Fleet Captain Addison MacKenzie - The Most Welcome Surprise
Addison MacKenzie
(( ‘Appetite Optional’, Ferenginar ))
With a battle of the stomachs underway, the redheaded CO was impressed with how well Doctor Bancroft was keeping up. Her XO, on the other hand, was another story... She leaned in toward the blond woman, wanting to make sure she wasn't quite down for the count just yet... without adding any insult to injury.
Bancroft, clearly with a plan in mind, lifted two fingers in a subtle but practiced signal. The proprietor materialized instantly, sliding across the floor with a fluid grace that belied his toothy, shark-like grin.
Bancroft: ::gesturing toward Ava:: Three fingers of Lagavulin neat for my friend over here, if you please.
The Ferengi nodded, his ears wiggling with professional enthusiasm, and scuttled back toward the front counter. MacKenzie looked at Munro, on the other hand, 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 took another bite of the gagh, and a moment later, the Ferengi reappeared with a tumbler of amber liquid and placed it reverently before Commander Munro. MacKenzie sat forward with keen interest, wondering what might be in the tumbler. Doctor Bancroft offered her answer.
Bancroft: Cheers, Commander. It’s one of my favorites. I’m sure it’ll help settle your stomach.
MacKenzie: How thoughtful, Doctor.
Munro leaned in, seemingly grateful. She also seemed grateful to change the subject of the dinner conversation...
Bancroft shrugged slightly.
Bancroft: My mother believed every child should learn two things young: how to make small talk with Admirals, and how to eat whatever’s put in front of you with a smile and a ‘thank you.’
He took a beat.
Bancroft: My family often treated dinner like a training exercise. If you showed weakness, you got seconds.
MacKenzie cocked her head dismissively.
MacKenzie: In my house, an empty plate was a sign you either wanted more, or you fed it to the dog and lied about it...
The doctor seemed either caught off guard by the question, or bothered that it came mid-sip. He coughed once, then cleared his throat.
Bancroft: ::clearing his throat:: Yes ma’am. My father was in operations – brilliant man, very precise, very… er, structured. And my mother… well, she’s Dr. Margot Bancroft. ::a beat:: She has very… strong… feelings about how Starfleet doctors ought to conduct themselves. ::beat, gentle smile toward MacKenzie:: She and I disagree strongly on some of those.
MacKenzie: ::nodding:: That's alright, Doctor... I also have strong opinions about how Starfleet doctors should conduct themselves. Still, would you mind sharing some?
Munro: Response
Bancroft set his fork down and took a careful sip of his drink. There was no choking this time.
Bancroft: Yes ma’am – some. That a doctor ought to have answers before the patient’s questions are even formed? I can respect the philosophy behind that. And that if you aren’t exceptional at what you do, you should get the hell out of Sickbay? Well, hard to argue with that either, when lives hang in the balance.
He cleared his throat again.
Bancroft: Many of her other opinions, however… ::eyeing MacKenzie meaningfully:: don’t bare repeating in any company, much less present company, and I reject completely.
Munro: Response
MacKenzie held up her hands in resignation, willing to let the issue stop at that. It wasn't the only thing that stopped her, though - something fantastic smelling assaulted her nostrils. It was the best thing she'd smelled since they got here, and she knew sight unseen exactly what it was.
But, it hadn't been on the menu - was it a specialty item? Had she simply missed it?
The Ferengi arrived with a certain swagger... Before he even put the platter down, MacKenzie knew what it contained - and her eyes lit up when the platter was finally low enough for her to confirm her suspicions.
Hasperat.
But not just hasperat. Weaponized hasperat.
Bancroft: ::blinking rapidly:: I… didn’t order this.
The Ferengi gave a wide, toothy grin.
Ferengi: It comes complements of… ::face scrunching up:: actually, I didn’t get her name… but she claims to be a friend of yours. In any case, the latinum was real, so I didn’t ask any questions. Bon apetit!
Addison clapped her hands gleefully.
MacKenzie: I don't know if you know this, but I love hasparat. In fact, I often complain it's not spicy enough. Someone must have sent this as a gift. But who could have known we were here?
Munro/Bancroft: Response
MacKenzie: Shall I dish you some?
Of course, she didn't bother to wait for an answer - in fact, halfway through the question, the redheaded hasparat banshee was already slicing through the wrap and setting pinwheels on plates. Without waiting for an invitation, or bothering to look at how the others were receiving her gift of sharing the hasparat, MacKenzie picked up her small pinwheel and took a bite.
She'd managed to chew no more than three times when it hit her and her jaw stopped.
Her eyes started to water, and her nose started to run.
Continuing to chew, she held her thumb up to one nostril in the hopes it would prevent any leakage, but the assault to her nasal cavity was far stronger from within than it had been when the dish was presented. She picked up the napkin from her lap and held it to her nose until she swallowed, then proceeded to blow her nose.
Through bloodshot, watery eyes, she offered her companions a smile as she pointed to the plate affirmatively.
MacKenzie: Now that is good hasparat!
Munro/Bancroft: 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