A Wee Dinner Party

Posted on 30 Nov 2019 @ 12:09pm by Lieutenant JG Matthew Plumeri & Commander Allyndra illm Warraquim & Ensign Callin Mastrel

5,958 words; about a 30 minute read

Mission: Episode 17 - Crystal of Life
Location: Deck 04 - Plumeri's Quarters
Timeline: MD -10: A Pleasant Evening Not Too Long Ago

[ON:]

The chime announced itself at exactly the right time. ”Beep-beep…beep-beep” is said. Then the dulcet tones of the computer followed, ” The time is 18:45 hours.”

Matthew had almost finished the final touches to the Ratamba stew, “Ahhh!” he said as he took a wee taste of the green stew. He seemed satisfied and took the dish from his small kitchen area to the dining table in his quarters. The table was finely set for five persons. He always set an extra place and he always made just a bit too much food. It was a tradition in the Plumeri house that one never knew who might show up at the door and would want to join in a bite to eat. So, he always set an extra place setting.

The plates were sparkling, the wine glasses were ready and waiting to be filled. He set the Ratamba stew onto the table. On the wall, there was a hoverbike race going on. The sportscaster was talking about the different custom bikes in the race. The logo splashed across the screen. An animation of a crown and a hammer crossed and the letters, The King of Hammers displayed. It looked like it was an exciting race and there were a lot of people seemingly waiting along this part of the route. The location of this year’s race was displayed as on Mars in the Sol Sector, Valles Marinaris. Matt got distracted and then heard the soup bubbling. The vegetarian soup was just in case someone wanted a vegan alternative to the stew.

“DAMN!”, he said and leaped back into the kitchen just in time to take the Hlaka soup off the heat plate. He stirred it to keep it from burning. The bright red of the soup looked and smelled deelish.

Tonight, he was entertaining three guests, the XO Commander Blake, the Chief Medical Officer Doctor Warraquim and his co-worker in the Science department, Ensign Callin Mastrel. Matt asked them each to bring a side dish for the “dinner club” tonight. Now that the main course was ready and simply needed to cool a bit, Matt went into his bedroom and changed into some nicer casual clothing. It wasn’t long until he heard the door chime.

Outside was Callin, and as usual he looked big-eyed and eager. With a flash of a smile he held up a cloth-covered tray that smelled of something sweet. "Hi! Am I early, Lieutenant? Hope whatever diet you're on to get so big can handle sugar, 'cause the only thing I know how to make is dessert." He was also out of uniform, in tan pants with a multi-colored sweater. "Uttaberry and cream-cheese pastries."

Smiling at him Matt answered, "Callin, welcome to my pad. You and your dessert are most welcome!" He reached out to him and offered him a handshake and a bro-hug. "Come on in and make yourself at home man." Taking the dessert from him and putting it on the counter in the kitchen Matt asked, "Can I get you a frosty cold one? Or do you like wine with dinner?" he held up a bottle of beer in his right hand and a bottle of wine in his left, "Beer? Wine? Beer?"

It took some doing but Callin managed to hold on to the food during the enthusiastic greeting, then gratefully handed it over before it all landed on the floor. He was surprised he'd made it this far with dropping it. As he walked in Callin took a look about the place, eager to see the kind of style that Matthew had. "I'll have a beer, sure," he took the offered drink and tried a quick sip as he peeked around.

Matt had three paintings on the walls of his quarters. All of them from home, two landscapes and a portrait of Severo Zeno. Matt's jersey from his Parresis Squares team was in a mounted frame also on the wall. There was a trumpet on a stand and a music stand in the corner. A comfy looking couch and three candles burning on the coffee table. And the race on the monitor. "Thanks for coming Callin. I've been looking forward to this all week! I hope you like the stew?"

"Thank you for inviting me, L-uh, Matthew," Callin replied, and his gaze lingered the longest on the trumpet, whoever this portrait was of, and the race. He'd really made his quarters a home here, personality all over. "I'm sure its delicious if it tastes half as good as it smells. Who else said they were coming?"

