Breakfast - Soup and Fruit

Posted on Wed Feb 23rd, 2022 @ 6:30pm by Captain Stenn & Ensign Megan MacDonald

Mission: Mission 5 - Babel
Location: Mess Hall
Timeline: Day 273 - 0700hrs
834 words - 1.7 OF Standard Post Measure

Having been released from Sickbay Stenn had been allowed to return to his own quarters to continue his recovery.

The next two days he spent resting and gradually increasing his activity level with walks around the deck. Eating solid food had been difficult at first but his stomach had become accustomed to it and the chef had kindly made him a version of Plomeek broth. Stenn’s family had traditionally made a spicy version of the soup, but for now the blander version suited his digestion better.

An early riser, he had spent an hour walking the decks, working on regaining his strength and fitness levels after so long laying comatose. He stopped into the Mess Hall for breakfast and was sat at a table with his soup, Plomeek being a traditional breakfast dish.

He looked up to see a Human Female standing by the table with her meal tray, he recognized her one of the ship's communication's officers, an Ensign MacDonald. He knew her in passing from before his coma.

Megan noticed the officer wander into the mess hall and remembered his name. Stenn. She thought back and nodded to herself. He had spoken to her briefly before her coma, and she'd been eager to learn more about his home world. It seemed much more interesting than the little town in Scotland she was from. She didn't really know him well, but maybe she could take the CMO's advice and start to talk to people.

"Captain? Hi, I'm Megan. I mean, Ensign MacDonald. I don't know if you remember me, but I'm a communications officer and I know some Vulcan, but not nearly enough to consider myself fluent. I, um, well - I was wondering if we could chat a bit?"

Like most Vulcans Steen preferred quiet meals, but he knew that Humans liked to socialize and have discourse with their food. After so long unconscious he found the prospect of some company not unwelcome. He also recalled the woman had actually been quiet adept at picking up Vulcan, although some words had sounded a little strange with her Scottish accent.

"Please do Ensign" He gestured to an empty seat, then spoke in Vulcan "Good Morning, how are you?"

The accent was a bit different than Megan had heard before, but it was almost musical in its simplicity. She smiled as the words to respond came back to her.

"I'm..." she thought of the word she wanted, then nodded. "I am adequate. It is good to see you again."

"Adequate is acceptable" Stenn replied in Vulcan "And you also"

She started eating her breakfast when she saw he did, it would be rude for her to begin before her host. Even though they weren't on Vulcan and this was not her entering his home, certain etiquette should still be observed. She speared a piece of fruit with her fork and savored the sweetness as she ate.

"And you, Captain? I had heard you recently awoken. I trust your health is satisfactory."

"I am recuperating and it is improving." He replied switching back to Standard "I believe I will be fit for duty in two days"

He noted her breakfast meal. "On Vulcan we also consume fruit for breakfast, Gespar is popular, it has a taste similar to an Earth Pineapple fruit. Though as I recall, Pineapple seems an illogical name, since the fruit does not taste of either apples nor smell of pine."

"If you wish to learn the Vulcan language, it would be appropriate to learn also some of our culture" Stenn continued. "For language is a continuation of culture through vocal expression.

For example, as I stated, Gasper fruit is a popular breakfast food. It is traditional for house guests to bring fresh Gaspers when invited to another's home. The first morning they will rise early and prepare the fruit, wash and clean it, remove the rind and so forth, then present it to their host at breakfast. The freshness is important, Gasper can deteriorate quickly once picked." He switched back to Vulcan and said "Honoring and respecting a host is an important part of Vulcan culture"

Switching back to Standard he continued "Gasper rind, with is not eaten, is saved and used in other ways. My own Grandmother would use it to make a fragrant soap as her own Grandmother did"

Flipping to Vulcan again he said "Family traditions and respect for our Elders is also an important element of Vulcan culture"

Back to Standard again he asked. "I believe I heard that the people of Scot-land associate in tribal family groups called Clans? where tradition is also important and all members, both male and female, wear a distinctive form of checkered toga?" He recounted how there had been some recruits from Scot-Land in his MACO training, they had donned what appeared to be Human female apparel on special occasions and played a strange wailing instrument.

They pair continued their conversation, exchanging cultural details and language.