Glamorous Glamorous

Posted on 08 Feb 2024 @ 17:03 by Kaitlin Broward & Patricia Paahao-Ivanovich

Episode: E1: A Historic Voyage
Location: British Consulate, San Francisco USA
Timeline: Date 2025-05-26 at 1830

The clink of glasses, murmur of voices and sound of the string quartet all vied for attention as the well dressed assemblage of diplomats, military personnel, politicians and other invitees swirled amongst the open areas of the British Consulate in San Francisco.

Heavy draperies had been added to help absorb some of the sound and there were various nooks and crannies created due to the placement of tables and potted trees. Most of the room’s atmosphere was courtesy of the rich hardwoods, tile flooring and crystal chandeliers that lit the ballrooms warmly.

Tricia took it all in, used to such affairs. She sipped at the champaign flute she held, then glanced over to Katie and grinned. The afternoon had been non-stop as they both had took advantage of a spa appointment Kemo had arranged through his cousin. Tricia was, at this point strangely relaxed, tired and wired.

She said as much to Kate, smiling as she tasted the champaign again and said, "I'm definitely blaming Kemo for that...“Everything alright, Kate?" Tricia asked, catching a look she didn't recognize on the other woman's face.

Kaitlin had been staring wide-eyed, barely remembering her manners as couples moved through the space in outfits that she'd only have expected to see in movies. She was thankful that Tricia's friend had been near enough her size that she could borrow something from her closet.

Startling slightly she, looking over at Tricia with a sheepish grin. "No, no," she said. "I was just imagining Ronnie's reaction to all this. He's never going to believe it. He's more used to me in sun dresses, or jeans and a t-shirt than, well, this." Here she gestured at herself. A black sheath of a dress clad her figure making the small bump more noticeable as the dress clung tightly to her hips. "And forget that I'm at a fancy event being held at the British Consulate." She chuckled at that, picturing the amused surprise in Ronnie's eyes. She could all but hear his voice as he teased. Something like Now truly Kate. You want me to believe you took off to visit Kemo's wife in San Fran and found yourself at an international soirée?

"We'll have to take a picture as proof or something. Are you allowed to take pictures inside consulates?"

Grinning as she glanced at her own clothing, Tonight she'd chosen a cream colored, low backed gown with spaghetti straps and was very happy with it. "No questions about a picture at all, Kate," she said smiling as she propelled the other woman through the crowd toward a corner where people seemed to be moving through. Dana McDonald the Consul General is holding court over here. They're doing pictures for the AP and wire services...the Brit's insist on calling the internet and anyone who posts snaps that still...and she's a friend so, we'll rub some more elbows. I want to make sure you as a tax paying American get your moneys worth"

That earned Tricia a laugh, though the initial amused gut reaction shimmed into something almost shy as they approached the woman in general. Kaitlin wasn't exactly the shy type, but this sort of glamour was something she'd only some limited experience with and for the world she felt like a fish out of water. "I just hope I don't embarrass you," she whispered as Tricia pulled them to a halt, offering the other woman a sheepish smile when she turned a pointed gaze in her direction.

Tricia slipped Kaitlin a wink and then was speaking to the Consulate General who turned a bright smile toward the two. The ebony skinned woman hugged Tricia then paused for a moment and her grin spread as she offered a hug to Kaitlin, saying. "Ahh, Tricia's friend Kaitlin. Thank you for joining us tonight Mrs. Broward. We all have much in common, you may or may not know. Tricia can be light on details sometimes..." Dana told her in a rich, throaty English accent though it was tinged with a more South African lilt.

"All of our husbands serve in the Silent Service, but Tricia and I met in College. I was witness to Kemo, The Rock's first approach and subsequent preparations for...I think Dicky would call it a boarding action."

Now it was Tricia's turn to blush as the CG gave her friend a wicked smile and then nodded to a hovering assistant who waved a group of photographers close and the three posed as flashes went off and then then the aide pushed the knot of reporters off and the three women stepped back a bit. "I still have to endure more photo ops and mingle, but we three shall get together later and gossip." She hugged Tricia again and this time shook Kaitlin's hand. "Please Mrs. Broward, make yourself at home in our Embassy tonight."

"Thank you so much," Kaitlin replied with a warm grin and a firm grip on the other woman's hand. She elbowed Tricia as they walked away, waiting until they'd gotten a few steps away before teasing, "Now I've heard the story from you, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to need to get Dana's version during this gossip session." She grinned broadly at the thought of swapping stories with the other two women. It had been longer than she'd realized since she'd had fun with girlfriends and even if she didn't know Tricia well and Dana barely at all, it felt good to hang out with other women who've had similar experiences. She reminded herself again to reach out to Jon Demir when she got back. Maybe some regular interaction with some of the other women would be good for her.

