Ensign Tho’Bi - Modulate My Nostrils!

[Tobi]

((ROOM 05-0799 – DECK 5, USS ARTEMIS-A))

The human slid the box over to the Andorian. Even in his weary, guilt-ridden state, the young Engineer had not lost his childlike love of tinkering with tech.

Antennae twitched. The power cell was uneven in its density. What would have been fluid elements felt sluggish.

The one meter ninety centimeter Andorian bounded to his feet and bounced over to his Engineering kit, scooped it up, and bounced back.

As the Engineering Tricorder lit up with a series of high frequency pings, Ensign Cole stood up and stretched. She glanced at the Andorian, now engrossed. 

Cole: Speaking of my Aunt, I’m going to replicate her Cherry Pastries, would you like one? I could probably have one tinted blue.

Tho’Bi: ::focus on Tricorder:: Fluids have solidified.

oO modulation to increase viscosity ::beat:: paste-ees Oo

Tho’Bi: ::looks up at Cole:: What is paste-ees?

Cole: ::eyes opened wide:: You’ve never had pastries before. We’re fixing that right now. 

The Andorian was not convinced. Human food was odd. Nevertheless, his human roommate appeared resolute as she walked to the replicator. 

Tho’Bi: Okay. I will try a paste-ee.

Cole: ::to the replicator:: One Aunt Rea’s Cherry Pastries, and one substituting Blueberries for the Cherries. Top both with whipped cream

While the paste-ees were being replicated, the Andorian returned to the tinkering at hand. He set the Tricorder to emit a low level vibration through the aged power cell. He could sense the fluids within begin to shift.

Tho’Bi: The power cell has been cold for too long. We must turn the ice back to water.

Cole: ::carrying the plates:: Interesting, I thought it would have dried out.

With a quiet clatter, a plate arrived next to him. Proximity denoted ownership. There was a fork, that much he recognised. The rest he did not. He played for time.

Tho’Bi: Yes, you are correct. ::bows slightly:: The fluids have dried out. ::half smile:: my explanation was… very Andorian. 

The human drew a great breath in through her nostrils. He had often seen humans do this with replicated food, as though they imagined the food might be replicated inedible.  

Cole: ::taking a bite:: Go ahead, try it. ::with food in her mouth:: I made yours with Blueberries.

An Andorian’s antennae relegated odor, an inefficient test of fermentation, but he came from a highly ritualistic people, and ritual must be honored.

The Andorian leaned in close to the paste-ee and took a deep inhale through his nose. His nostrils were met with a sweet smell and then an uncomfortable, claggy texture that clinged to the inside of his nasal passages and stung.

Tho'Bi: ::alarmed:: Ah! It is like snow but sticky and sweet! 

He flared his nostrils and jerked his head one way and then another in an attempt to dislodge the invading substance. 

Tho'Bi: ::pointing wildly at Tricorder:: modulate the sticky snow!

Cole: Response 

The Andorian’s nostrils rippled up and down as the Engineering Tricorder delivered a modulating pulse to his nasal passages, and two lumps of whipped cream and Andorian mucus dropped onto the floor.  

Tho'Bi: ::deep breath of relief:: thank you. 

Cole: Response? 

An Engineering wipe made quick work of the sticky snow lumps.   

Tho'Bi: ::matter of fact:: I will now try the paste-ee. 

He nodded as he chewed. He was at least accustomed to the texture of human food. It managed to be easy to chew and yet time consuming to do so. Andorians had no concept of comfort food. The Andorian swallowed deliberately and looked at Ensign Cole. 

Tho'Bi: Delicious. ::bows:: honour to your Aunt Rea.

Cole: Response 

TAG/TBC

((OOC: The Tricorder nostril bit is a little too leading for Ensign Cole, apologies for that… I thought it was funnier if she did it, rather than Tho’Bi do it to himself. The antennae and fermentation bit, I made up. As with Andorians having no comfort food.)) 

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Ensign Tho’Bi

Engineering

USS Artemis-A

A240203T11