Matt answered him, "Allyndra and Scarlet. They should be here pretty soon." Taking a swig of beer himself and noticing Callin's interest in the trumpet, Matt added, "I still play the trumpet from time to time. Got's to keep my embouchure in shape right? You never know when a coronation is going to break out." He smiled easily, took another swig from the bottle and indicated to the wall monitor, "You like repulse bikes? A big race is going on in the Sol sector right now."

At the answer, and hearing the names of two of the highest-ranking women on board, Callin visibly paled. He glanced down at his beer, guilt plain in his face for a moment. Ever so (not) subtly he set the drink down; best be on his best behavior. "Yes. I mean, the bikes look exciting. But I've never been on one before. Are you a racer too?"

"Nah. Not really. I don't even own one. My brother though, he's a good repulsorlift rider. He has a custom built Rinaldi...that's a very...flashy...kind of bike. I like the outdoorsy stuff myself." Seeing that Callin paled, Matthew picked up on that and asked, "Is the beer not good? Does the stew smell too spicy? The candles...is the smell too much?" he asked concerned.

He was good to talk about the bikes for a bit, that was easier. "Rinaldi," Callin even whispered under his breath, so he could remember to look it up later. Maybe the holodeck could show him one. The mention of being 'outdoorsy' definitely grabbed his attention, and Callin was about to launch into an excited discussion about his own outdoor adventures, when he felt the concern level rise in the room.

"Oh, no, the beer is fine," he replied, and seriously hoped he hadn't projected any of his own worry onto the other man. Without really thinking about it, Callin replied back with some frank honesty - maybe too much. "It's Commander Blake and Commander Warraquim," he distinctly used their ranks. "They're both intimidating, don't you think? Impressive too, either of them can command a room with her presence alone, I mean of course. But...yeah." He'd glanced down at the beer again by the end.

"Naahhh...they can't be Commanders all the time. They need a break from the "burdens of command" too from time to time." Here Matt smiled and gestured with air quotes with his fingers. He smiled warmly and relaxed a bit more. "Leave rank at the door. Tonight is all about getting to know one another without all the formality of Starfleet and all that getting in the way. Can they command a room; hell yeah they can. But, not tonight. You don't have anything to be worried about tonight. Just enjoy the warmth and company of friends." Here he handed him back the bottle of beer, "Cheers mate!"

With what he hoped was a convincing grin, Callin took the beer back and clinked glasses before he took a tiny sip. "If you say so." It'd take more time to explain than they probably had, and how to put words to ingrained behavior in anyways. Women, especially those in positions of authority, deserved their accolades. "I guess I'm still feeling the Academy. If I had called an instructor by their first name...phew."

Allyndra had thought about inviting the small group to her quarters, after all she had installed a small cooking area as she still occasionally practiced what the Terrans called Haute Cuisine. She had entertained the thought for a bit but then cooking and not having her erstwhile critic and taster Doctor Mott would have seemed like a missing person. His presence would have haunted the proceedings. Even so as she cooked, it seemed he whispered in her ear telling her what spices to use and just when the sauces where just right.

Now she was rolling a cart down the hall with the dishes under domed metal tops and hoping that the order was not overly disturbing to others. The lieutenant had indicated that uniforms were forbidden and Allyndra was not very fashion conscious either. She had not paid any attention to most civilian like fashion and having been raised in a formal environment it seemed a dinner was an occasion to dress for. She only had one item that was not regulation and that was the gift from her guild as Mother of the House. The long Trellium silk dress was low cut in the back and strapless. The rest of the dress flowed full from her waist and it trailed slightly as well. Even on her own world the dress would be a fortune but off world it would have made a Ferengi mad with calculating how much it would have fetched. The material could not be duplicated properly and thus real Trellium silk was rare and valuable as well. The gown as she moved caught the light and transformed it into scintiallating rainbows that ran down the material.

