Planned Social Interaction, Yellow Leaf (Part 2)

Posted on 06 Jan 2013 @ 10:20am by Lieutenant Kiri Cho & Lieutenant Commander Pola Ni Dhuinn M.D. & Lieutenant Commander Dea Mialin & Lieutenant Theron Rhodes & Commander Andreus Kohl & Ensign Im'er Mor'an

3,440 words; about a 17 minute read

Mission: Episode 02 - Resupply
Location: Vega Colony, Central District, Yellow Leaf
Timeline: MD 05 1120 hours

[Continued]

Theron sat down in the middle of the table with the senior cadet on his right and expected Kiri to be on his left.

Theron had not spoken much to the Tarkannan, possibly this was his chance. Either way, he would be sitting between probably the prettiest at the table, he thought. Of course he could not say that without hurt the feelings of the others. So, better left . . un-said.

Once everyone was seated Kiri took the remaining seat at her end, opposite Dea, next to Rhodes. Watching them gave her the feeling that it was going well, they were enjoying it and that was what mattered. She didn't have a whole lot to say, but it was nice to be doing something, watching them was almost as good as taking part. It helped keep her focus off all the bad things that seemed to be happening right now, how tired she was and how unsettled her stomach was. Not quite paying attention she reached for a menu, yet again not really having a clue about what she wanted to eat.

Dea found the distraction in the middle of the day a good thing. So much had happened and it was still too fresh for her to have made any sense of. Setting that thought aside she commented, "Thanks for arranging this."

Looking up from the menu, rather distracted Kiri gave a delayed smile, "Thank you for coming." It meant something to her that when she asked people if they wanted to do something with her, they came. So used to not asking for fear they would say no it was quite a weight off her shoulders. Concerns were shifted though, to what to say, how to act and if she should do anything? They seemed happy to talk between themselves, what could she add to any of it?

"Really though, thank you for inviting us," Kohl said to Kiri with great enthusiasm. Grasping for shadows over the table, Kohl added, "I'd toast to you, but the holo-waitress hasn't brought us any wine yet." As he grinned, his eyebrows edged their way up his forehead. He said, "If I didn't have you lovely people to spend the afternoon with, I'm afraid I would end up volunteering at Central Hospital. (With that handsome Betazoid physiotherapist I met the last time.)"

Kiri smiled, flashing her teeth, blushing slight. Nice as Dea was, it meant more coming from Kohl, he was someone she really wanted to impress. The mention of alcohol made her slightly apprehensive. As he went on to talk to everyone she looked down at the menu again, shooting him an smile just for him after he finished.

Maenad smiled down the table toward Kiri, but she didn't say anything. She knew what she wanted, closing her menu, and then looked at Kohl with a devious sort of grin. "What physiotherapist?" she asked, her tone prodding him to get detailed.

"He's called Edias," Kohl replied airily. "Orthodox telepath. Doesn't communicate with oral language, but we managed to communicate. He taught me a thing about stabilizing knee injuries in Gallamites."

"Oh, is that all?" Maenad grinned. Kohl's tone suggested that he was interested in more than just... Gallamites.

"That's all," Kohl replied guilelessly. Immediately after, he turned towards Maenad and shared a knowing grin with her. "...So far," he added, "He did offer to take me on a tour of the planet's most picturesque beaches." Kohl picked up his menu and took a peek at the selection, as he spoke.

As Theron looked at his menu, a waitress walked by with a platter of plates steaming with food for another table. Theron smelt that unknown scent again. It oh so reminded him of some trip he took to the Oceanside when he was a boy.

Kiri didn't quite get it. She got that there was a suggestive tone but she couldn't work out the context, serious or joke, if it was someone he wanted to be friends with or, she didn't like the or. Looking up from her menu she took the chance on a pause, "Do, you like beaches?"

Kohl looked up from the menu long enough to enthuse, "I do! I love swimming, and the sensation of sand beneath my feet, and I love swimwear."

"I see," Kiri smiled thinking about the rest of shore leave, maybe going to a beach would be nice, though swimwear wasn't a bonus for her.

Dea smiled at the direction the conversation was taking, "I honestly can't recall the last time I spent any time on a beach."

