Fleet Captain Addison MacKenzie - Trench Warfare

[Addison MacKenzie]

(( ‘Appetite Optional’, Ferenginar ))

MacKenzie sat at a table with her first officer and one of the newer members of the Artemis medical team in the quite-too-warm Ferengi establishment. The Appetite Optional stank like fermentation mixed with exotic herbs and spices. After being greeted by their host and seated at a table which MacKenzie assured was sturdy by dropping her rear on one of the chairs, they'd been presented with a menu... Despite being in Federation Standard, there were very few items she recognized. Her gaze shifted between her two comrades. After inquiring as to whether or not anything seemed appetizing and being met with their boring choices, Addison suddenly smirked and stuck up her index finger, proceeding to holler at the Ferengi host.

MacKenzie: We'll take an order of the gagh and tube grubs in a garlic and bloodwine reduction for the table, please!

Munro: :: quietly to the host :: I'll have a salad:: nervously :: as a side, of course. Bloodwine is :: looks at MacKenzie and smiles :: A choice, that you made … for us. I always enjoyed picking the grizzle from my teeth. 

While her first officer seemed to be reservedly enjoying the plot twist, their doctor seemed far more amicable to the suggestion, smoothing his napkin across his lap, cool as a cucumber.

Bancroft: ::nodding politely:: Bloodwine and garlic – what a powerful pairing, Captain. Hopefully this… fine establishment… also offers Romulan breathsticks as a digestif.

MacKenzie: ::tapping the table, delighted by the suggestion:: Quite right, Doctor. How thoughtful. Remind me to ask.

The Host sauntered off merrily. 

Munro: I might also try something Ferengi :: eyes up the menu :: these worms look interesting. They don't have a mouth, so that's a plus… at least then they can't scream. 

Bancroft: I admire your adventurous spirit, ma’am. My Nanny always said the mark of a gracious dinner guest is making an effort with whatever the host puts before you… even if it’s looking back at you.

The Fleet Captain held up a finger to interrupt him.

MacKenzie: As long as it doesn't bite you back.

Munro: I just want to know what got you into Klingon cuisine? 

Bancroft: Truly, I’d love to hear your story, Captain. Anyone who can order a bloodwine reduction without blinking is clearly operating at a higher culinary wavelength than the rest of us.

MacKenzie: ::waving her hand dismissively in front of her face [though not so dismissively - it stunk in there, after all]:: There's no story, really... I think if you're a galactic traveler and have even the slightest of adventurous palettes, you say yes when someone offers you something new. My mom used to call it a courtesy bite.

Munro: Response

MacKenzie smiled as the host appeared with the steaming, wriggling bowl of Gagh and Tube Grubs and placed it down ceremoniously in the center of the table, followed by a slightly smaller plate of the Jellied Gree-Worms ordered by Commander Munro, who also received a small salad. Doctor Bancroft looked between the two platters as though he didn't know where to start.

The commanding officer of the Artemis, however, did not need an invitation or a moment to think over the choice. In fact - there wasn't a choice for any of them. With a plate in her left hand, she scooped up a portion of the dish with her right hand and tossed it down before passing it to Munro. She repeated the procedure twice more, handing a plate to Doctor Bancroft, and keeping one for herself.

Bancroft: Thank you, Captain. ::spearing a forkful of gagh and swirling it in the bloodwine reduction:: To camaraderie through shared experience.

MacKenzie's brow furrowed, her left eyebrow arched markedly higher than the right. The doctor really was green.

MacKenzie: Doctor, who taught you how to eat gagh?

She picked up a fingerful of the writhing creatures and held it forward to him as if to show him the example to follow, and then dropped them in her mouth.

Munro: Response

She watched eagerly as Bancroft proceeded to spear and twirl his gagh before taking a biteful. After chewing, he swallowed, dabbed the corners of his mouth, and thoughtfully glanced at the menu again. After a beat, he dismissed it with a casual swipe and turned back to his dinner companions.

Bancroft: ::dabbing napkin at the corners of his mouth:: Pardon. I was tempted to order one of the, ah… ‘prestige dishes’ for us to sample next. But I’d hate to overstep what I’m certain is a carefully planned tasting menu on the part of the Captain.

MacKenzie cocked her head and dropped another fingerful of gagh in her mouth.

MacKenzie: Prestige dishes? If you really think that's a smart idea, Doctor... 

Bancroft: Response

Looking down at her plate, MacKenzie realized hers was the only plate nearing empty. The commanding officer held up a fingerful of gagh and extended her arm to Ava.

MacKenzie: Commander, you've hardly touched your gagh.

Munro/Bancroft: Response

MacKenzie looked to Munro, not sure if it was fair to the first officer... She was likely only in search of a decent meal and yet found herself as an innocent bystander in this hellscape of trench warfare between the captain and the doctor. Dismissing the thought immediately, MacKenzie once again swiped open the menu.

MacKenzie: Doctor, I believe you were going to place another order. Was there something that caught your eye?

Bancroft/Munro: Response

Tag, and TBC!

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Fleet Captain Addison MacKenzie, M.D., Ph.D., FASFS
Commanding Officer
USS Artemis-A

Executive Council Member

V239601AM0