She finally arrived and felt her hearts patter as she was a bit late. The Tarte Tatin had taken a bit more time then anticipated to properly set and the crieme frache for the topping as well had taken just a bit longer. Finally she arrived and pressed the chime hoping her host would forgive her tardiness. As such she had already from her olden days as youngling in the House, had dropped into a deep curtsy.

Matt left the door to his quarters unlocked - almost always - and so when Allyndra approached the doors popped open to reveal her and her cart of dishes and domes and her deep curtsy.

Handing his bottle of beer to Mastrel, "Excuse me just a moment?" He went over to the door and returned the bow. Standing straight again he said to Allyndra, "The light of friendship is like the light of phosphorous, seen most plain when all around is dark." Then he stepped aside and said, "Please, enter. You are most welcome here."

Allyndra straightened and replied, "May the Twins bless all. Please forgive me for being late." She then waved at the cart and said, "It has been awhile since I got to do some cooking. I have been learning what Terrans call Haute Cuisine. Thus went a bit more then required. I have Soupe à l’oignon, Cassoulet with duck, Flamiche for those vegetarian tastes, Tarte tatin which held me up, and chocolate soufflé and crieme frache for topping." She pulled the tops for a moment on each as she named them.

Everytime she opened one of the domes over the food, a waft of the smell of the food washed over Matt. He said, "You've really outdone my stew. Look at all this food!" He said as he reached his hand out to hers and offered her a fist bump. Bringing the cart inside he introduced his guests to each other, "Allyndra? You know Callin yeah? Callin, you remember Allyndra ay? Take a look at this spread of grub man. This here is like...a month in the gym after we eat." He marvelled at the food. Then he looked at the dining table and said, "We're going to need a bigger table." He turned back to them both and smiled and then laughed, "Or bigger quarters!"

Callin's wave of greeting was spoiled a bit by the beer he was double-fisting at the moment, but he grinned and nodded, "Hello!" There, that was informal enough. Even when she'd told him before to use her name, Callin had always felt a bit awkward by it. He moved a little closer to peer with appreciation at the assortment of food Allyndra had prepared. "Impressive! Are these all Terran dishes, or do any come from your world?" He had to agree with Matt though, in reference to the size of quarters for the junior officers on board, "I never really think about how small this ship is, until I walk into my quarters."

Allyndra made a small nod toward Callin, "Indeed I do know you. As for your question, yes all Terran except for the Blood Flower juice in the ice bucket there." She pointed toward the bottom shelf. "It is replicated and I think not quite exact but good enough. I will warn that most find the taste a little too sweet for their palate." She nodded in reference to the ship and to Mathew's comment on the table. She quickly added, "I can serve from the cart and besides almost all of this I cannot eat. We have very simple digestive systems so a glass is all I need. Instead He mea hoʻohanohano ʻia ka lawelawe ʻana i ka poʻe lawelawe `a`ohe lokomaika`i i nele i ke pâna`i ," she said in that sing song language of hers and then translated. "It is an honor to serve those that have served and no kind deed as ever lacked its reward. Thus let me show a bit of my gratitude by serving you and the remaining guest."

Matthew gave a slight nod of the head. There are times when one just needs to accept hospitality. He complimented her attire first though, "Well, serving from the cart sounds grand. However, I must first compliment you on the Trellium Silk dress you are wearing. I remember seeing it in the holodeck program I shared with you before. It's quite lovely and I'm sure that you need to bring it out more for parties or...whatever. It's a marvel. Well - we're not quite complete yet though. We're still missing one member of our dinner party. Allow me to consult the all-knowing, ever present, nearly omniscient oracle." He addressed himself to the ship's computer, "Computer? Where is Commander Blake?"

The computer responded after a whirring sound and a location query, "Commander Blake is unavailable" was the reply. Matthew cocked his head as in a "huh?" He further asked, "Not available...working? Not available...left the ship?" Almost immediately the computer replied, "There is no further information available at this time" said with a digital sense of finality to it. Matthew shrugged and said, "That sucks picklebrine!"