Theron remained quiet as the conversation progressed. He too had fond memories of the times the family went to the beach. It had been very typical of him and his twin, Stephon, to build structures in the sand. Theron was not sure why, but memories of Stephon had been occuring all day. He shrugged it off as just missing him and not knowing where and what he was doing in Starfleet Intelligence.

When the waitress walked back by their table, Theron spoke up, "Excuse me."

There was slight click as a series of far off lenses switched position the woman disappearing in a dull flash and reappearing closer. Standing still at the end of the table her voice didn't quite seem real, "How can I help, are you ready to order?"

"On the plates you just delivered," Theron began, "There is a scent or spice that I can not recognize. Do you know what I am refering to?"

"The Jimmered Sea Bass is seasoned with Fennel, Black Pepper, D'elleach and S'len. The roasted soft crab is peppered and spiced using a secret recipe." Ending abruptly she stood, looking through them rather than at them.

Well, that is not exactly what Theron was looking for. He looked about at the others at the table then back to the Waitress, "Thank you. We will order in another moment or so."

With a poof she vanished again, disappearing into the restaurants data processor where she waited, timeless and formless, an amalgam of simple minds.

As the waitress moved away, Theron looked about the table asking, "I am still not sure what I am smelling. Do any of you recognize the D'elleach or S'len she mentioned?"

Placing her finger on a meal named Sweet and Sour Soft Crab Kiri looked up, first at Mor'an. She was the one that said Kiri should try new things, well it was something new, maybe afterwards she could ask how it was prepared and try it another time, they both could. As for Theron's question, when her eyes turned to him and after a moments silence, "I'm afraid I don't."

Theron shrugged at the reply and looked further at the menu.

While the conversation was continuing Dea took another moment or two to review the menu. Finally settling on something she just waited and enjoyed listening to her crew mates.

Having decided on the chicken parmesan for some time, Maenad was ready to eat. She closed her menu and set it on the edge of the table. "Are we ready?" she asked loud enough for everyone to hear

Theron glanced to Maenad and nodded.

"Yes I'm ready to order," Dea replied. Her menu had been placed on top of Maenad's.

Kiri nodded and placed her menu, folded flat back in front of her. Looking to the empty space at the end of the table she spoke up, "Excuse me?" There was a ripple of light and the Betazoid reappeared, smiling at them, "We are ready to order."

"What will it be?" The voice was still slightly distorted. It couldn't be seen from the table but the woman wasn't standing on the floor, floating a few inches off it.

Dea placed her order for the Grilled Basil chicken special and a drink. For a moment she was lost in thought while the waitress continued taking orders.

Smiling at the hologram, Pola knew she wasn't human but it was just habit. Reading from her menu, she gave the order for the bacon salad and just a glass of water.

Theron then spoke up, "I would like the Jimmered Sea Bass. I can not wait to try it."

"And I would like the chicken parmesan, and just a glass of water, please," Maenad said politely.

Taking a pause Kiri smiled at everyone, glad of the little things. Her look was a little colder towards the hologram, "I would like the Sweet and Sour Soft Crab and some white tea."

Theron turned to Kiri, saying softly, "That sounds like a good choice."

Kiri smiled, bowing her head slight, "Thank you."

"The fish soup, please," Mor'an said, "And jestral tea." She smiled in thanks and handed over her menu.

It only took a few minutes and several copies of the waitress returned with two plates each, setting them down in front of each of them. All the different smells mixed together at first before Kiri could pick up that of the plate in front of her. It was rather disheartening for her. It was sat on a bed of rice with yellow and green leaves mixed in with a lighter yellow sauce. The cream coloured crab was looking at her though. It wasn't very big, fully formed and smelled quite nice. Black beady eyes looked right at her though, making her feel guilty. Killing chickens or rabbits, plucking and skinning them she could do fine. None of them had heads after they were cooked though.

Theron observed Kiri's response to the wonderfully spiced creature on her plate. He could have said some encouraging words, but did not wish to point her out in this public setting. He just smiled to Kiri. When she looked at him, he gave a quick wink of approval, to go ahead and try it.

