Tea For Two

Posted on Fri Dec 9th, 2022 @ 6:59am by Captain Bethsabée Leroux & Lieutenant Avira zh'Kenarh M.D.
Edited on on Fri Dec 9th, 2022 @ 7:00am

Mission: Mission 6 - Memory
Location: Mess hall
Timeline: 302
1684 words - 3.4 OF Standard Post Measure

Beth held the mint herbal tea in both hands and just started it quietly contemplating all that it occurred recently. It was like a fog had been lifted allowing Beth to see everything clearly for the first time in what possible was a week or more. The mess hall has been cleaned up from the damage that has been sustained through the door being breached and whatever energy Smith had given out as he disappeared. It almost apart from the busted tables looks like nothing had taken place there 12 hours before.

The door swished open and the person she was meeting was walking in breaking the intense thoughts she had been experiencing. “Punctual as usual.”

"Only two things you want in a field medic." Avira sat down and looked at the tea that Beth had gotten her. "They need to be on time and have a steady hand." She picked up the saucer and cup and mockingly trembled it, the porcelain rattling in her hand. A little bit of the amber liquid spilt over the side. The Andorian sat back a bit, her antennae stretching out as she arched her back. "Do you think I can convince the chef to make me one of those toasted long sandwiches? What are they called again? You squash them in one of those shirt presses."

Beth smiled at the fact the woman was trying to make a joke of all people. It was nice and freeing slightly to hear other people doing it. “Panini but the chef is asleep. It’s after midnight. I could probs rustle you up something though?” Beth offered taking a sip of the burning liquid.

Avira wanted to say no but immediately heard her stomach protest. She couldn't quite remember if she ate dinner. "How about we make something together?" She took a sip of her own tea before putting the cup back on the saucer. It was still way to hot for her tastes.

“Do you know your way around a kitchen as well a sickbay doctor?” Beth teased just a little as she rose grabbing her tea and heading back to the neat and tidy kitchen area that was behind the screen. The galley was spotless other than what remained of plates and utensils that had been left by the night watch having food that would be cleaned and put away in the morning.

"Not really," Avira admitted, she knew how to boil water and had relied on the resequencers for pretty much everything else. "I did treat some burns and cuts on the chef though, maybe that counts as some sort of experience."

“Everything counts as experience.” Beth assured put her cup of tea down and moved to sanitise her hands. It took several seconds for the machine to beep to tell her it was complete before she moved to the working fridge where she would be able to find some bread, butter and other things needed to make panini. Beth had come down late enough and often enough for the chef to just leave certain things available but she was not about to mention that right now.

"You seem to know what you're doing, though." Avira stood at the counter, looking at Beth gathering all of the supplies. She already knew she wasn't going to be of great help and instead decided it would be best to stay out of the way of the Commander.

“I’m French.” Beth said with a smirk. Any human would just know and would just agree. “It is ingrained in us from a young age to cook. One of the few things I miss about being earth based. Do you like cheese?” She wondered as she picked up cheese and started to cut enough for herself.

Avira wondered for a moment, she wasn't sure if she liked cheese. Though humans seemed very keen on putting it on a lot of stuff. Andorian physiology wasn't very adept at processing it properly. And some of the human crew didn't either, not that it stopped most of them from consuming it anyway. "I've grown to appreciate it in its many forms. If adapted by the resequencer to take my physiology into account."

“I suspect this won’t be.” Beth surmised as she looked at the container wishing they had animals or something onboard to provide more fresh items other than vegetables and fruit. She went back to the fridge and sighed as there seemed to be nothing there that would suit Andorian physiology. “Might have to be tuna, tomato and other things instead of cheese.” Beth decided setting about to make the two separate meals.

Avira's face contorted a bit at the mention of tuna. "I'm opting for other things. I strongly believe those who eat tuna should be relegated to a cargo bay for lunchtime."

Beth looked up at the woman and paled mid-working out the tuna portions and laughed. She should have known really but she had been hoping that something would be suitable that she picked. "Alright then you need to pick a protein," Beth said pointing to the fridge.

Pulling out a portion of chicken with some sort of sweet and spicy marinade, Avira seemed pretty pleased with herself. "Does this work?" She had taken a liking to the more spicy cuisine associated with the southern and eastern hemispheres of Earth.

"Completely," Beth said taking the container from her and smiling at what the woman had found. "Jake said he had something special in the back for people. Did not realise he had made something like this." Beth commented impressed as she loaded up the doctor's sandwich adding a few tomatoes to both before she grabbed out two pans. One to cook in, one to squash the food with. Easy process and reminded her of university.

Avira looked over Beth's shoulder with some curiosity. She'd not seen a skillet used like that in the preparation of food. "Is there an added benefit to doing it like that?"

“Well we do not have a panini maker.” Beth commented with a wink as she set the food on the skillet and pressed the other on top flattening both sandwiches as desired.

"Ah. Sorry about that." Avira wasn't aware she was making it much more difficult for the commanding officer to make her a snack. "I think there was one in San Fransisco. In the guest quarters, I mean. I'm sure there's multiple in the greater area." The smells of seasoned chicken and toasted bread started to permeate the air.

“Please do not apologise Avira. It’s nice to cook.” It really was nice to do something mundane. Maybe Michael would like something like that? She could not help but think to herself. “Oh millions of them.” Beth’s soured and smiled as she shifted the pan off that she had been using to press down and flipped the sandwich over and repeated the process. It was familiar and the smells just reminded her of San Francisco.

"What's your favourite dish?" Avira never really liked those types of questions. For her there were periods, moods, occasions, all of which influenced what the favourite thing to do would be at that time. In the current situation it also reminded her a bit too much about the fact that they wouldn't really be getting any of those dishes anymore. Not really. There was always something about the resequenced stuff that made it taste... not quite like what you remembered.

“Crêpes… they are a little like pancakes.” Beth said thinking of another human food that could be used as a reference. “They can be savoury or sweet. It can also be one of the simplest treats with a sprinkling of sugar or one of the most spectacular with loads of different extras. “What about yourself?” She wondered thoughtfully never really having had a conversation like this before with an Andorian.

"Not so much a dish as it is a snack. I think it would translate as shaved ice." Avira remembered how it was a childhood snack associated with pleasant times. It had been way too long since she last had it. "As for a dish, I have to say I do miss the spiciness of a good Impararay." She started to think of all the different foods from her home planet. "Side order of roasted Xixu." She smiled at the commander as her antennae seemed to squirm in delight.

“Shaved ice is delicious. It is a snack in North America with different flavoured syrups on. See no quite as different after all.” Beth said smiling as she finished up and handed over the food properly. “Not quite Xixu but hopefully comforting.” Beth would give a lot to have something like chocolate to take the edge off some of the things she felt but the chef was trying his best.

"I'm sure it will be. Good Xixu is about the company you eat it with anyway." Avi wanted to make sure that the commander didn't feel like she was doing all of this for nothing. "It smells very good."

“Good. So eat up then doctor.” Beth said picking up her own panini to start eating the well earned food. Beth was convinced. It was probably one of the first meals that she’s d had since all of it started. John Smith had taken over every aspect of their lives and Beth was sure that she had not eaten much recently. Beth was relieved that her body responded to the food and give her a little bit more energy.

Avira joined Beth at the table and sank her teeth into the panini. Only now realising she was much more hungry than she had expected. She had wolfed down three bites before realising she wasn't really acting properly. She sat back and smiled at the commander. "This is delicious. Thank you so much." She took another, slower, bite and savoured the taste and the company of Beth in what had become rather lonely nights over the past few months.

It felt good to share a meal with someone.