Callin had to agree with the other man once again, and nodded enthusiastically at his praise of Allyndra's dress while berating himself for not thinking of that first. He rushed to pick up that thread while Matt started querying the computer, "Oh yes, its a very nice dress. You look regal." Still with a beer in either hand but not seeming to realize, he stepped up, nervous with banter, "I bet even the Fourth House would be envious. I'm sorry for under-dressing."

"Not at all, it is the only non-uniform thing I have, and I have never quite figured or followed fashion. If anything I have over dressed but thank you, glad you like it." She looked toward the screen and commented, "what are you watching?"

"Overdressed? The only places you can 'overdress' are either Risa or a Betazed wedding" Matt playfully winked an eye to them both. "Well kids...we're on our own I guess. No adult supervision for us tonight. Commander working late or early." Matt nodded towards the wall monitor, "That's the biennial repulsorlift bike race. Two years ago it was on Modius IV. This year its on Mars. Called the 'King of Hammers'. Kind of an endurance race I guess? Four days and three nights. Just you and your bike and the tools you can carry. I did the race six years ago. Came in third." He pointed to a crown and hammer trophy on a nearby bookshelf. He reminisced, "Good times...good times."

Callin took the opportunity to slide Matt's beer back into his hand as the man began his explanation. Then he watched the race and looked at the race only as much as he watched Matt. He was so enthusiastic, about everything, it was hard not to get caught up in it all. "I'd like to try it out sometime," he admitted about the racing. "But have either of you ever gone cliff diving?" The Betazoid didn't seem like he meant jumping off of cliffs into water exactly.

That comment caught her attention, "Cliff diving? We do that on my world but I am not sure it has the same connotation as perhaps you are referring to."

The young man warmed to the topic quickly, easy enough when he got a chance to share one of his favorite sports. "Yes. Picture a big rift, hundreds of feet deep...the thermal differences from the air that rolls in from the jungle creates these intense updrafts. You jump off the edge at the right time and you can practically fly!" Cyrin's grin towards Allyndra showed he would understand if she didn't find that particularly interesting, but he also left out what would happen if one jumped at the wrong time.

Matt took a swig of beer as he listened with interest. "That's sounds like a lot of fun. Sign me up! It's about the closest we'll come to flying without wings. How often have you done it?" he asked Callin.

"We used to do it all the time, as kids. Must've jumped a hundred times!" Callin said. "If we ever get to Betazed you're both invited. I'd love to show you Cataria Canyon, and I know my Mother would like to see you again too, Allyndra."

Allyndra listened while she set the table. There was no use in letting her handiwork get cold or hot as the case might be for each dish. "And what happens if the wind shifts." She asked. While there were not a rift like he had described, soaring off a cliff face was not uncommon, but a gust or shift could easily push one into the face of the cliff. "Do you have a cord or parachute or just take the fall hoping the wind will catch up gain?" She said it so matter of fact. "The ground is a harsh mistress is what my flight teacher would say."

Callin set his beer down to offer to help, though looking around Matt had already got the plates out, and wine glasses. Allyndra wanted to serve. Hmm. He didn't see a gong anywhere either, that was awkward. So he stood, did a quick prayer, and kept the conversation going.

~Divines, I'm sure you understand, they don't know any better. I'm grateful though!~ Callin sent out into the universe. At the same time he said aloud, "Some jump with a rope." His grin looked pretty bold for a scientist. "Some." The rest they'd have to discover with him on Betazed one-day. ~Thank you for cliffs, too!~

"Sounds dangerous," Allyndra replied waiting for Callin to finish. She had observed the seriousness on his face for a moment and though she continued to prepare to serve the dishes she brought wondered if there was some cultural thing that needed to be done. "I will apologize if I am not familiar with nuances of dining. I know in some cultures they offer prayers, others something formal in terms of where people are placed. So I ask forgiveness if there is something that I have missed. Now then, are either of you ready for pre-course, there are lovely soups and stews."