Kiri noticed the wink and gave her own awkward smile, not really knowing why. Tentatively she took and elongated knife and fork and started to cut at a claw, it gave way easily. In parts it looked much more edible, checking to make sure that everyone else was starting she collected a small amount of everything before sliding the fork into her mouth. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't as good as her mother's cooking.

Theron looked down at his Jimmered Sea Bass, with bite size red and green vegitables on the right side and what looked like white rice on the left with a blue leafy garnish on top. The spice was overwhelmingly wonderful. Whatever was used on this bass, was what he smelt when he first entered the restaurant. The big white filet was bigger than his hand with streaks of blue sause across it. He dipped his finger in the blue sause and found it tantilizing. He could not help himself smile like a kid. He then felt just a touch foolish and glance up at the others to see if anyone had noticed him.

Maenad watched the plate be set down in front of her and she instinctively, without thinking that the hologram didn't have the capacity to care, thanked her. The chicken was served on top of a pile of white rice, which she preferred to having it beside it. She took a sip of her water and looked around to see what everyone else's food looked like. She still hadn't been introduced to the other man in the group, so she felt like it was now or never. "What is that?" she nodded to his plate.

Theron smiled and glanced at the nice doctor, "Just a little fish with this tantilizing blue sauce."

Because they were eating, the plates and glasses would have gotten in the way of her offering her hand, so she didn't. "I'm Maenad Panne, chief science officer," she said to him with a gentle smile.

Theron was please by the introduction and also pleased by the difficulty of trading hands. This made it much easier to not have to shake. He just replied, "I am pleased to meet you. Would you prefer Doctor or Lieutenant?" He of course new her file from the security check over of all personnel.

Maenad cut a strip of chicken as Theron spoke to her, and wrapped a tasty melt of cheese and spaghetti sauce around it. "Right now," she said, "I would prefer Maenad," she smiled. She loved being called doctor, but she hated admitting it aloud. "On duty, you can all me doctor or by my rank," she added, immediately forking the food into her mouth.

"Well, Maenad it is then," Theron said, "And I must say that bird looks quite good. How is it?"

Maenad smiled at him. "Delicious," she said and then took another bite. "So, what do you do?" she asked him, realising that she still hadn't gotten the friendly man's name.

Theron found it funny how a large percentage of the time when conversations took place during the meal, a question is asked right after food had just been placed in one's mouth. He looked to Maenad, chewing, slightly smiling, placing a finger tip to his lips, attempting to finish the bite and not choke or spit out food particles. He finally said, "Well, I am in security. I am currently Acting Chief of Security, until the Captain finds someone for that role." Glancing side to side about the restaurant. "I can assure you. We are safe here." He smiled and winked.

"Well done, Mister Rhodes," she grinned, then ploughed some rice onto her fork.

Theron joined her with another forkfull of Seabass.

Dea nodded to the waitress when her meal arrived, "Thank you." She took a bit then a sip of her drink. The dish tasted wonderful. Of course enjoying some time away from the ship with fellow crew members was also a good thing.

Kiri looked to Mor'an, thinking about saying something to her, but that would mean talking over Mr Rhodes. Instead she turned to Dea, biting on her lip for a second, "What makes it special?" That was just about all she could think of. At home eating was something you did in silence, you talked afterwards or between dishes. That wouldn't really work here Kiri knew but it still felt odd.

"I've never really understood the exact history behind it, if there is one. However I do know that in most cases a restaurant use it as a way to draw more attention to the various types of items they offer," Dea commented in response to Kiri.

"Oh," Kiri realised that maybe it had been a silly thing to ask. Giving an uncertain smile she thought hard for several seconds, "What is Trill food like?" She'd always resisted trying to before, now though, things were changing a little.

Dea smiled hopefully putting Kiri more at ease. "To start I really don't claim to be an authority on Trill food. Its something I'm still learning myself. Most of my life was spent as a Betazoid, then unexpectedly during a tour of duty before joining Galileio I was faced with the emergency choice to save the Mialin symbiont by becoming the new host or both would be lost. There are some wonderful good native Trill dishes from what I've tried at this point."

