Posted Feb. 5, 2019, 11:15 p.m. by Lieutenant Tiastri Ezial (Chief Engineer) (Melissa Aragon)
Posted by Lieutenant Commander Kord (XO) in Dinner with the XO (Kord)
Posted by Lieutenant Tiastri Ezial (Chief Engineer) in Dinner with the XO (Kord)
SNIP
She smiled at the bottle. “No, it’s… ummm it’s ok. I didn’t invite you over to help with manual labor. I am sure you get plenty of that during work.” She moved to place the small animal on a shelf unit beside the viewing monitor. It seemed a little lonely in the plain white cubical but it seemed counter productive to rewrap it and set it back in the crate.
She turned back to him and smiled. “Does it need to be opened to breathe before we eat?” She nodded to the bottle thinking he may prefer it to anything else to drink. Her hand rose to brush an errant strand of hair behind her ear as she moved towards him having to pass him to reach the bottle, and get to the table. The crate basically blocking the other direction around the couch.
Tia
“It’s not required. The fermentation halted and the contents set at their current flavor profiles several hundreds of years ago. It has a bold flowery scent and a fruity taste with a slightly metallic finish. I hope it won’t be too dry for your enjoyment.” Kord said as he watched her pass.
He wasn’t sure if the hair tuck was an intentional or unconscious signal or merely due to nervousness.
“I hate to talk work over dinner but I did say you could ask me anything.” he said with a gentle smile.
- Kord
Tia smiled. “No, it’s fine. I’m looking forward to it.” She moved to the table and grabbed an opener from one of the nearby drawers before setting the unstoppered bottled on the table between the plates. “Well, you ‘did’ say that, didn’t you?” She smiled at him and laughed softly. It wasn’t loud, but it was genuine. “She put the opener away and smiled. “Ok, question one… food first, or sit and relax? I am guessing you had a harder day than I did. I only have to oversee my crewmen.” She made the offer of the table or the couch. She was finally starting to relax and while she didn’t notice it, the tension in her he sensed earlier was fading as if she had been waiting for something that hadn’t happened… and it made everything all right.
Tia
“Perhaps we should get the formality of food out of the way first, though nothing says we can’t talk and eat at the same time unless the type of food makes that impractical.” Kord said with a polite nod.
Kord could read in her body language, and bio-electric impulses, that she was relaxing, or at least coming down from a state of heightened nervousness.
- Kord
“Dinner it is. And you are certainly more than welcome to talk.” She smiled and offered him a chair with a gesture as she moved to the replicator. Tapping out course already laid in, she then used a nearby hot pad to move the casserole dish to the small trivet on the table. The top of the Cottage Pie was a light brown of gravy bubbling thru mashed potatoes.
She then set a small basket of rolls beside it where butter was already waiting. “Can I get you anything else to drink, or is the wine sufficient?” She was glancing between the counter and table as if mentally ticking off items to be sure she hadn’t forgotten anything.
Tia
Kord inhaled the scents of the food. He found it pleasing and was actually looking forward to tasting what she had to offer.
“I think the wine would be best enjoyed after food with a clean pallet, but you can try it with food if you like though you might find the metallic finish may not go well with the food.” he said.
There was a slight hesitation before he pulled the chair our for Tia. It was a Human custom he never had call to practice and it was easy to see that he was unsure of his performance of it.
- Kord
Tia was just as awkward and it took her a moment to realize what he was doing. A deep blush rose on her cheeks as she settled down towards the seat as he pushed it in under her. “Thank you,” she murmured.
Once he had sat down, she picked up the serving spoon and handed it to him. “Please, help yourself. That pitcher is a simple syrup berry juice, lightly sugared. And the other is simply ice water. Wasn’t sure which you would prefer. Or I can get you something else if you desire.” She was pouring herself a glass of juice. It probably wasn’t the best choice, but it was what she remembered with the pie as a child. Do it was just habit to make it when she made the pie.
Tia
Kord declined the spoon.
“You first.” he said picking up the pitcher of juice, after she set it down, to pour himself some.
“Excuse my awkwardness. Social calls are rare for me and I’m never sure which customs are used by whom.”
- Kord
Tia smiled and took the spoon. She served herself a decent portion and set the spoon back in the dish so he could reach for it easily. “There is no reason to worry about customs or protocols with me, Kord.” She smiled and looked at him. “There are many other times in your job where I am sure you have to be prim and proper. But here you can relax. Short of flinging the food to the walls or ceiling in ‘celebration’, or complaint, of the food,” she laughed softly, “you can relax here. I promise. Maybe you can teach me what you usually do at meal time.” She wanted to make him feel less stressed and the idea of learning other species’ customs made her hope she could learn more about him.
Tia
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