"I'm sure higher powers will be alright if we skip prayers for one night," Callin took a seat. In his experience not a lot of aliens particularly enjoyed listening to a gong ring every few seconds while they ate; it made sense, especially for those races limited to verbal communication. "Should we start with your stew, Matt?"

Allyndra only nodded and indicated the two set places. She then with mitts she had brought carefully lifted the bowl and ladle to gently stir and then pour carefully into the prepared bowls.

Seeing that Allyndra was quite happy serving, Matt took a chair at the table. He had noticed Callin's pause and wondered if there was some food item that gave him the reeking retches but he did not make mention of it. At the mention of "higher powers" he said, "That's right, Betazed has a rich theology doesn't it. Well, as you say, one evening won't register on the cosmic chart now will it?" He smiled warmly. "Come now, you're doing all the serving here and it's supposed to be my turn at hosting the dinner club. However, since you are so good at it and I'm starved, we shall let it be. I made the Ratamba stew so I'll start with that and I'll have some of that and what do you call this here? With the red peppers?" he asked Allyndra and indicated to a dish she had opened.

"That is not peppers but beans, it is cassoulet with duck, with a topping. My teacher said while it was considered a peasant dish if done correctly tasted like heaven. I am hoping that it closer the later rather than the former." She said as she dished some stew in the bowl. If you cannot eat flesh for one reason or another including replicated I do that the Flamiche."

Matt said, "Carnivore here. I'll take that!" he said with a happy, hungy grin.

At the question of faith, the young science officer nodded a little, "Many of us follow a faith as ancient as our civilization, though please excuse me, dinner is not the proper time to tell you about the Divines." Callin looked at the food before him eagerly, half-wondered where he was going to fit it all, and breathed in deep. "Meat is definitely fine!" He kept a pretty strict and healthy diet most days, but for a special occasion like this time to cheat! He tried the Ratamba stew, enjoyed the strong Bajoran flavors, then the duck which was divine. He rang a gong in his imagination loud and thankful. "Wow! You both made these yourselves? By hand?"

Matthew teased, "You sound surprised? Better know how to cook if we're going to go camping sometime. Ain't that right Allyndra? Camping under the stars. Ghost stories. Home cooking on an outdoor campfire. MMmm...mmmm....this tastes...divine?" He said with a chuckle at his entendre.

"Honestly, since I left home I think I can count on one hand how many non-replicated meals I've had!" Callin didn't waste too much time talking aloud though, he seemed to really be enjoying this and definitely looked forward to the next courses. He grinned around his fork and listened in for the moment.

Allyndra nodded and added before taking a sip from her glass of wine she had to the side. "I have to admit that all of the ingredients are replicated. There are no food markets out this way. The only thing is the blood flower juice and that is from my home."

"How sweet it is!" Matt said as he offered a wee toast, "Raise your glasses; a toast! To...friends. Present and those absent. Are we not the luckiest to be alive today and to be surrounded by...friends?" He clinked wine glasses and took a sip.

That sentiment Callin could easily toast to, and he raised his glass as well with a grin for both of them. "To friends." As he sipped he wondered how that might work out, one his direct superior, another a senior staff member, but for tonight at least rank really did seem to be put aside.

"To friends, they sometimes become as family," Allyndra added to the toast and touched glasses.

When they had all had their fill and there was food still left over - Matt thanked them for coming, "I think I'll sleep good tonight! They'll have to roll me out of bed and roll me into the lab tomorrow!" He jested and complemented the both of them on their good taste. "Allyndra, you outdid us all. What a spread! Thank you. I wish that Commander Blake was able to be here. Hey? Let's fix her a 'to go' plate? Take it up to her? Yeah?"

"I can certainly do that. The warming dishes are replicated so I can fix one and she can later just put it in the recycler." Allyndra nodded and got to fixing the suggested plate. She put a bit of everything on it not knowing precisely what her preferences were. Using bits of paper napkins she wrote what each was.

