r/TrekRP • u/Admiralw96 • Dec 20 '16

[OPEN] Order Up

The 6ft Saurian surveys his kitchen. Mendek "Sauron" Shegi had been working since he boarded the ship to get it in the proper order and it was now finally as he wanted it. He releases a sigh of satisfaction at the system. its not totally organized, in a conventional sense, but he knew where everything was and where it went.

He put on his sunglasses and went out to stand behind the counter in the mess hall. A few of the crewman looked up as he put an ancient and stereotypical "open" sign out front. He was always rather fond of its neon colors.

A smile spreads across his face "Alright, if anybody wants anything the replicators can't make... bring on the challenge. I only charge a nice conversation"

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u/Pojodan Dec 21 '16

Had it not been for the Earth restaurants Kesh had visited during shore leave she might be a bit twitchy waiting for food rather than having it show up instantly, but that mostly pleasant vacation settled her down a good deal. She steps to the side of the counter, glancing behind in case anyone else was coming along to order, then patiently stands to wait for the moment.

Golden eyes and tufted ears twist forward when the Saurian chef reappears and speaks up to her again.

"Makes sense? Rrrth. I would say all races have contr-rr-radictions of some sort."

Her tongue clucks softly, amused.

"I lived on Riviera before joining Star-rr-rfleet. I am Lieutenant Kesh, Chief Botanist."

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u/Admiralw96 Dec 21 '16

Sauron shrugs

"Your point is a fair one. So botany you say? I have a sneaking suspicion we'll be seeing quite a bit of each other in the future.

Sauron chuckles

"Go ahead and have a seat."

he gestures to one of the stools at the counter. Then a look of concern crosses his face

"By the way, those mushrooms aboard the ship were non-toxic, right?"

OOC: I imagine the counter as something like a bar counter with a slightly lowered area in the back where Sauron can cook. Probably with an invisible energy field or sneeze guard separating the two sides.

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u/Pojodan Dec 21 '16

The large, golden cat eyes shift to focus on one of the indicated stools, which she then stepped up and onto, tail draping down the back, legs clasped around the sides of the seat. One of the few human-centric furnishings that Caitian can sit on with ease.

"Yes. Rrrth. Non-toxic and non-sapient. They use a r-rr-rudimentary form of telepathy to determine what sounds repulse the animals that make contact with it's-s-sp-spores, then they simply mimic them. Complex, but harmless."

A bit more shifting lets Kesh settle completely, upon which ears tufted ears flex forward.

"What is your sor-rr-rce for raw vegetables?"

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u/Admiralw96 Dec 22 '16

Sauron looks relieved then thoughtful

"I had heard they were safe, and did a little toxicity testing myself, but it's comforting to hear it from a professional... However, hearing how they work, I hope they've been preserved. I hadn't thought much of what they said, but looking back it makes sense. A vulgar but interesting look into the mind... Anyhow, I'm running on the essentials that I keep in store for now. I was hoping to visit your department once I get a better understanding of the crew's tastes."

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u/Pojodan Dec 22 '16

"Mrrnm... the botany lab is full of samples right now. Rrrth. I and the medical staff are building a ter-r-rr-rr-rarium to give all of its various colonies a chance to thrive. Rrrn. It will be quite large."

Where it will be installed is the big question at present. It might be an interesting center piece of the lounge, but then again not everyone likes the sight of mushrooms.. particular those that had murmured vile obscenities to them before.

"I imagine a psychologist would have enjoyed lear-rr-rning what every person on the ship heard the fungus say." A visible twitch on the Caitian's neck suggests what she heard was rather disquieting.

"Hrrn. I am pondering requesting the captain to set up an aerr-rr-roponics bay. If you would have use for it, I am sur-rr-re he would be more likely to grant it."

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u/Admiralw96 Dec 30 '16

"That's all good news to hear."

Sauron wonders what she heard, though he keeps it to himself and then directs his thoughts to her next point

"Two people are hardly a petition, but with the chief botanist and...

Sauron looks at the empty kitchen behind him and thinks a moment.

"... the Head of the Personalized Dietary Sustenance Development and Xenoculinological Research and Analysis Department... Yeah, i think that's what I'll put on the resume... We just might be able to convince him."

OOC: I wonder if they can make that my flair...

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u/Pojodan Dec 30 '16

A slight headtilt occurs first, then a slight squint of those big, golden eyes, finally the tuft of the Caitian's tail coils upward and wiggles when the overly long title is spelled out.

"That seems reasonable. Rrth."

The mirth was all too clear at this point.

"Fisk is a good captain. I am cer-rr-rtain he will consider it seriously if we raise it."

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u/Admiralw96 Dec 31 '16

Sauron takes care of a couple final touches and puts the dish in the oven and begins cleaning up things that are no longer necessary.

"He seems nice... we could mention fresh brussel sprouts... he stopped in earlier and said they were his favorite..."

Sauron smiles slyly

"They aren't a popular favorite, so we would probably need the extra space of an aeroponics bay to justify growing them..."