Tag Kiri

Maenad glanced around at the others as they talked, thinking that everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, despite the fact that none of them had much of a connection with the other, except for Kohl and the doctor. Finally, she set her eyes on Kiri; Maenad wondered whether this was something that Kiri really wanted to do. It was certainly out of character, she thought. Kiri seemed to be having a good time, but she was still giving away tell-tale signs that she was uncertain how to act, or who to talk to. Feeling rather sympathetic now, Maenad frowned a bit. The question came to her if this was Kiri's idea or someone else's. Shrugging it off for now, Maenad took a sip of her water.

tags?

After everyone had been served, Theron stood and with his glass in hand. He waited as everyone looked at him. Without any introduction he said, "To friendships, may they be old and new, but always lasting." and raised his glass for other to follow.

Following the security officer's lead, Maenad smiled and raised her glass toward him.

Kiri felt that raising a cup of tea was rather odd and slightly dangerous, quickly pouring herself a glass of water she raised that instead. She hadn't done a real toast in quite a long time, when she was fifteen at a guess.

Pola raised her own glass, trying not to wince at the sudden headache which came over her. Putting it down to the late night last night and lack of sleep, she saluted the table before taking a drink with everyone else.

Dea raised her glass as part of the toast. It was another of those traditions that she didn't know the history behind but many still continued it today.

Theron then said, "Anyone else with a good word?" and he sat down looking at each face about the table.

Shaking her head, Pola felt that Theron had managed to say it all with his own words.

Maenad smiled at him and continued eating. She didn't know them enough to start making toasts or speeches friendship and camaraderie.

"To the people I trust to watch my six and I have there's," Dea commented using a famous phrase from pilot ranks which related to watching over each other and having their back when it really counted. "Fair winds and following seas on Galileo's future voyages."

"Spoken well." Theron commented and took a sip of his drink.

Kiri thought about her uncle, he liked toasts and had something funny or strange to say. What was that one he used that was old worldy, tally-ho? She wasn't brave enough to say it aloud, at least she wasn't the only silent person.

--------------

After a time of good conversation and more enjoyable food, the server walked back up to the table, smiled looking about the table, and asked, "Did anyone save room for dessert?"

Having faced down her crab, even if she left some of the face behind on the side of her plate, Kiri wasn't so sure about dessert. There was a lot of walking to be done soon and it would be wise not to be too full, yet. She did like sweet things, maybe a small one? Looking to everyone else she almost spoke before falling silent, it would be unfair to force them all to stay just for her if she was the only one.

Maenad held up one of her hands. "I shouldn't," she said. She was stuffed as it was. The thought of a piece of cake or bowl of ice cream sounded more like torture to her than a nice dessert.

Shaking her head, Pola pushed away her own half eaten food. Her appetite hadn't returned despite how wonderful the food had been, she couldn't see herself being able to manage desert. Pushing out her chair, she looked around at the seated people, her cheeks lightly tinted red. "I should be going I'm afraid. There's no rest when you're a Doctor I'm afraid."

Theron leaned back slightly in his chair placing his hand on his stomach that was very satisified at the moment. "I too think that I will pass for now." He smiled at the holo-waitress then looked about the table. It seemed to him that everyone had enjoyed the food. He thought Kiri had done very well for putting on the event.

That meant she wasn't going to get a desert then, maybe another time. Bowing her head for a second Kiri spoke up, "Are we all done then? It has been nice eating with you all."

"Agreed," Maenad said, finishing her drink. "This was a wonderful lunch."

Theron glanced over to Kiri, to see her reaction to the praise. Theron felt that planning this event had been a good experience for her.

[OFF]
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Lieutenant (JG) Kiri Cho
Assistant Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo

Lieutenant (JG) Theron Rhodes
Assistant Chief Security
USS Galileo

Lieutenant Pola Ni Dhuinn
Chief Medical Officer
USS Galileo

Lieutenant (JG) Maenad Panne
Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo

Lieutenant JG Dea Mialin
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Galileo

Lieutenant (JG) Andreus Kohl
Assistant Chief Medical Officer, SFM
USS Galileo

Cadet Senior Grade Im'er Mor'an
Red Squad Intern
USS Galileo

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