Ensign Maria Alvarez - Local Produce

[Max]

((Genti II-Grand Central Establishment, Federal District.  Brynja Bairiri Hall - Central Courtyard))

Alvarez: The "food court," for lack of a better term, is to the south along with the main performance stage.  I did manage to try some food - it's really something.  There's something I can only describe as a barbequed lettuce wrap... That's not even really it.  It's crispy and juicy... tangy and spicy... just delicious.  I'd be down to sample more of that too.  Of course, we have several replicators set up too, as well as a couple of dishes made with aeroponics groceries.

Rodan: You really have outdone yourself. This is like a Risian resort complex... only nicer and less tacky.

Maria smiled graciously.  The Gentii deserved a lot of thanks for that.  Still, she could have done worse.  She hoped she'd get to wander the city a little more before they left - if the fraction she'd seen so far was anything to go off of, they took their architecture practices very seriously.

Serinus: I moved my cheat day so I could sample the local cuisine. And it sounds like I made the right choice.

Maria put on a courteous smile of acknowledgement.  Of course it was a "cheat day" for the Commander, with as regimented as he kept his life.  It wasn't that Maria didn't maintain discipline when it came to her body, just that she was never so loud and proud of keeping order on that front.  Still, whatever obnoxious steps Serinus was taking to keep in shape... they certainly worked wonders.

Caden: Agreed

Rodan: What about the running order? Who's up first?

Alvarez: We've been allowed a more flexible program than usual, so it's pretty much on a volunteer basis.  Personally, I was planning on going last so I can thank the Gentii for hosting us.

Rodan: I mean... I could. I've warmed up crowds before, but none in the range of tens of thousands!

Maria nodded.  That sounded like a good idea.  She had to admit she was quite curious what the new Trill Lieutenant had in store for them later in the evening.  Jazz of all sorts held a special place in her memory.  For whatever reason, jazz clubs had been a favorite for her and her friends during her Master's program for dance - heading out and unwinding after a hard week of practice and studying.

Artinus: I've wrestled in plenty of tournaments with crowds like that, but my display today will be entirely different.

Caden: I’ve done some wrestling myself during the academy. Maybe I could enter some?

Alvarez: :: She shook her head. :: Competition, and especially aggression, isn't really in the spirit of the Bairiri, where two communities come closer to being one.  That said, they do seem to have a major interest in athleticism and virtuosity.  Still, the best way to impress will be to display or perform something creative, or expressive, or artful that's completely new to them.

Rodan: Oh I have it all figured out... ::He pulled an isolinear chip from his pocket which was coded with the holo-band and accompanying lighting effects and waved it around seductively.:: "Bad Maz Nevron and The New Breed". My Academy band. Just... don't laugh at the outfits. Or the hairstyles. We were young and stupid.

Hayley looked at him sharply and inquired.

Caden: What?

Maria laughed softly at the consternation the idea caused.

Alvarez:  I love it.  I bet you'll be a hit, judging from the reactions I've seen so far.

Rodan: Also, I have something else which might take the edge off opening night nerves.

Maria's eyebrows lifted.

Rodan: That is Trill Mead. So sweet you'll get diabetes. So strong it'll knock your spots off.

Maria accepted the bottle, eyeing it suspiciously.

Caden: Hmmm.

Alvarez: Personally, I like my performance nerves just the way they are.  But this sounds too interesting not to at least sip...

She cautiously dribbled some into her mouth.  At first all she could taste was the candy-like sugar content that made her lips purse a little.  Then the kick came in right as the liquid started going down her throat like being shot out a rail gun.  It made her eyes water a little.  She licked her lips and swallowed again to clear it.

Alvarez: It's... :: She grinned. :: interesting.  Maybe not for me.  Here.  Give it a try.

She passed it to Caden, who was clearly interested in the bottle.  Some people enjoyed super-sweet food.  Betazoids had something of a harmlessly prejudicial reputation in Maria's mind for having a sweet-tooth, but who was to say if that was biology or just pure happenstance.

Anyone: Response

Serinus: Personally, I was going to sample the food first, that way I won't be too full when it's time to perform.

Hayley gave Artinus a look and nodded with a smile. She replied coyly.

Caden: Have fun.