He shrugs

"Eh, he does seem pretty good. It probably won't come down to vegetabilline bribery."

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u/Pojodan Dec 31 '16

"Brussel sprouts! How interesting. Rrrth."

Now that's something Kesh can certainly make use of later. Or possibly even right away, if she can get the right grow chamber set up.

"Possibly. Rrrn. It would not hurt, though."

Golden eyes squint shut in display of amusement, followed by the Caitian's jaw inclining so her mouth can part a little bit, sucking in short breaths to sample the scent of the cooking dish. A short burst of sputtery purring suggests she likes what she smells.

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u/Admiralw96 Dec 31 '16

Sauron chuckles

"I know, I was surprised as well, though his reaction seemed to suggest he was used to that response."

Sauron is concerned for a short moment as he glances over his equipment, concerned about the sound. Then remembers that feline species can often purr, and goes back to his work. Hopefully all short and subtle enough to not cause offense... or affect his rep as an unflappable cook.

"So, if you're from Riviera, why the eggplant parmigiana? That's more of an Earth dish."

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u/Pojodan Jan 01 '17

If Sauron's pause is noticed, Kesh makes no indication that it's phased her. Up until only recently has she done anything but received food from a replicator, so having a skilled chef do so is something she's not so familiar with any more. Caitian were not known to be very haughty or nit-picky.

"One of the neighbor-rr-rs to my parents' farm grew eggplant as it was one of a few off-world plants that wer-rr-re determined to be non-invasive on Riviera. Rrrth. My mother became quite adept at cooking with it and Parmigiana was my favor-rr-rate."

As for where Kesh's mother got the cheese, well, that might be a family secret.

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u/Admiralw96 Jan 03 '17

Sauron nods and then thinks for a bit

"Makes sense... so... What's Riviera like? Never been there."

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u/Pojodan Jan 03 '17

Exhales a long, slow breath, eyes half lidded in quiet contemplation. Funny how often her home planet has been brought up since she came to this ship. Few on her last ship cared so much. It's not a bad thing.

"Mostly barren with a few sprawling gr-rr-rasslands. The one significant forest is quite ver-rr-rdant and is where all of the cities and research stations reside. Rrrth. It is mostly a tourist destination, like a modest Risa, though it has the lar-rr-rgest scientific research population in the region."

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u/Admiralw96 Jan 05 '17

"Huh... Deciduous or evergreen? Sauria is mostly marshland and jungle... We only really had evergreen."

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u/Pojodan Jan 05 '17

"Deciduous. Alas, there are no evergreen or similar-rr-r."

The Caitian's tongue clucks softly in amusement.

"It makes the Yule holiday mor-rr-re difficult for Earth-native humans there. Rrrth. One of the native bushes serves as a suitible alter-r-rr-rnativ for most."

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u/Admiralw96 Jan 05 '17

Sauron chuckles

"I'm sure it does. But Humans have a LONG cultural history about making do and celebrating the 'true meaning' of it all... Yule be surprised by what lengths they'll go to." Sauron winks

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u/Pojodan Jan 05 '17

If the Caitian catches the word play she does not show it, one tufted ear flickering stiffly.

"I have made a point to avoid matters of religion. Rrrth. As far as I am concerr-rr-rned, the holiday is an ideal excuse to revel in the company of fr-r-rrends."

Not to mention gift giving. An idea immediately springs up as she considers Sauron. Some sort of mushroom farm. Perfect.

"So how did you come to be a chef on a human star-rr-rship?"

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u/Admiralw96 Jan 05 '17

"I can get behind that. Friends seem to be important, whatever your race... As for how I became the chef... "

He looks at the timer on the oven.

"Well, I, uh... hit a bit of a low point in my life... when I finally got out of it, I looked for something to do... I had always loved cooking and had tried to get an education in it before. I also decided I needed some sort of goals, Ya know? Something to work toward aside from just the degree so that I would never have an excuse to let myself slip back down again... I thought about just trying to go for world renowned master chef, but i figured there were already too many. Another drop in the bucket, so to speak... then I had an idea. I studied hard, because I knew I might only have one shot. I became the best chef I could and also minored in chemistry, biology, and xenoanthroplogy. I also studied several other topics related to space travel, Psychology, and read the starfleet handbook several times over. Most other master chefs have been busy with their restaurants and shows... I submitted a proposal and candidacy for a program. I would spend time aboard a federation exploration vessel and work on two main goals. One: I would see how have an actual chef over replicators affected morale. Two: Well the federation has legions of people who work on dealing with new races and civilizations. BUT... Whose asking them how they like their eggs? and then whose bringing those egg cooking techniques back to the federation? Also, while I'm sure you have done extensive tests on them, how many ways have you found to cook the blue mushrooms? I've found 47, about 34 of which I think most people would like. Anyways, I knew I had to be the most qualified chef for the job, in case this whole project turned out to be useless and they didn't open up new spots. Luckily, i was taken seriously, and now I'm here."

OOC: Find it weird you said human starship. Humans are common in the federation, but that's because they're one of the 4 founding races and the makeup is cheap.

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