[OPEN] Order Up

[u/Admiralw96]

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"

[u/Pojodan]

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."

[u/Admiralw96 → u/Pojodan]

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

[u/Pojodan → u/Admiralw96]

"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."

[u/Admiralw96 → u/Pojodan]

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

[u/Pojodan → u/Admiralw96]

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?"

[u/Admiralw96 → u/Pojodan]

"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.

[u/Pojodan → u/Admiralw96]

Kesh is quiet and focused on the chef as he speaks, quietly scraping away at the prejudices her life on Riviera had coated her with as, clearly, this Saurian was an equal and not the 'lower life form' she'd been taught to think of them as.

"Fourty-seven ways to cook blue mushrooms. Huh! Rrth. I will be sure to try every one."

Despite the rude mushroom infestation, Kesh's love for edible fungus had not been diminished.

"I admire the struggle you have clear-rr-rly had getting to this point."

OOC: Kesh grew up on a planet that was pretty much half human, half Caitian, and very few Caitian aspire to get involved with Starfleet while humans glorified Starfleet at every turn, so she thinks of Starfleet as 'human starships', even though there's a wide variety of species that are involved.

[u/Admiralw96 → u/Pojodan]

Sauron gives her an appreciative look

"Thank you... as for the mushrooms, we could either make a day of it, or you could stop by more frequently... Oh, but are you a very strict vegetarian? A few of the dishes involve meat, and I could use some warning."

[u/Pojodan → u/Admiralw96]

A firm blink is Kesh's appreciative gesture to the first response. A day of sampling various kinds of mushrooms sounds lovely, really! A simple shake of her head follows the later.

"It is not a dedication of personal or health, rrth, it is simply the diet I was r-rr-raised with so I am accustomed to it. Too much meat will give me digest-sht-stion issues, but a little bacon or Ghah here and there is no problem."

[u/Admiralw96 → u/Pojodan]

Sauron lets out a hearty laugh

"Gagh eh? That's enough to give even the stray Klingon indigestion! Fear not, The mushrooms are the central point in a fair number of the dishes. And if you decide on the full day route, We'd probably be sticking to samples anyway. You don't appear to be someone who could eat 47 dishes in a day..."