Maria found herself inspecting Caden's smile at Serinus.  She smiled herself, but not for the same reasons.  With an answer like that, she wondered if there might have been some attraction there.  Probably not, but it was fun to speculate.

Alvarez: I might head that way myself in a bit, but I should probably check on our displays first.  The Gentii are nothing if not punctual people, so I'm sure the early crowd will be just that - a crowd.

Anyone/Rodan: Response

Serinus: I guess we shall meet again in a while.

Alvarez: I'm off too. See you around.  If any of you need anything, I might not be in uniform, but I'm always a commbadge call away.

She flashed a smile, and made a demonstration of the badge on the inside of her light grey blazer.  Wandering around in a dancing outfit all day sounded like no fun at all, so she opted for something professional.  She looked almost like a museum curator or a university lecturer, albeit a rather fashionably hip one.

She waved, and then was off to make sure all her hard work wasn't being squandered.

(( Timeskip. ))

(( Genti II - Grand Central Establishment, Federal District.  Brynja Bairiri Hall - Southern Wing "Food Court" ))

Arrow's display seemed to be attracting quite a bit of attention.  She had no way of knowing the exact number of Gentii coming and going, but it sure felt like the large spaces were quite full.  She'd had a lovely conversation with a couple of the visitors, and now felt a break was order.

Which is how she now found herself in the looking to scrounge up some food and drink in the massive southern wing of the Bairiri hall.  It was less imperial than the west wing she'd just left, with large open spaces and swooping arches creating the domed ceiling.  The walls were tiled in bright, geometric patterns of blues, yellows, oranges, and whites.  Green plants in nearly every corner gave a certain fresh comfort to the air even though it was a couple degrees warmer than Federation standard.

She wandered for only a moment, looking through the dizzying array of comestibles, before she spotted the impossible-to-miss chief of security.  She waved, and crossed over to where he stood.

Alvarez: How's your cheat day going?  Find anything good?

Serinus/Any: Response

Alvarez: I'm just wandering.  But this looks interesting!

She pointed to a display of beverages just a couple paces away, and walked over.  She picked up a sample cup, then took a sip.  Surprised by the taste, she drained it dry.

Alvarez: Wow.  That's really something.  You want to try it?

Serinus/Any: Response

Alvarez: I don't know.  It tastes faintly like ginger and cloves, but also a citrus note.  Not all that sweet, rather mildly spicy.  Not alcoholic, definitely.  The flavor lingers a little, but it's quite light on the palate.  :: She smiled. :: It's good.

Serinus/Any: Response

Maria spotted a Gentii man who she'd seen earlier helping with the tables.  She waved him down.

Alvarez: Excuse me, sir?

The man came over, a pleasant friendly look on his face.  Something of a relief after the rigidity of the politicians a week ago.

Alvarez: Can you tell us what this drink is?  It's quite delicious.

Man: It's a distillate from the byproduct of the Karabus.  Good for digestion and clearing the head, according to the folklore.

Serinus/Any: Response

Alvarez: And just what is a Karabus?

Man: It's a twelve-legged creature with an exoskeleton.  Probably the closest analogue is an Earth spider, but the size of a chicken.

Maria blanched.  She'd imagined it was some kind of plant extract.

Serinus/Any: Response

Alvarez/Any: Wait, when you say "byproduct" you mean...

The man was about to answer, but she held up a hand and stopped him from continuing.

Alvarez: You know what, I think I'd rather not know.

Serinus/Any: Response

She looked to Serinus, a tad sheepish at first, but then she couldn't help but burst out laughing.  She had to wonder how many times something like this had happened on missions such as these, but never gone reported to protect the dignity of ship and crew.

Alvarez: :: Still giggling. :: Maybe I should just preemptively put in a work order with the quartermaster for the bathrooms ship-wide...

She supposed this is what she got for trying things without knowing what they were.  Hopefully, it really was "good for digestion," but with such different biology from the Gentii, one never knew.  It would at least make for a good story later.

Serinus/Any: Response

Tag/TBC...

(( OOC: Hey all!  Feel free to join up with any group, form your own, wander the Bairiri by yourself or however you like it!  No pressure to join in, but would love to see what you guys have in store however it's easiest. ))

Ensign Maria Alvarez

Ops Officer, USS Arrow

A239710MA0

Wiki Operator