With everything nicely labeled and in a warming dish, Matthew helped put it into a larger "to go" box. It would keep hot things hot and cold thing cold for hours. Setting it on the table he said, "That looks good. Thank you for all the hard work in prepping the meal. It was amazingly delicious! So, who's hosting the next dinner party?"

=== LATER ===

While they were sitting on the couch, the table cleared and just chatting, Matt looked at them both and said, "You know why I joined Starfleet instead of the Fontalan Stellar Navy? I can remember it...so clearly too. It was the very first day that I heard 'human music'. I was, I think, tweleve or thirteen? My mom played in the consort at the capital so I knew music. It was one of the cultural exchange programs you know? The Federation called them the 'musical ambassadors'. My Dad, he's 100% human, he took us all to the city that day. A few hours away. There was a big park...like an amphitheater in a natural amphitheater. Very pretty there. Anyway, they were playing different music from all over the Federation. Vulcan, Andorian, heck even some Tholian 'music'. But then, all of these people came out. Must have been sixty or seventy? A full arch-e-stra" Matt said mispronouncing the word. "They started to play and..." he leaned his head back on the couch as he smiled and relived the memory, "what a sound. I never heard it before. They played the overture to William Tell. And I was....spellbound. Never had I heard such a sound like this. I was amazed. At the end, big crescendo and all the players stood up for the last part. It was the most thrilling thing I had seen." He smiled as he reminisced, "I told my dad right then and there that it was OK, I kinda was into being half-human. But, I also knew that people who could write music like that? I want to be a part of them. And I think that the natural outcome of that was to join Starfleet." He smiled and put his arm across his head in a lazy, relaxed way and put his feet on the coffee table. "What about you? How did you know you wanted to be in Starfleet?"

Allyndra politely listened sipping occasionally from her glass and smiled as he described his experience. It was nice to have the choice and perhaps something too lacking back on her home world. Still the structure of the society had held and kept conflicts away. She waited and then said, "I was assigned by the Council of my world. Akkadia decided that someone needed to go off world and see what this Federation and the rest were about. If we wanted to become a part of it, another group or to reject it all and be separate. They also thought it would be good for me to occupy my mind from the loss of my husband and children. They were correct in the later as coming from a closed society and being tossed into so many different cultures, beings, different ways of thinking it was overwhelming. Now though it seems as if I am here amoung the stars I miss home, and when I am at home I miss being amoung the stars. As a Mother of a House, I have the choice to not do this but I continue as the Council still has not made any firm decision as of yet and I think now providing even more information is crucial."

Matt nodded, "I remember you explained that before. I still don't understand that. Honestly. There is so much to gain and so little to lose by becoming part of something larger. But, I hear you." He leaned forward a bit to scratch his leg. "People don't always like change. It's natural to fear and reject what one does not understand. My homeworld is the same way. People fear that we will somehow lose our identity as Fontalans when there are every race and creed from all over the Federation walking about. I don't see why they are so worked up anyway?" He sat back now and looked at Callin, "How about you Callin? Betazed...what's that like tyo grow up there? How did you get the Starfleet bug?"

Callin blinked. He had sort of forgotten he was in the room for a moment there. Wide, dark eyes had been watching them silently, listened to their stories, felt them too. Callin wasn't peeping, not exactly, and Allyndra was inscrutable as always - very much a big reason why he was often nervous around her, and not just because she was a female of great rank - but he could sense the feeling in the room and from Matt, could imagine the missing bits too. "Oh..." He sat up, he'd been leaning his elbows on his knees to prop up his chin, and thought about it for a moment. "It was...we tried..." Callin sighed and gave them a wry grin, delivered his next in his occasional bluntness. "I'll be honest here, not looking for sympathy or anything like it. We had a lot of good times. But the Dominion came. Jem'Hadar and Cardassians, we didn't stand a chance. We're not a threat to anyone, we don't have great shipyards or important resources, so why bother diverting better defenses into protecting us..." Callin cut himself off and shook his head, not wanting to sound bitter at all, that wasn't what he was getting at. "After the War, we were under a lot of pressure to rebuild, recover. My family rebuilt the hydroponics and replanted the fields, there was years of that. Tourists...heh...they started coming back again too. But Starfleet came back too, and I got to see Vulcans, Adorians, Tellarites, Ferengi that wanted to make a deal, and so many Humans that wanted to help. The were happy to do so, I know." Callin grinned and tapped his head for emphasis; he'd broken the rules as a rebellious youth a few times. "It felt good to help, and I wanted to experience that too. After university it seemed like the right thing to do."