Smiling as they flowed with the crowds general milling, Tricia said. "Oh, you'll get an earful from Dana and then some... and she'll leach stories from you as well. It may get to be a very late session if I know her...but if you get tired, just let me know and we'll cut things short." Then she eyed the buffet tables, "But for now how does food sound? There will be dancing later too. And there are always willing young men about and we are well connected, hot ladies without husbands."

Kaitlin chuckled at the description of the pair of them as hot ladies without husbands. Granted, they did look stunning decked out as they were, but the thought of anyone being particularly willing felt foreign to her. "Food sounds amazing," she said with enthusiasm, hand drifting to the slight curve of her belly as she said it. It seemed like she was always hungry lately and everything smelled so good.

A thorough tasting of the buffet options and some people watching later, Kaitlin was happily full and had begun to enjoy pointing out the various folks that caught her interest. They'd made a game out of it. Kaitlin would come up with a story for who the person or people were and what brought them to the event and then Tricia would tell her who they really were and the occasional juicy tidbit on the side. She was just pointing to a pair of women who looked as if they might have been painted into their dresses when the music from the band, tone and tempo set to encourage mingling, shifted toward something with more of a beat. Kaitlin glanced at Tricia with eyebrows raised. "New game? Dancing competition judges... only the awards go to the most outlandish dancers?"

Smiling and enjoying their games, Tricia nodded. "Alright, but the dancing is generally pretty vanilla at these things. I think the better game might be who's making moves on who and if those moves are being...appreciated?" The brunette gave Kaitlin a wicked smile and said in a lowered voice, "These places are worse than soap operas and high school. Combined with bored house spouses...."

Gesturing toward a corner where a younger man and an older, much better dressed man where talking closely, she said. "That's the French Attache Joesph Bernard, chatting with Hugo Perez. He's a member of the Spanish delegation and rumored to be a member of *Cento Nacional de Inteligencia, or CNI..." But he's a notorious for trolling for any sort of troubled marriage and making it worse. Joseph is having issues at home...but I suppose Hugo is just too pretty."

Kaitlin had to suppress a giggle. Not that she thought marital issues were funny, but Tricia hadn't been kidding. The drama was no joke. "What about those two?" she asked, gesturing to a pair on the dance floor. The woman was all but pasted to the man she was dancing with, but the man seemed oddly distant, or maybe unaware of the attentions that his partner seemed interested in offering.

Tricia half snickered and bit her bottom lip in humor as her eyes flickered over the couple Kaitlin had indicated and said, "Oh. That's Samantha Cullins. Wife of the Canadian Consulate General. That's the Bobby Meadows. The Ambassador's aid. She is notorious for hoisting her skirts for just about anyone willing... and her husband, Adam, apparently has given up trying to head it off himself. So that's his Aid, Kevin Summers. Looks like poor Kevin drew the duty to be her monkey for the night."

Catching Kaitlin's eye, she said, "The Ambassador told my boss that, at this point, the best he can do is control the damage and try too keep it in-house. She's a man-eater and their parties were notorious. But, he's fifteen years her elder and just couldn't keep up anymore, I guess."

As Tricia spoke, Kaitlin's mouth formed into a sort of 'o' of surprise, eyes twinkling merrily at the tale. "Oh my lord," she said, drawling a bit as she said it and then popping her hand over her mouth as she realized just how stereotypically Texan she had sounded. "Do you think Kevin will... acquiesce to her attentions? Or is he not her type?" She tried to imagine any scenario where she or Ronnie needed... help... in that department and couldn't even begin to wrap her head around the idea. They'd always been fairly well matched and as she thought about it a pang of longing ran through her. Taking a deep breath she turned her head, looking for another culprit.

"Okay... how about..." she narrowed her eyes as she scanned before spotting someone who tickled her fancy. "Them." She pointed, surreptitiously, to a man who was standing in a corner nursing a drink. He looked a bit ruffled as if he'd been delivered an unexpected blow and was now drinking off whatever shock he'd received. About ten paces to his right stood another man in a similar state of disrepair.

Glancing from man to man, Tricia's face frowned slightly and she said, "That's probably more of a problem The man on the right is Edward Howsel, an aide to the Mayor of San Francisco. The other is Joseph Pazziniki, a deputy minister to our mission here. The she cast her gaze around the room and found her quarry. Gesturing subtly with her drink and a slight thrust of her chin, she said, "Speaking to Dana right now is a member of Chinas mission here and likely one of their spies is Jing Fan Lee. I'm told she's been bobbing a handful of men and a couple of women around at the same time and then, from time to time, breaks things off abruptly and publicly when she's done with them. From their looks I'm guessing she's here with someone new..."

"Ouch," Kaitlin drawled. "That's... rough..." She appreciated Tricia's responding laugh, though, and eyes scanning the room settled on another culprit to continue their game.