Ensign Meris - Meris' Guide to Dining Etiquette
Meris/Brian
(( Molly Malone’s Irish Pub – First Promenade, Deck 225, Deep Space 224 ))
The helmsperson finished their first chicken wing, chewing and swallowing as they weighed their feelings about it. Then, imitating Storm, they took a napkin to clean off their fingers rather than lick them clean this time.
Meris: This chicken’s wing is good, but not as flavorful as sauce fingers. I believe I will stick with those.
Alex watched as Meris picked up one of the plastic cups containing a golden yellow sauce. The helmsperson stuck their finger into the sauce and then put it into their mouth.
Storm: Meris. You aren’t supposed to just dip your fingers into the sauce.
The J’naii officer looked puzzled, their finger covered in sauce after going back for a second dip.
Meris: Why not?
Alex seemed to be struggling to contain a chuckle.
Storm: Well. ::pausing:: Well, you see, if you put your finger into the container with the sauce, other people don’t want to dip their chicken wings in them because it’s not hygienic after you’ve put your finger into it.
Meris: ::blanching:: Oh.
Meris was nothing if not hygienic. They could, of course, understand completely why others might not want to enjoy the sauce after they’d had their licked fingers in it. And, of course, Lieutenant Storm had been kind enough to offer to share their meal with Meris. The J’naii hoped they had not offended Storm.
Storm: Let me ask you this, Meris. Are you in Starfleet - not just to fly starships - but to integrate into the life of the ship?
Meris: ::nodding with certainty:: It is certainly my desire to integrate into the life of the ship so that I might more fully observe the personalities and cultures of my crewmates. This will, in turn, make my report back to the homeworld far more complete.
Storm: While you should always be yourself, the more you understand how most humanoids think and see things, the easier it will be for you to become a part of the rest of the crew. But, if you decide that you still want to dip your fingers into the sauces... it would be most polite to ask for your own sauces.
Meris: ::nodding again, less emphatically:: I understand, Lieutenant Storm. I will try to better understand and respect such customs so that I do not give offense. And perhaps, in the process, I might learn which customs are flexible... and which are like the rules of flight – non-negotiable.
oO And, of course, I can always enjoy sauce fingers in my quarters without fear of recrimination. Oo
Storm: Response.
Meris: Thank you for sharing your chicken's wings with me, Lieutenant. I will resist sauce fingers for now, but there are no promises about dessert.
Storm: Response.
The J'naii then opted to change the subject and turned in her chair to more directly focus on the Lieutenant beside them.
Meris: May I ask, Lieutenant, what your assignment is aboard the USS Artemis? And how long have you been stationed aboard? I do not recognize your image from the review of the ship's duty roster which I performed while en route to Deep Space 224.
Storm: Response.
---
Ensign Meris
Helm Officer
USS Artemis-A
A240207M14