Lieutenant Commander Chythar Skyfire & Madeline Rosek: The New Jacket
Zeph
OOC: A little bit of non-mission-related filler for Chythar's birthday.
((Rosek & Skyfire’s Quarters, Deck 9, USS Chin’toka))
(( Time Index: 239807.06 ))
It was disappointing that the mission had interfered. She and her mom had gone to a lot of trouble to prepare this birthday dinner for her dad. But with things as they were, her mom was stuck in the science lab working. Her brow furrowed and she pushed the salad distractedly around her plate.
M. Rosek: ::mutters:: I hate it when mom’s job keeps her from doing things with us.
Chythar smiled at his little girl and watched, noting the frustration in her voice. He knew that she was right, though honestly the thought of Lael working through his birthday was sort of fitting in a way because he knew they were both workaholics. He reached a hand toward Maddy’s and squeezed gently.
Skyfire: Nae to worry, darlin’. She’ll be back soon enough.
She nodded, bringing a bite of lettuce and mozzarella up to her mouth, chewing thoughtfully. It wasn’t as if she and her dad never got alone time. Sometimes when her mom would work late, it would just be the two of them. They’d taken a serving of the dinner to her mom so that at least she wouldn’t skip eating, but she’d asked them to leave it in her office. Maddy’s gaze lifted to meet her dad’s and she smiled sadly.
M. Rosek: I know. Still, I wish she was here with us. ::pauses:: I get that you and mom love your jobs. ::smiles:: I tell all of my classmates about it. They say it’s so cool how you’re both in Starfleet.
Skyfire: That’s good to hear, darling. Besides, how often is it that the two of us have spent a quiet dinner together on my birthday?
She smiled. There was no place she’d rather be right now. As hard as Lael tried to ensure the three of them sat down at the same table to the same meal every night, there were times where it was just her and her dad. That was okay, though. They would spend most of their meal talking about science and medicine. He would give her an article from the SFMJ to read and they’d have lively discussions on the implications it had for the future of medicine. She loved her mom, but this was something special she could share with her dad.
M. Rosek: ::grins:: Given that you only get one birthday a year, you mean? ::smirks:: It’s a good thing mom decided on number candles. Otherwise, it would set off the fire suppression systems.
He nodded slightly in agreement. Yet, there was something magical about sharing a mostly science and medical-related dinner with his little girl. It was a different dynamic than that which he had shared with Lael or Alex, since the main differences were the age differential and relationship. This time, he had the luxury of having his daughter alone on his birthday and his intended off doing something work-related.
Skyfire: Aye, and don’t think ah’m nae appreciative. You are becomin’ quite the little chef, princess.
Her gaze dropped to her plate and a light blush filled her cheeks. She really hadn’t done much. The salad had been easy enough to do by hand. It didn’t require cooking. Only cutting up the fresh ingredients. She’d convinced the galley staff to give her a few things. It had cost her a couple of replicator rations, but it was worth it.
The rest she’d used the replicator recipes Lael had shown her. Though she preferred pizza, she knew her dad liked pasta. Sushi was his favorite, but she hadn’t been able to get all of the fresh ingredients to make it and it just didn’t taste the same coming from the replicator.
M. Rosek: ::lifts her gaze to his and smiles sheepishly:: Mom taught me. She said these were a couple of your favorites, so--
Chythar smiled at her and chuckled. It followed that Lael knew his favorites rather well given how much time they’ve spent together before. However, the simplicity of the recipes that were prepared were well and truly delicious and he couldn’t have asked for a better present.
Skyfire: That doesn’t surprise me at all.
M. Rosek: ::takes a bite of pasta, chews, and then swallows:: Oh. Did you see that article in the last SFMJ? The one about that plant they found on Delta Vega that could supposedly be hybridized to treat radiation sickness? The researcher said it might end up being a more natural replacement for the medicines Starfleet is currently using.
CD took a bite of his food and chewed it, raising a brow curiously as his daughter explained. Brow furrowed slightly as he swallowed, he asked casually.
Skyfire: Does it have an adverse effect on hybrids?
M. Rosek: ::shakes her head:: I don’t know. The article didn’t mention it. But there was a counter article in the same issue saying that there wasn’t enough quantitative evidence of success from the serum that used the plant enzymes. I don’t know that Starfleet would approve it without a lot more studies to back it up.
CD nodded slightly and recalled the numerous science projects Maddy had done on the various pain killers and physiologies, which were all very advanced course work for her grade level. A smile passed his lips as he considered and asked after a mouthful of pasta.
Skyfire: Does that sound like something you wish to science project?
M. Rosek: ::pauses:: You’re thinking about it for mom, aren’t you?
Skyfire: :: Smiling. :: You know me so well, princess.
She knew her mom was allergic to the regular radiation medicine, but not how allergic. Pausing, she considered what she believed her dad was asking. She had to admit it would be cool to work on a project with her dad that had the potential of getting published.
M. Rosek: ::smiles:: How about we work on it together? For the SFMJ.
Chythar raised an inquisitive eyebrow. He wasn’t psychic, but he had a sneaking suspicion that she was probably going to join the medical profession, quite possibly in Starfleet when she was old enough, but the thought of seeing his little girl’s name on an author credit for the SFMJ sounded like a worthy goal. Once he finished his meal, he smiled again.
Skyfire: Sure, princess. I’ll see if I can get some plant samples for us to work with.
M. Rosek: ::nods:: We have the researcher’s notes from the article, but we should probably look at the properties ourselves. Reach our own conclusions.
Skyfire: Aye, agreed.
M. Rosek: ::eyes widen slightly:: Oh! I almost forgot!
Before her dad could say anything she raced from the living area and into her room, coming out with a bag in her hand.
M. Rosek: ::grins and offers him the bag:: Happy birthday, dad.
He smiled softly and took the bag, opening it slowly in case it had something like an exploding snake can or something inside. Upon not seeing a snake pop out of it, or glitter, he placed his hand into the bag and withdrew the object.
She watched as her dad pulled out the dark brown leather jacket with wool lining that her mom had helped her pick. On the right sleeve were the Starfleet Medical and Federation logo patches and on the left was the Chin'toka logo patch.
He stared at the jacket in happy and awkward silence for several moments, marvelling in how beautiful it was. After he’d spent as long as he felt it was necessary admiring its beauty, he tried it on. It was nice and comfortable, but warm given the temperature of his quarters at present. The doctor once again smiled at his little girl and pulled her into a gentle fatherly embrace, planting a kiss on her forehead.
Skyfire: Thank you, Maddy. It’s perfect.
Smiling, she hugged him back.
M. Rosek: I'm glad you like it, daddy.
He hugged her for a moment longer before the “raff raff” from the distance as Devlin made his way into the room.
Skyfire: I think he wants to eat too.
M. Rosek: ::smiles:: I'll clean up dinner while you feed him.
He kissed her again and made his way to the replicator to get Devlin’s meal, sort of hoping that the little beagle would forgive him under the circumstances of it being his birthday and all.
Devlin: Raff raff!
Skyfire: I know, boy. I know. Sorry. Here.
He poured the food into the beagle’s dish, and knelt down to pet him as Devlin started eating his dinner. As he gave Devlin a bit of love and affection, he could hear Maddy behind him cleaning up the dishes.
END
===
Lieutenant Commander Chythar Skyfire, MD
Medical Officer & Barista
USS Chin’toka NCC-97187
O239002CS0
&
PNPC Madeline Rosek
Civilian
USS Chin'toka, NCC-97187
I238110RH0