Posted by Lieutenant Commander Yuri Scholz (Executive Officer) in Side-Sim 10-Forward: Coffee break

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Hannah Lori Asimina (Doctor) in Side-Sim 10-Forward: Coffee break

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“Shepard pie it is. Never tasted it tho.” Leaving the table to order the dishes, Yuri walked with a fixed thought in his mind I wonder if she feels uncomfortable, in the end I am the XO of this ship. We have a load of work to do. He remembers the fresh smell of waffles, his mother used to do it. But the smell of replicated ones was different and the taste was more ambiguous than usual. On the other hand the shepard’s pie had a more salty and soft perfume. It was probably a good choice, he thought “there you go… if I had just fresh materials and a dang kitchen… for some times I had to cook for my siblings having no replicators for years. It seems delicious anyway.” He laid down the plate for Asimina. The Commander then took the fork and gave a powerful punch to the waffles, going through the stack “You know what is even worst than replicators? Being stuck in an Alt Universe and perhaps eat rations. Bleah, rations. What is that anyway?” He pointed the finger to the pie “I see that it is not a sweet pie.”

Lieutenant Cdr. Yuri Scholz - Executive Officer

“It is a casserole with ground beef, vegetables such as carrots, corn, and peas, topped with mashed potatoes and put into a pie dish. It is very savory and a good meal. We had this a lot at home. My mother used to make this and put it in the coals to cook when we would go camping, or restocking the observation stations around Catawba.” The pie came with a second plate because the dish was so hot. She pulled it out and set it aside, “Would you like to try some Cmdr?” She looked at the waffles, “We cooked a lot at home. We didn’t use replicators a lot. I miss it.” She looked thoughtful at his mention of rations. “Could we not convert part of a cargo hold into a hydroponics bay so that we could grow fresh food?”
Lt. j.g. Asimina, Doctor

Would you like to try some Commander? the question tingled in his head again and again… It would see inappropriate, in a public space perhaps “I mean a bite can’t harm, I am right?” He then confusedly agreed “I mean… yes yes!” Scratching his head, Yuri looked at the dish, somewhat embarrassed darn.. “And I mean, a hydroponics bay could be useful on an exploration vessel. I don’t know if it is possible on a ship like this. I will ask the Captain for it, but I do not promise anything.” Eating some of his waffles cut cubes, the XO freed some space on his plate so a piece of pie could be placed there Better have no ship-wide news…

Lieutenant Cdr. Yuri Scholz - Executive Officer

Hannah noticed his facial expression seemed…confused…uneasy…embarrased? Oh maybe it wasn’t appropriate that she offered. The pie was plenty big enough and food was such an essential part of one’s culture. She hadn’t started eating yet. She cut a slice and put it on the extra plate for herself and then cut a second and placed it on the XO’s plate. He had already accepted so she had cut it anyway. Perhaps it was a cultural thing? “I am so sorry, Cmdr. I hope I didn’t offend you with the offer. We always share where I come from. I didn’t mean to put you on the spot.” Hannah’s hands fluttered with her words, if anyone knew any sign they would also know she was rather flustered and embarrassed that she had commited some cultural error against the XO. “You won’t offend me if you don’t want to try it.”

Lt. j.g. Asimina, Doctor

“Oh no it is not like that… I am really really just weirded just that ahaha. It is not anything about my culture really.” The excuse was a bit confusional but made the point, he hoped “We also share food, we are a family. Usually colonies do not get so large and so you learn to live with those around you. I remember the old grandma near hour home, she always offered us some of her veggies and homemade cakes. But I mean, really don’t feel bad.” He tried to smile. His cheek, however came to a reddish pink “thanks”

If Hannah was reading his body language correctly he was just as concerned about making the wrong impression as she was. Saracen wasn’t a huge ship and it was already a family of sorts. And the XO and herself had just been thrown into that. She would have to make a point to be seen else where around the ship and begin to make more friendships with other crew membes.

He silently ate the Shepard’s pie before finishing the waffles on his side. Some moans then came abruptly as he enjoyed the meal “Lord, I should have tried this time ago!” He took another fork of the pie “Yes, it is certainly something different from what I usually eat ahah. Do you want to take some of the waffles? It is a known plate but I mean, classics does not get old.”

Lieutenant Cdr. Yuri Scholz - Executive Officer

Hannah nodded at his offer, “Yes, thank you, Sir.” She accepted a part of the waffles and tried them. “I’ve never had these before, they are very good.” They had made something similar, a round flat bread for scooping food and folding it over to make a simple pocket to eat with. “On Catawba we have a saying when we share a meal. ‘Sharing of food makes us all stronger, and through our strength we become family.’” Her hands move in a practiced manner mimicking her spoken words. “Thank you, Sir, for making me feel welcome on Saracen, when I am so far from home.” She knew that senior officers often ate meals together on other ships, and junior and enlisted officers often ate together in the mess hall, but that doesn’t always equate to sharing a meal. It was something that she had greatly missed from home. Not only had the XO helped her find her home among the millions of stars, and she glanced back out the window again to the star he had showed her, he had also shared friendly meal with her. She was very optimistic about her tour on Saracen despite being pulled into an alternate universe.

Lt. j.g. Asimina, Doctor

“It is a good sayin really, and no really it is my pleasure.” The XO smiled. For the next 5/6 minutes, the Commander silently ate the dish, finishing first the pie then the waffles. He liked the silence during the meals, even tho dialogues were heartwarming during holidays and hard periods. He remembered the times on the Colony, some good and bittersweet moments “It was a good evening, thank you for your time, Asimina.” He called her by name, with no rank, with no Miss or Mistress “Do you wish to be accompanied to your quarters? I will be happy to be a gentleman. And perhaps make a little tour as we go.” He took the dish to the replicator so it could be recycled.

Lieutenant Cdr. Yuri Scholz - Executive Officer

Hannah finished her food. At the offer to be walked home, she hesitated, again at the appropriateness of it.. A tour of the ship would be welcome to help her find her way, but not tonight. “Thank you for the offer, but I think I’d like to stay and star gaze a bit more.” She waves towards her home star. She knows once she gets to quarters she’ll never find it again. “I would very much appreciate a tour at another time though. But I know you will be very busy with your XO duties and your sister.” Hannah looks back out the window again, absently signing ‘home.’ again.
Lt. j.g. Asimina, Doctor