting in my coffee shop, drinking glitter.”
Her expression softened. “So, XO or not… tell me, Cara. What brought you here really? You were happy on Poseidon.”
Before Cara could reply, Lirana added, "Wouldn't have anything to do with a certain Rear Admiral who up and got married?" Lirana leaned over the table.
Cara almost choked on her next sip of her drink, froth hitting her nose, a small clump of it just staying there. She quickly grabbed a napkin to keep from coughing on Lirana. And to wipe the glitter froth from her nose.
Muffled by the napkin, "Timing!" she spluttered out.
Once she could speak better Cara lowered her napkin, drawing in her breath.
"Nah, once I got cooled down, I realized that Tom found someone who fit him better." she set the cup down.
"Your daughter has good taste." Giving a warm genuine smile remembering the little girl who came out
The smile slipped away.
"StarFleet reached down and scattered most everyone to the four winds."
She picked up the small straw to stir the froth more into her coffee.
"As for me, I was called to Earth and given my new assignment." the froth now combined with the rest of the coffee she took a drink.
"The change was so sudden that I didn't truly get to say goodbye to quite a few people, I left while others were on a mission." Cara leaned forward, "I think that Starfleet wanted to hmmnn, brush things under the rug so to speak."
She drew back to drink more of her coffee.
Before Lirana could say something the sound of raised voices began to echo from the backroom. Lirana rolled her eyes because she knew what was going to happen next. Sela and Torin would escalating this into a full blown argument. Lirana looked at Cara and blushed, "I'm so sorry, I need too..." but before she could finish the sentence there was a hard crash, followed by the unmistakable clatter of dishes shattering against the floor.
Lirana closed her eyes as she pinched the bridge of her nose, "And that is sadly my cue," she stood up, "Something things never change, I'm sorry Cara I have too take care of that."
"I could come with you, but, I don't think you need another person who your children don't know at all. Thank you for the coffee.And I'll see you again sometime." A gentle smile towards Lirana. "I am glad that we have met, not only you, Lirana but also Faux."
Even though they are now joined, Cara felt that Lirana needed to be acknowledged as well. If not, Faux could scold her later. She settled back to finish her coffee, feeling bemused at all of this.
Lirana Faux
Owner - Rex's Roast
Deep Space 5
Commander Cara Letsul
XO
Deep Space 5
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