Matt took a swig of wine, "Oh? You're empathic then?" He tried to sound not too annoyed. He knew that Betazed people were mostly empathic. Mostly could read other species emotional states. But not everyone was the same. "How....does it bother you?" He asked non-chalantly.

"Empathic? That and more," Callin said. "Almost all of us can read both emotions and thoughts, to some degree or another. Sort of like...some people have better eyes or better hearing. Some can do more than that even." He still had to look at Matt curiously on that last question though. "What do you mean...bother me?" Callin really didn't understand that.

Allyndra was curious about that as well. She knew that her species was impossible or difficult, something to do with brain structure just as Ferengi were. She thought that how much easier it would be for a society to get along and understand each other if one could 'read' each other.

"I just mean...how do you not listen in on other people's y'know...private emotional states? Isn't it tempting to y'know...eavesdrop from time to time?" he asked and then took a long swig.

The computer broke the moment of silence, "At the tone the time will be twenty-two fifty-nine hours and fifty seconds...(beeep)." Matthew looked at them both, had the time really gotten by so fast? Again, the computer convieniently broke the silence, "At the tine the time will be...twenty-three hundred hours...exactly...(beeep)."

Matt said, "Computer, acknowledged." He set his wine glass down. "How did the hours go by so fast? Well, we will have to do this again. I'll take the XO's dinner box up to her quarters. I am the host after all." He stood to his feet, a bounce back in his sprightly step, "So yeah...I'm thinking of signing up for the KOH race next year. It's going to be on the waterworld Scutti VII. 97% water and about 45 to 50 islands and a few shoals. I'll need help working on a repulse bike if you're interested? Either one of you of course?"

Matt offered them take home food and then pulled them each in turn into a hug, "In my family, in my tradition we say 'Until we meet again' and not goodbye." Drawing Callin into a bro hug he said, "Thanks for coming and for all the dessert!" Then, reaching for Commander Warraquim he offered her a hug too saying, "Commander, you outdid yourself again with all that food. Sometime, you'll have to share the recipes with me?" 'Until we meet again' and gave her a friendly embrace. "Back to work tomorrow. I'll see you later you two."

Allyndra somewhat stiffened but managed to handle and even return the embrace. She had to remind herself that different cultures did things differently. On her world such an embrace by a male that was not a lover was just not done. Still she managed and in turn once over made a small curtsy and replied, "It was my pleasure to be able to practice a skill, enjoy company and I will send you the recipes." She straightened and then looked at the two. "It is not often that I can just be something other than a medical officer and this was definitely a pleasure. While it may be awhile, you are both invited as guests of House Warraquim."

Matt inclined his head in a sort of head bow, "Thank you. I hope I can do those recipies justice. And you are much more than a medical officer; you are a friend, a storyteller, a wise counsel and a really great cook!"

As they exited his quarters, Matt said, "I'll walk with you all a bit. I'm going to deliver this to the XO." He indicated to the food boxes in his hands. They said their final goodbyes at the turbolift. Matthew was the last one to leave the lift as he exited on to the bridge to find the XO.


[OFF:]

LTJG. Matthew Plumeri
Science Officer/Historian
USS Galileo - NCC-80010

&

Ensign Callin Mastrel
Science Officer
(Signed off by Plumeri)

&


Cmdr Allyndra illm Warraquim
Second and Chief Medical Officer
USS Galileo-A

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